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Unexpected Turn of Events
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Jing Hua didn’t have that many thoughts towards the imperial throne. Thinking of how Lu Qi Yang will soon enter the capital, he felt increasingly anxious.
After a moment of panic, he restrained Shen Ran’s hand, saying with hesitation, “Ran’er, I feel this isn’t good. If brother Qi Yang has the intention of taking over the capital, then I will be going against him. He and I have always regarded each other as brothers. I don’t want to, because of this throne that I don’t want, ruin our relationship.”
Shen Ran raised her fine brow, her voice coldly saying, “Your Majesty, why do you think Zhennan Wang has repeatedly supported you? How I see it, he simply doesn’t have the intention of ascending the throne, merely forced by the situation, having no choice but to raise the banner of rebellion. Now that I have made you into the emperor, it has instead helped relieve him from this burden, saving him from the ordeal of getting pushed onto the throne.”
After Lu Qi Yang enters the capital, his subordinates certainly will beseech him to claim the throne. But, if there’s already someone on the throne, then Lu Qi Yang will have a way to step down.
Shen Ran frequently exchanged letters with Lu Qi Yang. She noticed that Lu Qi Yang would unintentionally write about his own aspirations, nothing more than ‘to happily spend his life with his wife and children after driving out the barbarians’. It can be seen that he wasn’t someone that was obsessed with power.
Shen Ran believed in her own eyes, further believing Lu Qi Yang’s deep affection and devotion towards her older sister, so she was willing to take a gamble. If she loses———Lu Qi Yang was merely pretending to have no ambitions, when in reality, wanted to become the emperor——–then her life would also end here, having no choice but to die.
Seeing Shen Ran this certain, Lu Jing Hua endlessly wavered.
Suddenly, he stared at her, asking, “Ran’er, you really……..want me to sit upon this dragon throne?”
“I do.” Shen Ran said.
“……” Lu Jing Hua slightly sighed, saying, “Then, as you wish.”
Towards this unfortunate orphaned girl, he ultimately had some indescribable complicated feelings. It can’t really be said that he liked her. In reality, he felt that he still looked down on her——-looking down on her relentless ambitions, just wanting to climb higher. But, at the same time, he also somewhat pitied her, pitying her for having suffered endless abuse for being a shu-born, and afterwards, struggled to survive after her family’s downfall. For the sake of surviving, she didn’t even dare to live as her true self……..
Mimicking Shen Lan Chi’s graceful yet nonchalant mannerism wasn’t her; being timid, gentle, and docile wasn’t her; meekly submitting herself and remaining silent wasn’t her; only this woman before him with piercing eyes, fully displaying her sharp edge was the true her.
Unknown as to why, seeing this girl who was full of contradictions, Lu Jing Hua felt a stir in his heart, actually agreeing to her request.
• • •
That night.
The dusk was dark. A few dim stars hung in the sky.
Not far from the capital city, Zhennan Wang’s army had already set up camp to rest for the night.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Lu Qi Yang slept with his clothes on, a short dagger pressed under his pillow. Having marched for several days in a row, he showed a slightly weary look in his sleep, but his body was extremely tense, clearly not having relaxed his guard, even if asleep.
He had a dream.
In the dream, he recalled a memory from the past life. At the time, he’d taken in Lu Zi Xiang’s former trusted aide, Song Yan Li. This Song Yan Li although was a study companion, he nevertheless had some talent in military tactics, winning his trust with a few beautiful small victories in battle.
Lu Qi Yang wasn’t a narrow-minded person, feeling that talented individuals should be treated with respect. Because of this, he gave Song Yan Li sufficient trust.
Song Yan Li was well-read, calling himself a modest gentleman. Towards Lu Qi Yang who he was indebted to, he also repaid with heartfelt sincerity and devotion. He once swiftly rode to his aid several times, rescuing Lu Qi Yang from under the blade.
Afterwards, Lu Qi Yang faced off against Lu Zhao Ye, having an important city given to Song Yan Li to guard. But, Lu Zhao Ye used up all sorts of devious schemes, kidnapping Song Yan Li’s pregnant wife, forcing him to open the gates.
On one side, it was his innocent wife and unborn child, and on the other, it was the lord he served. Song Yan Li was torn apart, completely distraught. After a night of contemplation, he ultimately couldn’t bear to sacrifice his beloved wife, opening the gates and surrendering.
It’s said that when Song Yan Li saw his wife in the enemy’s hands, he was seething with anger, his eyes practically dripping with blood, his hair standing on its end, and like facing his greatest enemy in hell, he furiously shouted at the sky, “Lu Zhao Ye! Using an innocent woman as hostage, you will surely meet with retribution one day and die a miserable death!”
Don’t know whether or not these words had reached Lu Zhao Ye’s ears.
Since Song Yan Li can betray once for the sake of his wife, then he can betray a second and third time. He was guarding an important city to begin with, and afterwards, he also leaked military intelligence, to the extent that it allowed Lu Zhao Ye’s army to march straight through, defeating Zhennan Wang.
Afterwards, Lu Qi Yang died, and Lu Zhao Ye rewarded Song Yan Li. This reward, for Song Yan Li, was no different from ridicule. He declined the reward, suffering endless criticism from his friends and family, getting consumed by guilt and shame. He could only take his wife and journey far away. Afterwards, his wife gave birth to their child. He left behind his wealth and estate, and ended his life.
“Wangye, wangye.”
A voice outside the tent woke Lu Qi Yang.
He hurriedly got up and put on his cloak, asking, “What’s the matter?”
A few soldiers pushed a woman into the tent and said, “This subordinate had sent men to scout out Lu Zi Xiang’s situation, inadvertently discovering Lu Zi Xiang’s empress alone in the forest, thus had her brought back.”
Lifting his head for a look, it sure enough was Ji Fei Xia. She was dressed luxuriously, but her face was full of fear. The clothes on her were already somewhat tattered from getting ripped by the branches.
“Your Highness?” Lu Qi Yang got up and asked, “With your phoenix-like presence, how did you end up alone?”
As soon as Ji Fei Xia opened her mouth, she just couldn’t help but start screaming, “Zhennan Wang! Don’t even think about doing something to me! Your wife and I are close friends. She certainly won’t let you mistreat me!”
Hearing this, the generals by Lu Qi Yang’s side burst into laughter.
They have followed the army for many years, used to seeing deceit, betrayal, and schemes. It was their first time seeing someone as incredibly naive as Ji Fei Xia.
At present, Lu Zi Xiang and Lu Qi Yang were sworn enemies, the grudges between them deeper than the seas. What did the old friendship between their wives count as? An empress perhaps can be used to exchange for a city. No one would waste such a good opportunity.
Seeing the generals laugh, Ji Fei Xia was increasingly scared. She has always been pampered and doted on, when has she ever encountered this kind of situation before? She immediately burst into tears on the spot, sobbingly saying, “This empress knows that you and his Majesty have some conflict, but I, this empress, I really am good friends with older sister Lan Chi. Older sister Lan Chi’s parents were both looked after by me. Knowing that you and his Majesty are at odds with one another, I even let someone have them sent to the countryside……….”
Hearing this, Lu Qi Yang was slightly moved.
He’d heard of Ji Fei Xia’s name before from his wife’s mouth, knowing that this girl of the boudoir who has never experienced hardships before, having gotten sheltered and doted on by her family, was incredibly pure and naive.
If switched with someone else, they would’ve long had Shen Lan Chi’s parents used as hostages. Only Ji Fei Xia still obediently remembered the favor from ‘leaving the capital to sever his Majesty’s feelings’, continuing to take care of Shen Lan Chi’s parents.
Just based on this matter, he shouldn’t do anything to Ji Fei Xia.
“Your Highness, no need to be anxious. This wang is different from those despicable hypocrites whose mouths are full of virtue and righteousness. I would never stoop to use women and children.” Lu Qi Yang ordered them to let go of Ji Fei Xia, consoling her, “The two armies clashing, what does it have to do with women?”
After saying this, he casted at glance at the deputy general by his side who had a regretful look, instructing him, “Tomorrow, hire a few men to have her Highness sent south back to his Majesty’s side.”
Hearing ‘his Majesty’, Ji Fei Xia’s body slightly trembled.
“I….I don’t want……” Her tears fell drop by drop, her voice shaking, appearing awfully pitiful, “I don’t want to go to his Majesty’s side.”
“What’s the matter this time?” Lu Qi Yang was confused, “If not returning to his Majesty’s side, where else can your Highness go?”
“I…..I want to go home. I want to return to my parents’ side.” Ji Fei Xia recalled her happy days in the past before marrying, suddenly getting consumed by sadness. Then, recalling how her older brother has already gotten executed by his Majesty, her tears fell even more violently.
When Lu Zi Xiang left the capital and headed south, she and Noble Consort Shen had sat in the same carriage. Afterwards, something went wrong with the carriage, having no choice but to stop.
The carriage fleet was in a hurry to flee south, so very crowded to begin with. Even if she was the esteemed empress, there no spare carriages to come pick her up, so they could only repair the broken carriage on the spot. Afterwards, his Majesty sent over a light calvary. Ji Fei Xia was elated for a moment, before learning that this squad specifically came to pick up Shen Ran.
As for where the empress will go, no one mentioned a word.
After Shen Ran got taken away, Ji Fei Xia stayed in the forest with her servant girls and attendants, unexpectedly running into some refugees. Those refugees were fleeing south due to the war, so they were already filled with resentment towards Lu Zi Xiang. Seeing a noblewoman left on her own, they didn’t care who she was, immediately rushing up to demand for money, food, and valuables. The people by Ji Fei Xia’s side fought against the refugees, while the attendants escorted the empress away.
After randomly running around like a headless fly for half a day, Ji Fei Xia got caught by Lu Qi Yang’s subordinates.
Recalling how Lu Zi Xiang just picked up Shen Ran today and not her, she felt both dejected and upset.
His deep affections towards her in the past, could it be that it was all an act? But, starting from the day he proposed, he has always been extremely attentive towards her, and afterwards, he was also in a loving relationship with her. If it really was all an act……..No, she was unwilling to believe.
Lu Qi Yang pretended to not hear Ji Fei Xia’s words, continuing to order the person by his side, “Arrange an entire tent for her Highness. Tomorrow, have her sent to Lu Zi Xiang’s side, not allowed to mistreat her.”
“Zhennan Wang.” Ji Fei Xia raised her head, saying with a trembling voice, “I-I want to ask Zhennan Wang for a favor. This matter, for Zhennan Wang, certainly will be beneficial with no harm. If this matter succeeds, you can obtain the capital city without any effort. If it fails, there’s also no loss. Seeing on behalf of older sister Lan Chi, I ask Zhennan Wang to please grant my request.”
“Oh?” Lu Qi Yang’s eyes spun as he lifted his head, “What does your Highness want to do?”
Ji Fei Xia tightly closed her eyes, saying in a low voice, “I want to know, whether or not I’m important to his Majesty.”
———Did he really love her as always, or was that deeply devoted look in the past really just an act?
• • •
Three days later, Zhennan Wang appeared before the capital city gates.
The capital city was already emptied out, only leaving behind Song Yan Li to guard over it. At this very moment, atop the city walls, there was a solemn atmosphere. The yellow banners that filled the city endlessly fluttered in the chilly autumn wind. Song Yan Li was dressed in armor, standing above the ramparts with a sword in hand, looking down from above.
Beyond the city moat was a dense mass of troops, like dragon scales spilling over the earth.
Song Yan Li was carefully observing with a frown, seeing that army that was like black feathers part out a gap in between. A woman got pushed out from among them——-that woman was dressed in fancy brocade, frail and pitiful, completely standing out from her surroundings.
Song Yan Li took a closer look and was instantly shocked.
It was Ji Fei Xia.
It was the Ji Fei Xia who he once yearned, who even after she married, he still carefully watched over.
Why didn’t Lu Zi Xiang properly protect her?
Didn’t Lu Zi Xiang take her south with him? So how could he let Ji Fei Xia end up in Lu Qi Yang’s hands?
Song Yan Li instantly felt as if having fallen into an ice cellar.
Zhennan Wang’s army sent out a messenger, shouting towards the city walls, “Little General Song, the empress is in our wangye’s hands. If you still care for your master, then quickly open the gates and beg for mercy. Heard that the emperor and empress have always been deeply loving. His Majesty was even willing to help the empress put on her shoe. How can a mere city be able to compare with a finger on her Highness?”
When Song Yan Li heard these words, his entire body suddenly tensed up.
Blood rushed to his head in anger, his eyes nearly popping out, furiously shouting towards the dense mass of troops below the city walls, “Lu Qi Yang! Using an innocent woman as hostage, you will surely meet with retribution one day and die a miserable death!”
Lu Qi Yang who was amidst the ranks of his army remained expressionless.
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