Chapter 451 - 450: Half a Truth (Monthly Ticket 780+)

Chapter 451: Chapter 450: Half a Truth (Monthly Ticket 780+)

Jiuxi instinctively tightened the reins in his hand; he had never seen Shuying like this before.

Among Mu Lianxiao’s four personal attendants, Jiuxi was the youngest, and the others usually treated him like a younger brother.

They always spoke to him with a smile, never harshly, and would tease him in return.

Shuying, unlike Yun Qi and Ming Liu, didn’t speak much, but he was equally easy to get along with, meticulous and upright in his work, and very trustworthy.

Yet now, Shuying, with red eyes, had rushed out without even noticing Jiuxi’s arrival.

Jiuxi couldn’t help but feel anxious.

He didn’t head towards Mu Lianxiao’s room but turned to seek out General Huang.

In General Huang’s brightly lit room, a soldier announced him and Jiuxi was let in.

Jiuxi pushed the door open, remembering his manners, greeted respectfully first, then asked, "General, Shuying just dashed out urgently on horseback, has anything happened?"

General Huang furrowed his brows, "Shuying went out?"

"Yes, he headed towards the pass." Jiuxi replied.

General Huang clenched the hand hanging at his side tightly, sharing the information the messenger just brought to Jiuxi.

Jiuxi was shocked, his eyes widened, and after confirming it multiple times, he dared not delay a moment longer, turned and ran outside, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the town.

General Huang’s words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jiuxi stunned.

He only knew to whip his horse, over and over.

As he approached the town, Jiuxi pulled hard on the reins.

The horse was pulled up abruptly, rearing its front legs, almost throwing Jiuxi to the ground.

Jiuxi gasped for breath, patting the horse’s neck to calm it, wrestling with his troubled thoughts.

He had found out the situation of the battle, and the reason for Shuying’s rush to the pass, but how was he going to explain this to Du Yunluo?

The closer he got to the town, the more bewildered Jiuxi became; he even made the horse circle twice.

Finally, he made up his mind; he could reveal only half of it.

Outside the courtyard, Jiuxi rubbed his cheeks, plastered a smile, and went in to find Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke were both inside, a trace of tension visible on their faces.

With a smiling face, Jiuxi reported, "Madam, Young Madam, I’ve just seen General Huang, who said the messenger has just brought back news.

Wuna Li never expected us to appear like divine soldiers and break through the desert’s treacherous terrain.

Overnight, we were at the gates of Ancient Meili City, causing chaos. The city has now been taken, just awaiting the Dazi from the Northern Border."

Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke both sighed in relief, exchanged glances, and smiled.

Zhuang Ke laughed, "I told you so."

Du Yunluo also nodded.

Seeing the sisters-in-law so relaxed, the heavy emotions weighing on Jiuxi’s heart redoubled in his eyes.

Du Yunluo, observant, furrowed her brows at him, "What’s the matter?"

Jiuxi shook his head vigorously, then slapped his thigh and announced, "It’s just hard to believe for a servant like me, that the Princely Heir and the Lord truly conquered Ancient Meili.

Our household has fought against the Dazi for so many years, Old Marquis, the Old Lord, the Third and Fourth Lords all...

Now it’s done, the Dazi defeated, and old Marquis and the lords in heaven would be pleased."

Zhuang Ke, not as deeply touched by past events as Du Yunluo, heard this, and Du Yunluo’s eyes reddened a bit.

The surprise raid on Ancient Meili that Mu Yuance once dreamed of but never achieved, was finally realized by Mu Lianxiao; telling Mrs. Zhou would surely bring her some comfort.

Jiuxi exited, stayed indoors to steady himself.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to serve before Du Yunluo, not having to worry about being found out.

In the main room, everyone smiled brightly.

Du Yunluo asked Zhuang Ke when the Dazi of Northern Border might return to Ancient Meili.

Zhuang Ke thought for a moment and replied, "Annually there’s a variance, I mostly lived on the oasis, unaware of Northern Border’s situation; typically they leave Northern Border before the first winter snow."

Du Yunluo pursed her lips, remembering the previous life’s event when Mu Lianxiao returned to the Capital around mid-November the same year.

According to him, there was an early snowfall in Northern Border, leading to the Dazi’s retreat, allowing his return.

By such calculation, possibly around early October, the Dazi will leave Northern Border, being cavalry, able to reach Ancient Meili about the same time Mu Liankang expected.

Everything progressing as planned, should be smooth.

Du Yunluo clasped her hands and recited a Buddhist mantra.

Zhuang Ke didn’t follow suit.

Du Yunluo asked, "Sister-in-law, do the people on the oasis have different beliefs?"

"The barbarians’ true god differs from the Han River," Zhuang Ke said with a soft smile, "But me, I don’t believe in the barbarians’ true god; I believe in The Three Pure Ones."

Du Yunluo was quite surprised.

In the Capital, among the people she had interacted with, other than those like Mu Yuanjing who believed nothing, most were Buddhist devotees.

However, there were believers of The Three Pure Ones, Potuo Mountain had a dozen Taoist temples, prosperous with incense offerings, with Buddhism and Taoism coexisting peacefully.

But believers of The Three Pure Ones were nevertheless, a minority.

Zhuang Ke mentioned, "My father believed in The Three Pure Ones, telling me many historical and anecdotal Taoist stories. By the way, he once mentioned that my grandmother was a Taoist believer, the only family tradition he spoke of."

A Taoist-believing grandmother.

Unconsciously, Du Yunluo’s mind conjured up an image of a silver-haired old grandmother, frugal in desires, embracing tranquility and non-action, focusing on self-purification without imposing on others.

Such a grandmother would undoubtedly be a kind-hearted elder.

Seeing Du Yunluo’s interest, Zhuang Ke shared more Taoist anecdotes, especially stories she loved to hear as a child, thus remembered vividly.

The sisters-in-law talked until dark, shared dinner, then parted ways.

Since learning of Ancient Meili City’s capture, Du Yunluo awaited the army’s return to Shanyu Pass.

She didn’t rush Jiuxi again; if Mu Lianxiao returned, surely he would have Shuying or Ming Liu bring news.

Yet this wait, approximately ten days, delayed beyond previous estimates, leading Du Yunluo to summon Jiuxi.

Jiuxi hung his head waiting for orders, nodding like a pecking hen, and quickly left; he didn’t dare stay long before Du Yunluo lest reveal too much.

Hastening to Shanyu Pass, seeing the bustling campsite, Jiuxi knew the army had returned.

Jiuxi went to find General Huang, receiving the same answer as before.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth and return.

Outside the courtyard, Jiuxi felt as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, last time he half-spoke, but now...

Could he forever avoid speaking?

Jiuxi cruelly pinched his thigh, gasping at the pain, before heading inside.