Chapter 322
Who would have thought that the imposing and formidable heir of the Zhenbian Marquis's estate possessed such a talent for sowing discord? His words were like a "stab to the heart" for Zhan Feiyu.
Zhan Feiyu had risked coming to Aozi Pass only because she knew she would be safe. Exchanging "fake sympathy" for Yang Xu's unwavering loyalty was a worthwhile transaction.
Compared to Zhan Feiyu's "cunning and insidious" nature, Yang Xu, who was overwhelmed with gratitude and speechless, was practically a simpleton, selling himself out yet still offering money to his betrayer.
For a moment, no one spoke, but all eyes turned to Zhan Feiyu, scrutinizing her. Not only the Zhenbian Marquis's guards, but even Lin Jiang and the others looked at her with suspicion.
In the eerie silence, Yang Xu stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Zhu Xiao, and said word by word, "You don't need to sow discord. Xiao Yu's presence here tonight is a life-saving grace to me!"
To borrow Qiu Zongxi's earlier assessment of Yang Xu, though he was dull-witted, he possessed a sincere heart. Once he recognized Zhan Feiyu as a friend, he would not be swayed by a few words of instigation, especially when the speaker was an enemy of the Yang family, the heir of the Zhenbian Marquis's estate!
"Scholars are good at attacking the heart, indeed," Zhu Xiao sneered, filled with contempt and disdain for Yang Xu. "Your mother couldn't even face hardships with the Yang family back then. Do you think a young girl would remain loyal to your Yang family?"
Generosity often comes from the humble, while betrayal is common among scholars. While there are scoundrels and scum among military men, if one were to truly compare, the court officials harbor more hypocrites, putting on a different face in front and behind your back, with countless instances of backstabbing.
"Lord Zhu," Zhan Feiyu stopped Yang Xu, who was about to argue, and said with a smile, "Regardless of how those barbarians bypassed the Weizhou camp to besiege Xiangwu County, the Zhenbian Marquis's estate bears the responsibility. Lord Zhu still has the leisure to engage in a war of words with us here. What is your intention, my lord?"
What was Zhu Xiao's status? A grand general, the heir of the Zhenbian Marquis's estate, and an elder of over fifty years. Let alone Yang Xu, even Zhan Feiyu was not qualified to make him waste his time.
Zhu Xiao's willingness to speak just now was only because Zhan Feiyu was more outstanding than girls her age, and coupled with her tutelage under Scholar Gu, Zhu Xiao had developed some interest in conversing.
Otherwise, the overbearing and arrogant Zhu Xiao would have long since led his men away. Of course, before leaving, whether he would kill Yang Xu or capture him alive was a matter of a single command; why waste words?
With a cold sneer, Zhu Xiao's sharp gaze, like a blade, locked onto Zhan Feiyu, his imposing aura fully unleashed. "Little girl, tell me, what is my intention?"
If he intended to kill Yang Xu, Zhu Xiao truly had no need to come personally. The eldest son, Zhu Zhengrong, wouldn't even need to show up; sending the elites of the Zhenbian Marquis's estate would suffice to eliminate Yang Xu.
Of course, as Zhan Feiyu had previously stated, if Yang Xu died, Yang Shoucheng could remarry or adopt a child from the clan. And with the enmity of killing his son, Yang Shoucheng would certainly not let the Zhenbian Marquis's estate off the hook. In essence, killing Yang Xu was a thankless task.
Under the cloak of night, Zhan Feiyu observed Zhu Xiao, who exuded an imposing presence even without anger. Compared to the reserved and restrained Uncle Yang, Zhu Xiao was naturally more arrogant. Even though his grandson was almost his age, his eyes still held a fierce and sharp demeanor. Could such a proud Marquis's heir have endured years of forbearance and hidden himself like Uncle Yang?
There are those who would rather be shattered jade than intact tile!
Zhan Feiyu's gaze swept across the scene, her expression shifting slightly. Could it be that the Marquis's heir intended to leave Daqing Dynasty?
If that were the case, it would make sense for the barbarians to be outside Xiangwu County. This could be Zhu Xiao's bargaining chip, showing his sincerity in cooperation to the barbarians.
Zhan Feiyu subtly moved Yang Xu behind her. If Zhu Xiao intended to defect to the barbarians, he might capture Yang Xu alive to hand over to them. Even if he had the enmity of killing his son with Uncle Yang, what of it? Since he was leaving Daqing Dynasty, why would he care about the Yang family's retaliation?
Zhu Xiao observed Zhan Feiyu's subtle movement. The little girl was indeed exceptionally intelligent. Indeed, if he intended to remain in Daqing Dynasty, he would naturally not dare to forge a mortal feud with the reinstated Yang family; it would be akin to an egg hitting a stone.
But if he were to leave Daqing Dynasty, then the uninhibited Zhu Xiao would not only dare to kill Yang Xu but also Zhan Feiyu. Treason and collaboration with the enemy were capital offenses that would lead to the extermination of one's clan. What difference would two more young lives as collateral make? It might even make the barbarians trust Zhu Xiao more.
"Man proposes, God disposes. Little girl, it is too late for regret now!" Zhu Xiao said coldly, slowly drawing his sword.
Almost simultaneously, not only the Marquis's guards behind Zhu Xiao, but also the hundreds of elite guards of the Marquis's estate lurking in the shadows, emerged. The atmosphere instantly became tense and dangerous. With a single command from Zhu Xiao, Zhan Feiyu and the others, who were surrounded, would surely perish on the spot.
If Big Brother and Teacher knew, they would scold me to death! Of course, that's if I can survive this.
Zhan Feiyu's expression was a little stiff. In the face of absolute power, any strategy or calculation was useless; it all came down to brute force.
"Xiao Yu, don't mind me. Try to escape when you can!" Yang Xu whispered. Ever since he was ambushed at Aozi Pass, Yang Xu had not expected to leave alive.
But Xiao Yu is innocent! Yang Xu also clenched his sword. He Sheng and the others were masters of their craft. Even with hundreds of enemies from the Zhenbian Marquis's estate, with the cover of night, He Sheng and the others would surely be able to lead Xiao Yu to break through.
In the tense and suffocating atmosphere, Qiu Jinyu, standing on the left, also saw his expression change slightly. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! He never expected Zhu Xiao to personally lead his men to ambush them here.
If Zhan Feiyu were to die, Qiu Jinyu knew very well that he would not survive either. The status of the third branch of the Qiu family in Qianzhong Dao was not enough for Zhu Xiao to spare him.
Qiu Jinyu looked around. There were only ten people on his side, and all of them were injured. The Zhenbian Marquis's estate had over a hundred elite soldiers. It was impossible to break through and escape.
"Little girl, let me do a good deed today. You three..." Zhu Xiao pointed his sword in his right hand at Zhan Feiyu and Yang Xu, and then at Qiu Jinyu on the left. "One of you three can leave alive. Who do you choose?"
The sky was about to dawn, it was already the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month. But on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhan Feiyu was still nine years old, Yang Xu was eight, and Qiu Jinyu was the eldest, but he was only a fourteen-year-old young man. All three were considered children.
"I will count to ten, and then I will kill one person first," Zhu Xiao said, his attitude cold to the point of bloodlust.
On the battlefield, Zhu Xiao had killed even the old, the weak, and the women. Just like tonight, if the barbarians broke through Xiangwu County, they would kill anyone they saw, even unarmed infants and children.
All eyes fell on Zhan Feiyu again, as Zhu Xiao had placed the choice in her hands.
As Zhu Xiao reached five, Zhan Feiyu spoke, "Since that is the case, there is a distinction between close and distant relations, so let's kill Qiu Jinyu first."
Her clear and decisive small voice, her utterly composed demeanor, Zhan Feiyu did not hesitate, and there was not a trace of guilt or self-reproach on her face, as if she were not the one deciding Qiu Jinyu's fate.
Qiu Jinyu did not speak, but the guards around him glared at Zhan Feiyu with immense anger. If looks could kill, Zhan Feiyu would have been cut into a thousand pieces.
Lin Jiang and the others remained in a state of speechless silence. It was not Yang Xu who was in danger, which was a relief to them. However, Qiu Jinyu was innocent, and in fact, he was implicated by Yang Xu. This made Lin Jiang and the others feel immensely guilty. In any case, no one could be as decisive as Zhan Feiyu.
"After I kill Yang Xu, will you choose to let this boy live?" Zhu Xiao, who had intended to make things difficult for Zhan Feiyu, had instead earned her more goodwill. Yang Xu was now indebted to Zhan Feiyu for two lives.
Zhan Feiyu smiled and nodded, "When I came, Old Mr. Qiu tried to stop me, but I am just a scholar with no strength to even tie a chicken. If I die, there are countless other scholars."
"But Yang Xu is different. He is a born general. With him, the barbarians and foreign races will not be able to set foot on Daqing Dynasty's land in the future. The people on Daqing Dynasty's border can live and work in peace for fifty years. My death would be worthwhile!" Therefore, Qiu Jinyu, also a scholar, had to die first, as Zhan Feiyu also "cherished her life and feared death," so it was better to die with a fellow Daoist than alone.
"Xiao Yu." Yang Xu stared blankly at the impassioned Zhan Feiyu, his nose feeling sore, his eyes turning red.
A scholar dies for his confidant. Yang Xu felt that even if he died at this moment, it would be worth it.
Zhu Xiao gave an order, "Since that is the case, I will fulfill your wish. Attack!"
Almost simultaneously, several figures lunged towards Qiu Jinyu, and Qiu Jinyu and the ten men behind him immediately drew their swords and charged.
"Young Master, hurry!" The leading guard shouted, but he could not afford to resent Zhan Feiyu, the culprit. The priority now was to carve out a path for the young master to escape alive.
Zhan Feiyu did not speak, and He Sheng, He Nuan, and the others naturally did not make a move.
Yang Xu was about to rush over to help, but He Nuan unceremoniously struck the back of his neck with a palm, knocking him unconscious.
This left Lin Jiang and the others unsure of what to do. Logically, they should also help, but with Yang Xu lying at Zhan Feiyu's feet, and considering Zhan Feiyu's unpredictable nature, Lin Jiang and the others dared not act rashly.
The sounds of fighting erupted. Qiu Jinyu, who had been struck by a sword, looked ferocious and hateful. If he had the chance, he would surely kill Zhan Feiyu with a single sword strike to quell his resentment.
Figures fell into pools of blood. Qiu Jinyu's ten men, facing the fierce and skilled elites of the Zhenbian Marquis's estate, could not withstand them. With continuous retreat, it was impossible to carve out a bloody path for Qiu Jinyu to escape.
"Zhan Feiyu, I will not let you go even as a ghost!" A hoarse roar sounded. Qiu Jinyu fought and retreated, his eyes twisted with ferocity.
The object of his hatred, Zhan Feiyu, shrugged indifferently, "When I become a ghost later, we will be ghosts against ghosts, and who wins or loses is yet to be determined."
He Sheng and the others, who were on high alert, twitched their expressions slightly. To say such a thing at a moment of life and death, their young lady was truly extraordinary.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhengrong also looked at Zhan Feiyu speechlessly. What was she made of? Was she not afraid at all? After all, if Qiu Jinyu died, she would be next.
In the blink of an eye, Qiu Jinyu, who had been struck by two swords, fell to the ground. Perhaps fearing death, Qiu Jinyu lost his usual elegant demeanor and roared at Lin Jiang and the others, "You ungrateful beasts!"
Lin Jiang and the others' faces flushed with anger. If it weren't for saving Young Master Xu, Qiu Jinyu wouldn't have ventured into danger. And now, they couldn't just stand by and watch Qiu Jinyu be killed.
"Stop!" But before Lin Jiang and the others could make a move, Zhan Feiyu spoke first to stop them.
The object of his hatred, Zhan Feiyu, shrugged indifferently, "When I become a ghost later, we will be ghosts against ghosts, and who wins or loses is yet to be determined."
He Sheng and the others, who were on high alert, twitched their expressions slightly. To say such a thing at a moment of life and death, their young lady was truly extraordinary.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhengrong also looked at Zhan Feiyu speechlessly. What was she made of? Was she not afraid at all? After all, if Qiu Jinyu died, she would be next.
In the blink of an eye, Qiu Jinyu, who had been struck by two swords, fell to the ground. Perhaps fearing death, Qiu Jinyu lost his usual elegant demeanor and roared at Lin Jiang and the others, "You ungrateful beasts!"
Lin Jiang and the others' faces flushed with anger. If it weren't for saving Young Master Xu, Qiu Jinyu wouldn't have ventured into danger. And now, they couldn't just stand by and watch Qiu Jinyu be killed.
"Stop!" But before Lin Jiang and the others could make a move, Zhan Feiyu spoke first to stop them.