Jinting Han people

Chapter 71 Goodbye Luzhu (4k)

When the fire in the stables blazed, it wasn't just Shi Chong who saw it; Liu Xian, Zu Ti, and the others also saw it. Amidst the raging wind, they suddenly stood up and exclaimed in unison, "He's started it!"

Zu Ti immediately looked towards the vault and saw flickering lights and many people inside. They were obviously shocked by the fire in the distance and were hesitant and at a loss.

Soon, a man and a horse galloped over from a distance. He held a torch, illuminating the panic-stricken expression on his face, and shouted, "Open the door! Open the door!"

The vault door opened, revealing a crowd of about thirty people pouring out, questioning the newcomers. A moment later, these ant-sized figures in the darkness hurried away, following the newcomers. Clearly, they had received an urgent order that didn't allow them to wait any longer.

And this was the opportunity Zu Ti had been waiting for for a long time.

He immediately jumped down the hill, mounted his horse, and cast a sharp glance at the crowd behind him. These Bingzhou people had already changed into black clothes and black pants, their faces covered with black veils, revealing only a pair of eyes. They seemed like the embodiment of shadows, quietly awaiting his orders.

Zu Ti immediately divided the troops into two groups. Liu Kun led sixty men to provide archery support from a distance, while Zu Ti personally led the thirty most elite men, intending to charge directly into the courtyard.

After completing his deployment, Zu Ti stood before the crowd and declared, "Follow me, don't be afraid, just give it your all! As long as I'm here, nothing will stop you!"

Seeing the stunned expressions of the crowd, Zu Ti turned to Liu Kun and said, "Yue Shi, in front of so many people, you must bear witness for me! If I retreat and break my oath, you can shoot me to death on the spot!"

Everyone was moved. By this point, Zu Ti had won everyone's hearts. He shouted, "Let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he and his mount galloped away like an arrow.

The team launched a surprise attack on the vault. Arrows rained down and shouts of killing were like thunder.

Zu Ti was just as he said. He was the first to rush to the treasury. The gate of the courtyard was like tofu in front of him. He chopped it open with a knife and then rode his horse to fly in like a god descending from the sky.

There were only seven or eight people left in the yard, and he chopped down two of them in the blink of an eye. The warriors behind him followed closely to guard the gate to prevent anyone from escaping and reporting the news.

Shouts of killing came unexpectedly amidst the fresh blood.

At the same time, Liu Xian also changed into black clothes and black gauze, and rode quietly in the darkness and strong wind. He didn't need to see the outcome of the fight between Zu Ti and others, but he knew that the plan was being implemented very smoothly, which meant that he had little time left. He had to get Lu Zhu out quickly before everyone else withdrew.

This is actually not a rigorous plan. For Liu Xian, it is not only very risky, but also has many variables.

His only target was Chongqi Tower, but upon closer thought, he had neither personally gone in to conduct reconnaissance nor had an insider pass on information, which led to many flaws in his actions at this time.

Liu Xian didn't know whether Luzhu was in Chongqi Tower, whether she had any guards around her, whether Luzhu was willing to leave with him, or even whether Luzhu would still remember him after a year. After all, they had only met once.

The reason why Liu Xian dared to go to Chongqi Tower was actually because he was certain of one thing: given Shi Chong's importance to Lu Zhu, he would never let her appear in front of Sima Wei.

The possibility of failure is too high.

As Liu Xian rode his horse through the gale, he secretly mocked his own recklessness. But at the same time, he clearly realized that such a good opportunity would never come again. If he missed this one, he might never get another chance to be a hero. So, he was willing to take risks, he loved taking them.

But strangely, he didn't feel anxious. Instead, he felt a surge of excitement. The wind and waves blew against his face, and the fire in his heart grew stronger and stronger. He was usually too calm, so others often thought he was a man who planned before acting. Even Liu Xian himself thought so.

In reality, Liu Xian possesses a heart of swordsmanship. He tires of mediocre choices and flat paths, and only cherishes the mountains and the sea. He believes that if he can't achieve something truly remarkable and challenging, then doing nothing is worse. And if given the opportunity to embark on the path of a hero, even if it's just to imitate him, he's willing to stake his life on it.

The childhood dream of being a knight and the sword light of Wang Fu during his lifetime were inspiring him at this moment.

The blood of Liu Bang and Liu Bei does indeed flow in Liu Xian's body.

Chongqi Tower is located in the northwest corner of the entire Jingu Garden. When Liu Xian was riding his horse in the dark, he had to take a detour to avoid the crowd in the main courtyard.

Fortunately, as he expected, the fire in the stable successfully attracted the attention of most people. Hundreds of horses galloped wildly in the Jingu Garden, raising a cloud of dust and noise everywhere. Liu Xian was able to hide in it and avoid those people holding torches.

He passed through the apricot forest. The fragrance of apricot leaves mixed with the dust. There was another dazzling white light in the sky, and the rumbling thunder illuminated Liu Xian's originally dim and dim path ahead. This made him feel as if he were assisted by God. He clearly found a path through the dense forest and ran to the bottom of Chongqi Tower at a very fast speed.

As the tallest building in Jingu Garden, Liu Xian had already spotted it from the top of the mountain. But now, dismounting and gazing upward from the base, he couldn't help but be struck by the splendor of Chongqi Tower. In daylight, its densely packed arches resembled a flock of soaring pigeons, but in the dark, gusty wind, they looked like hundreds of hungry hawks, ready to swoop down at any moment.

The strong wind blew out all the lanterns in the building, and the lower floors were also dark and gloomy. Liu Xian looked up and saw that there was still light on the top floor, which made him feel a little relieved. This meant that there were only a few people in the building, and one of them was of high status. It was very likely that Lu Zhu was there.

Next upstairs.

All the doors on the first floor were shut, but the windows on the second floor were open. This gave Liu Xian an idea. He tied his horse in the woods, then found a nearby peach tree and climbed up. After climbing about ten feet, he leaped onto the roof with a crisp sound of tiles. He looked around and saw that the strong wind muffled his voice. He felt relieved and turned to climb back into the building.

As soon as he entered the building, Liu Xian first smelled a strong aroma of pepper, followed by a sound so subtle that it was almost inaudible.

Liu Xian listened carefully and finally recognized that it was Lu Zhu's singing.

There is no one else in the empty high-rise building now.

He no longer hesitated and immediately walked quickly up the stairs according to the afterglow of the lights upstairs. With every step he took, Luzhu's gentle singing became clearer and clearer.

This is a very famous poem, "Autumn Wind Ode" written by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che. Unlike Liu Che's image as a tyrant with great talent and strategy, his lyrics are unusually gentle and delicate, sensitive and melancholy, as if he has a delicate heart like a girl. The text goes like this:
"The autumn wind rises and the white clouds fly, the grass and trees turn yellow and the wild geese fly south.

The orchid is beautiful, the chrysanthemum is beautiful, and the beautiful woman can’t be forgotten.

Pan-buildings and boats rush toward the Fen River, and there are waves in the middle of the river.

The flute and drums sing and sing, and they are extremely happy and sorrowful.

How long can youth last? How can I stop old age?

This poem laments the passage of time, reminisces about youth, and reflects people's fear of aging. The poem is like ripples on a lake, and Luzhu's song, like duckweed, drifts on the water, revealing an endless stream of sorrow and worry.

This sadness made Liu Xian feel dazed. He felt as if he had heard such a song before and could empathize with it. He seemed to have heard such a song in his dream and made a vow that he would never allow anyone to cry again.

But as soon as Liu Xian reached the rooftop, Luzhu's singing stopped. The top-floor windows were open, and the wind howled outside, causing the candlelight to flicker, making Luzhu's graceful figure bright and dim, as if it would be blown away in the wind in an instant.

"Who are you? Aren't you afraid of angering my master?" Luzhu knelt in front of a table with her back to the stairs, her voice a little cold.

"How do you know I'm not your master if you don't even look at me?" Liu Xian said with a smile.

Lu Zhu didn't recognize Liu Xian's voice. She leaned slightly, revealing her elegant neck and pure white face, and said, "My master's footsteps would not be so light, and others would not dare to enter without his permission."

After not seeing her for a year, Miss Luzhu is still as breathtakingly beautiful. Her body is as slender as a willow, her eyes are as bright as peaches, and her cool and smooth jaw and black satin-like hair add a bit of captivating magic.

She turned around, looked at the black veil covering Liu Xian's face, and concluded: "So you are here to kidnap me, yes and no?"

Liu Xian said, "I'm here to take you away."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhu suddenly stood up and quickly retreated to the window. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled out a dagger and pressed it directly across her jade-like neck. She said loudly to Liu Xian, "I advise you to give up this idea! Even if I die, I will jump off the building rather than follow you!"

Liu Xian was stunned for a moment. Before he came up, he thought of various scenes when he met Lu Zhu, maybe the joy of being free from the cage, or the luck of escaping from death, or the tears of being reborn, but he never expected that it would develop like this.

Although he was wearing black and had a mask on, and certainly didn't look like a good person, was it really necessary for her to dislike him? Liu Xian thought again, could it be that she still had some feelings for Shi Chong?
But thinking about it carefully, there are some clues. The last time he came to Jingu Garden, Shi Chong was indeed very fond of Lu Zhu. Although from what he saw, he loved Lu Zhu only for her beauty, but could Lu Zhu understand that? Or was she content with this kind of life?

If this is true, then this trip of mine would be a bit too self-indulgent.

Liu Xian was silent for a moment, then asked her, "Miss, you are still young. Is it worth it to give up your life like this?"

Lu Zhu sneered: "What is worth it?"

"I've heard that Shi Chong was greedy and cold-blooded, robbing and killing merchants and torturing his servants. The corpses of his men are enough to build a Jingguan. Aren't you afraid to serve such a man?"

This made Lu Zhu look mixed with emotions, but she quickly regained her composure and said coldly, "Isn't this the way the world is? Fathers sell their children, husbands kill their wives, ministers plot to usurp the throne, and rulers are licentious and chaotic. So-called benevolence, righteousness, morality, and ethical principles—aren't they all fake?"

"No matter how cold-blooded Shi Chong is, he at least treats me with deep affection. Even if he treats me as a plaything, it's reasonable and he has never let me down. Are you any different from him? Wanting to kidnap me, isn't that just treating me as a plaything?"

Liu Xian understood and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that Miss Lu Zhu was neither a materialist nor in love with Shi Chong. Instead, she had lost confidence in life after experiencing too many blows in her life.

This was understandable. After all, as a human being, being sold out by one's own father was not a pleasant feeling. And after being imprisoned in Shi Chong for too long, she had forgotten the taste of true happiness.

But it is impossible for people to not have hope, they just need a little warmth and sincerity to encourage them.

After taking two steps back, Liu Xian pulled off the black veil on his head, revealing his young face, and said, "No, that's not the case."

This time it was Luzhu's turn to be surprised.

Liu Xian said, "Miss Luzhu, perhaps what you said really happened, but I am truly sincere in coming to save you today."

"I took the risk to come here today, and I may not be able to give you a better life. But if you leave here, there is still a possibility of change. If you stay here, I'm afraid you won't have any chance."

After seeing Liu Xian's face clearly, she was first surprised at his youth, and then belatedly recognized his identity. The fact that the Prince of Anle appeared here made her open her red lips, at a loss for a moment. She unconsciously put down the dagger in her hand and muttered in her sleep, "Young Master..."

Seeing her reaction, Liu Xian didn't exchange any more pleasantries. He walked straight forward, grabbed Lu Zhu's hand, and whispered, "Miss, time is running out. My companions are still waiting for me outside. If we want to leave, we have to leave now!"

"If you really can't make up your mind, just think of it as helping me fulfill my dream!"

Liu Xian's behavior was very presumptuous. Luzhu instinctively wanted to refuse, but Liu Xian didn't allow her to say more and dragged her out.

His hands were hot and stained with sweat. The warmth of the man was transmitted through his white wrists. Lu Zhu immediately softened and could not say no. She could only stumble and follow him, whispering, "Where are you taking me, sir?"

"I'll hide you for a while. When the storm is over, I'll take you home." Liu Xian answered as a matter of course.

This answer made Luzhu confused: the word "home" seemed very far away from her, but it had such great magic that she could not get it out of her mind.

But as he said this, Liu Xian seemed to realize something was wrong, and he immediately corrected himself, saying, "If you don't want to go home, I can help arrange where you want to go."

Footsteps pounded up the stairs, and amidst the sound of "dong dong dong," the lights on the top floor gradually faded, and the darkness below engulfed them. This made Luzhu feel like she was dreaming, even though she hadn't dreamed in a long time. But on a dark and stormy night, a young man suddenly appeared like the wind, saying that he would take her out of her cage and set her free. What else could this be but a dream?

The raging wind and fire, the noise and howling outside the building all seemed to be proof that I was dreaming! But the warmth from my hand clearly told me that all this was real.

Why had this Prince Anle come to save her? What did he mean when he asked her to help him fulfill a dream? Lu Zhu stared at Liu Xian's sharp features in the darkness, her heart aching.

He had never met her privately, only once, yet he had created such a scene. Was he perhaps attracted to her beauty? But it wasn't worth the risk. The difference between the Anle and Boling mansions was well known not only to Lu Zhu but to the entire capital. Moreover, with such a scene, if he wasn't careful, he could be charged with treason.

Luzhu couldn't come up with an answer for a moment, but she could clearly feel the boy's sincere passion. This passion infected her like body temperature, making her feel inexplicably ashamed and amused for her own remarks. Then a light emotion surged into her heart and began to wash away the deep-rooted illness that had accumulated over the years.

But the clear spring did not flow for long. When the two stepped into the first floor, a strong wind swept in, and in the dim vision, sleeves fluttered continuously.

Soon, the wind died down, and it was mixed with raindrops. Under the very short raindrops, a torrential downpour came crashing down. For a split second, the world was completely silent. But afterward, the only sound was the rushing of water, as if a flood had erupted, ready to drown everything in the world.

The sky brightened slightly.

Liu Xian stopped and stared at the wide-open door, his eyebrows slightly raised. Without turning around, he whispered, "Just stand here and wait for me for a moment."

After saying this, he released his grip on Luzhu's right hand, slowly drew the Zhaowu Sword from his waist, stood in front of the stairs, and said to the figure in front of the door: "Go ahead."

Zhao He also drew the long sword from his waist. Two cold rays of light flickered in the darkness, like two silver snakes spitting out their tongues. He said slowly, "Please teach me."

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(End of this chapter)