chapter ix. a fright

　　My aunt once said that everyone hides their most cherished past. 　　At this moment I remembered her words. 　　No matter who is good or evil, there is always something to hold on to, something to cherish, and once violated, one will defend it with all one's might, even at the cost of one's life. 　　If I were you, I would have spent the rest of my life taking revenge on the murderer if I had seen my loved ones suffer such a tragedy. 　　"Have you ever hated?" His gaze was cold as he forced me to look at him. 　　Hate - this word, make me trance for a long time. 　　"No." I lowered my eyes and smiled ruefully, "I have no one to hate." 　　I can't hate the people who have abandoned me in my life, but my relatives and husband, I can't hate. 　　However, I raised my head and looked straight into his eyes, "If one day, you lead the army to the south of the Central Plains, will you spare the women, children and old people of the Central Plains?" 　　He looked at me steadily, his gaze was uncertain, a long time side of the head did not answer. 　　I looked at him, "If you kill me, why not hurt the innocent? You have a mother and sisters, I also have parents and brothers, do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. What you did today, how do you compare with Xiao Qi? He is fighting for his country, but you are only fighting for personal grudges. If you think you did nothing wrong, what was wrong with Xiao Qi that day?" 　　"Shut up!" He was furious and raised his hand, the wind of his palm swept across my cheek but did not land. 　　As if he was trying his best to restrain his ferocity, his eyes were red and his murderous spirit flourished, "You only want to exonerate Xiao Qi, you don't know how to repent for your sins, you Central Plains people are all hypocrites and cunning, all men can be killed, and no woman can be trusted! One day, I will kill all the southern barbarians and level the Central Plains!" 　　I was cornered by him, my back against the wall, unable to retreat. 　　Looking at his crazy and twisted face, I clearly understood - the bone-deep blood feud between the two tribes, which has lasted for generations, and the killings will never end. 　　On the battlefield, there is no right or wrong, only the king is defeated. 　　I do not slaughter people, people also slaughter me. 　　General blood on the frontier, in exchange for thousands of people to enjoy peace. 　　If there is no Yuzhang Wang ten years of war, to protect the country, I am afraid that countless women and children in the Central Plains will be subjected to foreign insults. 　　"Helan Pro, you will regret this." I smiled proudly, "You will regret making an enemy of Xiao Qi." 　　He Lan Zhen's pupils contracted as he leaned down and approached, pinching my jaw. 　　"What kind of hero is it if you can't even guard your own woman, Xiao Qi is nothing but a butcher!" 　　I struggled to speak under his grip, "I don't deserve to die, but you won't get away with it." 　　He Lan Zhen's hand force, such as iron clamps on my throat, watching me close my eyes in pain, he leaned over and sneered in my ear, "Really, then you open your eyes and watch!" 　　His hand probed into my lapel, slowly picking apart the sash, his lips coldly pressed between my ears, "Why don't I turn you into my woman first, when I kill Xiao Qi, you won't have to be a widow." 　　I tasted a hint of blood in my mouth, my lips were bitten by myself, this pain, but it was drowned out by humiliation and anger. 　　He pressed me down heavily on the bed. 　　I did not struggle, and no longer kicked, only tilted my head and laughed contemptuously. 　　"Helan Zhen, your mother is watching you from heaven." 　　Helan Zhen suddenly stiffened and stopped, his chest rose and fell sharply, his face was horrifyingly blue. 　　I couldn't see the look in his eyes. 　　It was as if everything had frozen like death. 　　Stalemate for a long time, he slowly got up, did not look at me again, leaving the back of the stiff and cold, like a lifeless living dead. 　　Another day passed. 　　Calculated that tonight should be the time for them to make a move, but no matter whether it is Helan Zhen or Xiao Qi's people, there is no movement at all. 　　No one came in, no one brought food or water, and I was imprisoned alone in this room. 　　The room was dark at night. 　　I curled up at the head of the bed, tugging at my sleeves and neckline, trying to cover up the scars from these days of torture. 　　But no matter how I tugged and pulled, I couldn't hide the traces of my humiliation. 　　I don't want to appear in front of Xiao Qi with this kind of wretched appearance, even if I see my corpse, I still want to be clean and decent. 　　Suddenly there was a ray of light that shone in from the doorway. 　　He Lan Zhen appeared in the doorway at an unknown time, dressed in black, his cloak trailing on the ground, blending with the night color behind him. 　　The gnarled bearded man who followed him led eight heavy helmeted and iron armored soldiers, covered from head to toe under the cloak, guarding the door like a ghost. 　　He walked up to me and gazed at me spectrally. 　　"Is it time?" I stood up calmly and smoothed my loose sideburns. 　　Horan Pro suddenly lifted my face. 　　Under the moonlight, his face was as pale as snow, his fingers were cold, and his thin lips trembled slightly. 　　"After today, if you do not die, I will not die ...... I will take you back to the desert ......" He was full of trance, and seemed to have a moment of intolerance. 　　"Even if it is my corpse, Xiao Qi will recapture it, you can t take anything away." I replied faintly. 　　His hand froze, looking at me for an instant, his burning gaze gradually cooling to gray. 　　The gnarled bearded man came in and held a black box in front of He Lan Zhen. 　　Helan Zhen put one hand on that box, and the corners of his eyes seemed to throb slightly. 　　"Young master, don't miss the hour." The gnarled bearded man urged in a low voice. 　　Helan Zhen's face was even paler than before, his hand trembled, and he suddenly lifted the lid of the box. 　　In the box was an ordinary jade belt. 　　He slowly took out the jade belt and seemed to want to tie it around my waist. 　　I cower back, avoiding his touch, vaguely aware of the hidden danger of the jade belt, like a poisonous snake will wrap me. 　　The gnarled bearded man stepped forward and restrained me. 　　Helan Zhen's hands wrapped around my waist, clasping the jade belt with a thud, his palm gently rubbing up. 　　"Since this moment, you'd better not move again." He smiled, but his face was as if covered in frost, "The jade belt contains the most potent phosphorus fire poison, once the trigger is activated, the phosphorus fire erupts, and everything within three feet will be burned to ashes." 　　I froze, even my breath froze into ice. 　　"You can pray to the heavens to help me kill Xiao Qi in one fell swoop, and then you can also be spared from death." Helan Zhen caressed my face, his smile growing cold. 　　He put a black cloak over me, and by the light of the moon, the familiar vermillion tiger emblem on the cloak caught my eye. 　　The red tiger emblem is vaguely the emblem of the Ministry of War's envoys. 　　Could it be that they are going to pretend to be the guards of the Minister of War to blend into the barracks? 　　I was shocked, and a horrible thought came to my mind. 　　Before I could think about it, Helan Zhen had already firmly clasped my wrist, "Follow me, remember, one careless step will result in poisonous flames burning your body." 　　My hands and feet were cold, woodenly following him, step by step out of the door. 　　Border cold night wind blowing sleeve fluttering, the distance can vaguely see the barracks of the fire. 　　At this time, the moon is in the middle of the night, the night is quiet, but I have already stepped on a path of death, I can not turn back. 　　He Lan Zhen has already made a move, Xiao Qi, but still seems to be immobile. 　　In the courtyard, a group of subordinates have been waiting for orders. 　　I saw the pale face of Xiaoye is also among them, was held by two big men, seems to be seriously injured, staggering. 　　She even changed into a palace dress, head full of pearls and emeralds, cloud temples high Ò, just like a noblewoman. 　　I was anxious, guessing that she was going to pretend to be me to get close to Xiao Qi. 　　There were barracks fires in all directions, stretching far away. 　　The big man with a gnarled beard walked in the front, and I was escorted by Helan Zhen personally, the group passed through many barracks along the road, and the patrolling soldiers saw us from afar and made way with solemnity. Every time we passed a barrier, the bearded man showed a red token, and all went through unhindered. 　　If I'm not mistaken, that must be the seal of the Ministry of War. 　　Seeing the fire-painted Huben order is like seeing the Ministry of War's envoy in person. 　　Sure enough, through the barrier, will see the tiger emblem of the ambassador's teeth flag stands in the handsome flag side, red tiger pattern reflecting the hunting firelight. 　　After the last barrier, it is the schoolyard of the northern border camp. 　　The school field is built on the mountain, outside the field of vast woodland, leading to the foot of the mountain. 　　The field has been built up to a few feet high beacon, thirty feet in front of the platform is the commander-in-chief parade pointing platform. 　　I remember my uncle told me that every time an envoy from the Ministry of Military Affairs goes out to patrol the border, a military parade will be held, the beacon will be lit in the schoolyard, the commander-in-chief will raise the tent to order the generals, the general will give orders on the platform, and the generals and soldiers of the six armies will line up to drill and show the military might to the envoys. 　　I looked up, the beacon on the huge pile of firewood has been stacked up, towering like a tower. 　　In the night, a line of men came up to meet me, also wearing black cloaks, with the insignia of the Qin ambassador's escort on their cloaks. 　　"Who is trespassing on the important land of the schoolyard?" 　　"We are here to inspect by order of His Excellency, the Minister of Qin." The gnarled bearded man flashed his token. 　　The head of the other party stepped forward to receive the token, looked at it carefully, and asked in a lowered voice, "Why are you late?" 　　The gnarled-bearded man replied, "At the beginning of the third watch, it is not late." 　　The man exchanged glances with his companion and nodded his head to accept the token. 　　"Your Excellency is Lord Helan?" The man owed me a bow. 　　The Helan Pro beside me was dressed as an ordinary guard, his cloak covering his face, and he did not move. 　　"His Lordship has other important business to attend to, so he will go ahead." The gnarled-bearded man whispered, "We will follow the orders." 　　The man nodded and said, "The manpower has already been arranged, once we make our move, we will immediately take over." 　　"Thank you, my lord!" The gnarled bearded man arched his hand and owed me a bow. 　　I watched that line of people pass by, like demons and phantoms hiding into the darkness of the night. 　　For a moment, my whole body grew cold, and silk chills drilled into my body from all sides. 　　There really is an insider, and this insider is even a member of the Imperial Agent! 　　No wonder they were able to easily escape from Hui Zhou, blend in with the team transporting munitions, and even enter Ning Shuo's camp in broad daylight. 　　I've always wondered why Helan Pro is so powerful, but it turns out that there's another insider behind them. 　　Colluding with the remnants of Helan, holding the Princess hostage, plotting against King Yuzhang, and going so far as to make an enemy of Xiao Qi and the Wang Clan-who is this man, and who is he, and what favors did Helan Zhen use to entice him to this point in his life? 　　Is He Lan Zhen really this capable, or is there another mastermind behind him? 　　Is the insider a member of the Qinzhi's staff, or is it the Qinzhi himself? 　　I was escorted out of the schoolyard and into the forest outside. 　　In the forest, there is an open area, set up a lot of stakes and barriers, and even a thousand strange offensive objects, probably for formation exercises. 　　It was after four o'clock, and the soldiers patrolling and preparing were running back and forth, and no one blocked our column of "imperial envoys". 　　Whenever the patrol soldiers passed in front of me, I slightly action, Helan Zhen immediately reached out to buckle my waist jade belt. 　　Life and death are in the hands of others, I dare not ask for help, not to mention the opportunity to escape, can only wait for the right time. 　　I was taken by Helan Zhen to a sentry post on a high hill and hid down with the others. 　　As the sky brightened, the campfires in the barracks went out, and the schoolyard became clearer and clearer in the morning light. The last of the night color in the sky faded away, and the light of the sky pierced through the clouds and cast on the vast land. 　　Suddenly, a low trumpet sounded through the camp for miles around. 　　The war drums and horns sounded in unison, and ten thousand feet of sunlight jumped through the clouds, the sky was filled with wind and clouds, and the weather was majestic. The earth was vaguely shaking, and in the thin morning sunlight, there was rolling smoke and dust rising up around the schoolyard. 　　The four sides of the school field appeared a column of soldiers and horses heavily armed formation, in order to march forward, the sound of boots shaking the ground, rolled up the yellow dragon like strands of sand and dust. 　　Three low and majestic drums sounded, the commander-in-chief ascended to the tent. On the general's platform, a black and gold banner was raised, fluttering in the wind and hunting. 　　Where the banner is displayed, two columns of iron horsemen surrounded by two riders riding side by side, ascending to the high platform. 　　The first person riding ink-colored colt, still familiar black helmet white feathers, clad in the color of the feudal king's coiled dragon robe, by the reins of the sword, the figure of the proud, basilica cloak rolled in the wind. Next to him was a man riding a purple electric bay, wearing a vermillion robe, with a high crown and sword. 　　That was Xiao Qi. 　　Once again, he entered my eyes from afar, just like the first time I saw him on the city tower, but the world was already very different. 　　My eyes suddenly blurred and tears welled up. 　　"The Lord Commander rises his tent--" 　　Horns whimpering and high-pitched, the six army generals shouted in unison, their voices shaking the four fields. 　　Nine generals with heavy armor and swords were the first to gallop to the front of the stage and salute by pressing their swords. 　　Xiao Qi looked down on the generals and slightly raised his hand, tens of thousands of soldiers and generals on the field immediately stood in silence and listened. 　　His voice was solemn and deep, and it came from far away, "The imperial envoy Xu Shou is visiting Ningshuo on behalf of Heaven, to work hard on the king's affairs and to stabilize the borderlands. Today, the schoolyard is for the counting of troops, all the generals will follow my orders and maneuver their formations, to raise the prestige of my army for the grace of Heaven!" 　　Tens of thousands of soldiers and generals raised their halberds and gorges in unison, emitting earth-shattering shouts that made people's hearts vibrate and their ears buzz. 　　The drums rumbled and moved the ground, a sound that crashed straight into the hearts of the people. 　　The four soldiers on the summoning platform, each facing east, west, south, north and south, danced the hunting flag. 　　The horn blew, the golden drums sounded, and the sound of the drums became more and more urgent. 　　A team of black armor iron horsemen took the lead to run into the schoolyard, galloping across the board, in and out of order, with the red flag in the hands of the general rehearsing the nine palace formation. 　　Followed by heavy armor battalion, infantry cavalry battalion, Shenji battalion, attack vehicle battalion ...... each battalion led by a general school, rehearsal formation drills, well trained. 　　For a time, all around the sand and dust flying, flags flying, killing sound. 　　Although it is not a real battlefield, I still see the heart and soul are shocked. 　　This vast military might, compared to the day of the capital to treat the army, a hundred times more majestic, so that I was shocked to forget the danger of being in. 　　The side of Helan Zhen tightened the hilt of the sword, eyebrow blade like a knife, face more and more serious and murderous. 　　Sand and dust rolled in all directions, and at a glance, I could only see the flags and banners, and the light of gold and iron was cold. 　　Only to see the high platform, Xiao Qi lifted his arm and lifted his cloak, received a huge bow in his hand, opened the string like a full moon, a fire vector broke through the air and flew away, hitting the firewood pile on the beacon platform. As the beacon fire rose, the horn sounded again, high pitched and cracked the sky. 　　All the generals in the schoolyard shouted in unison as if the earth was shaking. 　　On top of the high platform, Xiao Qi drew his sword, the cold light cut through, pointing straight to the sky. The black stallion under his seat let out a long neigh and raised its hooves. 　　The formation under the field was like a tidal wave, retreating to the two sides, leaving a straight avenue in the center of the field. 　　Xiao Qi is the first horse, the Qinzhi ambassador Xu Shou followed closely behind, both galloped into the field. 　　Xu Shou, could he be the insider who colluded with Helan Zhen? 　　At the moment, I saw him following behind Xiao Qi, I was so anxious that I couldn't run in front of him to warn him. 　　He Lan Zhen laughed coldly, pressed his hand on my waist, and said in a low voice: "If you don't want to die with him, don't act rashly." 　　I bit my lip, not saying a word. 　　He lowered his voice and smiled sinisterly, "Watch well, soon you will be a widow." 　　I turned around to look at the field, Xiao Qi had already reached the center of the field, with nine generals following behind him. Behind him, the commander waved the flag, pointing to the two sides, ordering a team of black-armored iron horsemen to come swiftly. 　　At this moment, Xiao Qi suddenly turned his horse around and galloped to the right. Behind him, the iron cavalry spread out, the heavy shield infantry cut off the way, the formation sped like a snake, and in a flash, Xiao Qi and Xu Shou were separated from the left and right flanks. 　　Xiao Qi led the right flank and came straight to the forest where we were hiding. 　　Xu Shou was surrounded by the left flank, his horse was in a circle, there was no way forward or backward, and the heavy shield armor soldiers underneath were like a tidal wave, tightening the formation and forcing him to the center of the formation. Xu Shou several times urged his horse to retreat, but already have no choice. 　　"Not good!" Helan Zhen cried out in a low voice.