Three Steps: From Assassin to Empress - Chapter 50
Chapter 50: Farewell to Friends
Bidding farewell to Xue Hao and the others, Ying Xiu turned and walked out of the tavern. Someone called out to him from behind. He turned his head and saw that it was his superior.
His superior spoke to him in a low voice. “The master has given an order. I will go to Jiankang with you to do that thing.”
Ying Xiu nodded imperceptibly, indicating that he understood. His palm suddenly felt heavy as his superior slipped a few silver ingots into his hand. “Who knows if you will live or die in the days to come. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, you might as well go and do them.”
Ying Xiu’s fingers lightly closed, holding the heavy silver. He said softly, “Thank you.”
His superior had always been strict with him. Perhaps knowing that this assassination was a matter of life and death, he showed a softer side.
The golden-robed youth walked out of the tavern, the sunset behind him, casting a dappled sheet of gold.
His superior stood still for a long time, until he could no longer see the young assassin’s figure. Finally, he turned and went back inside.
…
Over the next few days, Ying Xiu went to Jianxia Square to see its people.
After months of being away, as soon as the people in the market saw Ying Xiu, they stopped what they were doing and crowded around him, asking how he was.
When they started to try and give him things, Ying Xiu quickly waved his hands to refuse.
Listening to the people of Jianxia Square speak the Wing Province dialect, Ying Xiu’s eyes inexplicably became a little wet.
He didn’t want to bring up the past, but thinking that this might be the last time they would see each other, he hesitated for a moment and finally asked, “Did all of you move here from Central Plains’ Wing Province?”
The common people were all stunned. That was an event from decades ago. They didn’t shy away from it and told him everything.
“We all came across the river with the fortress master back then. The waves that day were huge, and the Qiang ships were chasing us from behind…”
The people reminisced as they spoke. “Some people said we should abandon some people, but the fortress master said we would either die together or live together, and not one person was allowed to be left behind. He told us to go first while he stayed behind to hold them off.”
As they spoke, tears welled up in their eyes. For all these years, many people had said that their fortress master had conspired with the enemy and plotted a rebellion, but they still refused to believe it.
Their fortress master, their general, had led them to Jiangzuo back then. When they left the river, he stood at the bow of the ship, facing the river wind, and vowed that one day, he would bring them back to their homeland.
They abandoned their country and crossed the river, separated by it.
How much hatred is in their hearts, even after the people are gone.
Ying Xiu listened silently. He was born in Jiangzuo and couldn’t fully empathize with the people’s longing for their old country. He just listened quietly.
In their simple words, the atmosphere of their old homeland in the Central Plains came rushing at him. There were magnificent towers and courtyards, but more than that, there were acres of fields, a roaring great river, and rice waving in the spring breeze. Small bugs perched on new leaves, and with a light flick, they would fly away.
The Central Plains had plenty of rain. As the raindrops fell, many towers and courtyards were bathed in the misty rain.
Looking through the fog, the towers, pavilions, and plants gradually disappeared behind the heavy clouds.
He imagined boarding the boat to escape his homeland, looking back and taking one last glance, knowing that they would never see each other again in this lifetime.
Ying Xiu didn’t like to cry. To him, tears were useless. Only the sword was useful.
As long as the sword was fast enough, it could cut through all troubles and sorrows.
So many people, so much sorrow. This was not the hatred of one person, but the hatred of an entire country.
The young assassin raised his head and wiped away his tears along his brow bone.
He said goodbye to the people of Jianxia Square, got into a carriage, and headed toward the inn.
Not long after the carriage left, a mother and daughter appeared in Jianxia Square, looking around, trying to find someone.
A passing citizen told her, “You’re too late. The benefactor has already left.”
…
The Arrival in Jiankang
Ying Xiu was ready to depart. Due to the repeated urging of the Wang clan of Langya, he had to leave as soon as possible.
The Yuan River roared, and the waves passed on both sides of the boat. The large vessel beneath his feet was like a sword, cutting through the vast blue waves and heading toward the mountains.
Ying Xiu stood at the bow, letting the river wind blow on his face. He wondered, what are the similarities and differences between the wind of the Yangtze River back then and the wind of the Yuan River now?
The youth’s eyes were uncharacteristically solemn and serious, as if he were contemplating something difficult to understand.
A vast wind blew on his clothes, which rippled like a soft, flowing golden ribbon, or like two wings that would soar away at any moment.
The retainer slowly walked up behind him and looked down at Ying Xiu, pondering where the change in him came from. It wasn’t hard to guess.
“Ying Xiu.” The retainer called his name twice.
Ying Xiu finally came back to his senses. He looked up at Xie Zhou with a puzzled expression. “Xie Zhou?”
“What are you thinking about?” Xie Zhou’s eyes held a mix of authority and warmth, and a subtle sense of oppression. His tone was still gentle, as if he were just asking a casual question.
Ying Xiu turned his head to look forward. He had already gotten used to the faint sense of danger from Xie Zhou. In any case, Xie Zhou wouldn’t do anything to him.
“I’m thinking about what’s on the other side of the Yangtze River.”
The other side?
Xie Zhou quickly understood what he was talking about. He was talking about the Central Plains. “Do you want to go?”
If Ying Xiu wants to go, I will take him there.
Ying Xiu shook his head. Talking about these things was too heavy, and he didn’t want Xie Zhou to feel sad because of it. It was better not to say anything at all.
With the Grand Canal running through the four provinces, they arrived in Jiankang very quickly.
The capital of the Southern Dynasty, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, stood majestically before him. In this place, there was a tower every five steps and a pavilion every ten steps. Wherever he looked, there were jade towers and golden palaces, with eaves and curtains that swayed in the wind.
In the frosty sky, the layered towers and pavilions were a magnificent and elegant sight.
Ying Xiu poked his head out of the carriage and stared at the sight before him, his mouth agape in shock.
The beautiful, magnificent, and huge buildings stood oppressively in the capital, on par with the sky. Mortals scurried around at their feet.
After a long pause, the seventeen-year-old youth could only say one thing: “Jiankang is so big.”
So big that his eyes couldn’t take it all in.
Xie Zhou chuckled softly and brought him to a private residence. The courtyard was not large, but it was exquisite. A river passed through the eastern side, and the lotus flowers in the pond were a beautiful sight.
It was already nightfall when they entered the residence. A painted boat appeared in the distance on the river. With its lanterns, jade boats, and music, it was like a dream.
The youth had already reached the long staircase and was about to enter the residence. He heard the noise, looked toward it, and tiptoed to see from a distance. “Is that the Qinhuai River?”
Xie Zhou stood beside him and stopped as well. “Yes.”
The Little Qinhuai River in Jiang Province was named after the Qinhuai River in Jiankang.
Seeing it today, it was indeed extraordinary.
Ying Xiu looked at it a few more times, then pulled Xie Zhou into the residence. Xie Zhou asked him, “Do you want to go have fun?”
He was looking at it so intently just now, and his eyes were full of wonder. He must want to, Xie Zhou thought.
Ying Xiu shook his head. “I don’t.”
He quickly walked through the long corridor, not paying attention to the scenery in the residence, and didn’t even ask about the fields Xie Zhou used to walk in as a child.
The youth walked quickly with a jingling sound, not waiting for him. The retainer was left behind,æ„£ed for a moment. He looked at his hand, which had been released, and his eyes turned dark.
The accompanying pageboy didn’t dare to look anymore. He lowered his head, trying his best to be an obedient quail.
When he reached the quiet room, the retainer entered and saw the youth squatting on the ground, packing his things. The clothes and belongings were already sorted and arranged in the room. Ying Xiu was just busy taking them out.
The attendant behind him widened his eyes slightly. Is this…
Is he going to live separately from His Majesty?!
As soon as Xie Zhou stepped in, Ying Xiu noticed him. He pretended not to have and focused on packing his things.
In reality, there were not many things that truly belonged to him. Most of them had been added by Xie Zhou.
He simply packed a few clothes and didn’t touch anything else. Holding the clothes in his arms, the youth stood up and finally looked at Xie Zhou. “Is there another room here? I want to live by myself.”
Without waiting for the retainer to speak, he whispered, “If there isn’t, I can just move out on my own.”
He was about to participate in the training prepared by the Wang clan of Langya, so it was not a good idea to live in the same room as Xie Zhou.
Ying Xiu admitted that he was a selfish person. He could have just parted ways with Xie Zhou directly, without all this dragging on, but he still wanted to see Xie Zhou a little longer.
For some people, if you don’t meet them in this lifetime, that’s fine. But once you do, even if it’s just a brief encounter, separating becomes an incredibly painful thing.
There was a moment of silence.
The retainer said calmly, “Yes,” then added, “I’ll have someone prepare it for you.”
Xie Zhou was always so easy to talk to. Ying Xiu didn’t understand why he had been so nervous just now. He nodded heavily, instinctively looking up to kiss him, but in the next moment, he suddenly came to his senses.
“Then… thank you, Xie Zhou,” the youth said stiffly, standing still.
The atmosphere was very strange. Even the young attendant could see it. He winked at Ying Xiu from behind Xie Zhou.
Attendant: Please don’t fight!
Ying Xiu pretended not to see him. He held his clothes and walked past Xie Zhou, heading outside.
The youth was gone. He could still hear the faint jingling of the jade ornaments on his clothes, but upon listening closely, there was only a dead silence.
The retainer looked at the empty quiet room and silently began to put away the mess on the floor. These were all things he had bought, assuming Ying Xiu would like them.
In the end, Ying Xiu didn’t take a single one.
Ying Xiu lay down in another quiet room. The layout of this room was similar to the previous one—it was just as comfortable and spacious, but he always felt like something was missing.
His heart felt empty, and he was inexplicably sad.
The youth turned over in bed and took out his Heart-Seeking Sword and his mask, which were at the bottom of his chest. He sat in front of a bronze mirror, held up the sword, and pressed the blade against his cheek. It was cold, so cold that it gave him goosebumps.
The assassin looked at his beautiful and spirited face. He made a few tentative moves with the tip of the sword. How can I cut myself without it hurting?
It will hurt no matter how I cut it.
He put down the sword. Just then, the owl flew in through the window. It was the assassin he was working with, urging him to come. This was their first practice run, and it was imperative that he be there.
Ying Xiu changed his clothes and put on his mask. He folded his golden robe and placed it on the table. The bells on the collar slowly became silent, gradually quieting down.
The beautiful robe lay quietly in the darkness, its owner nowhere to be found.
In the darkness, someone unlocked the door, pushed open the folding door, and walked in, looking at the neatly folded robe.
The quiet room was empty. The person living here clearly had no intention of decorating it.
“Put some pressure on the Wang clan of Langya.”
The room was pitch black, but the person gave his order calmly.
…
How will Ying Xiu’s attempt to sever ties and protect Xie Zhou play out now that Xie Zhou knows his true mission?