Translator: Antonia
“Now announcing the Imperial Edict: Fang Junqian, Duke Yingwu, safeguarded our homeland at the border town of Bafang and made an unprecedented triumph since the founding of this dynasty through "Zhenxiong" Battle. I hereby confer on Fang Junqian the second-level t.i.tle (from the original third-level) as Duke Zhengxiong Yingwu and request him to lead Bafang Army to go for a further expedition on Xiongye to expand our Daqing territory and carry forward our fame of military strength!” (Note: Zhengxiong here refers to conquering Xiongye)The Imperial Commissioner smiled amiably, “Duke Zhengxiong Yingwu, please accept the edict.” His gloating smile ended abruptly—Fang Junqian"s penetrating eyes made him s.h.i.+ver in the scalp!
“Yes, I accept it.” In a blink, Fang Junqian put on a humble timid smile, “Lord Commissioner has travelled a long way here. I should have welcomed you earlier. Please forgive me if I did anything wrong.”
“You"re being too polite…” The commissioner almost believed it was his illusion, “I still have matters to handle, so I can"t detain longer here. I appreciate your hospitality very much, Duke.”
Fang Junqian personally walked him to the town entrance. The two chatted and laughed, appearing to be good friends to an outsider.
Looking at the young charming face, the commissioner couldn"t help sighing about his fate and reminding him in a low voice, “Duke, take care on this journey.”
Fang Junqian was shocked for a second and smiled gently, “Thank you.”
The commissioner didn"t know that his reminder happened to save his own life. Neither would he know that if Fang Junqian hadn"t decided to let him go, then what waited for him on the way back would be a well-trained "Tianbin" troops and a sorrowful "accident" of being murdered at his post.
Going back to his office tent, Fang Junqian asked all guards to leave and sat quietly alone inside.
His chin was placed on his palm, and his eyes closed in contemplation.
This was the kins.h.i.+p of the imperial family…kins.h.i.+p! … Either you or me must die! —
Coldness began to acc.u.mulate on his heart, so bitter as to penetrate into his bones.
He suddenly stood up and knocked over the desk!
In the cracking sound, the top quality sandalwood desk was turned over, and the ink and paper and books were scattered all over the floor!
Fang Jiarui…Fang Jianhui!! … I bore with you in every way, but you kept pus.h.i.+ng me!
Since you were cruel, then don"t blame me for being cold-hearted!
“Fang Junqian? …” A calm soothing voice instantly chilled down the anger on his heart.
He looked up and saw Xiao Qingyu lifted the curtain and came in in his wheelchair. He sat upright before him, his cold delicate face soaked in softness, like a century-old dream, stunning and dazzling.
Xiao Qingyu said coldly, “Are you crazy?”
Didn"t you care about your parents in the capital? Could you defeat Emperor Jiarui right now? Did you know what you were doing!?
Fang Junqian was silent.
In a long while.
“What can I do?” Fang Junqian smiled bitterly, “To launch a war against Xiongye? To fight a lone battle and die in a foreign land?”
“Qingyu, even if I"d like to die here in Bafang, I just can"t escape from the already existing filth. It"s them that never let me go! If so…”
Sharpness and decisiveness gradually appeared in his eyes.
Xiao Qingyu"s heart plummeted and blurted out— “Don"t, Fang Junqian!”
Fang Junqian said lightly, “By then, Qingyu, would you like to help me and share the country with me?”
It was a statement and also a sound-out.
“If we really came to that…” Xiao Qingyu"s aqucolored lips pressed into a line.
He didn"t finish.
His eyes resembled burning snow and frozen flame.
If we really came to that, I would kill you with my own hands.
“We"ll win.” He said lightly, “Fang Junqian. Start the battle. No matter what the outcome would be, I"ll stay with you forever…”
As long as you don"t betray Daqing, Xiao Qingyu would be with you forever.
Would forever really be ever?
Fang Junqian, “Even if we"re going to die?”
Xiao Qingyu nodded, “Even if we"re going to die.”
Fang Junqian eyed this man—who seemed to be extremely fragile and weak but was actually tough and resilient like a bamboo tree which never broke even under snow and storm.
He would be with me forever…
This moment filled him with warmth and let him forget who he was, the feuds in the court, the ambition to override the world, just because there was such a person quietly staying by his side!
Then—
Just fight!!
Not for Daqing. Just for him!
Even if it meant death, there was a glimmer of hope—
Fang Junqian swore to seize this glimmer of hope to survive!
Qingyu, did you know it? As long as you were with me, Duke Yingwu was invincible!