Li Qingzhi handed Ling Ziyue a piece of flatbread. Seeing his gloomy expression and reluctance to eat, he tried to comfort him, “General, as long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood. Don’t let your health suffer.”
Ling Ziyue nodded and took a bite, but his expression didn’t improve at all.
As Li Qingzhi was about to offer more encouragement, Sui Yunzhu stopped him.
For someone like Li Qingzhi, who had hidden alone in darkness, any chance to openly fight enemies on the battlefield was worth any price. However, only when one truly reaches that point does one understand that things are not as simple as imagined.
Ling Ziyue had survived, but his wife and children had all been given a cup of poison and died in prison.
The Emperor’s “grace” allowed them to keep their bodies intact.
Though his body lived on, his heart had died!
Ling Ziyue now lacked even the strength to hate.
Sui Yunzhu looked at Ling Ziyue’s gaunt profile and sighed inwardly. Although his attack on Xijin Fu had been too hasty, it couldn’t be denied that he was the only one in the entire Great Song who could have done it. Perhaps no one else would be able to do so even in the next fifty years.
Back in Bianjing, the uproar over the disrupted execution had long since subsided. The blood-stained execution platform at Caishi Kou served as a reminder to everyone that the general hailed as a war god was no more.
The hot blood that had splattered that day seemed to scald everyone’s faces, burning unbearably.
Rumors began to spread from unknown sources that Ling Ziyue had been framed, with seemingly credible details. These rumors were like throwing fire into a pot of boiling oil, causing an explosive reaction.
For a time, public sentiment was inflamed, especially among the scholars who jointly submitted petitions.
They had done this before Ling Ziyue’s sentence was decided, but due to prejudice against military men, the emotions then were far less intense than now.
In the Great Song’s atmosphere of civil gentility and military weakness, Ling Ziyue had been an anomaly. In his early years, he studied under a teacher and participated in the imperial examinations. Although he hadn’t achieved a degree, he could still be considered a scholar. This past, when brought to light, further aroused the sympathy of the literati.
While this uproar continued, the court began to worry about two other matters—the Liao army, upon hearing of Ling Ziyue’s execution, immediately launched a large-scale attack! Additionally, apart from the snow on the day of Ling Ziyue’s execution, there had been very little precipitation this winter, which might affect next year’s harvest.
This year was destined to be tumultuous.
Winter seemed to pass in a blur of busyness. As soon as tender green buds appeared on the branches, Mo Sigui packed his bags and set out on his medical journey, taking two tigers with him.
Only Zhu Pianpian, Sheng Changying, and Lou Xiaowu remained on the island.
An Jiu and her group reached Jiaozhi in mid-February. By this time, the court had issued secret orders to arrest Ling Ziyue.
Near Jiaozhi, there were also Great Song troops stationed, but with the dense forests and swamps, it wasn’t difficult to hide.
An Jiu had considerable experience in jungle survival, so they weren’t in danger of starving.
However, Ling Ziyue became increasingly despondent in this sunless jungle.
After nearly a month of traversing the dense forest, they finally found a small clearing and saw the long-missed sunlight.
An Jiu casually took off her outer garment and hung it on a dead tree. She wore a “vest-like” top underneath, exposing her fair arms.
She was no longer as thin as before. Her figure was agile, her movements decisive and efficient. Although not bulky, it wasn’t hard to see the hidden explosive power and her near-obsessive control over her body.
“General Ling,” An Jiu walked towards Ling Ziyue with a water bag, taking a long drink before handing the rest to him.
Ling Ziyue took it and drank a mouthful.
“Willpower is the most crucial thing for survival here,” An Jiu squatted beside him, her jet-black eyes fixed on him. “In your current state, you won’t last three months.”
Ling Ziyue pressed his lips together, silent.
An Jiu, never one to mince words, said, “You still have a long life ahead, at least longer than the current emperor. You may yet have a chance to regain military power.”
The others looked over, each with different thoughts.
Mei Yanran stared at An Jiu’s bare arms with a complex expression, wishing she could wrap her up in clothing, but after a long look, she made no move.
“That’s right, General, you must stay strong!” Li Qingzhi echoed.
Sui Yunzhu, who could somewhat fathom Ling Ziyue’s thoughts, said, “General, you’ve always served under the current emperor. You understand what kind of court the Great Song has, yet you remained loyal for the sake of the country and people, not to any individual or particular court. Now that you’ve unfortunately been wronged and treated unjustly, has your heart to protect the nation changed?”