mtl008 Chapter 923 Brother Sheng, will you catch me?
Chapter 923 Brother Sheng, will you catch me?
At that time, Dugu Zhijian did not understand Li Duan's persistence, but much later, she finally understood.
She served the wine to Li Duan, and she certainly had her own selfish motives.
Perhaps she hoped this person would disappear from the world forever, but perhaps what she wanted to see was simply her choice.
She herself couldn't explain it clearly.
Sometimes, people are unconsciously controlled by their emotions.
Perhaps the nature of good and evil in humanity is just like that, a matter of a single thought.
Seeing the wine glass that had rolled to the ground, Dugu Zhijian straightened up, straightened his clothes, and turned to leave.
Li Duan watched her leave, then sat down, leaning on a chair for support.
Over the past three years, she has experienced countless instances of such open and covert attacks.
Although Dugu Zhijian always liked to put on airs, at least she was open about it.
There is an unseen amount of malice hidden within this prince's mansion, the imperial palace, and even the entire capital of Yanjing.
Yanjing was like a monster that devoured people; from the moment she stepped in, it swallowed her whole.
After that, all she saw was darkness.
Two days to go.
soon.
Pear-shaped lips and eyebrows curved upwards, very quickly.
Another day passed.
Helian Jue still hadn't returned, and the people in the Prince's mansion were filled with anxiety. Li Duan, staying in her own courtyard, had already heard the rumors that people were starting to flee the capital. Security was tight everywhere, and soldiers were patrolling the streets even in the dead of night.
The sky was just as dark and gloomy as expected, and there was no good weather for two consecutive days.
On the third day, Li Duan got up early in the morning to bathe and change into a bright red wedding dress.
That was prepared for her by Zhou, the nanny who served her mother. Her mother personally selected the fabric. It's just a pity that her mother left before she could prepare her wedding dress.
When Granny Zhou finished embroidering her wedding dress, she was still the same size as she was three years ago. She had grown much taller in those three years, so she secretly took out this old wedding dress and altered it many times.
She used to hate needlework and had barely ever held a needle. But when she tried to embroider a purse for Brother Sheng, she pricked her fingers until they were full of holes, and the embroidery still didn't look good.
Despite her clumsiness, she gradually learned to sew and embroider over the past three years.
It was altered many times before this wedding dress finally fit perfectly.
When Helian Jue entered, he saw her sitting in front of the dressing mirror, wearing a fiery red wedding dress, but her hair was simply tied up in a single bun with a pear blossom hairpin.
After arriving in Yanjing, Li Duan followed local customs and had not worn Hanfu for a long time.
When she changed into this outfit, Helian Jue was momentarily stunned, as if he saw the once radiant and proud Princess Da Zhao, or the bright and proud little princess. He would never forget the shock he felt at that moment.
Time seemed to overlap with the past in that instant. On Li Duan's face three years later, he saw two overlapping faces, the same, yet different.
Li Duan looked in the mirror, pursed her lips slightly, blended the lip rouge she had just applied, and then picked up a pen to draw a floral decoration between her eyebrows.
“Showa,” Helian Jue began, but for some reason, a sharp pain shot through his chest.
Li Duan put down her pen, looked at him through the bronze mirror, and said, "Let's go."
Ignoring his complicated gaze, Li Duan stood up and walked towards him, "Weren't you going to use me as a sacrifice for the flag? Let's go."
"You know everything?" Helian Jue grabbed her wrist. "Believe me, I won't let you die."
Li Duan didn't turn around, nor did she bother to. "You probably don't want to waste any more time with me here. The fact that you've been forced to come and take me away personally means that the troops of my Great Zhao are already at the city gates!"
"Who told you that?" Helian Jue asked instinctively.
"I'm right here in this mansion. Besides your beloved Grand Consort, who else is there?" Li Duan sneered. "Or are you really planning to continue wasting my time here?"
Helian Jue frowned, wanting to say something more, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to speak.
He gripped Li Duan's wrist tightly, led her away from the palace, and mounted his warhorse.
Behind him stood the Great Yan soldiers, ready for battle.
Aside from the 200,000 troops of the Left Wise King, there were still over 100,000 troops left to guard Yanjing. In addition, there were the private armies of the Dugu family and the private armies of several major noble families, bringing the total to at least nearly 200,000.
Even at this point, Great Yan might not necessarily lose.
The reason for using Princess Li Duan, who was sent for a political marriage, as a sacrifice was simply to test the attitude of the Great Zhao.
If peace talks can be reached, that would be best. If not, they can still defend Yanjing even if it means fighting to the death.
The distance from the palace to the city gate was not short. Even though Li Duan was wrapped in a cloak by Helian Jue, she could still feel the biting cold wind, which made her eyes hurt.
The city walls of Yanjing were very tall. When Li Duan was taken up to the city wall by Helian Jue, she could clearly see the scene of the two armies fighting in the distance.
Helian Jue stood behind Li Duan and said, “Do you see? When two armies clash, it is bound to cause great suffering. Zhao He, the person who came is the Crown Prince Zong Que of Da Zhao. He is your cousin. If you can persuade him to put aside the grievances between the two countries and agree to peace talks, we can return Crown Prince Chongwen and send him back to Da Zhao.”
"What about me?" Li Duan asked, looking into the distance. "Can I go back?"
“You are my queen, you have already married me.” Helian Jue’s hands gripped Li Duan’s waist tightly. “Your presence represents the sincerity of our two countries in the peace talks. The Empress Dowager has already issued a decree that if we can defend Yanjing, I will be able to succeed to the throne, and from then on, you will be my empress. I promise you that I will make your child the crown prince, and as long as your bloodline exists, our two countries will never go to war. This condition is beneficial to both countries.”
“Look at those soldiers. Some of them might be people you know, your friends in Dazhao, or people you met in Yanjing. They are fighting to the death right now. Can you really bear to do this?”
“I can’t bear to do it,” Li Duan said.
Helian Jue slowly loosened his grip on her waist, his voice becoming more sincere, "I knew it, Showa, you are the kindest and softest-hearted."
“I’m not helping you, I’m helping myself,” Li Duan said softly, gazing into the distance.
"I understand. Don't worry, I swear to God, if the peace talks succeed, you will be my one and only Empress." Helian Jue's voice was filled with excitement. He summoned his deputy and immediately gave the order, "Go and send someone to tell Zong Que that we want to negotiate peace. The King and Princess Da Zhao are waiting for him here!"
"Yes!" The lieutenant accepted the order and left.
Time passed slowly, and the two sides began to retreat gradually. The soldiers of the Great Yan retreated to both ends, while Zong Que led the soldiers of the Great Zhao to slowly arrive at the foot of the city wall.
As Li Duan watched the figure approaching from afar, the corners of her lips couldn't help but widen slightly.
“Let me talk about the peace talks first. Could you step back a little?” Ritsu asked.
"Showa!" Helian Jue couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
Li Duan glanced at the crowd standing on both sides and said, "I can't run away. Whether it's peace talks or a flag sacrifice, it's still up to you to do with me."
Helian Jue looked at the person he was holding in his arms, then at the soldiers on the city wall, and Zong Que who had already reached the foot of the city wall. After hesitating for a long time, he finally let go of Li Duan and took a few steps back.
Li Duan raised her hand and pulled out the pear blossom hairpin from her hair.
Without hesitation, she pressed the pear blossom hairpin against her neck, then turned and smiled at Helian Jue.
"do not come."
Sensing something was wrong, Helian Jue stopped in his tracks. "Showa! What do you want to do!"
"You'll find out soon enough, don't rush me." Li Duan's face was full of undisguised smiles as she called out to the people below the city wall, "Brother Sheng, will you catch me?"
Beneath the city wall, Sheng Junyao spurred his horse forward, opening his arms wide, "Come!"
Li Duan placed her hand on the city wall and leaped over it.
"do not want!"
Helian Jue strode forward, reaching out to grab Li Duan's hem, but only saw that red figure leap off the city wall. At that moment, the archers' arrows also pierced towards that figure.