"What? How come the whole army was wiped out!" Taotie stood up from his chair with an angry look and looked at the little demon who came to report. He was so scared that the little demon hurriedly knelt on the ground.
Even though he had already considered the worst case scenario, he never expected that the 400,000-strong army would disappear without a trace overnight, and not even a single person came back to report the news.
Even the flying demon kneeling in front of him now went to Ximen Gorge as a routine reconnaissance this morning. When he saw that there was neither a demon nor a human soldier in the canyon, he hurriedly came to report it.
Taotie was so furious that the little demon was so frightened that he was trembling on the ground, not even daring to make a sound.
"Seriously, you didn't even see a demon clan?" Taotie took several deep breaths and asked with his beard trembling slightly.
"Sir, it's absolutely true. Not only were there no members of our tribe in the canyon, but no human soldiers were seen either. All we saw were trees fallen to the ground, and the shore was in a mess, as if it had been washed away by a flood." It happened that the four-armed ape was also there. Next to Taotie, he heard that the 400,000 troops were gone overnight. Even he looked a little uneasy and scolded the little demon: "Flood? It's winter and it doesn't rain. Where did the flood come from? If you lie about the military situation, you will lose ten lives." It’s not enough to kill you!”
"I can really see clearly, and I can never make a mistake! How about you two adults go and see for yourself and you will know!" If what the little demon reported is true, then it was definitely not caused by the flood, and it was probably caused by something else. Strangely, Taotie already had a clue or two in his mind.
However, the 400,000-strong army disappeared overnight, and not even a single monster came back to report what happened that night. Taotie also became a little suspicious.
Could it be that the information given by the Demon Sect was false and that this matter was a complete scam? But Yao Zong didn't deceive them last time, and it wasn't like this time either. Taotie was a little confused about the crux of it for a while.
The little demon seemed to suddenly remember something, and said hurriedly: "By the way, I also saw that the human camps in the canyon were all left in place. Even the campfires were still burning, but there was no one there." The campfire was still there. burn?
The troops from the remaining countries should have withdrawn quickly. What is it that can make the Dayu Kingdom urgently withdraw its troops and make 400,000 demon troops disappear overnight?
I'm afraid there aren't many people in this world who can do this. Taotie sat back down and pondered.
He already had a guess in his mind that the water god of Qishui must have something to do with this matter.
"This is difficult to handle. We have already asked my king for more troops several times, and we have lost 400,000. If we still ask for troops..." Even the extremely arrogant four-armed ape began to feel embarrassed. .
The last time he went to report the military situation, Mo Long's face was already very ugly. If he knew that another 400,000 troops had died, he would probably lose his head.
Taotie snorted coldly at him and said, "Now you still dare to ask for soldiers? You are seeking death!"
"Then what should we do? We must give my king an explanation, otherwise none of us will be exempted from punishment!" Taotie stood up with a livid face and said: "Gather all the remaining troops to attack Xingqing. I will go there personally to suppress the battle. You and Huo Chi and the two of them must also use their strength. Since we have lost an army of 400,000, we can’t help but go in on our own!"
"Only by capturing Xingqing as soon as possible and reporting the casualties of the 400,000 troops in the Battle of Xingqing can we get through. Otherwise, who among you and me would dare to go back to see my king?" When the four-armed ape heard that he would go into battle in person, he I was a little impatient, but now that the matter was over, there was nothing more I could do.
There was a little demon outside the camp delivering Taotie's orders. The demon clan gathered an army again and was about to launch a general attack in the near future.
... Outside the Xingqing Palace, Xu Huaigu and his party slowly walked to the gate of the palace and stopped. It was already early morning, the snow had melted a little, but the streets were still empty.
Xu Huaigu said to Yu Qin: "I'll go in to see Lin Cangyang and come out immediately." Yu Qin nodded seriously, took Ruyu's hand, walked to the eaves of the nearby arch, and waited quietly.
Xu Huaigu walked into the palace and was interrogated by guards. He took out the decree given by Lin Cangyang and walked all the way to the steps of the main hall.
The morning court had just ended in the main hall of Kanshu Lian, and many civil and military officials came down the steps to go about their business.
Without exception, they all looked a little nervous and walked in a hurry. Even when they saw Xu Huaigu, an outsider, standing at the foot of the steps, no one paid attention, and just walked past him.
Xu Huaigu walked towards the main hall, stopped at the gatekeeper and announced his identity. The eunuch entered the hall for a moment, then bowed and reported: "Mr. Xu, Your Majesty, please come in." Xu Huaigu walked into the hall and saw Lin Cangyang sitting there. On the high dragon chair, Lin Hongzhi's face still showed to everyone.
When she saw Xu Huaigu coming in, she signaled to the eunuchs around her to close the palace door, and then screened them away, so only Xu Huaigu, Lin Cangyang, and Ling Li were left in the palace.
Lin Cangyang stood up, walked down the stairs, and asked Xu Huaigu, "How was Ximen Gorge last night?"
"The demon clan sent an army of 400,000 to attack. Ningqiu took action and spared no one." Lin Cangyang smiled, and she nodded with satisfaction and said: "Very good, with these 400,000 demon clan to back us up, Dayu Country has already earned its due." It's over." But Xu Huaigu looked solemn, but he couldn't laugh.
Lin Cangyang turned to Ling Li and said: "National Master, please change me back to my original appearance. I want to be separate from Mr. Xu in my own identity." Ling Li obeyed, so Lin Cangyang changed back to his own face.
She has slender eyebrows and apricot eyes. She is wearing an incongruous dragon robe, but she is still the Princess Cangyang that Xu Huaigu knows.
Xu Huaigu looked at her with unconcealable compassion in his eyes. Lin Cangyang smiled and said: "Come to the Imperial Study Room with me, I will give you one last gift, and that's goodbye." She slowly walked towards the back hall, Xu Huaigu followed her, Lingli stayed where he was, and did not follow her. They pass.
The imperial study room is not far from the main hall. The two of them walked one after another and not far before they saw a small and exquisite pavilion in front of them. This was the imperial study room of Dayu Palace.
The two stepped in and saw various calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall. There was also a large long rosewood table filled with manuscripts. Several unfinished calligraphy sheets were also spread out on the table. The ink on the inkstone was already there. dry up.
Lin Cangyang turned around and closed the door, and the room suddenly became dark. As she walked inside, she introduced to Xu Huaigu: "These hanging on the wall are all the works of my father."
"I was still young at that time and didn't like staying in the palace because I didn't feel free enough. I always wanted to sneak into the city to play. However, the number of times I actually played in the city was really handful. When I met you and Li Zi at that time, That counts as one time, and it should be considered a very happy one." Xu Huaigu listened very carefully, not wanting to miss a word.
"There are not many places in the palace that I like, but I often come to the Imperial Study Room. If nothing else, I like to smell the scent of ink." Lin Cangyang looked at the fine inkstone and fell into memories,
"You also know that my royal brothers are really unreliable and are not good at governing the country. But I love reading, so my father's favorite person is actually me. I also want to be like him one day. Like him, he studied the sages and learned the principles of governing the country, and he managed the world to make the seas, rivers and rivers clear, just like what the book said. Unfortunately, I am a girl and cannot take over his position."
"Later, my father became seriously ill and asked monks to forcefully prolong his life. However, he was secretly killed by the demon clan. Only Ling Guoshi saw the clues. Since then, he has been at the princess's house day and night, teaching me the principles of governing the country. I just want to be able to kill the fake emperor one day and let Dayu have a legitimate ruler, even if I am just a princess. Of course, all this has come true now. So, I don’t actually feel sad. If there’s anything I’m not willing to do, it’s because I can’t save my people.”
"You came to persuade me last time to let me unblock Xingqing. I was actually very happy because you cared about all the living beings in Dayu Country. But as a ruler, mercy is not enough. During the war, Dayu Country needs it even more. An iron-blooded emperor, and I will play this role. After I made the decision to close the city, I could not sleep all night. I would also think of every citizen in Xingqing City, no matter how high or low they are, or how knowledgeable they are. Rich or not, they live so truly in this world, but they are about to die. Thinking of this, my heart is cut by a knife, no weaker than you."
"However, we have no choice. I hope you can understand me, Xu Huaigu." Lin Cangyang looked into Xu Huaigu's eyes sincerely. Xu Huaigu suppressed his emotions, nodded, and said softly: "I understand you."
"That's good." Lin Cangyang smiled lightly, walked to a small door deep in the imperial study, found the key hidden under a book next to him, opened the door, and said, "Come in with me." Xu Huaigu walked in, Lin Cangyang lit the candle, and the secret little room became bright.
Only then did he see that this small, unattractive room was filled with cabinets of various sizes, all locked, and I was afraid that every one of them was a treasure treasured by the Emperor of Dayu.
Lin Cangyang bent down, opened a small cabinet, took out a palm-sized wooden box and placed it on the table.
She opened the box, and Xu Huaigu saw a green jade seal lying inside. It was only half the size of a palm, but it was carved with dragons and phoenixes, which was very delicate.
The jade material of the seal is also excellent. Under the swaying candlelight, the emerald green luster on the surface of the seal jumps, as if green shadows are flowing. It is agile yet solemn. It is truly a rare thing in the world.
Xu Huaigu's eyes widened when he saw the seal, and he murmured: "Is this... a jade seal?" Lin Cangyang closed the box, nodded and said, "Yes, it is the jade seal inherited from our Dayu Kingdom." Xu Huaigu was surprised. He looked at her and said, "Your Highness, show me what this thing is for?" Lin Cangyang slowly put the box in his hand, nodded solemnly and said, "This is the gift I give you, the kingdom of Dayu." Zuo." Xu Huaigu was stunned.
Lin Cangyang said with a smile: "Our country, Dayu, has been established for nearly a thousand years. It survived the human-monster war five hundred years ago and is now at the end of its rope. Therefore, I think this nearly thousand-year state is still valuable."
"I give this thing to you, firstly, I hope it can bring you shelter, and secondly, I hope you will protect it. As long as you are alive and the jade seal is not broken, someone will always remember this country and its people. , remembering the history of this country, then Dayu Country is not considered dead in the true sense." Xu Huaigu had mixed feelings in his heart, and said with difficulty: "Your Highness, forgive me for not accepting it."
"Don't call me Your Highness, my name is Lin Cangyang. Let's say goodbye today. I hope it's as friends."
"Lin Cangyang..." Xu Huaigu murmured,
"I can't take the jade seal." Xu Huaigu put the box back on the table. Lin Cangyang held his hand and refused to let him put it down. He shook his head and said: "Now that Dayu Country no longer needs this thing, you can take it away with peace of mind. The country Zuo Mianyan, I can't do it anymore, I'll give it to you now." Xu Huaigu looked at the box in his hand with a complicated mood, hesitated for a long time, and then slowly put it into his robe for safekeeping.
Seeing that he was willing to accept the jade seal, Lin Cangyang smiled and said: "You have helped me so much, I have nothing to give you, so this jade seal should be regarded as a reward."
"Okay, is there anything else you want to say? If not, please leave as soon as possible, Xingqing will soon change." Xu Huaigu looked at her resolutely and advised: "I still want to invite you Come north with me. As long as you are alive, the bloodline of Dayu Kingdom's royal family can continue." Lin Cangyang shook his head and insisted: "You don't have to persuade me on this matter, I will not leave Xingqing." Xu Huaigu lowered his head and remained silent. Word.
The two of them stayed in the imperial study room for a long time. Xu Huaigu neither spoke nor took steps to leave. He just spent time with her quietly.
Lin Cangyang sighed softly and said: "After seeing you for thousands of miles, we will see you again. Xu Huaigu, we are destined to meet again." After that, she took the lead to leave here. Xu Huaigu stood up quickly and said to her: "Your Highness, please take care of yourself in the future." Goodbye!" Lin Cangyang turned his head with a smile, nodded heavily to him, and left immediately.
However, both of them knew very well in their hearts that they would never see each other again.
