SEC Chapter 159 Qin Qiong, the Slave of Several Surnames?
Chapter 159 Qin Qiong, the Slave of Several Surnames?
She straightened her back and declared righteously, "I will never seize the throne from my own family!"
Lü Xiao watched her performance quietly.
Sure enough, Yang Ruyi changed the subject, a sly glint in her eyes: "But our son can do it."
"Do whatever you want." Lu Xiao gave up on communication and threw the book back onto the table.
He turned and walked out of the room. The night breeze brushed against his face, and he felt the tightness in his chest ease a little.
When they returned to the pavilion, Yang Guang was still there.
"Zilie," Yang Guang said with a smile when he saw him return.
"Zhen'er is truly intelligent, and I adore him. I intend to take him back to the palace for a few days."
"I have no objection."
"Shouldn't we inform Ruyi?"
Yang Guang picked up Lü Zhen and asked one more question before leaving.
"I will go and speak to them."
Lü Xiao replied.
Whether she says it or not, it doesn't really matter. That woman is probably already planning how to consolidate the emperor's favor after her son enters the palace.
After seeing Yang Guang off, the pavilion finally quieted down.
Lu Xiao sat down alone, his thoughts settling down.
Qin Qiong.
The name suddenly popped into my mind.
During his trip to Xingyang, he met with almost all of the main generals of Wagang.
Although Shan Xiongxin and Cheng Yaojin did not meet, their whereabouts were roughly clear.
Qin Qiong, however, seemed to have vanished into thin air.
He was not seen when Wagangzhai was massacred, nor when the Zheng clan was destroyed.
Given Qin Qiong's temperament, if he were in Wagang, he would never have stood idly by.
Unless... he's not even in Wagang.
But that doesn't make sense.
Shan Xiongxin left because he was disheartened by his sworn brother.
Qin Qiong had a very high reputation in Wagang, and Li Mi relied heavily on him. What reason did he have to leave?
The more Lü Xiao thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.
He sat in the pavilion for nearly an hour, thinking about all the places Qin Qiong might have gone.
To live in seclusion in the mountains, hiding one's identity?
Or should we seek another wise leader?
"Zhao Chong".
He summoned the commander of his personal guard.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
Zhao Chong bowed and awaited orders.
"Send more men to find Qin Qiong's whereabouts. We must see him alive or dead."
"yes!"
Over the next few days, Lü Xiao handled military affairs while waiting for news.
It wasn't until the evening of the third day that Zhao Chongcai hurriedly came to report.
"Your Highness, there's news." The study was brightly lit by candlelight, and Zhao Chong lowered his voice: "Qin Qiong also left with his family not long after Shan Xiongxin left Wagang."
Lu Xiao tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "Where did you go?"
"This... I can't find out." Zhao Chong looked troubled.
"Qin Qiong left in great secrecy; even within Wagang, few people knew about it."
All I heard is that when he left, he took Luo Shixin, whom Wang Junke had adopted, with him, along with Qin Yong and several generals who were on good terms with him.
Lu Xiao's eyes narrowed.
Luo Shixin knew that although the little fat boy's martial arts skills were not very good, he was born with superhuman strength and was a rare and fierce general.
Qin Yong was also a man of exceptional bravery and martial prowess.
Qin Qiong's departure almost took away Wagang's most capable general.
"Did Qin Qiong have any disputes with the people of Wagang before he left?"
No, not at all.
"Okay, you can go now."
Lü Xiao waved his hand.
Silence returned to the study. Lü Xiao leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
After this ordeal, Wagang was severely weakened.
Most of the valiant generals have left, and those who remain are mostly useless.
No wonder Li Mi lost his composure in front of the Zheng family's ancestral tomb; he probably already sensed the end of Wagang.
Why did Qin Qiong run away so quickly? Was he afraid of retaliation?
That makes sense.
Just as Lü Xiao had predicted, the people of Wagang Village were already in a state of panic.
Although daily meetings are still held in the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, the atmosphere is not as good as before.
Wang Bodang, Li Mi, Xu Maogong, and others outwardly showed great respect for Qin Qiong, but secretly they had long ago cursed his ancestors for eighteen generations.
"With Qin Qiong gone, our Wagang... is practically half-collapsed."
Xu Maogong shook his feather fan and sighed.
Li Mi's face was ashen; he still couldn't understand why Qin Qiong wanted to leave.
He respected Qin Qiong so much, treated him with such courtesy, and regarded him as his right-hand man.
He was never shortchanged in terms of military power, money, or supplies.
But this guy not only left on his own, but also took several of his fierce generals with him, which is truly hateful!
"What did Qin Qiong say about contacting others to oppose the imperial court?" Wang Bodang sneered, "Where have they contacted them? It's been months, and there's been no news at all!"
Even Luo Shixin and Qin Yong were taken away; they've clearly switched sides!
He got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and slammed his hand on the table.
"If Wang Junke hadn't lacked Luo Shixin's help, how could he have been killed by Lü Xiao? Qin Qiong's departure has cost so many brothers their lives!"
Li Mi remained silent, but how could he not hate?
However, Wagang is currently weak, and if the matter of Qin Qiong's departure is blown out of proportion, the morale of the army will be further shattered.
"This matter... will be put aside for now," he finally said.
Xu Maogong hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away in the north, the scene was quite different.
Qin Qiong, leading his men, finally arrived at the territory of Beiping Prefecture after many days of trekking.
It was late autumn, and the north wind had already risen, causing the banners to flutter in the wind.
Upon learning that Qin Qiong had come to join him, Luo Cheng personally led his troops out of the city for thirty miles to welcome him.
"Cousin!" Luo Cheng, clad in silver armor, riding a white horse and wielding a silver spear, stood out conspicuously on the official road.
He leaped off his horse, strode up to Qin Qiong, and patted him forcefully on the shoulder, saying, "You must have had a long journey!"
Qin Qiong, though travel-worn, smiled and said, "Thank you for welcoming me from afar, cousin."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two entered the city together.
The Prince of Beiping's Mansion is magnificent. Although it is not as luxurious as the Imperial Palace in Luoyang, it has its own unique northern grandeur.
In the hall, Qin Qiong finally met his uncle Luo Yi.
Luo Yi sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a python robe. His beard and hair were already white, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
He stared at Qin Qiong for a long time before slowly speaking:
"Qin Qiong, now that you've become an outlaw and gathered heroes at Wagang, what are you doing here in my Beiping Prefecture?"
His voice was cold and distant.
Qin Qiong smiled bitterly to himself.
He knew that his uncle had always held a grudge against him for joining Wagang.
When he went to Wagang, Luo Yi wrote letters to criticize him many times, and even wrote to Yang Guang, trying his best to distance the Luo family from him.
"Uncle," Qin Qiong bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant, "I have come not to ask you to take me in, but to offer some advice."
He raised his head, his gaze intense: "The Sui Dynasty's fate is sealed, and the world is about to descend into chaos. My uncle commands the elite troops of Beiping and is eyeing Youyan with predatory intent. Why not seize the opportunity and vie for control of the Central Plains?"
Luo Yi's pupils constricted slightly.
The hall was completely silent.
Luo Cheng stood to the side, holding his breath.
After a long silence, Luo Yi slowly said, "Are you trying to persuade me... to rebel?"
"It is for the sake of the people to punish this tyrant." Qin Qiong said, emphasizing each word. "Yang Guang is tyrannical, and the people are suffering. My uncle is a hero of our time; how can he sit idly by and watch the people suffer?"
Luo Yi remained silent.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bleak autumn scenery outside.
Qin Qiong waited quietly.
He knew that his uncle might not listen to what he was saying.
But we should always give it a try.
If Luo Yi doesn't agree, it's not too late for him to go and seek refuge with the Li family in Taiyuan.