The Emperor Reads Storybooks Hidden in His Official Reports 40

Chapter 40: Feathered Transformation and Nirvana

The North-South army traveled south. Three carriages were impractical, so Zhao Linxu simply had them replaced with one large carriage for Li Jianyu, Xue Ni, and Chong Xi to rest in together.

On the way, Li Jianyu chatted with Xue Ni, and the two became quite familiar. Xue Ni was well-read, and Li Jianyu was also knowledgeable. The two got along very well. Chong Xi, on the other hand, couldn’t sit still. He often couldn’t resist riding his horse to wander around and have a look. Chong Xi was not like Xue Ni and Li Jianyu; his body was strong, and he knew some basic martial arts for self-defense, so no one restrained him.

Before reaching the border, the large group stopped in Huanyue City. Huanyue was a relatively remote city on the border, but it was not lacking in resources, so it was suitable for a temporary encampment and resupply.

The army set up camp outside the city. At night, after having dinner, Li Jianyu returned to his tent to rest.

“City Lord, this is the hot water His Majesty had someone send over.”

Li Jianyu was lying on the bed reading a book when he saw a servant boy bring in hot water from outside the tent flap.

Li Jianyu nodded and had the servant boy put it down.

Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi were probably at the training ground, messing around and sparring with the other soldiers. They wouldn’t be back so soon, so they had told Li Jianyu not to wait for him.

That’s right, Li Jianyu was now in the same tent as Zhao Linxu. Li Jianyu had originally wanted to refuse. Firstly, it would inevitably make others imagine things. Secondly, Li Jianyu himself was unwilling. But Zhao Linxu had directly placed Li Jianyu’s belongings in the main tent, pestering and cajoling him, and leaving no room for discussion. Li Jianyu had rolled his eyes and let him have his way.

Li Jianyu looked around. This was the main tent. The main tent was not very luxurious, but it was quite large and was divided into an inner and outer section. Li Jianyu was in the inner section, where the bed was, and there was also an outer section for discussing military affairs.

“This servant will wait outside. Just call out if the City Lord needs anything.” The servant boy placed the basin of hot water by the bed and then retreated.

Li Jianyu looked at the hot water and soaked his feet in it.

He was growing more and more fond of hot things now, the hotter the better. Not only would it not burn him, but it would also feel warm and comfortable, especially recently, as the weather grew colder and the snow fell heavier.

Li Jianyu closed his eyes slightly and wiggled his feet contentedly.

Swoosh—

As if he had sensed something, Li Jianyu suddenly turned around and saw a huge figure.

…Not good!

Li Jianyu’s heart jumped in fright, and he immediately tried to run.

Was that… was that a Taotie?!

No, it wasn’t a Taotie, more like a person who resembled one. It was a man who was taller and more burly than an ordinary person, with a thin layer of white fur covering his body.

The man chased after him and grabbed him, his arm wrapping around Li Jianyu’s neck as if to strangle him.

“Mmph…!”

Li Jianyu’s face turned red. He subconsciously grabbed the man’s hand, trying to pull it away, his dangling legs kicking nonstop.

He couldn’t breathe…

What was going on? Could it be an assassin sent by the Great Xi? How did they get in! This was the main tent. An assassin could actually get through the North-South army and come here?

“Help… me…”

The sound Li Jianyu made was too weak to be heard by the servant boy and guards outside.

At the critical moment, Li Jianyu found himself standing by a table. He struggled to reach out, took the candlestick from the table, and poured the oil inside on himself. The fire from the candlestick also caught on his clothes.

The fire immediately spread upon contact with the cloth and oil, and it couldn’t be suppressed. First, it was his waist, then the fire spread, and soon Li Jianyu’s whole body was on fire.

The man, seeing the person before him self-immolating, was clearly engulfed in flames but showed no signs of distress. He was shocked.

Could it be a secret art?

“Hiss…”

The man’s body and arm were burned by the fire on Li Jianyu. Taking advantage of the man’s loss of strength and the opening, Li Jianyu broke free. He was feeling smug and rushed towards the tent flap, shouting loudly.

“Bastard…”

The man couldn’t touch Li Jianyu. Now, seeing him calling for help, he desperately charged forward, throwing hidden weapons at him one after another.

“You can’t escape!”

XXXXXX

The night in the Great Xi was very quiet. After all, most of the people were fishermen who went out early and returned late. And the palace was even quieter.

In the bedchamber, Feng Juhua was curled up on the bed, his eyes closed in rest.

Feng Juheng had gone to wash up. He had finally untied him and let him rest. Feng Juhua wished that Feng Juheng would never come back.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard the door creak open. Feng Juheng, who had just finished bathing, came in and sat down beside him on the bed. He leaned down and smiled at Feng Juhua. “Did Imperial Brother miss me?”

Feng Juhua didn’t even lift his eyelids.

“Imperial Brother, how about I show you a magic trick?”

Feng Juheng didn’t mind Feng Juhua’s lukewarm attitude. He just reached his hand under Feng Juhua’s pillow with lightning speed and pulled out a dagger.

“Imperial Brother, look. There’s a dagger hidden here. What do you think is going on?”

Feng Juhua’s eyes snapped open, his face pale.

“It seems I haven’t cleared out the Ghost-Faced General’s and your forces in the palace yet…” Feng Juheng smiled. “These servants actually dare to obstruct me and Imperial Brother. They really deserve to die. Now that we are so close, the Ghost-Faced General can still contact you. That’s even more deserving of death.”

Feng Juhua’s hands gripped the bedsheets tightly, and his body began to tremble.

“I… I was wrong…”

“It’s good that Imperial Brother knows his mistake.” Feng Juheng clapped his hands, and a servant boy brought in a box.

Seeing the box, Feng Juhua’s eyes immediately reddened. He was so scared that he couldn’t even beg for mercy and could only bury his head in the quilt. He knew that begging for mercy was useless.

“Brother Xu… Brother Xu…”

Seeing Feng Juhua unconsciously mumbling that name in his fear, Feng Juheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Very good.

The night in the Great Xi was full of undercurrents, while the border of the Great Gong was bustling with excitement.

A vacant tent by the training ground was now occupied, brightly lit.

Chong Xi had previously received a secret letter from Feng Ju Qianli, saying that he would come with the Ghost-Faced Army to meet up with Zhao Linxu. And now, he had indeed arrived. Huanyue City had suddenly become lively and bustling.

“What?”

Inside the tent, after hearing what Feng Ju Qianli had said, everyone was a little surprised.

Zhao Linxu and Zhao Zhanqi looked at each other, and Chong Xi was also a little confused. He asked, “You’re saying that Feng Juhua and Feng Juheng are not actually of one mind?”

“Yes,” Feng Ju Qianli said, pointing to the Ghost-Faced General standing beside him. “Xu Zheng told me. We might be able to use this to get Feng Juhua to help us, coordinating from the inside and outside.”

Chong Xi shook his head, trying to sort out what the Ghost-Faced General, Xu Zheng, and Feng Ju Qianli had said. The actual person in power in the Great Xi was Feng Juheng, and the evil ideas of trading with the Taotie had also come from him. Feng Juhua was just a puppet and a front? Was it a conspiracy by Feng Juheng to seize power back then?

The few of them were gathered around a round table, talking, with a map spread out on it. Xu Zheng came forward, his palm pressed on the edge of the table. “Feng Juhua is gentle, kind, and simple by nature, which is why he was used by Feng Juheng to control the Great Xi. But water can carry a boat, and it can also capsize it. Coordinating from the inside and outside will definitely be more efficient than a direct attack.”

“I trust Xu Zheng,” Feng Ju Qianli said, patting Xu Zheng’s shoulder and giving Chong Xi a reassuring look.

Xu Zheng had led the Ghost-Faced Army to fight and die for him for a long time, protecting him and his Princess Consort. He was his general, and in the future, when he became king, he would be his right-hand man. Feng Ju Qianli had never had any doubts about Xu Zheng.

Chong Xi said, “I trust Xu Zheng too. This information will not be wrong.”

“In that case, we can start making a plan,” Zhao Linxu said with a smile. “If we can take Feng Juheng’s life, it will save a lot of trouble.”

As the few of them were talking, a deputy general stumbled into the tent.

“Didn’t I say not to let anyone in to disturb us?” Zhao Zhanqi frowned slightly.

“General, the… the situation is urgent! I dare not not report it!”

“What’s wrong?”

“The main tent is on fire!”

Zhao Linxu was stunned.

“What did you say?”

“The main tent is on fire! The flames are soaring into the sky. The others are putting out the fire now, but no one has seen the City Lord!”

Zhao Linxu could no longer care about anything else. With a blank expression, he rushed out of the tent, not even noticing that he had knocked over the chair behind him. Zhao Zhanqi, after all, was the commander of the North-South army, so he naturally had to go out and see.

Only three people were left in the tent. Chong Xi was worried that something had happened and was about to pull Feng Ju Qianli to go and see if they could help, but he heard a thud. Xu Zheng had suddenly knelt down before Feng Ju Qianli.

“What are you doing, Xu Zheng!” Feng Ju Qianli said with a frown, shouting, “Get up!”

“Your Highness, this subordinate has fought for you for many years and has never asked for anything. But today, this subordinate only asks for Your Highness to grant one request.” Although Xu Zheng’s face was covered by a mask, from his cold, flat, yet exceptionally serious tone, Feng Ju Qianli could imagine that Xu Zheng’s face must be expressionless at this moment, even with a hint of ice.

“Get up and talk first,” Feng Ju Qianli said, rubbing his temples. “If there’s something, we can talk it over properly. Don’t say ‘ask,’ and don’t kneel.”

“I beg Your Highness to help this subordinate rescue Feng Juhua from Feng Juheng’s hands! This subordinate has known Feng Juhua for a long time. He said he doesn’t want to be king, and he dislikes these schemes and intrigues.”

Feng Ju Qianli said, “It’s just saving one person. Can’t you do it?”

“This subordinate’s inside men in the palace have all been eliminated. I am truly powerless,” Xu Zheng said, a trace of despair in his voice. “This subordinate has no other choice.”

“Then win this battle,” Chong Xi interjected. “Win this battle and kill Feng Juheng. If even you can’t save him, then Feng Juheng has really gone to great lengths, and we have no other choice either.”

“That’s right. This is the only way now,” Feng Ju Qianli said, patting Chong Xi’s shoulder.

Kill Feng Juheng…

A fierce look flashed in Xu Zheng’s eyes.

And outside, when Zhao Linxu reached the main tent, he saw a scene that shocked him so much he could no longer move.

The fierce fire in front of him had reddened half the sky. The tent was burning in the fire, and only a shadow could be vaguely seen. Then, he saw a huge bird rush out of the flames and into the sky.

The great bird’s feathers were shimmering, as if they were plated with a layer of pure gold.

“A phoenix…? It’s a phoenix!”

The phoenix gently flapped its wings, and then, it tilted its head back, and a long, sharp cry rang out.

“A good omen… it’s a good omen!”

“Heavens protect us—”.