mtlumby2d Chapter 1138 Qiao Xuan's Answers Reveals the Wound
Chapter 1138 Qiao Xuan's Answers Reveals the Wound
Qiao Xuan looked at the deep sorrow between the old lady's brows, gently shook his head, and said with a hint of earnest advice, "Old lady, you are too caught up in the situation to see it clearly."
The old lady was taken aback by his words, blinking blankly. Her thoughts, which had just been stirred, were disrupted by these sudden words. She couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Mr. Qiao, please just say what you want to say. I am just a woman and don't understand those complicated things. The way you put it, I'm even more confused."
Qiao Xuan sat up straighter, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp, yet carrying a gentle certainty. He leaned forward, lowering his voice, but each word was clear: "Since the old lady says that the Sun family has no intention of conquering the world, then how about I tell you about a peaceful and prosperous reign for all time, and an abundance of wealth?"
He paused, looking at the old lady's astonished eyes, and said, word by word, "I guarantee that your Sun family will obtain the position of duke or marquis, which will be passed down from generation to generation, and that you will prosper alongside the country."
The old lady clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, almost unable to believe her ears. "Eternal generations of nobles?" These four words exploded like a thunderbolt in her confused mind. She had lived most of her life, witnessing the rise and fall of countless aristocratic families; what kind of legacy could last as long as the nation's? But Qiao Xuan's expression was too solemn, not a joke, leaving her speechless for a moment. She could only stare blankly at him, waiting for him to continue.
Qiao Xuan cupped his hands and stood up, his gaze sweeping across the heavy sky outside the window. His tone carried a calmness that showed his understanding of the times: "Madam, you see, the world is in turmoil. The imperial decrees can no longer leave Luoyang. Local warlords hold their own armies and are self-reliant. The game of this chaotic world is no longer something that anyone can easily control."
He paused, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table: "Among all the warlords in the world, those who truly have the power to conquer the four seas can be counted on one hand. And Ma Chao is undoubtedly the most outstanding among them—his Xiliang cavalry has swept across Guanzhong, and even Cao Cao had to avoid his sharp edge. Which warlord in the world does not fear his military might? If we are talking about who will be able to pacify the chaotic world and contend for the throne in the future, in my opinion, it will most likely be him."
The old lady's hand holding the handkerchief tightened slightly. Qiao Xuan's words were like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, creating ripples.
“Moreover, Ma Chao is a man who, as you just said, is bold and magnanimous, of pure character, and values loyalty above all else. Yesterday, Miss Shangxiang came to my residence and recounted the past events in detail, saying that his affection for Bo Fu’s son, Shao’er, was absolutely genuine—it was a heartfelt tenderness for the son of an old friend.”
He took a half step forward, lowering his voice slightly: "With this friendship, just imagine, if Ma Chao really becomes a force to be reckoned with in the future, can you, confined to this corner of Jiangdong, withstand his million-strong army? If it really comes to that, it would be better to take the initiative to submit. Based on his life-or-death friendship with Bo Fu back then, plus this Jiangdong territory that he handed over without hesitation, let alone being granted a fiefdom and becoming a king, at least you would be a duke or marquis, ensuring that the Sun family's lineage would be passed down for generations."
The old lady's breath hitched slightly. Qiao Xuan's words were too direct, yet every sentence struck at the heart of the matter.
"Moreover," Qiao Xuan changed the subject, mentioning a deeper connection, "Ma Chao's son, Ma Yue, grew up with Sun Shao of Bofu since childhood. This bond between two generations cannot be compared to ordinary interests. Do you think it's more important to have this territory that will change hands sooner or later, or to have the Sun family's descendants inherit the family stably and remain prominent for generations?"
He looked at the old lady, his tone somewhat persuasive: "If you lose your territory, you can still exchange it for a title through friendship; but if you stubbornly resist to the end, let alone a duke or marquis, I'm afraid you won't even be able to preserve the Sun family's bloodline."
The tent was so quiet that the flickering candlelight could be heard. The old lady lowered her eyes, looking at her withered hands. Qiao Xuan's words flooded her mind like a tide, forcing her to reconsider the way to survive in this chaotic world—whether to guard the precarious "Sun family's empire" or to seek a more secure path for her descendants to inherit the throne.
The old lady lowered her eyes, her fingertips repeatedly stroking the brocade cushion on her knees, her heart weighing Qiao Xuan's words like a scale.
She had to admit that Qiao Xuan was right. Back then, when Sun Ce was at his wit's end and sought refuge with Ma Chao, Ma Chao not only took him in but also entrusted him with important responsibilities. When Sun Ce, mindful of his father's death, wanted to make his own way in the world, Ma Chao immediately offered his assistance. His generosity was extraordinary. Later, when they fought together in Jiangdong, he charged ahead but never sought credit. And when they acquired the vast territory of Jiangdong, he readily relinquished it. She saw and remembered his magnanimity and benevolence.
As for Gongjin, although he had a rift with Zhongmou, he always cherished his old friendship with Ce'er and treated Shao'er as his own son. He was a man of noble character and refined taste.
If what Qiao Xuan said is true, and they can achieve great things in the future… The old lady sighed softly. With Meng Qi's character, he would never mistreat the Sun family. Ce'er's affection for him was there, and Shao'er was also favored by him. Even for the sake of this old bond, he would protect the Sun family.
The old lady looked at Qiao Xuan, a hint of difficulty on her face, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief: "What you said, Lord Qiao, is like a warning bell, a wake-up call for me. How could I not understand the reasoning behind it?" She paused, her voice tinged with hesitation, "But... now that Quan'er is not here in Jiangdong, although General Cheng and others are supporting the mansion, we are ultimately lacking a person in charge who can make big decisions."
She looked out the window; the morning light had already crept onto the eaves, but it couldn't dispel the lingering unease in her heart: "This matter, concerning the succession of the Sun family's legacy, should ultimately be decided by him. Mr. Qiao, what do you think...? Let's wait for Quan'er to return, and then we can discuss it further, shall we?"
After speaking, she let out a soft sigh, as if she had unloaded a heavy burden, or perhaps temporarily passed on the weight of that difficult decision to her son far away. The reception room fell silent for a moment, with only the wisps of sandalwood incense still lingering in the incense burner.
Qiao Xuan and Cheng Pu exchanged a glance. Cheng Pu's face held a hint of unspoken difficulty, his expression inscrutable. After a long silence, Qiao Xuan finally sighed, "Fine, I'll play the villain."
Seeing his solemn expression, the old lady felt a pang of anxiety.
Qiao Xuan looked at the old lady and slowly said, "Old lady, you just said that you would discuss it after Zhongmou returns. But have you thought about it carefully? Zhongmou personally led the army to conquer Jiaozhou. He has clearly taken Nanhai County. Generals such as Han Dang and Lü Meng have all returned to their camps. Why is it that he himself has not returned?"
Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in the old lady's eyes, and she hurriedly asked, "Does Master Qiao know why my child has not returned for so long? He has been so worried about me these past few days!"
Qiao Xuan turned his gaze to Cheng Pu: "Surely Lord Cheng knows where our lord is now?"
Cheng Pu's throat bobbed, and a look of struggle appeared on his face. In the end, he forced himself to speak, his voice hoarse: "I dare not hide it from the old lady, my lord... is now living in peace in Yizhou."
"Yizhou?" The old lady was momentarily bewildered, her brows furrowing. "Where is Yizhou? Although I wouldn't call myself well-informed, I've never heard of this place before. What is he doing there? And why did you use the word 'Anju'..."
Cheng Pu lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Madam, Yizhou is not a land city. It would be more accurate to say it is an island, isolated overseas, hidden in the vast sea."
"An island?!" The old lady was struck dumb, completely stunned. She abruptly stood up from her chair, her hands trembling slightly, pacing rapidly around the room, repeatedly muttering, "Quan'er... what is Quan'er doing?!" She stopped and turned to Cheng Pu, her eyes filled with disbelief and anxiety. "The war in Jiaozhou is over, why doesn't he return to Jiangdong to oversee the overall situation, but instead runs off to an overseas island to 'settle down'? What on earth is going on?!"
Qiao Xuan looked at the old lady's flustered figure, his voice calm as a pool of water, each word carrying a heavy weight: "Old lady, please calm down and think carefully - when Bo Fu passed away, Zhongmou and Gongjin developed a rift between them, each suspecting the other of harboring a conspiracy. Gongjin even went so far as to break with him, and this rift has never been truly healed."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the flickering candlelight in the tent: "After Zhongmou took control of Jiangdong, he relied too heavily on those powerful clans, sometimes even to the point of appeasement. While this seemed to stabilize the situation, he was actually constrained at every turn. And when he heard the news of Ma Chao's massacre of a million on the grasslands, he personally led his army to Jiaozhou, which was already suspicious. Now that Jiaozhou is pacified, and Han Dang and Lü Meng have returned to their camps, he hasn't returned to the capital, but instead has gone to an overseas island to 'settle down'..."
Qiao Xuan's gaze fell on the old lady's face, with a hint of questioning: "Old lady, you have experienced many storms and seen many treacherous people. Can't you really see the problem here?"
The old lady stopped pacing, her back to the two men, gazing at the swaying shadows of the trees on the window paper, her fingertips icy cold. Qiao Xuan's words were like a key, unlocking the doubts she had long been unwilling to confront. She murmured to herself, her voice trembling with disbelief: "Based on what you're saying... could it be that he... is afraid of Meng Qi?"
Qiao Xuan's voice suddenly turned cold, like a boulder hitting ice, with an undeniable coldness: "He's not afraid of Meng Qi, he has a guilty conscience."
The old lady trembled, turned around abruptly, and her eyes were filled with horror.
“He knew that Ma Chao would eventually investigate Bo Fu’s death thoroughly,” Qiao Xuan’s gaze was sharp as a knife. “And Ma Chao’s power was too dazzling; his hidden thoughts would eventually be exposed.”
"How..." The old lady's voice trembled violently, as if something was blocking her throat, "You mean... could it be that Bo Fu... could it be that Zhong Mou..." She dared not continue, tears welling up and rolling down her wrinkled cheeks, "...he also participated in the murder of his brother?"
Tears streamed down her face as she swayed, almost collapsing to the ground. Cheng Pu quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help her, but she trembled and avoided him.
Qiao Xuan hurriedly said, "Madam, please don't be upset." He softened his tone, but it still carried a heavy weight. "Madam, think about it, if Zhongmou had nothing to hide and acted honestly, why would he be so afraid to investigate his brother's death? Ma Chao hadn't even really started investigating yet, and he had already fled overseas to avoid trouble—what else could this be but a guilty conscience?"
The candlelight inside the tent flickered violently, casting the three people's shadows on the wall, distorted like ghosts. The old lady clutched her chest, gasping for breath, as the wound in her heart, which she least wanted to touch, was brutally torn open, bleeding profusely. She remembered Bo Fu's love for Zhong Mou, and the way the two brothers used to practice martial arts together in the courtyard when they were children. She felt as if her internal organs were being crushed, and the pain was so intense that she couldn't speak.
Cheng Pu stood to the side, his face as solemn as iron, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white—these words had been lingering in his heart for a long time, but he had never dared to say them. Now that Qiao Xuan had pointed them out, he felt a raging fire burning in his chest, making his throat tight.