bestfiction Chapter 323 The Truth
Chapter 323 The Truth
As Xiao Chengjun carried the unconscious Qi Cheng into the palace, the evening glow on the horizon stained half the sky like blood. Su Mingyue's robes were still stained with the mud and gunpowder of Miao territory, and the undried bloodstains on her black iron sword gleamed coldly in the twilight. The palace servants of Jiaofang Palace, seeing their mistress return safely, all burst into tears, and Yuzan stumbled and rushed forward, crying, "Your Majesty! Your Highness! You're finally back..."
"Summon the imperial physician!" Xiao Chengjun's voice trembled almost imperceptibly as he gently placed his son on the bed. When he saw the faint golden lines between Qi Cheng's brows, he suddenly remembered the mysterious rescue mentioned by the Secret Service—at the same moment the Miao Jiang altar collapsed, a strange blue light flashed above the palace, and the remnants of the Netherworld Pavilion who were besieging the capital fell to the ground as if struck by lightning.
Su Mingyue removed her blood-stained outer robe and leaned wearily on her husband's shoulder: "We were able to escape danger this time thanks to the help of two mysterious people." Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the spatial key in her bosom; the warm jade talisman gleamed faintly in the candlelight. "They claimed to have a pact with the Xiao clan's ancestors, allowing them to instantly traverse the void, and they also knew the method to break the *Tai Su Gui Lu*..."
Before the words were finished, a clear, melodious meow suddenly rang out from outside the window. The Nine-Tails leaped into the hall, bathed in moonlight, its nine tails swaying gently, the eerie blue flames at their tips illuminating its snow-white fur. "Descendants of the Xiao family," it said, its gaze sweeping over the couple before finally settling on Qi Cheng's youthful face. "Back then, your father and mother made a blood pact with me, taking it upon themselves to protect the dragon veins of Nanzhao."
Xiao Chengjun shuddered, nearly dropping the teacup in his hand. Memories flooded back—as a child, he had heard his wet nurse tell stories of the founding emperor, Xiao Yuan, who ruled the world with a mysterious woman. This woman possessed the power to control space and also kept a sentient spirit beast. However, after sealing away an ancient evil entity, this legendary emperor and empress vanished without a trace, leaving only a few brief mentions in historical records.
"Indeed, Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli were saved by your father and mother." The Nine-Tails' voice carried the vicissitudes of time. "They did not perish, but instead created a hidden space to secretly protect Nanzhao. This time, when the Netherworld Pavilion returned, the Jade Pendant warned them, and they showed themselves to help." It twitched its ears, and the flame at the tip of its tail suddenly transformed into a beam of light, projecting a holographic image in the air.
In the scene, Xiao Jingchuan draws his bow and arrow, the arrow crackling with the power of thunder and fire; Gu Liuli's jade hands move swiftly, spatial power forming a barrier to defend against attacks; Qi Cheng holds the Soul Purifying Stone, his body enveloped in golden light. Most shockingly, when the Vice Minister of Rites takes Qi Cheng hostage, the Nine-Tails transforms into a stream of light and enters the child's body, merging with his power.
Su Mingyue covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes: "So... so Qi'er was able to escape danger because of Grandpa and Grandma..." She turned to look at Xiao Chengjun, only to see the usually composed emperor with red eyes. The monarch who once dominated the court was now just a son yearning for family affection.
Nine-Tails leaped onto the edge of the bed and nuzzled Qi Cheng's small hand with its head: "This child possesses the bloodline of an ancient divine beast, a spiritual body rarely seen even once in a century. The moment he grasped the Soul-Purifying Stone, he activated the power left behind by the Xiao clan's ancestors, thus completely destroying the *Tai Su Gui Lu*." Its gaze shifted to Xiao Chengjun, "But the remnants of the Netherworld Pavilion have not yet been eradicated, and they fear that revealing their whereabouts will bring even greater danger."
Xiao Chengjun remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, his voice hoarse: "Where...are they now?"
"Recuperate in this secluded space." A wisp of moonlight curled from the Nine-Tails' tail, coalescing into a shimmering crystal ball. "Look, this is what they left for you." Inside the crystal ball, Xiao Jingchuan and Gu Liuli, dressed in simple white robes, stood amidst a sea of blooming spider lilies. Gu Liuli smiled and waved, her voice gentle: "Jun'er, don't blame us for being heartless. Nanzhao is not yet stable; enemies lurking in the shadows still covet the dragon vein. We will protect you in secret, until the time is ripe..." The image gradually blurred, leaving only the final words, "Take care of yourself, and our beloved grandson."
Xiao Chengjun reached out to touch the crystal ball, but his fingertips passed right through the illusory image. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and forced back the stinging tears. Su Mingyue gently hugged him and whispered in his ear, "They never left; they've always been protecting us in their own way."
Three days later, Qi Cheng finally woke up. He blinked his big eyes and pulled a roasted chestnut from under his pillow: "Father, Mother, Cat said that Grandpa and Grandma left me a gift!" He opened his palm, and a jade pendant engraved with dragon patterns lay in his palm. It was the same pendant that Xiao Jingchuan had worn when he was young.
Xiao Chengjun held his son in his arms and looked out at the starry sky. He knew that in the vast expanse of time and space, his parents' gaze had never left this land. And he, as the emperor of Nanzhao, had to protect this connection that transcended time and space, ensuring that the legacy of his ancestors would continue to be passed down in this generation.
Afterwards, Xiao Chengjun built a hidden shrine deep within the palace to enshrine the ancestral tablets of the Xiao family. Every nightfall, he would bring Qicheng to the shrine and tell him those long-forgotten stories. The Nine-Tails also became a frequent visitor to the Jiaofang Palace, often playing with Qicheng, teaching him to recognize the celestial trajectories, and imparting to him the ancient art of beast taming.
A thousand miles of barren land: Drought demons wreak havoc and cause conflict.
For half a year, the sky over Xijing Kingdom had been cloudless. The scorching sun baked the cracked earth, the riverbeds were dry, and the withered reeds rustled mournfully in the wind. The moat in front of the imperial city had long since dried up, revealing a moss-covered riverbed. Flocks of crows circled over the putrid silt, pecking at the carcasses of fish that had been stranded and died.
Jiang Mingyuan stood on the observatory, gazing at the scorched plains, his dragon robe billowing in the scorching wind. The imperial kitchen's meals had dwindled from three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes to a bowl of thin porridge, yet he still shared some with the old woman who had come to report the disaster. "Your Majesty, Dunhuang Prefecture has suffered a complete crop failure, and the people have begun to resort to cannibalism..." The Minister of Revenue knelt on the scorching bricks, his forehead bleeding from the kowtow, "If no solution is found, Xijing will likely descend into chaos!"
The Grand Preceptor trembled as he unfolded the tortoise shell, its surface crisscrossed with cracks: "This is the work of a drought demon! I observed the celestial phenomena last night and discovered auspicious clouds swirling above the Nanzhao Kingdom, while in contrast, my Xijing..." His voice trailed off, causing a sinister glint to flash in Jiang Mingyuan's eyes. Three days earlier, news had arrived from the border that Nanzhao had excavated a new canal along its border with Xijing, its shimmering waters a stark contrast to the barren landscape of Xijing.
When the delegation from Xijing Kingdom arrived at the Nanzhao Royal Palace, the gilded incense burner was filled with the fragrance of ambergris. Jiang Mingyuan stared at the new tea on Xiao Chengjun's desk; the tea leaves unfurled in the celadon cup, reflecting the lush greenery outside the window. "Nanzhao Kingdom possesses abundant water resources, yet it turns a blind eye to the suffering of its neighbor?" He slammed the teacup down. "Half a month ago, my people from Xijing sought water at your border, only to be treated as refugees and driven away?"
Xiao Chengjun pushed the report to the table, which recorded the atrocities committed by the Xijing refugees against the Nanzhao villages: "Your Majesty, it is not that Nanzhao refused to help. However, armed thugs have infiltrated your country's refugees and burned down the granaries of three villages." He looked at Qicheng in Su Mingyue's arms. The four-year-old prince was clutching the Soul Purification Stone, his clear eyes full of confusion.
That night, a commotion suddenly broke out at the Xijing delegation's residence. Nine-Tails, its fur standing on end, rushed into the Jiaofang Palace: "Oh no! The Xijing National Preceptor has set up an altar outside the city, attempting to steal the water vapor of Nanzhao using forbidden techniques!" When Xiao Chengjun arrived, he saw a huge bronze cauldron floating in the air, black mist churning inside, and countless chains reaching towards the clouds in the direction of Nanzhao.
"Stop!" Xiao Chengjun swung his sword, severing the chains, yet the Xuan Tie sword emanated a chilling aura. The Grand Preceptor grinned maliciously, pulling back his robe to reveal a chest covered in incantations: "As long as we drain the moisture from Nanzhao, Xijing can regain its vitality! You protect the world, yet you can't even allow a neighboring country a chance to survive?" He suddenly turned the cauldron towards Qi Cheng, "Especially this child with the Soul-Purifying Stone; his spiritual power will surely accelerate the spells!"
At the critical moment, Qi Cheng raised the Soul-Purifying Stone. The light emitted from the stone collided with the black mist, and the resulting shockwave overturned the altar. The Grand Preceptor screamed as he was sent flying, and the bronze cauldron crashed to the ground, creating a bottomless crater. But this brief clash also caused the streams along the border of Nanzhao to show signs of drying up.
Upon learning of the defeat, Jiang Mingyuan drew his sword and pointed it south: "Since Nanzhao refuses to help, then we'll take the water by force!" The Xijing army quickly assembled, the dust kicked up by their warhorses obscuring half the sky. When the army reached the border, they witnessed a shocking scene—the people of Nanzhao had spontaneously formed a human wall, led by an elderly man holding a water jug, his white hair disheveled in the wind: "If you want water, you'll have to step over our corpses first!"
Meanwhile, Xiao Chengjun led Qi Cheng and Jiu Li Mao deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains. In a hidden cave, they discovered a crystal emitting an eerie red light. Jiu Li Mao's pupils constricted: "This is the 'Heaven-Burning Crystal,' the life source of the drought demon! Someone deliberately buried it here to incite conflict between the two nations!" Qi Cheng gripped the Soul-Purifying Stone tightly, his small palms burning red: "I must drive away this evil stone!"
As the light of the Soul Purifying Stone enveloped the Heaven-Burning Crystal, the entire mountain range began to tremble. A phantom image of the remnants of the Netherworld Pavilion appeared within the crystal: "Xiao Chengjun, how does it feel to see the people of both nations die because of you?" Qi Cheng suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a majesty beyond a child's: "You can't fool me!" The Soul Purifying Stone erupted with dazzling light, shattering the Heaven-Burning Crystal completely.
At the same moment, rain finally fell from the sky over Xijing Kingdom. Jiang Mingyuan stood in the rain, letting the raindrops wash over his face. He looked at the water diversion plan sent by the Nanzhao envoy—to dig a new canal to connect the water sources of the two countries—and felt a mix of emotions. When he saw the childish handwriting at the end of the plan, "We are friends," this usually aloof emperor's eyes reddened for the first time.
In the post-war border region, people from both countries worked together to build the "Heart-to-Heart Canal." Qi Cheng squatted by the canal, releasing fish fry into the water, his little face covered in mud: "When the little fish grow up, the children of Xijing will be able to enjoy delicious fish soup!" Xiao Chengjun and Jiang Mingyuan stood side by side, watching the cheering people.