Chapter 6: Openly saying one thing but secretly doing another

  Holy Gold Imperial Study Room

  The eunuch opened the door of the imperial study. In front of the desk, Dugu Cheng was reviewing memorials. The eunuch walked over and paid his respects, saying in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

  Dugu City put down the pen in his hand. "Let him come in."

  The eunuch retreated. But in a moment, the sound of wooden wheels rolling outside the door started again. Dugu Cheng let out a sigh and got up to sit down on the couch inside. The palace maid changed his hot tea for him.

  "I have seen the Emperor, Father."

  "Alas, I have seen the ruler of the country."

  Suddenly, Dugu City's action of drinking tea paused. He raised his head to look and saw a woman standing behind Dugu Han. She was plain and unremarkable in appearance, but her temperament was extraordinary. Her eyes made him feel like he had seen her before.

  Nalan Xixi looked at Dugu City without any scruples. His hair had turned completely white, yet he was only in his early forties. His physique was not as robust as that of a young man, but he still stood tall and upright.

  Time has left its mark on his face with a few wrinkles, but they cannot conceal the lingering heroic spirit in his features.

  So British. Just like a certain person.

  Nalan Xixi lowered her head and stopped looking at him, but in her heart, it was as if countless vines were entwining, making her feel uneasy.

  "Alas." Dugu City slightly sized her up and then looked at Dugu Han.

  "Nalan Xixi." Dugu Hanshan nodded.

  At the words, Du Gu Cheng's expression changed. It was her. Such an ordinary woman. She actually made his son so infatuated. For a woman. For Nan Gong Jin's woman. He deployed 700,000 troops. Such absurd behavior almost got him thrown into prison.

  Dugu City did not ask anything more. He said lightly: "Queen Wang, today the sky is already late. I still have things to discuss with Haner. Please go and rest at the palace first. I will set up a banquet to entertain you tomorrow."

  "The host needn't be polite." Nalan Xiong nodded. "Xiong has come to offer his assistance to the Crown Prince, to lend a helping hand in defeating the allied forces of the eight countries of Jiangnan and putting an end to the war."

  Du Guo Cheng let out a cold hum. "This is the national affair of Sheng Jin, so there's no need for you to worry about it."

  Nalan Xixi said calmly: "It's just a small effort, no need to make a fuss."

  Dugu City was taken aback. This woman had a big tone. He smiled lightly, "Since it's just a matter of lifting one's hand, why did Your Majesty have to mobilize the 700,000-strong Saint Gold Army to provide support? If not for supporting you, our rear would not have been attacked."

  "Your Majesty, it is I, your son and subject, who voluntarily lead troops to provide assistance..."

  "Shut up." Du Guo Cheng said angrily: "You are the crown prince, how can you bear to be played with by a woman? What is her intention in following you here this time? Don't you still understand..."

  "Oh." Nalan Xixi's eyes sparkled with interest as she asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what is your intention?"

  "Nalan Xixi." Dugu Cheng looked at her. "Don't be too arrogant towards others. Others don't know how my son's leg was severed, you think I don't know either."

  Nalan Xixi's face sank. "Don't be evasive," continued Dugu City, "Now that we've met, I'll speak plainly and not beat around the bush."

  Dugu Castle was also a famous general of his generation. He was a straightforward person by nature, not like other nobles who beat around the bush. Whatever he had to say, he would say it. "Hanye has feelings for you. He is willing to shed how much blood for you, suffer how many injuries, and be at odds with how many people for your sake. I can see all of this. I am unable to stop him. I also know that in this world, as long as the word 'love' is involved, no one can control themselves. Even if he were to overturn the entire world for the sake of this love, I wouldn't think it's a big deal."

  Nalan Xixi and Dugu Han were both astonished by Dugu Cheng's words.

  "But now that you are married and the Queen of Luotian, you should uphold the virtues of a woman and not entangle yourself with my son again."

  Nalan Xixi didn't say a word. She could understand Dugu City's thoughts. At this moment, no one could understand his current mood better than her. It was precisely because of understanding that she couldn't refute him.

  "I also cannot just watch you take advantage of his feelings for you, playing him like a drum in the palm of your hand. He does so much for you out of his own free will, but you can't take advantage of that willingness, and even more, you can't take advantage of him."

  "I didn't plan on using him." Nalan Xixi looked at Dugu Cheng with a calm and sincere tone.

  "Oh. What's the point of that." Dugu City sneered with a smile.

  Dugu Han remained silent, astonished by the words his father had just spoken. For so many years, their conversations had only been about state affairs. He had never known that his father was such a sentimental person.

  Nalan Xixiao's eyes turned red. Some emotions were suppressed in her heart and could not be expressed. Could not be expressed.

  Dugu Han's expression dimmed slightly. Ming knew, Ming knew that those moving words were all lies. The most sincere thing she had ever said to him was just that one sentence - unwilling to leave him.

  "Why don't you say anything?" Dugu City looked at her with a hint of a smile.

  "I want to make up for it." The indifferent tone quietly pierced through the air, moving and touching.

  What Doukou saw in her eyes was unbearable. It was a struggle. What made her feel unbearable for them? What was she struggling with?

  Make up for it. What else can be done. It's her turn to make up for it.

  His eyelashes trembled slightly. Ah, it wasn't because of what was owed to each other, but because he wanted to make up for it. What's the difference between owing and making up for it anyway?

  Dugu City's anger was inexplicable. For a moment, it vanished into thin air. Towards this woman, all sorts of disapproval also disappeared. He let out a sigh. "Forget it. Forget it."

  Nalan Xixi lowered her head and softly said to Dugu Han: "I have some words that I want to say to the Lord alone."

  Du Guo Han had doubts, but his face remained calm and expressionless. He nodded and turned to leave.

  Nalan Xixiao stood still. Neither of them spoke for a long time. Finally, Nalan Xixiao said softly: "Dugu Qiu... is no more."

  The solitary castle shook violently. Her eyes suddenly turned bright red. "What did you say... how did you know..."

  Dugu City suddenly realized his mistake. He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back on Nalan Xianyu, saying coldly: "The war ten years ago, he had long been killed in battle."

  "Why." She didn't want to accept such a statement. She could never forget the words that Dugu Qiu had said to her before his death. She couldn't forget when he mentioned how disfigured he was when he returned to the city, hoping to see his father again. The indifference and coldness of others hurt him so much more than the wounds on his face.

  "It's all over. Perhaps it's for the best." Dugu City's voice drifted away in the cold wind, sounding somewhat unreal.

  Nalan Xixiao gazed at his back, tall and straight. Each of his sons was just like him, heroic and wise, every one a favored son of heaven. And each one also valued emotions and righteousness.

  He was once a famous general of his generation. He was once an emperor of his time.

  But nothing can withstand the test of time. Everything has become a thing of the past.

  After all, he is just a father. Rather than living with the unbearable hatred, it's better to die. Dead, and that's the end of it. However much suffering and torment there is, leave it for those who are still alive.

  "Do you hate him?" Nalan Xixi asked.

  Dugu City's figure paused, he turned his head and met Nalan Xixi's gaze. In that gaze, there was sympathy, reluctance, curiosity, and more, caution.

  "You know." He retorted.

  Nalan Xixi nodded. She understood.

  Does he know?

  Nalan Xixi shook her head. "I won't let him know."

  Dugu City nodded. He smiled. A bitter smile. "Thank you."

  Nalan Xixi wanted to speak but stopped herself. She suddenly felt that she shouldn't ask anything more. Those memories were a wound that would repeatedly tear open for everyone who had experienced that period of time.

  "You don't need to make up for anything." Dugu Cheng looked out the window, his voice mixed with the cold wind, drifting away in the quiet and deep palace, empty and serene.

  "Feelings are like this: the more you try to make up for them, the more you owe; if you can't love him, no matter what you do to make up for it, it's all superfluous."

  He turned around, walked close to Nalan Xinxiao, and smiled at her like a kind father. "I know what you're thinking. Go ahead and do it. I trust you."

  Nalan Xixi's heart skipped a beat, and she nodded slightly.

  Talking about luxury, the imperial palace of Sheng Jin Guo can't compare to Luo Tian's. However, in terms of layout and taste, it's unlikely that any other imperial palace in the world can surpass Sheng Jin's. The garden-like palace is a pity that in late autumn, one cannot see the breathtaking sight of a hundred flowers blooming together.

  Tai Du Gu Han was sitting in front of the desk, on which a detailed map was spread out. His gaze fell on Jiang Water Pass, and he seemed to be deep in thought. Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the palace gate. He paused for a moment.

  Nalan Xixi held a fur coat in her hand, slowly approaching.

  She walked over and personally put a cloak on Du Guo Han. Following his line of sight as he looked out.

  "Huangpu Ling's bridge will be repaired soon." Nalan Xianyu said calmly.

  Du Gu's expression turned cold and he smiled faintly. "This time, it seems like he is trying to buy time for me to retreat. But in reality, the true intention of the drunkard lies not in the wine."

  On the surface, it seems that the arrow has caused a war between the two sides. Firstly, it can gain time to continue the alliance with the eight countries of Jiangnan. Secondly, it can make Dugu Han retreat his troops. In fact, he is eyeing the eight countries of Jiangnan.

  When the eight countries of Jiangnan were fighting with Dugu Han, he returned to Lenovo, led his troops to attack them when they were off guard, and blocked them outside Wunan country, leaving only the option to stay at Jiangshui Pass, where it was difficult to advance or retreat. In the end, they either starved to death or were eaten away by being attacked from both sides.

  Now they are fighting not with military strength, but with time. Who can launch the most effective attack in the shortest time, who is the winner. And the spoils of war are Jiangnan Eight Countries. For them, Jiangnan Eight Countries is like a money tree.

  Possessing Jiangnan is eight countries away from unifying the world by one step.

  "Tomorrow I'll lead a team to attack Huangfu Ling's rear. You go to the South Gate first and wait for my news."

  "No." Du Gu said coldly: "I'll send someone over."

  "You don't believe me." Nalan Xixi said coldly.

  "It's not that I don't trust you." Du Guo Han looked at her, his eyes calm and determined without a hint of wavering. "I don't want you to take risks for me, nor do I want you to have any further involvement with him."

  A glimmer of coldness flashed in his eyes. Nalan Xianuo was taken aback, remembering the scars on her body that he had seen that day.

  "Don't worry. This is no big deal for me. Trust me." She grasped his hand, and the originally cold palm was warmed by him.