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Lamp Light
It had barely been a full night, and yet, ZiChuan Shen Xing looked as if he had aged over a dozen years, though it did make him seem more dignified.
“Oh, Xiu, it is you! What are you doing here so early? I’m about to get some rest! What is so urgent?”
ZiChuan Xiu respectfully told his story, but seeing ZiChuan Shen Xing’s frowned expression, his voice slowly faded away. Somehow he still managed to find the strength in the end to make his plea, begging ZiChuan Shen Xing to spare those Officers who didn’t take part in the rebellion.
Softening his brows, ZiChuan Shen Xing spoke gently: “Xiu, Stirling told me all about your heroic deeds from last night. You did well and you were brave! Your achievements were just as great as Stirling and Di Lin’s. As expected from someone the former Headmaster has taken a liking to.”
“Thank you for your kind words, but Sir…”
“I won’t forget what you have done. I’m sure I will be able to rely on you again once I take control of the House!”
“You are too kind, Sir. I’m merely performing my duty, but…”
“Of course, a word of thanks is not nearly enough to show my gratitude for everything you’ve done. Imperial Guard Commander Pi Gu is getting old. In a few days I will advise him to retire, and then recommend you to the Council of Elders to become the new Imperial Guard Commander.”
“Thank you Sir. I’m honoured, but now…”
“I’m sure the Council of Elders will do me this favour. You have nothing to worry about! You are only twenty years old and will already be a commander, making decisions directing House ZiChuan’s future. What an honor that would be?”
“Yes! I’m grateful, Sir! But right now there is…”
“Yes, yes! That is for today! I haven’t slept the whole night. I’m no match for the youngsters anymore. If there is anything else of importance, come to see me tomorrow. I will grant you the access to see him whenever you wish, you may be dismissed.”
With that, ZiChuan Shen Xing was about to leave the Reception Hall…
“Sir!” ZiChuan Xiu cried out: “I beg of you, three hundred lives!”
The sadness of his voice brought the Guards from outside, even they were curious of what had occurred.
ZiChuan Shen Xing’s face was buried in a layer of frost, not saying a single word.
The awkwardness quickly filled the room.
Finally, ZiChuan Shen Xing opened this mouth, his voice cold and strict: “Deputy Commander ZiChuan Xiu, I’m starting to get confused. Whose side are you on? House ZiChuan’s or Yang Ming Hua’s?
“Sir, my loyalty for the House has never changed. I swear with my life!”
“Never changed? Your sworn brother, Di Li showed the rebels no mercy at all; your other sworn brother, Stirling, whose loyalty was truly beyond reproach… Why don’t you compare yourself to them instead of trying to defend the rebels?”
“Sir, let the God be my witness, my loyalty to the Headmaster and to the House is not any lesser than Di Lin’s or Stirling’s.”
“Really? Then answer me this. How many times have you come to visit me after you returned to Di Du? Stirling asked you to serve me, why did it take you a whole two month to make up your mind? As an officer of House ZiChuan, it is your duty to serve the Headmaster, yet, you said you needed time to consider?! You call that loyalty?”
ZiChuan Xiu had no answer.
“Be very careful. Lin He. You were out of line! Don’t let your achievements get to your head!”
ZiChuan Xiu’s body trembled in fear. Lin He was his birth name before he was adopted by ZiChuan Yuan Xing. It had been almost ten years since someone last called him that. The reason ZiChuan Shen Xing used that name now was to remind him, that in the end, he was not born of House ZiChuan…
“Sir, I do not indulge in vanity, but please Sir. For the little good I did last night in protecting the House, if I could just give them all up in exchange for the lives of the Central Army Officers…”
ZiChuan Xiu dropped to his knees, “Bonk, bonk.” It was the sound of him banging his head against the floor. By the time he raised his head back up again, blood and tears had already muddied his face. He stared quietly at ZiChuan Shen Xing, not saying a word.
ZiChuan Sheng Xing was left stunned, so were the Guards…
Another officer kneeled down next to ZiChuan Xiu: “Sir, I would like to join Xiu in his plea. Too many have died tonight. Let’s stop the bloodshed.”
Not sure when it happened, but Stirling was already in the room. He obviously just came back from pursuing the rebels fleeing the city. His coat was soaked in blood and sweat, his face completely pale: “When I came back, all I saw was bodies, and more bodies. Deserters robbing, killing and raping innocent civilians… Our foremost task should be to re-establish order and calm the populace!”
“What about those left over traitors at the Central Army? You want me to just let them go?” ZiChuan Shen Xing’s voice softened. He had to give in to Stirling’s demands. He was his most loyal servant after all.
Stirling interjected: “We can discharge them, and remove them from office. Then we can select loyal officers from the Imperial Guards and the Far Eastern Army to fill the vacancies they left behind. Even if they wanted to plot for revenge, they wouldn’t have the means to.”
ZiChuan Xiu hurriedly added: “Sir, the compassion and benevolence you have shown today will make even the most stubborn foes see the light and turn them to your cause.”
“Enough, you may stand up now!”
ZiChuan Shen Xing thought about it for a good while, and finally agreed: “Since ZiChuan Xiu wished to exchange his merits for their lives, and Stirling also petitioned for mercy. Fine, I will allow it!”
Both ZiChuan Xiu and Stirling were overjoyed. ZiChuan Xiu continued: “Please Sir, I will need a written order from you, so I can let Di Lin know.”
ZiChuan Xiu was already on his way out with the order when Stirling chased after him, asking: “Xiu, your head, does it hurt? Do you need bandages?”
But that did not slow down ZiChuan Xiu at all; he quickly leaped onto his horse and he was gone.
He did not stop even once until he was back in the Central Army’s base camp. Pushing aside any soldiers in the way, he dashed directly for the Main Hall. As he approached the entrance, he shouted loudly: “Five minutes left! Di Lin! I have the order!”
Shocked, was the only way to describe it. Three hundred officer’s bodies lay zigzagged across the hall; their blood had begun to overflow the entrance, and the powerful stench made him dizzy…
The only one still standing in the room full of bodies was none other than Di Lin. He turned towards ZiChuan Xiu and cracked a wide smile: “You’re back, Xiu! I have been waiting for you.”
ZiChuan Xiu felt as if his heart was being ripped from his chest, then the light-headedness, and finally, the darkness took over…
By the time he opened his eyes again, Di Lin’s concerned gaze filled his vision: “Xiu, wake up, don’t scare me like that! If something were to happen to you, how am I going to explain to Her Ladyship…”
ZiChuan Xiu reached with his powerless voice: “Why did you do it…”
Di Lin remained silent.
“Why?!”
“Xiu, I know the Headmaster much better than you do. He is a very distrustful and unforgiving man. Perhaps you can force him to grant you the pardon, but if anyone from the Central Army was spared, he would resent you for it. I’m doing this for your own good.”
“Xiu, you need to understand. If what I just said reaches Headmaster’s ears. He would have me killed.”
“Do you remember when I told you there are only two in this world I can never kill? You and Stirling.”
“Why do you think I got myself involved in this dangerous conflict? Why do you think I stayed undercover after years of nightmares? What has ZiChuan Shen Xing ever given me to make me want to betray Yang Ming Hua for him? Do you really think I enjoy spilling so much blood and make everyone my enemy?”
“Xiu…”
Watching Di Lin’s face through his fuzzy gaze, it was as though there was two of them.
One was covered in blood, grinning at his men and ordering them to kill, a coldblooded and provocative Di Lin who wouldn’t even flinch at the sight of thousand deaths.
The other who held him in his arms, his eyes filled with genuine concerns and profound pain at the same time, a Di Lin who he could feel the warmth of his blood…
Slowly, the two images merged into one.
ZiChuan Xiu struggled back onto his feet, and then headed for the entrance.
Behind him, came Di Lin’s concerned voice: “You just woke up. Where are you going?”
“Home…” ZiChuan Xiu muttered: “I’m going home.”
He didn’t care for Di Lin’s voice. Pushing his way through the surrounding soldiers and their questioning gazes, he stumbled his way out of the Central Army’s Base Camp.
Everything in front of him was clouded by a bright fog, a thick white mist, obscuring all there was. The entire City seemed to have been swallowed by it. He could no longer see the magnificent streets, the people or the tall phoenix trees growing next to the sidewalk. Nor could he see the burnt down houses, the countless piles of corpses or the dark muddy smokes…
Through the thick mist, he could vaguely make out the shapes of a couple soldiers. Slowly, they came closer and closer, and their image became clearer and clearer… It was Bai Chuan and the rest of his men. They walked beside him and spoke: “Sir, we’ve been waiting you. Let’s go home. Her Ladyship is waiting for you.”
ZiChuan Xiu glanced at his men, each of them had a paled expression and their eyes seemed confused. He nodded: “Yes, we’re going home! I’m done. I don’t care anymore.”
In response, his men cheered and celebrated.
……
ZiChuan Ning’s mansion was probably the only peaceful area left untouched in the entire City. Even though they knew Yang Ming Hua had no plans for ZiChuan Ning, just in case, Stirling had deployed a regiment of Imperial Guards protecting the place.
When Di Lin entered the City, he also sent a group of riders patrolling the neighbourhood to prevent any potential incidents from happening.
It was already dawn, yet, lamp light continued to shine through the window of ZiChuan Ning’s room.
The Imperial Guard officer on duty recognized him as soon as he gave his report. “All is well!” he said, whispering softly to his ears he added: “The light never went out last night.”
A song repeated again and again in his head as ZiChuan Xiu stared in the direction of the lamp light: “There was a young lady, who sent his warrior to battle. They said goodbye in the dark. Standing in front of the stairs, and through the faint mist, the young man saw, the lamp light that kept shining, through the window of the lady he loved.”
Unknowingly, his face was covered in tears.
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