jdhmnovel Chapter 407 New Hope Will Eventually Arrive
Chapter 407 New Hope Will Eventually Arrive
First, Zhao Xuan, citing her longing for her master, went to Qingshan Valley alone and explained Yang Liuming's sins and his fate in front of Zhao Xiaoman's tombstone.
"There's one more thing..."
Zhao Xuan sat cross-legged in front of Zhao Xiaoman's tombstone, gritted her teeth, and decided to tell her master her thoughts without any concealment.
“Master, my grandmaster died of starvation. I think about it and I believe that he did it to atone for Yang Liuming’s sins and to use his life to warn Yang Liuming and awaken the little bit of kindness in his heart.”
For more than a decade afterward, Yang Liuming devoted himself to assisting His Majesty in governing the Xia Kingdom. Now, Yang Liuming has redeemed his sins with his own life.
Zhao Xuan reached out and gently stroked Zhao Xiaoman's name on the tombstone, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Master, have I avenged you?"
Although Yang Liuming died as a commoner, and Yang Zilan did not hold a grand funeral for her parents, many civil and military officials still went to pay their respects.
As Yang Liuming's former student, Zhao Xuan would be criticized if she didn't go, but she couldn't get over her mental hurdle if she did.
So after discussing it with Gu Zhanghua, she made an excuse that she was unwell and asked Gu Zhanghua to burn three incense sticks for her. She then quietly went to Qingshan Valley to pay respects to her master.
Because of Yang Liuming's incident, Zhao Xuan understood a principle: many things in this world are not black and white, and many people cannot be simply judged by the words "good person" or "bad person".
At least for Zhao Xuan, Yang Liuming was a very complicated person. Many innocent people died because of him. He was a real "bad guy," but for the court, he was a real "good official."
Then, Zhao Xuan and Zhao Xiaoman whispered secrets all night long, secrets that only the two of them, master and disciple, could understand.
The day after Zhao Xuan left, Gu Zhanghua arrived at the former Prime Minister's residence.
He offered three incense sticks for Yang Liuming in the mourning hall, but he did not offer incense for Zhao Xuan.
Because he understood Zhao Xuan's feelings, Zhao Xuan only felt hatred towards Yang Liuming.
But he was different. During the more than ten years that Zhao Xuan was missing, he was taught by Yang Liuming. It can be said that Yang Liuming was his mentor. In addition, there was the brotherhood with Yang Zilan that he had for many years.
Gu Zhanghua looked at Yang Zilan, who was silently shedding tears beside him, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Condolences."
Yang Zilan simply nodded gratefully at him.
Gu Zhanghua then asked Yang Zilan, "What do you plan to do in the future?"
Yang Zilan glanced at the empty mourning hall. Tomorrow, his parents' remains would be laid to rest. From then on, he would no longer have his parents' protection and love, and he would no longer have any reason to be weak.
"From now on, this place will no longer be my home. After burying my father and mother, I will immediately set off for Fengcheng to fulfill my duty and protect Fengcheng!"
After a pause, Yang Zilan turned to look at Gu Zhanghua, raised her hand, gently wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes, and gave Gu Zhanghua a faint smile.
"I think this was also my father's and mother's last wish."
Gu Zhanghua didn't say anything, but simply stretched out his arms to hug Yang Zilan and whispered in his ear.
"Zilan, remember, I will always be your friend and brother. When I have time, I will visit you in Fengcheng. You should also make time to come back and see me."
Yang Zilan fought back the tears that were about to spill over again and answered with a single word: "Okay!"
Three days later, Gu Zhanghua saw Yang Zilan off as she headed to Fengcheng, and then returned to the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to his elder brother, the Crown Prince Gu Deming.
This time, he didn't write a eulogy or shed tears as he had in previous years. Instead, he stroked his elder brother, the Crown Prince's, tombstone and said softly but firmly:
“Brother Crown Prince, I have a practical plan to realize your ideal: to go to the State of Song and learn how to train a navy.”
"After we return, we will establish a navy belonging to our Xia Kingdom, making our nation even stronger. Only then will we have the ability to protect our homeland. Crown Prince, wait for me. I will come to see you when I have time and tell you all the details!"
After returning to Liyang from Qingshan Valley, Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua went to pay their respects at Wang Sheng's tombstone at the foot of the western suburbs.
Zhao Xuan still remembers that spring more than ten years ago, when it was raining continuously. Her master, Zhao Xiaoman, along with her and the other bodyguards from the Wuwei Escort Agency, made a vow in front of Wang Sheng's tombstone.
We must avenge them! Slay the robbers!
Now that the truth has come to light, Zhao Xuan lit three incense sticks and placed them in front of Wang Sheng's tombstone.
Even after all these years, she still remembers Uncle Wang Sheng carrying her on horseback and playing with her...
Zhao Xuan couldn't help but have tears welling up in her eyes.
“Uncle Wang, I don’t know if this counts as truly avenging you, but things in this world don’t always go as planned… I can’t bring everyone who participated in robbing the caravans back then to justice, but I hope you can understand my predicament…”
On the way back, Gu Zhanghua noticed that Zhao Xuan seemed a little disappointed, so he gently comforted her.
"Sister Xuan, if it weren't for your dedication to avenging Aunt Zhao, the attack on the mission more than ten years ago, the caravan robbery, and Grandpa Zhao's smuggling case would never have been brought to justice. Sister Xuan, you have done your best..."
Zhao Xuan, mounted on her horse, looked up at the gloomy sky, thick with dark clouds and a biting wind, as if a heavy snow was about to fall.
Her mood was heavier than the sky, and her voice was somewhat hoarse as she spoke to Gu Zhanghua.
“I understand what you’re saying. I’m just wondering, what if I hadn’t survived back then? Or even if I had survived, would I have had the ability to avenge my master?”
Will all evils be buried beneath the earth, completely covered by the white snow, and obliterated by time, with good receiving no reward and evil no punishment...?
Hearing Zhao Xuan say this, Gu Zhanghua's mood suddenly became somewhat heavy, because he also couldn't answer the question.
what goes around comes around!
Good people live a peaceful life, while evil people who do many unrighteous things will surely perish!
These seem to be truths that have existed since time immemorial.
But he had also read in a book that a kind person is often bullied, and a good horse is often ridden.
And the example of "good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years".
For example, an ancient book once recorded:
"Robber Zhi killed innocent people every day, ate human flesh, was violent and tyrannical, gathered thousands of followers, and roamed the world, yet he died of old age. What virtue did he possess?"
Dao Zhi was a notorious bandit in ancient times who roamed the land and committed countless evils, yet he lived to be a hundred years old and died peacefully in his sleep. Where can one seek justice from him?!
A gust of cold wind blew by, and Gu Zhanghua shivered involuntarily. He quickly put aside all the random thoughts in his mind and called out to Zhao Xuan.
"Sister Xuan, let's ride faster. We still need to prepare congratulatory gifts when we get back to the manor. King Rongdi is having a housewarming party and a farewell banquet tonight. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to be late."
"Oh dear, I almost forgot. Isn't he leaving Liyang to return to the Rongdi tribe early the day after tomorrow?"
"Correct!"
"What happened to his marriage in the end? Is there any chance for him and Yun'er?"
"You're Yun'er's older sister, how would I know if you don't know?"
"Didn't you go and sound out the Rongdi King?"
"You know how busy we've been lately. You haven't even had time to care about Yun'er, so how could I possibly have the time to chat with the Rongdi King?"
"That's right. I'll go ask him myself tonight. If he doesn't tell the truth, I'll just block his door and beat him up!"
"Hahaha, I think it's okay!"
As they chatted and laughed, they sped toward the Prince Xian's residence, their pent-up frustrations gradually dissipating with their laughter.
At this moment, the haze in the sky was suddenly pierced by a gap in the sunlight, and then the sunlight broke through the haze and shone all over the earth!
New hope will eventually come; they are still young.
They may not be able to control the button of fate, but they will do their best to make their lives worthwhile!