Chapter 157: No Living Separation, Only Death
Old Madam Jiang trembled with agitation.
Jiang Huaisheng did not understand what his brother meant by blocking their path with so many people.
Seeing the dense crowd, Jiang Wan felt terror shoot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
What terrified Old Madam Jiang even more was this sentence spoken by Jiang Changtian.
It was exactly the same as what Heir Han had said, the tone and inflection were identical.
It made one’s hair stand on end.
Old Madam Jiang felt as if a knife were repeatedly thrusting into her heart, pulled out, and thrust back in, the friction making her very flesh tremble.
That beast, he knew exactly how to gouge her heart.
Although Old Madam Jiang had been slapped by Heir Han, she did not resent him.
How could a mother resent her child?
Just like when she was stabbed by Jiang Da, she did not truly resent her son; even when leaving Ming County, she immediately had Jiang Wan call him back.
As for Jiang Changtian, it was simply because he was not her own child, so she felt no heartache for him.
Hearing these identical words, Jiang Wan also felt her scalp tingle.
She even thought, would it be okay to leave Grandmother behind?
If Jiang the Second cannot live without his mother, then they will leave.
She was truly terrified.
Other people’s actions had a traceable pattern, but this Jiang the Second was completely unpredictable.
The men sent by the Seventh Prince were strong and well-equipped, a regular army.
They had armor, bows, arrows, and spears.
They were fully equipped.
However, there seemed to be quite a lot of people on the other side.
If they wanted to charge, they could certainly break through.
The people on the other side were all elderly, weak, women, and children.
But they were also escorting a carriage of women and children.
They were here specifically to pick people up.
They couldn’t just abandon the people and run away; that would make the trip pointless.
Originally, they had thought this would be an easy job, but upon arriving at the Jiang Mansion and seeing their former colleague who had been rendered mute, it seemed this job was not so simple.
Therefore, they did not delay, picking up the people first thing in the morning and heading out of the city.
Yet they had not expected to actually be intercepted.
What kind of formation was this? Did they need so many people to stop them?
They almost thought they had encountered robbers.
A young man with a face full of whiskers from the Seventh Prince’s men stepped out and saluted Jiang Changtian.
“This subordinate, first-class guard Lin Yang, greets Commander Jiang.”
Jiang Changtian returned the salute.
Looking at this man’s figure, Jiang Wan suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
She felt very familiar with this man’s back.
But she had never heard this name before.
“I am under orders to escort Grand Tutor Jiang’s family to reunite with the Seventh Princes Consort. I ask that Lord Jiang allow us to pass.”
What he said was actually quite awkward.
Commander Jiang was also Grand Tutor Jiang’s son.
Hearing him repeatedly call Old Madam Jiang “Mother.”
Old Madam Jiang’s face was so ugly with anger that she was trembling.
The Seventh Princes Consort’s maternal family was not much to speak of; they were lax in governing their household, and the internal affairs were a chaotic mess.
It was no wonder the Seventh Princes Consort had such an arrogant personality; the root cause lay here.
Jiang Changtian smiled and said, “My father is Grand Tutor Jiang. Why does Guard Lin favor one over the other, picking them up but not me? Could it be that since my elder sister has become the Seventh Princes Consort, she refuses to acknowledge me as her younger brother?”
This second son of the Jiang Family was devilishly handsome.
He was completely out of place with the Jiang Family’s main branch.
The Seventh Princes Consort was already considered a beauty, exquisite and proud, but compared to him, it was like comparing a roadside weed to a blooming peony—a tragic contrast.
This man had red lips and white teeth, an alluring appearance, and a pair of watery eyes that seemed to brim with affection even when he spoke.
Even if he said, “I want to kill you.”
I fear the person being killed would be unable to help but lean closer to his sword, so he wouldn’t have to exert himself.
Old Madam Jiang was trembling with rage at these words.
He was shameless, still wanting to bask in Yu Luan’s glory.
When it came to matters of execution, he dragged them down, but when it came to gaining advantages, he crowded in.
Old Madam Jiang’s face was twitching so much it was slightly distorted.
Jiang Wan did not notice.
She was staring fixedly at that Guard Lin; it was too familiar, that physique.
Jiang Huaisheng had been focused entirely on Jinger today, feeling a bit dazed and thinking that the current situation was all caused by his younger brother. Since they were leaving, why must he press them so relentlessly?
“Commander Jiang is joking.” Since he was already an official appointed by the Imperial Court, how could he just leave?
Jiang Changtian nodded.
“That’s right, I am joking. Today I just happened to bring my subordinates out for training. As a newly appointed official, I naturally need to familiarize myself with my troops. Please excuse me. Why don’t you wait? Wait until we finish training before passing.”
The Seventh Prince’s guards were all tall and strong.
Looking at the dense crowd opposite them, it seemed to take them half a day just to turn around, and there were women, children, and the elderly among them.
This Jiang the Second was truly as rumored, accepting anyone and everyone.
Could he really rely on these people to rebel?
So they could only follow behind Great Marshal Zi to eat dirt, going nowhere.
Watching the other side moving sluggishly.
The Seventh Prince’s guards were growing impatient.
The people opposite were like snails, turning slowly, left and right, but simply not clearing the way.
The more Jiang Wan looked at Guard Lin’s back, the more familiar it seemed.
She suddenly had the people beside her call that guard over.
Jiang Wan looked at the man.
The man also looked at Jiang Wan, his eyes flashing with a hint of admiration, but it vanished quickly.
Today, Jiang Wan was dressed in a simple black robe, a high ponytail, and boots—a very crisp, efficient attire, looking much like a man.
Her chest was slightly rounded, her skin fair, and her eyes were extremely beautiful.
It was just that she was quite exhausted from taking care of the whole family, so her hair was not very neat, with many stray strands at her forehead and temples. This actually made her face look smaller and more youthful.
Among so many people, she was a rare beauty who, after seeing Commander Jiang, would not be eclipsed by him.
Not only was she beautiful, but her temperament was also outstanding.
Jiang Wan called this Guard Lin to her, seeing a strange face covered in a thick beard, but she was incredibly excited, her hands within her sleeves trembling slightly.
She recognized this person.
This person was the Seventh Prince’s second son, Chu Yi.
In her dreams, he had also adored her deeply, and for her sake, he had ultimately submitted to his elder brother.
Although she and he had been innocent, there was inevitably a hint of ambiguity.
After all, her aunt was his legal mother, and the two were cousins.
He had actually sought her hand in marriage as well.
It was just that her heart was not with him.
Jiang Wan had not expected that Chu Yi would actually disguise himself as a guard.
She was very familiar with him.
The two could be considered childhood sweethearts, growing up together.
Even if he were completely disguised as another person right now, she could still identify him from the details.
His posture, the way he spoke, his tone.
At this moment, Jiang Wan’s heart was about to leap out of her chest, violent and surging.
Her eyes uncontrollably filled with tears, which welled up and shimmered.
However, she recalled the final scene she had seen in the Quiet Room.
She forced herself to suppress her excitement.
She beckoned him to her front.
Jiang Wan said decisively, “You must kill Commander Jiang, otherwise none of us will be able to leave here. He is extremely dangerous. You must kill him, I beg you.”
Guard Lin Yang looked at the young girl in front of him in surprise. He didn’t know why, but she looked very familiar, beautiful, and kind.
Yet, when she spoke, she was actually begging him to kill someone, and she was unusually calm and resolute.
However, the last two words, “I beg you,” were spoken in a way that made his ears turn slightly red.
She had leaned close to him to say it, like a whisper.
Indeed, he had seen a painting in his legal mother’s room, and seeing the back of the young girl in the painting had stirred ripples in his heart.
So this was what she looked like.
She should look like this; it was just like this.
The person calling himself first-class guard Lin Yang was none other than the Seventh Prince’s son by a concubine, Chu Yi, the second in rank.
He loved martial arts, and this time, in order to show his worth, he had personally brought men to pick up his legal mother’s maternal family.
One could say he was a very filial son.
Jiang Wan had recognized him.
After all, in her dreams, he had done many, many things for her.
Chu Yi nodded. “You must protect yourselves.” He might not be able to look after them.
Jiang Wan nodded. “Rest assured, I understand.”
The two shared a perfect understanding.
Chu Yi was both surprised and pleasantly delighted.
They were meeting for the first time, yet for some reason, there was a sense of familiarity.
Chu Yi returned to the midst of the guards.
Watching the people opposite still moving sluggishly.
That Commander Jiang on horseback was exceptionally dazzling.
In reality, he had heard his elder brother and father analyze this person together, but at the time, they did not feel this person was dangerous or could accomplish anything great.
However, that was also because he had not seen this person.
Now that he saw him, he realized this person was different from the rumors.
There was something different in his eyes.
It was said this person was Grand Tutor Jiang’s foster son, a son of the Jiang Family clan.
Indeed, Commander Jiang was very dangerous.
Chu Yi had sensed it at the very first glance, but he had not expected Jiang Wan, a young girl, to be so resolute and to say the same thing.
Chu Yi was also a resolute person.
He was bold and decisive.
Returning to the guards.
Without any preparation, he gave the order.
They shot arrows at Jiang the Second.
A dense shower of arrows flew through the air.
Fast and urgent.
All directed at Commander Jiang alone.
Without any warning.
At this moment.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Wan’s heart was beating extremely fast, with a sense of gratification.
There was also a sense of things finally settling down.
Everything would change because of this.
Those mistakes would all be corrected.
Jiang Huaisheng looked at the dense rain of arrows in shock.
He had not expected it to be like this.
Just now, Jiang Wan went out and said something to that guard, he didn’t know what.
Was this really necessary? Why suffer so, why?
Old Madam Jiang’s eyes were wide open, her face full of satisfaction, the corners of her mouth turned up, the laugh lines on her cheeks deepening.
Jiang Rong held his book, glanced outside, then lowered his head to continue reading.
In the blink of an eye.
It was somewhat sudden.
However, two youths beside Jiang Changtian swung their swords and knocked down all the arrows.
And a person from the ranks behind Jiang Changtian suddenly rushed over with a spear.
Then, the group that had just been moving sluggishly, taking half a day to move a step or turn around, surged forward rapidly.
Each of them held swords and spears.
They only knew three moves.
Retract, thrust, block.
Circle by circle, like ripples on a lake, looking slow but actually very fast, one wave after another, they surrounded them.
And the person who led the charge had already reached Chu Yi in an instant.
Even though Chu Yi was surrounded and protected by guards.
That person actually moved as if entering an empty land, rushing over with strange movements.
With one spear, he knocked Chu Yi’s horse over.
A scene of chaos.
Fortunately, Chu Yi had jumped off the horse’s back a step earlier.
Otherwise, he would have been dead or crippled by this blow.
But immediately after, he didn’t even have time to exclaim over his own luck.
That person’s spear followed him like a shadow.
Even with guards protecting him, he was repeatedly having his clothes pierced and his skin wounded.
And the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled behind Commander Jiang also surged over like a tide of ants, surrounding them tightly, three or four tearing at one.
Five, six, seven, or eight surrounding one.
No matter how strong they were or how vast the disparity in strength, it was to no avail.
They were like little ants that did not fear death; as soon as one was crushed, another immediately filled the gap.
Winning by numbers, they tore them apart.
And Old Madam Jiang’s family in the carriage, although they had retreated under Jiang Wan’s direction from the beginning.
But after all, they were not as agile as those on horseback, and they were the first to be surrounded.
The battle was very fast.
It only took a few breaths of time.
Less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.
A lot of blood flowed onto the ground, seeping into the soil.
Chu Yi was heavily injured. Looking at the girl in the carriage, he felt a sliver of resentment. Was she intentionally harming him? Commander Jiang was her second uncle; no matter what, she would not die, but he might.
But seeing her face pale, looking at him with worry.
Chu Yi felt he had overthought it again.
Miss Jiang certainly would not intentionally harm him.
Jiang Changtian’s sleeve had been torn.
He frowned, looking at his torn sleeve.
He would have to have Sister Xia mend it when he returned.
Looking at Guard Lin who was surrounded by people.
Looking at Jiang Wan in the carriage who was showing worry.
Jiang Changtian let out a laugh.
“Guard Lin, I was just leading troops in training. Why did you attack us? We are people of the Imperial Court! Could it be that you are Rebels in disguise?”
“Look, my sleeve is torn. Fortunately, I have a big life. If you had shot and killed me, that would be killing an Imperial Court official. You are trying to rebel! Does the Seventh Prince also want to rebel?”
Chu Yi was stunned by Jiang the Second’s shameless statement.
Just as he wanted to refute, he saw the masked man who had been the first to charge up and knock over his horse with a spear, raising his spear and thrusting it toward his chest.
He screamed in terror, “Stop! My father is the Seventh Pri…”
His words were not finished.
The spear had already pierced his heart. He stared with wide, astonished eyes, dying with lingering resentment.
Jiang Wan sat in the carriage, pulled down the curtain, and trembled all over.
Impossible, it’s impossible for him to die just like this, it can’t be.
Jiang Changtian used his sword to lift the carriage curtain.
He said to Old Madam Jiang inside:
“Mother, no one in this world can separate us.”
“We do not have living separation.”
“Only death separation.”
“No one can take Mother away from my side.”
“Unless Mother is dead.”
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