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墨書 Inktalez
Ba-Shu, on this ancient land, is engulfed in continuous warfare, with the sound of battle drums like thunder.
The mighty army of Later Tang is gradually approaching the capital city - Zhongshan - like a raging flood or fierce beast.
On the wall of a nearby small town, the guards tightly gripped their weapons, their eyes revealing unease and fear. Their armor glistened in the moonlight, but it couldn't conceal the trembling in their hearts.
Inside the town, the people fled in panic, cries and shouts echoing, filled with the chaos and panic of impending doom. In a narrow alley, a child crouched in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around his knees, sobbing. His mother tried to comfort him, but her eyes were also filled with despair.
"Don't be afraid, Komatsu, mother is here," her voice tried to sound strong, but her trembling hands revealed her anxiety.
Komatsu looked up, tears welling in his eyes. "Mother, are we going to die?" His voice was small and choked with emotion.
The mother held him tightly, tears swirling in her eyes: "It's okay, Mom will protect you." Her words were filled with helplessness, but she still tried to give the child one last comfort.
In the critical moment of Later Yan's survival, Queen Yin was in agony. Once the capital Zhongshan was breached, her young daughter Yan Qing would not escape death. Therefore, she decided to disguise Yan Qing as a commoner and have her taken out of the city by a loyal old nanny who had served her for over twenty years.
In an inconspicuous side hall, Queen Yin personally handed over money and treasures to the old nanny, her eyes filled with tears but her voice unwaveringly resolute.
"Grandmother, with this money, I hope you will protect Qing'er as she leaves the city. No matter what, I want her to escape the battlefield. She is still young and should not face such hardships. I only wish for her to live the rest of her life as an ordinary person, peacefully. " Queen Yin's voice contained a hint of choking, but she tried to appear strong.
Grandmother's eyes also held tears, but her voice was resolute: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Thanks to your care, my family and I have never lacked for food and clothing. I have watched the princess grow up since she was young. This time, I will do everything in my power to protect her, even if it costs me my life." Her gaze was firm as she tightly held the money pouch.
Queen Yin turned around and looked deeply at Yan Qing, it was a silent farewell from a mother to her daughter. She walked to Yan Qing's side, gently caressing her cheek, her eyes filled with reluctance and affection.
"Qing'er, mother only wishes for your safety and peace throughout your life," her voice was low, but with a hint of trembling.
Yan Qing nodded drowsily, still under the influence of drugs, unable to fully regain consciousness. When she became clear-headed later and carefully recalled these words, it would be a source of deep regret in the future.
Queen Yin turned and walked away, her steps heavy, each one feeling like a weight on her heart.
Grandma's hand gently caressed Yan Qing's cheek, her movements careful and skilled, smudging Yan Qing's appearance so that her beauty was no longer outstanding, only leaving the radiance in her eyes difficult to conceal.
On Yan Qing's face was smudged with mud and coal ash, hiding her beauty and revealing only a pair of determined eyes.
Grandma changed Yan Qing into rough clothes, and the two of them quietly left the palace in the night. In the darkness, they moved through the chaotic crowd like ghosts. Grandma held Yan Qing's hand tightly, her eyes determined and vigilant, always alert to the movements around them.
"Hurry, princess, we need to cross this street quickly," the old granny urged in a low voice, a hint of urgency in her eyes.
Yan Qing's steps were unsteady, filled with confusion and fear, but under the guidance of the old granny, she continued to move forward.
"Grandma, is it very dangerous outside?" Yan Qing's voice was weak, her eyes filled with fear of the unknown.
Grandma stopped in her tracks, crouched down to look at Yan Qing, her eyes filled with love: "It is a little dangerous, but Grandma will protect you and not let you get hurt at all." Her hand gently caressed Yan Qing's face, trying to give her courage.
Yan Qing bit her lip, a determined look flashing in her eyes: "I will stick with Grandma and not run around." Her voice was soft but carried a hint of determination.
Grandma nodded, stood up, and once again took Yan Qing's hand: "Alright, we need to hurry and take advantage of the cover of night to conceal our figures."
They continued to move forward, crossing one street after another, until they finally arrived at the city gate. The guards there were inspecting the people fleeing the city, searching each person carefully.
The old granny's heart was tightly clenched. She lowered her head, pretending to tidy up Yan Qing's clothes, and whispered, "Qing, no matter what happens later, don't say anything, and don't be afraid. Granny will handle it."
Yan Qing nodded, her heart beating faster and faster, but she tried to make herself look calm.
As they approached the guard, the old lady greeted him casually, "Guard, it's late and you're still on duty. Thank you for your hard work."
The guard gave them a weary and impatient glance, saying gruffly, "Hurry up, don't waste time." His voice was rough, clearly having searched too many people.
The old lady bowed slightly and quickly passed through the city gate with Yan Qing. When they walked out of the city gate and arrived outside the city, the old lady's heart finally relaxed a little.
But they still have a long way to go. She glanced at Yan Qing: "Qing, we need to find a safe place to hide and make plans when it's daylight."
A hint of gratitude flashed in Yan Qing's eyes, knowing that she could leave the city thanks to the protection of the old lady. She tightly held the old lady's hand and said softly, "Thank you, grandma. I will listen to you."
Grandma smiled, a hint of tears shimmering in her eyes. "Let's go, we need to leave here quickly."
Two days later, on the mountain.
Granny and Yan Qing stood on a high slope, looking in the direction of the capital from afar. They could only see billowing black smoke rising, enveloping the land in a hazy yellow. The war was sweeping through this land like a tide of beasts, mercilessly devouring everything.
Yan Qing's consciousness finally cleared, and she saw the distant fire, feeling an indescribable pain in her heart. She broke free from the old granny's hand, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
"Granny, I can't leave like this!" Yan Qing's voice was choked with emotion, but more than that, it was resolute.
Grandma's face showed a look of fear as she reached out to grab Yan Qing: "Princess, you can't go back! It's too dangerous there!"
Yan Qing's figure had already started to move away, her steps as light and swift as a deer in the mountains.
The old lady called out anxiously, but there were too many people fleeing around her, and she couldn't catch up at all.
"Qing'er! Qing'er!" The old lady's voice sounded so weak amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowd.
Yan Qing did not look back, there was only one thought in her mind, that is to return to the Zhongshan City, back to her home, even if it's just a pile of rubble. Her steps moved quickly on the mountain road, each step leaving a firm echo.
On the city wall of the capital, the garrison is bravely resisting the attack of the Later Tang army. Arrows are raining down, and massive stones are continuously being hurled at the enemy.
The faces of the garrison are covered in blood and sweat, their eyes determined. Even in death, they are determined to die on the land they have defended their whole lives.
Inside the city, Queen Yin stood at the high point of the palace, her eyes gazing into the distance beyond the city walls where the battlefield lay, her heart aching.
When the city falls, she will have to escape under the protection of a group of soldiers.
As night fell and the stars disappeared, a sinister haze enveloped the sky over Ba-Shu. Yan Qing's heart was filled with confusion and fear, and her footsteps felt particularly heavy on the mountain path.
She didn't know how long she had been walking, only instinctively heading towards the direction of the city with the blazing beacon.
The mountain wind howled, blowing away a few strands of hair from her forehead. Her eyes shimmered with a determined light, as if even in this pitch-black night, they could illuminate the path ahead.
Suddenly, a faint light shone into her eyes, like a guiding light in the lost path. She quickened her pace, carefully walking down the hillside, but with one misstep, the stone beneath her feet rolled, causing her to lose her balance and slide down the hillside.
Her consciousness blurred as she tumbled, and Yan Qing felt her body being stopped by a sturdy tree, preventing her from falling further.
She shakily got up, took a deep breath of the cool night air, and barely steadied herself.
Yan Qing Slowly standing up, her arms and knees were scraped, but there was no time to worry about them.
As she approached the glowing spot, a strong smell of blood hit her, and her heart tightened suddenly.
Yan Qing stood on this silent battlefield, her breath becoming rapid. The gruesome scene before her made her heart race violently, as if she might suffocate at any moment - the scattered bodies around her, the familiar yet unfamiliar faces, and the haphazard bloodstains on the ground all silently narrated the recent horrific massacre.
Her gaze was involuntarily drawn to a magnificent carriage, stained with blood. A young girl's body lay inside, her age not much different from Yan Qing, her expression frozen in the final moments of fear and despair.
Yan Qing stared at that face, suddenly, her eyes narrowed, her lips trembled slightly, and she murmured, "This is my clothes..." Her voice was low and filled with disbelief, the garment was indeed carefully chosen by her mother.
Yan Qing's heart suddenly ached, as if an invisible blade had pierced her chest. She instinctively covered her chest with her hand, the palpitations there were so intense, as if trying to lock all the pain within.
Yan Qing's eyes began to blur, tears swirling in her eyes, but she forced herself not to let them fall.
Then, her attention was drawn to a conspicuous blood trail, a dragging and struggling mark, as if it were the feeble resistance made by the wounded in their final moments of life.
Yan Qing Following this bloody path, her steps were heavy, each one feeling like she was treading on her own heart. The pain was almost unbearable.
Even with a sense of foreboding in her heart, she still held onto a faint glimmer of hope as she slowly made her way towards the bushes.
In the grass, the body of a woman lay sprawled, her clothes torn, her expression frozen in fear and despair.
For Yan Qing, this scene was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.
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