Chapter 230: Retreat
Yin Zhan said nothing. He picked up the jar of wine, saluted Ji Heng from a distance, then raised his head and drank the wine clean.

Ji Heng smiled and raised his glass to drink. His movements were graceful and calm, completely different from Yin Zhan's roughness. The two completely different styles were strangely compatible.

"Yin Zhili should be preparing to raise an army." After finishing a glass of wine, Ji Heng put down the wine cup and asked casually, "Let me think about it. Tonight you have eliminated me, and there is the Queen Mother in the palace. The emperor is like a toothless tiger, at your mercy. Yin Zhili raises his army from Qingzhou, with the Changhe River as the boundary. Even if he cannot capture Yanjing for the time being, he can establish a new dynasty as Southern Yan. I just don't know what the title of Prince Xia is. Will Prince Xia be the emperor, or will Yin Zhili be the emperor?"

Yin Zhan's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled and said, "If I'm alive, I'll do it. If I'm dead, my son will do it!"

"Then why don't you guess whether you are dead or alive tonight?"

His ending tone was still gentle. In the tense atmosphere, he was the only one who remained calm. Yin Zhan asked, "What does Duke Su think?"

"Before I left, I asked for divination, and the divination said that if you survive a disaster, you don't have to have good fortune in the future." Ji Heng said casually, "I think, at least I won't die tonight."

Yin Zhan said with a smile: "Duke Su is always confident."

Tonight, this red building is filled with murderous intent, and who knows how many ambushes will be set off. However, even if they know it is a trap, the two of them are willing to come here. Because only when the other party is bait and takes risks, will they have the possibility of getting close to each other. And the reason why they are willing to take risks is for only one purpose, which is to kill the other party. As long as the other party is alive, they can't feel at ease.

If you find a thorn in your eye or a thorn in your flesh, you must remove it cleanly. If you fail to remove it and die here, it will be a worthy death. The worst case scenario is that both sides will suffer losses and perish together.

Yu Ji walked out of the tent, raised her head and sang: "Look, the king is sleeping soundly in the tent, I am here to go out and relieve my sorrow. I walked lightly to the wilderness and stood still, suddenly raised my head and saw the clear moonlight in the blue sky. Look, the clouds are gathering in the clear sky, the ice is rising, what a clear autumn scene!"

Ji Heng raised the cup, looked at the wine cup in his hand, and said calmly: "If I don't die, I will kill Prince Xia tonight first, and then threaten Yin Zhili with the Queen Mother's life. Yin Zhili will fall into the trap, and then I will kill Yin Zhili. Those who surrender, the soldiers of your Yin family, will be taken back, and those who don't surrender will be killed."

"Duke Su is too young and thinks too simply. I used my life to pave the way for my son. My son will never fall into the trap of the Queen Mother. Besides, you underestimate Roujia." He sighed softly, like a kind elder listening to the words of an ignorant junior, half laughing and half explaining, "As for the soldiers of my Yin family, no one surrendered."

"That's even easier." Ji Heng smiled faintly, "I will kill you first, then the queen mother, then Yin Zhili, and finally kill all 100,000 Yin family soldiers."

"Duke Su, be careful not to commit too much sin by killing people."

Ji Heng raised her eyebrows, "So what? I have a tough life."

There was silence.

Yin Zhan opened another jar of new wine and drank it down with his head tilted back.

Yu Ji sang in a long voice: "I was alone here, thinking about myself, when I suddenly heard the singing of Chu in the enemy camp. Oh, wait! How come there is the singing of Chu in the enemy camp? What is the reason? I think this must be strange, so I have to report it to the king."

Ji Heng flicked her fingers, without even looking, and a few pearls on the fan flew down from the second floor and continued to fall into the emerald porcelain bowl. The pearls were set against the jasper, and the light was flowing.

Yin Zhan smiled and said, "No need to talk, drink!"

Ji Heng picked up the wine jug.

One was elegant, one was rough, one was calm, one was unrestrained. It was a good sight, the full house was silent, as if the world had suddenly gone silent, with only the people on the stage, tirelessly performing the joys and sorrows.

This was an ambush and assassination that everyone had known about long ago. Both sides knew that the other had a backup plan, but they didn't know when it would start and end.

Until Yin Zhan drank the last jar of wine, he held the jar in one hand, smiling brightly and handsomely, as if he was still the brave and fearless General Zhaode on the battlefield back then. However, at that moment——

He suddenly rushed towards Ji Heng!
Ji Heng seemed to have sensed something. She did not move from playing with the folding fan at all, but stepped back with the chair, just in time to avoid Yin Zhan's sword light!
In an instant, all the guests stood up and slammed their hands, fighting each other. In the middle were Yin Zhan and Ji Heng, one in rough armor and the other in red. Neither of them could do anything to the other.

Yin Zhan's weapon was a knife, which looked very heavy, with a ferocious wolf head carved on the handle, but when he swung it, it was as light as a feather. He looked down on Ji Heng's golden folding fan and laughed loudly, "Nephew, your weapon smells too much of powder!"

Ji Heng smiled faintly: "As long as it works." As the fan opened and closed, it passed by Yin Zhan, and a trace of blood suddenly appeared on Yin Zhan's face.

He wiped off the bloodstain without a care in the world and said, "This hidden weapon is really vicious!"

"After all, my parents have experienced how mean my uncle is, so as his nephew, we dare not take it lightly." Ji Heng replied lazily.

The blade gleamed like silver snow, and the wolf head was full of murderous aura, probably because it was a blade that had been with Yin Zhan on the battlefield, killing countless souls, and the blade was also ferocious. However, the blade was entangled with a gorgeous fan, and the blade and the fan wind also hurt people. After a few rounds of fighting, both of them were covered in wounds.

The actors in the audience were singing, "My concubine, how would you know? Before, each hero fought on his own, and I could extinguish one and then occupy another. Now, all the troops are attacking together. There are few soldiers and no food left at Gaixia, so we can't defend it. Although the eight thousand soldiers are brave and strong, they have all been dispersed. This time I will go out to fight the bandits, and it is hard to determine the outcome. Oh, my concubine! Looking at this situation, it is the day when you and I will part ways!"

Pearls fall into a green bowl, gold falls into a silver plate. Yin Zhan shouted, and then he saw dozens of soldiers in armor jumping out from behind several pearl curtains on the red building. Ji Heng smiled and said, "Uncle is mean, but he is not lying to me."

"The Yangtze River's back waves push the front waves forward," Yin Zhan also said: "All is fair in war, watch the knife!"

Ji Heng also laughed, and his laugh seemed to be sarcastic. Then he saw young people in brocade clothes and jade belts appearing on the upper floor, behind the pearl curtain.

He has a killer move, so does he?

Yin Zhan's face did not show any surprise, as if he had expected this moment. They both knew what the other wanted to do, it was just a matter of who had better luck and who had a tougher life. Ji Heng was ruthless, and so was Yin Zhan. He could kill his own flesh and blood, and betray and kill his brothers and friends, so how could he be a soft-hearted person?

The red building was suddenly filled with the sound of swords and knives. All the blooming red candles fell to the ground, and the snow-white wool carpet was already covered with human blood. Corpses were scattered everywhere, and blood and flesh flew everywhere. The two people in the middle were killed with swords, and the fight would not stop until they died.

"After all, my nephew has lived decades less than me." Yin Zhan said with a smile: "Even though you are extremely smart, you are still a little soft-hearted."

"Same here," Ji Heng smiled softly, "Compared to me, it seems like you have more weaknesses."

Yin Zhan's smile froze. His weakness, Lin Roujia was his weakness. Yin Zhili was also his weakness. He did have many weaknesses. In comparison, Ji Heng was ruthless and ungrateful, and indeed had no one close to him. Even his only grandfather, he was not close to him. Maybe now there was an extra Jiang Li, but this was also a gamble, and no one knew how much Jiang Li was worth.

He hoped to kill Ji Heng. Ji Heng's existence was too threatening to Yin Zhili. As long as Ji Heng was killed, Emperor Hong Xiao would not be a threat, and the world would be under his control. But when he saw Ji Heng today, he knew that he could not walk out alive. This child had been dormant for decades, and his patience was frightening, and he had to collect the debt, and he had no way to avoid it.

But, even if he died, he would clear all the paths for Roujia and Yin Zhili! He would take Ji Heng to hell with him, and he would perish together with Ji Heng!

Yu Ji on the stage sang softly: "I urge the prince to drink and listen to Yu's songs, and dance to relieve his worries. The Qin Dynasty was unjust and destroyed the country, and heroes started fighting on all sides. The old saying never deceives me, success or failure is just a matter of a moment. Relax and drink in the treasure tent."

Yin Zhan, who was fighting with Ji Heng, showed a strange smile and shouted: "Burn!"

The torch, which was made with great care and carefully shaped into the shape of a strange beast, was thrown onto the red curtain without even looking at it, and a raging fire shot up into the sky. The pavilion was made of wood, and the second floor suddenly became a sea of ​​fire.

"You really don't plan to go back alive," Ji Heng sneered and said, "You even burned your own road."

"As long as I can kill you," Yin Zhan replied, "it's worth it even if I die." His knife rushed straight at Ji Heng. The fighting men could escape, but on the second floor, Yin Zhan tripped Ji Heng's feet tightly, making it impossible for him to escape. But in other words, Ji Heng didn't even want to escape. His fan curved in the sea of ​​fire, like a beautiful woman dancing lightly, or like the legendary beauty who assassinated the king, just waiting for the final result to be revealed.

The children of the opera on the stage were completely unaware, as if they had not seen the raging fire or the sparks falling from the second floor. When singing the most exciting scene in the play, Yu Ji said: "Oh, my king! How can I be willing to cause trouble for you? If this expedition is unfavorable, we can retreat to Jiangdong and make plans later. I wish you would use the sword at your waist to cut your throat in front of me so that you don't have to worry about me!"

The hero said in pain: "This... Concubine, you... must not commit suicide." "Ah! My king! The Han army has occupied the land, and the sound of Chu is heard everywhere. Your king has lost his spirit, and how can I, a humble concubine, live!"

The sound of enemies on all sides, the sound of enemies on all sides! The road leading downstairs was almost completely burned by the fire. Where the two of them stood, there was also fire under their feet. They fought desperately in the sea of ​​fire, and the rest of the men were fighting hard on their own, and they had no time to help. Both of them were covered with wounds, but they seemed not to feel the pain, and they continued to tremble tirelessly until the whole red building was burned to ashes.

At this moment, another person suddenly rushed in from outside the red building. This person was covered in snow and had a head full of white hair. It was unclear whether it was because of the snow or because of his age. He held a three-foot-long green sword and rushed straight to the second floor. His movements were not as agile as those of the young soldiers, but he was extremely agile. It was as if he had not seen the flames rising into the sky at all. His back was resolute and he did not hesitate.

In the sea of ​​fire, Ji Heng's fan cut Yin Zhan's neck, blood was flowing, Yin Zhan's knife also cut his back, and his red clothes were wet. Neither of them was willing to give up, Yin Zhan smiled grimly: "My good nephew, since you are fighting with me to death, why don't you go to hell with me, and leave the beautiful land of Beiyan to my son!" At this time, Ji Heng's fan just pierced his chest, and he didn't care at all. He took advantage of the time when the fan was not pulled out and stabbed Ji Heng's back with his knife.

However, he did not succeed.

At that moment, a figure was running up to the second floor. He was old, and no matter how strong he looked on weekdays, he was easily tired. It was already very difficult for him to rush into the sea of ​​fire. When he saw this, he just pushed Ji Heng away, and rushed towards the other party with the sword in his hand.

Yin Zhan's knife stabbed into his back, and his sword pierced Yin Zhan's throat.

Yin Zhan fell down in response.

"Grandfather!" Ji Heng cried out.

The actor who played Yu Ji on the stage had already committed suicide. It was the last scene of the King of Chu coming to the Wu River. The peerless hero sang: "I have been defeated. How can I face the elders of Jiangdong? Send my warhorse across the river and let it go."

General Ji fell to the ground, with blood flowing from the corner of Yin Zhan's mouth. He only had time to utter a "huh...huh" sound before he tilted his head and died, with a strange smile still on his face.

Ji Heng carried General Ji downstairs. Downstairs was also a scene of tragic death, with dead bodies lying all over the place. He held General Ji and gently placed him on the bloodstained wool carpet, calling out, "Grandfather."

His voice was trembling.

General Ji's blood kept flowing out of his wounds, and the snow-white carpet was dyed red by the blood. When he was young, he fought on the battlefield and suffered countless injuries. He had walked through the palace of Hades many times and returned unscathed. He was always energetic and smiling. Even though the Ji family had encountered so many inexplicable disasters, even though he had to guard the deserted Duke's Mansion for the rest of his life, he never took it to heart.

He should have shouted to people with full energy: "Hurry up and find a doctor for me!" As if he would never die, and as long as the doctor came to treat him, he would be able to stand up soon and become the happy old boy in the Duke's Mansion.

However, his wound was so deep, the hole was shocking, as if all the blood was going to flow out. The person Yin Zhan wanted to die with was Ji Heng, he did not give Ji Heng any other way to go, he used all his strength to cut the knife, the knife that he exchanged for his own life, no medicine or five spirits could save him.

"Ah...Ah Heng..." General Ji called Ji Heng's name.

Ji Heng held his hand.

"I know you blame me... When I was young, I knew clearly who was involved in this matter, and I knew clearly who killed Minghan and Hongye, but I refused to avenge them. You are the only child of the Ji family, and I can't let you be in danger. I have endured for more than 20 years, until you grew up and Yin Zhan came back by himself, I... I can finally avenge Minghan." He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Ji Heng looked at him, and a tear fell on General Ji's face.

No one had ever seen Ji Heng cry. This child seemed to be born without sadness, fear, or crying. It seemed that except for his completely ignorant infancy, he would never cry again. Even General Ji had never seen Ji Heng cry.

"Why are you crying..." General Ji smiled, "You're not like a man."

After Yu Hongye's death, General Ji also investigated. The reason why he did not let Ji Minghan continue to investigate was that he thought that Yu Hongye's body appeared outside her house inexplicably after she entered the palace, and it was done by someone in the palace. He was afraid that Ji Minghan was impulsive and was tricked by others, but he did not know that Ji Minghan could not tolerate his wife being insulted and killed, and he was willing to break up with the whole family to find the real culprit.

That night at Hongshan Temple, Ji Minghan went there himself and brought with him 72 Chixiao Riders. Yin Zhan's archers ambushed and the 72 Chixiao Riders were annihilated. The last survivor took Ji Minghan back and hid him. A year later, he found a way to contact General Ji and told him the truth. A few years later, the man died and entrusted his son to General Ji. That man was Wen Ji's father.

General Ji knew the truth, but he could do nothing. Lin Roujia had already given birth to a child, and he had no evidence. More importantly, Ji Heng was young, and once Lin Roujia found out, she would take the initiative to deal with Ji Heng.

In the future, Ji Heng would be the only one left in the Ji family. He couldn't let Ji Heng make any mistakes.

Ji Heng grew up day by day, and he was smarter than General Ji thought. Ever since he knew about his parents' strange disappearance, he had been investigating. He must have found something, General Ji could sense it. He became more gloomy and quiet day by day, and his mood was erratic. Since he was a teenager, he no longer got close to anyone. He got what he liked, but he didn't cherish it after getting it. He regarded human life as worthless. He seemed to be indifferent, but in fact, he was clear about everything.

"You blame me... Ah Heng, I'm sorry..." General Ji said. If it weren't for his tolerance, Ji Heng wouldn't have known the truth so early. He walked into hell in an absolutely cruel way. This child was caused by him.

"I don't blame you." Ji Heng said softly, "If it were me, I would do the same."

General Ji looked at Ji Heng for a long time. He had never seen the child so gentle, without any sharp edges. He looked at himself with eyes that could forgive everything.

"This sword..." He tried hard to touch the sword beside him, "Qingming, this is my sword... It's also your father's sword, you must protect it well."

All of Yin Zhan's men had been dealt with, and many of those young masters in brocade clothes would never wake up again. Zhao Ke and Wen Ji stood beside Ji Heng, they were also covered in wounds, but they remained silent and stared at General Ji with sadness.

The old general is dying.

Ji Heng held the sword tightly, and spoke softly as if she was afraid of scaring him, "Okay, Grandfather."

"This play... is very good, very good." General Ji said, his eyes fell on the sky, as if there was something there. He stretched out a hand with great effort, pointed to the sky from afar, and smiled, "Minghan, Hongye, Madam, you...you are here to pick me up..."

The hand suddenly dropped and General Ji closed his eyes.

There was still a smile on his lips and his expression was very peaceful, as if he was very happy, or as if he had unloaded the burden of many years and finally felt relieved at this moment.

Ji Heng knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply to General Ji. He did not stand up again, but lay on the ground for a long time. It was unknown whether he was crying or unable to make a sound due to grief.

Xiang Yu sang: "Alas! General! All my eight thousand men have fled. I cannot cross the Wu River. How can I bear to see the people of Jiangdong waiting for me? It is better to die and live a miserable life!"

He committed suicide by cutting his throat, and there was no such hero on the banks of the Wu River from then on. The victorious people sang: "Retreat!" But the audience was not happy about the victory. No one applauded, and the whole room was silent.

The drama is over.

On the table in the first row, a silver plate was neatly stacked with gold ingots, a full plate, and a emerald bowl was filled with white pearls, just enough for one bowl. This was the reward for the play.

Two more lives.

A huge fire broke out, and the red building was burning like disaster clouds in the sky. The actors dispersed. The play opened with great applause, but few people heard it to the end.

The general on the stage stayed by the Wujiang River, while the general outside the stage died in the Red Mansion, surrounded by emerald rings and pearls, and no one remembered his heroic spirit of those years.

The general dies on the battlefield, standing tall and proud, it is a good show; the beauty commits suicide in front of the tent, showing love and loyalty, it is a good show; the winner draws back his troops and returns to the court in triumph, it is a good show.

But the person watching the play will be alone for the rest of his life.

(End of this chapter)