Chapter 58: The Cause: Life and Death Together
"Zhang Zhou, my father the king has finally agreed to lend you troops! Aren't you thrilled now?" Bo He sat down in a chair, crossed his legs, and said seriously: "But this time it's not something that can be resolved in just a few months. You must be careful about everything."
Peng Hong laughed: "Zhang Shun is cruel and unscrupulous, extorting heavily. Yuanliao is filled with suffering everywhere, and local military rebellions keep springing up. Even if Zhang Zhou doesn't go to attack him, he'll eventually destroy himself."
Zhang Zhou frowned deeply, pondering for a moment, and said: "Taking Yuanliao's vast lands won't be easy. Zhang Shun has assembled a powerful army stationed in Anqing. I'm afraid this will be a prolonged, grueling battle. Sigh... this time, I probably won't be back within a decade. If I can't destroy Zhang Shun, I'll die in Yuanliao."
Bo He advised: "You haven't even left yet, and you're already speaking such unlucky words! Besides, once you kill Zhang Shun and become King of Yuanliao, why would you come back?"
Seeing Zhang Zhou's worried expression, Peng Hong also tried to comfort him: "As soon as we settle somewhere, we'll come back first to pick up Xiu Yi, Jinyin, and the others."
Bo Jia smiled meaningfully: "There's only one person Zhang Zhou can't bear to leave, right? If you're gone for a few years, won't the whole city be in an uproar?"
Peng Hong also smiled, watching Zhang Zhou's face.
A hint of embarrassment crossed Zhang Zhou's face, and he felt even more uneasy inside.
Peng Hong asked: "By the way, where's Man Cheng?"
Zhang Zhou replied irritably: "I don't know, probably went off to play somewhere."
Lan Xing brought in tea, and Bo He grabbed her to ask: "Where's Man Cheng?"
Lan Xing covered her mouth and smiled: "The young prince is practicing swordsmanship in the back garden."
"Pfft!" Peng Hong couldn't help but laugh, and asked: "Has that kid lost his mind? Practicing swordsmanship? When did he start playing with that stuff?"
Lan Xing slightly furrowed her delicate brows and said softly: "Ever since Princess Ying You passed away, whenever the young general isn't in the palace, the young prince goes to the back garden alone to practice swordsmanship. He's been at it for almost half a year now..."
Peng Hong glanced at Zhang Zhou and asked: "You knew about this?"
Before Zhang Zhou could answer, Bo He waved his hand, eyebrows raised with a smile: "Who doesn't know? That sword of his was even requested from me. I wanted to see how his practice was going, but he wouldn't let me, acting all shy and bashful, hahahaha..."
Just as the group was laughing and chatting, Man Cheng ran in covered in dust. Seeing many people in the main hall, he tried to sneak away through the side hall.
"Man Cheng!" Peng Hong called him to stop. "Come here."
Man Cheng was extremely reluctant, dragging two swords, stumbling over with a swaggering gait.
Peng Hong scolded: "Can't even stand properly!"
Man Cheng glanced at Zhang Zhou, who just smiled without speaking, signaling him to obey乖乖听话.
Man Cheng straightened up, head bowed, listening to Peng Hong's lecture. Peng Hong looked him over and suddenly asked out of nowhere: "How about those crickets?"
Man Cheng blurted out: "They ran away."
"Hahahaha..." Bo He burst out laughing. "Weren't you practicing swordsmanship in the back garden? How? Practicing with crickets?"
Zhang Zhou also laughed. Man Cheng's face flushed red as he shuffled over to Zhang Zhou's side. Zhang Zhou noticed the skin on his elbows was scraped raw again, and his heart ached: "Man Cheng, you've been running around again. Does it hurt?"
Man Cheng shook his head. Before he could respond, Bo He pulled him over to stand in front of himself, smiling mischievously: "He's like a little monkey. When you're not in Dongzhou, he's even more mischievous. Right, Man Cheng?"
A flicker of panic appeared on Man Cheng's face, and he lowered his head even further.
Bo He exchanged a glance with Bo Jia, then smoothly changed the subject: "Man Cheng, Zhang Zhou is going to attack Zhang Shun in a few days. This time it definitely won't be something that can be resolved in just two or three months."
Zhang Zhou felt flustered inside, certain that Man Cheng would throw another tantrum, rolling on the floor.
But Man Cheng's face remained indifferent, and he said calmly: "I know."
The people present, all waiting to watch the show, were shocked by his calm words.
"Bo He-gege, where are the pastries that Lady Li asked you to bring?" Man Cheng glanced at Bo He, who looked stunned, and pouted: "You didn't bring them? Then I'll go ask for them myself."
Bo He quickly smiled and said: "I brought them, I brought them! Go find Lan Xing."
Man Cheng cheered and ran into the inner courtyard, shouting: "I'm hungry! Lan Xing! Lan Xing! Pastries!" A moment later, he shouted: "Man Du, why didn't you save any for your gege?"
"Ah..." This time it was Man Du's crying.
Followed by Jinyin's shouting: "Damned Man Cheng! You actually fought your little brother for food! How old are you! Shameless thing!"
"Aiya, jiejie, I was wrong, I was wrong! Zhang Zhou, jiejie is hitting me... Zhang Zhou! Ah..."
Everyone in the main hall laughed, their gazes all focused on Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou felt extremely uncomfortable. He dryly laughed twice, stood up, and walked toward the inner courtyard.
As Peng Hong walked out through the palace gates and was about to mount his horse, he heard someone call: "Peng Hong!"
Peng Hong turned around and saw Man Cheng sneaking around the corner behind a rock garden, big eyes darting suspiciously back and forth.
The sight of Man Cheng's antics amused Peng Hong, who stood in place laughing.
"What's so funny?" Man Cheng waved frantically, looking around suspiciously while calling out: "Come over here quickly!"
Peng Hong suppressed his laughter and walked over. The moment Man Cheng was close enough, he pulled Peng Hong behind the rock garden and got straight to the point: "Peng Hong, I'm asking you for a favor!"
Peng Hong laughed even harder: Man Cheng asking him for a favor usually meant taking him somewhere to stroll around or getting him some fun toys or good food. To make it so mysterious—this kid was becoming more and more interesting!
Without thinking, Peng Hong nodded and said: "Sure."
"Take me with you."
"Huh?" Peng Hong thought he'd misheard.
Man Cheng's face was serious: "I want to go with you to attack Zhang Shun. Take me with you!"
This kid... truly exceptionally interesting! Peng Hong laughed so hard he nearly choked.
"What's so funny?" Man Cheng angrily said. "I'm serious! You! Don't laugh, listen to me seriously! Don't laugh, got it? I've been practicing swordsmanship very seriously. I'm very厉害 now, believe me? You... don't laugh!"
Man Cheng saw Peng Hong laughing more and more happily, and couldn't help but stamp his feet in anxiety, tears streaming down his face.
Peng Hong humored him: "I believe, I believe, you're very厉害! Very..."
Before he could finish, he was laughing so hard tears came out.
"Peng Hong!" Man Cheng stared at him resentfully, lowering his voice: "I thought I could trust you! I didn't expect you to act like this! I... wuu..."
Peng Hong was startled, quickly stopped laughing, and tried to comfort him: "Don't cry! This isn't something you can just go to if you want to. You've never suffered hardship, traveling with the army will tire you to death. Good food, nice clothes, comfortable living in the palace—stay乖乖 and wait. As soon as we settle somewhere, I'll remind Zhang Zhou to come back and get you!"
Man Cheng crouched on the ground, clutching his head and sobbing. Hearing these words, he grabbed Peng Hong's hem and pleaded: "I'm not afraid of hardship! I'm not afraid of hardship! When Zhang Zhou leaves, when will he come back to get me? Not only is there no end to this wait, even if I had to wait one or two years, I'd die! This palace is so terrifying! Peng Hong, I'm so scared of this place! I'm begging you, take me away secretly! Even if you stuff me in a box! As long as I can leave Dongzhou with him, I can eat any hardship!"
Peng Hong hesitated inside and said: "This... why don't you tell Zhang Zhou?"
"Zhang Zhou definitely won't agree!" Man Cheng was so anxious he scratched his ears and rubbed his head. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees with a thud.
Peng Hong was startled. Man Cheng's face full of fear and helplessness, desperately pleaded: "Peng Hong, I'm begging you! If you can take me away, I'll definitely repay you in the future! Otherwise, once Zhang Zhou leaves this city gate..." Man Cheng gritted his teeth: "I'll jump off the Zhouzhou Tower. I mean what I say."
Peng Hong gazed at Man Cheng's absolutely resolute eyes, and suddenly remembered that night under Zhouzhou Tower when Ying You was sleeping peacefully. His heart shuddered: Man Cheng, for Zhang Zhou, would do anything!
Man Cheng looked up desperately at the silently speechless Peng Hong, his voice hoarse: "What hardship is there that I can't endure? What hardship could be worse than the hardship in the heart?"
What hardship could be worse than the hardship in the heart?
These words circled in Peng Hong's ears, never fading.
"Man Cheng, I promise you."
Jinyin lightly crossed the small bridge behind the pavilion and called out: "Lan Xing, when the prince returns, make sure the meals are ready and set up in the pavilion!" After finishing, she smiled at Zhang Zhou sitting in the pavilion: "What? Now that Man Cheng isn't throwing a tantrum, you're the one feeling uncomfortable?"
Zhang Zhou forced a bitter smile.
The shadows of the trees in front of the back wall swayed. Both of them looked over there, and with a "thump" sound, Man Cheng tumbled in through the window on the back wall, crashing into a tree.
"Um..." Man Cheng had leaves stuck in his hair, mud, dirt, and dust all over his face and body. He crouched on the ground, vigorously rubbing his forehead, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes.
"Man Cheng!" Zhang Zhou rushed over, pushing his hand away, and saw a moderate-sized bump raised on his forehead.
Zhang Zhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry, gently rubbing it for him and asking: "Does it hurt?"
"Good for him if it kills him!" Jinyin was already laughing so hard she doubled over, and cursed: "There's a perfectly good door and he insists on climbing through the back window! Zhang Zhou! Look at what kind of state he's in?" Jinyin reached over and pinched Man Cheng's cheek hard.
"Aiya! Pain!" Man Cheng exaggeratedly cried out, then buried himself in Zhang Zhou's embrace to hide.
Jinyin giggled and poked Zhang Zhou's forehead: "You're still protecting him! He's almost sixteen and still bouncing around like a monkey. He's worse than Man Du! Look at this dirty state—is he even presentable?"
Man Cheng stuck his tongue out at Jinyin. Jinyin was about to reach out and pinch him again, but Zhang Zhou quickly raised his arm to shield him, saying with a smile: "Okay, okay, I'll clean him up in a moment."
Jinyin's eyes glared: "My little brother has been spoiled by you!"
While the three were fooling around, Lan Xing brought the food into the pavilion and called: "Your Highness, it's time to eat!"
Man Cheng was overjoyed and was about to hop over when Jinyin grabbed him: "Bath first!"
"Jiejie... I'm hungry!" Man Cheng whined.
Jinyin was unrelenting: "Still want to eat in this filthy state?"
Man Cheng's stomach let out a thunderous "growl growl" sound.
Zhang Zhou couldn't help but laugh, and took Man Cheng's hand as he walked toward the pavilion, saying gently: "Jinyin, don't scold him anymore. Let him eat first, then bathe after."
Jinyin had no choice but to give them a hard stare: "I can't be bothered with you two! I'm going to check if Hepu has coaxed Man Du into taking his medicine! Two stinky boys, not a single one lets people rest easy!"
Man Cheng strutted triumphantly into the pavilion, but Zhang Zhou firmly held his wrist, not letting him grab the roasted chicken on the table. Man Cheng was drooling so much it nearly reached the ground.
Lan Xing brought water over and placed it to the side, smiling with pursed lips before following Jinyin back to the inner rooms.
Zhang Zhou wiped Man Cheng's hands clean before letting him grab food. Man Cheng was already so hungry his vision was blurred. The moment his hands were free, he immediately grabbed a chicken leg and started devouring it ravenously. Zhang Zhou笑着替他擦脸，wiping away the dirt revealed Man Cheng's face now covered in oil stains.
"泥没则么不吃?" Man Cheng mumbled.
"We already ate earlier." Zhang Zhou wrung out the cloth and applied it to the bump on Man Cheng's forehead.
Man Cheng dropped the chicken bone, grabbed a lamb chop with one hand while gnawing on it, the other hand holding a soup spoon as he slurped soup into his mouth, making satisfied "tsk tsk" sounds, eating very happily.
But Zhang Zhou was deeply worried. Watching Man Cheng eat like a hungry tiger leaping on its prey, his heart felt even more troubled: This time, the future is uncertain. If I can't kill Zhang Shun, I'll die thousands of miles away. Man Cheng, this might be our parting—before, you would cry and beg me, but this time, why are you so indifferent? Could it be... you don't care about me anymore?
With this thought, Zhang Zhou's heart clenched, and he called out: "Man Cheng!"
Man Cheng, face greasy from eating, answered casually.
Zhang Zhou's heart turned cold: I don't know how long this trip will take—one or two years? Five or six years, or decades? For that long, if you can't wait, if you don't like me anymore, what's the point of conquering Yuanliao and becoming king?
"Man Cheng!" Zhang Zhou called again.
"Hm?" Man Cheng was attentively licking his fingers. Looking up, he noticed Zhang Zhou's expression was gloomy, so he asked: "What's wrong with you?"
Zhang Zhou hesitated to speak.
Man Cheng panicked inside: This is bad, Peng Hong must have told him! Peng Hong, you rat! Didn't I tell you not to tell anyone? Does that mean you also told Bo He and the others? We're finished! There's no way I'll be able to leave now!
The more Man Cheng thought, the more desperate he became. His eyes reddened, and he wailed: "Zhang Zhou! I..."
But Zhang Zhou actually felt relieved. He pulled Man Cheng into his embrace and immediately made a decision, asking in a low voice: "Man Cheng! Will you come with me?"
"Huh?" Man Cheng widened his eyes, thinking he'd misheard.
"Man Cheng, I'll take you with me secretly! As long as we leave Dongzhou, no one can take you back."
Man Cheng wiped the oil from his face, his eyes glistening with tears as he stared at Zhang Zhou, his voice trembling: "You're... you're joking, right?"
Zhang Zhou furrowed his brows: "You don't want to?" Before Man Cheng could answer, he urgently and dominantly added: "No! Even if you don't want to, you must! I don't know when I'll see you again on this trip. How am I supposed to live? Man Cheng, don't worry, I'll assign many people to protect you. Even if I die, I won't let you be in any danger!"
Man Cheng dropped what he was holding and tightly embraced Zhang Zhou, sobbing with excitement: "Of course I want to! Zhang Zhou! I'm not afraid of any danger! Even if I die, I want to die by your side."