binnovel Chapter 241: The City is Destroyed, the Family is Destroyed, and Wei Ji Entrusts His Son to
Chapter 241: The City is Destroyed, the Family is Destroyed, and Wei Ji Entrusts His Son to
Cai Wenji's resistance intensified Liu Bao's interest. His competitive spirit was fully aroused, and he was determined to snatch the portrait away to have a look. He gritted his teeth and pulled with all his strength. Cai Wenji was ultimately unable to withstand his brute force, and the portrait scroll was thus snatched into his hands.
Liu Bao couldn't wait to open it and take a look. He was stunned as if struck by lightning. His face flushed red, then turned ashen. His hand, which was holding the portrait, trembled constantly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
Liu Bao slowly opened the scroll with curiosity and trepidation. The image of Ma Chao instantly drew his breath away. Ma Chao's sword-like brows pierced the sky, like two streaks of lightning. His eyes, glittering and deep, like stars in a cold night, seemed to penetrate the thin paper, captivating the heart. He wore a gleaming silver helmet, its red tassel fluttering in the wind like a blazing flame. His pristine white robe rustled in the wind, as if merging with nature and heaven, further highlighting his transcendental nature.
His handsome face seemed meticulously sculpted by a god, every line perfectly embodying strength and resolve. His high nose bridge towered like a mountain, and his tightly pursed lips exuded an air of unbending majesty. His long, jet-black hair, casually tied back, added a touch of uninhibited grace.
When Liu Bao recognized Ma Chao, he was immediately frightened. His tongue seemed to be tied and he stammered, asking Cai Wenji: "What is the relationship between this... this person and me?" Cai Wenji turned her head away and didn't bother to pay attention to him. Her cold profile was full of disgust and disdain for Liu Bao.
Liu Bao didn't dare to force Cai Wenji, so he turned his gaze to the maidservant and questioned her eagerly and anxiously. The maidservant, now completely confident and fearless, shouted, "This is my young lady's childhood sweetheart!" Liu Bao was startled and was about to ask again, but the maidservant immediately shouted, "This is my young lady's former childhood sweetheart!"
Liu Bao's expression instantly changed dramatically. First, his eyes widened in disbelief, then his lips trembled, his face paled, and panic spread rapidly. He was well aware of Ma Chao's formidable reputation on the battlefield. Now that he knew of Cai Wenji's close relationship with Ma Chao, he dared not show any disrespect. He quickly lowered his head, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, and his tone became extremely humble. "So that's how it is. I apologize for any offense. I hope you won't tell anyone about this..."
The other Xiongnu soldiers nearby were still puzzled as to why the Left Wise King had become like this. They whispered among themselves, their eyes flickering between Liu Bao, Cai Wenji, and the maidservant. One of them, bold enough, even asked a question and tried to reach out to touch Cai Wenji and the maidservant.
Liu Bao roared in exasperation, "How dare you!" He whipped out his scimitar, and with a flash of cold light, he attempted to chop off the followers' fingers. The followers quickly recoiled, faces filled with fear. One of them, puzzled, asked in Xiongnu, "Zuo Xian Wang, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Bao angrily declared in Xiongnu dialect, "This is Ma Chao, the killer god from Xiliang!" Upon hearing this, his followers were all terrified and craned their heads to look at the portrait. One glance and they all gasped, as if under a spell, and dared not approach Cai Wenji and the others again.
At this moment, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Liu Bao was panting and glaring at his followers fiercely, while Cai Wenji and the little maid remained indifferent, as if they didn't hear anything.
This scene made the desperate Wei Ji feel as if he had suddenly grasped a life-saving straw. His eyes were full of pity, and his tone was urgent. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, the destruction of the city and the extinction of the clan are nothing to be regretted, but the poor boy is only three years old. Sister-in-law, please save his life at all costs." Wei Ji's wife suddenly seemed to be inspired. Tears welled up in her eyes and she shouted loudly, "Sister-in-law, Wenji, Wenji, it was my fault in the past. It was my family that let you down. Please, this poor Wei family only has this child left. No matter what, please save him, sister-in-law."
Wei Ji said, "Wen Ji, I know we have made many mistakes, but the child is innocent." His voice trembled, almost begging.
Wei Ji said again: "Sister-in-law, no, let's not look at the face of our generation of Wei family members, but look at our Wei ancestors who fought for the Han Dynasty and preserved the last trace of our Wei family's blood." His voice was filled with tears, and he almost knelt on the ground.
Cai Wenji looked at them with a complicated expression on her face, and a hint of hesitation and struggle flashed in her eyes.
The Huns surrounding Wei Ji and his wife showed no respect or fear, as they did for Cai Wenji. Their scowls were fierce, their faces savage and fierce, like wolves, as they mercilessly assaulted and kicked Wei Ji and his wife. Strong, veiny arms, each with its own strength, violently dragged Wei Ji's wife out of the courtyard. She knew full well the horrific fate awaiting her. Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, she cried out to the heavens, "Wenji, pity my young son! I would rather die than be humiliated!" Without hesitation, she slammed her head against the solid stone pillar beside her. With a dull thud, blood splattered like a blooming crimson flower, and her body collapsed to the ground, dead instantly.
Wei Ji's face was filled with pain, his features distorted by extreme sadness and pain. He shouted with all his might, "Wen Ji, you are the daughter of the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong. Since you married into our Wei family, our family has indeed treated you badly in many ways. But at this moment, I sincerely hope that you can take our relationship into consideration and save my child, so that we can have this last bit of blood left for the Wei family. From now on, there will be no Wei family in the world. I beg you to be kind and help our Wei family preserve this last bit of bloodline." At this time, he was constantly being beaten and kicked by the Huns while he was speaking. His voice was intermittent and trembling, full of endless pain and despair.
Cai Wenji bit her lips until they were almost white. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she said in a trembling voice, "Brother, I... I am also a prisoner now. I don't know if he will listen if I tell him."
Wei Ji gasped for breath and said, "I've heard before that this group of Huns were defeated by Ma Chao. Ma Chao defeated the Huns in Xiliang, so this group of people must be among them. Look at how afraid they are of you. If you ask for mercy, you will definitely get it." While Wei Ji was saying these words, he was still being brutally beaten by the Huns. His body was covered with scars and blood.
Cai Wenji took a deep breath, trying to calm her fear and anxiety. She tried to speak to the Zuo Xian Wang, "Can you please let the child go?" Upon hearing this, the Zuo Xian Wang looked at Cai Wenji with a complicated expression, his face shifting between dark and bright, his mind swirling with thoughts. But he didn't dare push her too far. He was deeply concerned, fearing the vengeance Ma Chao would inflict if he harmed this woman. After much deliberation, the Zuo Xian Wang reluctantly nodded in silent agreement.
Wei Ji was also being beaten to death, nearly expiring. Gathering his last ounce of strength, he observed this scene from the corner of his eye, finally letting go of all his stubborn resolve and refusing to resist. He was mercilessly beaten to death by the Huns. Cai Wenji, watching the devastating scene before her, burst into tears, tears rolling down like pearls from a broken string. She tightly embraced Wei Ji's young son, who was not yet three years old.
When the Huns saw that Zuo Xian Wang agreed to let the child go, although they were reluctant and reluctance was written on their faces, they did not dare to openly disobey Zuo Xian Wang's orders and could only disperse.
Zuo Xian Wang stepped forward, his tone slightly softer than before, and said to Cai Wenji: "For your sake, the child will stay for the time being, but you'd better behave yourself and not cause any more trouble." Cai Wenji hugged the child tightly, remained silent, just nodded slightly, her eyes full of determination and resoluteness.
In this chaos and endless sorrow, Cai Wenji secretly swore in her heart that no matter how many difficulties and obstacles she would encounter in the future, she must protect the child and would never back down even if the road ahead was full of thorns.
Cai Wenji and her maid were forced by Liu Bao, the Left Wise King, into a dilapidated carriage. Under the Xiongnu's siege, they were driven slowly toward the outskirts of Hedong County. Cai Wenji tightly embraced Wei Ji's young son, who was less than three years old, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.
She looked at the horrific scene in Hedong County, which was like hell on earth. Everywhere were burning houses, corpses lying in disorder, and people crying in despair. The smell of blood and scorched earth filled the air, making it suffocate.
Cai Wenji was filled with panic and sorrow, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. She didn't know what her future held: would she continue to suffer in this displaced state, or would there be a glimmer of hope? Now, she was burdened with the responsibility of protecting her young son, a responsibility that weighed heavily on her fragile shoulders.
But she knew very well that no matter what difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, she had to be strong, for the innocent child in her arms and for the glimmer of hope that had not yet been extinguished in her heart.