RPAGF Chapter 172 Luo Cheng: I want to leave, who can stop me?
Chapter 172 Luo Cheng: I want to leave, who can stop me?
"Then this humble general... will take his leave."
Qin Qiong cupped his hands in greeting, his heart filled with a thousand regrets that he did not want to stay a moment longer.
He had thought that Lü Xiao would use the excuse of leaving to humiliate him again.
Unexpectedly, Lü Xiao was so straightforward, not uttering a single unnecessary word.
This is very unusual.
The unusual situation triggered alarm bells in Qin Qiong's mind.
Based on his understanding of Lü Xiao, this Prince of Shuo was vengeful and never let any enemy go easily.
The fact that they let him go so easily today means they've dug an even bigger pit somewhere else, waiting for him to jump in.
But no matter what, let's get out of this awful place first.
Qin Qiong turned around, his steps hurried, wishing he could fly back to the Yanshan military camp immediately.
He never wanted to see Lü Xiao's ambiguous smiling face again, and he never wanted to stay on this land soaked in the blood of his brothers.
One step, two steps, three steps.
He was getting closer and closer to the palace gate.
"Wait a minute."
The voice from behind wasn't loud, but it struck Qin Qiong's heart like a heavy hammer.
Qin Qiong suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He knows it!
He knew Lü Xiao wouldn't let him off so easily!
Qin Qiong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly turned around.
He tried his best to keep his voice calm: "Your Highness, is there anything else?"
Lü Xiao did not answer immediately. He leaned back on the throne that had once belonged to Li Mi, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
"Someone come here," Lü Xiao said, but not to Qin Qiong. "Go and invite the heir of the Prince of Beiping."
Qin Qiong's heart sank suddenly.
Luo Cheng?
What does Lü Xiao want to see Luo Cheng for?
The guards outside the palace received their orders and left.
A moment later, a steady sound of footsteps approached from afar.
Luo Cheng strode into the hall.
He was still dressed in silver armor and a white robe, his handsome face showing a mixture of doubt and wariness.
He was just taking stock of his men in the camp, preparing to break camp and return north, when he was suddenly summoned by Lü Xiao's men. He already had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
"This humble general, Luo Cheng, pays his respects to Prince Shuo."
Luo Cheng clasped his hands in a salute, his movements crisp and decisive, neither humble nor arrogant.
He did not kneel, nor did he even bend his waist too deeply; this was the last bit of pride of the Prince of Beiping.
"Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."
Lu Xiao raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone unusually kind.
Luo Cheng straightened up and waited quietly for Lü Xiao to continue.
Looking at Luo Cheng, Lü Xiao slowly curled up a smile.
"The Prince of Beiping is loyal to the Sui Dynasty and has made great contributions in guarding the Yanshan region," Lü Xiao said slowly. "His Majesty often thinks of the Prince of Beiping's merits and regrets that he cannot see him often."
He paused, his gaze falling on Luo Cheng's face, his smile deepening:
"In my opinion, the Crown Prince should stay in Luoyang and pay his respects to His Majesty in the palace, so that he may fulfill the duties of a subject on behalf of the Prince of Beiping."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qiong's face turned deathly pale.
He suddenly turned to look at Luo Cheng, only to see that his cousin's handsome face had lost all color, and his fists were clenched so tightly in his sleeves that they cracked.
Proton.
Lü Xiao wanted to keep Luo Cheng as a hostage.
With the sole heir of Beiping Prefecture in the hands of the imperial court, would Luo Yi dare to harbor any disloyalty?
Do you still dare to obey orders but not proclamations?
Does he still dare to be his local tyrant in Yanshan?
Luo Cheng took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surging anger in his chest.
He tried his best to make his voice sound calm: "Your Highness, my mother is getting old, and the Luo family only has this one lineage left."
I hope Your Highness will consider my filial duty and allow me to return to Beiping to serve my parents.
Luo Cheng's words were perfectly watertight, using filial piety as a pretext.
From both a moral and logical standpoint, they should not be forced to stay.
But now that Lü Xiao has brought it up, how could he be stopped by such a reason?
"That's easy to handle." As if he had anticipated Luo Cheng's words, "The Crown Prince's filial piety is as clear as day; how could I refuse?"
"I immediately ordered someone to go to Beiping Prefecture and invite the Princess Consort to the Eastern Capital."
In this way, the crown prince can remain in Luoyang to fulfill his filial duties without neglecting his duties.
Luo Cheng suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Lü Xiao.
So poisonous.
Not only should he be kept as a hostage, but his mother should also be brought to the Eastern Capital.
With both mother and son under the control of the imperial court, what could Beiping Prefecture possibly use to negotiate with the court?
He had previously thought of Lü Xiao as just a martial artist who acted recklessly because of his military achievements.
Only now did he realize that this person's ruthlessness far exceeded his expectations.
"You!" Luo Cheng could no longer contain his anger, his fist clenched so tightly that veins bulged. "Lü Xiao, don't push your luck!"
This sharp shout, calling out his name directly, startled all the soldiers in the hall.
Yuwen Chenglong raised an eyebrow, Pei Yuanqing quietly clenched his fist, and Zuo Xiong and Ao Yu stepped forward together.
They were just waiting for Lü Xiao's order to arrest the man on the spot.
Qin Qiong could no longer restrain himself, and suddenly stepped forward, kneeling on one knee:
"Your Highness! If you still hold a grudge against me, you can come at me directly!"
Do as you please, I will have no objection!
Luo Cheng is innocent! Please, Your Highness, do not make things difficult for him!
He looked up, his eyes full of pleading.
Lu Xiao looked down at Qin Qiong kneeling at the foot of the steps, his eyes devoid of any warmth, only a faint mockery.
"General Qin," he said slowly, "you take yourself far too seriously."
Qin Qiong was struck dumb, frozen in place.
"I left the Crown Prince in Luoyang as a guest for the sake of the court and the Sui Dynasty," Lü Xiao said, emphasizing each word. "It has absolutely nothing to do with you, Qin Shubao."
These words are more hurtful than any insult.
Qin Qiong knelt there, his mouth open, but no sound came out.
In Lü Xiao's eyes, he was never considered a rival.
Back in Wagang, he stood by and watched as Lü Xiao was forced to leave.
Later, he sought refuge with the Beiping government, but Lü Xiao's imperial edict forced him to ruin his reputation.
He thought he was Lü Xiao's enemy, but in Lü Xiao's eyes, he was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will.
Lü Xiao's true target has always been Beiping Prefecture.
It was Luo Yi, the powerful vassal state that occupied Yanshan and obeyed orders but not summons.
Qin Qiong was merely a pawn used to lure Luo Cheng out.
Luo Cheng stood there, his face ashen.
He had never suffered such humiliation.
From childhood to adulthood, he was the heir of the Prince of Beiping, a chosen one of heaven, and was always fawned over and respected wherever he went.
Even the highest-ranking officials in the court had to treat his father with great respect.
But Lü Xiao didn't take him seriously at all.
"What if I don't want to stay?"
Luo Cheng spoke slowly and deliberately.
He was fed up with being subservient and compromising.
He was a proud and arrogant person to begin with, and these days he had been enduring and yielding again and again in order to avoid trouble.
But Lü Xiao went too far, pushing his luck and bullying people to an extreme!
He wanted to see just how much real skill this famous Prince Shuo really possessed!
"Your Highness may try to see if you can get out of this place."
"I really want to have a match with Your Highness." Luo Cheng raised his head, his eyes burning with long-suppressed arrogance and fighting spirit.
He had wanted to meet Lü Xiao for a long time.
He had heard of both Yuwen Chengdu and Li Yuanba, these so-called fierce generals of the world.
But he hasn't seen it with his own eyes, nor has he ever fought it hand-to-hand. Why should he admit defeat?
Luo Cheng, the heir of the Prince of Beiping and the direct descendant of the Luo family's spear technique, has never been afraid of anyone.