Jie Ziqian’s somber gaze swept over our faces one by one. “Though Great Chu has made no overt moves yet, we must prepare early,” he said, his voice carrying a strange steadiness that gradually calmed my frantic heart. “However, the defenses at Qizhou—even including the prisoners of war taken from Han Jiang—amount to fewer than fifteen thousand men...”
He paused, deep in thought. When he looked up again, a sharp spark flickered in his eyes. “The armies of Great Chu are formidable. We won’t gain much by meeting them head-on. I believe your master Feng Xiuxiu’s mastery of poisons could be put to great use here...”
Feng Tong, Feng Pu, and I exchanged glances, none of us speaking for a moment. Using poison was hardly a long-term solution.
“Master Jie, can we transfer Feng Yao to Qizhou?” Feng Tong suddenly asked. “Though he is merely a house general of our Fengyun Manor, he comes from a military background, and...”
Before he could finish, Jie Ziqian cut him off bluntly. “Feng Yao is already on his way. The moment Xi Huo intercepted Marshal Chu’s pigeon dispatch, he sent Feng Yao off.”
“An intercepted dispatch?” I looked at Jie Ziqian skeptically. “Such a coincidence? Could Chu De have intended for us to find it?”
Jie Ziqian began stroking his short beard, nodding thoughtfully. “I hadn’t considered that... but it is possible. After all, forcing us to divert our energy toward Great Chu would be an effective way to throw our own ranks into chaos.”
Feng Pu cleared his throat. “Perhaps I should also head to Qizhou to assist Brother Yao.”
“No!” Jie Ziqian and I shouted in unison.
Startled by our intense reaction, Feng Pu stood frozen with a half-filled teacup in his hand, looking utterly lost. I glanced at Jie Ziqian, signaling for him to explain.
“The terrain of the entire northern region is like a cloth sack tied at both ends,” Jie Ziqian said, dipping a finger into his tea to draw a crude map on the table. He explained patiently to Feng Pu, “The enemy is currently stationed outside Chixia Pass. While Great Chu hasn't moved yet, the worst-case scenario is them joining forces with Chu De to pin us in a pincer attack. And don't forget the Restoration Society stirring up trouble within. We absolutely cannot allow these four central prefectures to fall into chaos first.”
I nodded quickly, adding emphasis to his words. “Right now, the most vital thing for Baicheng, Fengdu, Chenjiaji, and Liangzhou is stability. We cannot let the Restoration Society disrupt us. As Master Jie said, if the center crumbles, there’s no point in defending the ends. Manager Feng, your presence here in Liangzhou is even more critical than Feng Yao’s in Qizhou!”
Feng Pu was a meticulous and steady man, but he was no debater. From his expression, he clearly wanted to argue, but he couldn't find the words. His face flushed with frustration.
Jie Ziqian and I shared a look and couldn't help but smile. Feng Tong added, “Manager Feng, Liangzhou is indeed unstable. If you leave and we bring in someone new, they might not be able to keep the peace.”
Feng Pu lowered his head and drank his tea in silence. Though clearly reluctant, he abandoned his plan to follow Feng Yao to Qizhou for the time being.
“I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in two days,” Jie Ziqian said, seemingly relieved now that the matters were settled. He stretched his arms wide and turned to Feng Pu. “Manager Feng, could you get me a proper meal first?”
Feng Pu hurriedly set down his cup. “I’ll have it prepared immediately!”
Jie Ziqian watched Feng Pu’s retreating back with a smile until he had bustled out of the inner hall. When he turned back to us, his expression turned somewhat wistful. He slowly rotated the teacup in his hand, looking from Feng Tong to me. With a faint smile, he said, “I must set out for Qizhou tomorrow morning. Qiu Lie and Rong Qin aren't ones to take the lead when trouble arises. That leaves only Feng Xiuxiu...”
His expression turned peculiar, as if he wanted to criticize her but found it difficult to speak. Recalling his shock when we first met in the valley and he learned I was her disciple, a sudden thought struck me. The words left my mouth before I could think: “Master Jie, are you in love with my master?”
Jie Ziqian choked mid-breath, coughing violently on his tea.
Feng Tong rushed over to pat his back, shooting me a reproachful look.
Once the coughing fit subsided, Jie Ziqian saw my apologetic face and looked as though he might have an asthma attack. I quickly apologized, “Master Jie, please be the bigger person. Just pretend it was a bird singing outside the window.”
Feng Tong glanced at me, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Jie Ziqian leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chest. After a long while, he shook his head and sighed. “You little girl, you mustn't speak such nonsense. We are merely... old acquaintances.”
The term "old acquaintance" was heavy with meaning. But seeing his reaction, I didn't have the courage to press further. I figured I could always ask Feng Xiuxiu later.
In truth, I knew her temperament well. Though she was a strict teacher, she loathed administrative trifles. Jie Ziqian likely meant that with Qizhou’s affairs being so complex, she was probably already suffering from a massive headache.
***
A courier sent by Ming Yue arrived late that night with an urgent report. We were still accompanying Jie Ziqian for dinner in the inner hall when it arrived. It contained the confessions of the Restoration Society prisoners captured at Baiyun Temple. They had been interrogated separately; discrepancies were marked in cinnabar, and Ming Yue had attached her own summary.
“Was the journey safe?” Feng Pu asked the messenger.
The messenger shook his head twice and replied calmly, “Manager Ming Yue dispatched six groups of messengers. I am but one of them. As for the other five...”
Feng Pu nodded and signaled for a guard to take the messenger to rest.
“The Restoration Society was secretly founded in the spring of the seventeenth year of Tianmang,” I read aloud from the papers. “Until Chu De left Qizhou, their numbers remained around two hundred. Affairs were managed by the Vanguard Commander, Shao Ming.” Suppressing the faint melancholy rising in my heart, I continued, “Their current numbers are between four hundred and seven hundred. They had two other strongholds in Chenjiaji and Baicheng, but by the time Ming Yue’s people arrived, they had already dispersed, leaving no clues.”
Jie Ziqian held his wine cup, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Chu De’s Vanguard Commander, Shao Ming... I’ve heard of him. A disciple of Sima Wuche. Supposedly quite skilled...”
I stole a glance at Feng Tong. He sat with downcast eyes, seemingly lost in thought, appearing not to have heard Jie Ziqian’s words.
“The man who incited the miner riots in Bingzhou, Wu Ying, was indeed a member of the Restoration Society,” I sighed softly. “He was even the head of the Bingzhou region. However, the prisoners we caught don't know his current whereabouts.”
Jie Ziqian slammed his cup onto the table, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. “These people must be executed!”
My heart trembled slightly. Feng Pu chimed in, “Not only must they be executed, but we must make a grand spectacle of it. If they don't come to raid the execution grounds, it will serve as a warning to others. If they do dare to come, we’ll take them all down at once!”
I drained my wine cup in one gulp. My mind flashed back to that swift, lethal strike from Ming Shao in the dense forest, and his eyes—filled with killing intent under the faint starlight. When had Ming Shao’s eyes become so cold?
I had thought we were destined to be strangers from then on, but I never imagined we would one day meet on the battlefield.
Feng Tong’s hand reached across the table, squeezing mine firmly before quickly letting go. He turned to Jie Ziqian. “In your opinion, Master...”
“In my opinion, this cannot be delayed.” Jie Ziqian finished the last of his wine and signaled Feng Pu not to pour more. “Before the autumn harvest, the farmers of the north must feel a sense of 'stability.' Otherwise, if the people’s hearts are in turmoil, who will harvest the flax? The year’s hard work would be for naught.” He paused, looking at Feng Pu. “You said it well: kill the chicken to warn the monkey. That is exactly what we must do.”
***
The day of the execution was brilliant, the sky perfectly clear.
Standing atop a high building and looking out, I saw the vast sky and pale clouds. The nearby houses and distant fields looked as fresh as a painting washed clean by water.
A cool breeze carried the lingering scent of osmanthus. My gaze swept over the osmanthus trees outside the building, then I quickly looked away.
Directly facing this private room in the Huafu Restaurant was the temporary execution platform. It was still early, and the prisoners had not yet been brought out, but a large crowd had already gathered below.
Where there are crowds, there are always vendors. Watching them weave through the throng with bamboo baskets, hawking snacks, felt jarring. Their casual cries were utterly out of place with the somber atmosphere. However, the people’s attention was clearly not on them.
Feng Tong and Feng Pu sat at the table, earnestly discussing the quality of the tea. They were far more composed than I was. Perhaps it was the layers of disguise on their faces that masked their true expressions...
Seeing me pacing in circles, Feng Tong finally looked up and gave a helpless smile. “With the way you’re acting, are you afraid they’ll come? Or afraid they won't?”
I touched the thick layer of medicinal paste on my face and let out a long sigh. That was a question I couldn't answer myself. Was I afraid he would come? Or afraid he wouldn't?
A sudden commotion erupted below as the crowd parted to form a path. Bailiffs began pushing the onlookers back to a safe distance. Four heavy guillotines were positioned prominently on the platform, radiating an aura of grim authority under the guard of heavy troops. It naturally pressed like a weight upon the heart of every spectator.
The prisoners were brought up one by one. Most of them kept their heads low, their messy hair obscuring their faces. Leading them were the four leaders destined for beheading. By comparison, they appeared relatively calm.
The crowd suddenly erupted into a sustained roar, surging toward the platform either intentionally or otherwise. The executioner cracked his whip loudly, and the bailiffs shouted orders. It took a long time to suppress the noise. A middle-aged clerk from the magistrate’s office stepped forward and began reading the verdict in a loud voice.
My gaze swept over the sea of people around the platform, scanning the surrounding houses, courtyards, and every possible hiding spot for the hundredth time. I wondered to myself: if I were the one planning a rescue, where would I hide? The Huafu Restaurant where we sat would actually be an excellent choice...
Three cannon blasts signaled the start, pulling my attention back to the platform.
At that exact moment, a soft explosion rang out in the open space before the stage. Immediately, a thick cloud of smoke spread rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the entire platform was shrouded.
The crowd became restless and chaotic; some pushed forward while others scrambled back. Amidst the confusion, several agile figures darted into the smoke like lightning.
The three of us vaulted over the second-floor railing, plunging into the smoke surrounding the platform. At a glance, about six people had stormed the stage. Judging by the shouts of the bailiffs, there were others providing backup. But I didn't see Ming Shao.
I felt a secret wave of relief. Drawing my blade, I quickly intercepted a masked man who was untying a prisoner’s ropes. He used a sword, and his technique was incredibly fast—it even bore a faint resemblance to Ying Hui’s style. Perhaps they were fellow disciples. His two companions were already locked in combat with the hidden guards Ming Yue had stationed; one used a saber, the other a sword. Feng Pu and Feng Tong were nowhere to be seen in the haze.
*Rip!* A moment’s distraction, and his blade grazed my left arm. The man pressed forward, his sword lunging for my throat. I flipped backward, and before my feet even touched the ground, I twisted in mid-air. My Xuanwu Blade sliced upward, cutting through his abdomen. The man staggered back and collapsed, a shocking bloom of red spreading across his grey tunic.
Ming Yue’s familiar voice rang out: “Listen well! You are trapped. Drop your weapons now!”
A dark figure fell with a thud at my feet—a guard from Ming Yue’s office. He had taken a saber strike to the shoulder that had nearly severed his neck; he wouldn't survive. A long blade lunged toward me from the side. My Xuanwu Blade parried the strike with a sharp *clang*, and as I turned my head, I locked eyes with a pair of familiar eyes.
The smoke was thinning. The eyes visible above the grey mask stared at me, flickering with shock, then confusion, and finally, utter disbelief.
“City Lord, watch out!” a voice barked in my ear. I dodged instinctively as a sword grazed my shoulder. I kicked Ming Shao away and swung my blade back. The masked man who had tried to ambush me couldn't dodge in time; my blade bit deep into his shoulder. He screamed and crashed to the ground.
Ming Shao stood frozen. Though he held his saber, his eyes were vacant and lost.
Feng Tong’s question echoed in my mind: *“Are you afraid they’ll come? Or afraid they won't?”*
Gritting my teeth, I raised my blade and lunged at him. Ming Shao just stared at me, making no move to defend himself. But my blade was already in motion; it was too late to pull back...
Suddenly, another saber swept in from the side, parrying my Xuanwu Blade. The newcomer stumbled back two steps, turning his head to shout urgently, “Brother, go! Now!”
Ming Shao seemed to snap out of a dream.
The newcomer swung his saber with a desperate, suicidal ferocity, focusing entirely on offense. He was already wounded; I could feel his blade trembling as it struck. I dodged his direct assault, stepped to the side, and swept my Xuanwu Blade across his waist. The man collapsed and lay still.
I turned around. Ming Shao was gone.
The smoke had cleared.
On and around the platform, in addition to the original twenty-two prisoners, there were now seven or eight more corpses. Blood had stained the stone ground beneath our feet a deep, dark red.
***
A dark figure had been leading me on, stopping and starting, only to vanish once I reached this spot.
Behind me was a forest; before me was a gentle slope. Further down lay a vast field of ripening flax, the air thick with its rich fragrance.
I dismounted, letting my horse, Ten Thousand Years, wander off on his own.
The western sky was ablaze with a sunset so brilliant it felt desperate.
Soft footsteps sounded behind me—light, cautious, and... familiar.
I didn't turn around. Even though I had guessed it would be him who asked to meet, now that the moment was here, I found myself wishing it would never come.
A long sigh drifted from behind me. Hearing it, the hardness in my heart involuntarily softened. I wanted to turn, but my body felt stiff.
“It really is you,” the low, gentle voice said. It felt both familiar and strangely foreign.
“Did you realize it today?” I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my voice steady. “Or that day on the mountain behind Baiyun Temple?”
Ming Shao didn't answer.
“You knew it was me all along, didn't you?” I tried to turn, but my body wouldn't obey. I merely stood as straight as I could. “Who told you? Ying Hui?”
“It was... my uncle.” Ming Shao seemed to find the words incredibly difficult. “But... I didn't believe him.”
So it was Chu De.
“Why did he send you to the north?” I let out a cold, mocking laugh. “To offer amnesty? Or just to serve as his convenient inside agent?”
“Xi Xia!” His call was laced with an undeniable, suppressed agony.
“Xi Xia is dead,” I replied somberly. “Prince, you have the wrong person.”
Two hands rested on my shoulders, their touch light, as if he wanted to pull me into his embrace. It was a gesture that had once been so familiar between us. But now, I remained rigid, unable to move even if I wanted to.
“Xi Xia, stop this,” Ming Shao sighed again. “You are no match for my uncle.”
I felt a sudden urge to laugh—an impulse so strong it infused my words with bitter sarcasm. “Then tell me, how should I stop? Should I hand over this year’s harvest to Ming De? Should I give up my people for your uncle to slaughter? And then, should I go back and obediently be Ming De’s little concubine?”
“Xi Xia!” Ming Shao’s voice was thick with repressed pain.
I used to think he would always be that boy with the bright smile on the great grasslands in my heart. I used to think that no matter what he did, I could never hate him. But in this moment of reunion, my heart was overflowing with resentment. And beneath that resentment was a sliver of inconsolable sorrow.
Ming Shao’s hands were trembling slightly.
“ I came today because there is one question I need answered.” I took a deep breath and turned around, looking him straight in the eye. “The scheme between Ming De and your uncle—did you know about it?”
Ming Shao’s eyes flickered, avoiding my gaze.
My heart slowly sank.
I had guessed the truth a thousand times in my mind, but until this very second, I had still hoped his answer would prove me wrong...
It turned out that I had only ever seen the brilliant surface, forgetting that beneath the beautiful cloak, the truth is often hideous.
“I have nothing left to ask.” I took a step back, escaping his touch. A dark tide of emotion surged within me, but I forced it down.
Ming Shao stepped forward, gripping my arms tightly. His voice turned hoarse. “Xi Xia, listen to me. Grand Tutor Xu said at the time it was merely a pretext...”
“And what about Lin Qinghong?” I interrupted him. The word 'pretext' chilled me to the bone.
“Imperial whims are unpredictable, Xi Xia.” He lowered his eyes. When he looked up again, his gaze was as lost as a child who had wandered off the path. “To this day, I am not sure if he truly wanted to eliminate the Han clan, or if he intended to wipe out the Prince Jing Manor as well, only sparing us out of concern for my uncle—he is a man whose mind no one can fathom.” He looked at me, a flash of pain rising in his eyes. “The things he used to coerce me then could still easily destroy the Prince Jing Manor today. I thought that by agreeing to his demands, I could save my parents. I didn't realize that within the lies were truths, and within the truths were lies. He trapped us all in his game...”
I saw the pain in his eyes. But even seeing it, what could be done?
“Since you married her, then treat her well...” I turned and began walking down the slope. Behind me, Ming Shao’s voice regained its usual cool detachment. “Let me see the child.”
I paused. His voice had softened with a hint of pleading. “Xi Xia, I beg of you.”
That "I beg of you" was like a sharp blade slicing through my heart. I couldn't help but let out a faint, bitter smile. “He isn't in the north. Nor is he in the Kingdom of Yantian. Besides, given your current status and position, Prince, it’s best if you have no further connection with me.”
“I owe you...”
I cut him off quickly. “The one you owe isn't me...”
“I know,” Ming Shao said bitterly. “Ying Hui already took me to see...”
Thinking of Meng Chi, sleeping eternally alone on Mount Li, a deep sense of self-reproach surged within me again. That kind of pain cannot be erased by a simple word like "owe."
I suddenly realized that between Ming Shao and me, there were already too many memories we couldn't bear to look back on.
“Take care of yourself, Prince,” I said, quietly watching the last of the brilliant sunset fade from the horizon. My tone was calm, as if all joy and sorrow had been filtered out. “From now on, I’m afraid we cannot even be considered old acquaintances.”
There was no reply, only a long, haunting sigh.
I whistled for my horse and vaulted into the saddle, gallanting away.
It wasn't until I saw Baicheng in the distance through the evening mist that my tears finally fell, dropping one by one into the deepening night.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 易凯 | Yi Kai | Emperor of Great Chu. |
| 宏安王 | Prince Hong'an | Elder brother of Yi Kai. |
| 庆安王 | Prince Qing'an | Another brother of Yi Kai. |
| 司马无彻 | Sima Wuche | A master/teacher of Shao Ming. |
| 邵鸣 | Shao Ming | Ming Shao's alias in the Restoration Society. |
| 爱你一万年 | Ten Thousand Years | Literal: "Love You for Ten Thousand Years." The protagonist's horse. |
| 檀中 | Tanzhong | An acupoint on the chest (CV17). |
| 萧郎是路人 | A stranger from the past | Reference to a poem meaning a former lover is now a stranger. |
| 杀鸡敬猴 | Kill the chicken to warn the monkey | Idiom: To punish an individual as an example to others. |
