The armies of Chang'an arrived with overwhelming force, and within less than half a month, the two sides had already clashed in four major engagements. General Qu Tianji’s soldiers were fierce and valiant, while Shen Tingyao possessed superior numbers; the conflict quickly ground into a stalemate.
Shen Tingjiao often accompanied Yin Zhuli to the city walls to observe the battles. The scenes were tragic yet beautiful—October’s golden chrysanthemums bloomed across the fields, bathed in the gilded light of the setting sun, while blood and flesh mingled with the wind and sand as cries of war shook the heavens. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him, Yin Zhuli’s smile seemed to dim the picturesque landscape. "Shen Tingyao has begun deploying the Imperial Guards."
Shen Tingjiao nodded. Having grown up in the palace, he recognized these troops. "I will secretly send word to... to that person in the palace."
Yin Zhuli drew him into a half-embrace. The city walls were not safe; stray arrows had no eyes, and she could not allow any accidents to befall Shen Tingjiao at such a critical juncture. "Wait a little longer, Your Highness. The more Shen Tingyao conscripts soldiers and levies taxes, the better it is for you. Da Ying’s national strength has yet to recover; his forced labor will surely incite public resentment. When the people’s hearts have turned against him and he suddenly dies, the populace will only cheer. When you ascend the throne then, you will have the expectations and support of ten thousand citizens."
Shen Tingjiao lowered his eyes, leaving one thought unspoken—it would also benefit the Yin family. The more Da Ying’s strength was depleted, the more the state would have to rely on the Yins. The Yin family used wealth to preserve their lives and used their lives to gamble for wealth, generation after generation. They thrived in times of chaos and did not necessarily hope for national peace and prosperity. *But... Zhuli, what if what I desire is a peaceful era where the people live in tranquility?*
By late October, the Imperial army sent to suppress the rebellion had increased to two hundred and fifty thousand men. Qu Tianji held them at Tianshui Prefecture in Longxi with a force of one hundred and forty thousand. The hundred thousand piculs of grain and fodder Yin Zhuli had provided were nearly exhausted. She planned to head to Jincheng to unearth the hidden treasure to fund the army’s continued operations. As Qu Tianji was commanding the front lines, he could not accompany her and instead ordered Qu Lu to protect her along the way.
Everyone understood that "protection" was merely a euphemism for surveillance. Qu Tianji had his own calculations—he kept the Ninth Prince behind, ostensibly because the Prince was the new sovereign supported by the army and could not risk the journey. In reality, he was wary of the treasure. Although Yin Zhuli had no reason to play tricks yet, he feared further complications.
Before her departure, Shen Tingjiao personally saw Yin Zhuli off. Whether sincere or not, he seemed quite loath to see her go. Yin Zhuli fastened his cloak for him, using the movement to casually block the view of the onlookers. Her voice was barely a whisper: "Is that person in Chang'an... reliable?"
Shen Tingjiao blinked somewhat playfully. "What if he isn't?"
Yin Zhuli whispered back, "If he isn't, Tan Yue is still in Chang'an. I will have him enter the palace. But the risk is too great, and if there is no one inside to assist, even if Shen Tingyao dies, that golden throne might not necessarily fall to you. It is a last resort, not to be taken unless absolutely necessary."
Shen Tingjiao felt a massive jolt in his heart, but his expression remained calm. "There is no need. That person is reliable."
Yin Zhuli nodded. "From here to Chang'an, a fast horse takes about a day and a night. Three days from now, once news of Shen Tingyao’s death arrives, hang a single strand of red tassel before your tent. Lian Kang will escort you to Chang'an overnight. Tan Yue will meet you on the way."
Shen Tingjiao was puzzled. "Are you not returning from Jincheng?"
Yin Zhuli lightly pecked his cheek. "Your Majesty, your consort will wait for you inside Chang'an."
Shen Tingjiao was still uneasy; he found that he enjoyed asking her questions. "And what if my Imperial Brother is prepared and the plan fails?"
Yin Zhuli pulled his thin shoulders into a brief embrace. "I will pave another path for Your Majesty. Remember, Your Majesty, you are not a rebel colluding with the traitorous General Qu; you were coerced by him and acted out of necessity. He raised his army to steal the Shen family’s empire, not to enthrone a new sovereign."
While Shen Tingjiao was still dazed, she had already flipped onto her horse. Hao Jian followed behind her, giving Shen Tingjiao a slight bow. Surrounded by over a thousand men, the two gradually rode into the distance. The lingering warmth of her embrace had not yet dissipated, and Shen Tingjiao felt an inexplicable sense of attachment. He had hidden his brilliance for so many years and had been so calculating toward Yin Zhuli, catering to her every whim for so long that he was beginning to lose track of what was an act and what was real.
The body easily grows accustomed to a person. After only a moment of separation, even as his great ambition was nearing fruition, he actually found himself craving this romantic sentiment.
Behind him, Qu Tianji clearly noticed his expression. He sighed inwardly, thinking that the Ninth Prince was not someone destined for greatness, and stopped taking him to heart. However, to keep Yin Zhuli in check, he still had to keep a close eye on him. "Your Highness, Jincheng is but a two-day journey. Please return to your tent to rest. In three days, the Princess Consort should be able to send word back."
Shen Tingjiao nodded slightly and followed him into the main tent.
***
Yin Zhuli and Qu Lu led the thousand soldiers toward Jincheng, traveling in silence. It wasn't until Yin Zhuli led them toward Mount Qiyun that Qu Lu finally voiced his doubts. "Fourth Miss, forgive my boldness. It is already October, and the climate in Mount Qiyun is freezing. We haven't brought enough winter supplies. Entering the mountains now might be unwise. Could Fourth Miss allow me to see the treasure map? Perhaps there is a shortcut."
Yin Zhuli’s expression held an invisible arrogance within its indifference. She didn't even dismount. "Qu Lu, strictly speaking, I should call you Uncle. However, that map has already been destroyed. I believe I don't need to explain why?"
Qu Lu was left speechless. He knew something of the past and understood that the Yin family had always been wary of Qu Tianji, so he couldn't argue further. "But Fourth Miss, for your safety... should we first consult the General? If an accident occurs after entering the mountains, I fear I cannot take the responsibility."
Yin Zhuli toyed with the riding crop in her hand, her voice carrying a hint of a laugh. "You may. However, I fear the General’s supplies won't last much longer."
Qu Lu knew this all too well, but he remained hesitant about entering the mountains so abruptly. Yin Zhuli added more fuel to the fire: "Steward Hao can be sent to purchase winter gear. Let us enter the mountain to scout the situation first. If it truly becomes impassable, it won't be too late to inform the General."
Qu Lu thought about it and realized this was the only way. He dispatched two soldiers to follow Hao Jian to buy clothes nearby, while the rest of the group followed Yin Zhuli into the mountains.
***
Back in Qu Tianji’s camp, Shen Tingjiao appeared carefree. He slept when full and ate when he woke, occasionally wandering around the camp as if he were on a sightseeing tour. Initially, Qu Tianji had him under strict watch, but later he only left a few soldiers to attend to his daily needs. He let the Prince roam the camp, no longer bothering to guard him closely.
In the morning, someone reported that the Ninth Prince was not used to the camp's food. Qu Tianji only shook his head upon hearing this—could such a man truly achieve great things?
At night, Shen Tingjiao was in his tent grinding ink, drawing "Spring Palace" erotic paintings. The novel, spicy poses and the blood-pumping curves made the soldiers serving him bleed from their noses. He even shared his "experience" with them: "Do you know which position women like best? You wouldn't understand this, but my Princess Consort is an expert. Pity she isn't here now..."
The soldiers’ blood boiled with lust. Knowing he was easy to fool, they coaxed him, saying they would go to the kitchen to check on his midnight snack. He naturally hurried them along: "Go, go quickly! This Prince happens to be hungry!"
The soldiers rushed out, naturally heading for the camp followers. Shen Tingjiao picked up his brush and dipped it in ink. The positions of the tents and the troop deployments gradually became clear on the paper. He was a master of painting; even a dry topographical map gained a touch of spiritual grace under his brush, no less impressive than his erotic scrolls.
He remained like this until the third watch, when someone secretly slipped inside.
Shen Tingjiao looked up to see Lian Kang, who handed him a set of night-traveling clothes. "Your Highness, a secret message has come from Chang'an. Shen Tingyao has been assassinated. I have been ordered by the Chief to welcome Your Highness back to the capital."
Shen Tingjiao nodded. Lian Kang continued, "The Chief left word that General Qu is a cautious man. Even if he has relaxed his guard on the surface, we must still be wary. Therefore, Your Highness should first lure Xiao He out of the camp. He was originally a spy planted by the King and only came here out of necessity. He knows nothing of the situation in Chang'an. If he obtains important military intelligence from this camp, he will surely try to flee back to the capital. His sudden departure will lead General Qu to capture him, and at that moment, the General's vigilance will drop significantly. It will be much easier for Your Highness to escape then."
Shen Tingjiao remained obedient. This tactic of "making a feint to the east while attacking in the west" was indeed consistent with Yin Zhuli’s style.
***
Yin Zhuli had been in the mountains with Qu Lu for about a day, and the weather had turned cold. Suddenly, a figure in black appeared ahead, flickering in the distance. Everyone was startled and shouted. Yin Zhuli spurred her horse in pursuit, and Qu Lu, panicked, followed suit. The black-clad figure seemed to be getting closer, yet they could never quite catch up. In an instant, they had traveled twenty or twenty-five miles. Qu Lu couldn't help but shout, "Fourth Miss, do not pursue a desperate foe!"
Yin Zhuli did not respond, continuing her wild gallop. The mountain paths were difficult to traverse, and many of the thousand soldiers had fallen behind. However, the horse Hao Jian had chosen was exceptionally skilled at mountain travel, possessing extraordinary stamina.
The wind whistled past her ears, and the scenery on both sides was a blur. The two riders fled all the way down the mountain toward the banks of the Junji River. Only then did Qu Lu realize something was wrong—Yin Zhuli didn't look like she was pursuing someone; rather, it was as if the black-clad figure was leading her!
Realizing he had been tricked and that Yin Zhuli intended to escape, he roared, "Shoot the horses!"
But by then, few soldiers could keep up. The mountain forest was overgrown with vegetation, and the horses were galloping wildly; there was no way to hit them. Yin Zhuli and the black-clad Hao Jian reached the Junji River, where a boat was already waiting. She abandoned her horse, took Hao Jian’s hand, and with a surge of internal energy, leaped onto the deck.
The boat had not been anchored. As soon as they were aboard, the sails were raised, and it set off immediately. Qu Lu reached the riverbank, but looking out at the vast green waters, he could only sigh in frustration.
Yin Zhuli waved to him from afar before entering the cabin. Hong Ye adjusted her red sleeves and poured wine for her. "Chief, this trip certainly took long enough. Lian Kang sent word that he has picked up the Ninth Prince and is returning to Chang'an."
Yin Zhuli took a sip of the wine. Hong Ye’s warming of the wine was no worse than the Ninth Prince’s—it was fragrant, mellow, and crisp, neither too hot nor too cold. It was impeccable. "Is everything settled in Chang'an?"
Hong Ye nodded. "Chang'an is in total chaos. Rumors say Shen Tingyao was killed by the rebel army. When the State Uncle Fu Chaoying found him, there was only a mangled corpse left, identifiable only by the dragon robes he wore. The officials are all in a panic."
Yin Zhuli smiled faintly. "Fu Chaoying... Very good."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
栖云山 | Mount Qiyun | A mountain where Yin Zhuli leads Qu Lu under the guise of finding treasure.
君戟江 | Junji River | The river where Yin Zhuli makes her escape by boat.
春-宫图 | Spring Palace paintings | Erotic scrolls/paintings; used by Shen Tingjiao as a cover to draw military maps.
大当家 | Chief | A title used by Yin Zhuli’s subordinates (like Lian Kang and Hong Ye) to refer to her as the head of their organization.
小何 | Xiao He | A minor character/spy mentioned as a pawn in the escape plan.
国舅 | State Uncle | Refers to Fu Chaoying, the brother of the Empress Dowager.
第三更 | Third Watch | Approximately 11 PM to 1 AM.
