On the sixteenth day of the eleventh month, nearly seventy percent of Qu Tianji’s army of one hundred and fifty thousand were poisoned. Though the toxin was not fatal, it left them utterly drained of strength, making it impossible for them to draw a bow or wield a blade in battle.
Shen Tingjiao ordered Fu Chaoying to launch a fierce assault on Tianshui City, capturing countless warhorses and armaments. Qu Tianji led a remnant of forty thousand troops in a retreat to Jincheng, but their numbers were too few to hold out for long.
On the thirtieth day of the eleventh month, Jincheng fell. That day, Yin Zhuli stood atop the city walls as the blood of warriors washed over the long streets and the air shook with the thunderous roars of slaughter. Shen Tingjiao stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her, gently taking her hand. "Zhuli, let this be the last time, alright?"
The wind atop the wall was biting. Yin Zhuli unfastened her own cloak and carefully draped it over him, leaning in to tie the silk cords. "Congratulations to Your Majesty on the unification of the realm."
A moment later, Fu Chaoying ascended the wall, his voice heavy. "Your Majesty, Qu Tianji has been cornered. He... he wishes to see the Princess Consort one last time."
Shen Tingjiao tightened his grip on Yin Zhuli’s hand, his voice cold. "His martial arts are unfathomable. Now that he is trapped, what trick is he trying to play by asking for my consort?"
Yin Zhuli patted the back of his hand reassuringly. "Your Majesty, there won't be a next time. Let me see him off on his final journey." Seeing the lingering worry in Shen Tingjiao’s eyes, she smiled again. "Where is he now? I must trouble the Grand Tutor to station eight hundred elite archers to surround him. Even if he intends to fight like a cornered beast, this Princess Consort does not fear him."
A strange glint flashed in Fu Chaoying’s eyes, which Yin Zhuli instantly caught. She was naturally suspicious; if Fu Chaoying harbored ulterior motives, those eight hundred archers might not be there to see Qu Tianji off, but to ensure she shared his grave. If he succeeded, Qu Tianji would surely mock her relentlessly on the road to the Yellow Springs.
Fu Chaoying went down to make the arrangements. She said nothing more, simply leading Shen Tingjiao down from the wall.
At that moment, Qu Tianji stood with his hands behind his back inside the Tianshui Pavilion. It was often said that the end of a hero’s path was a sight to evoke sighs of pity, yet he showed no sign of wretchedness. Upon seeing Yin Zhuli approach, a hint of a smile seemed to touch his eyes. "You’ve come?"
His tone was not that of a man greeting Yin Zhuli, but rather an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
The Tianshui Pavilion overlooked Tianshui Lake, featuring carved railings and painted rafters—understated yet luxurious. Two parasol trees had been planted in the courtyard; as it was late autumn turning to winter, yellow leaves littered the ground. In the pond, only the withered stalks of spent lotuses remained, adding a touch of desolation to the exquisite pavilion.
Yin Zhuli led Shen Tingjiao toward him. Fu Chaoying had originally given secret orders to kill her along with Qu Tianji, but seeing the situation, he hastily rescinded the command.
Yin Zhuli did not care much for this autumn scenery. Today, she wore the formal attire of the Princess Consort of Fulu, looking more dignified than usual. "General Qu, I trust you have been well."
Qu Tianji gave a bitter smile. "Twenty years of calculating every step... was it all for today?"
Yin Zhuli stood five paces away from him, her gaze as cold and clear as the autumn air. "General Qu, no matter how many years pass, it is only natural that a debt of blood be paid in blood."
Qu Tianji nodded, his face showing no sign of shame. "You have done well. But Zhuli, the mistakes of the past lie solely with me, your father. Spare Shang-er and Lingyu." Even when pleading, he did not lower his head; he merely sighed. "After all, you share the same blood."
Yin Zhuli’s voice carried a hint of a smile, but her eyes remained icy. "Great General Qu, you truly have grown old. Previously, you never presumed to call yourself my father in my presence."
Qu Tianji’s expression darkened. "Perhaps. Who can escape growing old?"
"However, General Qu," Yin Zhuli’s words were like blades, each one sharp and piercing, "if one looks closely at your life: as a general, you were disloyal; as a man, you were untrustworthy; as a husband, you murdered your wife; and as a father, you abandoned your daughter. How can a man so devoid of loyalty, trust, humanity, and justice call himself my father?"
Qu Tianji met her words with silence. Her voice held no anger; it was as calm as the windless surface of Tianshui Lake. "Shall we make a deal, General Qu?" She looked up to meet his eyes, her smile as bright as spring flowers. "I promise you that regarding Qu Huishang and Qu Lingyu... if they do not provoke me, I shall not harm them."
Qu Tianji nodded. He was a warrior; even at the end of his rope, his pride did not falter, though a trace of warmth entered his gaze, as if making a pact with a young, beloved daughter. "What is the condition?"
Yin Zhuli leaned in close, standing on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear: "If you meet my Master in the afterlife, tell him that I love him. You must hide it from my mother and tell him in secret."
Upon hearing this, Qu Tianji understood most of the truth behind Tang Yin’s death. He looked as though he had heard a very innocent secret, a smile playing on his lips. "Very well."
It was rare for the two of them to be so close, and it would be the last time. A flicker of warmth appeared in Yin Zhuli’s eyes. "Actually, after the age of eight, I never hated you again."
Because after the age of eight, I never thought of you again.
"Qu Lingxiao." Qu Tianji seemed to recall something from the past, his voice carrying a rare tenderness. "That was the name Biwu and I chose for you when she was carrying you."
Yin Zhuli slowly backed away, lightly taking Shen Tingjiao’s hand. "A pity I shall never have use for it. General Qu, farewell."
She led Shen Tingjiao away, turning her back on the Tianshui Pavilion. As her skirts swept over the autumn leaves, a rain of arrows fell behind her.
Yin Zhuli stood before the pavilion for a moment, her voice indifferent. "The rebel general Qu Tianji has been executed. Hang his head above the gates of Chang'an to show the world that justice has been served."
The generals swarmed around her, competing to offer their congratulations. He Jian also smiled faintly. "Congratulations to the Princess Consort on finally exacting her revenge!"
Yin Zhuli turned to look back at the pavilion. Her expression held a smile, but her voice was desolate. "Exacting revenge?" she sighed softly. "Revenge is had, but my family is destroyed... Master He, what joy is there for me to find in this?"
Her words were so lonely that the crowd fell silent.
In the distance, a heart-wrenching scream broke the stillness. Yin Zhuli looked up to see Madam Wei. She had somehow found the strength to break free from the two soldiers guarding her and was running toward them. "Tianji!"
She looked wretched—her hair was a mess, her jewelry in disarray. There was not a trace left of her former noble poise. She ran a short distance before being kicked to the ground by the generals surrounding Yin Zhuli and Shen Tingjiao, yet her hand desperately gripped the hem of Yin Zhuli’s robe.
A soldier stepped forward, presenting a sandalwood box for Yin Zhuli’s inspection. Inside was the head that would soon hang over Chang'an.
Madam Wei’s eyes nearly split with rage. Her fingers were sliced open by the ornaments on the robe, dripping with blood. Her voice was as venomous as a vengeful ghost. "Yin Zhuli, I hate you! I hate you!"
Yin Zhuli leaned down to look at her, her gaze mocking. "Do you hate me as much as I hated you?" She reached out and lifted Madam Wei’s chin, her manner entirely matter-of-fact. "Madam Qu, you robbed me of my mother in my youth; I have robbed you of your husband in your middle age. It is quite fair, is it not? As for Qu Liushang, I consider him the interest on the debt."
The woman’s grip was so tight the soldiers could not pry it loose and prepared to draw their blades. Yin Zhuli leaned in and, with a smile, slowly pried the five fingers open one by one. Everyone heard the sound of bones snapping. She simply leaned over to brush off the hem of her robe, her smile radiant. "Don't look at me like that, Madam Qu. I killed your husband and destroyed your son, and your heart aches. When you killed my mother, did you ever think that others might feel pain too? If you turn into a vengeful ghost and have the face to seek my life, I shall be waiting."
The soldiers dragged Madam Wei away. A general approached Yin Zhuli, asking in a low voice, "Princess Consort, how shall we dispose of her?"
Yin Zhuli put her arm around Shen Tingjiao’s waist and turned toward the carriage, leaving behind two faint words: "Release her."
Immediately, someone nearby flattered her. "The Princess Consort is truly compassionate, repaying grievance with virtue. A true paragon of benevolence..."
"Benevolence?" Yin Zhuli scoffed. Over the past few days, she had become quite familiar with these military officers. "My apologies, Vice General Bai, but this Princess Consort simply wishes to see more of her living without a roof over her head, lonely and with no one to rely on."
While everyone was caught in an awkward silence, Zhang Qing strode forward. "Mother, Imperial Father, Qu Tianji’s son, Qu Huishang, has fled toward the northwest. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Yin Zhuli waved a hand. "A stray dog is nothing to fear. Let him go."
This time, no one praised her for being compassionate or repaying grievance with virtue.
Shen Tingjiao had no time to linger in Longxi; many matters awaited him in Chang'an. This brilliant suppression of the rebellion would be recorded in the annals of Great Xing and would solidify his position in the hearts of the common people. No one would ever be able to challenge him for that golden throne again.
Now, he stood upon the imperial carriage, bestowing rewards upon the generals of the royal army. His bright yellow curtains fluttered against the late autumn sky. As the wind and sand rose, they added a sense of magnificent, sweeping power to his slender frame.
It was the first time Yin Zhuli had seen him like this—every gesture carried the noble arrogance of one who looked down upon the world. Yin Zhuli even thought that perhaps, in this struggle, he was the true victor. With effortless ease, he had seized the empire of Great Xing without leaving a single stain on his reputation.
People often looked down on the methods of winners, but a loss was a loss, and a win was a win. Using the least effort to gain the greatest benefit was the highest path of strategy. To the victor go the spoils; in the pages of history, victory and defeat are not judged by the amount of effort expended or the honor of the means.
Yin Zhuli shared the carriage with him. As they began to move, she suddenly looked back toward Tianshui. The autumn colors stretched to the horizon, and the towering city walls were a hazy silhouette in the thin mist. She pulled her cloak—embroidered with gold thread in the pattern of a peacock spreading its tail—tighter around her, feeling a sudden, slight chill.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 天水阁 | Tianshui Pavilion | A pavilion in Tianshui City. |
| 天水湖 | Tianshui Lake | A lake near the pavilion. |
| 曲凌宵 | Qu Lingxiao | Yin Zhuli's original birth name. |
| 曲凌钰 | Qu Lingyu | Qu Tianji's other child. |
| 曲怀觞 | Qu Huishang | Qu Tianji's son (previously mentioned as Qu Liushang; the text uses both). |
| 白副将 | Vice General Bai | A minor military officer. |
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