Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 2: Enchantment

The silhouettes of the young man and woman were cast upon the screen, while outside the hall, heavily armed soldiers stood guard amid the torrential rain.

Wei Zhen leaned against the screen, blood blooming on her pale blue dress like crimson lotus flowers, staining it with a spreading scarlet hue.

“Killing someone? General, you must be jesting. I am but a mere woman with no martial skills—how could I possibly kill anyone?”

In the suffocatingly tense hall, her clear and melodious voice rang out.

Her expression remained composed, without the slightest trace of panic.

“Then where did this blood come from?” Qi Yan asked.

Earlier, in the struggle, her dark hair had come undone, cascading down her back like a flowing waterfall. He lifted his hand from her shoulder, threading his fingers through her hair, gently pinching a strand stained with blood, and held it before her eyes.

“Do not tell me that it was splattered onto you when the assassin cut someone down.”

Wei Zhen’s eyelashes trembled slightly. That was precisely the explanation she had prepared.

She saw the faint smirk at the corner of Qi Yan’s lips, as if he had taken a playful interest, waiting for her answer.

Yet, the atmosphere was far from lighthearted; instead, an undercurrent of tension surged around them.

She spoke, “At the banquet today, I drank too much and left early. On my way back, I was ambushed by a bandit but was fortunate enough to escape from his grasp. This blood is from when the assassin killed someone.”

“If you encountered an assassin, why did you not step forward to explain, instead choosing to hide inside and refuse to show yourself? What is it that the esteemed Lady Wei is afraid of?”

The sharp blade in his hand gleamed coldly, its edge reflecting a chilling light upon his defined jawline and eyes, while the glare stung her gaze.

The young general, who had spent years on the battlefield, ruled his troops with an iron fist. Having seen countless treacherous plots and deceitful hearts, he was not one to be easily fooled by a few words.

Wei Zhen lowered her gaze slightly, watching as his long, slender fingers tapped lightly against the hilt of his sword. The motion was gentle, yet it struck her heart like a death knell.

She parted her lips and said, “That bandit encountered me on the palace path and attempted to take me hostage. I resisted, but he held a blade to my throat and dragged me to a secluded hall, and then…” Her voice trailed off, as if the words were too difficult to utter.

Qi Yan’s dark eyes remained scrutinizing, waiting for her to continue.

“Then, upon seeing my resistance, he treated me roughly and even attempted to…” Her voice faltered before the words were forced out, “Disgrace me… humiliate me…”

For a moment, the hall was so silent that even a pin drop could be heard.

Under the flickering candlelight, her stunningly beautiful face was illuminated.

She was breathtakingly exquisite, with a face as radiant as the autumn moon and eyes as deep as autumn waters. Even without makeup, her beauty was unparalleled; under the light, she appeared as a luminous pearl, a flawless jade. Now, with her dark hair clinging to her damp cheeks and her lips pressed into a thin line, she looked as if she was suppressing an unbearable humiliation.

Wei Zhen could feel his gaze upon her—light, yet lingering. And for a long while, he said nothing.

Only the sound of rain trickling from the eaves filled the silence.

Wei Zhen knew he would not easily believe her. The next moment, she reached for her waist.

As the sash loosened and the dress slipped from her shoulders, the young man before her furrowed his brows, instinctively turning his face away.

Yet, that fleeting glimpse still landed squarely in his sight.

Beneath the blood-stained fabric, the milky-white skin of her shoulder and neck was revealed, accentuating the delicate texture of her skin. Upon it, the marks of struggle—dark red bruises—stood starkly visible.

She lifted her head, her gaze unwavering as she met his eyes. The jade earring dangling by her ear emitted a faint, cool glow, illuminating her autumn-water-like eyes, deep and glistening.

Though Wei Zhen had fabricated the story of being taken hostage by the assassin, the ordeal she had suffered today was real.

“Why must you force me to prove myself, General? These marks on my neck—fingerprints left by a man—do you think I inflicted them upon myself?”

Her voice, once clear and steady, was now laced with humiliation.

Qi Yan turned his face back, his gaze landing on her face once more.

Behind her was the wall; in front of her, the folding screen. In the narrow space between them, their clothing nearly brushed against each other. Their breaths intertwined—one carrying a faint, sultry sweetness, the other crisp and cold—mingling in the close air.

The rain poured on, the atmosphere thick with damp heat.

Wei Zhen’s expression remained calm. Though the corners of her eyes were tinged red, she met his gaze steadily, refusing to look away.

She was covered in blood, making it impossible to refute the suspicions against her. If she could not clear her name immediately, the accusation of murdering a royal heir would fall upon her, and survival would be out of the question.

This was a desperate gamble—one that teetered on the edge of extremity. She could only bet on whether he would momentarily set aside his doubts.

The silence stretched unbearably long. So long that a chill crept over her exposed skin, yet still, he did not speak.

Her long lashes quivered involuntarily. Though his gaze remained composed, she felt as though a blade was slowly carving into her flesh.

The candlelight cast sharp lines upon his features, cold and piercing like an unsheathed sword, ready to strike at any moment.

A single heartbeat stretched into eternity.

Then, he leaned in slightly. The overwhelming scent of steel and wind that clung to him pressed into her space, shattering the tension between them.

A breath later, his warm fingers brushed against her skin as he pulled her dress back over her shoulders, his voice unexpectedly soft.

“Lady Wei, please put your clothes back on.”

These words needed no explanation.

Wei Zhen’s body tensed slightly, as if a drowning person had finally caught a breath of air.

She turned to fasten her robes, her slender fingers weaving through the sash, ensuring that she appeared calm. In a soft voice, she said, “A moment ago, in desperation, I resorted to an improper course of action. I beg the young general’s pardon for my discourtesy. However, I have one more request—tonight’s events are not something I wish others to know. May I ask the young general to keep this a secret for me?”

Qi Yan did not look at her, his gaze fixed on the screen at his side.

Just then, a voice from outside interrupted their conversation.

“Young General, the assassins who attempted to kill His Majesty have been found.”

Wei Zhen’s hands, which were tying her sash, froze for a moment.

Qi Yan asked, “Where were they found?”

“Near the palace by the pond. The two assassins failed in their attempt on His Majesty’s life and fled through the back courtyard of the hall, eventually sneaking into the pond gardens. When we searched the area, we found them holding a noble’s son hostage, attempting to use him as leverage. We have already captured them.”

Outside the hall, a commotion arose, with indistinct shouting filtering through the gauzy windows.

Wei Zhen sensed something was amiss. Assassins targeting the emperor… Who exactly were the people being hunted tonight? As her thoughts raced, she realized she had not anticipated such a significant event occurring during the banquet.

She turned to the man beside her. “Young General?”

Her voice was gentle, her gaze clear, as if to remind him that since the assassins had already been captured, this matter had nothing to do with her.

Qi Yan sheathed his sword, his deep voice reaching her ears. “I have offended Lady Wei tonight. I shall personally visit another day to offer my apologies.”

The lingering scent of sandalwood around her abruptly dissipated as Qi Yan stepped away. Wei Zhen watched his retreating figure as rain blew in from the doorway. Yet, just as he was about to step over the threshold, another report came from outside.

The young man halted. The goat-horn palace lanterns swayed, casting light over half of his figure.

From the distance, Wei Zhen could only vaguely catch words like “Sixth Prince” and “assassination.” A moment later, Qi Yan turned slightly, his gaze falling upon her.

His eyes were dark and unfathomable, his thick lashes casting shadows, holding an emotion she could not decipher.

Urgency rang in the voice outside. “This concerns the Sixth Prince, Young General, please hurry over.”

The young man pressed his lips into a thin line, turned sharply, and strode out with his hand on his sword.

The guards stationed outside the hall followed him, their armored footsteps clanking as they moved farther away, until finally, silence returned.

The way he had looked at her before leaving… Wei Zhen knew he would not have glanced back for no reason. He must have made some connection in his mind.

But no matter what, she had at least escaped immediate danger.

Wei Zhen instructed her attendants to bring her a clean set of robes.

The bloodstained garments were tossed into the brazier, the flames crackling as they consumed the fabric bit by bit.

Wei Zhen watched the firelight flickering in her eyes. Before long, a voice came from outside the hall. “Young Lady, a decree has arrived. All guests from the banquet are to be summoned and questioned one by one.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. However, the rain is heavy. If you decline on the pretext of illness, they likely won’t press the matter. The night is late—will you go?”

Wei Zhen had just killed someone, and under such circumstances, avoiding attention would be the safest course.

But after a moment of thought, she still rose to her feet. “I will change my clothes first.”

She had to go. Not only that—she had to appear calm, composed, and completely innocent, ensuring that no one could detect anything unusual.

Only then could she fully clear herself of suspicion.

The palace corridors twisted and turned. Wei Zhen walked with a sheer veil draped over her shoulders, her gown trailing along the ground. A maid led the way ahead, while two guards followed closely behind.

Earlier in the evening, she had chosen not to have anyone accompany her, which had led to such an unfortunate encounter. Now, she dared not be alone again.

“Young Lady, we have obtained the information you asked us to investigate,” one of the guards reported.

Wei Zhen slowed her steps slightly, her voice gentle. “How did the assassins enter His Majesty’s sleeping quarters?”

She wanted to understand exactly what had transpired at the banquet. The guard replied,

“After the banquet had progressed for some time, His Majesty retired to his chambers to rest, dismissing all attendants for the night. However, an intruder disguised as a palace servant used the excuse of delivering medicine to infiltrate the bedchamber. Fortunately, His Majesty awoke in time and called for help. The male and female assassins, realizing their plan had failed, immediately fled through the window. They were later captured by the young general Qi Yan’s men, but both have since committed suicide by poisoning.”

“They’re dead?”

“Yes, both of them. They bled from all seven orifices and died instantly, refusing to reveal who was behind the plot.”

Wei Zhen’s eyelids twitched slightly. “Is that so…”

She had already prepared for the worst—if Qi Yan implicated her later, she would claim she had been held hostage by the assassins and knew nothing of the rest.

Most people would likely believe that narrative.

It must have been the assassins who attempted to kill the emperor, who, in their escape, barged into the warm hall and accidentally wounded Prince Jingke.

If the assassins had denied it, there would have been no end to the dispute. But now that they had poisoned themselves to death, there was no evidence left behind.

To Wei Zhen, this was advantageous and carried no harm.

Unknowingly, she had already arrived at the banquet hall. Before she even entered, she could hear the low murmur of conversation inside.

The hall was brightly lit, filled with bustling figures.

Wei Zhen entered the hall from behind a side screen, walking to the very front, where she saw a dignified figure standing in the center.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth, dressed in splendid robes, tall and strikingly handsome. This was Wei Zhen’s younger brother, Marquis Juyang, Wei Ling.

“Ah Jie, where did you go? Why did it take you so long to arrive?” Wei Ling asked, tilting his head when he saw her.

“I went back to change my clothes. I suddenly felt a bit unwell, so I rested in my quarters for a while.”

Wei Zhen smiled faintly. Wei Ling had no reason to doubt her words and, in their conversation, briefly recounted what had happened.

Tonight’s palace banquet was overseen by the Crown Prince, yet not only had an assassination attempt on the emperor occurred, but a prince had also been attacked. Naturally, the Crown Prince could not escape blame. King Chu, furious, rebuked him for his negligence and ordered a thorough investigation to uncover the mastermind behind the assassins.

Moreover, since this was the Zhanghua Palace of the Empress Dowager, and she had always trusted the Qi family, she had appointed Qi Yan to assist in the investigation.

Wei Zhen asked, “Where are the Crown Prince and the Young General?”

Wei Ling signaled with his eyes toward the curtains. “Inside. His Majesty was escorted to his chambers to rest, and they are searching the warm hall for clues about the assassins.”

The surrounding conversations faintly reached Wei Zhen’s ears.

“Who would be so bold as to dare assassinate the Sixth Prince?”

“It must have been those two assassins. When they failed to kill His Majesty, they wounded Prince Jingke instead. It’s a pity we couldn’t extract any information from them—they took their own lives out of fear.”

“We’ll have to wait until the Sixth Prince wakes up to determine the truth. But unfortunately, he has lost too much blood and is in critical condition.”

Critical condition… waiting for the Sixth Prince to wake up? Something didn’t sound right to Wei Zhen. She pulled Wei Ling behind a curtain to ask in a lower voice.

“What did you say, Ah Jie?” Wei Ling frowned. “Jingke isn’t dead, but he is in grave danger, still hanging on the edge of life and death. The situation is indeed dire. Whether he can be pulled back from the gates of hell is uncertain…”

Wei Zhen’s eyelashes lowered slightly as she murmured, “Is that so?”

She distinctly remembered checking Jingke’s breath before leaving—he had clearly stopped breathing. How could he still be alive?

Unless…

It was that bronze incense burner in the hall.

The incense inside had been replaced with a sedative, causing Jingke to only fall into a deep unconsciousness at the time.

The night breeze whistled past, and a chilling sensation seeped up from the soles of her feet into Wei Zhen’s heart.

As she pondered, the curtain beside her swayed, and two figures emerged, one following the other.

Around them, the sound of people rising in greeting echoed. Wei Zhen also bowed in respect.

The Crown Prince stepped out, wearing a jade crown and a wide belt, his expression solemn. Behind him was Young General Qi Yan, who had shed his rigid armor for a cloud-patterned brocade robe, standing with a noble and striking presence.

The Crown Prince gestured for everyone to rise, offering a few simple words of reassurance before ordering the guards to continue their interrogations. Before long, he noticed Wei Zhen and walked toward her.

“Such chaos tonight—were you frightened?”

Wei Zhen curtsied and replied gently, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. With the guards protecting me, I was not startled.”

The dignified young man before her nodded. “That is good to hear.”

After a few brief exchanges, the Crown Prince suddenly asked, “But you were absent from the banquet this evening—where did you go?”

Wei Zhen had already prepared her answer before coming.

“Your Highness, I am not good with alcohol. I went out to clear my head and took the opportunity to retrieve something from my brother’s quarters. By chance, I encountered the Young General as he was searching for the assassins, which delayed me for quite some time.”

Raising her clear gaze slightly, she looked toward the man behind the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince hesitated briefly before turning to ask, “Ah Yan, is that so?”

The young man, who had been instructing his subordinates, turned his head at the question.

Wei Zhen had deliberately mentioned Qi Yan, hoping he would provide her with an alibi. But she couldn’t be certain—before uncovering the full truth, would Qi Yan choose to conceal what had happened, or would he expose her?

Her gaze met his, as calm as still water, her expression unreadable. But beneath her sleeves, her fingertips were tense like a drawn bowstring.

After a long pause, she finally heard him utter a single word: “Yes.”

Wei Zhen, who had been gripping the hem of her sleeve, slowly released it.

The Crown Prince had only inquired casually and did not press further. He merely signaled for a servant to bring a cloak. “The night is late. Allow me to escort you and your brother back to your quarters.”

Wei Zhen shook her head. “There is no need to trouble Your Highness. My brother and I can return on our own.”

The Crown Prince was gentle and elegant, possessing the demeanor of a true gentleman. He had always treated everyone with warmth, like a spring breeze, yet his attitude toward Wei Zhen was no different from how he treated others.

This marriage had been arranged by the previous generation. The two were not yet wed, and there was little affection between them. At present, they merely treated each other with tacit courtesy, as befitting an engaged couple.

Wei Zhen dared not disturb him too much and only requested to be escorted to the palace gates.

A hazy drizzle fell, and raindrops dripped from the eaves like a broken string of pearls, continuously splashing onto the ground.

Along the way, Wei Zhen felt restless. Upon returning to her quarters, Wei Ling asked, “Ah Jie, what’s wrong?”

He sat down beside her. “You haven’t been yourself lately. Is it because of the nightmares again? Should I find a Taoist priest tomorrow to take a look?”

Wei Zhen replied, “This is the detached palace, and the Empress Dowager’s birthday is approaching. Summoning a Taoist priest at this time would be inappropriate.”

Speaking of nightmares, Wei Zhen had indeed been experiencing strange and eerie dreams recently.

The scenes in her dreams were fragmented, flashing before her eyes like a fleeting carousel. Yet they always seemed obscured by a mist, preventing her from seeing them clearly.

She had never paid much attention to them before—until today.

She had seen this scene in her dreams before: Jingke covered in blood, lying in a pool of it. And now, it had become reality.

Why had a scene from her dreams turned into reality? The thought was unsettling, but Wei Zhen could only attribute it to coincidence or perhaps a muddling of her memories upon waking.

More importantly, the fact that Jingke was still alive now felt like a sharp thorn lodged in her heart, leaving her restless and uneasy.

Having run through the rain at dusk and being mentally exhausted, she now felt waves of feverish heat rising within her. Her body weakened, and her consciousness wavered.

Before leaving, Wei Ling called for her wet nurse to attend to her.

Wei Zhen leaned her forehead against the bedpost, coughing lightly. She instinctively reached up to touch her feverish earlobe, but her hand suddenly froze in midair.

The pearl earring that should have been hanging from her right ear was gone.

When had it disappeared? She distinctly remembered wearing it properly before the palace banquet…

A chilling possibility surfaced in her mind, and a thin layer of cold sweat formed on her neck.

She turned her gaze toward the window, where the distant outline of the banquet hall loomed ominously, like a slumbering beast crouched in the darkness, exuding an endless chill.

**

Midnight had passed, yet the lanterns in one of the halls of Zhanghua Palace remained lit. The guards continued to search the scene.

Though the bloodstains on the floor had been washed away, the scent of blood still lingered thick in the air.

Among them, one guard was inspecting the bed when a faint glimmer caught his eye.

He crouched down and reached beneath the edge of the bed, retrieving an object.

“Young General.”

At the incense burner, Qi Yan turned at the sound.

The guard presented the item with both hands. A pearl earring lay in his palm, half of it stained with dried blood, while the other half glowed with a faint, lustrous sheen.

Its roundness and translucence were of such high quality that it was clearly no ordinary accessory.

“A woman’s earring?”

“Yes. I found it under the bed over there. I don’t know how it ended up here, but it’s stained with blood. It likely… has something to do with His Highness Jingke.”

Qi Yan lifted the earring between his fingers, his brow furrowing slightly. “I feel like I’ve seen this before.”

“Young General has seen it before?”

Qi Yan tapped the pearl lightly with his fingertip, silent.

The rain roared outside, mingling with the rustling of swaying grass and trees.

After a long pause, he spoke softly, “It’s hers.”

The guard was about to ask further, but Qi Yan’s pale, jade-like face remained impassive as he closed his palm around the earring. His dark eyes gleamed like distant stars as he strode toward the bed. “Search again. There must be more clues.”

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and heavy rain poured down.

**

Spring thunder rumbled, and raindrops fell onto the courtyard pond, sending ripples across its surface. The stormy night left the crabapple branches beneath the window drenched, bowing under the weight of the water, forming a delicate and graceful arc.

“Young Lady? Young Lady?”

Wei Zhen woke with a start, her temples damp with sweat.

Scattered sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains, illuminating her refined features.

Her face and neck were covered in cold sweat, her eyes filled with unease and misty confusion. Her damp hair clung to her pale neck, and her lips bore a sickly, decadent beauty—like a camellia flower on the verge of wilting.

Her unfocused gaze gradually sharpened, and she saw a familiar, kindly face—her wet nurse, who had cared for her since childhood.

“Ah Mu…”

Nanny Tian’s eyes were full of concern as she picked up a damp cloth and gently wiped the sweat from Wei Zhen’s forehead.

“Young Lady, you caught a cold from the rain yesterday and had a fever all night. Did you have another nightmare?”

Wei Zhen breathed unevenly. In her dream, she had relived the moment in the warm hall when Jingke lunged at her.

She had woken up several times in the night, each time greeted by the dim flicker of candlelight—dark and thick like blood, suffusing the entire room.

Her throat moved as she swallowed, closing her eyes and telling herself not to overthink it. It was just a dream. Everything in dreams was illusory.

Nanny Tian spoke softly, “There’s someone outside waiting for you, Young Lady. Would you like to see them?”

“Who is it?” Wei Zhen’s mind felt sluggish, as though rusted, her reaction half a beat slower.

“Young General Qi Yan. He has been waiting in the front hall for half an hour. I intended to tell him that you were unwell and could not receive guests, but he said it didn’t matter—he insisted on seeing you.”

Wei Zhen’s foggy thoughts suddenly sharpened, like red-hot iron plunged into boiling water.

Because in her dream last night—on the day after she injured Jingke, Qi Yan, the one investigating the case, had come personally to see her, mentioning evidence and seemingly preparing to report to the emperor.

What had happened in her dream was now aligning perfectly with reality.

“Young Lady, will you go see him?” Nanny Tian asked.