Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 21: Marriage Alliance

The wind howled, flames rose high, dyeing the horizon with the brilliant hues of sunset as the golden crow sank westward.

He had ridden hard all the way here, galloping through forests and mountain paths, his body carrying the fresh, cool fragrance of a spring night.

Wei Zhen tilted her head up in his embrace, meeting those bright, piercing eyes. Before she could say anything, the sound of hurried footsteps from the attendants reached them.

Madam Song stopped at the doorway and shouted, “Stop them, quickly!”

Wei Zhen swiftly followed Qi Yan away. The footsteps of the pursuing guards grew closer and closer. Her robes billowed as she ran, and just as the guards were about to catch up to her, a hand yanked her onto a horse’s back.

Her back landed against a broad shoulder.

The young man leaned down, his arms encircling her on both sides as he grasped the reins. “Hold on tight.”

With a high-pitched neigh, the steed kicked off, galloping into the dense darkness of the night.

The sudden fire at the Wei residence had drawn a large crowd outside. In full view of everyone, they saw the eldest daughter of the Wei family escaping with Young General Qi, the two mounting a horse together and disappearing into the pitch-black road ahead.

Madam Song stood outside the residence, panting, listening to the murmurs of the crowd.

They speculated endlessly—some even claimed that the eldest daughter of the Wei family had eloped with her lover, deliberately setting fire to her home as a means of escape.

Yet, no matter what was said, the Wei family’s people simply couldn’t catch up.

Madam Song seethed with resentment. She may have escaped today, but when they met again, Wei Zhen would surely pay for the humiliation she had suffered.

Qi Yan’s horse came to a stop outside the Qi residence.

Wei Zhen entered the estate and was arranged to rest in a guest room. Qi Yan summoned a physician to examine her injuries.

The night deepened. The house was eerily silent, with only the intermittent chirping of crickets drifting in through the window.

A lantern swayed under the eaves, stretching Qi Yan’s shadow long against the wall.

He heard a door close and saw a servant exiting Wei Zhen’s room. “Has Miss Wei eaten?” he asked.

The servant shook her head. “The meal I brought in was left untouched.”

Qi Yan raised his hand and knocked on the door.

The door was slightly ajar, opening just a crack. Qi Yan stepped inside and saw the young girl sitting curled up on the bed, her figure shrouded in deep shadows, unmoving in the corner.

Her hand, resting beside her, was palm-up, revealing a wound. Fresh blood had seeped through the bandages once more.

Qi Yan fetched a medicine box and sat down beside the bed.

Just then, the girl on the bed suddenly woke up.

A flash of cold light flickered.

She thrust a sharp blade directly at him.

“It’s me.” Qi Yan caught the dagger in his hand. Blood trickled between his fingers, staining the bedding beneath them.

Wei Zhen quickly let go of the weapon. “I didn’t know it was you.”

She leaned forward, grasping his hand to examine the wound, her eyes filled with guilt and concern. “I’m sorry, General. My mind was clouded—I thought I was still at the Wei residence and mistook you for a guard keeping watch over me…”

Qi Yan studied the girl before him. She was kneeling beside him, dressed in plain robes, her freshly washed hair cascading down to her waist like a silk ribbon shimmering under the moonlight. As she wiped the blood from his palm with a handkerchief, a faint fragrance from her hair drifted to his nose.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she looked up. “I truly apologize, General. Is the physician still here? If not, let me dress your wound for you.”

Her fingers were slender and graceful, her skin soft as it brushed over the callouses of his palm—a stark contrast in texture.

Qi Yan withdrew his hand from hers. “It’s just a small wound. It’s nothing.”

Recalling how she had gripped the dagger earlier, on guard as if she had been startled awake, he asked, “What exactly happened in the Wei household? Why did your stepmother imprison you in the woodshed?”

Wei Zhen looked at him for a long moment before speaking. “It’s a long story, General… but in truth, I am not the Wei family’s real daughter.”

She recounted the intricate twists of her past. When she finished, she lowered her gaze. “You have looked after me all this time, likely because my mother was the cousin of your grandfather. But now that I know the truth… I suppose I can no longer call you cousin.”

Qi Yan listened quietly.

“For now, you may stay at the Qi residence,” he finally said. “I have already sent word to Wei Ling. He should be returning soon.”

Wei Zhen was deeply grateful. “General, I will remember your kindness and repay it in the future.”

“No need for thanks. Have you forgotten how the Wei family once helped the Qi family? This is merely a small favor.”

Their conversation was polite and measured. Before long, Qi Yan rose and left the room.

A guard followed him, glancing back inside before speaking in a hushed voice. “Most people would struggle to recover from such a sudden revelation about their origins. Miss Wei… she fell from a life of privilege into hardship overnight. How could she possibly accept it so easily?”

Qi Yan remained silent, stepping to the window. Through the sheer curtains, he could see the girl sitting motionless in the darkness.

The guard sighed. “Miss Wei’s engagement to the Crown Prince was called off. If she still had her family status, she could at least hold her head high. But now… she’ll be at the mercy of others. I fear she may not be able to bear it…”

Qi Yan withdrew his gaze from the window. “She is not so fragile. She will make her own decisions.”

She had always been clear-headed.

She just needed time to accept reality.

Qi Yan descended the steps.

Inside the silent room, Wei Zhen leaned against the bedpost.

Though the night had fallen and darkness clouded her vision, she found that being surrounded by it helped her think more clearly.

For seventeen years, her life had been smooth sailing. Now, fate had played a cruel joke, forcing her to leave the path she had once known and step onto a road full of thorns and uncertainty.

She was not the biological daughter of Lady Wei and had no right to claim the title of the eldest daughter of the Wei family.

She reassured herself that even without the family’s protection, she could still find a way to survive.

Perhaps she could return to the southern lands, assisting a military doctor in tending to wounded soldiers. Or she could turn to trade, making a living with her own skills—it wouldn’t be so bad.

But she needed to plan carefully for the future.

Slowly, Wei Zhen lay down. In the stillness of the night, the chirping of crickets outside reached her ears.

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, a sudden commotion erupted outside.

She woke instantly and stepped out of her room, following the noise. Just then, a guard rushed in from the courtyard.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

The guard hesitated. “Miss, the Wei family has arrived. They demand that the General hand you over.”

Wei Zhen let her hair fall loosely, lifting her skirt as she hurried outside. “Where is Qi Yan?”

“The General is at the front gate.”

The night was deep, the moonlight casting long shadows. The entire street was empty—only the Qi residence blazed with light.

Seated on horseback was Wei Zhao, accompanied by a dozen men holding torches high.

Wei Zhao tightened the reins and cupped his hands. “Forgive my intrusion, General Qi. I ask that you return my daughter to the Wei family at once.”

Qi Yan replied coldly, “Which member of the Wei family do you seek to reclaim?”

Wei Zhao’s voice was firm. “My daughter. All of the capital bore witness tonight—Qi Yan, you took her from my home. Are you refusing to acknowledge it?”

The young general’s expression was indifferent. “When you locked her in the woodshed, preparing to sell her off to your distant nephew, did you still consider her your daughter?”

“It is naturally my daughter. So many eyes witnessed outside the Wei residence tonight, seeing General Qi take my daughter away. Does the young general intend to deny it?”

The young man replied indifferently, “When Lord Wei locked her in the woodshed and intended to sell her to a distant cousin, did he not remember she was his daughter?”

Wei Zhao’s expression stiffened. Having such matters exposed in public, he naturally felt his face could not be maintained.

He said in a deep voice, “Whatever is said, this is a family affair of the Wei household. How is it the place of an outsider like the young general to interfere?”

As his words fell, the sound of footsteps echoed from the doorway. The crowd turned their heads in unison, only to see a slender figure stepping over the threshold.

It was Wei Zhen.

The Qi household guards at the door stepped aside, making way for her. The young lady lifted her skirt and ran to Qi Yan’s side.

Wei Zhao’s voice was cold, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and come back!”

Wei Zhen’s expression was indifferent as she stared straight at Wei Zhao. “Why should I go back?”

Wei Zhao asked, “Do you still intend to stay in the Qi household? You are an unmarried girl. Staying overnight in another man’s house before marriage—if word spreads, will you still have any dignity left?”

A voice, clear like jade striking against stone, interjected, “Lord Wei.”

Qi Yan stepped in front of her, his posture tall and straight like a pine tree. “Though she was not born from Lady Wei, Lady Wei treated her as her own daughter. Therefore, my Qi household will also regard her as the daughter of Lady Wei.

“Years ago, when the Qi family declined and had no one in the capital, it allowed you, Wei Zhao, to act wantonly and humiliate the Qi family’s daughter without restraint. This time, I will not let you have your way.”

The moonlight was bright, casting a layer of cold radiance over him. The young man’s handsome face bore a chilling sternness.

His gaze was sharp. He raised his hand to grip the hilt of the guard’s sword beside him. The long sword was drawn, its edge flashing like lightning. At the same moment, the men behind him unsheathed their weapons in unison.

The sword hilt spun in his hand, reflecting dazzling brilliance.

Wei Zhao’s expression changed drastically, and he shouted, “Withdraw!”

He led his men to retreat a step before turning and leaving in haste.

Qi Yan turned back and sheathed his long sword. Wei Zhen said, “Thank you, cousin.”

Qi Yan replied, “You are Lady Wei’s daughter. It is only natural for the Qi family to help you. Go back inside.”

Wei Zhen ascended the steps alongside Qi Yan. As she stepped over the threshold, she turned her face slightly and happened to lock eyes with Wei Zhao, who had turned back on horseback. His gaze was filled with deep resentment.

Wei Zhen felt uneasy and said to Qi Yan, “I fear the Wei family will not let this go easily.”

Would Wei Zhao give up so readily without achieving his goal?

As expected, at dawn the next day, soldiers surrounded the Qi residence. But this time, they had come to take Wei Zhen into the palace.

A high-ranking eunuch from King Chu’s side waited on horseback outside the mansion.

“Lady Wei, please come to the palace. Lord Wei has reported to His Majesty, stating that you were involved in the case of the Sixth Prince’s death.”

Wei Zhen recalled Wei Zhao’s cold expression when he left last night. He and his wife had indeed been waiting for her here.

Wei Zhen was taken into the palace. When she arrived outside the grand hall, a palace attendant lifted the curtain for her. She stepped in gracefully, and the bead curtain fell behind her with a crisp clatter.

Standing at the front of the hall were Wei Zhao and Madam Song, who turned around first.

Wei Zhen’s gaze swept over them. On her way to the palace, she had already pieced together the situation.

How had the Wei couple learned of her involvement? It must have come from Wei Zhang.

Before his exile, Wei Zhang was unwilling to accept that he had failed to eliminate Wei Zhen, so he harbored a selfish intent and revealed the matter of “Wei Zhen wounding the Sixth Prince” to his trusted subordinates. He must have given them strict instructions to keep it secret unless absolutely necessary before informing Wei Zhao and his wife.

However, he had likely only disclosed part of the truth.

If they had known that the Crown Prince was also one of the masterminds, would they have dared to accuse her before King Chu?

If she was dragged down, the Crown Prince would certainly not escape unscathed.

Inside the hall stood the Crown Prince, while the Queen sat on the throne. Qi Yan had entered the hall ahead of her, along with Wei Yao and others.

The eunuch bowed respectfully to Wei Zhen, slightly bent forward, and said in a soft voice, “Lady Wei, please proceed.”

Wei Zhen walked toward the inner hall, her nails digging into her palms. The sharp pain forced her to gradually calm down.

When King Chu questioned her later, she would deny everything outright. Unless there was direct evidence, all accusations against her were nothing more than speculation.

Even so, the situation was troublesome. King Chu was unpredictable in temperament and especially fond of Jing Ke. There was no guarantee that he wouldn’t vent his anger on her.

Wei Zhen bent down in a kneeling bow, her forehead touching the stone floor, her gown spreading out behind her.

Her soft voice echoed through the great hall: “This humble daughter, Wei Zhen, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The monarch sat above, his expression stern, an aura of cold authority pressing down upon her.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly, “Wei Zhao, let your wife step forward and speak.”

Madam Song stepped out and knelt beside Wei Zhen. “Your Majesty, this humble wife only learned of this absurd matter earlier today. That night, during the banquet, Wei Zhen left midway and did not return until the feast ended. In truth, she entered a sleeping hall with the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince was not wounded by an assassin but by Wei Zhen herself!”

“These are not baseless words. My son, Wei Zhang, was in charge of the banquet’s guards that night—he can testify. His subordinates can also testify! Your Majesty may summon them to verify the matter.”

The Crown Prince interrupted coldly, “Utter nonsense!”

Madam Song’s heart trembled. “Your Highness…”

“Wei Zhang’s subordinates are also mine. If this were true, how could I not know?”

King Chu, seated above, said, “Wei Zhen, do you have any rebuttal to these claims?”

Wei Zhen gazed at the cold stone tiles before her. From the moment she entered, King Chu had never permitted her to rise, forcing her to remain in a kneeling bow.

Yet her posture remained graceful and respectful. Her voice was gentle as she replied, “This humble daughter never went to the Inner Chamber that night. If Your Majesty wishes to verify the truth, you may summon the witnesses into the hall.”

“Your Majesty, I was the one in charge of searching the detached palace that night.”

Someone stepped forward, casting a shadow over Wei Zhen.

“The young general conducted the search?” King Chu fell silent for a moment. “Was Commander Zhuang also involved?”

“Yes. Both Commander Zhuang and I can testify that Lady Wei never entered the Inner Chamber that night. At the time, my soldiers also saw that she was indeed in her younger brother’s sleeping quarters. After my search, I found nothing amiss. If Your Majesty has any doubts, you may summon Commander Zhuang.”

King Chu waved his hand, signaling for the palace attendants to summon him.

Soon, Commander Zhuang was brought before the hall. Crown Prince Jing Heng turned slightly, his gaze carrying a subtle meaning. “Zhuang Liang, speak freely about what you discovered that night.”

Zhuang Liang understood and respectfully responded, his account identical to Qi Yan’s.

“Your Majesty must not believe these two! Qi Yan never speaks the truth—they are fabricating evidence for Wei Zhen!” Wei Zhao stepped forward.

King Chu spoke indifferently, “Crown Prince, Wei Zhang was under your command. Are you aware of the truth of this matter?”

If the investigation continued, the fire would inevitably spread to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince lifted his robe and knelt. “That night, during the palace banquet, Wei Zhen left midway—not alone, but with me. We took a stroll, and I later escorted her back to the Wei residence’s sleeping quarters. To claim she was alone with Jing Ke is utterly absurd.”

“Why is Your Highness also fabricating evidence for Wei Zhen?” Madam Song pushed Wei Yao forward. “That night, Your Highness was clearly with my daughter!”

The Crown Prince’s voice was firm. “Why would I need to lie to protect Wei Zhen? The truth is exactly as I said—I never saw Wei Yao that night!”

He turned his gaze toward Wei Zhao and Madam Song, his eyes flashing with cold intent.

The couple did not understand why the Crown Prince sided with Wei Zhen, but they immediately realized his displeasure and fell silent.

A voice from above rang out, devoid of any discernible emotion: “Wei Zhen, come forward.”

Wei Zhen slowly rose, ascended the high steps, and knelt once more before King Chu’s throne.

As a subject, she could not directly meet the sovereign’s gaze. Lowering her eyes, her gaze landed on the fabric of his robe.

King Chu’s hand, resting on the armrest, extended toward her.

A sharp pain jolted through Wei Zhen’s chin as she was forced to lift her head, her eyes meeting his searing gaze.

The monarch’s fingers gripped the chin of a lady from the Wei family in full view of the court—an action that made everyone hold their breath.

The hall fell into utter silence, so still that the drop of a pin could be heard.

King Chu narrowed his eyes, reminding Wei Zhen of Jing Ke. He too had such eyes—when narrowed, they resembled a venomous serpent flicking its tongue.

King Chu said, “If it were someone else who harmed Jing Ke, I might not believe it. But since it is you, I have no choice but to suspect you—because Jing Ke once asked me for you.”

His hoarse voice was like sand scraping against stone, sending chills down the spine.

“At that time, I agreed, telling him to behave for a while longer, and then he could have you. Because I had also considered appointing a new heir. Regardless of who the Crown Prince was, the Crown Princess would have been you.”

A chill slowly climbed Wei Zhen’s spine.

So that night, when Jing Ke saw her in the Inner Chamber, he acted so brazenly, pushing her straight onto the bed.

Wei Zhen’s thick eyelashes trembled. “Your Majesty, I did not see the Sixth Prince that night. Both Young General Qi and the Crown Prince can testify for me. Furthermore, the Sixth Prince later died from injuries inflicted by a tiger. Wei Zhang was present at the time—it had nothing to do with me.”

The Crown Prince added, “Father, it is true. It was Wei Zhang who arranged for the tiger, but the beast broke free unexpectedly.”

King Chu shook his head and motioned for the Crown Prince to be silent. He looked at Wei Zhen. “I have just lost a son. Since he liked you so much, why don’t you go and keep him company?”

Cold sweat seeped down Wei Zhen’s back.

She knew clearly that King Chu did not care whether she had harmed Jing Ke or not—he simply needed closure.

From the assassination attempt to his death, many suspicions surrounded Jing Ke’s case. However, no matter how deep the investigation went, the most they could conclude was that Wei Zhang had been involved, sentencing him only for dereliction of duty.

Now, with Wei Zhen presented before him as a suspect, King Chu could punish her and consider it justice for Jing Ke.

Wei Zhen’s throat tightened. “I do not know how to reassure Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty believe my appearance bewitched the Sixth Prince and wishes for me to destroy it? Or does Your Majesty see me as ominous and want me to pray for the Sixth Prince’s spirit at the ancestral altar?

“What other means would be enough to prove to Your Majesty that I harbor no disloyalty?”

A voice called from outside the hall: “Your Majesty, an envoy from Jin requests an audience!”

The envoy from Jin had been waiting outside for a long time, repeatedly sending word that he wished to meet King Chu.

King Chu said, “Let him wait a little longer.”

As soon as these words fell, Qi Yan spoke up, “Does Your Majesty still remember Lady Wei? At the beginning of Your Majesty’s reign, when the court was unstable, there were treacherous rebels who attempted to assassinate Your Majesty at the hunting grounds. At that time, almost no one was by Your Majesty’s side—Lady Wei threw herself in front of you and took three arrows for Your Majesty. Has Your Majesty forgotten?”

King Chu gazed at the person before him, gradually calming down. The tragic death of Lady Wei still haunted his dreams after all these years, constantly reminding him that he must show no mercy to traitors.

Below, as soon as Wei Zhao and his wife heard Lady Wei’s name mentioned, they were about to speak, but the Crown Prince shot them a fierce glare, silencing them immediately.

King Chu said, “Yes, I did promise to take good care of Lady Wei’s two children… Though Wei Zhen was not responsible for Jing Ke’s death, there is still doubt as to whether she injured him that night in the Inner Chamber.”

Slowly, King Chu loosened his grip on Wei Zhen.

Although he appeared to have relented, Wei Zhen knew well that with his mercurial temper, he would inevitably use this matter against her again in the future.

Moreover, she was not Lady Wei’s biological daughter and had no family backing to protect her. If the royal family wished to dispose of her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.

As long as King Chu remained on the throne, she would have to live in constant fear.

At the door, the announcement came again: “Your Majesty, the envoy from Jin has arrived.”

King Chu turned to the queen seated on the side throne. “Take the Jin envoy to see Yiyang.”

The queen remained seated, unmoved. Only after King Chu pressed her repeatedly did she rise and say, “I have already sent Yiyang away—she is not in the capital at this time.”

A sharp glint flashed in King Chu’s eyes. “The envoy from Jin is already waiting outside. The marriage alliance concerns the relations between our two nations—how dare you treat this as a joke?”

The queen replied, “My daughter must not be sent away in a marriage alliance!”

“This sudden change is an affront to the old King of Jin—how am I to explain this?”

Listening to the argument in the hall, Wei Zhen’s hands, hanging at her sides, slowly clenched as if she had made a decision.

She raised her head and said, “Your Majesty, this humble daughter is willing to marry in place of Princess Yiyang, entering Jin to solidify the alliance between our two nations.”

The silk curtains swayed lightly as the young girl straightened her back from her kneeling position. The hem of her gown spread out behind her, golden light falling upon her long lashes, fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.

Her face was as pure as jade, her voice as clear as the chime of struck jade. “The envoy from Jin requires a princess. This humble daughter can take the place of Princess Yiyang and wed into Jin, demonstrating my unwavering loyalty to the Chu court.”

She bit out each word as if through gritted teeth. “Would this be enough to dispel Your Majesty’s suspicions of me?”

As her words fell, the air in the grand hall grew tense and still.

The marriage alliance was not with the old King of Jin.