Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 25: Splendor

Jing Heng took a step forward. “What could the two of you possibly do on the road?”

He smiled gently. “A-Zhen, you are a woman that Chu State is offering to the princes of Jin. If you dare to have any entanglement with another man on the journey, and word of it reaches the Jin King’s ears, do you think he will let you go?”

“What’s more, the Jin King lacks nothing when it comes to royal sons and grandsons. I have heard that for all these years, the Jin King has never even sent word to Chu State inquiring about the young general. The Jin King still resents the matter of Princess Ji Qin eloping back then, doesn’t he? If the young general and the betrothed princess conspire on the road, how do you think the Jin King will deal with it?”

He was entirely unconvinced that the two before him would engage in any scandalous behavior.

Jing Heng seemed to be offering them a kind reminder. “The old Jin King is domineering and ruthless. If the scandal of the young general and Miss Wei truly gets out, according to Jin law, you both would face the punishment of being torn apart by five horses, your corpses exposed in the streets as a warning to all.”

“Your Highness, the Queen is summoning you inside,” a palace servant at the hall doors called out.

Jing Heng brushed past the two of them and walked into the grand hall.

He sneered internally. With so many people from Jin watching along the journey, he was certain that even if Wei Zhen had a hundredfold more courage, she would not dare stir up any trouble with Qi Yan.

Meanwhile, as Wei Zhen and Qi Yan descended the steps, she said, “What I said earlier was merely to refute the Crown Prince’s words. Young General, please don’t take it to heart.”

Qi Yan replied, “I understand. Just like how I admitted to being your adulterous lover last time.”

Wei Zhen chuckled lightly, surprised at how in sync they were. In truth, inviting the Crown Prince to escort her on the marriage journey was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

She had her own scheme—

The seventh son of the King of Chu had been a political hostage in another country for ten years and was due to return to Chu soon. Since the King of Chu had already considered changing the heir apparent, Wei Zhen planned to fan the flames.

If, at this moment, Jing Heng were to leave the capital to escort her to Jin, the round trip would delay him for at least three or four months, at most half a year. This would grant the King of Chu and the seventh prince an excellent opportunity to spend time together.

By the time Jing Heng returned from escorting the bride, the seventh prince’s foundation in court would have solidified. Even more so, if the King of Chu directly appointed a new heir, it would not be out of the question.

Jing Heng knew this full well, which was why he had refused her request outright.

However, what if it were the King of Chu who ordered him to go?

Wei Zhen turned to Qi Yan and said, “Young General, I have a favor to ask. Could you meet with the envoy from Jin and have him request, in the name of Jin, that a prince of Chu be sent to escort me?”

He looked at her. “You want Jing Heng to leave the capital and make way for the seventh prince.”

In an instant, he understood her intent.

Wei Zhen nodded. “The King of Chu’s illness has come on fiercely. He may not last through this year. If that day truly comes, it would be best if Jing Heng were not in the capital.”

Qi Yan gazed at her. Wei Zhen felt uncertain under his scrutiny. “Does the Young General think my suggestion is unwise?”

Qi Yan shook his head. “No, I just didn’t expect you to make this move. Compared to letting the seventh prince and Jing Heng battle it out in court, this plan certainly saves a great deal of effort.”

Hearing his praise, Wei Zhen’s face brightened with a smile. “But convincing the Jin envoy to agree is another challenge.”

Qi Yan said calmly, “I’ll handle negotiations with the envoy. The King of Chu won’t refuse. The seventh prince returned injured, and the King of Chu is already deeply suspicious.”

Wei Zhen recalled that Qi Yan had sent a team to escort the seventh prince. How could they have allowed him to be injured?

She looked at Qi Yan’s relaxed expression and quickly realized the truth. “Did you and the seventh prince plan this on purpose?”

With this act, they redirected suspicion, placing the blame on Jing Heng. After all, among the court officials, who would be most anxious and restless about the seventh prince’s return? If an assassination attempt were made on the seventh prince, the King of Chu’s first suspect would undoubtedly be the Crown Prince.

Qi Yan smiled. “Yes. It was merely a small effort to sow discord between the King of Chu and the Crown Prince. Ultimately, the King of Chu was already prone to suspicion. However, since Jing Heng will also be part of the escort, you should be prepared—this journey will likely not be peaceful.”

Wei Zhen slowed her steps and looked at Qi Yan’s figure. Just moments ago, when the young man stood in front of her, her heart had instantly steadied.

With him here, she had nothing to fear. Wei Zhen smiled slightly. “Alright.”

While these two were deep in their scheming, the Crown Prince had no mind for politics. Instead, he was troubled by matters of the heart.

After paying respects to the Queen, he returned to his chamber. As he pushed open the door, a soft voice called out from within, “Your Highness.”

Wei Yao rose from the tea table and walked quickly toward him.

The Crown Prince shot a cold glance at the eunuch in the room, his eyes full of reproach.

The eunuch bowed deeply, trembling as he replied, “Second Miss insisted on seeing Your Highness. This servant did not dare refuse her entry.”

As he spoke, Wei Yao had already reached him. Her beautiful eyes were red-rimmed, tears brimming and about to fall—like a lotus drenched in rain.

“Cousin Crown Prince, I know you are busy with state affairs and have had no time for me lately. I did not dare disturb you, but today, I had nowhere else to turn!”

“My father and mother have been locked in the woodshed by Wei Zhen. The palace eunuchs are abusing them, humiliating them beyond measure. Please, I beg you, save my parents!”

The Crown Prince avoided her hands and turned his back to her, speaking softly, “A-Yao, you know this—I have no say in the affairs of your Wei family.”

“How could you not? You are the Crown Prince! Just one word from you, and the palace eunuchs wouldn’t dare to act recklessly!”

The Crown Prince turned to face her. “A-Yao, don’t you understand? Why would the palace eunuchs go to your home? It was an order from the King and the Queen. The way your parents humiliated Wei Zhen before—now that she is a princess about to marry, they are merely repaying them in kind.”

Wei Yao’s eyes turned redder. “So you really won’t help? In what world can the younger generation humiliate their elders like this? You don’t know—the way those eunuchs look at my parents, they treat them like animals!”

“Do you believe your father and mother did nothing wrong? That they shouldn’t be punished?”

Wei Yao followed him to the desk. “They were wrong, but as their daughter, how can I stand by and watch them suffer? Cousin, please, help me!”

Jing Heng sat down and glanced at the bamboo slips on his desk. “It’s not that Wei Zhen is being difficult. She is about to be married, and the palace needs to give her dignity. Your parents must endure this. If you were the betrothed princess, the palace would accommodate you instead.”

Wei Yao’s eyes widened. “Cousin, what are you saying?”

Jing Heng sighed. “A-Yao, Wei Zhen will soon leave Chu. Once she’s gone, how could she still control your parents? They just need to endure a little longer.”

Wei Yao bit her lip. “Jing Heng!”

She was truly furious; that was the only reason she called him by his given name. She had lowered herself countless times before him, yet all she received in return was his indifferent attitude.

A palace servant emerged from behind the curtain, bowed, and said, “Your Highness, someone outside seeks an audience with you…”

“Who is it?”

The servant hesitated. “It is…”

The Crown Prince asked again. The servant glanced at Wei Yao before tremblingly replying, “It is a lady from the Song family.”

“A lady from the Song family?” Wei Yao was jolted awake by this statement, looking at the Crown Prince in disbelief and murmuring, “Is she from the Song clan, the Queen’s maternal family?”

She raised her hand and pointed at the door, demanding to know who that person was.

Jing Heng, unable to escape her entanglement, could only pull her into his arms. “She was chosen for me by the Queen, but I do not like her. In terms of appearance, she is far inferior to you and Wei Zhen.”

Wei Yao stared into his eyes, her entire body beginning to tremble. “So my aunt, seeing that you and Wei Zhen broke off the engagement, has found you another Crown Princess? The Song family is one of the Six Ministers; compared to me, who can offer you nothing in court, she can provide assistance, isn’t that right?”

Jing Heng held her tightly and said gently, “How could that be?”

“If you had refused even once, would that Song family lady dare to come to the Eastern Palace to see you?” Wei Yao pushed him away forcefully and fell to the ground. “Wei Zhen is gone, so now it is the Song family lady. And when she leaves, will there be another? No matter what, it will never be me, will it?”

Jing Heng’s gaze fell on her lower abdomen, fearing she might hurt herself in her agitation. He reached out to support her. “A Yao, please calm down. I have promised you…”

“Don’t touch me!” Wei Yao’s eyes were bloodshot as she struggled to get up from the ground. “Every time you coax and deceive me, telling me to wait a little longer. But how long exactly must I wait? Jing Heng, you have truly disappointed me!”

She wiped her tears as she walked out, pushing open the door—only to crash straight into the Song family lady.

The hall was in complete disarray. The eunuchs crouched down, gathering the books and scrolls that Second Miss Wei had thrown to the ground.

Jing Heng stood by the table, his face dark and brooding. He thought that one day, Wei Yao would understand his painstaking efforts.

He did like her, but he also knew clearly that what he needed most was not her, but a wife who could provide him with significant support in the court.

Wei Yao returned home, and the first thing she did was go to the woodshed in the backyard.

“Father, Mother.” Wei Yao leaned against the door, peering through the narrow gap and seeing the fallen figures of Wei Zhao and his wife on the pile of straw.

The two of them were covered in wretchedness. Their robes had been torn open by whips, revealing ghastly wounds, their faces were stained with dirt, and their hair was disheveled.

Outside, who would believe that this miserable pair before her were once the high and mighty Wei Zhao and his wife?

Hearing his daughter’s voice, Wei Zhao struggled up from the bloodstained ground, staggering toward the door. “What did the Crown Prince say?”

Wei Yao shook her head helplessly. “I was unable to persuade the Crown Prince…”

Wei Zhao’s expression changed drastically. “How useless can you be? Use the child in your belly to threaten him! Do you really think the Crown Prince would refuse to help his future in-laws?”

Madam Song stepped forward as well. “That’s right, A Yao, use both soft and hard tactics. How could the Crown Prince not help? Did you even plead properly for your father and me?”

Wei Zhao’s voice was hoarse. “Isn’t the Crown Prince supposed to dote on you the most? How could he bear to let you return like this? Did you truly beg for help?”

Wei Yao gritted her teeth. “The Crown Prince cousin refuses to save you, and there is nothing I can do.”

“Then go again!” Wei Zhao slapped the door. “If one day doesn’t work, then go for two! If two days don’t work, then kneel before the Eastern Palace every day! Use the child in your belly as leverage—let’s see if the Crown Prince will come out or not!”

Wei Yao had rushed back from the palace, only to be met with a barrage of accusations from her own parents.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she was pushed to the brink. “Father, Mother, why don’t you go find Wei Zhen and apologize? Beg her to spare your lives.”

This sentence immediately provoked the fury of the two inside the room.

Madam Song shrieked, “You want me to apologize to Wei Zhen? Dream on! After all she has done to me, you think I would lower my head to her? Are you really the daughter I raised?”

Wei Zhao and Madam Song forced her to seek out the Crown Prince. Wei Yao suddenly snapped, “I warned Mother long ago not to use lineage to go against her! What is happening today is not my doing—why are you blaming me? Instead of forcing me to see the Crown Prince, why don’t you go beg Wei Zhen yourselves?”

Wiping her tears, she strode away.

Wei Zhao watched his daughter’s retreating figure, his hands clenched into fists as he slammed them against the door. “Ungrateful wretch!”

For the next two or three days, Wei Zhao and Madam Song remained locked in the woodshed. Even though Wei Zhao tried to endure, he ultimately could not hold out. He finally lowered himself and asked the servants to let him see Wei Zhen.

At that moment, Wei Zhen was chatting with Wei Ling in a pavilion.

Wei Ling stood up, ready to refuse on her behalf, but Wei Zhen stopped him. “Bring them up.”

Wei Zhao and Madam Song were thrown to the ground. Their hair was like straw, their bodies covered in filth—utterly wretched. The moment they saw Wei Zhen, they knelt down and pleaded earnestly.

“Ah Zhen, it was my fault before. I should not have insulted and reprimanded you. Can you spare your mother and me just this once? I promise there will be no next time.”

“I’m about to be married off to Jin. How can there be a next time?”

Wei Zhen slowly descended the steps. “But since Father is so reluctant to part with his daughter, we will naturally have plenty of time together on the journey.”

Wei Zhao looked up in confusion, sensing that something was amiss. “Ah Zhen, what do you mean?”

Wei Zhen smiled. “Did I not already tell you? Your punishment would be decided once my younger brother returned, and now we have come to an agreement. You and Madam Song colluded, harmed my birth mother, and abandoned her children. You are unworthy of being human. In your next life, you shall fall into the path of beasts. However, I think… you might as well begin this life as one.”

Wei Zhao: “Wei Zhen!”

“Father shall travel north with me. From now on, you will be my servant, to be driven and used at my will. How about that?”

Wei Ling interjected, “On the journey, Father can lead the horses for the princess, shield her from the wind and frost. If we take the waterways, you can go below deck and row the boat yourself. To be a servant for the Great Chu princess is Father’s greatest honor.”

Wei Zhao was too shocked to speak. “You…”

For people like Wei Zhao and Madam Song, who had lived their early years in luxury and splendor, the greatest torment was to spend the latter half of their lives as lowly servants, watching others bask in glory.

Wei Zhen turned to Madam Song, who was trembling behind Wei Zhao, and addressed her with a smile. “Madam.”

Madam Song staggered forward on her knees. “Ah Zhen. It was all your father’s doing, driving you out of the Wei family—I had no knowledge of it. I was only following his orders. I was never the head of the household—what power did I have to speak?”

Her loose hair clung to her face as she pleaded weakly, “And… and you say I colluded with your father. When I first met him, I was only sixteen, while he was already of age. How could I have known right from wrong? He was the one who seduced me.”

Wei Zhen: “Is that so?”

Wei Zhao turned and roared, “Nonsense! Wretched woman!”

Wei Ling sneered at Madam Song. “If it was just a momentary mistake, why didn’t you turn back? Why insist on marrying into the Wei family? Do you really bear no responsibility for my mother’s death? It is far too late to distance yourself from Father now.”

Wei Zhen said, “A loving couple, facing disaster—how could you turn against each other now? Madam shall come north as well. Along the way, you can wash clothes and cook. Once we reach Jin, the royal family will certainly have need of slaves.”

“Wei Zhen!” Madam Song’s eyes widened in horror as she lunged forward, only to be grabbed and forced to kneel by the guards. She continued cursing relentlessly.

Wei Zhen said, “What you owe my mother, you shall repay in the second half of your life.”

She ordered the guards, “Watch them carefully. We set off in two days.”

“Father! Mother!” Wei Yao cried hoarsely as she rushed over. Seeing her parents being dragged away, she hurried after them, begging the guards to let them go.

Wei Zhen’s gaze lingered on Wei Yao.

In her past life, Wei Yao had exhausted all means to enter the palace, but in truth, aside from vying for favor, she had never directly harmed Wei Zhen. It had always been Wei Zhang scheming behind the scenes.

In this life, Wei Zhang had already received his due punishment. As for Wei Yao…

She had her own fate. There was no need for Wei Zhen to intervene.

The spring sun shone warmly on her. Wei Zhen let out a long breath and smiled. “Ah Ling, have you thought about what you want for lunch?”

Wei Ling replied, “I asked the servants to prepare some Chu cuisine. Once we leave for Jin, we won’t get to enjoy these delicacies anymore.”

Wei Zhao and Madam Song were locked back in their quarters, while Wei Yao went to see them. Once again, she was scolded and pressured to beg the Crown Prince for help.

Driven to the brink of collapse, she wept bitterly. By evening, she finally used the child in her belly as leverage and managed to summon the Crown Prince.