Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 36: A Gentle Kiss

The steward watched as Wei Zhen dismounted from the horse, her flowing dress billowing like ripples. Even though she wore only a simple light-colored gown, with just a single pearl hairpin in her hair, she still radiated brilliance, dazzling like the morning glow.

Such a beautiful and otherworldly woman was clearly not an ordinary commoner.

The servants stepped forward to assist Wei Zhen into the residence.

Wei Zhen shook her head and explained, “You misunderstand, Steward. I am not your young general’s wife.”

The servants were momentarily stunned. They turned to look at the young man behind her, but Qi Yan did not offer much explanation. He simply tossed his whip to the steward and led Wei Zhen into the mansion.

The moment she crossed the threshold, Wei Zhen’s gaze froze. Then, she lifted her head to look at the towering pavilions and palaces rising in the distance.

Although this was nominally the residence of Princess Ji Qin, it was, in reality, built in the style of an imperial retreat. The pavilions and terraces stood in a harmonious arrangement, aerial corridors stretched between them, and the high-flying eaves shimmered with golden light. The palace pillars were so massive that it would take several people joining hands to encircle one.

Exquisite carvings and paintings, emerald tiles, and soaring rooftops—all of it exuded the grandeur and wealth of the royal family.

Compared to the Chu Kingdom’s palace, where signs of decay and neglect were visible everywhere, even a single princess’s residence in Jin Kingdom far surpassed it.

The maids and servants walking along the paths quieted upon seeing Wei Zhen, bowing respectfully. Behind her, the steward trailed several steps behind, not daring to make a sound.

Following Qi Yan’s lead, Wei Zhen entered a luxurious tower.

The high terrace stood beside the Luo River, reaching several stories tall. As Wei Zhen ascended the steps, she could faintly hear the distant sound of ocean waves beyond the platform.

“You will stay here for the next few days,” Qi Yan said, pushing open a door. Wei Zhen stepped inside and saw the golden sunset light streaming through the windows, filling the entire room with a warm glow.

Qi Yan continued, “If you need anything, just call the maids outside. They will obey your commands.”

Wei Zhen took in her surroundings, immersed in admiration for the exquisite architecture. Suddenly recalling something, she turned her head and asked, “Is there any news of Ah Ling and the others?”

It had been almost an entire day and night since they had encountered the Wei Kingdom’s water bandits.

She worried about Ah Ling—was he safe? Had the Jin envoys managed to escape unharmed?

If they had not been able to hear any news of Wei Zhen and Qi Yan, they must be deeply anxious as well.

Qi Yan raised his eyes. “Yesterday on the ship, I sent out a signal. The Qi family soldiers at the border must have already arrived at the scene. I will send someone to the military camp later to inquire about the situation. You needn’t worry too much.”

Hearing this, Wei Zhen felt slightly relieved.

Qi Yan urged her to rest well before stepping out.

Not long after he left, there was a knock on the door. It was the steward from earlier.

He entered the room and bowed deeply to Wei Zhen, his face full of guilt. “Just now, I learned from the young master that Your Highness is a princess from Chu. I was blind and made such a grave mistake earlier. I hope Your Highness will not hold it against me.”

Wei Zhen shook her head with a gentle smile. “It’s nothing. Don’t take it to heart. How could I blame you?”

The elderly steward returned her smile, his high cheekbones becoming more pronounced as he raised his hand to signal to the attendants behind him.

A line of maids entered in an orderly fashion—some carrying clean bedding, others holding fresh clothes, and still others bearing exquisite jewelry.

“Your Highness has traveled from afar, and we were unable to welcome you properly. These items were purchased by the servants in town just now. Please make do with them for tonight. Tomorrow, we will send finer clothes and ornaments.” The steward spoke softly.

Wei Zhen hurriedly said, “There is no need to be so formal. Just treat me as an ordinary guest.”

The steward smiled faintly, waving his sleeve. Behind him, a servant approached, holding a wooden zither in his hands.

At first glance, the phoenix tree zither immediately caught Wei Zhen’s attention.

She stepped forward and lightly placed her hand on the strings. The zither was made of paulownia wood, with jade tuning pegs—exquisite and precious, clearly not an ordinary instrument.

The steward smiled. “This was once Princess Ji Qin’s zither. The young master heard that Your Highness wished to practice, so he specially ordered us to retrieve it from the storeroom for you.”

Wei Zhen slowly withdrew her hand. “It belonged to Princess Ji Qin?”

The steward nodded. “The princess owned many zithers—enough to fill two entire storerooms. This is just one of them. Please use it freely, Your Highness.”

“Oh, and the young master also asked us to bring you some books. These are music scores left behind by the princess. Your Highness may find them useful.”

The attendants carefully placed the zither and books on the table. Once everything was arranged, they withdrew.

Wei Zhen sat at the table, gazing at the famed zither before her, then looked around at the furnishings in the room.

The Qi father and son were military men and rarely returned to Xia City. Yet this room contained paintings, tea sets, chessboards, and zither stands—everywhere exuding refinement. These must have belonged to Princess Ji Qin.

That the room remained unchanged after so many years suggested just how deep General Qi’s affection for the princess had been.

Wei Zhen had heard the story of Princess Ji Qin.

Years ago, she had eloped with General Qi, incurring the wrath of the Jin King. In his fury, he revoked her original fief—once the third-largest city in Jin, Yi City—and instead granted her the obscure Xia City. The last favor the king ever bestowed upon her was the construction of the palace in Xia City. After that, he severed all ties with her, refusing to see her again.

Only upon her passing did the Jin King send envoys to offer condolences.

After that, the king’s attitude toward the Qi family grew increasingly ambiguous. Some said he still harbored sympathy for them because of the princess; others claimed he resented them, even extending his anger toward Qi Yan. Otherwise, why would he, for over a decade, never summon his own grandson to the Jin capital?

Speculations abounded, but no one could truly discern the king’s thoughts.

Wei Zhen’s mind returned to the present as she glanced outside.

Dusk had arrived. She rose and instructed a maid to deliver a message to Qi Yan, asking if he would be coming to teach her zither that evening.

Not long after, the maid returned and shook her head.

Wei Zhen did not press further. She returned to the table and began practicing with the music scores.

Two days passed without them meeting. Wei Zhen did not know where Qi Yan had gone, and when she asked the servants, they refused to say a word, as if deliberately keeping her from finding him.

She could not help but suspect that he was avoiding her on purpose. Ever since that night when they had shared a bed, he had been acting strangely.

That night, after bathing, Wei Zhen lay in bed early. The hall was silent, except for the steady drip of the water clock echoing in the vast chamber.

Beyond the high terrace, the sound of ocean waves drifted in, reminding her of their days aboard the ship.

Unable to sleep, she wrapped herself in a robe and got up to find a candle.

As she fumbled at the table, a rustling sound came from outside. She asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me.” A deep male voice sounded.

Wei Zhen was startled for a moment before she said, “Young General, please wait a moment.”

She couldn’t find a candle, so she had to fumble her way through the darkness toward the palace door. As soon as she opened it, a crisp, frosty breath from the man outside rushed into her nose.

Wei Zhen pulled her robe tighter around herself and softly asked, “What brings Young General here so late at night?”

He remained silent for a while, hesitating as if struggling with something. After a long pause, he finally said, “May I come in and speak with you, Miss Wei?”

Wei Zhen stepped back. He then entered and closed the door behind him. Glancing around the room, he asked, “Why haven’t you lit a lamp?”

Wei Zhen answered truthfully, “Young General, your sudden visit caught me off guard. I haven’t had the chance to find a candle. Perhaps you could help me look for one?”

Wei Zhen returned to sit by the bed, her eyes calmly fixed ahead. However, Qi Yan did not go to light the lamp. Instead, he stood by the door for a long moment before finally speaking in a low voice, “Wei Zhen, I came tonight to tell you that what happened the other morning was my offense. I hope you won’t take it to heart.”

Wei Zhen realized that he had been hesitating at the door for so long just to say this, and she chuckled. “I haven’t.”

“That’s why,” he continued, “to apologize for that day, I’ve brought you something.”

He sat down beside her, his deep voice carrying a low, magnetic timbre that sent a tingling sensation to Wei Zhen’s ears.

In the darkness, a faint glow emerged. Wei Zhen instinctively blinked her eyes, then opened them again to see a perfectly round, lustrous luminous pearl resting in his palm.

It was a beautiful pearl pendant, adorned with pearls, gemstones, and fine jade. At the tail end hung a large luminous pearl, radiating a soft, warm light in the darkness.

Wei Zhen suffered from night blindness. While most people could still see their surroundings under the moonlight at night, she could not. Every night, her ability to perceive light drastically diminished, requiring candles or other sources of illumination for her to see clearly.

But this pendant in front of her, though not as bright as a candle, shimmered radiantly. As it was brought closer, it instantly illuminated Wei Zhen’s eyes.

She suddenly found that she could make out a little more of her surroundings.

The astonishing change quickened Wei Zhen’s heartbeat.

Qi Yan handed the string of pearls to her. Wei Zhen slowly reached out, her fingertips brushing against it—cool and smooth to the touch.

The pearls and gemstones had been polished to an exceptional smoothness, feeling utterly refined in her hands. Not to mention, the brilliance of the gems and the luster of the pearls made it an exquisite accessory, dazzlingly beautiful even as a mere clothing ornament—an item of the finest craftsmanship.

Wei Zhen looked up. “So, the past two days that Young General was absent from the manor, you were making this?”

The young man nodded. “At the border market of Jin, Chu, and Wei, many merchant caravans make stops here. Recently, a great merchant arrived, rumored to possess treasures from all over the world. I spent quite some effort tracking him down at an inn and finally managed to trade for this luminous pearl using some valuables.”

He paused for a moment. “And then spent even more effort to craft this pendant.”

Wei Zhen placed the pearl pendant in her palm, gently stroking it with her other hand.

The light from the luminous pearl was faint yet bright enough to illuminate her vision, allowing her to see a small but clear world around her.

Qi Yan said, “This pearl comes from the Western Kingdom. It never fades nor extinguishes, always emitting light. You can wear it as an accessory by day, and at night, use it for illumination when needed.”

Wei Zhen’s fingertips brushed across the surface of the pearl, and she smiled. “Thank you, Young General. I have never received something like this before.”

Qi Yan said, “When you were at home, did your family never try to find a luminous pearl for you?”

Wei Zhen shook her head. “There are many pearls, but where could one find a pearl that remains bright both day and night? My grandfather once tried to find something to help me see at night, but nothing was as practical as a candle, so eventually, he gave up. After all, I only have trouble seeing at night, and at home, with maids attending to me, it wasn’t much of a hassle.”

But how could she have foreseen that one day, she would leave her homeland, wandering in circles before finally embarking on this journey of a diplomatic marriage?

And he—was the first person besides her family to show such concern for her.

She sat up straight and hung the luminous pearl on the curtain beside her.

The pearl cast a quiet and gentle glow, illuminating half the bed and also lighting up their faces and sleeves.

Since the age of seven, she had never seen anything in the darkness again. Until the midsummer night of her seventeenth year, someone had cast a soft and pure light into her dim, lightless world.

Through countless obscure and uncertain nights, she had relied solely on the sounds around her to perceive everything. And now, as she looked through the thick night, the first person she saw—was him.

Wei Zhen’s lips curled into a gentle smile, yet she couldn’t stop the slight dampness gathering in her eyes.

For the first time, she observed him so carefully.

The young man’s temples were sharp as if carved by a blade, his eyes deep like pools of ink, and his skin seemed to be bathed in light. His gaze was dazzlingly bright, so striking that it seemed as if all the world’s brightest stars had gathered within them.

Even the moon’s brilliance could not compare to his radiance.

Under the moonlight, Wei Zhen traced his features with her gaze and softly asked, “Did the Young General just return from outside?”

Qi Yan said, “No.”

Wei Zhen chuckled. “There’s frost on your eyelashes—you clearly traveled through the night to return. How could that not be?”

Qi Yan, caught by her words, glanced aside and narrowed his eyes slightly, yet he did not argue.

Wei Zhen said, “Come closer.”

Qi Yan leaned in slightly, and his breath reached her. Wei Zhen shook her head. “Too far. Closer still.”

Qi Yan was puzzled by her request. But knowing her poor eyesight, he took her into consideration and leaned in a little more.

Wei Zhen still felt it wasn’t enough. “Even closer.”

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment. Wei Zhen met his gaze and said, “Young General, I still can’t see clearly. You know my eyesight is poor.”

With a hint of helplessness, he leaned in once more. This time, Wei Zhen finally straightened up, raising her hand to cup his face.

His body stiffened slightly.

Their breaths mingled at such a close distance. Just a little closer, and their noses would touch.

This distance—was far too dangerous.

Wei Zhen’s fingertips brushed against his face, wiping away the frost from his brows and eyes, her voice gentle. “I really like the gift you gave me. I will wear it every day.”

Her grandfather had once told her that no emotion should be buried deep inside—whether gratitude or joy, one should express it in time so that the other person knows.

So she carefully gathered her feelings and said, “Young General, aside from my family and my nurse, you are the first person to care for me this way.”

“I am very grateful to you. You are the best gentleman I have ever met.”

Qi Yan was stunned.

The young girl’s eyes were like gemstones, and her soft voice continued, “Has Young General ever treated another lady so kindly? Am I the first woman you have cared for like this?”

Qi Yan looked away and remained silent.

She continued wiping the frost from his lashes. Under her touch, his eyelashes trembled slightly, a delicate and soft sensation.

After a long pause, he finally let out a low “Mhm.”

Then he turned his head back, moving even closer. Their hands, resting on the bed, slowly touched and overlapped.

He said, “Aside from you, there has never been another woman.”

As those words fell, Wei Zhen’s heartbeat quickened. It felt as if an invisible force was pulling her toward him, a youthful and budding affection swelling in her chest.

In the darkness, their senses were amplified.

“Qi Yan…”

Her voice, soft and low, escaped her lips along with her breath.

Her delicate hand slid down from his cheek, slowly tracing up to his shoulder and neck.

Those slender fingertips, brushing over the hollow of his throat, felt like fire, setting his skin ablaze.

And it made Qi Yan’s heart burn.

His eyes reflected her face, and Wei Zhen, unable to resist, leaned in bit by bit. Her other hand, tense with nerves, gripped the bedsheet tightly beneath her.

Their breaths intertwined in that confined space, heartbeats pounding in sync. Their faces drew closer, almost touching. His long, feather-like eyelashes brushed against her skin, sending a ticklish sensation through her.

The air was filled with a faint fragrance, the moonlight flowed like water, and their lips hovered just a fraction apart—so close, yet still separated by the thinnest sliver of distance.

The night stretched out their breaths, making their heartbeats ever more restless.

His lips met hers, soft and warm, carrying a crisp scent. The tingling sensation swept over Wei Zhen’s heart like an electric current.

The girl’s lips were tender and moist, sweet like honey. Even the lightest, most fleeting touch had already left a glistening sheen on his lips.

She gazed into his clear eyes, their breaths entwined, feeling his hand tightening around her waist. The pressure on her lips gradually deepened as he traced the shape of her lips with his own.

Outside, the sound of footsteps ascending a staircase echoed.

But inside, the two remained completely unaware. Behind the curtain, the air was filled with an intoxicating fragrance, and an unspeakable tenderness spread through their secluded world.

The visitor outside inquired with a servant and learned that a man and a woman were alone in a room together late at night.

Then, a loud voice shattered the night’s tranquility.

“Young General! The Great General has returned!”

Before the two inside could even part, the door was flung open with a loud crash.

Old General Qi stepped into the room and was immediately met with the sight—beneath the bed canopy, his son was holding a delicate young woman in his arms, one hand gripping her waist as they embraced in the darkness. The woman, soft as if boneless, clung to his son in return.

“Qi Yan!”

Wei Zhen’s back stiffened at the sound. In an instant, she snapped back to her senses, realizing the sheer recklessness of what she had done.

Her face flushed red with shame, and she hastily withdrew from Qi Yan’s lips. But before she could escape, the old general had already strode toward the bed, leaving her with no time to flee. Helpless, she could only bury her face deep into Qi Yan’s arm.

“Qi Yan, what do you think you’re doing?!” The old general’s voice was laced with unmistakable fury.

Qi Yan held the girl in his arms, feeling her slight tremors. He lifted his gaze and met his father’s stern, questioning glare.

The old general expected his son to at least show some panic and offer an explanation. But to his surprise, Qi Yan remained composed, shielding the girl in his embrace.

And the first thing he said was—

“Father, please wait a moment. You barged in so suddenly; she’s feeling a little embarrassed.”

The old general: …Should I leave?

Wei Ling: This is such a perfect scandal—how could I possibly miss it?