Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 37: Seeking Marriage

General Qi rode through the night, hurrying back to Xia City. The whip in his hand had yet to be put down when he was met with the scene before him.

Since Wei Zhen was still present, he had no choice but to turn around.

General Qi spoke coldly, “I returned today with urgent matters to discuss with you, but I didn’t expect to witness such a scene.”

Qi Yan replied, “Father, she and I were just talking.”

General Qi turned back, raising his whip. “Do you take me for a fool? You’re already on the girl’s bed, and you still say you were just talking?”

The moment he had returned to the residence, he had gone looking for Qi Yan, only to hear from the servants that the young general was in the room of the princess sent for marriage.

There was only one servant standing watch outside. The night had long passed the third watch, and inside the room, no candles were lit—nothing but pitch darkness. A man and a woman alone in a room at such an hour—what could they possibly be doing?

Fearing that the situation was dire, he had not even waited for the servant to knock before he barged in himself.

“Qi Yan, come out first. I have something to discuss with you.”

The general’s voice carried an icy tone. Not wanting to alarm the rest of the household, he turned and stepped outside.

He strode out in great haste, the candlelight from the hall spilling into the room, illuminating it brightly.

Wei Zhen lay weakly in Qi Yan’s arms. Hearing the sound of footsteps gradually fading behind her, her fingertips clenched tightly onto Qi Yan’s robe.

When General Qi had stormed in just now, Wei Zhen had instinctively wanted to burrow under the covers. At that moment, it truly felt as if they had been caught in an illicit act.

Had she known that General Qi would return tonight, she would never have allowed Qi Yan into her room.

The way the old general had looked at her had been like a blade against her back, as though he was stripping her apart inch by inch.

“Wei Zhen.” A low, hoarse voice sounded above her.

Wei Zhen, still leaning against his chest, her eyelashes trembling, could feel his heart pounding violently. She was so ashamed she could hardly lift her head.

She pulled away from his embrace, cutting him off before he could speak. “What happened tonight was my fault. I was reckless and rude. I sincerely apologize to the young general…”

Her cheeks were flushed crimson, and she could not bring herself to meet his gaze.

Qi Yan leaned in and called her name again, “Wei Zhen.”

He drew her closer, his palm against her wrist, radiating a burning warmth.

Wei Zhen turned her face away, avoiding his eyes. “The general is still waiting for you outside. You should go and speak with him first.”

A servant outside also came to urge him, “Young Master, the General is calling for you.”

Wei Zhen said softly, “Young General, could you leave me alone for a moment?”

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment, then slowly let his hand slip from her wrist. “Alright.”

The sound of his footsteps faded away, followed by the soft click of the door closing.

Wei Zhen sat curled up in the dimly lit room, burying her face between her knees.

Everything that had happened just now felt like a dream. It was as if she had been bewitched, losing all control over herself, drawn to him uncontrollably.

Why had she kissed him? Was it because she had never met a man who treated her so well before? Because a swelling gratitude had overtaken her heart? Or was it because of the strange, aching tightness in her chest, urging her to get closer—just a little closer?

Wei Zhen’s fingertips gently brushed her lips. The tingling sensation from their kiss resurfaced in her memory, making her fingers tremble as if electrified.

A young girl’s heart is delicate and sensitive, as soft as flowing water. But now, the gentle stream had turned into an overwhelming flood.

She had never been so intimate with a man before. Tonight’s experience left her flustered and restless, shy and mortified.

The luminous pearl hanging from the bed canopy glowed softly, swaying slightly with the night breeze.

Wei Zhen’s mind conjured up his departing figure—his handsome features, the slight flush on his cheeks, his skin tinged with a hue of rose, making him appear even more like a jade carving.

And him—what was he thinking about tonight’s events? How did he feel right now?

She did not know. Alone in the dark, she tossed and turned, unable to still her racing heart.

Meanwhile, Qi Yan had been summoned outside to the neighboring chamber.

The window was wide open, and the night wind from the river rushed in, making the candles flicker on their stands.

General Qi Che stood with his hands behind his back, his broad silhouette as immovable as a mountain.

Hearing footsteps, Qi Che spoke, “You finally decided to come out?”

Qi Yan responded, “Father, what pressing matter brings you here at this hour?”

Qi Che turned around, the candlelight casting sharp shadows over his stern and chiseled face. As the general commanding 200,000 troops at the Chu border, time had etched into him a deep and steady presence, standing firm like an unshakable mountain. The mere sight of him commanded respect and awe.

Qi Che’s cold gaze fell upon his son. “Had I not returned tonight, I would have never discovered what you’ve been up to.”

Qi Yan walked over to the table and casually poured himself a cup of tea, showing no urgency in responding.

Qi Che continued, “Word has already spread through the military camp—Qi family’s young master spent an exorbitant sum at a teahouse yesterday, all for a single luminous pearl. At first, I couldn’t understand why. But just now, I saw that very pearl hanging in that girl’s room. You gave it to her?”

Qi Yan, still seated languidly, raised an eyebrow. “Father, you saw it yourself. Why ask me?”

His nonchalant attitude made Qi Che laugh coldly.

Qi Yan poured his father a cup of hot tea as well, then asked, “Father, what urgent matter brought you back so late?”

“Do not try to change the subject,” Qi Che interrupted sternly. “Qi Yan, do not pretend you don’t understand. You know very well who she is and who you are. You were tasked with escorting the princess for marriage, yet you entangle yourself with her like this. Do you truly not grasp the implications?”

Qi Yan lifted his long eyelashes and met his father’s gaze.

His features bore an uncanny resemblance to Princess Ji Qin, his mother. Even the curve of his eyes mirrored hers exactly.

Qi Che held his son’s gaze for a long moment before saying, “Ah Yan, if you persist in this entanglement, it will bring ruin not only to you but also to her.”

Qi Che continued, “The Qi family’s standing in Chu is already precarious. After the palace incident, I met with the Empress Dowager. We agreed that you must travel to Jin to meet the Jin King. Only by pledging loyalty to him can the Qi family have a chance at survival.”

“Qi Yan, you are not a child anymore. You must think not only of yourself but of the entire Qi family.”

For once, the young man’s usual air of indifference faded slightly. “I understand, Father. I have never forgotten.”

“If word of your affair with the princess reaches the Jin King, how do you think he will perceive you? He already dislikes you…”

“Whether he likes me is one thing,” Qi Yan interrupted, lifting his gaze. “But whether I am useful to him is another.”

“If news of you and the peace-bringing princess reaches Jin King’s ears, how do you think he will see you? Jin King already does not favor you…”

“Whether Jin King likes me or not is one thing,” the young man interrupted, lifting his head, “but whether I am useful to him is another matter entirely.”

“The one thing he has no shortage of is royal descendants. If I were merely his grandson, I would be no different from the others. But I know what he wants. He wants a sword, a sword that can point straight at the Central Plains, to eliminate the other states and become the true ruler of the world. And I can help him accomplish that.”

In the darkness, Qi Yan’s eyes burned brightly, as if a raging fire had ignited within them.

The night breeze caused the candlelight to flicker, making the shadows on the walls sway along with it.

“Grandfather is already very old,” Qi Yan said softly.

The older a person was, the more ambitious they became, the more they sought to seize every opportunity in their final years to fulfill the wishes they had left incomplete.

And he, Qi Yan, could become Jin King’s sharpest sword.

His expression was calm, his voice resolute, carrying a kind of stubborn persistence deep in his bones.

“I will carve out my own path in Jin.”

Qi Che looked into his eyes. At that moment, he was reminded of Ji Qin.

That night, she had rushed out of the Jin palace without hesitation, climbed onto his horse, her eyes burning with that same unrelenting determination.

His instincts told him that Jin King would like this child.

Qi Che came back to his senses. “Your grandfather has the ambition to dominate the world, and he has no shortage of generals who can lead troops into battle. He despises anyone who crosses his bottom line, so no matter when you became entangled with the peace-bringing princess, you had best sever all ties with her before reaching Jin.”

“Qi Yan, there is no future for you and her.”

A summer thunderclap resounded, lightning tearing through the dense, dark clouds in the sky.

The cold wind carried those words away, and the bamboo scrolls on the desk rustled in the gust.

Qi Yan remained silent, gazing at him quietly.

Qi Che placed a hand on Qi Yan’s shoulder. “You have always been sensible and understood the bigger picture. This time, I trust you will make the right decision as well.”

Qi Che walked toward the door, and just as he was about to push it open, he heard the quiet voice from behind him: “I will.”

He stopped and turned back to see the young man sitting under the lamp, his figure thin and solitary.

He did not know what Qi Yan was feeling in his heart, but for a young man to cut ties with his past, it must be unbearably bitter.

Qi Che withdrew his gaze and left the room.

Qi Yan sat in the silence for a long time, his slender fingers tapping idly on the desk, producing crisp, clear sounds.

The flickering lamplight illuminated his handsome face. He rested his chin on one hand, narrowing his eyes as he looked toward the rolling dark clouds in the sky.

His father’s words had reminded him.

Wei Zhen’s identity was far from ordinary—she was, after all, a princess of both Jin and Chu, entangled in countless political interests.

Over the past days, every interaction he had with her had constantly toed the line of propriety.

At first, he had wanted to keep his distance from her, but as it turned out, he couldn’t. Instead, he found himself unable to resist drawing closer.

If he hesitated and left things ambiguous, it would be no different from toying with emotions.

He had to make a decision, and once made, it could not be changed.

He thought, with Wei Zhen’s beauty, even if she were not a peace-bringing princess, once she entered Jin, she would never remain obscure. She would undoubtedly attract the attention of the royal descendants.

And as a princess wed into Jin’s royal family, naturally, the one who could win Jin King’s favor the most would be the one to marry her.

Jin King had a total of seventeen grandsons. Excluding those who were already married, there were still ten of suitable age, not to mention the external grandsons and nephews.

If she went to Jin, the most likely candidate for her husband would be the seventh prince, Ji Yuan. It was said that his wedding to the Wei Kingdom’s princess had already been arranged, yet the marriage had been repeatedly delayed. If Jin King wished to placate the Wei Kingdom, he might simply marry Wei Zhen off to Ji Yuan instead.

Among the remaining young men, there were many outstanding figures.

With so many competitors, if he wanted to win her hand in marriage…

It seemed rather troublesome indeed.

He truly needed to think carefully, to plan thoroughly, and come up with a foolproof way to win her hand in marriage.

The tall bookshelves on both sides cast heavy shadows, falling upon the young man in the hall. His fingertips continued to tap lightly on the table.

A night of torrential rain pounded against the windows.

By early morning the next day, the storm had gradually subsided, leaving behind a bright and clear sky.

After rising, Wei Zhen dressed and groomed herself, gazing into the bronze mirror before her.

Her complexion was as fair as jade, and her lips, like cherry blossoms, gleamed with a moist luster from the morning tea she had just sipped.

As she looked at her lips, memories of the previous night flashed through her mind.

She truly did not know how to face Qi Yan, so she decided not to step out of her room for the entire day.

By afternoon, a maid came to deliver a message—Wei Hou and the Crown Prince of Chu had entered the city.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhen changed her clothes and prepared to go out to welcome them.

She put on a light blue gauze dress, adorned herself with jade ornaments, and, after a moment of hesitation, walked to the bedside, untied the string, and fastened the night-luminescent pearl pendant to her waist.

Upon stepping out and reaching the residence’s entrance, she inevitably encountered Qi Yan.

Their eyes met, and she instinctively turned her body away.

A moment later, realizing that her reaction was too stiff—almost as if openly displaying her intent to avoid him—she felt a bit unnatural.

Just then, the escort team arrived.

Wei Ling entered the city under the protection of the soldiers, followed by several fine horses, atop which sat Ji Wo and the envoy from Jin.

Wei Ling dismounted, walked up the steps, and embraced Wei Zhen deeply. “A’jie.”

He released her. “A’jie, don’t worry, I’m fine. Just suffered a minor injury. That night, after encountering the river bandits, I immediately abandoned the ship and hid in the forest by the shore. Before long, Qi’s reinforcements arrived.”

Ji Wo and the envoy also cupped their hands in greeting, indicating that they were unharmed.

Wei Ling sighed. “After the river bandits seized the main ship, they looted and burned everything onboard. His Highness Ji Wo and the envoy hid beneath the deck and were not discovered. As for the Crown Prince, however, he suffered quite a serious injury…”

Only then did Wei Zhen notice the carriage among the group behind them.

There was no need to guess who was inside.

Wei Ling released her and turned to Qi Yan, stepping forward to embrace him. “Thank you for taking care of my sister these past few days.”

Qi Yan curled his lips into a smile. “It was my duty.”

Wei Ling said, “Let’s talk inside.”

The group entered the residence for discussions.

Due to the encounter with river bandits, the wedding escort procession had been completely thrown into disarray. The attack that night had been devastating—by the time Qi’s soldiers arrived, more than half of the wedding fleet had been lost, and a significant number of soldiers had perished.

As a result, the journey had been delayed, provoking dissatisfaction from Jin. The Crown Prince would undoubtedly be held accountable by King Chu upon his return.

Thus, the decision was made to stay in Xia City for some time, allowing the wounded to recover and the troops to regroup before resuming the journey.

During this period, Wei Zhen and Qi Yan barely saw each other.

Firstly, ever since that night, General Qi had been staying at the princess’s residence daily, never leaving. Secondly, Qi Yan had been busy assembling the troops and had little time at the estate.

On the day of departure, news came that shocked Wei Zhen to her core.

General Qi had announced that he would personally accompany the army in escorting her.

Wei Zhen couldn’t help but overthink—was the old general afraid that she and Qi Yan would grow too close on the journey, so he decided to travel north with them?

As the carriage swayed, Wei Zhen glimpsed shifting figures outside through the bamboo curtain.

She turned to Liang Chan and said, “It’s almost noon. Go fetch my brother and have him rest in the carriage—he’s still injured.”

Liang Chan responded respectfully, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Wei Zhen’s hand unintentionally brushed over the night-luminescent pearl strand at her waist.

Liang Chan lowered her gaze to the pearls. She had noticed this new item on the princess days ago but had never inquired about it. Now, seeing the princess constantly stroking it even after setting off, curiosity finally arose in her heart.

She asked, “Your Highness, this item…?”

“It was given to me by the young general.”

“The young general?” Liang Chan was stunned.

She had served Wei Zhen since childhood and had witnessed her lady’s recent closeness with the young general.

She said, “Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness, but it would be wise not to accept gifts from him. You are a peace-bringing princess, betrothed to a prince of Jin’s royal house. If you accept the young general’s gift now, and someone uses it against you in the future, it will be difficult to explain…”

Wei Zhen understood this reasoning all too well.

Her fingers continued to stroke the pearl strand as she murmured, “Then tell me, does Jin King’s grandson count as part of Jin’s royal house?”

“Of course he does,” Liang Chan replied instinctively, then suddenly froze.

Jin King’s grandson—wasn’t that referring to Qi, the young general?

The young lady leaned her head against the carriage window, lifting the bamboo curtain.

The sight of a young man on a white horse entered her view.

For the first time in ten days, they had come this close.

It felt as if a rain shower had fallen inside her heart, soaking it through, filling her chest with a sour and swelling emotion.

She still didn’t know how to face Qi Yan. She didn’t even know whether her actions that night had offended him—was that why he hadn’t spoken to her for so many days?

Not long after, Wei Ling climbed into the carriage, and Liang Chan withdrew.

Wei Zhen picked up the fan on the small table and gently fanned her brother, letting him rest against the carriage wall for a midday nap.

Wei Ling, his skin reddened by the sun, shook his head and said he didn’t need it, then casually began chatting with Wei Zhen.

“Wei Zhen.”

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a voice sounded outside the bamboo curtain.

A breeze carried the words inside, making Wei Zhen’s heart tremble slightly. She turned her head and saw Qi Yan lifting the curtain—sunlight spilled over his brow and eyes.

“Come a little closer. I have something to say to you.”

Wei Zhen glanced at her brother, who was already sound asleep against the carriage wall, then turned back and said, “What does the young general wish to say?”

General Qi was nearby—how could he dare to lift her curtain just like that?

She shifted her body toward the window, her heartbeat quickening. He leaned in slowly.

Outside, the sound of trickling streams and dappled light through the trees created an endless beauty, yet none of it compared to the brilliance in his gaze.

His thin lips stopped at her ear. “Wei Zhen, you don’t need to feel embarrassed about what happened that night. Because at that moment—”

“I wanted to kiss you too.”

His voice was gentle, as if whispering sweet nothings.

“Your lips… are really soft.”