Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 38: Spring Feelings

A long silence was an unspoken tug-of-war between a man and a woman.

Wei Zhen knelt by the window, where a patch of light and shadow fell into her eyes. She saw the flowering trees sway, casting scattered pink hues over his shoulders.

His eyes shimmered with light as he raised an eyebrow at her, his face devoid of any trace of shyness.

A gentle breeze drifted in through the curtain, setting the glass bells hanging under the eaves into a soft chime. Wei Zhen’s heartbeat followed, one beat after another, clear and crisp.

With a sudden rustle, she pulled down the bamboo curtain between them, cutting off his gaze.

Wei Zhen lowered her head, her cheeks tinged with a deep blush.

It seemed as though the warmth of his breath still lingered near her ears, carrying an indistinct hint of intimacy.

That one sentence of his echoed in her heart, shaking her to the core.

What did he mean, her lips were really soft?

She had never met such a straightforward young man, nor had she ever heard such an audacious compliment.

The invisible barrier between them, the one dictated by propriety, now had a small tear—letting in more light than before.

Wei Zhen could maintain composure in most matters, but in the realm of romance, she lacked experience.

She felt uncharacteristically flustered and uneasy.

She turned her face slightly, peering through the narrow gap in the curtain to steal a glance at him—only to find him looking back at her at the same moment. Their gazes met through the bamboo screen.

Wei Zhen quickly turned away, her cheeks burning.

Behind her, leaning against the carriage wall, Wei Ling stirred in his sleep. Drowsily, he looked at her. “Sister, why is your face so red?”

Wei Zhen replied, “Probably because of the sun.”

She handed him some fruit, worried he might have overheard something. Seeing his expression remain unchanged, she sighed in relief.

Outside the carriage, Qi Yan looked at the silhouette within. Through the curtain, he could see her graceful figure in flowing robes, the sunlight outlining her in a soft golden glow.

After spending these past days together, he had come to understand her temperament—outwardly composed and reserved, but with a heart of fire beneath her icy exterior.

To most people, she appeared cool and indifferent, but with him, she revealed traces of shyness.

He had, at times, restrained himself, fearing he might be too forward and ruin the impression she had of him.

His words earlier had indeed been bold, but since they were already spoken, he had no intention of regretting them.

If she was too reserved to take a step forward in their relationship, then he would simply close the remaining distance between them himself.

He had patience—he would take his time and win her over.

As dusk approached, the sky was brushed with soft hues of orange and gold, dyeing the distant mountains in warm shades.

The convoy arrived at the foot of a mountain, concluding the day’s journey. They began setting up camp.

While everyone busied themselves, Qi Yan remained on horseback, his gaze fixed on the carriage. “Wei Zhen, what are your plans once you arrive in Jin?”

The two had not spoken all afternoon. His question was met with silence.

After a long pause, her silhouette appeared behind the curtain.

She moved closer to the window. “As the Jin envoy suggested, I will strive to gain the favor of the King of Jin.”

To gain the favor of the King of Jin?

Qi Yan frowned slightly. Did she mean to secure a marriage to a noble within the royal court?

Wei Zhen continued, “I don’t seek the King’s favor to find a suitable husband but to gain a foothold in Jin’s court. I want to avenge my mother, protect my brother, and as for the Chu royal family…”

Her voice trailed off, but Qi Yan understood her intent.

She sought to dismantle the Chu dynasty—to make them pay for what they had done.

Qi Yan felt a strange relief. At least, she was not scheming to marry a Jin noble. Yet, what she wished for was no simple task.

He silently committed her words to memory. “And what else?” he asked.

“What else?” Her voice carried a hint of confusion as if she did not understand why he was asking.

But she still answered gently, “I have many things I wish to do, too many to count. But when I think about it carefully, perhaps nothing in particular stands out.”

Qi Yan extended a slender finger, lifting a corner of the curtain. Her face, leaning against the carriage window, came into view.

The lantern light illuminated her features. Her bright eyes met his before she quickly looked away.

Lowering his head slightly, he asked, “Everything you just mentioned was for others. What about yourself? Do you have any personal wishes?”

Wei Zhen pondered for a long moment before lightly stroking the jade pendant at her waist. “To find my birth parents.”

Qi Yan asked, “Do you have any keepsakes from them?”

“Yes.” Wei Zhen untied the pendant and passed it to him through the curtain.

Qi Yan took the jade in his palm, turning it under the moonlight. The translucent jade was carved with intricate patterns of dragons and serpents, and in the center, a small character was engraved.

Qi Yan examined it closely and recognized the word—Yang.

“My grandfather told me that ‘Yang’ means the center. Just as the sun rises at the heart of the sky, radiating light in all directions, it signifies my position at the center of fate. This pendant was left to me by my mother, and my childhood name is Yang.”

Wei Zhen then asked, “What about you, General? Do you have a childhood name or a courtesy name?”

“I do. My mother gave it to me.”

Wei Zhen had asked without much thought, but then she suddenly remembered—courtesy names were usually reserved for close relations. Perhaps it was inappropriate for her to ask.

But Qi Yan readily answered, “Lan Jing.”

“I was born under the midday sun. That day, Venus shone brightly in the daylight, its rays extending in four directions. It was spring. Before my mother passed away, she gave me my courtesy name—Lan Jing, meaning ‘guiding the phoenix chariot through the clear wind, a path paved with orchids, banners flying in the spring sunlight.’”

Wei Zhen softly repeated his name, feeling the youthful vigor it carried.

She could sense the deep love of a mother, her hopes for her son—to see him soar like a phoenix, embracing the wind, rising to great heights, his banners shining under the spring sun.

Wei Zhen smiled. “It suits you well, General.”

Hearing her say his name so softly, Qi Yan’s voice dropped to a murmur. “Do you have any other wishes?”

Wei Zhen thought for a moment before shaking her head. “None.”

“Think again. What if your eyes could be healed?”

Wei Zhen paused, then laughed lightly. “That would be nearly impossible. My grandfather has searched far and wide for the finest physicians, yet after all these years, my night blindness remains unchanged. How could it suddenly be cured so easily?”

Her eyes shone under the flickering candlelight, soft and bright.

Qi Yan gazed at her intently. “I know someone who might be able to help.”

Wei Zhen asked, “Truly?”

Qi Yan hesitated for a moment, then pulled on his reins. “No qin lesson tonight. Get some rest early.”

“Where are you going, General?” Wei Zhen lifted the curtain. The night breeze tousled her hair.

She watched as the young man rode away, his silhouette fading into the vast wilderness.

Above, the sky shimmered with stars. Below, moonlight flowed over the land.

Under the boundless night sky, he galloped forward, the moon illuminating his figure, lighting his path.

His destination lay at the Chu border—where someone might have the means to cure Wei Zhen’s eyes.

At the break of dawn, Qi Yan arrived at the frontier and knocked on the door of a forge.

This was a prison on the border, housing common criminals, exiled felons, and the families of fallen officials.

As soon as the sun rose, the prisoners were roused to begin their labor. The forge was sweltering, filled with the sound of metal striking metal.

Hearing the knock, the warden opened the door, prepared to reprimand the visitor—until he saw Qi Yan’s face beneath his straw hat.

Startled, the warden quickly bowed. “General, are you here to see Zuo Ying?”

Qi Yan nodded.

The warden sighed. “Wait here,” he said before turning back toward the forge.

He called out in a gruff voice, “Convict Zuo Ying, step forward!”

The furnace burned fiercely, and beside it stood a sturdy figure. The man was bare-chested, hammering away at a precious sword on the table.

Hearing the call, he did not move and continued hammering.

Sparks flew, illuminating his handsome face. Beads of sweat constantly rolled down his cheeks, gliding over his scarred, strong body before disappearing into the fabric of his lower garments.

As soon as the words “Convict Zuo Ying” were spoken, the forge erupted with mocking laughter.

“Oh, they’re looking for Lord Zuo.”

“My lord, you’d better go quickly.”

This was the lowest level of the prison, where petty criminals from the borderlands—thieves and ruffians—were held.

Zuo Ying was the most unique among them. He came from the Zuo family, one of the Six Ministers of Chu, and had once served as an official in court, renowned for his literary brilliance.

Unfortunately, his family later fell into ruin and was purged by the King of Chu. All the male members were exiled to the frontier.

He had been here for five whole years.

Long enough for the King of Chu to almost forget his existence.

To the criminals in this prison, seeing a once unreachable nobleman reduced to hammering iron alongside them, doomed to never leave, was an endless source of ridicule.

Zuo Ying finally finished hammering the iron. He wiped away his sweat with a damp cloth, grabbed a white robe from a nearby rack, and ignored the mocking gazes around him as he strode outside.

The sky was now fully bright. The morning wind was cool, and in the distance, the wild mountains stretched endlessly like the ridges of a dragon’s spine.

Qi Yan stood beside his horse, brushing its mane. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

Zuo Ying lowered his gaze, bowed, and spoke in a calm, measured voice, “Convict Zuo Ying greets the General.”

“There’s no need for formalities, Lord Zuo.”

When the Zuo family was exiled, Zuo Ying had been only sixteen or seventeen years old. Upon arriving at the frontier, he had been abused by the prison guards and treated like a beast of burden. Had Qi Yan not intervened and saved him, he might have died outside the borderlands like the rest of his family.

Qi Yan studied him.

Five years had passed, stripping away all traces of scholarly refinement. Now, he carried an aura of cold detachment, like the depths of an icy abyss. His eyes were as still as an ancient well, devoid of any ripples.

The once strikingly handsome and graceful young man was now but a shadow of his former self.

Zuo Ying asked, “What does the General require of this humble prisoner?”

Qi Yan stepped forward, took a jade pendant from his sleeve, and handed it to Zuo Ying. “You once had expertise in gemstones and jade artifacts when you were in the capital. Can you take a look at this pendant?”

Zuo Ying replied, “That was merely a youthful indulgence, a way to idle away time. It has been years; I have long forgotten.”

“Still, take a look.”

Zuo Ying took the jade pendant and examined it carefully under the morning sunlight.

Qi Yan watched him closely, uncertain whether he would be able to discern anything. After a while, Zuo Ying furrowed his brows slightly.

“Is there something unusual about it?” Qi Yan asked.

Zuo Ying inquired, “Where did the General obtain this jade pendant?”

“It belongs to a friend of mine, something they have carried since childhood.”

Zuo Ying gave him a scrutinizing look before explaining, “Jade from different regions varies in quality. The northeast produces Xiuyan jade, the south produces Hetian jade, while jade from the northwest is lighter in color and more translucent. This pendant is smooth and delicate, with patterns characteristic of jade shaped by water over time. It is most likely Wei Mountain jade from the northwest.”

“Jade from the Wei Kingdom?”

“Yes. Moreover, the carving on it is a soaring serpent pattern. While such designs are common, in the Wei Kingdom, they are reserved exclusively for the royal family and a few noble clans.”

Zuo Ying returned the pendant to Qi Yan. “The General’s friend—is this person a noble of Wei?”

Wei Kingdom. Nobility.

Was she from Wei?

Qi Yan’s gaze darkened. “Can you tell anything else from it?”

Zuo Ying shook his head.

Qi Yan pocketed the jade pendant. “There is one more thing I need your help with.”

Zuo Ying lowered his eyes. “The General once saved me. If there is anything I can do to help, I will give my utmost effort.”

“Lord Zuo is skilled in medicine. Over the years, you have frequently treated the prison guards, so your medical skills should still be sharp.”

Qi Yan continued, “I have a friend with an old eye condition. She finds it difficult to see at night.”

“Can you cure it?”