Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 42: The Prey

Seated atop their fine horses, several noble young men exchanged glances, hesitating to move forward as they debated who should step forth to welcome the princess.

The murmur of their voices drifted into Ji Ying’s ears. The young nobles pushed the responsibility onto one another, yet after a long moment, no decision was reached. Ji Ying furrowed her brows, squeezed her legs against her horse’s sides, and rode toward the lavish carriage.

The betrothed princess stood upon the carriage, the tassels in her hair swaying gently. Her luxurious robe, embroidered with golden osmanthus patterns, shimmered brilliantly in the light.

Ji Ying reined in her horse before the carriage and extended a hand toward Wei Zhen. “On behalf of the royal family, I welcome the Princess of Chu to the city.”

Wei Zhen slowly placed her hand in Ji Ying’s palm. “Many thanks.”

At the touch of her fingertips, a soft sensation spread through Ji Ying’s hand. Ji Ying lifted her gaze and met the eyes above the princess’s veil—beautiful eyes that gently curved with a faint smile.

Ji Ying was momentarily dazed before quickly averting her eyes, stiffly replying, “No need to thank me.”

Just then, from the ceremonial procession behind the carriage, two figures emerged—it was the Ninth Prince, Ji Wo, along with an envoy from the Jin Kingdom.

Upon seeing Ji Ying, the envoy cupped his hands in greeting, his face beaming with warmth. “Greetings to the Eleventh Princess.”

Ji Ying responded with a slight nod before turning her gaze to the tall young man standing beside the carriage. She inquired of the envoy, “May I ask who this young lord escorting the princess is?”

“This humble one is Qi Yan, son of General Qi Che of Chu,” the young man replied with a composed and measured tone, neither servile nor arrogant.

Ji Ying was slightly surprised. “Ah, so it’s Cousin. Three years ago, when you came to Jiangdu for Grandmother’s funeral, I never expected that after all these years, you would have changed so much.”

Qi Yan gave a faint nod, then lifted his gaze. “Princess, please return to the carriage first. Soon, we must enter the royal city.”

A soft, clear voice responded from within the carriage, “Alright.”

Her voice was bright and gentle, like smooth jade. With just one word, Ji Ying instinctively felt that only a true beauty could possess such a voice.

Wei Zhen turned away and released Ji Ying’s hand. The ornaments adorning her swayed, and a fragrant breeze wafted into Ji Ying’s nose.

A fleeting look of displeasure crossed Ji Ying’s face, but it quickly vanished. She turned toward the procession and said, “Let’s enter the city.”

The clear wind lifted the curtains, and on both sides of the road, the streets were lined with common folk.

Inside the carriage, Wei Zhen gazed outside through the curtain.

The envoy’s words still echoed in her ears: “His Majesty is feeling unwell due to a cold and will not be able to welcome the princess today. He has specially sent several princes and princesses to receive you. Once the princess enters the palace, you will first settle into your quarters. The palace has specially prepared a spacious residence for you.”

The carriage passed through the royal city, making its way toward the palace.

Before long, the carriage entered the palace. The tunnel was narrow and dim, and the interior of the carriage darkened at once. The sound of the palace gates closing sent a shiver down the spine. A strange emotion welled up in Wei Zhen’s heart. But before long, the carriage wheels rumbled out of the tunnel, and a flood of dazzling light streamed inside.

At that moment, Wei Zhen finally felt the reality of her marriage alliance.

The passageway leading from the palace gates to the main halls was extremely long. The carriage wheels rolled along the road, while several young men on horseback followed from a distance behind.

The procession halted outside Wei Zhen’s courtyard. The envoy respectfully welcomed her out of the carriage and invited her and her attendants inside.

The princes and princesses who had come to receive her departed after escorting her to her residence.

The envoy said, “This Qingxue Courtyard will be the princess’s residence in the Jin Palace. It is located in the eastern part of the royal palace, very close to the living quarters of the other princes and princesses.”

Wei Zhen stepped past the threshold and saw that the pavilions and high walls were all exquisitely beautiful. The pavilions and palace chambers were crafted with the utmost refinement. As she walked forward, the scenery changed with each step. Peach trees bloomed in profusion, and within the courtyard, there was yet another smaller courtyard.

“Qingxue Courtyard is vast. The outer courtyard houses palace maids and eunuchs. In the inner courtyard, aside from the princess’s private chambers, there are guest rooms for receiving visitors, a tea room, a music chamber, and a chess pavilion, among other facilities. Even among the king’s granddaughters, few have quarters as grand as this.”

The accompanying maids and guards unloaded the luggage from the carriages, while outside the courtyard, the sounds of hurried footsteps echoed in organized chaos.

The envoy invited her to enter the bedchamber. Inside, everything was resplendent—silver-framed windows, jade steps, gauzy silk curtains, ornate mirrors, and incense burners.

On the table, a collection of fine jewelry and luxurious garments was arranged in a dazzling display, showcasing the Jin Palace’s warm welcome.

The envoy said, “The Jin Palace is vast, with many scenic areas. Tomorrow, I shall escort the princess on a tour. For today, please settle in first.”

Just before departing, the envoy suddenly remembered something and added, “Later this evening, the palace will hold a banquet to welcome the princess. Please do not forget to attend.”

Wei Zhen acknowledged the message.

Once the envoy had left and there were no outsiders in the hall, Wei Zhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She lifted the sheer veil over her face and walked into the inner hall, slowly taking in her surroundings.

A tall mirror was placed atop the dressing table. Wei Zhen stepped forward, gazing at her reflection. Her hand unconsciously covered the injured right side of her face.

Since this was a welcoming banquet, she had no choice but to attend. Appearing before others with such an appearance, she would undoubtedly be met with many questions.

“Are you worried about the banquet later?” A young man’s voice sounded from outside the curtain.

Wei Zhen turned her head and saw Qi Yan lifting the curtain as he stepped inside.

The grand hall doors were wide open behind him, with Wei Ling and the others standing outside.

Wei Zhen’s heart pounded rapidly. Now that she had entered the palace, she could no longer meet with him as freely as before.

Qi Yan seemed to perceive her thoughts and said, “I am responsible for escorting you into Jin. For the next few days, I will still be your guard, stationed outside your courtyard alongside Wei Ling.”

The young man leaned lazily against the curtain pillar, gazing at her with a relaxed air. After a pause, he said, “Come closer.”

Not knowing what he intended, Wei Zhen stepped forward and tilted her head up to ask, “What is it?”

Qi Yan straightened up. At some point, he had taken a string of luminous beads into his hand. Before she could clearly see what it was, he had already lowered his face slightly and placed it over her original veil.

It was a beaded veil made of pearls and jade.

His fingertips brushed against her ear, cool to the touch. He adjusted the veil for her, while Wei Zhen raised her eyes to meet his, their faces barely an inch apart. She could feel the delicate and icy sensation of the beaded veil resting on her skin.

She could also feel the warmth of his breath on her forehead as he spoke in a low voice, “Your eyes are naturally beautiful. As long as you draw attention to them, no one will pay mind to what lies beneath the veil.”

The young man’s handsome and refined gaze lowered, landing upon her face.

Their eyes met, and a strange warmth rose in Wei Zhen’s cheeks as she softly replied, “Alright.”

She lifted a hand to touch the beaded veil and turned to the bronze mirror beside her. The veil shimmered with a gentle glow, accentuating the brilliance and expressiveness of her eyes.

Wei Zhen said, “I’m still a little worried. Earlier in the carriage, when the wind lifted my veil, quite a few people caught a glimpse of my right cheek…”

She turned to him and asked, “Will the young general accompany me to the banquet tonight?”

He had been by her side all this time. Without him there, she could not feel at ease.

Qi Yan raised a brow and looked at her. Wei Zhen, under his gaze, turned her face slightly away, but their eyes met once more in the mirror.

The shadows of the trees outside swayed against his form. After a long pause, he smiled and said, “Of course.”

As dusk fell, Wei Zhen bathed and dressed before heading toward the banquet hall.

Walking along the corridor, she looked toward the palace hall at the end of the path and asked the envoy, “Is that the banquet hall ahead?”

“Yes, today is a small banquet. Jin King is not present, and those attending are all royal descendants and princesses. In addition, there are noble sons and daughters who study in the palace. The princess will be living alongside them in the future, so it is good to become acquainted in advance.”

Inside the banquet hall, the guests had already arrived. Seated in their respective places, they engaged in conversation.

“The princes and princesses went earlier to welcome the marriage alliance princess. What does this princess from the State of Chu look like?”

“She is not as stunning as the rumors claim. Only her eyes are somewhat striking, and her figure is graceful, but the rest of her face is truly unpleasant to behold. One side of her skin is cracked like a dried riverbed—her appearance is unsightly.”

“With such a visage, how can you call her merely unsightly? She is utterly hideous!”

Ji Ying sat on the right side, not partaking in the conversation. She overheard someone beside her asking, “Ah Ying, is Seventh Brother coming to the banquet today?”

The Seventh Brother he spoke of was none other than Ji Ying’s full-blooded older brother, the Seventh Prince, Ji Yuan.

Ji Ying lazily glanced at her painted nails and replied, “Grandfather kept Seventh Brother back to discuss political affairs. He has no time to attend some banquet.”

The State of Jin was powerful, and all the nations under heaven submitted to it. Every state wished to send their daughters to Jiangdu. The royal palace of Jin housed more than one marriage alliance princess, such as the princesses of Qi and Zheng, as well as daughters sent by various regional rulers.

However, in terms of national strength, the State of Chu was indeed the most formidable among the remaining states.

That was why the palace treated the Chu princess with particular favor.

“Ah Ying, you were the closest to the Chu princess earlier. What does she truly look like?”

Ji Ying was getting impatient with the questioning. “Barely passable. She is not as grotesque as they are saying.”

Among the granddaughters of Jin King who had survived into adulthood, Ji Ying was one of the most favored. This had fostered in her a proud and aloof temperament.

If it weren’t for the fact that the young lord of the Qi family was also attending, Ji Ying would have been too lazy to bother with such a gathering.

Just as they were speaking, an announcement rang from outside the hall—The Crown Prince of Chu and the Princess of Chu had arrived.

The conversations within the hall ceased as everyone turned to look at the entrance.

The soft, radiant glow of the evening sun shone upon the scattered shadows of flowers and upon the trailing hem of the approaching lady’s gown.

The moment she entered, she captured the attention of all present.

She wore a veil of pearls and jade, and her eyes, born naturally bright and clear, shone all the more brilliantly against the embellishments of the gems. Rather than being overshadowed, her eyes made the precious stones seem like mere accessories.

Amidst the dazzling radiance, a flowing brilliance gleamed.

In that moment, everyone forgot the fact that her face was still veiled.

Not to mention that the three young men accompanying her, both in front and behind, were all striking in appearance. Among them, the most handsome of all was as elegant as an orchid, as distinguished as a jade tree, his entire bearing exuding nobility.

In this hall filled with the royal descendants of Jin, not one could compare to him.

The four of them took their seats at the guest section on the left, with the Crown Prince of Chu at the forefront, and Wei Zhen seated second.

Qi Yan sat on her right. As for Wei Ling, he insisted on sitting behind Wei Zhen.

“The Crown Prince and the Princess have traveled from afar. We have failed to properly welcome you. This cup of wine, I shall drink on behalf of all the royal descendants present.”

Wei Zhen had looked through portrait albums of the royal descendants of Jin before. Now, as she gazed at the man before her, she immediately recognized him from the paintings.

The young man who had proposed the toast was named Ji Si, the eldest among the unmarried grandsons of Jin King. Due to his seniority, he had many supporters within the court. By the order of succession, he was a strong candidate for the position of heir apparent.

Ji Si smoothed his robes and sat down, then suddenly asked, “May I ask why the princess wears a veil to conceal her face?”

Wei Zhen answered truthfully, “On my journey to the capital, I contracted a severe rash. I am currently applying medicine to my cheeks, so I cannot reveal my face for the time being.”

“A severe rash?”

The people in the hall had heard some rumors. “Can this illness be cured? I have heard that those afflicted with this disease, even if they recover, will forever bear scars upon their faces, and their appearance will never return to what it once was.”

Wei Zhen smiled. “The physicians are doing their best to treat me.”

Until everything was settled, Wei Zhen dared not make any guarantees.

However, the moment her words fell, the atmosphere within the hall became somewhat peculiar.

“Doing their best to treat it”—that meant there was a possibility it could not be healed…

The gazes of the crowd grew complex.

Before long, the banquet began. Palace maids entered the hall, serving dishes to the nobles.

Among them, some royal descendants still had not moved their gaze away from Wei Zhen. Taking advantage of the time when the maids were serving food, they openly scrutinized her. However, the moment they felt a scorching gaze fixed upon them, they looked up and found that it was the lavishly dressed young man standing behind the Chu princess.

His deep, dark eyes were as sharp as knives, seemingly capable of piercing through one’s skin and flesh.

The royal descendant shuddered, immediately withdrawing his gaze. Soon after, he learned from a servant that the youth was none other than the Chu princess’s younger brother.

Everyone present was of noble birth. Banquets like this were never really about dining but rather about socializing. After a few rounds of drinks, someone suggested playing pitch-pot for entertainment.

The very royal descendant who had been observing Wei Zhen earlier was just about to step forward when Wei Ling immediately walked out.

The royal descendant recalled Wei Ling’s gaze from a moment ago and intended to avoid him by returning to his seat. However, before he could retreat, the surrounding nobles had already cheered him on, pushing him forward.

A maid presented them with arrows. After several rounds, the winner was decided—Wei Ling had hit nearly every shot.

The scene was so thrilling that the young men watching became excited, shouting with enthusiasm.

Wei Ling was the ruler of a fiefdom and had fought in battles. His arm strength and archery skills were formidable. Back home, he often played this game with Wei Zhen, so defeating this group of noble youths was no challenge for him.

Ji Si then left his seat and stepped forward, challenging Wei Ling to a match.

After six rounds, Wei Ling still maintained the upper hand.

Ji Si’s remaining arrows barely grazed the mouth of the pot, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

Ji Si said nothing, instead summoning a few other royal descendants to join in for the game.

Yet, these royal descendants subtly sensed his displeasure. Ji Si was arrogant and difficult to appease. Due to his seniority and noble status, he had always been overbearing.

In past banquets, everyone fawned over him. Never had anyone dared to embarrass him.

But today, an oblivious, reckless youth had appeared…

While the royal descendants were well aware of Ji Si’s temper, the people from Chu were not.

Ji Si swirled the wine in his cup, lifted his head, and smiled. “From the beginning of this banquet until now, the princess has not once touched her wine cup. Could it be that Jin’s cuisine does not suit your taste?”

Wei Zhen shook her head. “Compared to the food in Chu, Jin’s dishes have a richer flavor, yet they are just as delicious. The reason I haven’t touched my wine is simply that I am not good at drinking and cannot hold my liquor well. That is why I have had so little. My thanks to the Jin palace for today’s hospitality.”

Her voice was soft and carried a polite elegance.

Ji Si shook his head. “No, no, one must train to build up their tolerance. If the princess continues to avoid alcohol, how will you ever improve your drinking capacity?”

He glanced at the others behind him and laughed. “The princess has entered Jin Palace yet does not know our customs. Jin people love strong wine, and we use it to welcome our guests. Since the princess has come here, shouldn’t she follow local traditions?”

As soon as he spoke, the others chimed in agreement.

Ji Si’s younger sister, Ji Ying, also poured herself a cup of wine and smiled. “Yes, Princess, since you’ve come to Jin and are to marry one of my brothers, there will be many occasions in the future where you’ll need to socialize and drink. How can you have such a weak tolerance for alcohol?”

Wei Zhen had thoroughly studied Jin’s customs, but the one thing she could not accept was its drinking culture.

First, her alcohol tolerance was naturally low. Even a small amount made her lightheaded and muddled. Second, Jin’s wine was particularly strong—far beyond what she could handle.

On the way to Jin for the marriage alliance, the envoys had urged her to practice drinking, but she had always managed to avoid it. She hadn’t expected that on her very first day in Jin, this neglected matter would catch up with her.

Ji Si stood up, his tall frame casting a shadow over most of the lantern light.

“As the eldest royal grandson, I shall be the first to toast the princess and welcome her to Jin on behalf of the royal family.”

“Ah Jie…” Wei Ling leaned in, whispering softly, trying to stop her.

Wei Zhen held the wine cup, understanding that she had just arrived, and with Ji Si making the toast in the name of the royal family, there was no way she could refuse.

She slowly stood up and smiled. “I appreciate Second Highness’s warm hospitality.”

Turning slightly to present only the left side of her face, she lifted a corner of her veil and brought the wine cup to her lips.

The moment the wine entered her throat, she felt a burning heat. She forcibly swallowed it down into her stomach. Fortunately, there wasn’t much wine in the cup, so she managed to finish it in one go.

Ji Si looked at her meaningfully. “Drinking through a veil is quite a hassle. Why not remove this burden and show your true face? It would also be a sign of respect toward us.”

Wei Zhen touched her right cheek. “The physician told me that this rash is difficult to cure, and the medication requires my face to be kept from sunlight. That is why I cannot remove the veil.”

Ji Si gestured toward the outside. “But the sun has already set, and there is no sunlight coming in. Why must the princess insist on wearing it? Why not take it off?”

Curious about Wei Zhen’s appearance, the nobles all fixed their eyes on her.

Wei Zhen lowered her gaze, smiling gently, her voice soft. “I must apologize, Second Highness. It is not that I am unwilling to show my true face.”

Ji Si had just been refused twice by a Chu person. He tapped his fingers on the table. “Fine, then allow me to offer you another drink.”

A palace maid poured another cup for Wei Zhen. She picked up the cup, and after drinking it, she felt her stomach burn.

Ji Si turned to the others. “The princess must not play favorites. She has accepted my toast, but there are still many brothers here, aren’t there?”

Ji Ying raised her cup. “Then let me toast the princess as well.”

Wei Zhen was about to drink when a voice sounded beside her.

“If you cannot drink, then don’t force yourself.”

Wei Zhen looked at the young woman across from her, remembering that she had welcomed her during the day. She lifted the cup to her lips again and took a small sip.

After this cup, she had decided to refuse any more.

However, Ji Si had already begun calling on the other royal descendants to toast her one by one.

Wei Ling, unable to bear it any longer, moved to stand up but was forcefully restrained. His arm was pressed heavily onto the table.

Jing Heng gripped his wrist, his gaze dark. “This is Jin Palace. Do you want to offend the royal family for your sister? If you act recklessly now, after you leave, it will be your sister who suffers the consequences.”

Wei Ling froze.

Jing Heng continued, “Jin people are bold and unrestrained. This is simply their way of treating guests.”

Just then, someone beside Wei Zhen spoke up.

“Second Highness, the princess has a weak tolerance for alcohol and truly cannot drink any more. Since everyone has enjoyed themselves, why not continue another day?”

The nobles turned toward the speaker. The young man sat casually, holding a wine cup between his slender fingers. His long brows were illuminated by the candlelight.

“Second Highness, I will drink in her place. Is that acceptable?”

Ji Si’s face darkened. “This wine is for the princess. What status do you have to drink on her behalf?”

Someone beside him reminded, “Your Highness, this is Prince Ji Qin’s son, Chu’s young general, Qi Yan.”

Ji Si abruptly stood, unsteady, nearly knocking over the table.

Seeing his flushed face, Ji Ying quickly signaled the servants. “Enough, enough, stop drinking. Hurry and restrain Second Highness—last time, too…”

But Ji Si shoved Ji Ying aside and strode toward Wei Zhen. “Princess, I won’t ask for much. Just three more cups, and we’ll end the banquet. How about it?”

Wei Zhen lifted her head and met Ji Si’s eyes.

Ji Si smiled. “Princess, I wouldn’t be so lenient with anyone else. I’m already showing you great kindness.”

The hall fell into silence.

“She said she can’t drink. Does Your Highness not understand?”

A voice interrupted from the side. A young man stood up, facing him directly.

The candlelight flickered, casting his shadow onto the wall—a figure as deep and towering as a mountain, noble and upright in stature.

Under the dim glow of the fire, Qi Yan’s features were strikingly beautiful—almost excessively so. “Or is this what Jin calls its way of treating guests?”

His long, slender eyes, touched by the warm candlelight, carried a gaze as sharp as a blade, slicing inch by inch.

Ji Si let out a cold laugh. “A lowly subject from the barbaric lands of Chu, ignorant of Jin’s etiquette, dares to speak such words on Jin’s soil?”

He turned to Wei Zhen, enunciating each word clearly. “Since the princess has entered Jin through marriage, she will henceforth be one of our own. How can she refuse to abide by the rules of the royal court? Is that not so?”

Ji Si stepped forward to Wei Zhen’s table, picked up her wine cup, and brought it toward her, attempting to force her to drink.

Wei Zhen, held by the wrist, struggled to break free. “Second Highness!”

Suddenly, a powerful force grabbed Ji Si’s hand, and in an instant, he was flung, along with the nearby table, sending dishes and wine cups crashing to the floor in utter ruin.

The entire scene unfolded in the blink of an eye, stunning everyone into silence.

On one side stood a senior, esteemed royal grandson of Jin, a figure representing the authority of the royal family. On the other was a general from Chu. And yet, at this banquet marking the formal handover of a princess for marriage, tensions had escalated to the point of open conflict.

Ji Si lay sprawled on the ground, his body convulsing slightly. Feeling the countless gazes fixed on him from all directions, his face turned ashen. Just as he attempted to rise, a boot abruptly pressed down on his right shoulder.

The force behind it was immense, like a blade slowly carving into his bones and flesh.

A sharp pain shot through Ji Si, his eyes bulging, red veins webbing across them. As he traced the figure from the fitted hem of his garments, up the length of his straight and rigid legs, he finally met a pair of cold, indifferent eyes.

The young noble stood above him, looking down as if admiring a pathetic, struggling prey.

Around them, the candlelight flickered. The more timid palace attendants had already collapsed to their knees, too terrified to utter a word.

The young man leaned down slightly. His stunningly delicate eyes carried an eerie, bone-chilling danger.

The evening breeze drifted in, rustling his loose strands of hair as he moved closer to Ji Si’s ear, his thin lips parting slightly—

“Try touching our princess again and see what happens.”

Ji Si’s bloodshot eyes flicked toward Wei Zhen. But before he could react, Qi Yan’s voice, laced with a faint smile, rang out once more—

“Let’s see if I don’t just cut off half your hand right now.”

T/N- AHHHHHHAHHAHHAHHHAH YES SIR🫣