Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 67: The Marriage Proposal

The young man stood two zhang away from her, dressed in a pale blue brocade robe, his wide sleeves fluttering in the wind. Fine snowflakes constantly clung to his robes only to fall away. His eyes were calm, gentle, and warm, exuding elegance with every movement.

After Wei Zhen finished her greeting and rose, she asked, “I wonder why the Prime Minister has come?”

Wei Yu didn’t answer immediately. His distant gaze lingered on her, filled with countless indescribable emotions, as if he were seeing something else through her.

Wei Zhen felt puzzled by his stare but maintained her smile. “Is the Prime Minister here looking for me or for the General? By the way, I must thank the Prime Minister for kindly lending me and the General your cloak last night. I’ll go inside and fetch it for you.”

She had just taken a step when Wei Yu’s voice sounded from behind. “Princess.”

Wei Zhen turned back. “What matter does the Prime Minister wish to address?”

Wei Yu took something from his sleeve, and Wei Zhen immediately recognized it as her jade pendant. Her heart trembled, and her gaze moved from the pendant back to the man before her.

“I came today to return this jade pendant to the Princess.”

Wei Zhen lifted her slender hand, her fingertips touching the pendant. “May I ask, Prime Minister, how did my jade pendant come to be in your possession?”

Wei Yu replied, “It was given to me by Lord Zuo.”

Wei Zhen’s grip on the pendant tightened, fearing Zuo Ying had revealed her true identity.

A faint smile curved on Wei Yu’s lips. “Lord Zuo told me that this pendant belongs to the Princess, found by her while she was in the Chu Kingdom. Upon examining the carvings, he believed it originated from Wei. That is why he came to me. Princess, are you aware of the original owner of this jade pendant?”

Wei Zhen let out a sigh of relief. So, Zuo Ying had used that excuse to explain the pendant.

She understood his intention and replied, “Indeed, I found this pendant. I sensed it was not ordinary, so I asked Lord Zuo to help me trace its origin. Is it truly a jade from Wei? The Prime Minister is knowledgeable—besides that, can you discern anything else about it?”

Wei Yu said, “There was a noble family in Wei that lost an infant girl years ago. The carvings on this jade pendant are identical to the pendant placed in the child’s swaddling cloth.”

Wei Zhen’s heart tightened. The story of her birth matched Wei Yu’s words.

“What is the name of this noble family? How have they been these years? Are the master and his wife still alive?”

Wei Zhen fired off three questions in a row, her eyes fixed on Wei Yu, trying to glean something from his expression.

Having lost her mother at a young age, she had never experienced the warmth and love of parents. Her heart had always felt empty, but now, it seemed she was grasping onto something real.

Wei Yu lowered his head and sighed. Wei Zhen felt a bad premonition.

“The lady of the family has already passed away.”

Wei Zhen’s voice trembled. “She’s gone?”

“Yes, the lady passed away many years ago. After her death, the master never remarried nor took a concubine. Therefore, the infant girl who was lost back then remains his only child.”

Wei Zhen stepped forward. “May I trouble the Prime Minister to tell me more about them?”

After speaking, she feared she appeared overly eager, so she added, “Since I found this pendant, it means I have some sort of fate with that girl. Perhaps I can help her fulfill some filial duty.”

Wei Yu didn’t seem to mind her eagerness at all and showed no sign of putting on airs. “If the Princess is willing to listen, then I shall speak.”

He glanced at a stone bench and table nearby. “Let’s sit and talk.”

Wei Zhen turned her head. “Qi Yan, you should go back first. It’s freezing outside, and I’ll just speak with the Prime Minister for a moment.”

Qi Yan said, “It’s fine. I’ll stay with you.”

He sat down beside Wei Zhen. Wei Yu’s gaze fell upon him, examining him from head to toe.

Qi Yan said, “My lord?”

Wei Yu lightly coughed into his hand, then began speaking slowly. “The master and lady were both from Wei. They met and fell in love during difficult times, a devoted couple, deeply in love.”

Wei Zhen asked, “Then why was their daughter left to wander? Was it because they didn’t want her, or was there some other reason they had to send her away?”

Wei Yu shook his head repeatedly. “How could it be that they didn’t want her? When the master was young, his family was troubled by traitorous schemers plotting to seize their wealth and power. He was barely surviving and feared his daughter would be caught in the strife. So, he entrusted a servant to take her away. It was not abandonment but protection. For all these years, he has been searching for his daughter throughout Wei, day and night. It is by his request that I have also been looking for her all this time. After so many years, it was truly unexpected that I would finally find her here with the Princess.”

Wei Yu’s voice trembled slightly.

“The master’s health is poor, and he has been bedridden for a long time. Now, he only wishes to see his daughter once more. But since the jade pendant was found by the Princess, after all these years, who knows whether the girl is still alive…”

Wei Zhen’s heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes. Beside her, Qi Yan handed her a handkerchief. Wei Zhen took it and wiped the tears from her eyes.

Wei Yu said, “Since the Princess has found the pendant, I would like to ask you to do me a favor. Write a letter to the master so I can deliver it to him and give him some peace of mind.”

Wei Zhen fought back her tears and agreed with a smile. “I will.”

Qi Yan said, “I’ll fetch the brush and ink.”

He limped inside, returning with bamboo slips, a brush, and ink.

Wei Zhen picked up the brush but found her hand trembling. She looked up at the person beside her.

She felt nervous and didn’t know how to write to a father she had never known.

Qi Yan lowered his head and said, “Just write whatever is in your heart. Write it all down.”

His hand gently rested on her shoulder, rubbing it softly. His warmth gradually steadied her anxious heart.

 “Though the letter is short, the feelings are deep; emotions are hard to quell, your child…”

Wei Zhen recalled the character “央” engraved on the jade pendant, and thus referred to herself as “Yangyang.”

“Your child, Yangyang, greets you. As the years pass by and the new year begins, the cold is harsh, and the ice is firm. Ah-Fu, do not forget to keep yourself warm…”

The snow flew through the air as Wei Zhen leaned over the stone table, her fingers reddening from the cold as she wrote. Her vision gradually blurred, and teardrops fell one by one onto the bamboo slips, like tears shed by weeping bamboo. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and continued to write about her experiences, naturally omitting her time as a princess in Jin.

After finishing an entire volume of bamboo slips, she worried her father might become anxious, so she intended to rewrite it.

Wei Yu stopped her, saying, “No need. Everything the Princess wrote is true and sincere. Father will be comforted when he reads it.”

Wei Zhen agreed. Qi Yan went inside and brought out another bundle of bamboo slips. This time, Wei Zhen only chose to write about pleasant things to reassure her father that she was living well.

After writing the final line, Wei Zhen put down her brush and handed the bamboo slips to Qi Yan, asking him to check for any mistakes. The two of them carefully blew on the ink to dry it.

Wei Yu sat opposite them, his gaze complicated and difficult to read.

Qi Yan stacked the bamboo slips and handed them to Wei Yu. “I hope you will take good care of this and ensure it reaches Wei. I would be most grateful.”

Wei Yu accepted it. “Yes.”

As a foreign official, Wei Yu truly couldn’t linger too long in the General’s courtyard in Jin. He stood up to take his leave.

Wei Zhen and Qi Yan walked him to the courtyard gate. Wei Yu turned around, hesitating before finally asking, “If I may be so bold, what is the relationship between the Princess and the General…?”

Wei Zhen replied calmly, “Just as you have seen.”

The young man and woman stood side by side—one dressed in a white cloak, the other in a black fur coat. Both had elegant, picturesque features, like a pair of jade figures on a painting.

Wei Yu nodded, tucking the bamboo slips into his cloak. “Very well. Princess and General, you may stop here.”

After Wei Zhen returned, she held Qi Yan’s hand and said, “The nobleman of Wei that the Wei Minister mentioned must be my father. I always thought I was alone, without parents, drifting like a leaf. But now, I find there is someone in this world who shares blood ties with me.”

Seeing the joy in her eyes, Qi Yan was genuinely happy for her.

“How could you be drifting alone? You have your family, your brother, your mother, and…” Qi Yan chuckled, but his voice paused, unable to say the word “me.”

Wei Zhen continued, “Wei Minister said my father misses me terribly. I also want to meet him.”

Qi Yan said, “There will be a chance.”

She suddenly turned around and hugged him. Caught off guard, Qi Yan took a step back as she embraced him.

Wei Zhen raised her head, her eyes shining with the soft glow of snowlight. She smiled and said, “I know it was you who quietly helped me search for my origins. I mentioned it casually on the way to Jin, but you kept it in your heart. Qi Yan, thank you.”

Wei Zhen stood on tiptoe, clasping his shoulders as she leaned her head against his. The girl’s eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. Qi Yan lowered his gaze and met hers, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he rested his head against her fur collar.

They embraced quietly in the snow, letting the falling flakes strike their bodies.

Wei Zhen lifted her chin and whispered into his ear, “Why didn’t you finish what you were saying earlier? Aside from my brother and mother, you will stay by my side too, won’t you?”

Qi Yan let out a soft laugh and rubbed his cheek against her fur collar.

Wei Yu left the courtyard, and the trusted aide waiting outside the wall immediately followed.

Since parting with Wei Zhen, Wei Yu’s brows had remained tightly furrowed.

When Zuo Ying sought him out, she claimed the jade pendant was found by Wei Zhen, but from the first glance, Wei Yu was certain this person must be the princess.

Earlier, Wei Yu did not fully disclose the princess’s identity. Firstly, he was cautious of General Qi’s presence and others around. Secondly, he lacked sufficient understanding of the princess—he did not know her character, her stance, or her attitude toward Wei. But after interacting with her for a while, he saw that the princess was gentle and sincere, a person who valued emotions and righteousness. Wei Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Having taken the first step of simple negotiation and probing to make the princess lower her guard, it would be easier to proceed with revealing her true identity.

The aide asked, “Since you have confirmed the princess’s identity, but her circumstances are far from ideal, what do you intend to do next? Will you reveal the princess’s identity or keep it a secret for now?”

“How could we reveal it to the King of Jin?” Wei Yu looked back at his aide. “The princess has been lost for years, and our king has longed for her, only wishing to bring her back to Wei and raise her by his side. He does not wish for her to remain in Jin.”

“Moreover…”

Wei Yu felt troubled. “But the princess is already of age and deeply attached to the young general. If her identity is exposed, the King of Jin will surely demand Wei fulfill the marriage agreement, thus forcibly tearing apart a pair of lovers. The princess would undoubtedly be heartbroken, and our king would not bear to see her suffer so greatly.”

“Then what do you think should be done now?”

Wei Yu walked slowly, gazing at the towering palace ahead. “I still don’t know enough about the young general’s character. If he truly proves to be reliable, our king and I will certainly support the princess in staying with him.”

Having made his decision, Wei Yu said, “I will stay in Jin for a while longer. I cannot return to Wei yet. I will write a letter to discuss this matter with our king. Later, you will deliver it to Wei along with the princess’s letter and hand them over to our king.”

The aide replied, “Understood.”

By evening, the sky was bathed in sunset hues. The soldiers escorting the letters set off from Jin’s capital. The escort team consisted of five highly skilled warriors traveling along the official road.

By nightfall, the five men stopped at an inn to rest.

The dim light and faint glow of lamps intertwined, casting heavy shadows over a tall figure standing by a second-floor window.

The young man dressed in luxurious robes held a teacup, the rising steam swirling as he lowered his gaze to observe the fine steeds tied beside the stable below.

At midnight, the sound of the door being pushed open echoed behind him. Someone entered and saluted the man. “Your Highness, the five men have ingested the sleeping agent and will not wake for a while. I have found the letters they were to send to Wei.”

Ji Yuan took a sip of tea and raised his hand to close the window. The silver snake ring on his thumb gleamed brightly under the moonlight.

The advisor had already spread out the bamboo slips. Ji Yuan sat down. “Wei Xiang was uneasy and didn’t just send one escort; he specifically arranged a team. With Wei and Jin being on friendly terms, no one would dare to attack Wei’s men within Jin’s territory.”

“But the key factor here was that Ji Yuan had long suspected something unusual and had someone secretly monitor Wei Xiang.”

The Jin palace was never short of informants. Wei Xiang’s morning visit to Wei Zhen and his subsequent attempt to send letters were all reported to Ji Yuan.

There was only one inn in the desolate wilderness within dozens of miles, and Ji Yuan accurately predicted that this team would stop here for the night. He had his men prepare the sleeping agent and act tonight.

The moonlight could not brighten his face. Ji Yuan’s thumb gently tugged at the string binding the bamboo slips, and their contents were fully revealed before him.

Scanning through the message quickly, his ringed finger lightly tapped the table’s surface, a smile curling at his lips.

Nearby, the flickering candlelight illuminated his shadowed eyes, causing his eyebrows to lift slightly. “She is the princess of Wei, huh…”

The advisor’s heart trembled. “The princess of Wei?”

Ji Yuan raised his hand, passing the bamboo slips to the advisor while leaning back against his chair.

After reading the slips, the advisor’s mind was in turmoil. “So, the reason Wei Xiang went through so much trouble to search for the jade pendant was because the princess was lost outside. Wei intended to deceive Jin by having an imposter replace Wei Zhen.”

The advisor knelt down and placed the bamboo slips on the table. “Your Highness, this matter… the princess and the young general…”

The problem was that the Princess of Wei was Wei Zhen, and her relationship with Qi Yan was known throughout the Jin palace.

The advisor dared not look at Ji Yuan’s expression. “What does Your Highness plan to do?”

The sound of water pouring from the kettle echoed softly. Ji Yuan poured himself another cup of tea, appearing calm and unhurried. He looked at the other bundle of bamboo slips, as if he had found something interesting, his fingertips pressing down on the slips.

He murmured, “I am betrothed to the Princess of Wei by the agreement made before our births. What should I do? Naturally, I will fulfill the marriage contract.”

Snow fell silently outside the window. A gust of wind stirred, making the candle flames sway. Ji Yuan’s fingers glided over the bamboo slips as he whispered, “Her courtesy name is Yangyang?”

TL Note- AGGHHHHH I HAD A GUT FEELING THAT THIS BITCH JI YUAN GONNA BE A BITCH