Unyielding Spring Mountains - Chapter 84: Reunion

Chapter 84: Reunion

These earth-shattering words struck like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

At the eve of his death, the King of Jin unexpectedly entrusted the affairs of the nation to his foreign-born grandson, going even further to instruct him that, should the new monarch prove lacking in virtue, he could usurp the throne. The depth of trust and the weight of reliance contained in such a charge could not be overstated.

It must be understood: for an outsider to inherit the throne—such an act, in the eyes of the world, was nothing short of national chaos!

Qi Yan^1 raised his head, his gaze deep and unreadable. “Did His Majesty truly issue such an edict?”

“At the very end, His Majesty repeated his instructions countless times, especially that this letter must reach you personally. He also said that from now on, troubles will be many, and Your Highness must face them on your own.”

Zuo Ying^2 placed a hand on Qi Yan’s shoulder. “Your Highness, please receive the decree.”

Qi Yan slowly raised the bamboo slip to his eyes, gazing upon the inscribed characters. His long, articulated fingers tightened gradually around the edge of the scroll.

All present held their breath as they watched the man kneeling at the threshold. In this suffocating atmosphere, a storm was brewing beneath the surface. Qi Yan tucked the bamboo scroll away, raised his head, his blade-like brows and bright eyes as sharp as an unsheathed sword—one that, if drawn, would kill with a single strike.

Any former hint of youth and tenderness had been thoroughly erased, replaced with restraint and steadiness.

His expression was calm, composed, unshaken by circumstance.

With a metallic clang, the corner of the bamboo slip pierced his palm and fresh blood dripped down.

Qi Yan spoke with unwavering depth, “Your servant shall certainly live up to the late king’s command!”

Zuo Ying reached out to help him rise and Qi Yan asked, “Where is Ji Wo?”

“Ninth Highness^3 was ambushed after leaving the palace, relentlessly hunted by palace pursuers, and had to flee south to his fiefdom before escaping danger. He sent a letter, stating that his injuries are not serious and asking that Your Highness not worry.”

Qi Yan’s brows knotted in concern. “And how rests the situation at the front?”

Zuo Ying sighed. “Jin and Qi have already declared a ceasefire, and several proclamations have been issued denouncing both you and the Ninth Highness. As for the capital, the royal house refuses to acknowledge the late king’s edict, claiming that he had already made the Seventh Highness crown prince in secret before deploying the troops. Opinions are divided over the issue of the heir. The Seventh Highness, citing that the nation cannot go a single day without a king, has put forward a candidate for the new monarch.”

“Who is the new king?” Wei Zhen, standing beside them, asked.

Zuo Ying glanced at her. “It is the Fifth Highness.”

The Fifth Highness…

Wei Zhen’s hand tightened at her side. Everything was aligning exactly as it had in her previous life.

She knew very well: Ji Yuan did not refuse the throne by choice—it was entirely due to the weight of public opinion, knowing that in his present circumstances, ascending the throne would naturally draw suspicion and charges of illegitimacy. Putting forward a new king was merely a way to find a puppet to buffer for him, shielding him from all doubts and questions.

Once the situation settled, if he wished to take over, who would dare challenge him?

In her previous life, after the Fifth Highness ascended, he soon abdicated, citing incompetence, and passed the throne to Ji Yuan.

Were it not for this life—when Wei Zhen had seen for herself Ji Yuan’s secret correspondence with rebels—she might, like others, have been completely deceived by him.

Qi Yan said, “As long as Ji Yuan is not eliminated, Jin will be under the grasp of this traitor. I must hasten to the south and assist the Ninth Highness in taking the throne.”

Zuo Ying nodded. “That is also the Ninth Highness’s wish. He urges you to set out as soon as possible, so the two of you may discuss your next move together.”

Zuo Ying turned to Wei Zhen. “Will the Princess be joining us?”

Wei Zhen hesitated for a while, then looked at Qi Yan. “You go south. I wish to go to Wei.”

Qi Yan replied, “To Wei? Zuo Ying has only brought one troop, and the borderlands are unstable. If we are separated, you’ll be left with too few guards—it’s truly dangerous.”

Wei Zhen answered softly, “There’s no need to worry. If I travel with you, you’ll have to slow your pace to look after me, which will only delay you further.”

Qi Yan squeezed her hand, wishing to say a few words, when he realized the others were still present and turned to look toward them.

Zuo Ying bowed. “Then Your Highness, please make ready. We depart tomorrow.”

Naturally, Zuo Ying and his entourage could not crowd into this tiny courtyard and so excused themselves, going to an inn in town for the night.

Qi Yan closed the door, taking Wei Zhen’s hand as they walked back. “Wei is not like Jin. These years, it’s been plagued with internal strife. The King of Wei has no heir, so the throne is far less stable than it seems. Especially since you and Ji Yuan are still formally engaged, I worry about you getting caught up in unnecessary trouble when you return.”

Wei Zhen met his gaze, her voice gentle. “Do you think I can’t handle this alone? Now that Ji Yuan has announced my identity to the world, he will certainly use that as leverage to pressure the Wei state. My father will be under tremendous pressure. As the Wei princess, I must return.”

She paused for a moment. “The situation is urgent, and further delay is impossible. You need to ask the King of Wei for troops as soon as possible, and my return to Wei can also aid you in that.”

Qi Yan said, “It’s not that I doubt your abilities—I’ve always believed you could handle everything. Just that I can’t bear to part, and I worry about you running into trouble.”

Hearing these words from him, Wei Zhen’s heart finally eased. “Don’t worry.”

Qi Yan gathered up her soft hair, running his fingers gently through it, equal parts tender and reluctant. “I’ll go meet up with Ji Wo first. Once things are stable there, I’ll come find you in Wei.”

After returning inside, Wei Zhen took out a bottle of medicine and tended to the wound on Qi Yan’s hand. Qi Yan looked at her and said, “When you ride tomorrow, don’t rush. Take your time—there’s no need to hurry. Take plenty of breaks; don’t exhaust yourself.”

Wei Zhen smiled. “I was just about to remind you not to hurry, but you beat me to it.”

Qi Yan took a deep breath, slightly uneasy. “I don’t know what the King of Wei thinks of me, but I imagine it’s far from favorable. In his eyes, I’m a general from an enemy state who has stolen away the daughter he struggled so hard to find. He must be very dissatisfied. When you arrive in Jin and see the King of Wei, please relay my regards.”

Wei Zhen was amused at his rare display of unease and chuckled softly. “I will be sure to speak well of you before my father.”

Qi Yan had often wondered what it would be like to meet Wei Zhen’s father in the future, but he never expected that her father would turn out to be the King of Wei himself. Naturally, this filled him with trepidation and worry—afraid that his father-in-law would be disappointed with him and unwilling to give his daughter’s hand in marriage.

But that was not the matter pressing on him now.

All that mattered was gathering the troops, stabilizing the situation, and then hurrying to be by her side.

Qi Yan saw her smile reflected in his eyes and took her hand, intimately entwining his fingers with hers.

Within these bare, cramped walls and upon this narrow, humble bed, were carried all the warm memories of their days together.

Perhaps, someday, they would return to the imperial palace in Jin, ascend the jade stairs, and be greeted with the reverence of the masses. Yet the world would never know that, having gone through death and displacement, they once huddled on such a humble bed, comforting and relying on each other.

At the lowest point of their lives, on a spring evening’s twilight, he had found the one he loved, married her, and pledged himself forever.

At dawn the next day, still unable to feel at ease, Qi Yan assigned the bulk of his men to escort Wei Zhen and entrusted Zuo Ying to accompany her as well.

Qi Yan mounted his horse and watched as Wei Zhen, leading her party, gradually rode out of sight.

The blazing sunlight broke through the clouds, its rays tracing up the hem of his robe and slowly reviving the chill in his veins.

He had come here as a general of Jin; now, as he departed, he was already a prince and marquess.

The tens of thousands of troops of Jin still awaited his return in the south!

This world, with its many mighty rulers vying for supremacy, was now but at the dawn of open conflict.

Beneath the dazzling light, riding a white horse with a silver saddle, he rode out alone, dust billowing behind him, the sword at his side cold and sharp as he galloped across the endless green wilderness, soaring like an eagle, returning to the skies!

Qi Yan needed to avoid the border patrols on his journey south, so chose to take back trails through Qi’s^4 territory, traveling along small, little-known roads. His company had to remain invisible—no one could be allowed to discover them.

Before leaving for Wei, Wei Zhen went to the edge of the arena to reclaim the jade pendant from the peddler she’d once pawned it to.

Seeing her arrive with a company of soldiers, the peddler, terrified, collapsed to the ground. Under Wei Zhen’s persistent questioning, he finally admitted that the jade was no longer in his possession—he’d met a trader a few days prior, yielded to greed and sold the jade away. After so many days, the piece had likely long since crossed into Jin.

The accompanying guards, enraged, drew their whips and thrashed the peddler until the ground was covered with blood.

Wei Zhen intervened, commanding her men to escort the peddler to the authorities for proper punishment.

Zuo Ying worried, “Princess, your jade pendant is missing. Will this cause complications when you reunite with the King of Wei?”

Wei Zhen replied, “It’s nothing. The prime minister of Wei has seen me and also the jade. When I arrive, he will vouch for me.”

Still, it was a pity, for that pendant was a gift from her parents, cherished for years.

Not dwelling on it any longer, Wei Zhen cracked her riding whip. “Let’s go!”

They spurred their horses westward. This time, well supplied with food and water and accompanied by a guide, they skirted the desert quickly and made their way west. Several days later, after relentless travel, they stopped to rest at an inn.

Wei Zhen tethered her horse to a tree and took a meal with her guards, but one of them suddenly whispered into Zuo Ying’s ear, and his expression turned grim.

Wei Zhen sensed something amiss. “What is it?”

Zuo Ying sighed deeply and signaled her to come upstairs. Once in a private room, with the door shut, he explained, “At the capital, Ji Yuan has released Jing Heng and sent him back to Chu^5.”

“Jing Heng?” Wei Zhen exclaimed in surprise.

Zuo Ying nodded. “Previously, the lord brought the deposed crown prince of Chu back to Jin. After much counsel, the late king and his courtiers decided not to execute him, but to imprison him for a time, planting the seeds for later disaster. Now, Ji Yuan has released him to Chu—undoubtedly throwing that state back into chaos.”

Wei Zhen froze.

Though Jing Heng lost his struggle for the Chu throne, he still commanded fierce loyalty and considerable influence. If he returned, he would surely reignite the fight for power.

Ji Yuan’s motive was clear: he wished to prevent the King of Chu from allying with Qi Yan, severing one of Qi Yan’s greatest sources of support.

Zuo Ying only now received the news, but Jing Heng must have already been set free for some time.

Because of her rebirth, many things in this life had already deviated from her former one. For example, Qi Yan, having received the king of Jin’s trust and attention much sooner in this life, had become a primary target and source of threat to Ji Yuan, prompting him to strike early.

The situation was so interconnected—a change in one place shook the whole. The course of the entire world now hung in the balance.

Zuo Ying said, “Ji Yuan has allied with Jing Heng, hoping to entice the eastern king of Qi to send troops and to force the western Wei kingdom to declare its position. The situation for the lord is truly dire.”

Wei Zhen’s hand tightened into a fist.

The times were perilous; both sides were vying for allies, each trying to seize the advantage.

Wei Zhen decided instantly. “Zuo Ying, you should leave now.”

She lifted her chin. “With Jing Heng’s return to Chu, the nation will be thrown into turmoil, and he will want revenge on Qi Yan. What happens in the southern Chu is beyond our reach—Qi Yan will find his own ways to deal with it. What we must do is hold back Ji Yuan and prevent his plans from proceeding smoothly.”

They could not let him ally with the King of Qi, nor court the support of Wei.

“Qi Yan once told me that you have a younger sister still in the palace of Qi, beloved by the king…”

At these words, Zuo Ying understood at once.

Wei Zhen walked to the bedside, gazing into the distant green mountains. “Go to the King of Qi^6 and request troops. If Ji Yuan hopes for the king’s aid, then our priority must be to sever that support.”

The state of Qi was famed for its salt and fish—“even killing a fish has its steps^7.” They needed to pacify the King of Qi, remain close to him, let him drop his guard, at the very least persuade him to abstain from interfering in Jin’s civil strife—to watch from the sidelines and reap the benefits as a bystander. Even better, convince him to support Qi Yan.

Once they had used the King of Qi, they could turn on him, bleed him dry, and watch his demise with open eyes.

Zuo Ying gazed at her, recognizing her patience and strategy, each word uttered with chilling clarity. The pearls on her ears swayed like those of a coldly calculating politician.

Zuo Ying said, “It is true that my younger sister is in the Qi palace and greatly favored by the king.”

Wei Zhen asked, “If you were to enter Qi, would she help you?”

“She would,” answered Zuo Ying, almost without hesitation, his gaze turning warm, “She will surely help me. According to our original plan, I intended to wait until the lord took a few more cities before entering Qi to see my sister.”

Wei Zhen said, “Then set out for Qi at once.”

Zuo Ying frowned. “But the lord commanded me to ensure the princess’s safe arrival in Wei.”

Wei Zhen shook her head and smiled, “If you accompany me, we’ll waste too much time. Now that every moment of delay could prove fatal in the future, it would be better for you to leave.”

Zuo Ying’s expression grew all the more serious. He understood well that, faced with two roads, he must choose the correct one.

He bowed and declared, “I will not fail the trust of the lord and the princess!”

Wei Zhen parted from him at the inn, assigning him extra men in consideration of the delicacy of his mission in Qi.

Zuo Ying headed east, Wei Zhen west, and Qi Yan to the south. On the great chessboard of this world, every player must rely on their own abilities and strategies!

After a brief rest, Wei Zhen set out for the west with her few guards. Once at the border of Jin, she would be safe if she crossed into Wei.

“Hyah!”

The group galloped into the forest, dust billowing at their flanks. As they turned onto a key forest track, a squad of soldiers appeared at the far end, blocking the way.

The party reined in their horses. Hooves struck the earth as the animals whinnied and pawed the ground.

The opposing soldiers clearly had been waiting some time. Their leader, dressed in splendid black robes, possessed a presence as deep as an abyss. Atop his head sat a magnificent jade crown shining with gold, mounted on horseback. On hearing the noise, he slowly raised his head.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating a cold, handsome face.

He curved his lips slightly upward and said, “It has been a long time, Princess of Wei.”

A chill crept up Wei Zhen’s back. She gripped her riding whip, about to turn and flee, when mounted troops suddenly emerged from the brush behind, surrounding her entourage on all sides.

Ji Yuan approached, stroking a jade pendant in his hand. Wei Zhen recognized it at once—it was the very pendant she’d once pawned away.

“The princess left Jin palace without leave, breaking the rules, and vanished for days. As your fiancé, I was naturally most anxious, so I have come to the border in person to escort the princess safely home.”

There was a subtle smile beneath his long lashes, as if he had long foreseen this meeting.

Ji Yuan said, “Princess Wei, let us go.”

Footnotes:

1. 1. Qi Yan (祁宴): The main male protagonist, recently entrusted with Jin’s royal authority.

1. 1. Zuo Ying (左盈): A close confidant and military subordinate.

1. 1. Ji Wo (姬沃, Ninth Highness): Qi Yan’s cousin, key royal claimant.

1. 1. Qi (齊): One of the “warring states” in the broader ancient China setting.

1. 1. Jing Heng (景恒): Deposed crown prince of Chu, a neighboring, rival kingdom.

1. 1. King of Qi: The ruler of the state of Qi, important for political-military alliances.

1. 1. “Even killing a fish has its steps”: Chinese idiom meaning that everything must be done according to careful procedure and strategy.