“But…”

“Don’t worry,” Qing Xia interrupted Qin Zhiyan, saying, “Your northern frontier army won’t go hungry. Qin Zhiying has already sent grain to the northern frontier long ago. Your northern frontier people are probably eating better than you right now.”

The three of them looked at each other and smiled. At that moment, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. The three looked up to see Li Xian running in, bowing to Qin Zhiyan and saying, “Your Highness, Sister Qing, Grand Tutor Zhong has arrived and is currently waiting in the front hall.”

Qing Xia was delighted to hear this. Since arriving in Xianyang, she hadn’t seen Uncle Zhong, having heard he went out to search for famous physicians and ancient remedies for Qin Zhiyan. She wondered what results he had achieved.

The group made their way to the front hall, where Grand Tutor Zhong wore a blue cloth robe that made him appear upright and scholarly. His beard and hair were graying, emanating the dignified air of an elder.

Seeing Qin Zhiyan and Qing Xia walking side by side, his eyes crinkled deeply as he smiled kindly and said, “Your Highness, this old minister has returned.”

Qin Zhiyan stepped forward to support Grand Tutor Zhong, smiling as he said, “Grand Tutor, you must be weary from the journey. Tonight you’ll dine simply at the mansion and taste Yima’er’s cooking—consider it a welcoming feast.”

Qing Xia smiled and stepped forward to take Grand Tutor Zhong’s sleeve, saying with a laugh, “Uncle Zhong, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I haven’t had the chance to thank you in person yet.”

Grand Tutor Zhong smiled slightly and said, “Child, I heard news of you throughout my journey. I truly didn’t misjudge you.”

“Uncle Zhong, regarding your search for descendants of Shangqiu, have you found any leads?” Qing Xia asked urgently.

Grand Tutor Zhong nodded, “There are some leads, but that’s not the most pressing matter right now. I have important business to discuss with you both.”

“What important business?” Qing Xia’s brow immediately furrowed slightly. What matter could be more important than news of Shangqiu’s descendants?

Grand Tutor Zhong slowly frowned and said gravely, “This evening, envoys from the three nations will arrive in Xianyang simultaneously. I believe the inner palace attendants bringing this news will soon reach Prince Xuan’s mansion. With the Crown Prince and Second Prince creating discord through their internal strife, Your Highness will inevitably need to personally welcome them.”

What was bound to come had finally arrived. Qing Xia’s heart sank. Seeing her pale complexion, Qin Zhiyan extended his hand from his wide sleeves to grasp her delicate white hand, asking Grand Tutor Zhong gravely, “Who are these people coming from each nation? Does Grand Tutor know?”

“They’re still old acquaintances,” Grand Tutor Zhong said with a bitter smile. “From Xichuan comes Yan Hui, from Eastern Qi comes Crown Prince An, and as for Southern Chu, the Chu Emperor himself has come.”

Although she had known this would be the case, Qing Xia couldn’t help but tremble slightly in her heart. It seemed that merely hearing that name was enough to disturb her peace of mind.

“This still isn’t the worst part,” Grand Tutor Zhong said gravely. “Accompanying the Chu Emperor this time is also his sister, Princess Jiayun. His Majesty has already decided to implement the equal wives ceremony. After the birthday celebration, Your Highness will have a grand wedding.”

Despite being mentally prepared, upon hearing this news, Qing Xia still couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Qin Zhiyan turned to her, holding her hand and smiling reassuringly, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

Qing Xia forced a smile and nodded, “I’m not worried. You’ll always find a way.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled and turned to ask, “The Chu Emperor, as ruler of a nation—after he leaves Chu, who will be in charge of Southern Chu?”

Grand Tutor Zhong replied, “Officially, the three Grand Secretaries Chang Lisheng, Yu Bozhong, and Min Fang are in charge, but reportedly the person the Chu Emperor trusts most now is a Imperial Guard Commander named Bai Mingyuan, a confidant he acquired when he was a hostage in Eastern Qi. According to our spies, this Commander Bai is actually the one running Southern Chu’s affairs.”

Qing Xia thought for a moment and asked gravely, “What about the inner palace?”

“After the Zhu family’s downfall, Zhu Danchen lost power in Southern Chu’s inner palace. Now Shangguan Roulan, daughter of former Grand Secretary Shangguan Jing, manages the palace phoenix seal and already has the bearing of an empress.”

Qing Xia nodded. She remembered that woman she had met only twice, recalling when she had just returned here, when the Shangguan family had just fallen, and Shangguan Roulan had grasped her hand saying: “We are kneeling now, but someday we will stand up.”

Thinking back on these events now, they all seemed like they had happened in a previous life, yet it had only been two or three years. But why did she feel like so much time had already passed?

She forced herself to concentrate as Grand Tutor Zhong analyzed the situations of the four nations, but gradually she could no longer hear what he was saying. She could only see his mouth opening and closing, like a fish silently blowing bubbles in the deep sea. Chaotic thoughts and feelings that could never be put into words clamored and swirled in her mind. That face she had to desperately suppress herself from thinking about every night appeared hazily before her eyes again. Black and white images came flooding in, gradually condensing into a dark, spinning vortex that swept away her consciousness.

“Yima’er,” Qin Zhiyan bent down, calling softly, “Yima’er?”

Qing Xia started and immediately came back to herself. Qin Zhiyan said nothing, only saying gently, “Grand Tutor is leaving.”

Qing Xia quickly stood up, saying, “I’ll see Grand Tutor off. You can’t be exposed to wind, don’t go outside.”

Qin Zhiyan didn’t insist, smiling as he stood in the great hall. The setting sun streamed through the window, stretching his shadow very long. In his blue robes with his handsome face, he gradually became fixed as an ethereal shadow, smiling faintly as he watched Qing Xia and saw them off.

The gates of Prince Xuan’s mansion slowly opened. Grand Tutor Zhong bowed to Qing Xia, saying, “Child, I’m leaving now. Don’t see me off.”

“Uncle Zhong, I…”

“No need to say anything,” Grand Tutor Zhong smiled kindly, patting Qing Xia’s shoulder. “When His Highness was still in his mother’s womb, someone poisoned and harmed him. Consort Yao gave premature birth in the seventh month, so His Highness was born with deficiencies and a weak constitution. At age five, he suffered terribly in the imperial mausoleum, and after returning, he didn’t properly recuperate for ten years. Then came ten years of military service in harsh frontier winds. His life has actually been more bitter than anyone else’s, and he’s endured more suffering than others. Only after meeting you did I see the smile that should belong to a young man on his face. You’re a clever child and should know what to do. His Highness is magnanimous and would never frown at you, but don’t think that because he doesn’t speak up, you don’t need to care. Hesitation when decisive action is needed only brings chaos. No matter what feelings you and that person may have had, no matter how much he gave you, you must understand that in this life you can only choose one person. Wavering and hesitating will ultimately harm both yourself and others.”

Qing Xia’s face immediately turned pale. She bit her lower lip and nodded, saying bitterly, “Uncle Zhong, I understand everything.”

“You understand, but you cannot do it,” Grand Tutor Zhong shook his head with a bitter smile. “When one is caught in the situation, one inevitably becomes confused and hesitant. But ultimately you can only walk one path. Since you’ve chosen, don’t look back and waver. Child, I know this is cruel to you, but you truly must recognize your own heart clearly. In the future, many more difficulties will lie before you. You need a sufficiently hardened heart to face them calmly.”

“I know,” Qing Xia raised her head, her eyes firm as she said, “No matter what happens, no matter how the world changes, no matter what situations I must face, I will not waver in the slightest. Uncle Zhong, rest assured, I will stay by Zhiyan’s side and never leave.”

Grand Tutor Zhong’s smile was bitter, his aged face full of deep laugh lines. He patted Qing Xia’s shoulder, saying, “After Great Qin’s internal strife will come the struggle of four nations. Child, you will live very hard, your heart will be very bitter, but you must still persist. As long as you endure, everything will be fine.”

Grand Tutor Zhong seemed even more aged, his back hunched as he slowly boarded his carriage. Qing Xia stood before the mansion gates, watching Grand Tutor Zhong’s departing figure, feeling vast desolation rising from the depths of her heart. Grand Tutor Zhong’s words echoed in her ears like a despairing nightmare: after Great Qin’s internal strife would come the struggle of four nations. The struggle of four nations, the struggle of four nations—there would inevitably come a day when Qin Zhiyan and Chu Li would draw swords against each other on the battlefield, fighting to the death. In that moment, what path should she take?

She could stay by Qin Zhiyan’s side, could use all her heart and strength to love him, care for him, accompany him. She could forget that person, could pour her entire heart into this land of Great Qin without a trace of shadow. But if there truly came such a day, truly such a life-or-death day, how could she swing down that blood-stained sharp sword?

She stood for a long time before the gate, watching the carriage disappear in a cloud of dust. The cold wind blew through her hair and across her pale cheeks. She lifted her head slightly, looking at the lofty sky, and gently closed her eyes. She could not choose, perhaps would never be able to give herself a clear answer. Two enormous forces clamored and tore at each other in her heart, gradually tearing her in half. If only she could have laid everything bare to Chu Li the moment she arrived at the Chu palace—perhaps he truly would have believed, perhaps there wouldn’t be such entanglements and complications now, so many misunderstandings and missed connections. Perhaps what she would see the moment she opened her eyes would be Qin Zhiyan’s warm eyes, with no Southern Chu, no strife, and thus no such painful choices.

Unfortunately, there are no “ifs” in this world’s affairs. She could never make everything start over again. The corners of her mouth curved in a slight bitter smile. What spell had this world fallen under? She could choose to completely forget one person and love another, but she could not personally kill someone. Heaven seemed always to be forcing her, forcing her to make a choice. Even if she fled to the ends of the earth, fate would still bind them together, forcing her to make that bloody decision.

If there truly came such a day, if there truly came such a day…

The sky gradually darkened, with slanting sunset rays and a fire-red setting sun. The footsteps of the four nations gradually approached. Flocks of birds flew together, the evening glow like fire. The setting sun stretched her shadow very long, carrying an undeniable trace of desolation and vicissitudes.