So they had finally reached this step. The dust had settled, all was finished—they had finally reached the end between them. Ahead, there was no longer any path.
“You arrogant and overbearing shrew, how dare you defy me?”
“You have hope of escaping, so don’t continue living half-dead like this. If I see you drinking cold water again, you’re finished.”
“What spell of his have you fallen under that’s worth risking life and death for him like this?”
“Qing Xia, the world is so vast. If you have nowhere else to go, then stay here.”
“Qing Xia, I’ve been drugged by Wusi Mei’er…”
“Do you know? I truly wish I could strangle that cowardly version of myself with my own hands!”
…
The long wind swept back across the sky, stars and moon had no light, palace lanterns flickered on and off. Chu Li pulled over a pure black war horse—precisely that one that had gone through life and death with him so many times. Qing Xia was slightly startled. Chu Li took the horse’s reins for her, supported her arm, and said in a deep voice: “Mount up.”
Great Qin originated from nomadic peoples, so regardless of gender, all were skilled horsemen. It was precisely for this reason that in Northern Qin, both men and women were all soldiers. When a bride married, she would not ride in a sedan chair but would ride a horse, escorted by the wedding officiant and natal family to her husband’s home. Qing Xia hesitated no more. She placed her hand on Chu Li’s shoulder, lightly leaped, and mounted the horse’s back. In her black robes astride the pure black war horse, she appeared even more heroic and dashing.
Chu Li rode another war horse. He turned back to exchange a few pleasantries with the King of Qin and others, then took hold of Qing Xia’s horse’s reins and slowly walked toward the eastern Zijin Plaza.
A large group of musicians followed behind them, playing grandly in a flourishing age. Countless dancing girls danced brilliantly behind them. Qing Xia sat on her horse with Chu Li in front, his upright back like a stubborn long spear. He held his own horse’s reins in one hand and stretched the other back, leading Qing Xia’s reins, slowly but step by step walking toward Zijin Gate.
Lights flickered all around, music rang high. Both in black robes that fluttered like hunting banners, their dark hair flying, they seemed to merge with this dark night. The palace walls on both sides were dark red and towering, yet so oppressive and depressing.
Finally, they reached the plaza. The massive ceremonial procession was there by the city gate. Beyond that vermillion ornate palace gate was Qin Zhiyan’s Prince Xuan mansion wedding party. The man in the front row wore a pitch-black brocade robe, his brows like sharp swords, eyes like bright stars. His robes fluttered and flew as he stood upright at the very front of the formation. Hearing sounds from this direction, he suddenly raised his head to look toward Qing Xia. Though separated by such distance and so many people, he still spotted Qing Xia’s figure at once, his eyes immediately becoming like stars in the sky, filled with brilliant, bright radiance.
The entire world instantly quieted, as if even the wind had stopped. Though it had only been a day apart, to Qing Xia it seemed like a lifetime had passed. Crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, she had finally reached this step.
The gazes of the two men clashed like lightning and flint in midair. Finally, Chu Li looked up to the sky with a laugh, grabbed the crossbow at his waist, quickly drew the bow and nocked an arrow, shooting it fiercely at Qin Zhiyan.
Qing Xia was greatly alarmed and nearly cried out. Just then, she saw Qin Zhiyan make almost exactly the same motion simultaneously. Two arrows whistled forth, colliding thunderously at the city gate with a crash, shattering inch by inch and falling onto the marble ground.
A ceremonial official ran forward, picked up a white scroll from the ground, looked at it, and loudly declared: “Emperor Chu presents the lands north of Wei River as a wedding gift for Prince Xuan!”
Three months ago at White Deer Plain, the gentleman’s agreement still echoed in their ears. The long wind howled past, and everything returned to silence and void.
Qin Zhiyan said in a clear voice: “Thank you for Emperor Chu’s generous gift!”
Chu Li’s voice was low but carried far: “No need for thanks—it’s what you deserve.”
Ten ceremonial officials came forward, loudly calling: “The ceremony is complete!”
Chu Li dismounted and came to Qing Xia’s side. Just as Qing Xia was about to dismount herself, she saw Chu Li extend his long arms and lift her down. Qing Xia was slightly startled but didn’t resist.
No matter how long a road, it would always have an end. Qing Xia stood before Chu Li, looking at his handsome brows and eyes, smiled warmly, and extended a pale, tender hand, saying with a smile: “In my homeland, when people part, they shake hands.”
Chu Li’s expression was gloomy, but he didn’t extend his hand. Qing Xia bit her lower lip, her eyes slightly reddening, but still maintained her beautiful smile. She leaned forward and grasped his cold hand, gripping it tightly. Just as all the Great Qin ceremonial officials frowned, Qing Xia suddenly opened her arms and gently embraced him, hugging Chu Li’s stiff body.
In that instant, too many people gasped in low voices. The entire Zijin Plaza filled with huge intakes of breath.
It was just a moment—a gentle embrace that immediately released. At the moment of parting, the woman’s breath warmly touched his ear.
“Chu Li, thank you.”
Thank you. Thank you for teaching me both the cruelty and beauty of this world. Thank you for making me understand what love means, and also what hate means. Thank you for never abandoning me all along the way, though we always missed and passed each other. Thank you for being willing to stand by my side, accompanying me through life and death. Thank you for being willing to walk this final stretch with me. From now on, you and I have no more entanglements. Thank you, truly thank you.
The woman’s smile was so beautiful, like a blooming narcissus. Her eyes curved like two crescents, her lips so red like fresh cherries, her skin so white like northern snow.
So this was how beautiful she was. He simply had never looked carefully before. What exactly had he lost, what exactly had he missed—a woman? Support? Or his own heart?
Qing Xia looked into his eyes, smiling warmly. Finally, she turned around, turned around with a bright smile. Over there was the man to whom she had decided to entrust her life. This was the path she had chosen, so she had to walk it herself. She looked at Qin Zhiyan’s gently smiling eyes, lifted her wide, gorgeous hem, and walked toward him step by step—one step, then another, very slow but very determined, increasingly determined.
Chu Li stood behind her. Cold moonlight shone bleakly upon him with pallid radiance. His chest was empty, with a broken hole that was slowly spreading. Cold wind poured into his entire body—so cold, so cold. He watched her gradually departing, his limbs losing all strength. Yet he still stood proudly, gazing coldly ahead, not a trace of pain or sorrow on his face—only that barely perceptible slight loneliness.
He was the Great Emperor of Southern Chu, the proud king above ten thousand people, the supreme ruler of all under heaven. He was the strongest pine tree that would not break no matter how wind and rain battered it.
But why did his throat feel blocked by something hard, making even breathing difficult?
Cold wind howled, lifting Qing Xia’s robes. Her figure was small and slender. The vast plaza was full of people, yet her eyes could only see that one person. Qin Zhiyan stood outside that palace gate, his brows and eyes full of smiles, his gaze warm, his smile light as wind and clouds, quietly awaiting her return.
Qin Zhiyan, have you come to take me home? Finally, I’m coming back.
The two gazed at each other. Qing Xia’s tears suddenly flowed. Cold wind blew on her face, but she no longer feared crying and ruining her exquisite makeup, no longer feared being laughed at, because Qin Zhiyan wouldn’t mind. Never before had she been so certain as in this moment—certain that whatever was hers, he would love. She didn’t know why she was crying—whether from tears of joy at finally getting her wish, or from heartache over what she owed Chu Li. She no longer wanted to think about any of that. As long as she got through today, as long as she got through today, everything would be settled with no more reversals or upheavals.
She suddenly couldn’t wait any longer. She grabbed up her hem and, amid people’s exclamations, ran swiftly toward Qin Zhiyan across from her.
Qin Zhiyan’s smile grew wider and wider. He slowly opened his arms, waiting for Qing Xia’s arrival.
Lights throughout the sky suddenly blazed bright. Qing Xia laughed while tears flowed. With one hand lifting her hem and the other inelegantly wiping away tears with the back of her hand, she ran with great strides.
But just then, with a whoosh, something suddenly shot forth, leaping over Qing Xia’s body and shooting fiercely at that beautiful man across from her!
With a thud, like slow-motion replay, a huge blood flower suddenly bloomed before Qing Xia’s eyes. Qin Zhiyan’s eyes opened wide, looking incredulously behind Qing Xia, his left chest soaked with blood and pierced by a sharp arrow.
Tremendous cries and screams suddenly erupted. Qing Xia stopped in shock, then another arrow whooshed past her cheek and struck Qin Zhiyan’s chest once more.
Prince Xuan’s retainers were not permitted to approach Zijin Gate and were all waiting at the second palace gate. Seeing this, they all charged forward frantically. Qin Zhiyan’s body shook, and with a thud he knelt on one knee.
Qing Xia whipped around, her eyes sharp with fury as she looked toward Chu Li. But she saw Chu Li gripping a sharp sword, deflecting an arrow with a clang, his expression fierce as he looked into the darkness and angrily shouted: “Who goes there?”
A man slowly emerged from the darkness, followed by a large group of personal guards. His expression was arrogant, his eyes carrying a slight blue tint—it was unmistakably Fourth Prince Qin Zhiye.
“Emperor Chu, don’t meddle in affairs that don’t concern you. This is our family business.”
Qin Zhiye suddenly shouted sternly: “Qin Zhiyan! You used your wedding as a pretext to secretly mobilize the seventy-two naval forces of the east and the northern frontier camps, instructing Lu Huayang and Qin Zhixiang to gather heavy troops. You also instructed your mother, Consort Yao, to assassinate Imperial Father, plotting rebellion and usurping the throne. Do you admit it or not!”
Qin Zhiyan was helped up under the protection of Prince Xuan mansion guards, his face pale, eyes sharp, brows tightly furrowed. Looking at this brother he had always overlooked, he slowly said in a deep voice: “So it was you.”