Firelight rippled across the city wall. Wei Dechang gripped a barbarian soldier’s throat, thrusting his blade through the man’s chest. Seeing another barbarian soldier climbing up from the left, he withdrew his blade only to witness someone in frost-white robes, face covered with a long scarf, step forward in two or three strides and slash the enemy’s throat with his sword.
“Young Master Ni!”
Wei Dechang cried out in alarm.
His full-throated shout made Qin Jixun, Yang Tianzhe, and the others immediately turn back. They all saw the young gentleman who had been unconscious just days before now wielding a long sword and fighting the enemy with all his might.
Witnessing such a scene, from generals and military officers down to common soldiers defending the city, every heart trembled with emotion.
Throat tightening, Qin Jixun wiped the blood from his face and shouted with ringing voice, “Good sons of Great Qi! Kill these cursed barbarians clean for this old man!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
The war drums beat louder and louder. The defending army’s morale surged anew. They suppressed the panic the enemy’s swarming attacks had stirred in their hearts. Soldiers wielding crossbows continuously shot sharp arrows. Temple monks also stood firm by the catapults, dodging fireballs thrown by the enemy while directing soldiers to hurl stones at enemies scaling the city wall.
Yelu Zhen stood amid his ten-thousand-strong army, coldly observing the battle situation atop the city wall. The warriors he had sent out used iron arrows shot from crossbows to climb the city wall as densely as ants.
Those above were struck by stones or had arrows pierce through their chests, or were hacked to death blade by blade by those cursed Qi people. Yet those below showed not the slightest hesitation, continuing upward one after another like fierce beasts.
These were the warriors he had raised—fearless of danger, fearless of death.
“Yang Tianzhe!”
The flames of war burned this stretch of city wall nearly transparent. Yelu Zhen fixed his gaze on that person atop the wall. He had never seen this man, but his scouts had. “What exactly are you dissatisfied with in my Danqiu royal court? You’re welcome to speak plainly. It must be difficult for you to transform from a civil official in the Nanyan tribe into a military general wielding a blade. You’re truly talented. If the Nanyan tribe failed to live up to your allegiance years ago, why not come to my Changbo tribe instead? Our Prince Qin of Changbo will absolutely not treat you unfairly.”
Yang Tianzhe stabbed a barbarian soldier in the abdomen, stepped forward several paces to pin him against the city wall, then pulled out his blade and looked down below. “When I pledged myself to the Danqiu royal court years ago, it was a moment of confusion. After many years in your Danqiu, I’ve seen clearly the true nature of you barbarians. I, Yang Tianzhe, will absolutely never take the wrong path again!”
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha…”
Hearing this, Yelu Zhen threw back his head and laughed. “Yang Tianzhe, have you forgotten in whose hands your father Yang Ming died? Miao Tianning beheaded your father back then and nearly had you executed by slow slicing along with that General Yujie… What? Can you now swallow your anger and pride and serve in the same court as Miao Tianning again?”
Almost the instant Yelu Zhen’s words fell, Xu Hexue raised his wrist and killed several barbarian soldiers who had climbed over the city wall. He stepped forward several paces, looking down at that dense mass of barbarian troops below, at that barbarian astride his horse, wearing general’s armor with a head full of curled braids.
Yelu Zhen actually didn’t know Miao Tianning was already dead?
Yang Tianzhe also froze for an instant. A barbarian soldier rushed up. Wei Dechang promptly stepped forward, kicking him away with one foot, then swung his blade down. Blood flowed freely. He turned back: “Brother Yang, what are you dazing about?!”
“The Yongzhou defending army has how much military strength? Yet I have nearly one hundred thousand troops! Let’s see how many days you can hold out! Yang Tianzhe, I’m willing to give you a chance. If you’re willing to lead your people and pledge allegiance once more, I will certainly petition my Prince Qin of Changbo to promote you, making you the highest-ranking Qi person in my Changbo tribe!”
This bloody battle continued until noon on the fourth day. The war drums had ceased. Black smoke swirled. Remaining flames scorched the flagpoles. A banner fell and was swiftly devoured by tongues of fire.
The barbarians temporarily withdrew. Qin Jixun, Wei Dechang, and Yang Tianzhe were all exhausted. They leaned against the city wall, their faces covered in bloodstains and ash marks.
“Young Master Ni, are you all right?” Qin Jixun panted, raising his eyes to look at the young man standing by the city wall edge, gazing downward.
Even after spending much time together, Qin Jixun still found this person extraordinarily mysterious.
He clearly possessed a frail body, yet sometimes Qin Jixun felt his frame was more resilient than anyone else’s.
“I’m fine.”
Xu Hexue withdrew his gaze, looking at the three of them. “Do you all remember what Yelu Zhen said about Miao Tianning?”
“He…”
Yang Tianzhe clutched his injured arm, his voice hoarse. “It seems he has no idea Miao Tianning is already dead.”
“That’s impossible!”
This voice abruptly cut in. Xu Hexue turned his face to see Shen Tongchuan lifting the hem of his official robe and hurrying up the stone steps. Seeing all four of them safe, Shen Tongchuan released a genuine sigh of relief before continuing, “Does Young Master Ni remember the military report from sixteen years ago I showed you before?”
Xu Hexue nodded.
“General Qin and Commander Wei should also know—it clearly states that Commander Miao Tianning died at the hands of this very Yelu Zhen!”
Shen Tongchuan said.
Xu Hexue’s voice was coolly clear. “But he has no reason to deceive us with this matter. Commander Yang, when Miao Tianning died back then, did you personally witness him being killed by the barbarians?”
“I…”
Yang Tianzhe coughed heavily several times. “At that time, after Miao Tianning drove Yelu Zhen outside the city, he ordered the city gates tightly sealed. They fought a bloody battle with the barbarians outside. The common people in the city only heard the sounds of slaughter but didn’t witness the battle conditions outside. Later, when reinforcements arrived and opened the city gates, outside was already a mountain of corpses and sea of blood.”
“Who was the general leading the reinforcements?”
“I remember it was Tan Guangwen.”
Shen Tongchuan interjected.
The current Provincial Governor of Jianchi Prefecture—sixteen years ago, the general leading one of two routes of reinforcements supporting the Jing’an Army—Tan Guangwen.
Xu Hexue’s knuckles tightened around his sword grip.
“The Nanyan tribe’s military reports only cover battles they themselves participated in. Only in the Danqiu royal court are there reports from all tribes.”
Yang Tianzhe continued, “Back then, Danqiu faced internal strife and saw Great Qi’s rising momentum, so they signed a treaty with the current Emperor to temporarily cease hostilities. One item in that treaty required Great Qi to have Danqiu punish barbarian generals who participated in the national war and committed countless atrocities in Qi territory. Yelu Zhen was among them, which is why for these sixteen years he’s been confined in Changbo, not given important positions.”
That the Danqiu royal court now reemployed this person already revealed their ambitions without disguise.
Shen Tongchuan’s belly churned with shock and suspicion, cold sweat covering his back. “But if Miao Tianning wasn’t killed by Yelu Zhen, then at whose hands did he die?”
“Isn’t Tan Guangwen supposed to come?”
Xu Hexue raised his eyes. In the distance, undulating mountain ranges rose verdant and majestic. “Ask him.”
At dusk, Yelu Zhen again led troops to attack the city and once more shouted to Yang Tianzhe. He would certainly breach this city before Qi reinforcements reached Yongzhou. As long as Yang Tianzhe pledged allegiance, he could represent Prince Qin of Changbo and let bygones be bygones.
On the fifth day of defending the city, Yongzhou military officers continuously advised Qin Jixun that with the traitors Dong Chengjiao and Hu Da among the rebel forces, other spies might still be hidden within. They implored Qin Jixun to temporarily detain Yang Tianzhe and confine the rebel army to the barbican.
“You want us to enter the barbican—isn’t that treating all of us as traitors! Our Commander Yang risks his life for Yongzhou like this, yet you still press us so hard!” Yang Tianzhe’s deputy Sun Yanli led a group of rebels to confront the Yongzhou army within the city. Swords were drawn, tensions high.
“Sun Yanli, stand down!”
Just as they were about to come to blows, Yang Tianzhe, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, immediately roared.
“Commander Yang, they’re going too far!”
Sun Yanli’s eyes reddened, his voice seeming mournful.
“General!” A Yongzhou military officer saw Qin Jixun following close behind and shouted, “Did you hear what Yelu Zhen said? If they waver and coordinate with Yelu Zhen from inside while we’re unprepared, our Yongzhou will be completely finished!”
“If you all truly think this way, you’ve fallen right into Yelu Zhen’s poisonous scheme! The barbarians have barely ceased fighting and you’re already about to kill each other and fight among yourselves. Like this, can you defend Yongzhou City?!”
Qin Jixun angrily rebuked them.
“I, Yang Tianzhe, have sworn that I will absolutely never take the wrong path again in this life. How else must I prove myself to you all?” Yang Tianzhe removed his helmet. His hair bun was disheveled, his face bore multiple scrapes. Step by step he walked closer to them. “I owe Yongzhou, I owe Great Qi. I’m willing to repay with my life.”
Even now, desolation surged unbidden in Yang Tianzhe’s heart. He didn’t know—didn’t know what he should do to make the country he had once betrayed trust him again.
He looked at these soldiers before him. “But I want to repay on the battlefield.”
Yet he didn’t know how many could truly believe his heartfelt words. For a moment silence reigned. The rebel soldiers all showed sorrowful expressions. They had clearly already set foot on Great Qi’s soil, yet still felt full of unease.
“Yelu Zhen isn’t sincere about accepting the rebel forces.”
From atop the city tower’s stone steps, such a calm voice suddenly came. Nearly everyone raised their heads to look at that young man with his face covered by a long scarf.
“This is merely his method of shaking military morale. What he wants is for you to suspect each other and develop grudges.” Xu Hexue braced one hand on the stone railing. “Though Yelu Zhen’s great army brought from Changbo combined with Shi Monu’s Juhan Pass garrison totals nearly one hundred thousand, the plague ox incident proves that plague has already ravaged their army. That’s why Yelu Zhen must try every method to break Yongzhou City before our awaited reinforcements arrive.”
Xu Hexue looked down from his elevated position. “If Yang Tianzhe truly harbored treasonous thoughts again, leading the rebel army to pledge allegiance to Yelu Zhen would also be a dead end. Gentlemen, I ask you—who would dare shelter such a fickle person again? Yelu Zhen isn’t a fool. Rather than nurture a potential disaster, he would only kill Yang Tianzhe and massacre his rebel army. Their allegiance would be utterly meaningless.”
“With a great enemy before us, I’m willing to vouch for Yang Tianzhe. I beseech you all—set aside prejudice and jointly resist Yelu Zhen.”
These words laid out the advantages and disadvantages before both sides’ soldiers. If the Yongzhou army couldn’t set aside prejudice against the rebels, military morale would waver and become unsustainable. If any among the rebels feared battle and death, daring to place hope in Yelu Zhen, they would ultimately meet a dead end.
“This old Wei is also willing to vouch for Brother Yang!” Wei Dechang said loudly. “I’ve fought alongside him these past days. How could I not know what’s in his heart? At such a critical juncture, how can we first throw ourselves into chaos? Listen to Young Master Ni’s words—whether Yongzhou army or rebel army, all are sons of Great Qi. We must defend the city and jointly resist Yelu Zhen!”
“Jointly resist Yelu Zhen!”
The rebel deputy Sun Yanli’s throat tightened as he shouted first.
“Jointly resist Yelu Zhen!”
“Jointly resist Yelu Zhen!”
The defending army’s shouts shook the heavens.
For Yongzhou City’s military and civilians, time seemed never to have passed so slowly before. Xu Hexue and Qin Jixun defended the city with all their might. Though both sides’ military strength was vastly disparate, they managed to endure through the sixth day.
This was paid for in blood. Yongzhou’s defending army was constantly being depleted. Within the city, some also contracted plague. Ni Su worked together with Medical Officer Tian to separate soldiers and common people showing symptoms from others, comforting the people while personally mixing medicine and doing their utmost to treat them.
“Absolutely don’t give them rice porridge. Even just a sip of rice soup won’t do. Bubonic plague is heat toxin. When rice porridge enters the stomach, turbid qi returns to the heart, which feeds the heat toxin of the Yang brightness channel.” Ni Su wore a face veil as she spoke to several ladies responsible for cooking for patients. “Brown sugar and white sugar also cannot be used. Only sweet potato starch and mung beans are best. Only when they no longer feel alternating chills and fever may you use a little rice porridge.”
“Good, we’ve all remembered.” A lady nodded. As she was speaking, she saw Ni Su suddenly stagger several steps. She immediately stepped forward to support her. “Young Lady Ni, what’s wrong with you?”
The sky had darkened. Qingqiong sat in the felt tent hugging his knees in a daze when he saw the felt curtain suddenly lifted by someone. He immediately raised his head to see several ladies supporting an unconscious Ni Su back inside. He stood up, urgently shouting, “Miss Ni!”
“What happened to her?”
After they laid Ni Su on the felt blanket, Qingqiong immediately pulled over a quilt.
“Medical Officer Tian examined her and said she’s just too exhausted.” Zhong Niangzi sat down and helped tuck the quilt corners around Ni Su. “Who works as hard as her? These past days I haven’t seen her rest at all. Just now she was talking with someone when she suddenly collapsed.”
“Why is her face so red?”
Qingqiong was extremely anxious.
“She has a fever. It should be from catching a chill. Medical Officer Tian said it doesn’t seem like plague, so don’t worry.” Zhong Niangzi reassured him. She still hadn’t forgotten that last time she saw this Qingqiong, his body had been covered in frost—she didn’t dare talk much with him.
Zhong Niangzi brought medicinal soup and fed it to Ni Su. She never woke, so Qingqiong sat beside her keeping watch until he no longer heard the sounds of both sides fighting on the city wall.
The barbarians had temporarily stopped attacking the city.
“Miss Ni, you’re awake?” Qingqiong saw Ni Su’s eyelids tremble as she opened her eyes.
The first thing Ni Su heard was the rumbling sound from his stomach. Her bloodless lips curved slightly. “You haven’t eaten?”
“Not yet…”
Qingqiong touched his stomach.
“Go find Zhong Niangzi and have her give you flatbread to eat.” Ni Su’s voice was somewhat hoarse.
“I need to take care of you.”
Qingqiong shook his head. Just as his words fell, he heard the sound of someone lifting the felt curtain—so abrupt. He turned his head to see Xu Hexue carrying the glass lamp.
His robe was stained with blood, but aside from blood, there was remarkably no ash or dirt.
Qingqiong stood up with a “whoosh.” “I’m hungry. I’m going to eat flatbread now.”
Almost before Ni Su could react, Qingqiong had already reached the felt curtain, called out “General Xu,” and went out.
“Has Yelu Zhen temporarily stopped attacking the city?”
Ni Su watched him approach carrying the lamp.
“Mm.”
Xu Hexue set down the glass lamp. Seeing the abnormal faint flush on her cheeks and very dry lips, he turned to pour water.
Ni Su simply watched his back like this.
When he slowed down, his steps became truly slow. She knew he was always in pain.
Xu Hexue said nothing, pouring a bowl of hot water. He moved to help her sit up but saw her eyes staring straight at him. For a moment Xu Hexue felt uncomfortable. He lowered his eyes to look at his own robe—this was the one she had made for him, now stained with much barbarian blood. “It’s gotten somewhat dirty.”
He didn’t know if he should touch her.
“It’ll be fine once washed clean.”
She said.
Xu Hexue raised his eyes, meeting her gaze directly.
Ni Su smiled at him but couldn’t help coughing once. “When I’m better, when you and General Qin have completely secured this Yongzhou City, I’ll help you wash it.”
Whether clothes or name.
Xu Hexue said nothing. He extended his arm around her shoulders and back, raising her up slightly, bringing the bowl near and watching her lower her head to drink.
Her jet-black short hair curled at her earlobes. Her features were fair and delicate. Her lowered eyes, her small nose tip bearing fine beads of sweat.
She had grown so much thinner.
“Ni Su.”
He suddenly called.
“Mm?”
She raised her eyes.
“If one day we return to Yunjing, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it for you.”
He said.
Ni Su froze for a moment, then said, “I’d like to eat Que County dishes. I’m actually still not quite used to Yunjing food, nor Yongzhou’s. Sometimes when I dream, I still dream of eating braised duck.”
She laughed once. “When I was small I craved braised duck terribly. My elder brother would buy it for me to eat.”
She coughed again. Xu Hexue set down the bowl and awkwardly patted her back lightly. When she caught her breath, she looked at him and said, “Otherwise, come back to Que County with me.”
“With you there, I won’t fear my second uncle either. I don’t know what’s become of our family’s medical clinic now that it’s fallen into his hands…” Ni Su’s expression grew slightly desolate for an instant, then quickly recovered its spirit. “If you come back with me, you’ll know how much delicious food our Que County has. You can make it for me to eat, all right?”
Xu Hexue’s throat tightened.
He almost wanted to say “mm,” but reason reminded him not to promise her things he originally couldn’t accomplish, not to deceive her and make her needlessly sad.
Actually,
He deeply yearned for everything she spoke of.
Every single word—he yearned for it all.
He didn’t speak. Ni Su just looked at him. “You… don’t want to?”
“I want to.”
He answered without hesitation.
Since he wanted to, why wouldn’t he say “all right”? But Ni Su didn’t ask. The felt tent fell silent for a moment. Outside came the sounds of medical officers rushing back and forth treating wounded soldiers. She suddenly said, “I feel terrible.”
“Where do you feel terrible?”
In Xu Hexue’s excessively cold eyes, ripples faintly stirred.
“If my high fever doesn’t break, I could very likely fall unconscious, hemorrhage, have convulsions.” Ni Su fully displayed a physician’s strengths. “If it gets even more serious, I might even die.”
“I’ll go find Medical Officer Tian.”
Xu Hexue braced one hand on the felt blanket, about to stand.
But Ni Su suddenly grasped his hand. His spine stiffened. The instant he turned back, she leaned over, both arms encircling his narrow, taut waist.
She was so calm, yet lifted one of his hands and placed it on her own forehead.
Excessive heat filled his icy palm.
Suddenly Yingchen manifested, like fireworks scattering and diffusing in broken fragments, dancing ceaselessly.
Ni Su watched the Yingchen floating and flying in all directions, saying, “Xu Ziling, I’ve discovered something.”
At this instant,
Though she didn’t say what exactly she had discovered, Xu Hexue also perceived something from the gaze she directed at Yingchen. He felt that though he wore robes and cap at this moment, before her it seemed he had no concealment whatsoever.
“Ni Su…”
His lips trembled.
He tried to withdraw his hand.
“I’ve had Qingqiong deliver all the lamps. I haven’t seen you for two days. Can’t you stay put properly?”
Ni Su’s fingers lightly tapped the back of his hand where bones protruded. “Does your knee hurt?”
Before Xu Hexue could answer, she continued on her own, “Never mind. If I ask you anyway, you’ll just say it doesn’t hurt.”
She also couldn’t tell if her forehead covered by his palm burned so hot because of the chill or because of her feelings.
Even though she’d only not seen him for two days, she truly missed him so much.
The moment she saw him, she wanted to embrace him.
“Are you unwilling to help me break my fever?”
Ni Su looked at him.
“No.”
Xu Hexue’s voice was hoarse.
Ni Su made an “mm” sound. She still held his wrist—that sensation like ice and snow. Yet she was hot. “Look, actually you being like this is also very good.”