“Bang.”

On the ground were still some scattered corpses and bloodstains. Very obviously, someone had already broken through here—presumably Ning Cheng’s group. They’d emerged early, before Jin Siyu’s personal troops arriving on orders had time to form their battle array, and were broken through by Ning Cheng with his supremely skilled martial arts.

“As expected, Jin Siyu had preparations. Just now we didn’t know how many groups escaped.” Zong Chen said. “Why hasn’t Helian Zheng caught up yet?”

Feng Zhiwei seemed to be observing the surrounding armies, slowly walking a circuit around the city wall, finally stopping beneath the Great Yue city tower’s great banner. Her hand swept extremely slowly over the battlements.

Zong Chen was hesitating whether to wait for Helian Zheng and break through together by force, or act first, when suddenly he heard another commotion in the distance. Then a rider galloped forth, charging straight into the personal guard battalion, seemingly urgently reporting something in a loud voice. Under the great banner, several generals abruptly turned their heads, looking toward the direction from which the rider had come.

Too far to clearly see their expressions, but one could feel the anxious, uneasy atmosphere spreading through the guard battalion.

“Yao Yangyu has acted.” Atop the city wall, Zong Chen said. “Originally the plan was for him to lead troops in a surprise attack on the Great Yue main camp. But Ning Yi worried about deep penetration with isolated forces—if they couldn’t coordinate and fell into group attacks, it would be total annihilation. So they force-marched for three days and nights, ambushing in East Stone Valley between Pucheng and the camp. There’s a not-very-wide river there. Recently the ice has frozen quite solid. When the Yue army camp receives Jin Siyu’s alert message from Pucheng, they’ll inevitably dispatch troops to provide aid. In their urgency, they’ll inevitably cross on the ice. Then…”

“Then the ice melts.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “In this snowy weather, no one can distinguish on an ice river whether it’s salt or snow. Using salt to melt ice—a good method.”

At this time, Jin Siyu’s personal guard battalion waiting for Great Yue reinforcements to arrive together was also somewhat anxious. The Prince’s order was to surround Pucheng—whoever wanted to leave the city would be executed without exception. But no one had emerged from the city for a long time. The Prince hadn’t appeared either. Meanwhile, the Yue camp side had been ambushed with unfavorable battle conditions. According to military regulations, when the main camp suffered unfavorable battle conditions, all external troops must immediately return to provide aid and absolutely couldn’t sit by and watch. Now everyone was extremely anxious and hesitant.

After thinking it over, the personal guard battalion commander decided to send someone into the city to request instructions. Immediately looking up and calling to those atop the city gate: “Open the gate!”

Originally there were quite a few city gate guards. Jin Siyu had strictly ordered everywhere not to relax, but on snowy New Year’s Eve, everyone thought nothing would happen. Many soldiers slipped away to go home for reunions. The squad leaders also turned a blind eye. There were also some hiding in the gate tower roasting by fires and drinking who’d been killed early by agents lurking in Pucheng. The gate commander was present, but his neck was in Gu Nanyi’s hands.

Zong Chen and Feng Zhiwei exchanged a glance, both feeling that breaking through by force now was inappropriate—they might as well quietly observe the changes. Zong Chen nodded. Gu Nanyi pressed against the gate commander’s back. The man cried “ah” and involuntarily opened his mouth. Zong Chen flicked his finger—a pill shot into the man’s wide-open mouth.

“Sending you a Yellow Springs Great Tonic Pill to nourish your brain.” Zong Chen smiled refined and cultured. “Presumably once you’re clever, you’ll know what should and shouldn’t be said.”

The gate commander went over with a pale face and shouted loudly at the doorway: “Is that General Li? Given my responsibilities, I dare not err. Please present your command token!”

“Nothing major happened inside?” That General Li, seeing him, was actually startled. “Just now someone broke through the city gate. I thought you’d all been wiped out and was considering breaking through by force!”

“Those few people just now came and went high and fast—gone like the wind. The brothers couldn’t catch them, but didn’t suffer much damage either.” The gate commander shouted. “This officer also saw the Prince’s golden signal flare, but no news has come out from inside. Can’t tell what happened. The Prince had prior orders that without his command, the army must not enter the city. Does General Li have the Prince’s tiger tally?”

“No need! We won’t enter the city! Just have urgent matters requiring personal report to the Prince. Open the city gate and let two brothers in!”

“Yes!”

The city gate opened a crack. After verifying the token, two personal guard battalion soldiers rode in on horses. Then the city gate closed again.

Those two were about to rush into the city to report to Prince An when suddenly someone turned out from behind the city gate, smiling: “Borrowing Your Excellencies’ identities for a moment.”

—

Helian Zheng rushed back, originally preparing to rush straight to Pu Garden first. Thinking Jiarong might be panicked and confused in the chaos, after a while she might return home herself, so he went back once more.

Jiarong still hadn’t returned. Helian Zheng frowned and left one guard in the house to wait. He himself took San Sun and the others and rushed straight to Pu Garden.

Just after they left, a shadow flashed at the street corner. Someone came around, wiping a face full of sweat, panting: “Where’s your king?”

Hearing he’d gone to Pu Garden looking for Jiarong, that person slapped his thigh: “Terrible!”

Without waiting for Helian Zheng’s guard to ask, that person urgently said: “I’m someone Prince Chu left stationed in Pucheng. Earlier I received orders to coordinate with His Highness. His Highness told me to come here to notify King Helian—he took Jiarong away. But earlier when I left Pu Garden, I was detained by hidden sentries and delayed for a while. What do we do now?”

“Go chase him!”

—

Helian Zheng didn’t know about this matter behind him. He rushed straight to Pu Garden, originally thinking Pu Garden should have settled down by now. Unexpectedly it was still in complete chaos. Though Jin Siyu wasn’t in mortal danger, he’d been injured by hidden force from Zong Chen’s water-parting thorns. He coughed up blood continuously, his consciousness somewhat unclear. The blood he coughed was blue-purple colored, quite frightening. Physicians were circling around him in confusion.

Without a leader, this actually facilitated Helian Zheng. Wearing Old Liu’s face, taking advantage of the chaos, he searched the outer courtyard thoroughly but didn’t find Jiarong. His heart grew anxious. He thought perhaps this girl had hidden in the embroidery room? After thinking, he gestured for the others to wait at the outer courtyard’s back wall for coordination while he himself rushed straight to the inner courtyard.

He’d never come to the inner courtyard, yet the route was extremely familiar. Two months of infiltration weren’t wasted—he knew the inner courtyard’s open sentries, hidden sentries, and shift change routes very clearly. Taking advantage of the night, he concealed himself all the way, rushing straight to the embroidery room. But the embroidery room had no one. Helian Zheng stood stunned for a long while, stamped his foot, turned and left.

At this point, if he delayed further, he might very well affect everyone’s plan. Helian Zheng had always been decisive, able to take up and let go. Though his heart felt disappointed, he didn’t plan to continue searching foolishly. He secretly decided to covertly leave a few agents to slowly investigate later.

He came out from the embroidery room. To avoid hidden sentries, he passed through a small garden in the rear courtyard. Opposite the small garden was Cuixue Studio where Feng Shaoyao had once lived. But since Shaoyao moved to Yinfeng Pavilion a while ago, it had been empty recently with no one going there.

Helian Zheng naturally had no interest in exploring the old building. The person had already left—what was there to look at? He swept over the wall top, flying past Cuixue Studio’s back wall.

Then he suddenly fell down from the wall top.

Having fallen to the ground, in the darkness Helian Zheng’s nose twitched. His eyes flashed with brilliant light, his gaze searching everywhere like a hunting dog, his expression thoughtful.

Just now when he’d crossed over a certain section of Cuixue Studio’s back wall, he’d caught a certain faint, familiar smell.

The Grassland Royal Court had always worshipped great witch-doctors skilled in witch-gu arts. When he’d entered the capital as hostage, he’d even brought one along. Though he had no interest in witch-gu arts, the smell of those pottery jars with their fishy odor that shamans used specifically for breeding gu—that he was extremely familiar with.

The more formidable the gu, the stronger that smell. The toxic fishy qi from long-nurtured poisonous creatures deeply permeated every inch of the pottery jar’s clay texture. Ordinary people couldn’t smell it, but those familiar with this practice could accurately find a three-inch small gu deeply buried underground among a field of fragrant flowers.

Though Helian Zheng didn’t have that skill, this smell was too distinctive, too strong. In this Pu Garden where a prince was stationed, beneath the back wall of Cuixue Studio where Feng Zhiwei had once lived, discovering this kind of thing inevitably raised doubts.

King Helian was an action-oriented person. Having doubts, he went to resolve them. He immediately followed the smell to locate the position, digging three chi deep, and indeed discovered a square iron plate.

Pulling open the iron plate revealed a small pottery jar.

Helian Zheng drew in a cold breath. Earlier smelling the scent, he’d already marveled that this thing must be an extremely formidable gu—to be smelled even by him, a semi-outsider—but unexpectedly it was even separated by an iron plate. Just how formidable was the thing inside? A peerless divine gu?

His heart jumped slightly, an ominous feeling sweeping through. Using cloth to wrap his hands, he carefully took out that gu jar, noticing that the hole where the poison insect emerged had already been opened.

In other words, this thing had already been used.

Helian Zheng’s heart grew several degrees colder. He shook the small gu in his hand and heard a rustling sound. Inside seemed to still be something, but it didn’t seem like a living thing.

He contemplated for a while, his body dodging far away, using a tree branch to pry open the gu lid.

Nothing crawled out, but the instant the lid opened, a wisp of blue qi emerged. Helian Zheng held his breath desperately, waiting quite a while before carefully approaching. He saw at the bottom of the jar was a small brocade package.

He carefully picked open the brocade package. Inside rolled out some moon-white, curved, tiny fragments.

Helian Zheng recognized after a long time that these were fingernails—just incomplete, impossible to tell whether they were a man’s or woman’s nails.

What was placed in this gu would inevitably not be good things. Helian Zheng knew some witch-gu arts required items from a person’s body as catalysts—extremely important. He immediately didn’t hesitate, tore his inner garment’s hem, wrapped them in three layers inside and out, and tucked them in his waist pouch.

Then he gnawed his own fingernails, gnawing down some messy fragments, placed them in that small brocade package, put it back in the gu jar, and buried it back as it was.

Having done all this, he stood up and heard commotion ahead. Vaguely it seemed they were saying Jin Siyu had awakened. Not daring to remain, his form leaped and disappeared into the night.

—

Jin Siyu indeed had awakened. Opening his eyes in the front courtyard study, he was about to pass orders to inquire about conditions inside and outside the city when suddenly he heard personal guard battalion troops requesting an audience.

Those who came were naturally Zong Chen and Feng Zhiwei. Gu Nanyi wasn’t suitable for playing this kind of role and remained atop the city gate tower controlling the gate commander.

According to Zong Chen’s meaning, intercept and kill the guard battalion’s messengers so they’d always receive no information and remain frozen there, also allowing Yao Yangyu’s side to execute the interception more thoroughly. Feng Zhiwei disagreed, saying the guard battalion frozen outside the city gate could only be temporary. Sooner or later news would come from Jin Siyu’s side. Then with enemies before and behind, it would be more troublesome. Better to pull out the fire from under the cauldron—the two of them would disguise themselves as messengers and re-enter the city, find a way to seize Jin Siyu’s tiger tally, transfer away the guard battalion, and solve the problem once and for all.

Though this method was risky, it was already the most appropriate solution under the current deadlock. But Zong Chen was somewhat uneasy. All along the way he repeatedly urged Feng Zhiwei: “You absolutely must not think about going back.”

“How could I go back looking like this?” Feng Zhiwei smiled back at him. “If I still had Shaoyao’s disguise, I could try to deceive Jin Siyu again, saying I was abducted by you to threaten him. But you absolutely wouldn’t be willing to cooperate in abducting me to let me go back, so I’ll just forget it.”

Zong Chen felt these words also made sense. Thinking again, he couldn’t figure out how Feng Zhiwei under these circumstances could still gain Jin Siyu’s trust, so he agreed.

The two rushed all the way toward Pu Garden. Just as they were about to approach Pu Garden, Feng Zhiwei suddenly said: “Sir, you see, being an amnesiac person actually has many conveniences.”

Zong Chen momentarily didn’t understand her meaning, yet instinctively smiled: “That essentially is deceiving people. Unfortunately, you can deceive once but not twice, deceive for a moment but not a lifetime.”

“Who says otherwise?” Feng Zhiwei smiled. This smile was meaningful. “Compared to amnesia, I’d rather choose selective forgetting.”

Zong Chen always felt her words held hidden meaning. He still wanted to probe, but Pu Garden had already arrived.

Both wore personal guard battalion troop disguises, hats pressed low, eyes lowered solemnly. After passing through Pu Garden’s layers of notification, they stood one zhang outside the study.

Hearing a weary “Present them” from inside.

Both simultaneously stepped forward, walking together to the study door. Jin Siyu’s guard captain lifted the door curtain: “One person enters.”

Feng Zhiwei immediately smiled, her arm extending in a nominal barrier, going in first herself.

Only then did Zong Chen realize that she’d worn a junior officer’s uniform while he was just a soldier’s.

Earlier when changing clothes, because Zhiwei was a woman, he’d habitually let women go first and avoided her to be proper. Who knew Feng Zhiwei would actually grab the junior officer’s clothes?

This woman truly couldn’t be unguarded even for a moment.

Now with enemies inside and out, the personal guard captain’s gaze burning, how could Zong Chen compete with her? His heart full of regret, he could only stand motionless in the courtyard.

Feng Zhiwei lifted the curtain and entered.

Jin Siyu lay on a long couch, face pale, surrounded by many people before and behind him. He didn’t open his eyes to look at her, only saying in a deep voice: “How are things outside the city?”

“Your Highness, this humble officer has important military intelligence that must be reported in person!” Feng Zhiwei’s knee touched the ground, her tone calm.

Jin Siyu wearily rubbed his brow, still not opening his eyes to look at her: “Speak then.”

After waiting a while with continued silence, Jin Siyu opened his eyes in shock, one glance meeting Feng Zhiwei’s unconcealed gaze looking over.

Mist and vapor swirling, clouds and smoke horizontal.

Jin Siyu sat up abruptly, staring straight at the person on the ground, examining her from head to toe for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

This laugh was coldly grim, his eyes flashing with blade-like light.

Then he raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to leave.

The roomful of people filed out. The last person carefully closed the door but didn’t go far, standing guard just outside.

An interval of quiet in the room. In the faint medicinal fragrance, two people silently gazed at each other.

After a long while, Jin Siyu laughed again, leaning back: “Good, good. I thought you’d be like before, feigning amnesia, circling gracefully before my horse, using an innocent expression to tearfully tell me you were conveniently abducted by assassins who came to kill me, then wait for my heart to soften before continuing to shelter you, for another round of mutual deception in a rouge trap… I didn’t expect you’d actually appear before me in this attire. You truly surprise me every time.”

Feng Zhiwei stood up, smiling gently: “Many thanks for Your Highness’s praise.” Unhurriedly she walked to the desk, pouring herself a cup of tea. Smoothly she also filled Jin Siyu’s tea, smiling as she handed it over: “Your Highness looks extremely anxious and irritable. Drink some tea to moisten your throat.”

Jin Siyu looked at her smiling, serene brows and eyes, listening to her calm, light tone. His gaze slowly moved down, falling on the hand holding the teacup—fingers pure white and slender. The originally somewhat deformed knuckles, after careful treatment, were barely noticeable. Set off by the purple clay teacup, they were dazzlingly bright.

Somehow he felt anger surge up. He truly did become “anxious and irritable.” Barely suppressing his emotions, he took the teacup, pausing with it in hand, sneering coldly: “It seems you know about the Twin Life Gu? Yet you still dared to come back like this.”

Feng Zhiwei leaned against the desk edge, holding steaming hot tea, smiling at him: “Naturally I had to come back. Weren’t you waiting here for me?”

“Yes. Count you clever.” After silent contemplation, Jin Siyu showed his teeth in a smile. “If you hadn’t come back, what your group rescued would probably have been a corpse.”

“Your Twin Life Gu indeed has been improved by capable people.” Feng Zhiwei took a sip of tea, saying leisurely: “However, Your Highness, my Eternal Life Powder, though differing from Twin Life Gu by only one character, is hardly any weaker. Those who take Eternal Life Powder are guaranteed eternal life.”

Going to the heavenly court naturally meant eternal life.

Jin Siyu began coughing slightly, face pale, sneering: “Then let’s go together!”

“I don’t mind ascending to paradise together with Your Highness.” Feng Zhiwei smiled calmly. “I’m just a common person—above, no tiles to cover my forehead; below, no bed for my body. Alone, drifting everywhere—if I die, I die. Just wrap me in a rush mat and bury me. But Your Highness is somewhat pitiful. Jade halls and golden horses, heaven’s noble offspring, the young prince most favored by the monarch—if you strategize properly, the future Great Yue imperial throne isn’t necessarily beyond your grasp. Such a vast, distant prospect, yet willing to throw it away together with me, an enemy nation’s commoner, becoming one pile—truly makes one wring one’s hands in regret.”

As she smiled and said “wring one’s hands in regret,” she slowly turned over the fruits and pastries in Jin Siyu’s study, selecting favorites left and right, eating continuously, not showing the slightest expression of wringing hands.

Jin Siyu glared at her, knowing that with this kind of person, scolding was useless, mockery was useless, threats were useless. Watching the pastries nearly all eaten by her, so angry he could barely drink water, he heavily thumped the teacup down before him, saying coldly: “Are you finished eating?”

Feng Zhiwei patted the pastry crumbs from her hands, apologizing gently: “Sorry, I didn’t eat my fill last night. Negotiation is very mentally draining—had to line my stomach.”

“Negotiate? What qualifications do you have to negotiate with me?” Jin Siyu sounded like he’d heard the most incredible thing, examining her up and down, his eyes full of mockery. “Using your little bit of reinforcements? Or using your most skilled amnesia act?”

“Hehe.” Feng Zhiwei sat down, smiling as she looked at Jin Siyu, tapping her forehead with her hand. “Using this humble one’s unworthy brain.”

Jin Siyu was startled, then understood her meaning and suddenly laughed, his laughter full of sarcasm.

“Your brain? You’re truly full of confidence. This prince has three thousand literati under his command, hundreds of strategists—every one a hero among men, full of learning! Those who aren’t famous scholars or great Confucians can’t enter this prince’s outer study! Who are you? What are you worth? A mere woman, an enemy nation soldier, at most a little clever, relying on luck to temporarily avoid downfall—you think you’re qualified to negotiate with me, to be my advisor? On what grounds?”

He spoke these words rapidly and urgently, his pale face showing faint red.

Feng Zhiwei showed no anger, looking at the rarely so agitated Jin Siyu with some interest. After he finished, she smiled: “On what grounds?”

She leaned against the desk, looking down at Jin Siyu, staring into his eyes, saying softly: “On the grounds that at fifteen I entered Qingming, achieved peerless national scholar status on the Yingchang examination. On the grounds that at sixteen I entered the Inner Cabinet, on the Nanhai mission first established the Ship Affairs Bureau. On the grounds that at seventeen I was appointed Vice-General—beneath White Head Cliff I overturned your Great Yue’s hundred thousand troops!”

“…”

For a very long time there was no sound in the room, not even breathing sounds, as if someone’s breath had been forced back into their abdomen by enormous shock and surprise. After quite a while, a thread-like voice finally rose in the faint smoke and medicinal fragrance, circling with a faint bitter taste.

“…As expected… it’s you.”

Feng Zhiwei straightened her body, smiling as she made a long bow: “A person of Tiansheng, Ministry of Rites Vice Minister and Vice-General Wei Zhi pays respects to Great Yue’s Prince An.”

Jin Siyu sat stunned, gazing at the woman before him. Ordinary soldier’s attire, comfortable demeanor—clearly she’d long been accustomed to wearing men’s clothing. Her temperament was calm and elegant, possessing a self-possessed composure where Mount Tai could collapse before her without changing color. She indeed greatly resembled legendary Tiansheng’s astoundingly talented, long-sleeved and skilled young national scholar. Yet she differed from the sharp-gazed youth he’d seen by moonlight at Thousand Jin Gully, differed from the fierce woman with blood streaming down her face amid the ten-thousand-strong encirclement beneath White Head Cliff, differed from the gentle, compliant, clever and endearing Shaoyao he’d spent over two months with.

This thousand-faced woman—who could read her heart?

Wang Shaoyao was Wei Zhi. This thought had arisen the moment he captured her. Her appearance was too opportune. Hua Qiong risked her life desperately to save her. Hundreds of death-defying warriors went one after another to their deaths for her… Such doubts arose constantly, causing him to spare her life, yet also making him constantly want to overthrow them, unable to believe the renowned young paragon known throughout the realm, whom even Great Yue knew and guarded against, was actually a woman.

Over two months together, he’d gradually felt she wasn’t Wei Zhi—couldn’t be, shouldn’t be, didn’t want her to be.

If she was, what room remained to accommodate a tender feeling that shouldn’t occur between enemy nations on a battlefield?

He could take a war captive as concubine but could only behead Wei Zhi.

Countless times persuading himself… if she were Wei Zhi, famous from youth she’d inevitably be proud with sharp edges showing—how could she possibly be so gentle, compliant, and submissive?

He’d still underestimated her too much.

“Good… good…” After a long time he smiled bitterly: “Since Minister Wei has revealed her identity, this prince feels even less need to negotiate with Minister Wei—you and I belong to opposing sides, each serving our own lords. The hundred thousand Great Yue warriors’ heroic souls from White Head Cliff’s battle haven’t dispersed, lying horizontal between us. What can we discuss? How can we discuss?”

“One general’s success built on ten thousand bones—territorial wars between nations haven’t ceased for a single day since ancient times. This can’t count as hatred between you and me.” Feng Zhiwei’s eyes rippled as she smiled: “Your Highness, those old battle accounts—just each serving our own lords. Can we set them aside and only discuss our own matter?”

“Our matter?” Jin Siyu’s voice even changed somewhat, looking at her incredulously—you wouldn’t actually stop being Wei Zhi to truly become Wang Shaoyao, would you?

“Wei Zhi is called a peerless national scholar. Whoever gains the national scholar gains the realm—Your Highness should know this.” Feng Zhiwei brought a snow-white face close, looking at Jin Siyu very earnestly.

“So what?” Jin Siyu scoffed. “That’s your Tiansheng’s national scholar, not…” He suddenly stopped.

Feng Zhiwei smiled at him.

“Your meaning…” Jin Siyu’s face showed a thoughtful expression.

“The peerless national scholar saying comes from Great Cheng six hundred years ago. At that time Great Cheng’s territory was vast—your Great Yue’s current territory was also within Great Cheng’s boundaries. Great Cheng’s astoundingly talented founding emperor’s prophecy obviously wouldn’t refer only to Tiansheng but to the entire realm.”

“I am a national scholar.” Feng Zhiwei seriously pointed at her own nose. “And I’ve also used the past two years’ achievements to prove to the realm that Great Cheng’s prophecy wasn’t false. Have you ever seen anyone become a minister at sixteen, vice-general at seventeen? Oh, I heard Tiansheng’s Majesty posthumously ennobled me as Loyalty and Righteousness Marquis, granted the military rank of Mighty General. Soon I’ll be an eighteen-year-old super-rank noble.”

“Congratulations, congratulations.” Jin Siyu lifted his eyelids to look at her. “Congratulations to Your Excellency on your great victory, about to be enfeoffed as marquis and minister, receiving supreme honors.”

“Congratulations, congratulations.” Feng Zhiwei said solemnly. “Congratulations to Prince An on gaining the peerless national scholar. The realm’s territory is within your palm’s grasp!”

Another interval of silence in the room.

Two people faced each other—one silently examining, one smiling calmly.

After a long while, Jin Siyu spoke again. This time he spoke very slowly, each word seeming to be weighed: “Wei Zhi, you are a Tiansheng high minister, also treacherous and scheming, infamous for cunning. I cannot trust you.”

“I’m not originally a Tiansheng person.” Feng Zhiwei sneered. “I’m an orphan who doesn’t even know my own origins. The identity and background in Tiansheng official records is just a grand, unverifiable false background. Who knows if I’m Tiansheng, Great Yue, or Xi Liang? Since I don’t know where I’m from, why distinguish so clearly whom I serve?”

She turned her back, gazing at the vast earth: “This realm—united long divides, divided long unites. Sooner or later it must be unified. If so, why adhere rigidly to one family, one nation?”

Jin Siyu looked at her back in shock, not expecting such far-reaching ambitions and broad vision to come from a woman’s mouth. While he was still exhausting his mind and energy for Great Yue’s imperial throne, this woman was already thinking about unifying the realm with no national boundaries.

“Moreover… one’s little life is more important…” Feng Zhiwei turned back. The magnificent, extraordinary woman instantly transformed into a calculating domestic woman. “I’ve been struck by your gu—destined to remain by your side to preserve my life. Since I’m destined to remain by your side, naturally I must fight for myself the best position and treatment. Being whose national scholar—am I not still a national scholar?”

She bent down her face, hands supporting the desk, staring into Jin Siyu’s eyes, calmly and earnestly: “You should have researched Wei Zhi. This isn’t a good person—always prioritizing self-interest without fearing sacrifice, also never rigid or inflexible. You should understand what choice this kind of person would make under these circumstances, right?”

Jin Siyu’s eyes changed, silently speechless.

“I won’t become your concubine. That’s impossible.” Feng Zhiwei said emphatically. “I was born to help others gain the realm. Helping you or Tiansheng—no difference. Prince An, let’s each step back. You release the national hatred between you and Wei Zhi, taking him as your left and right arm. He’ll naturally reciprocate, returning you this vast territory’s peaceful realm. Then you’ll be the unified realm’s founding monarch. Tiansheng, Great Yue, Xi Liang—all beneath your imperial throne. Then what do the hundred thousand wronged souls of White Head Cliff matter?”

Jin Siyu’s eyes flickered. Feng Zhiwei stopped talking, holding tea to moisten her throat.

“How can I believe you?” After a long while, Jin Siyu said in a deep voice.

“I’ll give you half the antidote to Eternal Life Powder.” Feng Zhiwei said. “The other half—after you bring me back to the capital and ensure safety, I’ll give you. Similarly, you remove half the Twin Life Gu for me. Don’t tell me you can’t remove it. From my understanding of you, you absolutely wouldn’t tie your life together with mine. I only need you to help me remove the poison person’s toxin. I think you also don’t want your future strategist to be a poison person no one can approach, right?”

“You call this conditions?” Jin Siyu laughed bitterly in anger. “Actually still threatening me—this is your sincerity?”

“I haven’t finished.” Feng Zhiwei said calmly. “Not giving you the complete antidote is because though you certainly don’t trust me, how dare I trust you? This is an inevitable process. But I can first prove my sincerity to you. You can immediately escort me to the city tower—I’ll make Tiansheng retreat.”

“If I capture you, I can equally make Tiansheng retreat!”

“You’re wrong, Your Highness.” Feng Zhiwei shook her head. “You underestimate Tiansheng’s Prince Chu too much. How could he be someone held hostage?”

“I heard Ning Yi values you greatly.” Jin Siyu laughed coldly. “This prince has been wondering all along—among those who infiltrated the residence, which one is he?”

“Infiltrated the residence, him?” Feng Zhiwei turned her head in shock, looking at Jin Siyu for a long while. She couldn’t help laughing: “My Prince, what you just said really doesn’t sound like you. Ning Yi entering the residence? Tiansheng’s supreme commander, current prince, the current imperial prince on whom Tiansheng’s national fortune rests—would risk infiltrating an enemy nation for a subordinate, placing his thousand-gold body in dangerous territory? Do you think it’s possible?”

Jin Siyu couldn’t help smiling too. From his understanding of Ning Yi, he indeed felt it impossible.

But looking at that woman’s misty eyes, one sentence escaped his mouth: “Perhaps you’re an exception.”

“I am indeed an exception.” Feng Zhiwei sneered with hands behind her back. “The world says Prince Chu Ning Yi and Minister Wei Zhi jointly handled the Nanhai incident—a pair of confidant lord and subject. Yet very few know that confidants are confidants, but sometimes, enemies are also confidants.”

“Enemies?”

“Wei Zhi indeed experienced amnesia—presumably Your Highness also knows.” Feng Zhiwei said indifferently. “Wei Zhi once went missing on the road from Nanhai back to the imperial capital, drifting to the Grassland Huzhuo tribe, joining the Shunyi Iron Cavalry, which led to the later Battle of White Head Cliff. I wonder if Your Highness ever questioned why, if Prince Chu and Wei Zhi were devoted lord and subject, after Wei Zhi returned leading the Iron Cavalry campaigning through the grasslands, he never once returned to the main camp to meet Prince Chu, didn’t even go receive his imperial edict of ennoblement?”

Jin Siyu was startled. He’d also heard of this matter, had indeed wondered why this Minister Wei seemed to be avoiding Prince Chu Ning Yi. Now being reminded, thinking it over, he suddenly understood: “Could your disappearance back then be related to Prince Chu?”

“Exactly!” Feng Zhiwei clapped her hands together. “Since we’re cooperating with the Prince, telling you is fine. Back then the Nanhai Ship Affairs Bureau was my proposal. The Affairs Bureau was established to balance Nanhai officialdom and eliminate Nanhai pirates. Once Nanhai pirates were completely eliminated, the Minnan and Nanhai generals’ authority would be greatly reduced. Prince Chu at that time exhausted his mind to barely get involved with military affairs, finally arranging a Minnan general, hoping from then on to properly build military forces. My interference nearly ruined his wishful thinking—equivalent to starting from scratch. Tell me, how could he not hate me? And with me under such a master, how could I live with peace of mind?”

Jin Siyu contemplated, matching the Tiansheng court political information he’d previously obtained with what Feng Zhiwei said. He had to admit what she said had no doubtful points and made great sense. If he were in that position, he’d also hate the one who interfered halfway.

For princes without military power, nothing was more important than grasping military authority. He himself had expended enormous effort to become this supreme commander—naturally he could understand her meaning.

Though his doubts in his heart dissipated somewhat, his face showed nothing, only sneering: “Even if Ning Yi won’t retreat for you, so what? Can I not defeat him myself? He came at just the right time. Daring to deeply penetrate Great Yue’s borders and attack my Pucheng—I’ll make him come but not leave!”

“If Your Highness truly wants to fight now, I have no solution either.” Feng Zhiwei spread her hands, smiling: “Unfortunately, today Tiansheng has already successfully ambushed the main camp. Adding Pucheng’s chaos, Your Highness has already suffered a small defeat. Since Ning Yi dared come, he definitely doesn’t only have those troops used for ambush. At the border, there must be a main army waiting. Thus, it becomes a mutual entanglement and encirclement situation. A great battle will inevitably be needed to resolve it. But now, is it suitable for a great battle?”

Jin Siyu fell silent.

“The Yue army just lost—troop replenishment hasn’t arrived yet. Must wait until after New Year to fully supplement. Right now it’s also the festive New Year season. Others are all reporting good news and seeking auspicious omens. Your side starts chaotic warfare, disrupting the War Ministry’s early spring battle plans by recklessly mobilizing troops. Once war begins, the military supervisor still in Pucheng will inevitably report to the court. They’ll definitely mention the ambush defeat and Pucheng chaos. Reaching His Majesty’s ears, it means you’ve lost another battle. Then your brothers in the capital will wag their tongues…” Feng Zhiwei said earnestly: “Even if you win later, it won’t count as winning.”

Jin Siyu simply stopped talking.

“The current plan is to quickly order Tiansheng to retreat, then restore order in Pucheng, pacify the military supervisor, minimize the situation to the smallest scope.” Feng Zhiwei said. “Then a great battle becomes a brief skirmish. Ning Yi approaching the city becomes returning empty-handed in defeat. Your Highness, though it’s the New Year season, still didn’t relax vigilance. The army was disciplined and responsive. Enemy troops attacked on New Year’s Eve without causing major damage—reporting this can even earn commendation.” Feng Zhiwei smiled: “Add the achievement of subduing Tiansheng’s famous minister Wei Zhi… Everyone happy, happy New Year.”

Jin Siyu raised his eyes, glancing at her, finally showing tonight’s first smile: “Now if you said you’re not Wei Zhi, I wouldn’t believe it.”

Feng Zhiwei smiled lightly, taking a small package from her bosom, placing it before Jin Siyu: “Respectfully offering half the antidote to Eternal Life Powder, seeking favor beneath Prince An’s command.”

Jin Siyu looked at that paper package without moving. Feng Zhiwei opened the package, broke off a bit, ate it for him to see.

Jin Siyu called in one person, had him eat a bit of the medicine. After a long while seeing nothing happened, he felt reassured and took it. After a while, his pale, purple-tinged face improved slightly. He also took out a bottle: “Gu has no such thing as removing half and not removing half. This is medicine to control the gu poison—it can convert the poison you emit externally to your internal organs. Hereafter every year you must take the antidote at this hour, otherwise your life is difficult to preserve.”

“Speaking of it, I’m still at a loss—I must be controlled by Your Highness for life.” Feng Zhiwei smiled, pouring out the pill from the bottle and eating it.

“If you’re truly loyal and don’t play tricks again, I won’t mistreat you.” Jin Siyu watched her take the medicine, showing a trace of reassurance.

“Your Highness.” Feng Zhiwei was distracted for a moment: “The person outside the door risked death to rescue me. Though from now on we part ways, I also don’t want to see him lying dead on the ground. Please, looking at our future lifelong lord-subject relationship, release him.”

“Release him so later he uses such methods again to rescue you—what then?”

“I’m about to become a Tiansheng traitor.” Feng Zhiwei smiled bitterly. “How would they still risk death to rescue me?”

Jin Siyu was silent for a moment, then called out: “Changle.”

The personal guard captain responded and came to the door. Jin Siyu took writing paper, casually wrote a few characters and sealed it, handing it to him: “I have a letter here for Guard Battalion General Li. Have that soldier outside the door leave the city first to deliver it to General Li. This Captain Wei—I still have matters to discuss with him.”

The guard captain complied, delivering the letter to Zong Chen. Zong Chen took the letter in confusion. Since Feng Zhiwei entered, the room had been completely quiet—he didn’t know what was happening inside. His heart was anxious, yet he didn’t dare act rashly and alert the enemy. What did this letter mean now? If Feng Zhiwei had been captured, they definitely wouldn’t let him go. But even if Feng Zhiwei disguised as a messenger and deceived Jin Siyu, they couldn’t possibly only let him go. What was going on?

He absolutely refused to just take the letter and leave. Hesitating, he wanted to risk calling out when suddenly the window curtain lifted, revealing Feng Zhiwei’s smiling face, very calmly saying: “Brother Wang, you go first. The Prince still has some matters to inquire of me. Don’t worry—tonight I’ll wait for you at the main camp for dinner.”

As she spoke, her eyes drifted.

Zong Chen, seeing her safe, felt somewhat reassured. After hesitating, he still withdrew.

This side, Feng Zhiwei watched until he’d gone far before lowering the curtain. After waiting a while longer, she smiled: “Please bind Wei Zhi and take him up the city walls, Your Highness.”

Speaking, she re-tied her hair. Using the study’s water basin’s clear water, she simply found disguise tools and painted. Seven parts Wei Zhi’s appearance. With some regret she said: “Back then Wei Zhi’s mask was lost. From now on I’ll use this face.”

Jin Siyu looked at her transformed into Wei Zhi’s appearance, his eyes quite complex. After a long while he ordered guards to bring a wide sedan chair, binding Feng Zhiwei’s wrists with ox tendon rope, smiling: “Wronging Minister Wei somewhat.”

“Not wronged, not wronged.” Feng Zhiwei didn’t struggle at all.

The two sat in the wide sedan chair, bringing garrison troops and personal guards in a grand procession toward the city gate. Before reaching the city gate, they received consecutive reports: After Yao Yangyu’s Iron Cavalry ambushed Great Yue reinforcements at the riverside, they didn’t counterattack the Great Yue main camp but charged straight for Pucheng’s city gate, battling together with the guard battalion. The city gate was once opened by someone but was desperately protected by the guard battalion with their backs to the city. Now before the city gate, the two armies fought inextricably.

Hearing this, Jin Siyu only sneered once, bringing people up the city wall. Feng Zhiwei’s eyes swept aside—originally still very worried Gu Nanyi was still atop the city gate. Now she only saw the gate commander’s corpse lying crosswise. Below the city, in the guard battalion, a yellow shadow leapt around, killing energetically.

From afar she saw Zong Chen had also left the city. He’d received her signal and coaxed Gu Nanyi down to charge the guard battalion, coordinating with Yao Yangyu’s forces.

Feng Zhiwei couldn’t help sighing—Young Master Gu was now truly very agreeable, very agreeable.

At this time Jin Siyu pushed her beneath the city tower’s great banner. Great Yue’s side hadn’t yet noticed, but Tiansheng’s side had already begun to stir and cry out in alarm.

Beneath Tiansheng’s “Ning” character great banner, someone raised his head to look from afar.

It was Ning Yi.

Ning Yi, who’d left the city earliest, was met by Yao Yangyu’s Iron Cavalry and counterattacked Pucheng.

At this time dawn was approaching. This was the first day of Tiansheng’s fifteenth year of Changxi. The sun hadn’t yet risen. Against the vast snowy background outside the city, the black-background gold-character great banner unfurled prominently. Beneath the banner, that man’s eyes and hair were blacker than the banner color. His lip color rippled gorgeous as spring water. His deep black cloak flew dancing in the wind. Pale golden datura flowers were therefore especially demon-lovely and luxuriant.

He raised his head looking toward the city tower.

Beneath the yellow-background red-character “Jin” banner, she wore familiar men’s clothing, long hair casually tied up, face somewhat thin, eyes brimming with watery light. The blue hair tie on her hair together with black hair also fluttered softly and gracefully in the wind.

This was, after an interval of one year, the two people’s true meeting with the identities of Ning Yi and Wei Zhi.

Not the brushing-past encounter at the main camp, not the startling kiss in Pu Garden’s dark room, not on New Year’s Eve night amid fire trees and silver flowers—the junior servant ten zhang away and Shaoyao in the warm pavilion.

But this moment atop and below the city, separated by ten thousand troops.

A sea of people, bustling—gazing at each other yet unable to draw near.

Ning Yi kept his head raised, looking at her extremely carefully. Actually, just last night he’d seen her from afar. Yet somehow, he refused to acknowledge the woman in another’s embrace as her. That was a fake puppet wearing Feng Zhiwei’s outer garment. Only this moment’s Wei Zhi was real.

He slightly furrowed his brow. Just now meeting Zong Chen, he’d already learned of the Twin Life Gu matter. Now seeing her standing beside Jin Siyu, again in Wei Zhi’s former indifferent, composed manner, his heart’s depths vaguely gave birth to an ominous premonition.

Feng Zhiwei looked down from above. After her eyes swept a circle, they finally turned to beneath the Ning character great banner.

Gazes colliding—each had their own depths like the sea, each had their own stillness like an abyss. Each saw sparks circling in the other’s eyes. Each exiled those circling sparks into the heart’s desolation.

Gazes colliding, immediately turning away.

“It seems General Wei has great popularity in Tiansheng.” Jin Siyu’s smile wasn’t quite a smile.

“You flatter me.” Feng Zhiwei said solemnly. “Being in position, planning for that position—this humble one has always been a subordinate who conscientiously fulfills duties.”

“General Wei—”

A desolate, long cry shattered the long sky, startling both armies into simultaneously ceasing action. A mounted rider galloped forth, fiercely penetrating through the black-armored and gold-armored soldiers entangled together. His long spear and his horse’s hooves violently whipped up flying snow stained with blood and mud.: “General—”

The mounted man rode close, blocked by the guard battalion. His desperately whipping followers rushed forward to engage. But he paid no heed, leaping down from the horse, prostrating in the muddy snow, sliding far forward. His head struck heavily on the ground: “General!”

Three connected cries—sorrowful, indignant, ashamed, regretful. Raising his head again, tears already streamed down his face.

Tiansheng’s army sighed in unison. Many soldiers quietly wept.

The guard battalion stopped in shock, not knowing what had actually happened.

Feng Zhiwei stood beneath the banner, looking at Yao Yangyu with his face full of mud mixed with tears. For an instant, her usually calm eyes rippled like wind over a jade-green lake—silent ripples stirring.

Yet she immediately calmed down.

Jin Siyu silently watched that young Tiansheng general crying like a child, his eyes showing a trace of shock and awe—for a mere woman to make such a man submit like this—what kind of unparalleled greatness must that be?

He slowly raised his hand. In his hand he gripped the rope binding Feng Zhiwei. He placed a blade across her neck.

Tiansheng’s main army cried out. Countless people began cursing loudly. Ning Yi’s face changed. Yao Yangyu abruptly rose from the ground, leaping onto his horse and viciously charging toward the guard battalion’s outward-pointing spear wall, desperately held back by his subordinate guards.

Gu Nanyi, who’d been weaving through the crowd killing people, stood dumbly still. His supreme martial arts nearly got him stabbed by a junior soldier. Zong Chen came over and pulled him away. Gu Nanyi raised his foot to step toward the city tower. The gate tower immediately shot down countless arrows.

“Why did you make me leave the city first!” Gu Nanyi abruptly turned his head, glaring at Zong Chen.

Zong Chen was also stunned. Gu Nanyi could actually question people now? And question with such a logical sentence? For a moment he forgot to react, forgot to say what he’d prepared to say.

Helian Zheng, who’d earlier left the city and met the city gate entanglement, been met by a cavalry squad sent by Ning Yi and brought into the army, raised his blade and rode his horse charging forward, cursing loudly: “Why the hell didn’t she come out? Why!”

“This person needs no introduction, right?” Jin Siyu, injured and not yet recovered, lacking energy, ignoring the turbulent cursing below, cut to the chase: “This is the one who fought alone beneath White Head Cliff, with her own strength achieving the great victory of White Head Mountain—your General Wei. She’s the chief culprit we Great Yue hate to the bone and want to eat her flesh and sleep on her hide. Yet she’s also your Tiansheng’s greatest hero in this campaign. She’s now beside me. As long as you take one more step forward, I’ll push her down. If you step back, I’ll ceremoniously send her out of the city.”

Tiansheng’s army stirred noisily. Beneath the great banner, Ning Yi remained silently speechless. Jin Siyu waited for the crowd to quiet down, then sneered: “I heard Tiansheng has many hot-blooded men. I also heard this cavalry is precisely the one General Wei once personally led. What—do you want to see General Wei, who suffered endless hardship for you, die with her brains splattered at your feet?”

“Retreat—retreat—” Yao Yangyu waved his long spear, galloping and shouting all the way: “Retreat—” Again his personal guards desperately threw themselves on his horse and blocked his mouth.

At this time both armies fell silent, looking at Ning Yi beneath the great banner. Retreat or not retreat—in the end only he could decide.

Ning Yi pressed his lips slightly, expression calm, impossible to read joy or anger. Yao Yangyu galloped to before his horse, falling to his knees with a thump: “Your Highness, Your Highness, retreat! Weren’t you here for—”

“Drag him away! Nonsense, disturbing military morale! After returning to camp, go receive sixty military cudgel strikes yourself!” Ning Yi didn’t even look at him, coldly shouting once. Immediately people came forward to drag the struggling Yao Yangyu away.

“Your Highness, you can kill me, but you cannot fail to rescue General Wei!” Yao Yangyu was dragged away while struggling and shouting loudly, his voice desolate. Troops on all sides showed moved expressions.

Atop the city wall, both Jin Siyu and Feng Zhiwei watched impassively. Jin Siyu smiled lightly: “Moved?”

Feng Zhiwei sighed.

“But I think he’ll retreat even if he doesn’t want to.” Jin Siyu smiled lightly. “Otherwise he’ll inevitably be crowned with the name of callous supreme commander. Afterward wanting to command troops will also be difficult.”

“Our army came here originally to welcome back General Wei.” After a long silent moment, beneath the city Ning Yi finally spoke. “Only hoping Prince An will keep his word.”

“A great man’s word is his bond.” Jin Siyu showed a trace of smile. “This is an oath made before two armies’ battle lines. Tens of thousands of sons are listening. You and I are both one nation’s princes—how can we make light of it? Please, Prince Chu, order the rear army to withdraw backward. Our army definitely won’t recklessly mobilize troops. Everyone can properly fight another battle come spring.”

“What about General Wei?” Ning Yi asked.

“As long as General Wei is willing, naturally he’ll leave with you. This prince’s word is his bond.” Jin Siyu smiled.

Ning Yi stared at him, slowly raising his palm upright.

Signal troops continuously changed flag signals, galloping past.

The rear army became the front army. Formation disciplined, slowly withdrawing. Ning Yi needn’t worry about the Great Yue main camp surrounding them with enemies before and behind—he’d long ago mobilized Tiansheng’s main army to hold position along the banks of the Weishui River, appearing to want to cross the river and attack. The Great Yue main camp, having already suffered one ambush, now definitely didn’t dare act rashly again.

Jin Siyu’s side—the guard battalion gathered formation, strictly stationed to guard the Weishui River guarding before the city gate.

The main army had moved. Beneath the great banner, Ning Yi and the others hadn’t left—all looking up at Feng Zhiwei.

But Feng Zhiwei suddenly sighed.

At her back, at some unknown moment, something coldly sharp had pressed against her.

“I don’t distrust you, but I need one final proof to set my mind at ease.” Jin Siyu intimately lowered his head beside her ear, saying softly: “You say you and Prince Chu are irreconcilable enemies. You’re about to defect to my nation. Why not take Ning Yi’s head as your certificate of abandoning darkness for light? How about it?”

“This far—I can’t shoot him dead.” Feng Zhiwei sighed.

“No matter. Try shooting.” Jin Siyu was very patient.

He smiled, leaning out toward beneath the city gate: “Immediately ceremoniously send General Wei out of the city.” While placing a long bow in Feng Zhiwei’s hand.

Before Feng Zhiwei stood battlements reaching her chest. Left and right sides both had people. Behind her was a snow-bright long blade.

She was deadlocked in the middle, trapped tightly with no way out, forced to use a single arrow to make a final declaration of allegiance to the ever-suspicious Jin Siyu.

Jin Siyu was smiling.

This arrow—hitting or not hitting didn’t matter. Hitting would naturally be best. The supreme commander killed, Tiansheng would inevitably fall into chaos. He could then firmly grasp victory. Not hitting—Wei Zhi shooting this arrow before ten thousand troops would forever be unable to return to Tiansheng, equally causing disappointed, shocked Tiansheng’s military morale to fall into chaos, reversing the battle situation.

Placing in a position of death to be reborn afterward—nothing more.

Feng Zhiwei only fell silent for an instant. Behind her, the long blade entered her flesh one fen.

She pressed her lips. Her fingers moved. Slowly she took the bow.

Jin Siyu’s eyes flickered. He couldn’t help smiling.

Feng Zhiwei also smiled helplessly, lowering her head to look down beneath the city.

The central army stood firm as rock, protecting the supreme commander’s banner fluttering high. In the distance, dawn had already broken. Ten thousand zhang of golden light, like sharp swords, split the deep gray overcast sky, piercing straight through the vast snowy wilderness to her very eyes. In the almost blinding golden light reflected by the snow, that man’s robes flew and danced as he stood silently, gazing at her.

Eyes meeting—seeing this coldly grim city.

She smiled at him. Then—drew the bow, nocked the arrow. The bow became a full moon.

The forest-black arrowhead like cold, hatred-filled eyes—silent, determined—toward him.

Below there wasn’t even an outcry. All who saw this scene were too shocked to make sound.

Ning Yi kept his head raised straight, looking at the raven-haired woman atop the city tower. Watching her expression calm. Watching her brows coldly congealed. Watching her bow-drawing hand steady as stone. Watching her aim at his direction without the slightest deviation.

No perfunctory gesture, no fakery, no hesitation. She drew the bow and raised the arrow—aimed at him.

In an instant, Changxi thirteenth year’s flying snow returned, spinning and howling as it rushed into his five organs and six viscera. Those flying snows transformed into countless past fragments from two years of acquaintance, coldly stuffing into his heart’s depths. Something was struck and shattered painfully, squeaking and creaking like deep snow being trampled.

Quick-reacting guards rushed up, raising shields. His face pale, he heavily swung his arm to push them away.

I once said that I would be here, waiting for you to bar the road with your blade and give me a single strike.

Now, after Dijing—our first formal meeting that year—you stood atop the city walls, drawing your bow, your cold arrow facing me directly. Have you finally come to settle this old score with me?

Seeing me, then killing me.

Good. Very good.

Ten thousand troops were struck with shock; only he did not move, did not retreat, did not defend, did not block—he merely raised his head to look at her.

Ten thousand troops were shocked; only she did not change expression, a trace of calm smile contained at the corners of her lips—as she drew the bow.

The bowstring gave a faint twang, the long arrow poised on the verge of release. Jin Siyu revealed a slight smile.

At this very instant—

Startling change erupted abruptly!

Her arm suddenly sank heavily. The heavy bow knocked against the battlement before her. The battlement instantly shattered, transforming into a red mist that dispersed. With the battlement thus lost as support, her body abruptly fell from the city wall!

Like a shooting star—she plunged down before ten thousand troops, across ten thousand zhang of snowy wilderness.

On the distant horizon, the deep red rising sun suddenly leaped up.

(End of Volume Two)