Qing Xia smiled coldly, her eyes rolling as a bold idea formed in her mind. Remembering how Qin Zhiyi and the others had acted so arrogantly and aggressively at the banquet, pressing people at every turn, she couldn’t help but feel murderous intent. Since they showed no benevolence, she couldn’t be blamed for showing no righteousness. This group had repeatedly opposed Prince Xuan’s mansion—it was time to give them a taste of their own medicine. With this thought, she began giving orders to everyone.
Half an hour passed, and most people still seemed somewhat confused. Only Li Zhentao and Lian Zhou had some understanding. Qing Xia said in a low voice, “Do as I’ve instructed. Remember to be extremely careful and cautious—don’t let slip even the slightest hint or leave any traces.”
Everyone acknowledged and withdrew. Qing Xia suddenly remembered something else and called back Lian Zhou. After everyone had left, she said in a low voice, “Send a carrier pigeon to Consul Zhu in Penglai. Tell him what I mentioned before—it’s fine to go slowly. Make the blueprints seem plausible but flawed, so the Qin people can’t succeed immediately. If it can be delayed three to five years, that would be even better.”
Lian Zhou nodded in agreement and closed the study door.
Candlelight flickered all around, and a gentle breeze blew outside the window. Qin Zhiyan’s study faced the water—outside was a lake with willow trees lining both shores and a small pavilion in the center of the lake, creating a very tranquil scene. It was already deep into the night with no one moving about. Qing Xia put on a cloak, slowly pushed open the door, and walked outside. She saw the desolate moonlight and rippling water waves. Occasionally cricket songs arose, making the surroundings seem even more quiet and peaceful.
She slowly raised her head to gaze at the southern sky, her eyes misty as she said almost inaudibly, “The Great Qin is wealthy with a strong military, their eastern conquest ambitions clearly evident. I can only buy you five years. With your capabilities, after five years you should have the strength to battle Qin. I owe you and have wronged you—this is all I can do for you.”
The moonlight was desolate and misty, all things silent. Under the dim moonlight, the woman’s figure was ethereal as mist, making her appear indistinct.
After returning from the royal banquet, Qin Zhiyan fell ill. For three consecutive days, eight witch doctors from Nanjiang consulted in his bedchamber. Finally, on the fourth morning, they emerged from the room, everyone mentally and physically exhausted. They stated clearly that if the Grand Elder couldn’t be invited out of the palace, Qin Zhiyan wouldn’t survive past the end of next month.
Qing Xia personally went to kneel before the Purple Gold Gate, requesting an audience with the palace. Two hours later, she received only a box of pills, said to preserve the Third Prince’s life completely.
After taking the medicine, his breathing indeed became calmer and his condition improved. Seeing that Qin Zhiyan’s complexion was finally no longer so pale, Qing Xia’s heart, which had been suspended for days, finally settled. However, the toxins lurking in her body suddenly erupted, causing her to cough up blood in front of others and fall seriously ill.
When she awoke, it was already noon the next day. Qin Zhiyan, wearing a blue robe with wide sleeves and a gentle expression, was sitting in front of her. Seeing her wake up, he laughed softly with joy. After the storm passed, what remained was continuous worry and anxiety. But just then, war suddenly broke out in the northern frontier. The northern frontier camp sent urgent reports to Xianyang, requesting that the Third Prince oversee the northern frontier. Fortunately, the Eighth Prince Qin Zhixiang voluntarily petitioned for battle, sparing Qin Zhiyan from having to travel to the northern frontier while dragging his sick body.
In the early morning, Xianyang City bustled with crowds. Compared to the strict hierarchical vigilance between the inner and outer cities of Southern Chu, the streets of Xianyang seemed livelier. Early that morning, Qing Xia took Prince Xuan’s retinue to Baiting Slope in the north of the city to send off Qin Zhixiang, who was about to depart for battle. All the way, fine horses galloped, blue robes and black hair flying, full of heroic spirit.
Compared to the liveliness in Taihe Hall that day, today’s Baiting Slope seemed much more deserted, with only a few scattered outer court ministers coming. Qin Zhixiang brought twenty personal guards and wore blue armor. His features, which resembled Qin Zhiyan’s, no longer carried that sickly weakness and appeared sunny and handsome. Seeing Qing Xia arrive, he smiled freely, ran forward, and said to Qing Xia with a smile, “Third Sister-in-law, you came.”
Qing Xia was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Although Prince Qin had already arranged their betrothal, they hadn’t married yet. Being called “Third Sister-in-law” so intimately by him suddenly left her somewhat unable to react.
“This northern frontier battle is urgent—I probably won’t be able to return for your and Third Brother’s wedding. I’m calling you Third Sister-in-law in advance, considering it as drinking Third Brother’s wedding wine.”
Qing Xia felt warmth in her heart. Facing this only Great Qin prince she didn’t need to guard against, she said solemnly, “Last year the northern lands suffered severe snow disasters. Now is the most difficult time when old grain is exhausted and new grain hasn’t grown. Last time they gained benefits, this time they’re surging forward even more fiercely like evil wolves. When you’re at the front lines, be careful and cautious in everything. Zhiyan and I will wait in Xianyang City for your triumphant return, to become another war god of our Great Qin.”
Qin Zhixiang nodded, “Third Sister-in-law, take care of your health too. I’m leaving now.”
Qing Xia smiled slightly, “Be careful in everything.”
On the way back to the city, she kept hearing people talk about the recent spectacle of white fish collectively swimming westward in the Weishui River. Hearing this, Qing Xia sneered inwardly but remained expressionless on the surface. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner—what was needed now was just patient waiting and a good mindset for appreciating the comedy.
Just as they reached the second gate of the north city gate, she saw soldiers from the inner city’s Capital Camp escorting a group of men and women dressed in coarse hemp clothes, waiting for inspection before leaving the gate. Qing Xia had sharp eyes and spotted an elderly woman of about fifty who looked very familiar, but having been ill and dizzy recently, she couldn’t remember where she had seen her. Seeing Qing Xia rein in her horse and stop, Lian Zhou approached and asked quietly, “Miss, what happened?”
Qing Xia slowly shook her head, “Lian Zhou, go ask what crimes those people committed.”
Lian Zhou nodded in agreement. After a while, he returned and said respectfully, “Miss, that group consists of palace servants. They say they committed crimes and are being taken to the Sima Bureau to serve as slaves.”
Qing Xia was shocked upon hearing this. She gazed intently, nodded slightly, and said, “Let’s go, return to the mansion.”
Returning to the prince’s mansion, she handed the reins to a servant and noticed two sedan chairs parked at the mansion’s entrance. While walking, she asked the mansion’s third steward, “Who has come?”
Third Steward Zhang Yan was a middle-aged man with a pointed face and monkey-like cheeks—very unappealing in appearance but quite clever and loyal. The mansion’s people had long regarded Qing Xia as the mistress, so he quickly smiled and said, “They’re two thousand-household generals posted to Shangxi and Yanrong. The Prince is celebrating his grand birthday, so officials from all regions have returned to the capital to offer congratulations.”
Qing Xia frowned, asking seriously, “Has His Highness seen them?”
“No,” Zhang Yan shook his head, “His Highness arranged for the second steward to host a banquet for the two generals at Tingsong Pavilion. His Highness is currently in the hanging tower.”
Qing Xia nodded, handed him the riding whip, and turned toward the hanging tower. Along the way, servants bowed respectfully. Passing through flowers and willows, she opened the door to the hanging tower’s flower room. A pure and elegant fragrance hit her face. Qin Zhiyan, wearing a blue long robe, stood among the room full of orchids, holding a small soil spade in his hand. Hearing the sound, he didn’t turn around but continued carefully tending to a premium ink orchid, his voice deep and hoarse yet very gentle: “You’re back. Has Eighth Brother left?”
All of Qing Xia’s sharp energy immediately dissipated. She walked slowly behind Qin Zhiyan, reached out from behind to embrace his waist, and pressed her face tightly against his back. Qin Zhiyan was slightly stunned, his body stiffening. He slowly straightened up, put down the spade, his two slender hands covered in black soil, and said somewhat amusingly, “What’s wrong? Did someone wrong you?”
Qing Xia didn’t speak, just shook her head repeatedly, her forehead rubbing against the clothes on Qin Zhiyan’s back, making him feel slightly ticklish.
Qin Zhiyan chuckled softly, holding up his two dirty hands, saying somewhat helplessly, “Yima’er, my hands are very dirty.”
Qing Xia still stubbornly held him, not at all like the sharp and calm mansion mistress she was in front of servants, nor like the keen and sharp-tongued county princess she was in Taihe Hall. Instead, she was like a spoiled child, her voice muffled as she said, “Qin Zhiyan, why are you so good to me?”
Qin Zhiyan’s lips curved warmly. Her warm breath continuously blew on his back, so warm it seemed to blow into his spine. His cheeks were somewhat thin but still appeared so handsome, carrying a deep warmth that put people at ease. Qing Xia’s random words left this virtuous prince of Great Qin quite unable to grasp the point, so he could only follow her words: “Yima’er is also very good.”
Qing Xia suddenly released Qin Zhiyan’s waist, ran quickly to face him, stood on tiptoe to look directly into his eyes, and said loudly, “Tell me, why are you so good to me?”
Qin Zhiyan smiled indulgently and actually reached out with his black finger to tap Qing Xia’s nose tip, saying, “Because Yima’er is also very good to me.”
Qing Xia spread her arms wide and hugged Qin Zhiyan’s neck, burying her head in his embrace, pouting as she said, “Qin Zhiyan, I will always be good to you.”
“Mm.” Qin Zhiyan smiled, carefully embracing her with his arms while being careful not to let his hands touch her clothes, deep smile lines appearing at the corners of his eyes.
In the small flower room filled with the light, gentle fragrance of orchids, Qing Xia and Qin Zhiyan embraced each other. At this moment, she was no longer the chaotic beauty of the four warring nations, nor was he the Great Qin prince who commanded respect in the northern frontier. They were just an ordinary couple in this mundane world who could smile at each other after hardships, walk hand in hand after wars, and quietly embrace each other after life and death.
Suddenly remembering the matter at Tingsong Pavilion, she said softly, “The thousand-household generals from Shangxi and Yanrong…”
“No need to pay attention,” Qin Zhiyan’s lips curved in a light smile, “They’ll naturally leave in a while.”
Qing Xia nodded, “Whose people are they?”
Qin Zhiyan’s eyes were deep. He released Qing Xia, picked up the spade, and straightened the green leaves of the ink orchid, saying lightly, “Prince Yan’s young county princess had her full-month celebration yesterday. With many people and loose tongues, inevitably some will say the wrong things.”
“This can’t be left at that!” Qing Xia’s eyebrows raised sharply as she said angrily, “This isn’t the first time.”
“Yima’er,” Qin Zhiyan turned around and said seriously, “Prince Xuan’s mansion is a tall tree that attracts wind, but they’re also like spilled water that’s hard to retrieve. Now with the northern Xiongnu constantly knocking at our borders and harassing the frontiers, serious floods in the south, and severe drought in the east, I don’t want to provoke trouble at this time.”