Qing Xia furrowed her brows tightly, unable to speak for a long time. Qin Zhiying looked at her and slowly shook his head, saying, “Perhaps you won’t believe it, but I truly don’t know what happened during that half month. After Father investigated, he concealed everything and simply sent Third Brother to the northern frontier camp. It wasn’t until five years ago that he returned to Xianyang.”
As if awls were stabbing into her heart one by one, Qing Xia slowly began to smile. She shook her head and pressed her lips tightly together.
What exactly had those people done to force such a person into this state? These utterly evil Qin princes, these inhuman shameless scoundrels—they couldn’t be spared, absolutely not.
“Miss Zhuang,” Qin Zhiying said in a deep voice, “regardless of everything, Third Brother is the person I respect most in my heart. The Qin family has rotted from within—it’s impossible for anyone to stay out of it. Rather than let others bring disaster to the country and people, it would be better to let Third Brother take their place. I’ve always hoped Third Brother could trust me the way he trusts Eighth Brother, but unfortunately I haven’t had that opportunity. Please help me convey these words to him.”
“Do you think he can still easily trust others now?” Qing Xia sneered coldly, saying lightly, “Regardless, I’m grateful that you were willing to tell me these things today. As for future matters, we’ll discuss them later.”
Qin Zhiying sighed helplessly and left. Lian Zhou, who had been waiting at the door, slowly walked in and said to Qing Xia, “Miss, His Highness is waiting for you to eat in the dining hall.”
“Mm,” Qing Xia nodded and said to Lian Zhou, “Tonight, bring five hundred elite troops from the Yan Character Camp into the city. We’ve been patient for too long—it’s time to strike back.”
Lian Zhou was startled, his expression somewhat strange as his eyes widened. Qing Xia frowned and said sternly, “Is there a problem?”
Lian Zhou quickly shook his head, “No, no, it’s just that His Highness just gave the same instructions. He said Miss might need people tonight.”
Now it was Qing Xia’s turn to be stunned, but in the next instant her expression became gentle.
Zhiyan, whether above the blue sky or below the yellow springs, I cannot let go of your hand. From now on, I will always stand by your side—you will never be alone again.
She had never known that after facing so much hardship and pain, a person could still live so calmly and gently. The moment the dining hall doors opened, Qin Zhiyan sat in his wooden wheelchair and suddenly looked up. His smile was light, his lips soft and warm—like an ink painting that instantly dazzled Qing Xia’s eyes.
The sunlight outside was so brilliant it almost made her want to cry. She slowly walked forward and, ignoring all the servants standing around the room, went straight to crouch beside Qin Zhiyan, resting her head on his knee and slowly exhaling as she closed her eyes.
The servants all tactfully withdrew. Qing’er lit some medicinal incense in the censer, filling the air with a reassuring fragrance. Qin Zhiyan’s hand gently brushed through Qing Xia’s beautiful hair like a breeze. Qing Xia sighed softly, her voice ethereal as mist as she slowly said, “Zhiyan, being able to lean against you like this feels so good.”
Qin Zhiyan smiled warmly, his voice carrying undisguised apology, “Yima’er, I frightened you.”
“You did more than frighten me,” Qing Xia laughed softly. “You nearly killed me. If something happened to you, I wouldn’t live alone.”
“Yima’er!”
Qin Zhiyan’s tone rose sharply. Qing Xia quickly raised her head and gently covered his mouth, shaking her head slightly, “You know I never speak empty words, so you must promise me to live well and never let anything happen to you.”
Qin Zhiyan’s expression was desolate as he smiled bitterly, “Yima’er, I truly am a selfish person.”
Qing Xia’s eyes reddened. Qin Zhiying’s words echoed in her ears again, stirring her heart with sharp pain. Fighting back tears, her voice still came out hoarse, “You’re the best person in the world—it’s just that Heaven has never treated you kindly.”
Qin Zhiyan reached out and held Qing Xia in his arms. She crouched before him, burying her head in his fresh, soft robes as large tears rolled down, soaking his clothes. Like a bullied child, she clutched tightly at Qin Zhiyan’s robes. Days of fear and worry, days of pain and sorrow, those nightmares that surged madly whenever she closed her eyes—all of it engulfed and devoured her completely. She couldn’t imagine what it was like for a five-year-old child trapped in the sunless imperial mausoleum, swallowing those rotting corpses bite by bite. Nor could she imagine how, during those ten long years of imprisonment, he lay in bed day after day, lonely and enduring the entire world’s alienation and disgust. How did the mockery and contempt from his mother, his sisters, his father, his brothers destroy all his hope for life again and again?
She suddenly remembered what he had said during their first intimate moment at Bailu Plain—that from a very young age, he had told himself never to become attached to anything, because once you couldn’t force what you desired, you would always be the one hurt in the end.
Qin Zhiyan, after experiencing so much darkness in your past, how can you still stand in sunlight with such a brilliant smile? After being betrayed and abandoned by so many people, how can you still choose to trust me without reservation? After being so hurt by this country and these heartless relatives, why do you still choose to protect this corrupt Great Qin without looking back? Qin Zhiyan, how can I blame such a you, how can I distance myself from such a you, how can I cruelly call you selfish?
Let me stay by your side, using my entire life to fill the gaps in your existence, using this inconceivable life of mine to love you without reservation.
“Zhiyan,” Qing Xia slowly raised her head, tears blurring her vision but her smile blooming like flowers. Crystal teardrops rolled down her pale cheeks with otherworldly beauty as she laughed softly, “Now I finally know why Heaven made me come to this world—it was to meet you.”
“Zhiyan, we’re like two trees that grow intertwined—if either leaves the other, both will die beyond redemption. So you absolutely cannot abandon me. Let me accompany you, care for you, make you happy, tell you jokes. My shoulders are small and thin, but they’re strong. Let me help you. You get tired too, you hurt too, you feel sad and lost too, you feel lonely and helpless too. I just want to give you something to lean on when you’re tired, just want to help share some of your heavy burdens. Is that alright?”
Qin Zhiyan’s eyes were like the sea with crystal pearls shimmering within. Finally he closed his eyes, embraced Qing Xia’s shoulders, and said softly, “Yima’er, having you by my side is my greatest support.”
“Zhiyan, let’s agree—neither of us can abandon the other first. Even if we must die, let us die together.”
Qin Zhiyan’s gaze suddenly froze. His eyes looked at Qing Xia, but seemed to have penetrated through her, seeing so very far away. After a very long time, he finally nodded, holding Qing Xia’s soft body as he said quietly, “Alright.”
Outside the door, morning flowers bloomed in full splendor and warm sunlight shone on water as the entire world grew quiet for a moment. In this floating life, what was right and what was wrong, which people were worthy and which had been disappointed time and again—let her bury it all and heartlessly ignore it. She only wanted time to peacefully stop at this instant, to quietly remain beside this man who was as gentle as water, using her entire life to make him happy, never to leave again, never to leave again.
Time flew by swiftly. The sixtieth birthday of Great Qin Emperor Qin Zicheng was approaching. In nine more days would come the joyous occasion when Great Qin would feast guests from all quarters and grant amnesty to the realm. Xianyang City was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, filled with festive atmosphere. Envoys from various nations had already arrived—only the forces from Eastern Qi, Southern Chu, and Xichuan were still on the road, not yet having entered Great Qin’s borders.
However, just at this time, strange incidents repeatedly occurred in Xianyang City. First, on the Weishui River, large numbers of white fish defied the season and swam upstream against the current, gathering collectively at Yaoling Bend as if to block the water flow. Then, when many families in Xianyang City drew water from wells, they pulled up enormous silver fish. When the fish bellies were split open, they contained poems about a wise ruler soon to emerge. Fruits like apples and pears transported from the south and sold in markets also bore auspicious signs of a sage ruler’s birth. The sky was filled with birds throughout the day, gathering in Xianyang like ten thousand birds paying homage to the phoenix. For a time, Great Qin’s joy grew even greater. Hundreds of scribes at the Imperial Censorate rallied together, all saying that only Great Qin’s wise ruler could attract such heaven-sent omens. The Qin King was greatly pleased, his face radiant with joy daily, and the court immediately launched a vigorous wave of praise for the Qin King’s achievements and virtues.
However, the good times didn’t last long. Within two days, the white fish in the Weishui broke through the stone embankment outside Xianyang City. A statue of the Yellow Emperor carved entirely from yellow earth-colored stone was lifted up by the white fish in unison and floated on the Weishui River before being salvaged by soldiers repairing the embankment. The back of the statue was actually carved with a row of birth date and time characters, vaguely suggesting the appearance of a new sage.
The common people of Xianyang competed to spread the news. Three days later, the new sage whose birth date and time matched came to prominence—it was actually Great Qin’s Second Prince, Qin Zhiyi.
This was undoubtedly a heavy slap in the face to the Qin King, who had been elevated to the heavens by the officials. For a time, Qin Zhiyi’s reputation among the people climbed to its peak, but in court he became a rat crossing the street that everyone wanted to beat. All the imperial relatives and outer court ministers who had weathered storms fixed their eyes on this Second Prince who sought quick success and instant benefits. Many ministers who had previously sided with him also reconsidered their allegiances, changing with the wind. Everyone naturally assumed this affair was orchestrated by Qin Zhiyi himself to build momentum, hoping to compete with the Crown Prince and Prince Xuan, but unexpectedly had kicked an iron plate and stolen the Qin King’s spotlight.