The third watch had passed, yet Xianyang city remained chaotic. Qin Zhiye slowly closed his eyes, thinking silently: Could it really be that Heaven is not with me? Has it sent down this strange disaster? With no other choice, he had to nod and send people to the prison to find Princess Minrui and ask for a solution to save lives.
Who would have known that the messenger returned shortly, reporting that Princess Minrui had refused to answer his questions on the grounds that as a criminal, she could not speak carelessly about court affairs. At this moment, more than half of the outer city wall had turned red from the fire, and there were even signs of collapse.
After trying various methods and being unable to stop the fire’s relentless spread, Qin Zhiye had no choice but to make the painful decision to announce that Zhuang Qingxia was implicated by others and was innocent. He personally went to the Supervision Pavilion to bring her out.
The moment Qing Xia was released from prison, almost all the citizens of Xianyang had come to wait outside the Supervision Pavilion. Looking at these suffering people, Qing Xia felt the pain in her heart gradually expand and spread. How great were her sins, but if she didn’t do this, Qin Zhiyan would die, Qin Zhiye would come to power, and by then, the Han people in Xianyang city might suffer even greater disasters.
The reason the fire couldn’t be controlled was actually because someone was deliberately setting fires, and through the Eight Shamans’ skillful preparation, they had created medicinal materials that produced flammable gases after burning. Water was completely useless—what was needed was large amounts of mud and sand. After working busily until dawn, the fire was finally brought under control. But the southern city had become a wasteland of ruins and scorched earth, uninhabitable for anyone.
On Xianyang’s streets, cries shook the heavens, filled with mourning songs. The people were displaced and homeless.
Facing the rising morning sun, Qin Zhiye welcomed his second day in power. Undoubtedly, this was truly a dismal beginning.
Just as the entire city was announcing the cancellation of Prince Qin’s birthday celebration, Princess Minrui entered Prince Xuan’s manor, opened the granaries, distributed porridge and grain, opened all the shops in the manor’s inner and outer courtyards to shelter the city’s homeless citizens, and established brick kilns to produce red bricks for building houses for the people.
With Qing Xia, this experienced guide who mastered advanced technology, the brick production went very smoothly. Within five days, through the joint efforts of the people, Prince Xuan’s manor, and the Construction Bureau, the southern city quickly erected a row of tall, clean houses that were even more beautiful and grand than before. Prince Xuan’s manor’s reputation once again resounded loudly among the people.
At this very moment, the originally disbanded Yan Character Battalion members abandoned their former masters and switched allegiance to the Seventh Prince, Ninth Prince, and others.
Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest—when disaster strikes, each flies away separately. If this is true even for spouses, how much more so for masters and servants? Thus, without any precaution, in great joy, various princes happily accepted this large group of guests with remarkable skills and fierce combat abilities. As a result, each prince’s power grew, the Seventh and Ninth Princes became eager to try their strength, actually showing intentions to compete with Qin Zhiye. Facing his suddenly challenging brothers, Qin Zhiye couldn’t help but feel somewhat flustered. Although this group wasn’t enough to shake his position, they were indeed enough to give him headaches. For a time, he truly couldn’t spare the effort to deal with Zhuang Qingxia.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the convenience of helping southern city residents build houses, Qing Xia and others finally dug through a passage under the southern city wall corner on the fourth day. The passage was over twenty meters long and led directly outside the city. That very night, Qing Xia personally sent out ten groups of death warriors toward the east and north directions to intercept Qin Zhixiang and Lu Huayang. She also secretly sent letters to northern frontier generals who were on good terms with Qin Zhiyan, requesting their support.
Everything was ready except the east wind. Just as Qing Xia was anxiously waiting for reinforcements from Qin Zhixiang and Lu Huayang, a disturbance occurred during the morning court session at Taihe Hall. Ninth Prince Qin Zhimin clashed with Qin Zhiye, and in his unguarded words, he loudly cursed him as the mastermind who conspired to rebel, framed Qin Zhiyan, placed Qin Zhiyi under house arrest, killed Qin Zhixian, and severely injured Prince Qin. Qin Zhiye flew into a rage in court and struck down Qin Zhimin with his sword, blood splattering the court hall. The Seventh Prince and others were intimidated and dared not speak. Great Qin had lost another prince.
Qing Xia had lost another chess piece, and her strategy of delaying time clearly couldn’t work. Just as Qing Xia was anxiously preparing her next plan, Qin Zhiye—whether through some intuition or not—decided not to wait for Shanglü Academy’s trial. He placed all the blame on Qin Zhiyan and announced that tomorrow at noon, at Zhengyang Square, he would execute the traitor who usurped the state.
When Qing Xia heard this news, she had just released a carrier pigeon with a message for Zhu Yuanqing. Her face suddenly turned snow-white, the hand holding the brush trembled uncontrollably, and she could barely form complete sentences when speaking.
Mu Lian frowned as she looked at her, her brow deeply furrowed, saying in a deep voice: “Is there no other way? Are we just going to watch His Highness die?”
Qing Xia shook her head, murmuring as if speaking to her or to herself: “I didn’t expect Qin Zhiye to be so vicious, killing Qin Zhimin regardless of reputation. Now waiting for reinforcements from the Eighth Prince and Lu Huayang is unrealistic. Tonight, spread the news that Zhiyan is to be executed. Secretly make banners of Zhiyan’s achievements from recent years and post them in the busy areas of streets and alleys. Have the manor’s servants mingle among the people, spread rumors, and disseminate the story of Qin Zhiye’s conspiracy to rebel and frame loyal subjects. Also, prepare mourning clothes and caps—have everyone in the manor dress properly and go to the execution ground to create momentum. Delay as long as possible. Finally, gather all the loyal and brave soldiers of the Yan Character Battalion, ambush them on both sides of the square, and prepare for support and rescue, ready to storm the execution ground at any time.”
“Storm the execution ground?”
“Yes!” Qing Xia’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes cold as snow, silver teeth clenched tight. She picked up the small dagger from the table and drew it out in one motion, its sharp cold light flashing. The woman snorted coldly, saying in a deep voice: “Success or failure depends on this single move. Today, I want to see where Great Qin’s popular sentiment truly lies. Is this world ruled by treacherous ministers or does it honor the benevolent? If there truly is no justice in this world, we’ll make all of Xianyang city accompany us in death! Qin Zhiye, Prince Yan, the Seventh Prince, the Qin Emperor—none of them will escape.”
“Miss!” Bi’er suddenly ran out in panic, shouting loudly: “Prince Qi has sent someone with this item. Their convoy has already left Xianyang.”
Qing Xia took it and saw it was a copper token wrapped in yellow silk. On the silk, elegant calligraphy read: “With this as proof, you may freely enter the border. I have arranged everything for you at the frontier. If the situation becomes impossible, do not fight desperately. You may come to Qi to find me at any time.”
Qing Xia’s eyes slightly moistened, and she bit her lower lip tightly. She hadn’t expected that at this final critical moment, the only person willing to help her would be Qi’an. But after all, he had his own country and wouldn’t involve himself in Great Qin’s internal strife for her sake.
“Miss, Miss,” just as she thought this, Qing’er ran in again, her face panicked as she called: “Fourth Prince His Highness has brought the Imperial Guards and reached the Eastern Splendor Gate. It looks like they’re heading for our manor!”
“What?” Mu Lian was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, turning to look at Qing Xia with terror.
Qing Xia bit her lips and said: “It seems he’s already become aware of our actions today. Even if it means earning a bad reputation, he wants to deal with us now. Bi’er, immediately mobilize all available forces in the manor. Even if we truly have to fight with our backs to the wall, I must kill him first to clear the path for Zhiyan.”
Just as she was about to go out, she suddenly noticed Mu Lian following her. Qing Xia frowned, saying in a deep voice: “Mu Lian, you’re not a person of the manor. Why throw away your life needlessly?”
“Neither are you a person of the manor.”
“Mu Lian…”
“There’s no need to say more,” Mu Lian shook her head: “I know that someone like me has no right to stay by His Highness’s side, but at the very least, I have the right to die for him. This is my final hope—please fulfill it for me.”
Having said this, she turned and walked toward the front gate.
Qing Xia’s expression grew slightly deeper. She wanted to say something but ultimately swallowed her words.
Outside Prince Xuan’s manor, many common people had already gathered. Qin Zhiye wore a black-gold long robe, his handsome features carrying a hint of evil charm.
Qing Xia, dressed in splendid colorful robes, walked out first and stood before Qin Zhiye, saying in a deep voice: “I was unaware of Prince Xiang’s grand arrival and failed to welcome you properly.”
Qin Zhiye smiled faintly, saying softly: “The Empress Dowager regained consciousness yesterday and misses the Princess greatly. She wishes to invite Princess Minrui to the palace for a chat, so she sent me to escort the Princess to the palace.”
How could Qing Xia not know what this meant? She laughed coldly: “Fourth Prince His Highness really knows how to joke. My husband is to be beheaded by you tomorrow—do you think I would still have any mood to chat with others about old times?”
Qin Zhiye snorted coldly, saying indifferently: “The Princess is not yet married—where does this talk of a husband come from? Could it be that you’ve recently been addled by the smoke from the southern city? Your mental clarity seems to have deteriorated.”
“I am but a woman and naturally have no great intellect. But even if I am dull-witted, I still understand the principles of loyalty to the sovereign, love of country, and proper relationships—unlike certain people who are wolf-hearted and dog-lunged, deranged and conscienceless, killing brothers and fathers, completely devoid of conscience. Sooner or later, Heaven’s punishment will come.”
The servants beside Qin Zhiye flew into a rage, but Qin Zhiye blocked them, laughing coldly: “What I fear is that Heaven itself is blind and simply cannot see everything in this world. Relying on Heaven is not as practical as relying on oneself. Princess Minrui, please come with me. Don’t let everyone in Prince Xuan’s manor become sacrificial victims for your willfulness.”
“You!”
Qing Xia blocked Mu Lian with one hand, turned and leaned close to her ear, whispering softly: “Remember clearly everything I told you before. I will find an opportunity to eliminate Qin Zhiye. Do as I said and be sure to rescue Zhiyan.”
Mu Lian was startled, immediately looking at her with sorrow. She clearly knew what the consequences of this action would be. Assassinating the commander-in-chief amidst ten thousand troops—even if successful, the result would still be certain death.
“There’s no need for this,” Qing Xia smiled faintly: “You should understand better than anyone why I’m doing this.”