Mu Lian pressed her lips tightly together, suddenly reaching out to gently embrace Qing Xia’s shoulder, saying in a deep voice: “Be careful.”
“You too.”
Qing Xia rode on her warhorse and had just rounded Wuhua Gate when she saw that the main street ahead was completely empty without a single person. Qing Xia’s heart immediately tightened, all the muscles in her body tensed sensitively like a leopard, ready to attack at any moment. Because she knew that ahead might very well be the place where her bones would be buried.
She had never feared death—she only feared dying without value.
“Ahem!”
A light cough suddenly rang out. Qing Xia immediately turned her head, her sharp eyes fixed on Qin Zhiye’s face. She saw Qin Zhiye slowly raising his hand, about to wave it down. The ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger as she slowly bent her legs, ready to launch a fierce counterattack at any moment.
The air was oppressive, swords drawn and ready. However, at this critical moment between life and death, suddenly a sharp, high-pitched long cry rang out. Everyone was startled and turned their heads toward the East City Gate. On the majestic and imposing eastern gate, dozens of messengers held horns, blowing long notes with powerful, stirring, and resonant sounds that reached every corner of Xianyang city’s streets and alleys.
Beyond the city wall, a black dragon banner suddenly rose, fluttering in the wind with dramatic flourish.
In an instant, countless voices on the city wall shouted in unison: “The Great Emperor of Southern Chu leads five hundred thousand troops, coming to pay respects at the Crown Prince’s funeral!”
“The Great Emperor of Southern Chu leads five hundred thousand troops, coming to pay respects at the Crown Prince’s funeral!”
The voices were so powerful they reached everyone’s hearts. Just when the entire world, all tribes and vassal states, were avoiding Great Qin like a plague-ridden swamp, just when she had no one to turn to and was surrounded by enemies on all sides, just when she was prepared to fight with her life in a desperate gamble, that man—the man she had repeatedly hurt yet who repeatedly remained entangled with her—finally appeared once again in her life in this manner, boldly stepping forward.
Many times, fate is just like this—full of ups and downs, hope mixed with destruction, new life ignited within death. Qing Xia looked toward the distant east, at that banner that brought her immense confidence and strength, feeling her eyes grow moist. She pressed her lips together tightly, turned her bright gaze toward Qin Zhiye’s ugly expression, and smiled: “Prince Xiang Your Highness, shall we first enter the palace, or shall we first go welcome the Great Emperor of Chu’s grand arrival?”
When she saw Chu Li, it was exactly noon. The sunlight was dazzling but not scorching, bright and white, though the wind was cool.
Looking at him, Qing Xia felt as if time had flowed backward to many days ago, when she stood among the hundred herbs, gazing at that god-like man, for the first time in her life completely unable to conceal her emotions, panicking like a woman who had never seen the world.
But at this moment, looking at the dark mass of troops in the distance, looking at Chu Li’s resilient and handsome face, her heart surged like a bursting dam, churning wildly.
To what extent can a person be moved? What does it feel like to see dawn in desperate circumstances? Without his existence, would she have been able to walk safely to this day?
If Qin Zhiyan was the warmest home in the turbid mortal world, then Chu Li was the great tree at the door. Though she had always kept him outside, he had always stood there steadfastly, never leaving. Gradually, without her notice, he had grown lush with branches and leaves, gradually bore abundant fruit, gradually towered to great heights, finally surrounded by radiant light, becoming her bodhi tree.
Her smile gradually grew bitter, containing too many things she was unwilling to touch. Chu Li approached slowly with his great army, the long wind billowing through his robes, carrying dust from the journey and the perseverance of traveling day and night, making a round trip between Qin and Chu within seven days. His gaze was sharp like an eagle.
Qin Zhiye’s expression was gloomy, but he still asked: “I wonder why the Great Emperor of Southern Chu has returned after leaving?”
Chu Li looked at him coldly, then without saying a word turned to look at Qing Xia, as if he hadn’t heard Qin Zhiye’s question at all. He said in a deep voice to Qing Xia: “Are you all right?”
Qing Xia’s tears nearly fell. She bit her lower lip slightly, pressed her mouth tight, raised her head and slowly shook it. The fear and anxiety of these three days, the heartache and sadness of feeling powerless, swept over her mind like rolling tides. Those worries and fears that haunted her midnight dreams coiled around her nerves like snakes and insects.
This single sentence from Chu Li contained too much. When Prince Xuan’s manor was on the verge of collapse, when she had collapsed and been imprisoned, he hadn’t embraced her at the first opportunity, nor had he visited her in prison like Qi’an to take her away. Instead, he chose to return to his country overnight, reorganize his troops, and race thousands of miles to bring her the strongest support, to be her most steadfast backing. Simply because he understood her, comprehended her, and knew it was impossible to just take her away.
She had always thought Chu Li was a man who didn’t understand love. When she saw Qin Zhiyan pierced by the sharp arrow, he was the first person she suspected. Even when she learned he had left Great Qin, she truly believed he didn’t want to be involved in Great Qin’s internal strife.
She had never truly trusted him, even though he had repeatedly fallen into danger for her sake, even though he had repeatedly been severely injured for her, she still couldn’t completely trust him. That doubt seemed to exist deep in her flesh and blood. She could trust Qin Zhiyan without reservation—even trapped in mortal danger, she believed Qin Zhiyan would come to rescue her at the first opportunity. But she had forgotten that in every desperate situation, she had also seen Chu Li’s shadow.
Qing Xia’s eyes were like water as she pressed her lips together and shook her head vigorously, indicating she was fine.
Chu Li nodded, saying in a deep voice: “That’s good then.”
Qin Zhiye’s expression instantly became as ugly as possible, his voice carrying a trace of anger, but still forcibly suppressing his rage as he said in a deep voice: “Emperor Chu Your Majesty…”
“Go find someone with authority to speak with me.”
Chu Li’s voice was low. Without even glancing at him, he spoke with an arrogant attitude that nevertheless carried the noble bearing unique to a sovereign. Then, lowering his head to Qing Xia, he said: “Come with me.”
“Coming and going as you please—Emperor Chu Your Majesty is being far too arrogant!” Qin Zhiye finally flew into a rage, his eyes flashing as he shouted angrily.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the five hundred thousand Southern Chu troops behind Chu Li suddenly roared in unison with perfect coordination, like thunder from a clear sky, with shocking momentum.
Chu Li slowly turned his head back, his eyes glancing indifferently at Qin Zhiye. Though he said nothing, his contemptuous expression was clearly evident.
“After Qin Zhiyan, does Great Qin still have anyone?” Chu Li smiled faintly, saying with no small mockery: “If I were you, I definitely wouldn’t be entangled here. Five hundred thousand troops reached Xianyang’s gates before your sentries discovered them—doesn’t Prince Xiang Your Highness know what this means?”
Qin Zhiye’s face turned iron-blue. Chu Li smiled faintly and said: “I have come this time merely to pay my respects to the deceased. Your Highness need not panic.”
“Since Emperor Chu Your Majesty has come to pay respects, please proceed to Taihe Palace for discussion.”
“No need,” Chu Li said in a deep voice: “Paying respects is only one reason. The second is that I’ve come to take my consort back to my country.”
Qin Zhiye frowned, his tone gloomy as he said: “What does Your Majesty mean by this? Is Your Majesty’s consort in my Great Qin?”
Chu Li laughed heartily, saying in a clear voice: “Why speak falsely before an honest man? Zhuang Qingxia is my consort—who in the world doesn’t know this?” Having said this, his gaze swept over the group of guards behind Qin Zhiye, and he snorted coldly.
“Oh? Zhuang Qingxia is Emperor Chu’s consort? This truly is world-shaking news. Just a few days ago, I was drinking ceremonial tea she personally served. Miss Zhuang is a princess of my Great Qin, the director of our country’s Construction Bureau. Doesn’t Your Majesty think it’s too late to say these things now?”
Chu Li snorted disdainfully: “Seven days ago I nearly personally delivered her to Prince Xuan of Qin, but now I’ve changed my mind. So what?”
Qin Zhiye said with displeasure: “Emperor Chu Your Majesty is a sovereign of a nation—isn’t speaking this way too frivolous?”
“Is that so?” Chu Li smiled coldly: “I’ve always been frivolous in my conduct. Is Prince Xiang Your Highness only learning this today?”
Qin Zhiye flew into a rage, shouting angrily: “Chu Li! Don’t go too far! Do you think I’m truly afraid of you?”
“I am bullying you—what will you do about it?” Chu Li’s gaze immediately turned cold as he retorted sharply.
Qin Zhiye’s face turned iron-blue as he said coldly: “Great Qin has strong cavalry and elite soldiers, unmatched for a hundred years. My Great Qin’s military and people are united as one. Do you really think you can cover the sky with one hand?”
“These words are not your place to say to me.” Chu Li laughed coldly, mockingly saying: “Great Qin’s Marshal of Arms is Prince Xuan of Qin, not you. Don’t think that gaining a momentary advantage means you’ll occupy it forever. When you’ve truly secured your position in the Qin court, then come speak with me.”
Having said this, he grasped Qing Xia’s hand and turned to leave.
“Chu Li, if the name is not correct, the words will not ring true. You wage war recklessly with no clear justification—the world has its own justice to judge you!”
Chu Li turned back with amusement, slowly shaking his head: “Someone who kills brothers and fathers, harms loyal subjects, and imprisons brothers also has the nerve to speak of names being correct and words ringing true. You and I are the same kind of people—why use justice that neither of us cares about to pressure others? Besides, I came to pay respects and incidentally take back my consort—this is completely justified with nothing that violates justice. I advise you that if you want to fabricate charges, you should put in a bit more effort.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Li stepped forward and swept Qing Xia up in his arms horizontally, striding toward his troops.
Qing Xia was startled and immediately pushed against Chu Li’s chest, saying urgently: “Chu Li, put me down.”
Chu Li remained unmoved, his arms like cast iron and steel, holding her tightly in his embrace without the slightest relaxation.