“Well said!” Chu Li suddenly shouted sternly, then said solemnly, “Xia Qing, receive your orders. From today forth, you are the military and administrative governor general of Southern Chu’s southeastern province, responsible for civil administration and taxation, military authority and border defense, and supervising all officials. You must devote your heart and exhaust your efforts, not disappointing my expectations of you.”
“Thank Your Majesty!” Qing Xia fell to her knees with a thud and declared loudly, “This subject will certainly serve the nation with loyalty, following Your Majesty through thick and thin, building great achievements, advancing and retreating together, never speaking of separation!”
Hearing this, Chu Li smiled slightly, his expression carrying a trace of faint expectation as he said softly, “Good, advancing and retreating together, never speaking of separation. You must remember these words from today.”
“Your Majesty is sage!” All Southern Chu military generals immediately knelt and shouted loudly.
The rice was already in the pot, the boat already made—the other ministers helplessly knelt together and said solemnly, “Your Majesty is sage!”
Promoting someone with no achievements whatsoever, even unknown to anyone, to become a regional high minister was originally impossible. But this impossible thing was accomplished under Chu Li’s accumulated prestige from just conquering Eastern Qi and Qing Xia’s eloquent persuasion. Later historians gave this day a grand name, calling it the Day of Swallowing the Seas.
As the saying goes: “The hidden dragon concealed in the flowing sand river, once breaking through clouds swallows the ocean. All civil and military officials are troubled by this, not knowing this dragon is actually a phoenix.”
In the chaos of later times, Zhuang Qing Xia, who would be called one of the three great heroines of the age alongside Northern Qin’s General Huayang and Xichuan’s Young General Zhaonan, finally took her first step into politics today. This brilliant scroll of chaotic times finally began unfolding with great momentum.
Though nominally the morning court, by the time it ended the sun was already slanting westward—a full day had passed. Since she had already appeared publicly, naturally everything required caution to avoid revealing any flaws. Acting required a complete performance. Chu Li bestowed upon her court robes, jade tablets, the southeastern provincial governor’s official seal, and jade tokens for commanding troops. Qing Xia performed three bows and nine kowtows, expressing gratitude for imperial favor, completing all proper ceremonies before the matter was set in stone. Since this person Xia Qing had truly appeared out of thin air, except for a few high-ranking Black Guard soldiers, no one else knew of him. Chu Li had no choice but to bestow Dasha Palace, an outer hall of Ronghua Palace, upon Qing Xia as her temporary residence.
This person Xia Qing enjoyed imperial favor of unprecedented magnitude.
The court and countryside were in turmoil, with countless undercurrents secretly rolling beneath the surface, quietly brewing the next wave that would arrive at an unknown time.
Qing Xia sat in the western warm pavilion of Dasha Palace, still wearing elegant scholarly robes—moon-white fabric embroidered with fine white auspicious cloud patterns that fit perfectly on her body. Her full head of black hair was loosely tied behind her back, giving her the distinctive graceful air of a refined young gentleman. Having just finished dinner, she leaned sideways on the warm couch, silently calculating her thoughts while casually tying a red lovers’ knot—this was her long-standing habit of keeping her hands busy when thinking. In the modern era, besides braiding Chinese knots she could also clean guns, but now only this activity remained.
“Sir, it’s late. Please rest early.”
Jingyu walked in from the outer room, wearing the light blue palace dress of a high-ranking palace maid. Around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, she was both mature and steady, generous and proper. She was the maid Chu Li had bestowed upon Qing Xia today, formerly Chu Li’s personal attendant, of the same rank as Qinyu and others. In Southern Chu’s capital, she had many clan relatives, with her family serving as imperial household slaves for generations. Her loyalty was unquestionable, earning Chu Li’s great trust, so he brought her along when coming to Eastern Qi. Qing Xia guessed she likely knew her true identity, but this woman conducted herself properly and never overstepped boundaries—she must have received Chu Li’s instructions. Qing Xia simply waved her hand to indicate she didn’t want to sleep yet and continued deep in thought.
Jingyu added some charcoal to the brazier, burned some sandalwood incense, then withdrew from the room, gently closing the door from outside.
Qing Xia half-closed her eyes with a small brocade quilt draped over her legs. Without looking, her hands skillfully tied knots, her ten fingers dexterous and remarkably practiced.
Besides Jingyu, Chu Li had also assigned her several familiar Black Guard junior officers and dispatched Le Song to attend her personally—this was already an enormous honor. Officials throughout the court and countryside were alarmed, secretly speculating about the identity of this Xia Qing who had appeared out of nowhere. Unfortunately, under Chu Li’s direction, Xia Qing’s identity, background, and family history were all crystal clear. No matter how much they racked their brains, no one would imagine that this ambitious young man named Xia Qing was actually the former Concubine Lan, Zhuang Qing Xia, who had brought disaster to the nation and disappeared with Prince Xuan of Qin five years ago.
Though today seemed to bring victory at every turn, Qing Xia knew the real crisis had not yet begun. The reason court officials currently submitted to her was only fear of Southern Chu’s million-strong army and Chu Li’s might. Once Chu Li left Haishi to return to Southern Chu, these Eastern Qi veteran ministers would reveal their claws to deal with this outsider whose footing wasn’t even stable yet. Even Southern Chu court ministers would harbor resentment toward her for Chu Li not favoring veteran ministers, outwardly complying while inwardly opposing.
Except for support from the Chu Emperor who was about to campaign and plan northern expedition, she would receive no other assistance. Within Eastern Qi territory, she would be even more isolated and helpless. If she couldn’t use thunderous momentum to overwhelm them politically, strike them spiritually, and intimidate them with power, then her position as southeastern provincial governor would be completely nominal.
She already had a general direction and methods—what she needed now was to deliberate each step carefully.
“What are you thinking about?” A mellow male voice suddenly sounded, startling the woman on the couch to jerk her head up. The lovers’ knot in her hands immediately dropped to the ground, the small jade tassel beneath making a crisp “pop” sound that was quite obvious in the somewhat spacious room.
The man removed his cloak from his back and tossed it aside, approaching with the cold air of deep night. He picked up the lovers’ knot from the floor, examined it with interest for a moment, then looked up and said casually, “Very unique. I didn’t know you had such skills.”
Qing Xia felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly stood up, smoothing her slightly disheveled hair. Rarely showing a daughter’s bashfulness, her cheeks flushed slightly as she said, “Why didn’t you have the servants announce your arrival? Even as emperor, you’re still so reckless.”
Chu Li smiled without responding, naturally sitting beside the soft couch. He picked up the teacup Qing Xia had used from the small table, took a sip, and said, “I was busy processing memorials about southern rebellions until now—so tired my eyelids can barely stay open. But Dongfang Li and a group of Eastern Qi veteran ministers are still waiting outside the chancellery. Sun Qingcheng has been crying for over three hours, making such a racket I couldn’t stand it, so I escaped through the side door. Fortunately, it’s peaceful here.”
Qing Xia smiled faintly, picked up the charcoal brazier and moved it to his feet, extinguished the sandalwood burner, and lit osmanthus incense. While lighting it, she turned back and said, “Actually, you don’t need to pay attention to them. By now, Dongfang Li knows there’s no turning back. He’s doing this just to give you notice, showing his disagreement, so if I cause trouble in the future, it won’t implicate him as the controlling minister.”
Having just finished speaking, she frowned slightly and said, “Are you really still planning to employ him? This veteran minister is smooth in handling affairs, quite competitive, and what’s more difficult is his keen insight and extreme boldness. I’m afraid he’ll cause problems in the future.”
Chu Li took a deep breath, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he said gravely, “How could I not know this? But I can’t move against him yet. Dongfang Li not only holds a pivotal position in court but has the Dongfang clan as backing. In the southeastern coastal region, he’s practically a local emperor with great wealth and power, involved in all trades and industries. If I eliminate him now, first, it would inevitably give people grounds for criticism, saying I’m faithless and unrighteous, so no one would dare pledge allegiance to me in the future. Second, I must guard against falling out completely with the Dongfang family, causing losses to southeastern economy. Eastern Qi has been in turmoil for five years—the people need rest and recovery. Moreover, Southern Chu also needs a stable rear to sustain war preparations, and the court needs to present an appearance of unity and stability to the world. Therefore, it’s really inappropriate to make major moves.”
Qing Xia listened quietly, secretly remembering in her heart, nodding and saying, “I understand. Don’t worry—without absolute certainty, I definitely won’t move against the Dongfang family.”
Chu Li raised an eyebrow and smiled. One reason he came here in the deep of night was to tell Qing Xia these words to prevent her from causing trouble. Now it seemed his purpose was achieved. Suddenly, Chu Li frowned, stepped forward in one stride, grabbed Qing Xia’s body, and said angrily, “What are you thinking? So careless!”
Hearing Chu Li’s words, Qing Xia’s original thoughts wavered slightly, and some plans needed modification, so she was momentarily lost in thought. Seeing Chu Li’s eyes showing slight anger as he pulled her into his arms, she came to her senses and immediately felt burning pain in her hand. Looking down, she saw a large red swollen area with two large red drops of candle wax quite prominent on it.
Qing Xia smiled unconcernedly, reached out to wipe off the wax, and said, “It’s nothing. I have a good idea to tell you about.”
Chu Li didn’t respond, pulling her to sit on the soft couch and calling outside, “Jingyu, bring burn medicine.”
Soon, Jingyu came running in, asking urgently, “Is Your Majesty injured? Where is the injury?”
Chu Li said nothing, took the burn medicine, poured out a little ointment, and began carefully applying it to Qing Xia’s hand. Qing Xia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she turned to Jingyu and said, “There’s nothing more here. You may withdraw first.”
Jingyu, having served beside Chu Li for many years, was a perceptive person who understood subtle signs. Seeing the situation, she carefully curtsied and withdrew.
Layer upon layer of white ointment was applied, cool and refreshing, indeed much more comfortable. Qing Xia sat quietly with her hand held by Chu Li, both lowering their heads. The dim lamplight cast its glow upon them, illuminating the same pattern of auspicious clouds on both their robes—one black, one white, interweaving and layering together harmoniously like garments made from a single bolt of cloth. Chu Li wore a pure white jade pendant at his waist. Looking vaguely at the inscription, it was still the same piece that Da Huang had led to Northern Qin in Penglai Valley years ago. Gazing at that jade, Qing Xia felt many past memories flood her heart. Years passed like a finger snap, time flowed like water—in the blink of an eye, so many years had already passed.