Qing Xia raised both hands high, received the emperor’s sword, and declared loudly with gratitude: “This subject will certainly devote myself wholeheartedly until death, not disappointing Your Majesty’s great expectations!”
All Southern Chu military officials shouted in unison: “Devote wholeheartedly until death, not disappointing Your Majesty’s great expectations!”
A lone wild goose flew across the sky above, nearly falling from the heavens after being startled by the impressive roar below.
The military exercise was merely a formality. It lasted until afternoon before dispersing, then the palace prepared wine and feasts where all civil and military officials gathered at Qian’an Hall to drink heartily. Though the atmosphere at the banquet wasn’t exactly harmonious, at least no one caused trouble, and the feast continued until deep into the night before dispersing. Xia Qing returned to Dasha Palace under the protection of Le Song and others, where Jingyu had already ordered servants to prepare fragrant bath water for her. Qing Xia had drunk quite a bit of diluted wine at the banquet—Chu Li, being considerate, had mixed water into the wine at her seat, making it harmless to drink. However, the wine those ministers brought to toast her with was all genuine strong liquor. After one round, she was already dizzy and lightheaded. She hadn’t felt much while riding in the cold wind earlier, but now she was becoming slightly intoxicated.
After removing her court robes and entering the bath chamber, she dismissed the servants, removed her undergarments, and soaked completely naked in the fragrant water. Her head rested against the edge of the pool as she breathed deeply in relaxation, all bodily fatigue washing away.
For some reason, she suddenly recalled the first time she had directly confronted Chu Li in Southern Chu—it was in that small bath chamber. He was still the Southern Chu Crown Prince then, with a terrible temper and less deep scheming than now, actually peeping while she bathed, earning himself a thorough beating from her. Thinking back now, those events seemed like they happened in a previous lifetime, though it had only been a few years.
The water temperature gradually grew cold. Qing Xia gathered her scattered thoughts, remembering the peace knot was still half-finished. She stood up from the pool, dried herself, put on a loose white cotton sleeping robe, and slowly walked back to her bedchamber.
Upon opening the door, she saw someone in pine-green brocade robes and snow-white boots lying sideways on her soft couch, apparently having fallen asleep without even removing his shoes. Qing Xia was slightly startled but made no sound. Anyone who could enter her bedchamber so silently without causing alarm was obviously a certain someone. She approached quietly on tiptoes, seeing Chu Li’s face slightly flushed, brows lightly furrowed as if troubled even in dreams, sleeping fully clothed. His body carried the faint incense scent of the room—clearly he’d been here for a while, and unable to wait for her, had fallen asleep on his own.
He had also drunk quite a bit today, no wonder he couldn’t hold out now. Qing Xia took a nearby brocade quilt and covered him, then removed his boots. Afraid of waking him, she didn’t remove his robes, only unfastening two buttons at his neck to make his breathing slightly easier.
Having done this, Qing Xia took up the unfinished peace knot and sat on the other side of the soft couch, carefully tying the cord. The blue-green cord danced nimbly in her hands, threading through loop after loop as the complex pattern was skillfully woven. Qing Xia held up the knotted cord to examine it before her eyes. The palace lamp light passed through the gaps in the knot, casting shadows on her face in alternating light and darkness, faintly revealing the two characters for “peace.”
She jumped down from the soft couch and crouched beside Chu Li, lifting a corner of the brocade quilt to reveal the lustrous white jade pendant, then carefully tied the cord to the pendant’s hanging ornament. After securing it, she looked at it with satisfaction—the blue-white combination was quite harmonious.
She couldn’t help but smile. The woman’s black hair was loosely arranged, her wide robes had broad sleeves, her skin was snow-white and her eyes dark, appearing so spiritually beautiful. A warm hand suddenly covered Qing Xia’s face. Qing Xia was startled and immediately looked up to see Chu Li had somehow awakened and was lying sideways on the couch, gazing steadily at her.
Qing Xia’s face immediately reddened as she stood up somewhat unnaturally. She saw the man’s black hair scattered behind him, his jade-like face and sword-like brows, his eyes brilliant as stars, leaning against the soft couch with one hand supporting his head. His pine-green brocade robe hung open at the front, revealing his sturdy bronze-colored chest. With one hand he picked up the cord on the jade pendant, examining it carefully. Suddenly discovering the two characters for “peace” revealed in the lamplight, his expression immediately brightened with childlike surprise: “There are actually characters?”
Seeing his expression, Qing Xia lost all restraint and covered her mouth laughing: “Amazing, right? You’ve never seen this before, have you?”
Chu Li nodded very honestly: “Never seen it. I didn’t know you had this skill.”
“There are many things you don’t know about me,” she laughed lightly. “I have many more abilities—given the chance, I’ll let you experience them one by one.”
Chu Li curled his lip disdainfully: “Give you an inch and you take a mile. Among all the world’s narcissistic women, you rank first.”
His words immediately brought back that familiar feeling of playful banter from years past. Both felt the same sentiment, exchanged glances, and smiled at each other.
Qing Xia brought tea implements and began boiling water to brew tea, quite skillfully. Soon the room filled with delicate fragrance. She handed Chu Li a cup, saying: “Be extra careful on this trip to Xichuan.”
Hearing her caring tone, Chu Li felt warmth in his heart: “Don’t worry, I have plans.”
Qing Xia nodded, saying slowly: “That Yan Hui is definitely not simple. In my view, when he lost to you at Xihei, it was also to exhaust Xichuan’s forces so the imperial army wouldn’t have strength to oppose him. I’ve heard that young General Zhaonan beat the Southern Xiongnu so badly they fled in panic. Even Lu Huayang’s navy couldn’t gain any advantage from him. Now on the grasslands, just raising General Zhaonan’s banner makes Xiongnu proper, Jurchen, Wali, and Mongol tribes all flee at the sight—you can’t even see their shadows. I think Northern Xiongnu allying with Xichuan is just a matter of time.”
Chu Li nodded: “Qin Zhixiang’s methods are too ruthless—he exterminates entire clans at will, frightening all the Xiongnu. Though Mo Zhaonan has brilliant military achievements, he’s relatively lenient with surrendering troops. The Xiongnu border only two countries—Xichuan and Great Qin. Northern Qin has already forced them into a corner with nowhere to retreat, making Xichuan their only refuge. I just didn’t expect Yan Hui to have Mo Zhaonan as a backup piece waiting—I previously underestimated him.”
Qing Xia frowned slightly: “Who exactly is this Mo Zhaonan, and what’s his relationship with Yan Hui? Do you think we could use interests to divide them?”
Chu Li slowly shook his head: “Supposedly Yan Hui’s adopted son, taken in at over ten years old. He was formerly a leader among the Yanzi tribe, only recently appointed to official posts. It would be very difficult.”
“Adopted son?” Qing Xia murmured the title, thinking before saying: “Since there’s no way to divide their relationship, why not try to divide the relationship between Xiongnu and Xichuan?”
Chu Li raised an eyebrow: “Do you have some strategy?”
Qing Xia shook her head: “I haven’t thought it through yet, but leave this matter to me. I’ll do my best to hold them back and cause trouble in their rear.”
Chu Li smiled: “Good, I’ll wait and see.”
Just then, his stomach suddenly growled. Chu Li’s expression stiffened slightly as he said somewhat embarrassedly: “I only drank wine at the banquet earlier—now I’m getting a bit hungry.”
Qing Xia burst into giggles. It was rare to see Chu Li so embarrassed. She stood up saying: “Wait here. I’ll personally cook and make you some good food—consider it a farewell feast.”
Soon, a table full of fragrant dishes was served. Using leftover ingredients from when she’d made Western food for Eriksen and others, Qing Xia prepared a table of seafood for Chu Li. The two sat facing each other and began eating.
Jingyu lit four more palace lamps, making the inner chamber even brighter. Qing Xia smiled faintly, watching Chu Li clumsily use knife and fork, nearly laughing out loud several times.
Chu Li grew irritated and banged down the knife and fork, looking around for familiar chopsticks. Not finding any, he actually reached out and began eating with his hands. Jingyu, who was serving nearby, was startled and quickly ran out to fetch chopsticks.
Qing Xia laughed: “You’re a dignified emperor yet you eat with your hands, showing no restraint even before servants.”
Chu Li said impatiently: “It’s because you’re toying with me. These knife and fork might work for killing people, but how can they be used for eating? I’m dying of frustration.”
Qing Xia covered her mouth laughing: “That shows your ignorance. All Western nations use knives and forks to eat. Looking like this, if you ever sail overseas, you’ll definitely be laughed at.”
Chu Li said indignantly: “Why should I learn other countries’ customs? As long as Southern Chu is strong enough, in the future when all nations come to pay tribute, they’ll all have to learn our dynasty’s etiquette and language—I won’t need to accommodate them.”
Qing Xia was stunned. Seeing her silence, Chu Li asked: “What’s wrong?”
Qing Xia shook her head: “Nothing. You’re right. If we’re strong enough, no one in the world can bully our people anymore, and no one will look down on us. As an emperor, one should strive to make everyone in the world learn their language and customs—that’s the bearing of a strong nation’s ruler.”
Chu Li frowned slightly, asking suspiciously: “You’re not flattering me, are you?”
Qing Xia smiled: “Are you too suspicious, or am I really so harsh that people don’t believe me when I occasionally speak truthfully? Chu Li, I suddenly think perhaps I can do some useful things—help the common people of China with whatever I’m capable of.”
“Why bring this up?”
Qing Xia smiled faintly, setting down her knife and fork: “You don’t know—in my era, there was a century when the nation was weak and bullied by Westerners and Easterners until we couldn’t raise our heads. Tens of thousands of people died, we ceded territory and paid reparations—very humiliating. Previously I always thought these things had nothing to do with me—people live a hundred years, how can they manage everything that comes after? But thinking about it now, perhaps that was too selfish. Heaven gave me a chance to start over—it must not be meaningless. If I could truly help the nation become prosperous and strong, wouldn’t that be an achievement?”
Chu Li frowned: “What, were the Easterners so powerful in your time?”