Du Yan swiftly caught her wrist and easily took away the knife.
At this point, Ji Yingying wasn’t in a hurry anymore. She clutched her twisted wrist and glared at him hatefully.
“Madam Yang, there’s no need for such impulsiveness,” Du Yan toyed with the small knife. His eyes remained calm, his tone still gentle. “I was merely testing your limits. I will give you hope to stay alive.”
Seeing Ji Yingying’s surprised expression, Du Yan said, “If you don’t want me to cross your boundaries, you must help me with something.”
What did he mean? Ji Yingying had been terrified, but suddenly she saw a glimmer of hope. The Nanzhao Qingping Official was using both intimidation and persuasion—did he want to use her for something? What did she have that was worth using? The dyeing techniques? With just two lashes of a whip, she would surely reveal the secret method. No matter how important the secret was, it wasn’t worth more than her life.
“This deal won’t be difficult for Madam Yang. Nor will it violate your conscience or principles,” Du Yan’s face darkened at this point, his eyes finally revealing gnashing hatred. “To me, Yang Jingyuan is the enemy who killed my son. But Prince Bai Sheng Fengze, who sent my son on a feint attack to Zitong, is even more unforgivable!”
Ji Yingying suddenly understood: “You want to kill Sheng Fengze?”
Du Yan spoke slowly: “For the Tang people, Sheng Fengze is your enemy too, isn’t he?”
His expression was so fierce that Ji Yingying trembled: “Yes.”
It was Sheng Fengze who led the army to attack Tang, Sheng Fengze who moved troops into Sandaoyan. Though her family hadn’t died directly by his hand, how was it any different from those he had killed? Why shouldn’t she agree to the Qingping Official’s proposition if it could temporarily preserve her life? If she had the chance, she would kill General Chi Kuang with her own hands.
Du Yan was very satisfied with her answer: “I will keep you in my residence as a servant. You will have your opportunity.”
Ji Yingying looked up at him: “Why do you want me to kill him? Aren’t you Nanzhao’s Qingping Official? Don’t you have your people? I’m just a weak woman.”
If his people had the opportunity to get close to Sheng Fengze, why would he need her? After all, Sheng Fengze was the ruler’s brother. Better to use an outside force than invite trouble. Du Yan said lightly: “I hear he likes you. If the intelligence is accurate, from today onwards, His Highness Prince Bai will try every means to get you out of my residence. You need only follow our agreement and find an opportunity to kill him. I promise that even if you die, you will die with your honor intact. This is my only condition for sparing you. You’d better hope he likes you. Otherwise, I will have to direct all my hatred towards you. I will make you wish for death but unable to die, and safely bear me a son.”
Sheng Fengze likes her? Ji Yingying wanted to laugh. Liked her enough to force the Ji family into a corner, compelling them to marry into the Yang family? Liked her enough to allow Chi Kuang and Zhao Xiuyuan to break into her home and kill her mother, brother, and sister-in-law?
“I know you want to live. You’re still hoping Yang Jingyuan will come to Nanzhao to rescue you.” Du Yan placed her small knife beside the bed, adopting an attitude of ‘feel free to kill yourself if you wish.’
Ji Yingying quickly grabbed the knife, feeling slightly more secure: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Sheng Fengze about your conditions and ask for his protection?”
Du Yan smiled: “Nanzhao’s royal succession isn’t like the Great Tang’s, where the son must inherit the father’s position. For the sake of his son, the ruler won’t let Prince Bai have too much power. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be Nanzhao’s highest minister.”
The meaning was clear: although Sheng Fengze was the ruler’s brother and held the title of prince, his power was less than the Qingping Official’s. But precisely because he was the ruler’s brother, if Du Yan killed him, the ruler would seek revenge for his brother. Ji Yingying understood.
Du Yan picked up a bell from the bedside and rang it.
Two maids entered from outside and respectfully bowed to him.
“Help Madam Yang bathe and change, give her servant’s clothes to wear. I will take her to attend the evening banquet,” Du Yan finished and gave Ji Yingying a deep look. “I’ll wait for you in the main hall. If you don’t come by the hour of You, I’ll assume you’ve rejected my suggestion.”
Perhaps the enmity between Du Yan and Sheng Fengze would allow her to find a way to survive. Ji Yingying put away the small knife and obediently followed the maids to the washroom.
With an hour remaining before You, Du Yan sat alone in the hall drinking tea.
Upon receiving the carrier pigeon’s message, he had ordered Ji Yingying’s arrival to be kept secret. He deliberately had the troops arrive after Sheng Fengze returned to Tahe City. As soon as they arrived, he had sent people to take her away with great fanfare. If the intelligence was accurate, Sheng Fengze should be rushing here from the palace by now…
“My lord, Prince Bai is here to visit,” a servant announced at the door.
Du Yan smiled. He gently put down his teacup and rose to welcome him.
Brilliant sunlight filled the courtyard as Sheng Fengze appeared before him, surrounded by guards. Looking at that face as young and handsome as his son’s had been, Du Yan’s heart felt as if a knife had carved away a piece, the pain almost unbearable. If his son hadn’t died, today he too could have worn splendid clothes, admired by women at the banquet. He had planned to let his son establish merit, and then arrange his marriage upon his victorious return.
Rejecting Chi Kuang’s request to feint attack Zitong, instigated the inexperienced Du Jing to seek merit by tackling the tough bone that was Tang general Guo Zhao’s Dongchuan army. Sheng Fengze, even if we had political differences, you shouldn’t have harmed my only son!
“Prince Bai comes at this time…” Du Yan bowed, asking with feigned confusion.
“Young Commander Du was my childhood playmate. His death in battle grieves me deeply. I hope the Qingping Official will find solace. I have already presented the merit register to the ruler, seeking posthumous honors for Young Commander Du.” Sheng Fengze supported Du Yan, sighing softly.
“In war, death is inevitable. Your Highness need not blame yourself. If the Tang army hadn’t sent such a skilled assassin, Ajing wouldn’t have died. Please, Your Highness.” Du Yan accompanied Sheng Fengze to sit in the hall.
Sheng Fengze’s guards placed four boxes they had brought in the hall.
“These are fine Shu brocades I specially selected for the Qingping Official,” Sheng Fengze smiled.
The boxes were opened, revealing dazzlingly beautiful brocades, all of the finest quality.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Du Yan changed the subject, deliberately steering the conversation to the captured Tang people. “The ruler is hosting a banquet tonight for the captured Tang people, intending to treat them well. I believe they will help Nanzhao’s brocade industry flourish.”
If Sheng Fengze cared for Ji Yingying, he would surely mention her. Du Yan deliberately threw out this topic.
“Nanzhao has captured many craftsmen; the brocade industry will surely prosper. Only with wealth can Nanzhao have the strength to resist Tibet and the Great Tang,” Sheng Fengze sighed lightly. “I am ashamed that only after this campaign did I understand the Qingping Official’s earnest intention in advocating for attacking Tang. Thus, I ordered good care be taken of the captured slaves along the way. Fortunately, over ten thousand people arrived safely. By the way, I heard that the Ji woman skilled in dyeing Shu red silk was brought to the Qingping Official’s residence?”
“She is Yang Jingyuan’s wife! Even if she knows the secret of silk dyeing, I am determined to kill her to avenge Ajing!” Du Yan’s gentleness vanished, replaced by iron resolve.
Sheng Fengze was desperately anxious inside but spoke persuasively: “I wouldn’t dare interfere with the Qingping Official’s desire for vengeance for young Du. But talent is rare, and our army attacked Tang for the sake of these talents. Could you perhaps spare her life temporarily, let her teach the dyers the secret techniques before letting her die? I hope the Qingping Official will consider this carefully.”
The deliberate probe was only to confirm Sheng Fengze’s feelings for Ji Yingying. Du Yan was silent for a moment before saying: “Your Highness’s words make sense. I was thinking only of Ajing and became confused for a moment. Very well. I’ll keep her as a slave in my residence first, let her teach the dyeing techniques, then take her life!”