Through the opening, their gloved palms clapped together.
Murong Yi’s bear paw-like hand took the opportunity to grab Tie Ci’s hand and wouldn’t let go, tears welling up as he said: “There’s no way to live like this anymore—I can’t even touch your little hands. There’s no point in me being alive. If I really get uglier and uglier, I won’t see you anymore and will just go back to Liaodong. But you’re not allowed to take any prince consorts in the future either. You take one, I’ll kill one; you take one, I’ll kill one…”
Tie Ci ignored his nonsense and suddenly said: “The speed of your pox outbreak seems to have slowed down a bit.”
Murong Yi was startled and touched his face, discovering that indeed no new pox had appeared in the past half day.
“Looks like that pig was useful—you still need to pet more pigs,” Tie Ci said. “Then we can basically confirm that mysterious person can cure your poison. He said if we want the antidote, we should find him ourselves. When we reach Wuling, I’ll go find him.”
“You’re no match for him. I’ll handle my own affairs.”
“I now suspect he’s one of the Three Madmen and Five Emperors—that strongest old monster mentioned by Chen Tuntian. Trying to subdue him by force won’t work, but everyone has weaknesses. Once we find his weakness, it’ll be easy to handle.”
Murong Yi suddenly said: “Then do you know what my weaknesses are?”
Tie Ci had long adapted to his leaping topics and said lightly: “Jealousy.”
“What kind of weakness is that?” Murong Yi dismissed this, lowering his voice and suddenly smiling: “My weakness is you.”
He had a magnificent voice, and speaking softly in the dim cabin at this moment, it sounded gentle and rich like fine wine, every word intoxicating.
Even Tie Ci, who considered herself experienced with romance and storms, couldn’t help but skip a heartbeat. After pausing for a moment, she said softly with a smile: “I feel the same.”
Murong Yi smiled even more charmingly and said: “Your Highness, you just thanked me. For a dignified Crown Heir, saying thanks isn’t just lip service—shouldn’t you give me some reward?”
Tie Ci lovingly stroked his bear paw and said: “Then you suggest something. As long as it’s not…”
“Don’t add conditions! What affection is there if you add conditions!”
Tie Ci had no choice but to stop and looked at him helplessly with a smile.
Murong Yi smiled slightly and said: “Ci Ci, I haven’t seen you in women’s clothing yet.”
The cabin light was dim, outlining everything like a relief sculpture. Murong Yi’s half-hidden face visible through the small opening looked even more beautiful like a statue, while his eyes held the brightness of vast skies and shimmering waves.
Tie Ci stared without blinking, reluctant to look away. She thought I’m going to die, I’m going to die—how can someone who’s so susceptible to beauty like me survive? This is a femme fatale bringing ruin to the country! While her mouth randomly responded: “My beloved consort, never mind women’s clothing—even a bikini could be considered…”
Murong Yi laughed and urged Tie Ci to hurry up and change. Tie Ci came to her senses and first realized she hadn’t brought any women’s clothing, then remembered she had bought a dress while shopping at the market with Xiao Xueya. Just as she was about to find it, she saw Murong Yi had prepared and brought out a set of women’s clothing, saying: “Try this local colorful dress first.”
Looking at the outfit, Tie Ci found the colors and style were almost identical to the one she had chosen, clearly showing Murong Yi knew her preferences very well. In an excellent mood, she took it.
Xiao Xueya was someone who was particular but not extravagant, so the cabin wasn’t large either. More space needed to be used for weapons and equipment, with no separate room for changing clothes. Tie Ci pulled down the opening’s cover board and said: “No peeking!”
Who knew Murong Yi would loudly say from the other side: “No peeking!”
Tie Ci laughed in exasperation but happily began changing clothes.
…
Wan Ji carried the wine and food down the gangplank, originally planning to deliver them to Xiao Xueya’s cabin. But Xiao Xueya had gone to the deck, and when he went down to the deck, Xiao Xueya had returned to his cabin. Just as he was preparing to deliver them again, his guard came to report that people from the Blood Cavalry on the adjacent ship were fighting with Xiao Xueya’s men again.
Ever since Xiao Xueya’s men lost in the martial arts competition with Murong Yi’s people last time, the Nanyue naval forces had been showing off in front of Wan Ji’s men these past few days, also wanting to compete to regain face. Small conflicts between both sides continued constantly. Both Tie Ci and Xiao Xueya believed soldiers should have some wolf-like nature, so they didn’t restrain this, only requiring Wan Ji to watch that no lives were lost.
Hearing this, Wan Ji placed the wine and food on the bow’s protective board and said: “Then I’ll go. Either way, please have the Grand Manager come down to eat and drink himself. Drinking fine wine facing the great river—nothing could be more delightful!”
The wind was strong today, with large waves on the river. The ship suddenly swayed as waves crashed against the bow, scattering a misty spray at the front.
Wan Ji, afraid the wine pot would tip over, hurried to steady it but accidentally knocked it over himself. He quickly caught it, then smelled an extremely rich wine fragrance.
Wan Ji’s eyes lit up. He took a deep breath and couldn’t resist secretly pouring himself a cup, downing it in one gulp before running along the gangplank to the other ship.
Xiao Xueya emerged from his cabin followed by his trusted officers, all wearing various expressions.
Just moments before, the Grand Marshal had briefly gathered them and said that from now on they should respect the Crown Princess’s will above all, must not disobey, should be loyal to the Crown Princess, and escort her safely on her Yannan journey.
The trusted officers listened with bewildered looks.
Most had followed Xiao Xueya for many years and regularly received care from the Xiao family. Some were even originally from families affiliated with the Xiao clan, having followed Xiao Xueya from common soldiers up through the ranks, from Jiusui to Nanyue, building their careers until now.
Now with the Crown Princess rising and the Xiao family repeatedly suffering setbacks, with this Yannan journey where the Crown Princess had actually agreed to the Nanyue naval rotation, everyone had actually prepared for action, waiting at any moment for the Grand Marshal’s command.
They never expected the final command to be like this.
One of his lieutenant generals couldn’t help but say loudly: “Grand Marshal! You must reconsider…”
Another officer pulled him back, saying quietly: “Old Hu, say less!”
Xiao Xueya’s decisions never brooked questioning—everyone had long been accustomed to accepting orders.
After a moment of silence, the officers looked complex but accepted their orders and left.
Xiao Xueya paid no attention to his subordinates’ thoughts. He spoke, they obeyed—no explanation needed.
He emerged from his cabin and saw turbulent waves crashing below, with fine wine and good food on the protective board.
Wan Ji shouted from afar: “The Crown Princess grants Grand Manager Xiao the fine wine Wanshi Xiang!”
Xiao Xueya naturally knew this wine. He had no interest in alcohol and never drank in the military. Just as he was about to refuse, seeing the wine’s fragrance wafting and soldiers on deck glancing over from the corners of their eyes, he thought this was Tie Ci’s gesture of goodwill. Since it was a public gesture of goodwill, and since he had already made his decision, he might as well accept it.
He walked down, and an aide eagerly approached, asking whether he wanted to eat here or take it back to his cabin.
Xiao Xueya looked at those few small dishes—exquisite and clean, with special combinations, definitely not the standard of his army’s kitchen. Remembering previously hearing about someone’s cooking skills, he felt disgusted and said indifferently that he would eat here.
He didn’t touch the food, drinking wine while facing the morning sun on the river, accompanied by countless thoughts. Before he knew it, he had finished an entire pot of Wanshi Xiang.
Imperial gifts couldn’t be given to others or thrown away, but Xiao Xueya acted as if nothing had happened. Leaning against the railing, after finishing the wine, he casually flipped over the food plates, dumping all the food into the river water.
After finishing the wine, Wan Ji had also handled his own affairs and shouted from the opposite ship: “Grand Marshal, if you don’t like drinking, at least give me a taste of that good wine…”
Xiao Xueya felt like laughing a little. Looking up, somehow he suddenly felt the sunlight was extraordinarily brilliant, stabbing like a sword, while his mind suddenly went blank.
There were cries of alarm from all around.
As he collapsed with a thunderous crash, he thought: Damn, the weather’s about to change.
…
Tie Ci was changing clothes in the cabin.
There was an extremely slight movement from the pull-board behind the opening. Without turning her head, she flicked her finger, and the pull-board slammed down with a snap, nearly hitting Murong Yi’s nose.
But someone’s shamelessness clearly exceeded human limits. Before she could question that guy, she heard Murong Yi righteously say from next door: “Why is the pull-board making noise? Are you peeking at me changing clothes?”
Tie Ci chuckled and said: “If you want me to look, just say so directly—why beat around the bush?”
Murong Yi laughed: “What’s the point of looking through this small opening? I heard there’s an ethnic group in Yannan with a festival called the Bathing Pool Gathering. On that day, all men, women, old and young of the entire tribe go to soak in hot springs, everyone completely naked, facing each other with complete honesty. There are markets and singing and dancing nearby—you can even do business while soaking. After soaking, they spread cotton quilts right there on the ground and sleep under the open sky. They soak like this for seven or eight days, even ten or more, returning home satisfied. If we encounter this, we definitely must go soak…” His tone was very yearning.
But while he spoke with great longing, his fingers silently traced a few lines on the cabin wall, and immediately a piece of wood fell away. He quietly peered through.
The adjacent room was pitch black. Before he could make out any shapes, there was suddenly commotion outside, followed by urgent knocking on the door.
Tie Ci, who was changing clothes, was astonished.
Given her noble status, no one should knock on her door so rudely. What had happened?
She immediately took off the colorful dress, but this garment was very complex with numerous buttons. She rapidly undid them one by one.
Dan Shuang’s voice sounded outside the door, very urgent: “Your Highness! Are you there! Something’s happened!”
Below, Lieutenant General Hu looked up at the cabin above and said indignantly: “In broad daylight, why is Her Highness keeping her door closed? Is she planning to scheme against us behind closed doors!”
Dan Shuang lowered her voice: “Your Highness, Grand Manager Xiao suddenly collapsed—he seems to have been poisoned. He fell after drinking the wine you gave him. Please come out quickly—if you don’t come out soon, the Nanyue naval forces will mutiny!”
Tie Ci: “…Have Chi Xue and Wan Ji go calm them down! I’ll be right there!”
This damn dress has too many buttons!
She could faintly hear the roaring voices below: “…Such a major incident has occurred, yet the Crown Princess delays and makes excuses instead of coming out—could it be she’s already fled…”
Chi Xue, who was taking Xiao Xueya’s pulse, said coldly: “This general, please watch your words! Her Highness is so noble—how dare you slander her!”
She looked up at the cabin door that still hadn’t opened, feeling anxious and vaguely guessing that Her Highness might be inconvenienced at the moment. This timing was truly unfortunate—having this incident now when explanations were impossible. Keeping the door closed in broad daylight and not coming out even during a major crisis would inevitably deepen suspicions in anyone’s eyes.
Dan Shuang pressed against the door and called quietly: “Your Highness! Your Highness, what’s wrong with you!”
She couldn’t understand why Tie Ci wouldn’t come out. Her anxious tone, seen by the group below, only added fuel to the fire. Someone suddenly blew a horn, its deep sound echoing across the entire Fuguang River surface. Surrounding warships lowered their gangplanks one after another as countless soldiers gathered.
Tie Ci’s guards on her ship also rushed onto the deck.
With a snap, Tie Ci tore off all the remaining buttons, threw away the dress, grabbed her own clothes and put them on.
Next door, the door creaked open—apparently Murong Yi had changed back into his clothes ahead of time and gone out.
As soon as he left, Tie Ci heard whooshing sounds above her head and slight vibrations underfoot. Afraid that if confrontation arose, he and his lawless men would escalate the situation, she called out urgently: “Stabilize the situation—don’t let there be conflict!”
The Nanyue naval forces already had weak loyalty. With Xiao Xueya’s incident, if handled poorly, a military rebellion was no joke.
Tie Ci had anticipated the Nanyue naval forces might cause trouble when they first met, had thought about them becoming too powerful to control after conquering Yannan, but had never imagined that at this moment of celebration for finally winning over Xiao Xueya, such a complication would suddenly arise.
But thinking more carefully, if something were to go wrong, there really was no better time than now.
Xiao Xueya had just submitted, but his subordinate officers hadn’t yet come around, let alone the Nanyue naval forces who only listened to Xiao Xueya and adored him immensely.
Trust hadn’t been established yet, but the incident had already occurred. They would think she was burning bridges after crossing, that she would stop at nothing to seize military power.
Fastening the last button, with a swish the belt wrapped around her waist, the jade writing brush swinging in a snow-white arc at her back, Tie Ci pushed open the door with a bang.
The people below didn’t even notice her arrival, still arguing loudly in chaos.
Chi Xue stood up from beside Xiao Xueya with a grave expression. People all around stared at her intensely, and she sighed inwardly.
Some things couldn’t be said, yet couldn’t not be said.
She said: “I cannot determine whether the Grand Manager has an acute illness or has been poisoned…”
Before she finished speaking, everyone was in uproar, and almost immediately people began cursing.
A deputy general said loudly: “The Grand Marshal was poisoned from drinking that wine!”
Everyone’s gaze fell on the wine pot. Someone took it and found a silver needle to test for poison, but there was no reaction. However, the military doctor accompanying the Nanyue naval forces had some knowledge and shook his head: “Not all poisons can be detected with silver needles.” He diluted the wine with water and poured it on freshly caught fish—before long, all the fish had turned belly-up.
Immediately someone shouted: “This is wine granted by Her Highness! What is Her Highness trying to do!”
Dan Shuang couldn’t help but angrily say: “Her Highness drank the same wine herself! Since Her Highness is fine, someone must have tampered with it on the way!”
“The one who delivered the wine was also one of your people—Wan Ji!”
Wan Ji was hurrying over while shouting: “What happened? What happened?”
Tie Ci strode over quickly. Her guards immediately surged forward to follow behind her, but Tie Ci waved her hand, signaling them to step back.
Swarming over like this would easily create a confrontational situation and escalate conflicts.
She walked alone through the crowd, and all around fell silent. The Nanyue naval officers glared at her with gritted teeth.
Tie Ci paid no attention, crouched down to look at Xiao Xueya’s completely pale face, and asked Chi Xue: “How is he?”
Chi Xue shook her head and said bitterly: “There are too many complex poisons in the Southwest…”
Tie Ci said: “Go get Chi Qingbo.”
Someone went to fetch him, and an officer couldn’t help but rudely demand: “Please explain yourself, Your Highness!”
Tie Ci stood up and said: “I drank this wine myself. Because it was mellow and delicious, I granted a pot to the Grand Manager. I had no problems drinking this wine.”
The naval officers all snorted with disdain, someone muttering quietly: “You were locked in your room doing who knows what—who knows if you drank wine or something else.”
Dan Shuang’s eyes showed anger, and Tie Ci turned to Wan Ji: “Wan Ji, when you delivered wine to the Grand Manager, did you encounter anyone? Was there anything unusual?”
Wan Ji said in astonishment: “Not at all. This minister encountered no one and nothing unusual. I delivered it to the deck, saw the Grand Manager wasn’t there, originally intended to take it to his cabin, but temporarily had business to attend to, so I left the tray on the ship’s rail.”
Another person said: “I was on deck and saw Commander Wan put down the wine and food, then the Grand Manager came down to drink. No one approached during that time.”
Immediately someone said: “The wine and food came from Her Highness’s quarters, and no one approached them during that time. Won’t Her Highness give us a clear explanation!”
Someone said sadly and angrily: “The Grand Marshal just instructed us to be loyal to Her Highness, and Her Highness immediately burns bridges after crossing. Does Her Highness think she now has the Nanyue naval forces in hand, so she wants to kick the Grand Marshal aside?”
Tie Ci was startled. She was certain Xiao Xueya’s heart had changed, but hadn’t expected him to be so honorable and straightforward as to have made arrangements with his subordinate officers.
But this timing was particularly unfortunate—Xiao Xueya had just handed over military authority, and immediately afterward something happened. These simple-minded men would inevitably suspect her of disposing of useful people after achieving her goal.
She said: “Since the Grand Marshal has told you all that the naval forces should be loyal to me, I should treat the Grand Marshal and all of you well. Yet I would openly poison the Grand Marshal at this time—wouldn’t that be throwing away all previous efforts and asking for trouble?”
Everyone fell silent for a moment, but someone said quietly: “That’s not how you put it. According to Your Highness’s original intention, the wine and food should have been quietly sent to the Grand Marshal’s cabin. The Grand Marshal should have drunk the wine and been poisoned in his cabin. This poison can’t be detected with silver needles at all, and everyone knows the Grand Marshal’s rules—he doesn’t allow anyone to disturb him in his room. So the Grand Marshal would have drunk alone in his room, and even if something happened, no one would think of Your Highness’s poisoned wine. At most, they’d say it was an acute illness. This way, Your Highness could step forward to treat the Grand Marshal, only gaining our loyalty and gratitude. If the Grand Marshal eventually still ‘died of illness,’ the Nanyue naval forces would belong to Your Highness!”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone immediately understood. Someone said: “I was wondering why the Grand Marshal suddenly said such things—Your Highness must have worked hard on the Grand Marshal beforehand, right? Otherwise, the Grand Marshal never eats food sent by others—how did he happen to drink wine sent by Your Highness!”
Someone said sadly and angrily: “The Grand Marshal was too loyal and straightforward, not knowing that trust in cold-hearted people can sometimes be a death warrant!”
Someone said: “Fortunately, Heaven’s justice prevails. Wan Ji didn’t find the Grand Marshal and left the wine and food on the deck rail, letting this happen in full view of everyone—it can no longer be covered up!”
Someone angrily said: “Earlier, Your Highness was dawdling in her room and wouldn’t come out—was she seeing that the matter was exposed and looking for remedial measures!”