The battle resumed before the city gates. The commander of Shengdu Great Camp received news that the Longxi army was about to enter the pass. Longxi had secretly dispatched troops southward; as long as the state armies along the route couldn’t intercept them in time, they would advance straight through and reach Shengdu within two days.
He decided to ignore the lives of his wife and daughter and press forward with all his strength to capture Shengdu first.
The mountain-shaking cries of praise could not reach the city walls where fierce fighting raged. The blue-green battlements were covered layer upon layer with sticky, congealed blood that had turned red.
Broken arrows and damaged spears were densely embedded in the severely damaged city walls, almost providing handholds for climbing.
On the city walls, Liu Chen pushed away those trying to support him and yanked out an arrow embedded in his arm. He heard someone shouting hoarsely beside him but couldn’t make out the words. The surrounding scenery swayed like water, and he could only see the person opposite opening and closing their mouth.
He turned back to see blurred, pale, and exhausted faces.
A bout of tinnitus struck, and he covered his ears in discomfort. His subordinates’ argument finally broke through to his eardrums: “…Commander Qi wants us to hold out for another half day no matter what! In another half day, he’ll be able to surround and annihilate all the camp troops in the city!”
“But we can’t hold for even another quarter hour—everyone on the city walls is finished!”
“If the encirclement fails and the camp troops scatter into Shengdu, the consequences will be unthinkable!”
“Are the city gates more important or is Shengdu more important!”
“Both are important!”
The attack horn sounded again behind them. Liu Chen swayed as he turned around to see the equally exhausted Shengdu Great Camp soldiers charging up again like madmen.
He took a breath and lifted his spear, heavy as ten thousand jun. With one thrust, he swept the wife and daughter of the Shengdu Great Camp commander, who were tied to one side, down to the base of the city!
“Stop arguing!”
“Since both are important, then everyone do their own job well!”
“Those who defend the city die with the city—that’s natural law!”
“Kill!”
A furious roar also rose from below the city: “Kill!”
Another wave of bloody, flesh-and-blood combat resounded grimly and savagely above and below the city walls.
The catapults thundered continuously, crossing the moat and persistently smashing against the city gates.
One stone flew precisely across the river surface and struck the drawbridge’s cables.
With a thunderous crash, half the drawbridge fell.
The Shengdu Great Camp commander shouted frantically: “Smash it! Keep smashing!”
With a “dong” sound, the city gate split open a crack.
Liu Chen closed his eyes in despair.
Suddenly someone shouted: “Look quickly, what is that!”
Liu Chen opened his eyes to see a black line suddenly appear on the distant snow-white horizon.
The black line grew wider and wider until it became a black tide covering the mountainside, rushing down at a speed unimaginable even to Da Qian cavalry, instantly crashing into the rear of the Shengdu Great Camp.
Like a sharp blade, with a “chi” sound, it carved out a bloody line that grew wider and wider, churning up spraying blood and dripping flesh.
The military edge was like fire, invasion and plunder like forest.
At the front, a black banner with deep red fluttered, the Western Rong royal totem faintly visible within.
Liu Chen suddenly closed his eyes as hot tears carved two bloody furrows down his face.
…
Dong, dong, dong, dong…
Bell sounds cycled endlessly between heaven and earth.
After forty-five bell tolls, countless officials, commoners, and scholars in the square raised their heads.
They saw the bright yellow canopy slowly moving atop the imperial city walls.
They saw beneath the canopy stood the new emperor of the imperial dynasty.
They heard the noon gate bells proclaiming the new emperor’s ascension before the coffin.
Heaven and earth vast, wind and snow entering the throat.
North and south of Golden Water Bridge, crowds prostrated like grass, foreheads touching ground, mountain-shaking voices rolling like tidal waves past the palace gates.
“Long live our Emperor! Long live! Long live!”
Before Changming Street, Rong Manor was draped in white, mourning lanterns swaying, the funeral procession crossing the long street.
…rolling over the city walls.
In the new coffin, the young girl slept quietly, a slight smile at the corner of her lips, as if still anticipating that cherry blossom of coming spring.
…rolling over the heavy gates.
Inside the city gate, Qi Ling laughed atop a mountain of corpses. Outside the city gate, Dan Ye paid no attention to the fierce battle outside, riding alone past the city gate.
The single lapis lazuli earring flew up during the gallop, constantly striking against his face, which had been chilled by the wind.
…
Rolling up the accumulated snow on the official road.
On the official road, a black carriage plunged headlong into the wind and snow. The person in the carriage lifted the curtain to look back.
Shengdu’s city walls were no longer visible before his eyes, yet the sounds of fierce battle drifted faintly on the wind.
He raised his eyes.
This sky was chaotic, this wind fierce, this bone-chilling snow brushed his face yet burned like fire.
Before his eyes stretched vastness, like the great sea he first saw that day, vast and boundless with broken moon shadows. Looking up, he saw a tall ship.
On the ship’s bow, someone turned their wrist to pour fine wine, the wine’s fragrance intoxicating the soul.
…
Atop the palace walls, Tie Ci’s hands rested gently on the wall’s edge.
Both palms facing upward.
These slender hands would henceforth bear this realm’s sun and moon, all the people and subjects.
Below Cangsheng Tower, the young girl’s palms faced upward as she charged forward boldly, catching the person who leaped down from the tower.
Running all the way.
Peach and plum blossoms fell in profusion, countless Kongming lanterns rising to the sky.
…
Bang! A streak of starlight shot straight up to the heavens, exploding into brilliant deep red.
Behind the city gate, Qi Ling completely annihilated the rebel army—fireworks announcing victory.
On the city walls, in the carriage, two pairs of eyes reflected that blazing red.
That red spread endlessly, like the fire in the reed marshes of Comb Lake outside Ziyang City that year.
In that sea of bewitching red, she charged through recklessly, suddenly hearing the gentle sound of oars on water.
Looking back again, in that blurred and hazy vision, she crashed into an embrace full of fragrance and smoke.
…
She looked down at the endless crowds below the palace walls—no one dared raise their head at her feet.
Countless fearful and apprehensive heads gathered beneath her feet into a black sea.
In a trance, it was still that year, coming down from Yueli Library, fragrance thick in the air, flames roaring beneath the pot. Looking down, she saw his raven hair like satin, turning to cascade like water over his shoulders.
…
He extended his hand as snowflakes spun and fell from his fingertips. The firmament was like a cave, no skylight visible.
Cold like the flood waters when Dongming’s Three White River burst its banks that year, he and she drifted with the current, not knowing east from west.
In that riverside reed marsh, only then did they know the young man had become a young woman.
…
The mountain-shaking voices like tsunami, like waves.
That sea by Ghost Island witnessed the legendary love, hate, entanglements, and finale of a generation.
Today, this sea would henceforth stretch between him and her.
…
In the square, armies lined up in formation, armor divided into five colors.
The only battle she had personally experienced was at Five Colors Plain.
Each other’s weapons pierced the other’s chest, fresh blood splattering on the startled face behind the curtain.
“Congratulations to the Eighteenth Prince for slaying Da Qian’s Crown Princess in battle!”
She once thought that was the most shocking and painful moment of her life.
Yet compared to Wind and Snow Chongming Palace, that revelation of identity was merely the beginning—what should be called damned sweet.
…
In the square, tens of thousands worshipped according to ritual, countless scholars’ once-proud heads bowed devoutly.
The last time she saw this scene was at that long-planned spring examination.
Black masses of people blocked the examination hall entrance, countless voices shouting “I question imperial power with my blood.”
She faced the crowd alone, with him smiling behind her.
That moment felt like fighting alone.
Yet also like commanding thousands of troops.
…
Beside the palace gate, venomous snakes and insects secretly crawled, frightened by the mountain-shaking voices, silently sliding into shadows along the high palace walls.
These were gifts from Yannan to her. Three thousand li of long roads, over a hundred days of grinding hardship and travel. She and he saw ice and snow amid wind and waves, found paradise in deep valleys, welcomed dancing crowds amid the brilliant flowers of Kunzhou, met too much malice and bid farewell to former friends.
No, every road traveled, every gift received—Yuantie, Lingquan Village, Pingzong, Yongping Army, Yueli Academy, Yannan, Mo clan, Gui Qizhai… everything she possessed once secretly bore his mark.
This path he helped her pave, straight to the Terrestrial Altar before Chengqian Hall, to atop this imperial city, center of the crowds.
Yet in the end, this city could not keep him.
Da Qian’s realm could not contain him.
It could contain countless people, endless wind and snow, blood and fire.
It could not contain the love of one life, one world, one couple, the heartfelt vows of lifelong companionship.
She slightly raised her hand.
Above and below the city, voices fell silent.
People looked up, gazing at her with reverence and anticipation.
Looking at the imperial dynasty’s new master.
Waiting for her new instruction to this realm—whether passionate and stirring, earnest and heartfelt, or quietly sad yet full of hope.
Yet they only saw her hand slightly raised in the void, as if to catch something.
However, in the air, there were only snowflakes blown down by the wind.
In the complete silence, everyone saw the new emperor’s hand pause briefly in the air.
Grasping a handful of empty wind.
Then turning around.
The bright yellow canopy meandered away.
She spoke not a word.
Descended from the city and departed.
…
On the wilderness, a black carriage faced away from the palace city.
Crossing ice rivers and plains, northward, ever northward.
…
As night was about to fall, Chengqian Hall was lit early.
Tie Ci moved through the white curtains, her footsteps stopping before the East Side Hall.
She gazed toward the hall from afar.
There, three corpses lay.
She crossed the high threshold, the hall doors slowly closing behind her.
She walked past the first corpse—headless, missing an arm, the spots on the remaining hand confirming this was Xiao Liheng.
She knew Xiao Liheng’s head was hanging on Shengdu’s city gate, buffeted by wind and rain, pecked by birds and eagles.
Her gaze fell on the extremely neat cut at Xiao Liheng’s neck.
Liu Chen’s report echoed in her ears.
“She said this was Young Master’s farewell gift to Your Majesty.”
Tie Ci silently observed Xiao Liheng’s corpse for a long time before her gaze fell on another corpse. This one looked quite intact, except the upper half was particularly badly frozen, so much so that she took a long time to barely confirm this was indeed Qiu Wujiu.
Grand Chancellor of Liaodong had not died in Western Rong but returned to Liaodong, hiding behind the scenes as a black blade in the Liaodong King’s hand, always waiting for the chance to cleave Da Qian’s future.
Qiu Wujiu.
All these arrangements came from your hand, didn’t they?
Some things I couldn’t understand before finally make sense now.
In Yannan, I never understood the meaning and purpose of that official who fawned over me.
He appeared inexplicably and died inexplicably.
It seemed meant to ruin my reputation, but anyone with sense should understand such damage was useless.
Only today do I realize all the flattery and even death were merely a prelude, an opening act.
The real attack came after his death.
That conversation I overheard through the latrine wall.
You only used one person’s death to tell me that Murong Yi had accepted the mission to assassinate Father Emperor and would certainly complete it.
Vague phrases, ambiguous information, like a nightmare fragment implanted, waiting for the appropriate moment to flash silently, fitting together seamlessly like thunder and lightning splitting chaos.
At that time, I would use this to provide the so-called “truth.”
And believe deeply in my own “deduction.”
Qiu Wujiu.
You truly are a master of human hearts and nature, able to create such a scheme to hint to me. Then later at Yueli Academy’s grand competition, you used every means to frame Jian Xi, exploiting our conflicts to plant seeds of doubt, using Jian Xi to divert our attention, also using Jian Xi to lower Fang Huai’an’s standing in our hearts, then using Qi You and the Li family’s relationship to make Qi You lose the chance to serve as imperial companion. Your methods were endless—playing hard to get, self-torture tactics, sowing discord—taking turns.
All to promote what you truly wanted to promote: the twins with special abilities.
I should have understood then.
The incident at Yueli Academy when Chu Xingbai was shot with an arrow—the wound on the silenced servant’s body looked familiar. The cut was wide and long with shocking speed—that was Dong Dezi’s wife from Lingquan Village. Tong Rushi had colluded with you all early on.
Before Yueli Academy’s grand competition, in the deserted back mountain of Lingquan Village, we saw a palm-print-shaped mark on the stone wall.
We joked it was a bear paw then, but now I realize we were one step from the truth.
That should have been a reminder left by Dong Dezi’s wife, hinting that Lingquan Village was connected to Liaodong.
Someone in the incident used poison skillfully—that was Cui Shi.
But if someone could use poison to harm Chu Xingbai, why wasn’t the arrow poisoned?
That was a doubt that flashed through my mind, but regrettably I didn’t catch it then.
Now I understand—because it was a self-torture scheme from the start, not meant to kill Chu Xingbai, but to eliminate all our suspicions so the twins could gain trust and ultimately be chosen.
Grand Chancellor of Liaodong, meticulous in thought, truly living up to your reputation.
I thought I’d need to spend much time and energy killing you. After all, with your mole-like nature, once you finished your evil and shrank back to Liaodong, I couldn’t reach you quickly.
Yet unexpectedly, you’ve already been cut in half and appeared before my eyes.
This is his second gift to me, isn’t it?
…
Chi Xue, waiting outside the hall, finally heard Tie Ci’s voice from within.
“Verified without error. Take them out.”
Chi Xue acknowledged and ordered people to remove Xiao Liheng and Qiu Wujiu’s corpses. Later there would naturally be imperial edicts for their disposal.
When the eunuchs were about to move the third corpse, Tie Ci said: “Go out.”
Chi Xue understood and silently withdrew with the others.
In the hall now remained only one corpse and one person.
Tie Ci sat beside the coffin, gazing at the person beside it.
The last time they met was at her birthday. That night before Ruixiang Hall, fireworks flowed in seven-colored light as she and she leaned against the white jade stone railings watching fireworks.
When starlight reflected in her eyes, she heard her say: “Your Highness, let’s not meet again in the future.”
From then on, they truly never met.
When the Xiao family was about to fall, knowing her days were difficult, she sent Dan Shuang to take her away, but she refused.
She could only exile her to the imperial mausoleum, again sending Ruixiang Hall’s token, promising she could gain freedom anytime with her maid.
Yet in the end.
She let go of freedom within reach.
Using her life to achieve both loyalty and filial piety.
Wenliu.
Was the moat water deep? Cold?
Such a high city wall—how did you, a girl who wasn’t particularly brave, dare to jump down?
And why did you jump from the city wall so resolutely?
You clearly had a chance to live.
The Xiao family seemed to pamper you but was actually cold. Before your wedding date arrived, they forced you to marry Tie Lin.
Knowing full well Tie Lin was no good man.
Because you had friendship with me, they could force you to assassinate me—what difference was there between that and forcing you to die?
In their eyes, you were never more than a sacrificial piece for the family’s social climbing.
But you didn’t mind these things.
You only remembered others’ kindness to you, repaying it a hundred or thousand fold.
When Tie Lin was one step from the Crown Prince position, you didn’t care about the Crown Princess’s honor, risking danger to bring me into the city.
Now, you used your only chance to send Murong Yi out of the city.
Every drink and peck is heavenly will.
I was already in debt to you.
Yet you never demanded anything from me.
You’d rather trade your life.
Wenliu.
I know what you wanted.
You wanted this realm at peace, you wanted Xiao family women to survive, you wanted lovers’ hope never to die, you wanted… that cherry blossom lovesick wood hairpin.
Actually, I had already finished it, just wanted to polish it more, so I didn’t rush to send it to you.
Things in this world cannot be delayed. Once delayed, this lifetime is missed.
Tie Ci drew a hairpin from her bosom.
Deep red lovesick wood with fine cloud-like grain, dense texture, golden light faintly flashing.
The hairpin head was a cherry blossom, petals carved extremely delicately, veins visible, edges slightly curled, actually making one feel the flower swaying tenderly in the wind, petals soft.
“I really like this hairpin… how about I trade with Miss Feiyu—as long as I have it, as long as she wants it!”
“Never mind, I don’t want it anymore. You already gave it to her, if I ask for it again, it wouldn’t be given to me.”
“…Don’t want bird shapes, I want a flower. I like cherry blossoms and roses. Sister, can you carve one for me?”
Wenliu.
I spent a long time carving this.
Do you like it?
Tie Ci bent down, gently inserting the hairpin in Xiao Wenliu’s temples.
The gleaming deep red lovesick wood made those pale features seem to gain color, as if the next moment she would open her eyes, cover her heart with her hand, and say with a smile: “Sister, I was tricking you! How about it, did I give you a big fright?”
Tie Ci blinked.
She saw only a hall of dim lights, a room of empty wind.
Her fingers lingered briefly on Xiao Wenliu’s hair, following her cheek, gently brushing past.
Night, at this moment, covered everything gently and deeply.