Clang!
The arrow struck against a long blade and was instantly shattered to pieces!
For a moment everyone froze — not out of shock that Chu Feiyan had actually dared to attack, but out of astonishment at Situ Haonan’s sheer skill!
Not a single person present, not even Yelü Qianqian, had ever truly witnessed Situ Haonan’s real ability!
Yelü Qianqian caught sight of his focused profile from the side — none of his usual careless, easygoing manner, only sharp, resolute lines and a solemn expression, radiating masculine presence!
Yelü Qianqian was instantly smitten, forgetting all about her quarrel with Chu Feiyan. Utterly dazed, she clasped her hands together under her chin and murmured to herself, “If only he’d look at me that seriously just once, how wonderful that would be!”
That single strike had, without question, sealed Chu Feiyan’s defeat. Even with her share of skilled guards at her side, compared to Situ Haonan, the eldest son of the Situ estate, they had come here to be humiliated, plain and simple.
Chu Feiyan found herself trapped, unsure what to do next.
She’d originally planned that the moment she set foot on Western Jing’s shore, she would send word to her father to reassure him of her safety, and ask after Chu Tiange’s whereabouts while she was at it. By now her father would surely know something had gone wrong, yet the matter had gone unresolved for so long — which could only mean the Emperor of Western Chu intended to let Princess Qianqian have her way, indefinitely.
What was she to do?
Could she really be forced to take the detour through Great Zhou after all? But going to Great Zhou meant going to beg Han Ziqing for help!
Or perhaps she could linger in Nanzhao a while longer — surely her father would find some way to rescue her eventually!
But the very thought brought the King of Nanzhao’s lecherous gaze instantly to mind, followed at once by Consort Qin’s narrow, fox-like eyes!
Chu Feiyan couldn’t help but shudder. No! She would never accept that!
Ever since she was young, the only man she’d ever set her heart on marrying was Jun Beiyue, Prince of Yao!
If not Nanzhao, then all that remained for her was to drift endlessly upon the vast open sea — except she didn’t even have a ship of her own; this one belonged to Nanzhao.
Just as Chu Feiyan found herself at a total dead end, with no way forward and no way back, Lord Pi Luo, seeing her calm down somewhat, hurried over and spoke in a low voice. “Your Highness, please listen to this humble servant’s advice. Let’s not waste any more time here — let’s return to Nanzhao and think of another way. You came as a guest, and as long as you don’t act rashly and jeopardize the friendly relations between Nanzhao and Western Jing while standing on a Nanzhao ship, His Majesty certainly won’t simply stand by and do nothing. If Western Jing won’t grant passage, there’s still Great Zhou’s southern border to try!”
Chu Feiyan remained unmoved, staring coldly at Yelü Qianqian, though deep in her heart the one person she truly hated had always been just one woman — Han Ziqing!
If not for that woman, the war between Western Chu and Great Zhou would never have erupted so suddenly, and Western Chu would never have suffered such a crushing defeat, its strength so badly drained. And if its strength hadn’t been so badly drained, how could Western Jing possibly dare to trample all over them like this?
Before that war, wherever the Princess Imperial of Western Chu went, every ruler of every nation had received her personally — let alone forced her to take a detour!
And now, reduced to a state where every road forward was blocked — that, too, was Han Ziqing’s doing!
That woman had stolen Jun Beiyue from her, stolen every last shred of her glory. For the rest of her life, as long as she still drew breath, she would never let Chu Feiyan go.
Wait — she meant she would never let Han Ziqing go.
“Your Highness, Nanzhao and Great Zhou have always been on friendly terms. Great Zhou’s emperor will surely grant our king some face. Let’s head back first and have His Majesty put in a good word for you — what do you say?” Lord Pi Luo urged again.
“Fine!” Chu Feiyan agreed at once.
Very well. If she couldn’t pass through anywhere else, then she would pass through Great Zhou specifically — right past Han Ziqing’s very doorstep!
She wouldn’t beg her. The King of Nanzhao would speak on her behalf — she refused to believe Han Ziqing would dare deny the King of Nanzhao’s request.
A few more days of this revolting ordeal would pass eventually, and the day of her revenge would surely come too.
With that thought, Chu Feiyan pointed at Yelü Qianqian and shouted furiously, “Yelü Qianqian, tell your father emperor — one day he’ll come begging Western Chu for something!”
With that, she turned and headed into the cabin with Lord Pi Luo.
“Chu Feiyan, once you get through Great Zhou, remember to come find me — I’ll kowtow and admit I was wrong, hahaha!” Yelü Qianqian called back mockingly. Without her father’s approval behind this, a matter of such consequence, how could she possibly have let it escalate this far?
She, Western Jing, wasn’t the least bit afraid of a defeated Western Chu!
Watching the Nanzhao ships sail off into the distance, Yelü Qianqian still hadn’t had her fill, lingering, reluctant to look away.
Situ Haonan rolled his eyes repeatedly beside her. “All right, enough pretending — if you keep staring, I’ll have to leave too. I only agreed to escort you this far!”
Yelü Qianqian immediately pouted, spinning around to face him. “Would it kill you to keep me company a little longer?”
“It would,” Situ Haonan said, nodding at once.
“How, exactly?” Yelü Qianqian asked, displeased.
“Annoyed to death,” Situ Haonan said, already leaping onto a small boat to leave.
“Hey, you still haven’t given me a straight answer to that question!” Yelü Qianqian shouted after him.
Situ Haonan stiffened slightly, then immediately gave the order to set sail, waving a hand dismissively. “Forgot, forgot.”
“Do you like Han Ziqing!” Yelü Qianqian called out, not the least bit shy about it.
But the boat was already drifting slowly away, and whether Situ Haonan simply hadn’t heard, or simply didn’t want to answer, he gave no response at all…
After several days of hard travel, Ziqing finally arrived at Lishao Mountain. At that moment she was resting on a small hillside, reading Situ Haonan’s letter, a mischievous, amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Situ Haonan’s letter ran on and on, five full pages of painstaking detail, recording every single word exchanged in the argument between Yelü Qianqian and Chu Feiyan — even documenting each of Chu Feiyan’s reactions in careful detail, so vividly that Ziqing felt as though she’d witnessed it all herself, right down to the moment Chu Feiyan had coughed up blood in her fury!
In one hand she held Situ Haonan’s lengthy letter, and in the other, a letter from General Zhao at the southern border pass, saying that the King of Nanzhao had sent someone to inquire whether Chu Feiyan might be permitted to pass through Great Zhou’s border.
“Your Highness, General Zhao is waiting for your reply and asked that I return as quickly as possible,” the shadow guard said quietly, faintly puzzled — he had no idea what Her Highness could possibly have found in the Situ young master’s letter that had her so amused, seemingly quite delighted.
“Go back and tell him — it’s the same as what I said before. No one passes except those of Nanzhao or Great Zhou. That’s the rule, no exceptions,” Ziqing said.
“Yes!” The shadow guard accepted the order and departed.
But the moment he was gone, Ziqing could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing, clutching her stomach, doubled over with laughter.
In the quiet mountain forest, her laughter rang out clear and bright as a lark’s song, so pleasant that anyone who heard it couldn’t help but want to share in her joy.
She was such a strange girl — never quite comfortable laughing in front of others, always saving her true amusement for when she was alone, laughing with such unguarded silliness, so unlike her usual self.
But just as Ziqing was doubled over laughing, she suddenly noticed a pair of gentle eyes fixed on her from up in a tree!
She stopped at once, tilting her head back to look up carefully — and there, in the tree above her, a man was hiding, watching her with obvious curiosity, though she had no idea since when!