Outside Bodhi Valley, the snow-white lone branches were burned to nothing, leaving only empty sand across the ground, pale and colorless.
A young woman in light purple garments sat with a melancholy expression, hugging her knees atop a half-collapsed hillside. The slope where she sat was the very place where Zhu Yan had once sat cross-legged, and the valley before her was the graveyard that had been swept through by Xue Xianzi, left in complete disarray and chaos.
No one accompanied her, nor did anyone guard her. The House of Pleasure seemed unafraid that she might escape on her own.
She was none other than Zhong Chunji. Several days ago, she had written a letter to the imperial palace, claiming that while wandering the martial world, she had accidentally discovered that White Cloud Gorge harbored a group of Great Zhou remnants who were secretly plotting rebellion, urging the court to quickly dispatch troops to exterminate them.
This matter was certainly not something she had investigated, much less something she could have discovered. It was Gui Mudan who had instructed her to write it, and she had simply written it as told, even including one of her own hairpins with the letter.
After sending the letter, she neither knew nor cared about the consequences.
Because…
“Do you have a brain or not? Or are you so determined to obtain the position of princess that you’re willing to die? When were you born? How old are you this year? When was the princess born to Empress Wang? How old is she this year? You’re only eighteen this year, but Empress Wang had already died before you were born. How could she have given birth to you, this ‘princess’? Zhao Zongying is wholeheartedly searching for his sister, and seeing your similar appearance, he accepted you based on preconceptions. But do you really think you’re a princess?”
Zhong Chunji closed her eyes, cold sweat streaming down from her temples. She covered her ears, but couldn’t block out that voice.
“You impersonated a princess, left the palace without permission, took palace guards with you without authorization, and caused the deaths of dozens of guards. If this matter were to spread, not only would you lose your head, but even Zhao Zongjing and Zhao Zongying who protected you would face great calamity. Hahahahaha…” Someone laughed wildly. “Little girl, do you understand the situation now? If you want to live and continue being a princess, you need to know your place. If you prove clever and obedient, you can continue being a princess, and even marry a prince consort or general in the future – no problem at all.”
She… was not a princess.
Zhong Chunji opened her eyes, her gaze dim and lifeless as she stared at the white sand below the slope. Indeed… just as she had sensed in her heart, heaven would not grant her such fortune. Heaven would only toy with her life. She was not a princess.
She was not a princess.
She was not a princess.
She was not… a princess.
Why did some people possess everything from birth, while others were born with nothing – no parents, no siblings, no confidants, no companions? No matter how much she hoped, how much effort she made, how many fantasies she harbored, everything remained illusory and insubstantial.
In this world, who exactly was the princess? The luxurious clothes and fine silks, the beautiful servants and delicious food, the thousands of guards who obeyed commands – to whom did these truly belong? How enviable…
A flash of resentment passed through her eyes. How enviable – but who exactly? How enviable! But Gui Mudan had only promised to help her kill this person, yet refused to tell her who the real princess actually was.
Currently, she had no choice but to follow Gui Mudan’s arrangements. Though Gui Mudan’s words were simple, they struck at the heart of the matter. She indeed could not possibly be a princess, and the great crime of deceiving the emperor had already been committed. To seek Gui Mudan’s assistance, she could not escape for now.
Now the House of Pleasure had need of her, now she was still a princess, and everything still had room for maneuvering.
Haoyun Mountain had recently welcomed several mysterious noble guests. Tang Lici arranged them in his own courtyard, not allowing anyone to approach. Everyone only knew that one was surnamed Yang and another surnamed Jiao. These two didn’t seem like martial world people, yet neither did they seem like scholars or literary guests. After arriving on the mountain, they held secret discussions with Tang Lici and Miss Hong daily, and no one knew what they were discussing.
After several days, even Bi Lianyi joined these secret meetings. Wanyu Yuedan sent a package up to Haoyun Mountain, and the curious crowd had all seen its contents – some torn cloth, jade objects, and gold and silver figurines. The jade objects and gold and silver items were exquisitely crafted, each a priceless treasure. Everyone marveled at them, but didn’t know their purpose.
Yu Konghou had seen that package along with everyone else, and knew in his heart that these were Princess Langya’s burial objects. Yang Guihua had narrowly escaped death at the Court of Judicial Review, and this time came with Jiao Shiqiao obviously to investigate the princess matter. Tang Lici’s sudden stirring up of the true and false princess dispute at this time must have ulterior motives. When he examined those objects, he applied inner force with his fingers. While they appeared intact on the surface, after being jostled by carriages and horses, those jade and gold objects would crumble into powder. Whatever Tang Lici’s purpose in raising the princess matter, those things could never serve as evidence.
“Indeed…” Jiao Shiqiao examined the package of so-called “evidence.” “Someone has tampered with it.”
Tang Lici’s cheeks flushed slightly pink, his complexion quite good. When he smiled, he appeared rather content and pleased. “Exactly.”
Jiao Shiqiao looked toward Miss Hong, his expression very calm. “It seems you are indeed the princess.”
If Miss Hong were not the princess, no one would have tampered with this package of evidence.
Miss Hong smiled faintly, her bearing dignified and quite reserved.
Jiao Shiqiao pondered for a moment. “Prince Jing found the wrong person. This is a major matter. I will immediately return to the palace to report to His Majesty.” He glanced at Tang Lici, his expression mild. “Uncle Tang has rendered service in this matter. I will report truthfully, and His Majesty will surely reward you.”
“Lord Jiao is known for his fairness and integrity. Miss Hong has jade pendant, swaddling clothes, and golden lock as proof. The golden lock bears the inscription of her birth time, matching the palace records. Miss Hong’s appearance more closely resembles Empress Wang. The princess matter should be beyond doubt.” Tang Lici smiled slightly. “What I worry about is Miss Zhong’s unknown whereabouts. Prince Jing has many enemies in the palace. I fear this matter might be exploited by others and must be investigated early.”
Jiao Shiqiao looked at him several times. “I understand.” He pondered again for a while. “His Majesty has not yet formally invested Princess Langya, nor has he met the princess in person. Would Miss Hong be willing to return to the capital with me?”
Hearing this, Miss Hong glanced at Tang Lici and said coolly, “I can, but I must return within five days.”
Jiao Shiqiao said, “This… once you are invested as princess by His Majesty, you cannot act at will.”
Miss Hong interrupted him. “Does the court not know that the martial world is currently on the verge of great upheaval? With me on Haoyun Mountain, I can guarantee this battle will never spiral out of control and harm the court.” Her face was covered with frost. “At this moment, only my honor as princess can stabilize the situation. Even Young Master Tang cannot give you such assurance.”
Jiao Shiqiao was slightly stunned again. “I will consider it.”
That day, Miss Hong, Bi Lianyi, and Jiao Shiqiao’s group set off for Bianliang. Though Yu Konghou harbored killing intent, he could not leave the strategic location of Haoyun Mountain. He could not possibly sacrifice his position on Haoyun Mountain just to kill Miss Hong. With Miss Hong’s sudden departure, regardless of whether she could be recognized as princess, he need only quickly reveal his trump card to force Tang Lici to retreat, and control of Haoyun Mountain would be in his hands.
Tang Lici also understood clearly – he need only hold Haoyun Mountain for five days. Once Miss Hong returned after being invested, everything would be decided.
White Cloud Gorge.
Green mountains and clear waters, flowers and leaves in brilliant array – the scenery of his homeland, unseen for many years, was exactly the same as in his memories, as if time had never passed and he had never grown up.
Fang Pingzhai slowly walked into the village nestled among the mountains and waters. Banners lay withered, earth and stones scattered everywhere. After more than ten days of wind and sun, the bloody smell in the air had already faded somewhat, replaced by a thick stench of decay. Looking around, the houses still stood, but the bloodstains on the walls had turned black, the drag marks clearly visible. It was early summer, and most of the corpses scattered everywhere had turned to white bones. Flies swarmed and vegetation grew wild. Walking among them, Fang Pingzhai had not taken three steps before stepping on white bones beneath his feet.
“Crack” – the sound of bones breaking. Fang Pingzhai crouched down and gently picked up that section of bone. It was a piece of arm bone, one end severed by a blade. Raising his head, the arm’s owner lay not far away, but with tattered clothes and flesh gone, he could no longer recognize who this person had been.
Twenty steps away, a charred corpse leaned against a blackened iron rod, standing upright facing the sky. Fang Pingzhai stared fixedly at that charred corpse. This was Yang Tiejun, the hero who could return from battle with more than ten enemy heads hanging from his horse. In childhood, he had taught him to ride horses and taken him hunting. Now…
Now he was just a charred corpse.
All around were broken white bones, some from sword wounds, some gnawed by wild beasts. Fang Pingzhai stared intently at the surrounding remains. With his experience and keen eye, he could see that some marks were wounds and struggle traces left by wild beasts gnawing while breath still remained.
At this thought, his heart suddenly ached – an ache so sharp it made his breathing catch. His previously calm emotions suddenly became greatly disturbed. This was his homeland where he grew up, these people were all relatives who had saved his life and raised him. He remembered their faces and voices clearly in his mind. He could not imagine how they had suffered sword slaughter, how they had endured endless torment before death, and before dying had to suffer the pain of being gnawed by wild beasts…
When people are dying, being devoured by wild beasts, what exactly do they think?
And when relatives are dying, being devoured by wild beasts, would they hope for me to come save them? How much would they expect it? Would they expect until despair? Before death, would they hate me?
And I… what was I doing at that time?
Fang Pingzhai stood covering his heart. Some things he thought he had let go apparently still remained on his shoulders, and moreover… were heavy enough to crush his entire being into fragments, losing all original form.
“Your… Highness…”
Fang Pingzhai suddenly turned around, only to see beside a brick house that had been burned by fire, a withered and haggard hand extended, waving weakly several times. He suddenly struck out with his palm, and the chicken coop beside the brick house crashed open, revealing beneath it a body covered in blood and filth. The person’s legs were both broken, originally robust in build, but now thin as a skeleton.
Fang Pingzhai walked toward that person step by step. “Brother Hou…”
The person weakly moved his hand. “Your… Highness…”
“Brother Hou!” Fang Pingzhai walked before him and slowly knelt down. “You… you…” Even with his usual eloquence, he could not speak a single word at this moment.
“The court’s… soldiers… killed… entire families… Aunt Fang… they…” The person gritted his teeth, speaking word by word. “Killed her… died so miserably… Your Highness… please…” He suddenly coughed violently, coughing up much bloody phlegm. “Please… for Aunt Fang… take revenge! For me—”
“Brother Hou!” Fang Pingzhai gripped his hand tightly. Lying here for more than ten days, how had he survived? How had he watched relatives being gnawed by wild beasts before his eyes, slowly dying and slowly turning to white bones? How could a person endure such things? How could he be so tenacious? “Don’t speak! Don’t speak, I can’t bear it! I can’t bear it…”
“Your Highness… you…” The person said hoarsely, “You cannot be too weak…”
“I…”
“Your Highness… restore the country… restore the country…” The person suddenly grasped Fang Pingzhai’s hand in return, his withered five fingers leaving deep wounds on the back of his hand, blood seeping out. “Restore the country… restore the country!”
Fang Pingzhai was speechless. The body before him struggled to crawl toward him. “If you don’t… even as a ghost I will…”
The voice abruptly stopped. The fingers on his right hand gripped tighter and tighter, but the person before him no longer moved.
“Tap” – a teardrop fell to the dust. Fang Pingzhai softly called “Brother Hou,” but the skeleton-like corpse before him would never respond again. Even if he had thousands of words in his heart, he neither knew how to speak them nor had anyone to hear them.
Restore the country?
Kneeling on knees among sand, stones, and bloodstains everywhere, the path to walk in the future would likewise be a road of no return, paved with blood.