CXD - 93

Inside the large tent, where the crackling of charcoal fire filled the air, a young man clad in a thin night robe gently laid the limp figure in his arms back onto the bed. He sat quietly on the edge of the bed, gazing at her face, which had grown thinner, carefully tucking her in with the quilt. With the pad of his finger, he smoothed the furrow between her brows and wiped away the tears that streaked her cheeks.

Soon, footsteps sounded outside the tent, and two maidservants hurried in.

Xiao Man walked to the bedside, picked up the wedding gown Jiang Zhiyi had just changed out of, and asked Yuan Ce for instructions: “Young General, may I go to the neighboring tent to help Jingzhe change into the wedding gown?”

Yuan Ce nodded.

Guyu stepped forward to report to Yuan Ce: “Young General, all the servants in the procession, including Minister Zhou of the Honglu Temple, have been replaced with our own people. All relevant travel documents, marriage alliance papers, and even the imperial edict are now in our possession. The Xuan Ce Army you brought has also donned the armor of the accompanying guards. Here is your set.”

Guyu held out a suit of armor.

Yuan Ce stood up and took it, piece by piece putting it on over his night robe.

Guyu clenched her hands tightly at her sides, her heart simultaneously uneasy and exhilarated.

Back in May, when the princess returned to Chang’an, she traveled lightly, bringing only Jingzhe as her maid. Xiao Man and Guyu stayed behind temporarily at Shen Manor in Guzang, intending to return to the capital with Young General Shen during the New Year. But in August, they were struck by the shocking news that the princess was being sent off for the marriage alliance, almost believing they would never see her again.

In Guzang, they watched as Young General Shen received the news but had to endure it silently. For more than three months, the entire Shen Manor was as quiet as a tomb, not even insects daring to chirp.

But seeing Young General Shen leave early and return late every day, never idle, they guessed he must be plotting something, so they waited anxiously for his orders.

Until recently, when the marriage alliance procession entered Hexi territory, the two could no longer wait. They asked Young General Shen when he planned to act, why hadn’t he acted yet?

But Young General Shen said that the princess agreed to the marriage alliance to protect everyone except herself. If he wanted to protect her, he had to protect everyone she wished to protect. The time to act had not yet come.

Guyu and Xiao Man could only continue waiting anxiously. When Physician Li finally delivered the secret message confirming the personnel arrangements within the marriage alliance procession, they began preparing for this audacious substitution plan.

The princess would never agree to let Jingzhe take her place in the marriage carriage, nor would she allow Young General Shen and hundreds of Xuan Ce soldiers to risk their lives in such a reckless manner. Therefore, everyone involved concealed this plan from her—until tonight.

Fully armored, Yuan Ce tested the long sword at his waist: “You, Xiao Man, and Physician Li will stay here and take care of the princess. Together with the men I’ve left behind, ensure the safety of everyone in the marriage alliance procession.”

Guyu quickly nodded: “Young General, rest assured!”

Yuan Ce turned his head and looked at the peaceful sleeping face on the bed. Leaning down, he gently kissed her lips, then straightened and strode toward the exit.

Physician Li stood outside the tent with his hands clasped behind his back, appraising Yuan Ce up and down: “It’s all about the person wearing it. This golden armor looks far better on Young General Shen than on those ordinary men.”

Yuan Ce shot him a cool glance.

Flattery meant nothing. It only confirmed that Li Dafeng had indeed considered Jiang Zhiyi’s plan back in Chang’an and felt guilty about it.

“Instead of flattering me, focus on keeping an eye on those hundreds of men.”

“Young General, rest assured. Not a single person here will wake before your triumphant return.”

As they spoke, Jingzhe, dressed in a wedding gown and veiled with a red bridal cover, was led out of the neighboring tent by Xiao Man.

The Xuan Ce soldiers disguised as escorts also lined up in formation.

Standing at the entrance of the tent, Yuan Ce scanned the group: “Are you all familiar with your new equipment?”

The lead “escort captain” grinned: “Young General, this gear is nowhere near as good as ours, but it’ll do. Cutting down the Xiluo troops will be like slicing melons!”

Yuan Ce’s lips curved into a faint smile, but his expression quickly turned serious as he gripped the sword at his waist and addressed the group: “I hereby order you to escort Princess Yongying to the Xiluo border, annihilate the Xiluo welcoming delegation, and bring back the head of Xiluo’s second prince to repay the princess for her hundred days of hardship on this journey westward!”

“Yes—!”

One day and one night later, deep into the night.

Inside the tent, insulated against the cold, the charcoal fire burned quietly. Though Jiang Zhiyi lay warm in her bed, her mind drifted chaotically through a jumble of dreams.

At times, she saw the flickering candlelight of a large tent and heard Yuan Ce issuing orders. She ran after him, trying to stop him, but her throat felt blocked, unable to utter a word. Barefoot, she stood in the icy snow, watching helplessly as he rode farther and farther away.

At other times, she found herself in the vast desert under blazing sunlight. The winding marriage procession crossed the boundless sands accompanied by the tinkling of camel bells, heading steadily westward. Xiluo envoys clad in furs came to greet her, speaking awkward Chinese and performing Han customs.

Then came a moonless, starless night. In the camp illuminated by scattered bonfires, the Daye marriage alliance procession shared the same campsite with the Xiluo delegation, each side occupying their respective areas. The tents fell into silent slumber until a sudden whistle shattered the stillness of the night. The sound of clashing weapons erupted, and the camp descended into chaos as both sides clashed fiercely.

Amidst the battle, blood and gore flew as swords slashed and spears pierced. The tall figure wielding a longsword charged into the fray, his blade gleaming like frost cutting through the enemy ranks. Wherever the cold light of his sword reached, enemies fell without fail.

…

At the same moment, a hundred miles away at the border between Hexi and Xiluo, in the dark night of the camp, Jingzhe sat upright on the bed in the main tent, mimicking Jiang Zhiyi’s posture. Outside, the sky was lit with flashes of crimson as the sounds of clashing weapons echoed ceaselessly.

Her heart pounded as Jingzhe kept a wary eye on the closed tent flap, her hand gripping the hilt of her unsheathed sword.

The marriage alliance procession had timed their arrival perfectly, reaching the Xiluo border at dusk and meeting with the welcoming delegation. The Xiluo envoy intended to escort them across the border immediately, but Jingzhe, following the plan, feigned dizziness and nausea, collapsing dramatically in the carriage and claiming she was too ill to travel further. She demanded they rest for the night.

The Xiluo envoy thought nothing of it, but the second prince of Xiluo, who had personally overseen the marriage alliance and come along to supervise, seemed wary of potential complications. Using the excuse of harsh nighttime winds and heavy frost, he suggested moving her to a nearby city.

This second prince, having orchestrated the marriage alliance himself, naturally possessed a sharp mind. Suspicious, he pretended concern and summoned a Xiluo physician to examine her.

Fortunately, Young General Shen had already instructed Physician Li to prepare a potion to alter her pulse. After taking it, the diagnosis confirmed motion sickness, deeming her unfit to travel. The second prince’s suspicion lessened by half.

Having served the princess for so many years, Jingzhe knew exactly how to play her part. Feigning anger, she threw a tantrum inside the carriage, crying out that if Xiluo treated her so poorly, forcing her to travel while ill, she would turn around and return to Daye immediately. Xiluo could say nothing further.

The thought of Jingzhe still made her seethe. If the princess had come here and fallen ill, would the Xiluo people have treated her this way?

Fortunately, she had taken the princess’s place. And fortunately, after Young General Shen launched this midnight raid, everything would soon be over.

Jingzhe sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the hilt of her sword, watching fresh blood splatter across the tent fabric as wave after wave of Xiluo soldiers approaching her tent were cut down by the Xuan Ce Army stationed outside.

The sounds of slaughter gradually diminished. Jingzhe swallowed nervously when suddenly footsteps approached. She sprang to her feet, unsheathing her sword in one swift motion.

At the same moment, the tent flap was lifted, and a soldier from the Xuan Ce Army walked in.

Jingzhe exhaled in relief and lowered her weapon.

“Lady Jingzhe, rest assured. The Xiluo delegation has been completely annihilated. Their reinforcements may arrive soon. Please follow us and retreat quickly!”

Jingzhe nodded and hurried outside.

The camp was a sea of corpses and blood, with Xiluo bodies piled everywhere. It was a one-sided massacre.

This long-awaited, meticulously planned massacre—perhaps every slash, every thrust of the blade had been repeatedly envisioned and carefully designed by Yuan Ce over the past three months.

As Jingzhe navigated around the sprawled bodies, she marveled at what Xiao Man had told her last night: that this group of Xuan Ce soldiers had been rigorously trained by Yuan Ce himself every day for more than three months. Their combat power now surpassed even the most fearsome ghost army of the Northern Jie that had once struck terror into the hearts of all under heaven. Tonight’s display confirmed just how terrifying they truly were.

In the camp, one group of Xuan Ce soldiers, following Yuan Ce’s orders, moved among the bodies, delivering finishing blows to ensure no one could possibly survive. Another group worked to clean up the scene, altering the traces of the massacre.

Yuan Ce, clad in crimson-gold armor splattered with blood, stood in the center of the camp. His longsword dripped with fresh blood as his gaze fixed on the corpse at his feet. Slowly, he pressed the tip of his boot onto the face, wiping away the blood and mud with the sole of his shoe. Lowering his lashes, he confirmed the identity—it was the second prince of Xiluo.

It was this wretch who had plotted such schemes. Since he was so clever—

Yuan Ce narrowed his eyes. A flash of his sword gleamed, and with one swift strike, he severed the head that still stared wide-eyed even in death.

If he was so fond of using his brain, perhaps it was better if he didn’t have one anymore.

The next morning, a hundred miles away, near the Huyang Pass in Hexi territory.

Zhou Zheng’an, Minister of the Honglu Temple, slowly awakened from a deep sleep on the bed inside his tent. When he opened his eyes, his eyelids felt heavy, and his mind foggy—he couldn’t recall when he had gone to bed.

After racking his aching head for a while, the last thing he remembered was urging the princess’s dinner preparations in the camp.

He couldn’t even remember if they had ended up eating.

Struggling to sit up, Zhou Zheng’an glanced down at his undergarments, then noticed his official robes—containing the marriage alliance documents—were missing from the wooden rack. Panic seized him. Could it be…

Zhou Zheng’an’s heart raced as he leapt off the bed: “Someone—anyone!”

“Is Lord Zhou looking for your official robes?” A young male voice sounded from outside the tent.

The next instant, the tent flap was lifted, and a guard in crimson-gold armor entered, holding Zhou Zheng’an’s official robes. Zhou Zheng’an let out a sigh of relief and reached out to take them—but something seemed off.

The man before him was covered in blood, and the moment he stepped inside, the tent filled with the overwhelming stench of blood.

Zhou Zheng’an froze mid-reach, noticing that his official robes were also stained with blood.

In the ensuing silence, Zhou Zheng’an slowly raised his eyes to meet the bloody, familiar yet unfamiliar face before him.

Unfamiliar because the owner of this face shouldn’t be wearing the imperial crimson-gold armor.

Familiar because as an official handling foreign affairs, he had certainly seen this person—Shen Yuan Ce.

Zhou Zheng’an gasped soundlessly, his vision darkening and spinning. It felt as though his head had already detached from his body…

Yuan Ce chuckled softly, gently placing the official robes into his trembling hands: “Lord Zhou endured a fierce battle last night. You must be shocked. Hurry and change into your robes, then return to Chang’an to deliver the news.”

Zhou Zheng’an, stunned, felt his head snap back into place: “What… what news?”

“Yesterday, Lord Zhou escorted Princess Yongying into Xiluo territory and met with their delegation at dusk. That night, we camped in the wild. Deep into the night, the second prince of Xiluo, drunk, broke into the princess’s tent with ill intentions. Our guards fought valiantly to protect her, clashing swords with the second prince. Unfortunately, in the chaos, the second prince met his demise.”

Zhou Zheng’an’s eyes widened further, too stunned to react. Before he could gather his thoughts, the man opposite him abruptly opened a box tucked under his arm, presenting a freshly severed head directly before his eyes.

Horrified, Zhou Zheng’an stumbled backward three steps.

The man continued calmly: “Upon the death of the second prince, the Xiluo delegation declared war on us. To protect the princess, our forces bravely fought back. After the battle, not a single member of the Xiluo delegation survived. Lord Zhou fulfilled his duty admirably, escorting the princess back to Hexi territory overnight.”

Zhou Zheng’an stared at Yuan Ce in shock, trembling as he raised his hand: “How dare you commit such…”

“How dare I?” Yuan Ce raised an eyebrow. “If Lord Zhou can lose the princess of the marriage alliance—a crime punishable by death—what is there that I wouldn’t dare do?”

Zhou Zheng’an’s trembling heart plummeted. He understood why Yuan Ce could brazenly return after abducting the princess and assassinating Xiluo royalty.

Losing the princess of the marriage alliance was a capital offense. If Shen Yuan Ce were to be punished, Zhou Zheng’an—and the hundreds of servants and guards in the entourage—would all meet the same fate!

“Lord Zhou need not worry,” Yuan Ce said with a faint smile. “The princess is safe in the main tent of this very camp. We are now on the same boat. Only the living can tell the truth.” He lifted the box containing the head. “Would you rather be the disgraced official who lost the princess, or the hero who protected Daye’s princess and upheld our nation’s honor?”

Two quarters of an hour later, inside the main tent, Jiang Zhiyi awoke from her tangled dreams, slowly opening her heavy eyelids. Turning her head slightly, she vaguely saw a familiar figure in dark clothing seated beside her bed.

Jiang Zhiyi blinked forcefully, her blurry vision gradually clearing. In the instant she fully recognized the person beside her, her eyes widened in shock, locking onto his face.

For a heart-stopping moment, she couldn’t tell whether she had truly awakened or was dreaming again.

Yuan Ce raised his hand, cleaned of blood, waving it in front of her eyes as if doubting the effects of the drug had worn off.

Jiang Zhiyi gazed at him, dazed, murmuring: “Am I… dreaming?”

Yuan Ce tilted his head and smiled: “If this is a dream, what would you like to do?”

“I want…” Tears welled up in Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes. “I want to run away with you.”

Yuan Ce chuckled and held out his hand.

Dumbfounded, Jiang Zhiyi placed her hand in his palm. With a gentle tug, he pulled her up. Looking down, she realized she was already dressed in her wedding gown.

Following the pull of his hand, Jiang Zhiyi’s legs swung off the bed.

Yuan Ce knelt on one knee, slipping her bridal shoes on for her, then helped her to her feet.

Stumbling, Jiang Zhiyi followed him as he lifted the tent flap, pulling her outside. He lifted her onto a tall horse, then mounted behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

With a flick of the whip, the steed galloped forward.

“Then allow me to elope with the princess.”