Chapter 268: Falling Beacon Smoke
“Sigh…”
Guan Ya watched Li Zhao ride into the wind and snow, and sighed softly to Lai Fu.
“What’s wrong with Your Highness?”
Lai Fu shook his head with a troubled expression.
“It’s all because of that love poison. Not resolving it is torment, and resolving it seems to be even more torment…”
“Perhaps Your Highness hates Young Lady Xue to the bone right now, wishing to skin her alive, dismember her, and scatter her remains into ten thousand pieces…” Guan Ya frowned, stroking the scabbard at his waist.
“Eunuch, tell me, after we return to the capital, should we quietly help Crown Prince vent this anger?”
“Absolutely not, Guard Guan, you must not act rashly.”
Lai Fu stopped Guan Ya with a startled cry, then looked up at the gray sky, full of worry.
“The one who tied the bell must untie it…”
Li Zhao did not look back.
Even after enduring so long at Black Wind Pass with injuries, he remained as tall and straight as a solitary peak’s cold pine. The contours of his eyes and brows were deeper, his jawline pulled taut, as if tempered in extreme cold and blood and fire, shedding the last trace of the noble grace befitting an Imperial Prince, leaving only bone-deep coldness and killing intent.
A surge of indescribable bitterness welled up in Lai Fu’s heart.
The Crown Prince, whom he had watched grow up since childhood, had ultimately been stripped of his last shred of innocence by this heartless world and the even more heartless emotion of love, no longer a youth.
–
Outside Chishui Pass.
It was the thunderous sound of hooves approaching from afar, the earth seeming to tremble slightly.
Lu You’an’s voice pierced through the wind and snow, filled with ecstatic joy and excitement—
“Crown Prince! Your subordinate arrived late to save Your Highness. Is Your Highness well?”
Li Zhao looked at Lu You’an, who had returned bathed in blood. The white cloth wrapped around his forehead was stained with blood, but his spirits were high, and his face was full of smiles. Li Zhao couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, and the corners of his tightly pursed lips finally twitched upwards ever so slightly.
“General Lu, you have worked hard!”
“Your Highness flatters this subordinate…”
Their eyes met, and no further words were needed.
They were now comrades-in-arms who had survived a great ordeal, seasoned veterans forged in the crucible of battle.
Three hours later, the sky had brightened considerably.
Lu You’an stepped on the crunching accumulated snow and accompanied Li Zhao onto the observation deck, his voice hoarse with the exhaustion of battle.
“The casualties and spoils of each unit have been preliminarily tallied. The Ashina tribe has retreated fifty li, leaving behind a large amount of supplies and grain and fodder, and also…”
He paused and lowered his voice, “many bodies frozen to death or succumbing to plague. The reconnaissance teams we dispatched found traces of infighting among the Xizi people in the rear. Judging by their attire… they seem to be from the forces of High Priest Amun Rah.”
Li Zhao gave a faint “Mm.”
Amun Rah had finally been unable to restrain himself, stepping out of the shadows into the light, beginning to support the royal army and clear out the Ashina forces behind enemy lines—
This was a heaven-sent opportunity for Daliang.
However, there were no great ripples in his eyes.
Lu You’an, observing his expression, subtly stepped back half a pace.
In the cold wind, Guan Ya ran up the steps. He looked at the Crown Prince’s stern, ice-sculpture-like profile, hesitated for a moment, then took out a piece of rough hemp rope, worn smooth and almost broken, from his embrace. He presented it with both hands held above his head.
“Reporting to Your Highness, this was found while clearing the ice sleds used for transporting supplies at Black Wind Pass. The knot-tying method… is very peculiar.”
Li Zhao’s gaze finally returned from the distance, falling on that inconspicuous piece of hemp rope.
It was an extremely ancient, complex, and resilient ring-heart knot, not commonly used in the military, nor by the Xizi or any surrounding tribal people…
His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, his fingertips brushed the rough knot, and then slowly withdrew.
“Keep it for now.”
Guan Ya acknowledged, his tone calm, though his heart was a tempest.
It must be Old Mausoleum Swamp.
It must be Sixth Miss Xue!
No one mentioned this name, yet it would not be forgotten.
The snow disaster in the Western Frontier, the desperate lack of food, the spread of plague, the siege by the Ashina… when they were plunged into despair, the imperial reinforcements and supplies were far inferior to the silent help that arrived on that snowy night.
Who would have thought that behind it all, there was a pair of hands capable of turning clouds and rain!
But wasn’t Sixth Miss Xue already detached from worldly affairs, having severed that karmic bond with Crown Prince using the antidote? Why would she still extend her hand into this hellscape ten thousand li away?
Was it atonement? Was it a scheme?
Or… was Old Mausoleum Swamp playing an even bigger game?
They, their subordinates, could no longer understand.
“Guard Guan—” Lai Fu swallowed, looking at the Crown Prince’s back, and quietly walked to Guan Ya’s side, his voice full of confusion.
“Tell me… what is Your Highness thinking in his heart right now? Is Sixth Miss Xue helping us, or… is she scheming against His Highness again?”
Guan Ya’s fingertips tightened unconsciously, and he remained silent.
Lai Fu wrapped his cotton robe tighter, exhaling white mist, and shook his head.
“His Highness’s thoughts… are becoming deeper and deeper.”
Guan Ya looked at the Crown Prince’s footprints deeply embedded in the accumulated snow, his eyes narrowing.
“If she is genuinely helping, I will protect her with my life and give my life to her. If there is any malice, and she attempts to harm His Highness, then do not blame my sword for showing no mercy…”
–
The cold wind swept through the Chishui army, howling like ghosts.
Dusk descended, and the dark night swallowed the last bit of daylight.
Li Zhao walked alone into the vast and cold commander’s tent.
The tent flap fell, isolating everything outside.
There was no charcoal fire lit inside the tent, and the cold was bone-chilling.
The faint light of torches from soldiers patrolling the camp outside occasionally penetrated, casting a fleeting, cold arc of light across his dark armor.
He did not light a lamp, and stood there in the darkness, his figure almost blending into the heavy shadows.
After standing still for a moment, his fingers finally curled slightly, as if trying to grasp something, but in the end, they only touched a hard heart protection mirror, cold to the touch…
Sleepless all night.
When the first ray of dawn pierced the thick fog of Chishui Pass, Li Zhao, already in dark armor and a black fox cloak, stood on the temporarily erected observation deck, overlooking the pass they had just recaptured from the Ashina iron hooves.
“Send an envoy to inform Prince Duan that I acknowledge this rescue!”
The cold wind, like a knife, scraped across his sharp, defined face.
Lu You’an wrapped his cloak tighter and walked a few steps closer.
He was also somewhat surprised.
This time, Prince Duan had put aside old grievances, rushed to aid from a thousand li away, and provided help in the snow, saving the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. He could be considered a model of a virtuous prince, having made great contributions to the country and the army…
He said, “Prince Duan’s magnanimity is truly admirable—”
Li Zhao did not respond further. He simply turned around, his black fox cloak billowing in the cold wind. His voice was as cold as the eternal, unmelting dark ice from the depths of the ice plains, betraying no emotion.
“Tally the supplies and distribute them. According to the imperial decree, prepare to receive subsequent reinforcements. General Lu—”
“Your subordinate is here!” Lu You’an immediately stepped forward and cupped his hands, his armor clanking.
“Rally the troops! Once the supplies are sufficient, three days from now, we will leave the valley and counterattack the Ashina tribe!”
The voice beneath the dark armor was as hard as ice, each word like iron.
It struck the ice, stirring up waves of killing intent.
“Your subordinate obeys!” Lu You’an’s spirits soared, he clasped his hands in acknowledgment, his previous dejection swept away. He did not notice the fleeting ripple of emotion and deep loneliness in the Crown Prince’s eyes.
–
By the end of April, good news was pouring in from the Western Frontier.
After Li Zhao led his troops to break through the siege, he joined forces with Lu You’an and launched a surprise attack on the Ashina’s grain and fodder camp, burning half of their supplies.
At the same time, a change occurred in the Ashina’s rear—
High Priest Amun Rah launched the world-shocking “Sacred Fire Rebellion.” While Ashina was leading his troops away, he colluded with the left-wing nobles of Xizi and launched a sudden attack at the sacred city of Khalkha at the foot of Ulan Snow Mountain, seizing control of part of Ashina’s territory, and simultaneously supporting Turgutai, the second son of the old King Xizi…
The Xizi tribes were already outwardly united but inwardly divided, with long-standing grievances over water disputes. Now that the Royal Court was in turmoil, the entire Western Frontier was almost plunged into chaos.
In May of Chong Zhao’s fourteenth year, the Dragon Boat Festival.
Inside and outside Shangjing, the scent of mugwort wafted, and calamus hung from the doors.
Children had realgar dotted on their foreheads to ward off the five poisons.
Every household wrapped zongzi and made scented sachets…
The clamor of dragon boat races by the moat drowned out the undercurrents of unrest beneath the shadow of war cast by the Daliang court.
In the afternoon of this day, on the Imperial Street filled with the aroma of realgar wine, a swift horse galloped in from Zhu Que Gate, delivering an urgent dispatch to the Imperial City.
The handwriting on the dispatch was messy but strong, it was Li Zhao’s own.
The report stated that the siege at Black Wind Pass was due to both natural disaster and human interference, with spies colluding with the enemy. The situation had now been completely cleared up, and the Emperor’s judgment was awaited.
The army had received supplies, repelled the Ashina’s attack, and even recaptured three hundred li of lost territory outside Chishui Pass. Even more encouragingly, the plague in the army had been brought under control, and morale had greatly improved.
Upon receiving the dispatch, Emperor Chong Zhao was overjoyed. He immediately issued an imperial decree to commend the soldiers on the front lines, conferred upon Li Zhao the title of “Appointed Great General Who Pacifies the West,” and specially granted him the Imperial Sword, ordering him to act with discretion.
All the civil and military officials in the court submitted memorials, praising the Emperor’s wisdom.
Prince Duan’s faction also seized the opportunity to submit a memorial, praising Prince Duan for overseeing the rear and strategizing, and requesting a generous reward.
Emperor Chong Zhao nodded and smiled, immediately stating his position.
“Prince Duan’s contribution this time is immense, and I shall reward him handsomely…”
“Imperial Father, please allow your son to speak—”
Li Huan bowed and stepped forward, his posture respectful but unyielding. “The three strategies that broke the deadlock were not conceived by this son, and this son dares not claim the credit. That day before Your Majesty, I said that after the matter was settled, I would request rewards for the strategist. I implore Imperial Father to keep his promise and generously reward this hidden master…”
Emperor Chong Zhao laughed heartily, stroked his beard, and nodded.
“Who is this master who offered such a brilliant strategy? Prince Duan, quickly tell me truthfully, and I shall reward them according to their merit.”
Li Huan announced loudly, “The strategist is a Buddhist nun practicing at Shui Yue Nunnery, her dharma name is Lian Chen.”
Go to bed early today, take care of your health…
With this chapter, I wish all my sisters a happy Dragon Boat Festival and fragrant zongzi around your wrists.
Realgar dots the forehead to ward off evil spirits, and mugwort fills the home for prosperity year after year!
