Wei Linxia’s strong will could not command her weak body. As they approached the border, they saw many refugees in tattered clothes heading north. Wang* learned that border fighting had begun, with casualties everywhere. Wei Linxia’s heart sank; a breath stuck in her chest, her face pale.
By the next morning, they reached the border. The sun broke through the cold, the air thick with a bloody smell. They dismounted, needing to find a way to see the Rong monarch. Wei Linxia expected difficulties but found the process surprisingly smooth, even entering the Rong monarch’s tent. It seemed Rong had won this battle.
The monarch looked jubilant, the table filled with wine and meat, and the tent fragrant with roasted dishes, flanked by two beautiful concubines. Wei Linxia paid her respects, and the monarch, in good spirits, offered her a chair. Wang stood behind her.
“Why have you come? I’ve already spared you. What do you want?” the Rong monarch asked.
“I came to ask how you will handle my husband. May I inquire about his fate?” Wei Linxia asked, coughing involuntarily after entering the warm tent.
“Hmph, your husband will naturally pay with his life for my crown prince. Remarkably, he hasn’t died after three days on the battlefield,” the Rong monarch said with a cruel smile.
Wei Linxia gripped her handkerchief tightly, trying to quell her fear. Wasn’t this an expected outcome? Even if she died, she would not let Xi Linxuan die in vain. Her thoughts raced as she reached into her sleeve for another item, realizing the dagger was too short for her purpose. She shifted her gaze to a long knife on the table beside the roasted lamb and had an idea.
“Will you spare my husband if I hand over the Youzhou defense map?” Wei Linxia asked.
The Rong State Lord sneered, taking another sip of wine: “Nonsense. How would a woman know about the defense map?”
“Will you not make this deal? Let my husband die with honor for the country.” Weilin’s confidence grew, and her expression became more composed.
“How do I know if what you’re saying is true?” The Rong State Lord remained skeptical.
Weilin smiled: “My brother-in-law is the husband of the Yan Wang Junzhu and has been guarding Youzhou by royal command since the year before last. How could this map be fake? By handing over the map, my husband and I will still be under your mercy, waiting for you to verify its authenticity before deciding to release or…”
“So my State Prince died in vain?” The Rong State Lord’s face showed anger.
“Even if my husband settles the blood debt for your State Prince, he is a palace servant, disabled since childhood. In Yan culture, the emperor is the son of heaven with dragon-like qualities. Even if my husband survives, he would be discarded. Killing him would only save the emperor trouble and please other princes. Your State Prince would still die in vain.” Weilin stood up, pretending to cough. “My lord, please consider. If my husband dies today on the battlefield, I will not hand over this map.”
Wang Ling came to support her, and Weilin seized the opportunity to appear weak.
“Wait, I’ll make this deal with you,” the Rong State Lord called out, stopping them.
Wang Ling frowned, but Weilin shook her head and took a deep breath. “Then please prepare brush and ink,” she said.
She staggered to the table’s edge, suddenly grabbing a long knife and pressing it against the Rong State Lord’s neck. With only two concubines in the tent and soldiers outside, the unexpected move silenced the concubines and froze the soldiers.
“You want to kill me? With your weak physique?” the Rong State Lord taunted, maintaining his composure.
As Weilin opened her mouth to respond, a powerful grip snatched the knife from her hand, and Wang Ling stepped protectively in front of her. “What about me?” he asked calmly.
Wang Ling’s strikingly delicate features contrasted with his tall, thin frame, which made the Rong State Lord feel secure allowing their entry.
“I’ve practiced both literature and martial arts since childhood. You can test whether your soldiers or my skills are faster,” he continued with a smile before turning to Weilin. “State Prince’s wife, how shall we handle this?”
“Kill him!” Weilin replied firmly. “Rong people always go back on their word. Even if I hand over the map, my husband and I will surely die.”
Since that’s the case, having the State Lord accompany us is not dying in vain.”
“Understood,” Wang Ling said.
“Wait…” The tent curtain was suddenly lifted, and standing at the door was Tuo Jing Shen, wearing armor and supporting a bloodied and disheveled person. “I’m here. Spare my royal father, and I guarantee your safety.”
“Your Highness!” Weilin ran over and embraced Xi Linxuan, who wore only an inner garment stained with blood, making Weilin’s eyes turn red.
“Shen Bi, no…” Xi Linxuan’s voice was barely audible. “As subjects, we cannot be disrespectful.”
“No, I won’t listen to you,” Weilin responded.
Tuo Jing Shen exchanged words in the Rong language with the State Lord, which Weilin couldn’t understand. She focused on wrapping her cloak around Xi Linxuan.
The narrative continues with political negotiations, personal sacrifices, and emotional interactions, highlighting themes of loyalty, survival, and strategic maneuvering in a tense political landscape.
“Bastard, didn’t we say we’d die together? How could you act on your own? If there’s a next time, I won’t let you off!” Wei Linxia hammered his chest, hearing him grunt and then stopping, looking at him with teary eyes. “Does it hurt?”
“Yes, it hurts to death, all from the rope marks,” Xi Linxuan replied bitterly.
Wei Linxia struck him again: “Serves you right for leaving me behind. I’ll beat you to death!”
“What she-wolf, clearly a tigress! Ouch, stop hitting – if I die before the battle, it’ll be in your hands.” Xi Linxuan grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. “Hit, wait, I absolutely won’t fight back.”
“This is for our daughter,” Wei Linxia said in a muffled voice. After a few hits, she could barely lift her hand. These days had truly worn her out. Now that he had woken up, she could rest assured and sleep for a while.
Outside the tent, the cold wind howled, mixed with the mournful sound of the qiang flute. Inside, under the flickering candlelight, the young couple slept in an embrace.
The war’s progress would soon have nothing to do with them. The Rong country’s ruler ordered their return to Rong. Just after they returned home, Feng happily informed them that Master Mu had sent someone to deliver the young county princess, asking the two princes to be at ease.
Wei Linxia’s heart was half at rest, the other half worried about Xi Linxuan’s numerous wounds. Following the doctor’s advice, she applied and brewed medicine daily, gritting her teeth and cursing the Rong ruler’s despicable actions. Just as Xi Linxuan’s wounds nearly healed, tensions in Rong rose again, with rumors spreading that Yan was mobilizing 500,000 troops to the border.
Hearing this news, Xi Linxuan’s face darkened.
Wei Linxia’s hand trembled as she held the medicine bowl.
If she had to choose the person she hated most, it would be the Yan Emperor – that cold man sitting in the dim place, hidden behind misty incense. He wouldn’t know his son was on the battlefield, ready to be pierced by a thousand arrows. His northern expedition was leading to his son’s tragic death, yet he still issued the order.
“Nothing will happen,” Xi Linxuan said as he took the medicine bowl from her and drank it calmly.
“Right, nothing will happen. We’ve already met King Yama,” Wei Linxia said. After he took his medicine, she applied ointment evenly. They had walked past the gates of hell; they shouldn’t die, right?
