Chapter 74 Heaven's Blessing: The Twenty-Third Cycle!
Chapter 74
Chi Zhanlan Ce suddenly smiled, his peach blossom eyes curving: "Second Miss Ye is always timid, how dare you come? Aren't you afraid I've dug a trap for you to fall into?"
Ye Xiren and Yan Danqing both felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
When they entered, Yan Danqing deliberately did not hold Ye Xiren's hand. Logically speaking, Chi Zhanlan Ce should not have noticed her, but he spotted her at a glance in the crowd.
What's going on with Chi Zhanlan Ce?!
Ye Xiren took a deep breath, shocked inside, but her face remained calm: "I really want to see what kind of trap His Highness Chizhan has dug for me."
Chi Zhanlan Ce looked at her intently.
I had only interacted with Miss Ye a few times, but I was deeply impressed by her. From the way she was a young lady who had calmed things down on the first day of March, to now, when you can't tell any emotion from her face... the change was quite significant.
Chi Zhanlan leaned forward, his smile becoming ambiguous. "Then let everyone else leave. I'll only speak to you."
Yan Danqing's red-tasseled spear trembled as he pressed it against Chi Zhanlan Ce's neck, his eyes icy and his face full of murderous intent. "If you want to stall for time, you've made a mistake. If I kill you, I'll rush to Huai'an Canal immediately. Everything will be in time. Without you, Northern Yan is like a tiger without teeth, nothing to fear."
Chi Zhanlan Ce leaned forward, letting the blood spill out, and said with a half-smile, "Then kill me. Let's see if Northern Yan will lose to Great Liang after I die. Is it a toothless tiger?"
He seemed to be eager to die at Yan Danqing's hands right now, confirming that the Great Liang had killed the Northern Yan's holy son who had come to negotiate peace.
Jiang You subconsciously reached out his hand, but ultimately said nothing and withdrew it.
"Are you waiting? To have your brother launch an attack while I'm away from the Huai'an Canal?" Yan Danqing sneered, reaching out to pull a scroll from his robes and throwing it in front of Chizhan Lance. "Do you think I ever trusted you? Chizhan Chengye doesn't have your foresight. Without your signal, how could he dare to send troops?"
He actually produced a handwritten agreement for the withdrawal of troops!
Chi Zhanlan Ce's pupils contracted, his eyes fixed on the open silk cloth on the ground. How could he not recognize what he had taken out? It was clearly the withdrawal order, his signal to Chi Zhan Chengye.
His expression changed instantly.
He looked up again, his eyes fixed coldly on Yan Danqing, filled with murderous intent, but there was nothing he could do.
Yan Danqing never believed his deals. He didn't believe the supplies, and naturally he didn't believe the withdrawal order. Since he was certain that Northern Yan would not withdraw its troops, how could he possibly allow a letter with a hint of conspiracy to be delivered to the Northern Yan army?
On the evening of the sixth day of the third lunar month, the letter was intercepted as soon as it left Nandu!
Chi Zhanlan Ce's expression changed several times. He knew his younger brother too well; he was indecisive and lacked his own opinions. He was probably still pacing anxiously around the Huai'an Canal, wondering why the letter hadn't arrived yet and whether he should continue waiting...
The situation changes rapidly, and if he delays even slightly, all the advantages he has calculated will be lost.
"Alright, although I can't catch you off guard, if I die in Daliang, Northern Yan will fight you to the death, even if it means mutual destruction and countless people die with me. I won't have lost out."
Jiang You really couldn't understand it, so he raised his voice:
"What are you thinking? What's so good about Great Liang and Northern Yan perishing together? You are the Holy Son of Northern Yan, don't you value the lives of your people?"
Are their peace terms not good enough? Fighting a war only yields so much treasure and territory, why risk the lives of your own people?
To him, the decision of the Holy Son of Northern Yan was incredible and he couldn't understand it at all.
Chi Zhanlan smiled but did not answer.
No one knew what he was thinking, but they all knew what he was going to do.
Yan Danqing's eyes sharpened.
Ye Xiren reached out and grasped his red-tasseled spear. Unlike the last time she pierced through Chizhan Lance, this time she pushed the spear away, her expression indifferent: "You said you would tell me the secret if you saw me. Will Your Highness Chizhan keep your promise?"
Chi Zhanlan Ce opened his eyes and looked at her, his smile growing even brighter: "Of course."
He then looked at the others, his expression meaningful:
"But I only told Miss Ye that if you stay here, I will not say anything. Once today is over, even if you tie my hands and feet, I will surely die, taking with me the secret you most want to know... If you are not in a hurry, you can wait slowly."
How is he going to die?
The crowd couldn't understand it, but when they met his eyes, they were inexplicably startled.
After finishing speaking, Chi Zhanlan closed his eyes. Clearly, if others were present, he would not have made a "transaction" and would not have revealed any information.
"You can all leave now." Ye Xiren sat down opposite Chi Zhanlan Ce and waved her hand.
Yan Danqing took a deep breath, turned and left. Since he had promised, he wouldn't go back on his word now. He just needed to figure out... how to protect her.
Jiang You lagged behind, glancing at the two sitting opposite him, and suddenly spoke: "Your Highness Chizhan, the conflict and grudges between Daliang and Beiyan are our business. She is just a girl, innocently getting involved. She can't accomplish anything great, so it doesn't affect anything."
"Even if you want to use her, you probably won't achieve your goal. If you have hatred and anger in your heart, then come at us."
He rarely spoke a word of weakness for Ye Xiren.
However, Chi Zhanlan Ce chuckled: "This little girl is not incapable of doing anything; her influence is considerable! Dawn is approaching, isn't Prime Minister Jiang worried?"
Jiang You's expression changed, and finally, he flicked his sleeves, turned around, and strode away.
The room fell silent.
Neither Ye Xiren nor Chizhan Lance spoke. The morning light was faint outside. By the light of the candle, Chizhan Lance seemed to want to take a good look at her. His eyes were fixed on her, scrutinizing her from her eyebrows to her hands and feet, without missing a single detail.
Ye Xiren lowered her eyes; only they remained in the room…
The candle flickered and then suddenly went out.
Ye Xiren stared at the candle, her pupils contracted, and her fingers unconsciously curled up, extinguishing without wind—a terrible omen.
“What a good omen!” Chi Zhanlan Ce also saw it and smiled. “Miss Ye is just sitting here? Does she really want me to bleed to death? Although I am destined to die today, the way I die is not quite what I imagined.”
His smile was gentle and composed, his eyes still fixed on her.
Ye Xiren glanced at him to make sure his hands and feet were properly bound before relighting the candles and carefully applying some wound medicine to him from a distance.
Chi Zhanlan Ce seemed oblivious to her wariness, simply leaning lazily against the soft couch as she watched her apply medicine to her neck. Her slender fingers parted the strips of cloth that had been wrapped around her neck; the wound hadn't healed yet, and now a new one had appeared…
She genuinely suspected that Chi Zhanlan Ce's death might have been caused by these wounds.
"What exactly did you send me here for?" Ye Xiren couldn't help but ask, completely baffled by this man's intentions. If he were truly at the end of his life, he should only want to kill Yan Danqing. Why was he looking for him?
"I just wanted to see you." Chi Zhanlan Ce's voice was gentle, his eyes smiling. "So what if Yan Danqing snatched you away? You're here with me now, applying medicine to my wounds by yourself."
Ye Xiren tightened his grip, causing blood to gush from his wound. He couldn't help but groan, his face turning deathly pale.
“I am who I am, not anyone’s, and I have no right to 'steal' you. Has Your Highness forgotten how you got this wound on your neck that has never healed?”
Ye Xiren roughly applied wound medicine to stop the bleeding, then wrapped it in a white cloth, as long as she wouldn't die.
Chi Zhanlan Ce was stunned.
He chuckled softly, in a good mood. "I can't forget, Miss Ye almost killed me. I was in pain for days." His whole body ached, and sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if this girl really only killed him once.
Ye Xiren withdrew her hand, opened the door, and sent the medicine out before returning with a furrowed brow: "The medicine is ready. Can Your Highness Chizhan speak now?"
“I’m hungry.” Chi Zhanlan Ce shook his head, his eyes innocent. “I don’t want to talk when I’m hungry.”
Ye Xiren took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and had someone bring in more food.
"I'm tied up, how can I eat?" He looked at Ye Xiren, blinked, and said matter-of-factly, "Feed me."
Ye Xiren: "..."
Chi Zhanlan Ce tilted his head: "Tell me when you're full."
Ye Xiren had no choice but to feed him again. Her hands and feet were clumsy and her face was full of impatience. She dirtied his luxurious clothes, but Chi Zhanlan Ce didn't care. He cooperated quite well and let Ye Xiren "serve" him. He was in a good mood.
I'm thirsty.
"..."
"It's time to take your medicine."
"..."
"It's a bit bitter, how about candied fruit?"
"..."
It was already broad daylight outside, and Ye Xiren was almost at her breaking point when Chi Zhanlan Ce said calmly, "We'll make the deal whenever the people outside disperse."
The room was already completely surrounded by secret guards, all of whom were experts, and he knew this perfectly well.
He will never get down to business if these people don't leave.
Outside, Yan Danqing took a deep breath, waved his hand, and everyone else left, leaving only him to silently leap onto the roof and sit on top of the room.
The red tassel on his spear fluttered in the wind as he stood guard over the person he was protecting.
"Speak," Ye Xiren said, opening the doors and windows to let him see that no one was outside.
Chi Zhanlan made a move, "Let go."
Ye Xiren frowned.
As if knowing what she was thinking, Chi Zhan Lan Ce scoffed lightly: "Don't be afraid, I know what you're worried about. Aren't you afraid I'll kill myself? Don't worry, the Holy Son is divinely ordained and there are many rules to follow. If I were to commit suicide, it would mean that Chi Zhan Lan Ce is not worthy of the Holy Son's status."
The smile on his face was mocking.
The Holy Son, with his lofty status, united the hearts of all the tribes of Northern Yan, and they all submitted to the King's tent.
However, these very rules and regulations also bind the "Holy Son." If he is not worthy of this respect, the faith that has been gathered because of his status as the Holy Son will vanish in an instant.
Ye Xiren looked at him and knew that he was not lying. The Holy Son had many requirements. Chi Zhanlan Ce had obtained the identity of the Holy Son of Heavenly Blessing, so he had to be worthy of this identity.
Is it really not even permissible to commit suicide?
At this moment, Ye Xiren could see from Chi Zhanlan Ce's face that he wasn't lying. Since they were already in the room, she had nothing to be afraid of if the others were to leave.
Now she wants to know even more what Chi Zhanlan Ce is trying to do.
The rope was untied, and Chi Zhan Lan Ce grabbed Ye Xi Ren's sleeve. She was wearing a pink and white dress, which complemented Chi Zhan Lan Ce's white clothes. When their sleeves brushed together, they looked extremely well-matched. He smiled, his eyes crinkling.
"Ye Xiren, what do you think of me? Am I worthy of you?"
Ye Xiren was taken aback, her brows furrowing.
"If you abandon Yan Danqing, sign a marriage contract with me, and become the Crown Princess of Northern Yan, I will send you away from Nandu so you can live a good life." He looked up at Ye Xiren, his eyes unusually deep, his face serious, and said each word clearly, "No matter what happens, you can live a good life, how about it?"
He understood her; this girl desperately wanted to live.
Ye Xiren broke free, shook off Chi Zhanlan Ce's hand, took a few steps back, and looked wary.
"Every word I said today is true, Ye Xiren. Am I not good-looking? Don't you like me?" He tilted his head, his face, like that of a banished immortal, was as cold and aloof as jade. His beauty was rare in this world, how could anyone not like him?
"Yes, I don't like you."
Ye Xiren suddenly spoke, her eyes cold:
"Because of national and personal vendettas, no matter how good-looking you are, how much power or wisdom you have, I will not like you in the slightest. We are enemies, enemies who will fight to the death."
She was one of those who were massacred in the city.
She was one of those who were drowned in the river.
If she showed even the slightest thought or leniency towards Chi Zhanlan Ce, she would be letting down this land and all the hatred!
No one can like their enemy, not even with admiration. Looking at Chi Zhanlan Ce, she could only wonder what he was plotting, how many malicious thoughts he had, and how he planned to win...
Ye Xiren stepped back again, looking down at him: "Chizhan Lance, I know you're stalling for time. It's already Chenshi (7-9 AM). How much longer are you going to stall?"
After saying that, she turned and left.
If Chi Zhanlan Ce hadn't said anything, then so be it. But knowing he was stalling for time, there was no reason to let him continue! Her patience had run out, and she wasn't going to wait any longer.
Chi Zhanlan Ce watched her departing figure, burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face. He pointed at her back and murmured, "What a pity. After twenty years of scheming and striving, I only fell for a girl like you who hates me so much."
As soon as he finished speaking, his expression returned to calm. Before Ye Xiren stepped out of the room, he spoke softly:
"Today I suddenly discovered that something strange seems to have happened to Miss Ye, and she has been completely forgotten by everyone, even by me. This is really strange."
When he realized he had forgotten Ye Xiren in the morning, he immediately sensed something was wrong. No one knew how stubborn he was about the people he cared about; how could he possibly forget them?
There must be a problem here.
After figuring this out, observing the reactions of others confirmed my guess, and memories of Ye Xiren began to form in my mind. Moreover, there were also some other memories...
Since his memories have changed, are all his current memories correct? Chi Zhanlan Ce was very doubtful, and only Ye Xiren could give him the answer.
Ye Xiren, who had her back to him, narrowed her eyes.
really.
He noticed.
Ye Xiren turned around again and looked at him, her eyes becoming increasingly calm: "How about we trade using information?"
Chi Zhanlan Ce seemed very interested, and sat up, his eyes deep and a smile playing on his lips:
"Extremely happy to."
A coffee table, two people sitting facing each other, doors and windows wide open, they can see that everyone outside has evacuated, only the two of them are facing each other, tea is placed on the table.
Ye Xiren spoke first, dropping the bombshell: "I did indeed encounter something bizarre."
Chi Zhanlan replied, "The secret of Northern Yan does indeed lie with me."
Ye Xiren: "I can defy fate and change my destiny."
Chi Zhanlan Ce: "This secret concerns the life and death of Northern Yan."
Each person uttered a sentence, the two exchanged a glance, and then fell silent again. Separated by the table, they stood in silent confrontation, neither willing to give in. It was as if a grand game of chess lay before them, and the final move of the player would determine their own life or death, as well as the future of both nations.
Victory and defeat are not limited to the battlefield.
Then, Ye Xiren scoffed, "If Your Highness Chizhan keeps changing things like this, we might talk until dark and still not be able to reveal our secret." He was still stalling for time. What was he waiting for?
Ye Xiren had countless guesses in her mind, but her face remained calm and her mind was clearer than ever before. She sorted out her thoughts one by one. Since she was sitting here, she could not lose.
"Be more honest?" Chi Zhanlan Ce asked, raising an eyebrow as he took a sip of tea.
Ye Xiren spoke first: "I am trapped in a cycle of death."
Chi Zhanlan Ce's pupils contracted, his eyes filled with confusion. Clearly, the words "death and reincarnation" were beyond his comprehension, yet they seemed to strike at his very soul, stirring up the long-standing doubts he had been struggling with.
Ye Xiren didn't give him time and sneered, "Your Highness Chizhan, it's your turn. A fair deal is essential."
“I, the Holy Son of Northern Yan, am afflicted with a serious illness and have not received divine favor.”
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Author's Note: Ah!
This is the final chapter, with some character development and not much more content left. The story will be finished soon. Readers who prefer a pure plot should consider reading it for a while. I've specifically written about the secret of Chi Zhan Lan Ce, so you can read it later! It might be better to read it all at once later.
We're giving away red envelopes in the comments section!
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