Chapter 1 001 He braved the wind and snow to come
In the twenty-third year of the Yuanming era, just after the New Year, before the lingering effects of the hustle and bustle had faded, a blanket of snow covered the world. In Xizhou, apart from Yanmen City, there was no sign of human habitation; within a radius of thirty miles, it was a desolate wasteland of wind and sand. The howling cold wind swirled the snow on the ground, occasionally getting a few drops into the clothes of those who walked by.
Jiang Yue wore a cloak, her head hidden under the hood, and walked hurriedly with her body slightly bent over. Occasionally, she would glance up at the pavilions hidden among the branches so as not to go the wrong way.
Upon reaching the eaves and stepping inside, the clever maid Yingshui stepped forward, took off her cloak, brushed off the snowflakes, and placed it on the clothes rack next to the brazier to dry. Another maid, Yingyue, placed a hand warmer in her hands.
"Has Madam woken up?" Jiang Yue was the head maid of Taoyuan Pavilion, a two-story pavilion built by the Prince of Dingxi for his favorite concubine. Looking back, it was a paradise in his dreams, which showed his love for his concubine. Taoyuan Pavilion was surrounded by peach trees, which bloomed in March and April in spring, like clouds and rosy clouds.
Yingyue glanced up carefully and nodded, "Sister Jiang Zhao will serve you upstairs."
As Jiang Yue stepped onto the stairs, a series of silvery laughs came from behind the pavilion. The voices were charming and sweet. Jiang Yue paused, frowned, and worried that the noise would disturb those upstairs. She turned back and instructed the two maids, "No one is allowed to disturb us."
The two maids curtsied in response, and she quietly climbed the stairs. When she reached the second floor, she suddenly felt a cold wind and quickly went to close the window. "Madam, be careful not to catch a cold."
Jiang Yue looked at the beautiful woman sitting cross-legged under the brocade quilt. The snow-white light shone on her graceful face, adding a touch of coldness. Her eyes, like pools of autumn water, contained a hint of impatience, anxiety, and a faint annoyance. All these emotions were contained within her shimmering eyes, making it impossible to discern any pattern.
A brazier sat in the corner of the room, burning with fine silver charcoal. Qingli felt no cold. "Is there any news?"
Jiang Yue shook her head. It had been almost three months. Even if the heavy snow made travel difficult, they should have reached Yanmen City by now. Moreover, they had brought people with them this time. It was impossible for the whole group to have disappeared without a trace, unless they were held up by something. As time went by, Qing Li became more and more troubled. In the last two days, she was so anxious that she had no interest in anything else.
Qingli was worried that the Prince of Dingxi would find out about this, but yesterday's test had not revealed any clues. Suddenly, she lifted the brocade quilt with her hand, which was shrouded in mist. She felt suffocated and said angrily, "Open the window!"
Jiang Yue was meticulous and considerate, but also stubborn and unyielding. Jiang Zhao, on the other hand, was much more straightforward. He pulled up the brocade quilt that Jiang Yue had swept away, walked to the window, and suddenly pushed it open. The cold air collided with the warm air, creating a hazy white smoke. As the smoke dissipated, Taoyuan Pavilion, situated high above, offered a panoramic view of the entire Dingxi Prince's Mansion. With its green tiles and red eaves, layered buildings and pavilions, the mansion covered a vast area, characteristic of a windswept and sandy land. Taoyuan Pavilion was located in the northwest corner of the Dingxi Prince's Mansion. The Dingxi Prince and Princess lived in the southeast, while the surrounding backyard housed concubines and other women whose names she did not know. She belonged to one of them.
The snow was white and boundless, and in the distance, a servant could be seen bending down to sweep it. Soon, another layer was spread behind him, and the crunching sound was particularly abrupt amidst the rustling. Soon, two maids came into view, supporting a person. Snow was stained on the surface of the gold-embroidered shoes and immediately fell on her face. The maid squatted on the ground and gently patted it with a handkerchief, which displeased her and drew a scolding. She was another concubine, Lady Ling, who lived in the back. Because her voice was as light and melodious as a bird's, even her cursing had a delicate tone.
Lady Ling lived in the Sparrow Spirit Courtyard behind Peach Blossom Pavilion. The two of them entered the Prince's Mansion together. She was the daughter of a minor official, while Qing Li's status was not respectable, yet she always surpassed her. As a result, they were always competing and causing trouble. Qing Li was favored by the Prince of Dingxi, so Lady Ling did not dare to go too far. She would only make small troubles, and Qing Li would go along with her. Sometimes she would use some means to lure the Prince of Dingxi to the Sparrow Spirit Courtyard, where she would be happy to be carefree.
Madam Ling, however, was rather dim-witted. She thought her methods were extraordinary and would always come to her with her hands on her hips to show off. Qing Li wouldn't listen, and would just blurt out words of praise and agreement. Over time, they developed a tacit understanding. But today, Qing Li was in a bad mood. She stood by the window in her soft-soled embroidered shoes. "What's wrong?"
Lady Ling was struggling to walk when a cold, chilling voice descended, startling her so much that her feet slipped and she barely managed to stop. She looked up at the figure by the window, dressed in a moon-white gown, her dark hair adorned with no gold or silver, yet she was undeniably captivating. Her skin was as white as snow, her cheeks as rosy as peach blossoms, and she possessed an innate grace and beauty.
Lady Ling was filled with jealousy and envy, and seeing her looking up at her with disdain made her furious. However, she suddenly remembered that the prince had spent half the night with her, and her eyes lit up with a smile. "Yesterday, my sister was heartbroken. I didn't expect that the maid would be so reckless as to come to my sister's place, which caused the prince to separate from you. I came here to apologize."
After saying that, he put his hands on his hips, covered his mouth and yawned, looking exhausted. He was being incredibly pretentious.
Qingli smiled gently, "Your Highness cherishes your younger sister. You must get well soon. The roads are slippery in the snow, so you should go back quickly."
The window slammed shut, leaving Madam Ling below dumbfounded. Qing Li was easy to get along with; otherwise, she wouldn't have allowed her to lure the prince away time and time again. Today, she must have been furious. Although she had been tricked, she felt a surge of pride. Instead of going inside, she turned and left the courtyard.
Jiang Zhao muttered, "She's already in her twenties, and she's still calling me 'little sister'."
Jiang Yue nudged Jiang Zhao, signaling to her with her eyes that the lady was in a bad mood. Qing Li listened to the creaking sound fade away, then opened the window. The cold wind rushed in, and she finally suppressed the disgust in her heart. Jiang Zhao was right. She was only eighteen years old, but she had been moving between high-ranking mansions for five years. Her fate of being a barterer was not up to her.
Every time she thought about how the Prince of Dingxi had spoken to her one moment and then gone to be intimate with her the next, Qingli felt nauseous. She wanted to get rid of him all the time. She had finally found hope, but now there was no news at all. Qingli leaned against the window and looked into the distance, reminding herself to stay calm, especially at this moment. She watched as a group of people, like black snakes, snaked across the snow outside the city, wondering what they were doing braving the wind and snow.
Five miles outside the city's official road, at a short pavilion, the leading man reined in his horse, looking at the boundary stone tablet. Thick snow had accumulated on his black cloak, which fell off with a rustling sound when he shook it, revealing a suit of black iron armor underneath. The gold and bronze arm guards on his wrists gleamed with a chilling and imposing aura. He stared straight at the distant city gate, revealing a cold and stern face with sharp, angular features and a fierce, unyielding gaze.
"General, where is everyone?" Deputy General Qi Zhaoxin looked around, but in reality, the road was flat and there was no one in sight.
The horse trotted along, snorting loudly. Meng Qingshan, a tall and imposing figure, seemed like an unshakeable mountain on horseback, gripping the reins. "They're showing us what's what."
"Go!" The warhorses were strong and powerful, their hooves flying and splashing snow. In half an hour, they reached the city gate. The hot-blooded men who had fought on the battlefield rode all the way, their heat rising, and they approached the city with their sharp edge. Their imposing momentum was unstoppable. They all looked at Meng Qingshan, who was leading the way. His voice was deep and unrestrained, and it echoed between heaven and earth: "Meng Qingshan, the Iron Guard of Yanyun, requests an audience with the Prince of Dingxi!"
A unified shout rang out behind them: "Open the city gates! Open the city gates!"
The city gates swung open in response, and Meng Qingshan galloped into the city, his entourage kicking up splashes of snow. Some civilians stopped to watch, their blood boiling as they gazed at the black-maned steeds and the valiant soldiers. In Yanmen City and Yunzhou, who didn't know that the Yan Yun Iron Guards under the Longxiang Army were invincible and fierce, keeping the two barbarians, Beigu and Dadi, who frequently invaded Yunzhou, at bay thirty miles outside the city gates?
Rongde, the steward of the Prince of Dingxi's mansion, saw the person rushing towards him from afar. He had broad shoulders, long legs, a tall stature, and arms like iron hammers. In addition, his eyes were deep and gleaming with a cold light. He was startled as if a vicious wolf was pouncing.
"General Meng, esteemed soldiers." Rongde clasped his hands in greeting and led the way. However, the imposing aura of those around him was too overwhelming, so he quickened his pace to create some distance.
The mansion was spacious and magnificent, with grand halls and imposing buildings. Along the way, guards with swords patrolled, their eyes like eagles watching their group. Meng Qingshan strolled around as if taking a leisurely walk, pondering in his mind that the Great Jin Dynasty had been established for twenty-three years. The emperor had rewarded the key ministers who supported the new dynasty by enfeoffing them as nine vassal kings, intending to share the world. They had been receiving salaries year after year, living the life of local emperors. Now that the world was at peace, it was time to start thinking about it.
The Prince of Dingxi was one of the nine princes. The pacification envoy sent by the court died for various reasons before even entering Xizhou. The scouts sent by the Longxiang Army also disappeared without a trace. There was something interesting about this. Meng Qingshan raised his eyes and looked at the palace in front of him. The outer walls were made of bluestone, with a smooth and flat surface that exuded a cold and hard feel. The tall palace gate was made of heavy red sandalwood, with inverted patterns carved on it, making it majestic and magnificent.
"Gentlemen, this way."
Meng Qingshan turned around and saw Rong De blocking his way from behind. When he met Rong De's murderous gaze, he trembled and sneered, "His Highness only invited Lord Meng to the banquet. A banquet has already been set up in the side hall for the other military officers."
Meng Qingshan scrutinized him for a moment, which made Rong De break out in a cold sweat. He thought to himself, "How frightening!" Seeing Rong De nod, he hurriedly led the way away.
Ascending the steps, upon entering, the interior was as bright as day, for three walls were inlaid with fist-sized luminous pearls, and the floor was covered with a velvet carpet in full bloom, making no sound when stepped on. The Prince of Dingxi sat behind a desk, staring sharply at him.
"Yan Yun Iron Guard Meng Qingshan pays his respects to the King of the West." The posture was impeccable.
The Prince of Dingxi squinted at Meng Qingshan, who stood in the main hall. Meng Qingshan stood tall and straight, his hands clenched into fists as if they were iron pestles. His expression was calm and composed. Rumors circulated that the Yan Yun Iron Guard had razed a hundred miles of the border between the two states, and that Meng Qingshan, the leader, was a ruthless and bloodthirsty man. The Prince of Dingxi knew at a glance that the rumors were true.
"Get up and take a seat."
Following the maid to the table, Meng Qingshan, who was used to sleeping outdoors, was perfectly comfortable sitting on the ground, especially since there was a soft carpet underneath. As soon as he sat down, two maids flanked him, their bodies practically pressed against him. Meng Qingshan sniffed, his eyes full of disgust, but he managed to hold back. His movements were wide and forceful, and the two maids, who had never seen anything like it before, turned pale with fright and dared not approach him again.
The melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air. Dozens of barefoot dancers stood on the carpet in the hall, twirling and leaping, their waists graceful, their water-red ribbons fluttering, and the aroma of wine wafting from their hands. Accompanied by delicious food, it was truly a life of intoxication and carefree bliss.
The Prince of Dingxi looked down at Meng Qingshan, who was walking freely and unrestrained. He rested his hand on his knee and tapped his fingers lightly in sync with the tone of the voice. A hint of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes. The old emperor was muddle-headed and confused. It seemed that he had forgotten the hard work of these people who had risked their lives to put him on the throne. It was too early to kill the dog after the rabbit was dead and put away the bow after the birds were gone.
Seeing that the general's fierce expression had softened, the maid mustered her courage, picked up the wine pot, filled the cup, glanced at the imposing man, and blushed with embarrassment. "General, please drink this cup."
"Haha." The Prince of Dingxi laughed heartily at the sight, his voice deep and resonant, echoing throughout the palace. In the past, the Prince of Dingxi had also led 50,000 troops to conquer the capital and overthrow the old dynasty. After many years as a king, his aura was majestic and imposing. "Now that you have come to Yanmen City, stay in the palace. If there is anyone you like, I will serve you tonight."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
It was just a word; whether or not he accepted it was up to him, and Meng Qingshan wouldn't care about such a thing.
A voice rang out from outside the door, "Madam has arrived."
The heavy palace doors opened, letting in some daylight. Outside, the heavy snow created a blindingly cold atmosphere. A person stepped in against the light, untied a bright red brocade cloak with fur trim, and handed it to the maid behind her, revealing a moon-white brocade dress underneath. She moved gracefully forward, saying, "Your Highness, good day."
The sweet, clear voice was like the tinkling of clear water. Meng Qingshan's body stiffened, and he turned around abruptly, his pupils immediately contracting.
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