Covenant
Chapter 75, The Covenant
When Yuanzi saw me, her eyes flickered.
Only "Chirp" was the most enthusiastic. It tugged at my hand, trying to run towards the kite, but I held it back and warned it in a low voice, "Don't run around!"
Confusion flickered in "Zhi Zha's" big, dark, and bright eyes.
Sigh, monkey, you should just stay a monkey. Human life is too complicated.
Just then, Yuanzi spoke first. Her voice was a bit colder than usual, but still clear: "Queen of Eastern Chu, Princess Zhao, you are right on time." Her gaze swept over her uncle's dark purple brocade robe, lingering briefly on the jade belt and buckle. Her tone was unreadable. "The Queen chose to meet here. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing an abyss on one side, it is indeed... a good place with nowhere to retreat."
I felt that Yuanzi's words had a hidden meaning, as if she was talking about the danger of the terrain, or as if she was implying that there was no room for negotiation in today's meeting.
The uncle simply smiled faintly, his expression remaining relaxed: "Princess is too kind. This place offers stunning views of clouds and mist, perfect for calm and peaceful conversation." He avoided the sharp edge in Yuanzi's words, his tone so calm that it seemed he was truly just there to enjoy the scenery.
Seeing that her uncle didn't respond, Yuanzi stopped beating around the bush. A faint smile appeared on her lips, tinged with coldness: "Since the Queen has invited us, how could Tu Luo dare to be negligent? I wonder what the Queen wishes to discuss?"
Her gaze fell on me again, and my palms involuntarily became damp.
The uncle finally abandoned his leisurely demeanor, his gaze slowly falling on the Iris. His tone remained calm, but now carried a sharp edge that cut to the heart: "Since the princess has been so direct, then I may also ask—are you here today representing the Kingdom of Tuluo, or representing yourself, the Great Princess of Tuluo?"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding wind seemed to freeze.
The faint smile on Yuanzi's face froze. She was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice a little deeper than before: "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty? I am the Great Princess of Turo, and naturally I come representing Turo."
The uncle smiled faintly again, and this time he got straight to the point: "Let's not beat around the bush. You and I are very clear about the situation in Turo."
His gaze was fixed on the kite, and he said, word by word, "Princess, your army is aimed directly at Bozhou. In the end, you are so eager to advance the war. You just want to use this war to accumulate prestige so that you can surpass your brothers in the country and firmly ascend the throne of Turo, right?"
These words struck like a hammer blow, silencing the entire stone pavilion. The color drained from Yuanzi's face instantly; her eyes held a mixture of astonishment and anger, but she remained silent.
The heavy hammer struck me almost simultaneously. I couldn't help but look at my uncle, and for the first time, I had a belated realization: my uncle really was the Queen of Eastern Chu, someone close to the emperor.
The uncle remained calm and continued, "But Princess, you might want to consider this: at this moment, Tuoluo and Dongchu are at war in Bozhou. The result of both sides suffering heavy losses will only allow your rivals in the country—your princes and brothers—to reap the benefits. They would love for you to lose troops and damage your reputation abroad so that they can seize the opportunity to take over the throne."
He then changed the subject, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying an undeniable weight: "If the princess is willing to trust me, she may as well withdraw her troops directly, return to Turo to quell the chaos within the country, and wait until you have truly secured your position as King of Turo before discussing anything else."
"As for Dong Chu," he paused, his gaze sweeping over Yuanzi's tense profile, "after you retreat, Dong Chu will never pursue your victory; if your princes and brothers are defeated and try to escape to Dong Chu for protection, Dong Chu will never take them in, and will definitely drive them away, never giving them a chance to cause trouble."
I looked at Yuanzi's tense expression, opened my mouth, and just then she turned her gaze to me again, seemingly landing precisely on my lips.
The mountain wind swirled the clouds and mist around the pavilion, and the kites remained silent for a long time, until they began to chirp restlessly again.
After a long while, the sharpness in Yuanzi's eyes gave way to caution and hesitation, and her voice carried the coolness of mountain mist: "What the Queen says sounds fair, but it's all empty words—how can I believe the promises of Dongchu?"
My uncle didn't answer immediately, but instead turned to look at me. His gaze was gentle yet firm, carrying an undeniable weight, before turning to Yuanzi, his tone as steady as a mountain: "My words are the promise of Eastern Chu."
He raised his hand and pointed at me gently, then continued, "She is a princess of my Eastern Chu, someone you and I both know. She heard these words with her own ears today, and that is the only witness."
The uncle's gaze returned to Yuanzi, a faint but confident smile playing on his lips: "With my promise and her as my witness, does the princess think that's enough?"
Upon hearing these words, my heart skipped a beat, and I unconsciously straightened my back. The sweat on my palms seemed to dry instantly, and the chattering beside me quieted down, as if sensing the solemnity of the moment. I knew that my uncle had placed a heavy trust, concerning the safety of both countries, on my shoulders.
Yuanzi's gaze shifted back and forth between me and my uncle, her expression complex and unreadable. She stared at me for a long time, as if scrutinizing me, or perhaps weighing her options.
"Zhao Xi." She suddenly spoke, her gaze intense, fixed on me as if I would be replaced by a dummy if she shifted her gaze even slightly. "Tell me, should I believe her?"
I took a deep breath, took a step forward, and said in a low, even slightly trembling voice, "Yuanzi, you are the king—only in this way can you truly represent Turo, right?"
After a long silence, Yuanzi's gaze shot towards me like an arrow, and she said again, "I can trust you. But if Dong Chu breaks its oath one day, how will you, Zhao Xi, bear the responsibility?"
This was an expected question. I didn't look at my uncle, nor did I stare at her intently. I said, word by word, "Yuanzi, my uncle is a monarch whose word is law, and I am a daughter of the Zhao family. If the day ever comes when Dongchu betrays its promise, you don't need to come to me for help. I, Zhao Xi, will not have the face to keep my life. I will personally bring my head to Tuluo to see you—just like I brought 'Zhizha' to see you today."
"Squeak!" It jumped up and chirped.
Ah, "Squeak," don't be afraid, I'm not referring to lifting your head, and nobody wants to lift heads these days.
However, the monkey's antics caused the wind to start flowing again.
The Iris seemed to sigh almost imperceptibly: "Alright, I trust you. Within three days, I will order the Tuluo army to withdraw from the Bozhou border and return to their homeland."
The uncle, who had been standing quietly to the side, slowly nodded, his tone still as steady as a mountain, without the slightest fluctuation: "Princess is wise. Turo and Dongchu have allowed their people to temporarily escape the flames of war, and they will surely be grateful to you."
Although my uncle's tone was casual, it sounded incredibly sincere to me. Yuanzi's eyes flickered slightly; she didn't say anything more, but simply nodded.
Just as she was about to turn around, "Chirp" suddenly darted out from beside me, jumped to the side of the kite, and looked up at the kite.
"Squeak!" I couldn't help but shout, then ran forward two steps before silently stopping.
Yes, how could I forget? "Chirp" wasn't originally with me; it was a kite's companion.
Iris paused, stopped in her tracks, looked at "Squeak," bent down and slowly reached out to touch the monkey's head, then looked up at me. After a moment, she said gently to "Squeak," "Go and keep her company."
"Chirp" didn't move immediately, but it clearly understood what the kite said, turning to look at me and then at the kite.
My nose suddenly stung with tears, and I managed to utter a soft "Chirp!" before my throat tightened and I fell silent.
Iris straightened up, glanced at "Chirp" again, and said in a more determined tone than before, but still gently: "Go."
This time, "Zhizha" didn't hesitate. It took two steps back, glanced back at the kite, and then walked slowly toward me, its tail drooping slightly. It had lost its usual liveliness and instead showed a hint of reluctance.
"Yuanzi!" I quickly grabbed "Zhizha" who was slowly walking towards me and called out to her back. "Thank you for the sketchbook. I will keep it safe and sound... And 'Zhizha,' I will take good care of it too, and I will never mistreat it!"
The mountain wind carried my voice into the distance, but Iris's steps did not falter. Only a brief "Good!" echoed from afar, faint yet clear enough. She did not turn around; the hem of her scarlet robe flashed in the mist, and she followed the figure of the Turo warrior, resolutely stepping into the depths of the mountain path, gradually being swallowed by the white fog.
Only after that red color completely disappeared did I turn my gaze away, lower my head and touch the withered "Zhi Zha". I felt a little stuffy in my heart, and my nose still felt sore.
"Well done." My uncle's voice sounded beside me, praising me gently. He stepped forward, his gaze falling on the corners of my reddened eyes. "You've upheld the stance of Dongchu while also not betraying our past friendship. This sense of propriety is truly commendable."
I forced a smile, but it wouldn't come; my heart was filled with an indescribable sadness. I followed my uncle as we turned and walked towards the carriage. The mountain wind was chilly, making my eyes sting even more.
Once seated in the carriage, I finally couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, after this truce between Tuluo and Dongchu, will they go to war again?"
The uncle did not evade the question, nor did he hesitate at all; he simply nodded slightly: "Perhaps."
My heart sank, and I unconsciously pursed my lips.
My uncle looked at me, his tone calm yet resolute: "That Turo princess is ambitious and no ordinary woman. Today, she chose to withdraw her troops to consolidate her power and consolidate her domestic influence, not to truly abandon expansion. Once she has firmly established herself on the Turo throne and her power is fully grown, that will be the time for the two countries to prove themselves superior."
Seeing me with my head down, constantly stroking the fur on "ZhiZha's" shoulder, my uncle's tone softened considerably: "Still sad?"
I didn't look up, I just gave a soft "hmm".
“Xiao Xi,” my uncle stroked the top of my head, his voice deep and gentle, “the two countries may really go to war in the future. It’s a matter of position and an inevitable trend that no one can escape. But you must remember that even so, the affection you once had for her is still real.”
I looked at my uncle, and seeing that gentle and familiar face, my eyes welled up with tears again.
My uncle looked at me with a serious expression: "Even if war breaks out again in the future, there is no need to deliberately erase this past. On the contrary, to truly extinguish the flames of war, perhaps more of this kind of 'personal affection' is needed."
"More 'private affairs'?" I was bewildered, not quite understanding what my uncle meant.
The uncle smiled, without explaining directly, but said softly, "It's okay if you don't understand now, you'll understand slowly."
On the way back, I couldn't help but keep thinking about the meaning behind my uncle's words, but I still couldn't figure it out.
But I don't feel discouraged. After all, my uncle is my older brother's father. I can't catch up with him yet, but maybe one day...
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