Chapter 73 A Eulogy for the Loyal Souls (Part 1) First published on Jinjiang! ...
The candlelight inside the tent flickered uneasily, casting a distorted image of Ye Yixiang's slender figure onto the tent wall, as if it might be swept away by the wind at any moment.
The sand table on the table, made of white rice, had its outlines of mountains and rivers blurred by her unconscious rubbing, just like her chaotic thoughts at this moment.
Geshu Che stood just a step away from her. His brown Northern Di clothing was damp from the night rain outside the city, exuding a scent of earth and grass, a smell that was no longer the one she once knew so well.
His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, and now they were gently covering the back of her hand, which was frozen in mid-air, as he bypassed the scattered grains of rice.
The warm yet rough touch instantly pulled her back to reality.
"Your hands are so cold." His voice was low and husky, with a deep, masculine quality, yet it seemed to be suppressing something. "Even though it's early summer, the wind is chilling to the bone. You shouldn't be suffering like this."
Ye Yixiang abruptly pulled her hand back, staggering back two steps as if burned, her back slamming against the cold tent pillar. She raised her head, trying to keep her voice calm: "Geshu Che, you shouldn't be here."
"Shouldn't I?" He took a step forward; the tent was small to begin with, and this step shortened the distance considerably. The candlelight cast shadows on his deep-set eyes, those eyes that were once full of warmth now seemed bottomless. "Then where should I be? In the Northern Barbarian king's tent, listening to scouts report that Lintong has been besieged for ten days, isolated and helpless, and then pretending not to know that you're here waiting to die?"
“I will not die.” Ye Yixiang turned her face away, avoiding his overly direct gaze. “His Majesty will not allow this city to fall.”
"Chu Huaili?" Geshu Che chuckled softly, his laughter devoid of warmth. "He's barely able to protect himself now. Why do you think the Northern Di dare to make such exorbitant demands at this time? Because everyone can see it clearly. With internal strife in the Southern Dynasty and the isolated city of Lintong, Chu Huaili is already a trapped beast."
He paused, his tone suddenly softening, carrying a tenderness tinged with pain: "Yun Rao, come with me. I will make up for what I owe you in the past. You really don't need to gamble your life with him here, you don't need to drink those drastic drugs that damage your very foundation, you shouldn't have to endure this."
Ye Yixiang's fingertips dug into her palm, the pain bringing her back to her senses. She raised her eyes again, her gaze icy: "I am the Imperial Consort of the Southern Dynasty, Geshu Che. My place is right here, beside His Majesty."
"Imperial Consort?" A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. "What if I had always remained Lu Qingyuan? Would you have come with me?"
The name was like a poisoned dagger, precisely piercing the wound she least wanted to touch. Ye Yixiang's face suddenly turned pale, and she even paused for a moment.
Seeing this, Ge Shuche's voice softened, but each word was like a knife: "He and I are twins, we look exactly alike." He took a deep breath, "Have you forgotten our past, Yun Rao?"
"Stop talking." Ye Yixiang's voice trembled.
"Why can't I say?" Geshu Che took a step closer, this time not touching her, but locking his gaze on her. "Do you really think you can't feel how I've treated you? Do you remember the first spring after our marriage? The crabapple tree in the courtyard was in full bloom, and you said the petals looked like rouge. So I had ten trees transported from Jiangnan and planted them throughout the entire villa. You complained that I was too extravagant, but every time the wind blew, you always loved to stand under the eaves watching the rain of petals, your eyes filled with light..."
Ye Yixiang's fingers curled unconsciously. The image suddenly flashed into her mind: pale pink petals fluttered down, covering the ground and landing on the plain brocade cloak he had draped over her. He stood behind her, gently brushing the fallen petals from her hair, his movements as tender as if afraid to disturb a fragile dream.
“You’re sensitive to the cold; your hands and feet get icy cold in winter,” Ge Shuche continued, his gaze falling on her equally cold hands, a genuine pity welling up in his eyes. “So I found the best silver-thread charcoal and had someone watch the fire day and night to make sure the room was as warm as late spring. When you read at night, I always stayed by your side, not to supervise you, but because I was afraid the charcoal would be too stuffy and you’d be uncomfortable if you fell asleep… Sometimes you’d fall asleep at your desk, and I’d just watch you like that until the first light of dawn.”
Those subtle, almost forgotten moments of warmth were being awakened by him, like an undercurrent quietly surging beneath the ice. Ye Yixiang felt a pang of heartache.
“You love sweets, but you’re always afraid of rotting your teeth. Every time you sneak a bite of pine nut candy, you’re like a cat stealing fish.” A faint smile appeared on his lips, then turned bitter. “So I asked the kitchen to make the desserts smaller and halve the sugar, telling you it was a new recipe that wouldn’t hurt your teeth. You believed me every time, your eyes crinkling with delight as you ate them…”
He paused for a moment, his voice suppressing a deeper emotion:
“Yun Rao, in those years, I was afraid every day. Afraid that you would find out I wasn’t from the Southern Dynasty, afraid that the light in your eyes would be extinguished because of me. But I also craved the warmth you gave me, craved your unconditional trust…”
"So, I tried to become a real 'Lu Qingyuan,' learning his tone of voice, imitating his handwriting, and remembering all his habits and preferences. It wasn't just that I didn't want to reveal my true identity; I even... began to look forward to seeing you every day and being with you."
Guilt and resentment welled up in Ge Shuche's eyes: "Even if I'm using someone else's name, even if I live every day in lies and the fear of losing you at any moment—my feelings for you have never been fake."
He looked at her trembling eyelashes, his voice almost pleading: "Come with me, Yunrao. I can give you far more than I could by staying trapped here."
"Shut up!" Ye Yixiang suddenly raised her head, her eyes already bloodshot. "What's the point of saying all this now?"
The moment she finished speaking, she saw a complex mix of emotions flash across Ge Shuche's eyes: regret, remorse, and a hint of ruthlessness that she couldn't decipher.
“It makes sense.” His voice deepened, and he emphasized each word.
He suddenly took out a sheepskin map from his bosom and spread it out beside the rice plate. It was a detailed topographical map of the area within a hundred miles of Lintong, and even marked several secret paths that even the Southern Dynasty military might not have known.
“Look here,” he pointed to a bend in the upper reaches of the Jade Belt River. “The river is narrow here, with towering cliffs on both sides. If three hundred elite troops were to be carried downstream in light boats at night and land here, they could directly attack the northern foot of Qixia Mountain. Chu Xi’s siege defenses mainly face southeast, while the northwest side is the least fortified due to the natural swamp.”
He then pointed to another spot: "There is a hunter's trail in the mountains that I discovered three years ago when I was hunting snow foxes. It is wide enough for a single rider to pass through and circle around to the rebel army's grain storage area. If a team of assassins is sent to sneak in from here and burn their grain, Chu Xi's army will surely be thrown into chaos within three days."
Ye Yixiang stared blankly at the map, at the dense markings on it. This was not something that could be done on a whim! He had been planning this for a long time, either for the sake of this city, or he had a bigger conspiracy to lead the Northern Di soldiers south.
"Why..." her voice was hoarse.
Geshu Che raised his eyes: "Because I want you to live. And also because..." He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a sharp smile, "If Chu Xi really breaks through Lintong, his next target will be the Northern Frontier. Rather than waiting for him to become too powerful, it's better to help Chu Huaili stabilize the situation and let the Southern Dynasty continue to fight amongst itself. As for me, I can take this opportunity to renegotiate the border trade terms and take back the Qilian Mountains that Chu Huaili took away four years ago."
He made no attempt to hide his calculations, which made him seem genuine. It wasn't a selfless act of giving, but a transaction with a price tag, yet he was willing to stake his chips first.
“You can tell Chu Huaili all these plans.” Geshu Che rolled up the map and stuffed it into her hand. “Consider it a gesture of goodwill from the Northern Di. As for the marriage alliance…” His eyes deepened. “That was my brother’s idea. But if we win the battle of Lintong, the Southern Dynasty will prove that it still has strength, and he will reconsider.”
Ye Yixiang clutched the sheepskin map, still warm from his touch, her fingertips trembling slightly. Reason told her she should refuse, should immediately call for help to capture this unauthorized Northern Di person. But another voice whispered in her heart: This is the hope for breaking the deadlock, a chance for Yan Qing to catch his breath.
"Why...why did you help me like this?" she finally asked.
Geshuche remained silent for a moment. The rain outside the tent grew heavier, pattering against the canvas with a soft rustling sound.
“During our wedding year, you fell off your horse and cut your arm deeply.” He suddenly spoke of an unrelated past event, his voice very soft. “You bit your lip, refusing to cry, but quietly tugged at my sleeve and said, ‘It doesn’t hurt.’ At that time, I thought, how could this little princess of the Southern Dynasty be so strong-willed, yet so heartbreaking?”
He looked at her, his gaze as deep as the night: "After you left, I kept dreaming about that wound. I dreamed that it never healed and kept bleeding. Yun Rao, some people are etched into our bones. No matter how much time passes, no matter how many mountains and rivers or national and family feuds are in between, I would not bear to see her hurt."
Ye Yixiang's lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.
Footsteps suddenly came from outside the tent, growing louder as they approached. Uluzhu said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, General Pei is coming this way. He says His Majesty requests your presence."
Ye Yixiang snapped back to reality and looked at Ge Shuche: "Let's go quickly."
He stood still, gazing intently at her: "Come with me!"
The footsteps grew closer.
Ye Yixiang gave him a push: "Let's go!"
Geshu Che glanced back at her, his complex expression sending a shiver down her spine. He took a small wooden box from his robes and placed it in her hand: "This is a secret medicine made by the Northern Barbarians, which can also soothe eye ailments. Don't use those drastic remedies to harm yourself anymore."
After saying that, he flashed out from behind the tent like a leopard disappearing into the shadows, vanishing silently into the torrential night rain.
Almost simultaneously, the tent flap was lifted, and Pei Hong stepped in, his clothes damp with sweat: "Your Majesty, His Majesty requests that you come to the central military tent immediately for a meeting, saying that..." He paused, keenly sensing the faint, unfamiliar atmosphere inside the tent, his gaze sweeping over the messy rice plate on the table and the sheepskin map that Ye Yixiang had not yet put away.
Ye Yixiang had regained her composure and naturally rolled up the map: "Has the military situation changed?"
Pei Hong withdrew his gaze and bowed, saying, "It's an urgent report from Chang'an. Lord Nie Huaizhang... was publicly executed by Prince Ke outside the city."
*
Outside Lintong City, an hour ago.
Nie Huaizhang stood under the banner bearing the character "Ke," the wind whipping up cold rain that lashed his face. Below the city gate, Chu Xi sat upright on his horse, smugly playing with the dragon-patterned jade pendant at his waist.
"Lord Nie," Chu Xi raised his chin, his voice carrying through the wind and rain, "Go and give those fools in Lintong an ultimatum. Surrender and I will spare their lives. If they resist again..." He sneered, "On the day the city falls, not a single chicken or dog will be spared!"
The surrounding guards responded in unison, and the sound of swords being drawn was deafening.
Nie Huaizhang slowly turned around. He glanced at the faint lights in the direction of Lintong City in the distance, then looked at the rebel army in front of him, whose eyes were blinded by ambition, and suddenly smiled.
That smile was eerily calm.
He took a deep breath and, with all the strength he had, shouted hoarsely towards Lintong:
"Soldiers of Lintong—! The righteous armies from various prefectures have received secret messages and are on their way—! Hold out for three more days—! Just hold out for three more days—!"
The shouts echoed through the wind and rain, and the city tower fell silent instantly.
Chu Xi's smile froze, then turned into a furious, ferocious grin: "Nie Huaizhang! You're asking for death—!"
Nie Huaizhang turned around, looked at Chu Xi, who had ridden his horse to the foot of the city wall and whose face was contorted in pain, and laughed loudly: "Chu Xi! You think you've won? I've already hidden secret messages in the documents sent to various states! Your death is imminent—!"
Before he finished speaking, Chu Xi had already nocked an arrow and drawn his bow. The arrow pierced the wind and went straight through Nie Huaizhang's chest.
Blood gushed out, staining the mottled bricks of the city wall crimson. Nie Huaizhang staggered backward, but clung tightly to the flagpole, refusing to fall. He gazed towards the direction of Lintong's city gate, his lips moving as he exhaled his last few breaths:
"Your subject...has done his duty..."
His body slowly slid down and fell into the cold rain. His eyes, which had always been fixed on Lintong, remained open until his death.
Chu Xi slammed down his bow and arrows, roaring furiously, "Retreat to Chang'an immediately and strengthen the city's defenses! Kill every reinforcement that comes our way!"
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