The Ninth Year of Shenchu
Runing’s Winds and Clouds (Part 1)
Li Yanyi deliberately avoided rapid travel through the county town, not entering it to avoid encountering the postal station, thus leaving Zhen Wenjun with no opportunity to send a message to Yan Ye. As they were about to reach Runing, she was unsure if they would enter the palace directly. If they entered the Forbidden Garden directly, sending a message outside would be even more difficult.
Seeing Runing right ahead, she realized it was too late to train a homing pigeon on the spot, and unexpectedly, an accident occurred. Li Yanyi was stabbed, forcing the constantly galloping convoy to halt.
The one who stabbed Li Yanyi was none other than Ah Xin.
Li Yanyi was pierced in the left side of the abdomen near the waist by a sword, and it seemed that when the sword was withdrawn, it was done with extra ruthlessness, causing blood to splatter all over the tent. When Zhen Wenjun and the Huben Army soldiers rushed in to rescue, she stood at the entrance and glanced inside, thinking many people had died there, it was so tragic.
Zhen Wenjun greatly admired Li Yanyi, having traveled together for many days without realizing that Xie family’s Ah Xin was also in the team. The skill of hiding beauty in a golden house was astonishing. She admired Ah Xin even more. When the first Huben soldier noticed something unusual in the tent and rushed in with a drawn sword, seven or eight soldiers swiftly and orderly followed. Zhen Wenjun, carrying a basin of hot water to wash Li Yanyi’s face, passed by and was startled by the scene, immediately hiding behind a tree to peek into the tent. When a soldier lifted the curtain, the bloody scene inside was clearly visible to her, making her heart exclaim “ah?” She wondered who was so bold as to openly attempt to assassinate the Grand Princess, risking their life. The answer came the next moment. Ah Xin emerged alone, wielding a jade-green blood-stained long sword, forcing all the Huben soldiers out of the tent.
Ah Xin’s long sword moved like a venomous snake and soared like lightning, using the narrow entrance of the tent to fight the Huben soldiers, leaving them with no strength to resist. The Huben soldiers knew that the terrain was disadvantageous for them, and with Li Yanyi still inside the tent, if they fought in such a narrow space and accidentally injured the Grand Princess, they couldn’t save their heads.
While they fought, they retreated outside the tent, with more Huben soldiers surrounding them, immediately forming a formation. One circle held spears to stab Ah Xin’s chest, while another circle with swords aimed to cut her knees and calves. Zhen Wenjun, clutching the basin tightly and extremely nervous, saw Ah Xin’s body seemingly boneless, with her legs retracting within the two circles of weapons, as if she had already anticipated their formation and tactics. In the moment of slight surprise for the Huben soldiers, Ah Xin spun her body, bouncing them all away. As the Huben soldiers were scattered, blood mist dispersed, and Zhen Wenjun didn’t see how Ah Xin made her move, but the Huben soldiers’ wrists and shoulders were already struck by her sword.
Ah Xin’s attack was not only fierce and upright but also very precise, and after her green blade picked through, the weapons fell to the ground. The Huben soldiers, trying to pick up their weapons again, found their hands either numb or in such pain they couldn’t hold anything. Ah Xin, just landing, lightly tapped her toes and leaped up again. A Huben soldier, seeing her about to escape, endured the pain and reached to grab her, but Ah Xin lifted her leg and fiercely shattered his chin with a kick. After that soldier fell to the ground, Ah Xin used his head as a springboard, her body gliding lightly to the top of the tent.
Zhen Wenjun watched Ah Xin like a descending fairy, flying effortlessly from one tent top to another, going farther and farther. She seemed to float ten steps with a light touch, as if there was a thread in the air tied to her back, carrying her around. Zhen Wenjun had seen some of the world, but such a display of Qinggong as a feather by Ah Xin was the first she witnessed in person; such experts lived only in the stories her mother told before sleep.
“Chase! Don’t let her run!” Without Liu Feng present to lead, the group was headless, yet they quickly reacted to the situation, soon surrounding the last tent where Ah Xin had landed. If she wanted to use her Qinggong again, she could only choose a tree crown a hundred steps away as her landing point, and even with a profound martial arts foundation, it seemed impossible to achieve.
Just as Zhen Wenjun thought Ah Xin would be cornered this time, Ah Xin, fearless of the opponent’s numbers, charged directly down from the tent, slashing the nearest soldier’s wrist with a slanted sword. That soldier, with iron-like resolve, had his long sword fall to the ground from an open bloody cut, yet showed no intention of retreating. Instead, he advanced, intent on using his strength to subdue Ah Xin. He crouched and opened his arms, charging at Ah Xin’s waist like a black bear crashing into a fawn. His movement was well-balanced, and once he clamped Ah Xin, her Qinggong would be unusable; even the most skilled couldn’t fly around with a strong man in tow. His plan to restrain her was correct, but he hadn’t expected Ah Xin, though a woman, to be an extraordinary figure capable of single-handedly pressing a wild horse to the ground. As he rushed, Ah Xin single-handedly held his head, and despite his efforts, pushing forward with all his might, creating two small mounds of dirt with his heels, Ah Xin remained unmoved.
The soldier, bewildered, looked up at her, greeted by not just Ah Xin’s disdainful smile, but a heavy strike from her knee.
His nasal bone was broken with a kick, and as he lay on the ground, dizzy and with blurred vision, he heard continuous shouts and screams of killing around him, yet no woman’s voice. These cries were all from his comrades.
Ah Xin, like a wild and powerful hurricane, rendered the well-trained, most elite Huben army of the entire Da Yu utterly powerless.
With a “clang,” the basin in Zhen Wenjun’s arms fell to the ground, water splashing over her shoes and pants, yet she was unaware, her heart entirely focused on Ah Xin. Having previously witnessed Ah Xin’s astonishing feat of single-handedly controlling a horse, this moment was even more astounding, her strength and agility far exceeding Zhen Wenjun’s expectations. What were Madam Hongye, Mr. Golden Turtle, or any shadow guards or experts compared to Ah Xin? They were all weak and not worth mentioning in her presence.
Zhen Wenjun discovered that Ah Xin’s peculiarity lies in her ability to predict her opponent’s movements and, in the flash of an instant, dismantle their attack and counterattack immediately. Earlier, when she flew down from the tent and cut the soldier’s wrist, she did so by lightly slicing along the opponent’s movement. Like a dragonfly skimming the water, she exerted no apparent effort, yet caused significant harm.
Surrounded by the Huben army, Ah Xin, with minimal force, carved a bloody path. A soldier, always on the periphery seeking a chance, waited until Ah Xin had just stabbed one person’s legs before making his move, thrusting his spear fiercely at her back. Ah Xin seemed to have eyes in the back of her head; without looking, she flicked her wrist backward, her sword tip stopping just a finger’s width from the opponent’s eyeball. That person halted abruptly, his vision almost half-blocked by the sinister sword tip, realizing that half a step more would have pierced his eyeball and his brain. As cold sweat poured down, Ah Xin withdrew her hand, delivering a heavy elbow strike to his temple, knocking him to the ground, his vision going black and unable to rise for a time.
“Ah Xin…” Li Yanyi at some point emerged from the tent, clutching her side waist wound, supporting herself with one hand on a small tree to maintain balance. Her face and neck were covered in glistening sweat, blood continuously flowing between her fingers. Despite such severe injury, Zhen Wenjun saw a smile on her face—could she be mad?
“Ah Xin, you barely harmed the Huben army soldiers, yet you struck me so heavily…” Li Yanyi, in pain and barely able to stand, still smiled, while Ah Xin, seeing her, shook with anger:
“I wish I could kill you with one sword!”
Li Yanyi shook her head: “Qingqing wouldn’t bear to.”
Indeed. Even Zhen Wenjun, hiding on the side, understood that with Ah Xin’s skills, it would be hard to find anyone better in Da Yu. Even among thousands of troops, taking someone’s head would be as simple as retrieving something from a bag, let alone a one-on-one in a tent. Li Yanyi was only struck by a sword at the side of the waist, not fatal, as the one who stabbed her was unwilling to do more.
Ah Xin, holding the sword, was about to come and cut off her head when dozens of Huben soldiers charged together.
Li Yanyi lowered her voice, whispering to persuade her: “Thanks to me, the addiction to Furong Powder is almost gone; whether you can continue to resist it depends on your willpower. But with this night after night of toil, I’m tired, and you’re tired too, with not much strength left, right? Don’t do anything rash. If you can leave, leave quickly; I don’t mind you treating me like this.”
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Ah Xin saw her daring to mention this shameless act of taking advantage of someone and became even more enraged.
Since she inexplicably became addicted to the poison of Furong Powder, she has been in a muddled state, with days feeling like years. Besides being nauseous and unable to eat for most of the day, at other times she experiences a state that makes her too ashamed to speak of.
This state has only one way to relieve the internal fire; otherwise, the evil fire attacks the heart and becomes extremely unbearable. Even the slightest movement, such as smooth silk brushing over her skin, would cause her immense pain, like ten thousand insects biting her heart, making life worse than death.
She must find someone to engage in the pursuit of the five desires to release the internal fire.
Unable to walk or even get out of bed, she cannot find others for this task, nor can she seek them out. Rather than looking for a stranger to save her life, it’s better with Li Yanyi—after all, Li Yanyi is the only person in the world she can accept.
But Li Yanyi, whether deliberately teasing or with other intentions, indulges in the pleasure of acting, always taking a long time to get to the point, leaving Ah Xin anxious and uncomfortable.
Every time after reaching a peak, Ah Xin would have a brief moment of clarity, during which she questioned Li Yanyi about why she was being used for amusement. Li Yanyi, with an innocent look, said: “How did I amuse you? I’m helping you disperse the addiction to Furong Powder. The first time you smoked Furong Powder, it was of high purity, and dissipating it takes time. How can you just use me and then turn your back on me?”
Ah Xin was so angry she was almost speechless: “Use you?!”
Li Yanyi flexed her fingers a bit.
Ah Xin picked up the bedside hairpin and threw it at her head, but unfortunately, she was still too weak from the torment of Furong Powder to pose any real threat to Li Yanyi.
Li Yanyi took her all the way from Suichuan to Runing. The carriage she rode in was Li Yanyi’s imperial carriage, with wide wheels and a very stable horse. Even on bumpy roads, the ride was smooth, greatly relieving travel fatigue and allowing her to peacefully sleep after “detoxification.”
For the sake of detoxification, Li Yanyi, on this journey, not only had to endure the hardships of long-distance travel and plan matters in Runing but also had to spare energy to “take care” of Ah Xin. Ah Xin’s poison acted up frequently, requiring her attention every night, leading to backaches and leg pains. Just when the child’s addiction seemed alleviated, a sword was thrust at her, catching her off guard, leaving her with no one to reason with. Even if there was some mischief during detoxification, due to their families’ gradually opposing political stances over the years, they rarely met. Once reunited, they indulged in pleasure, got a bit carried away, and experimented with many adult positions, which made Ah Xin ashamed and annoyed, yet it shouldn’t have ended with her being pierced by a sword.
Ah Xin was furious with this opportunistic scoundrel, but Li Yanyi was right; she was indeed physically exhausted. Although the recent fight didn’t injure her, it drained her last bit of strength. With more guards present, it was not suitable for her to stay long.
She pointed her sword directly at Li Yanyi: “Keep your life well, for I will surely come to take it!”
Li Yanyi was about to collapse, bending over almost falling, as if long tired of her threats, casually waved her hand: “Go, go.”
The Huben army charged from behind Li Yanyi, and Ah Xin sheathed her sword and left. As the Huben army was about to pursue, Li Yanyi fell backward, and the soldiers hurriedly caught her.
“Let her go.” Li Yanyi closed her eyes, her brows tightly knit as she endured severe pain.
As the soldiers exchanged glances, Ah Xin had already left.
It must be said that Wei Tingxu sending her a maidservant to command was very timely.
The injury was located two fingers above the hipbone, which was quite an awkward position. She always opposed old traditions, considering the strict separation between men and women too outdated and inhumane. It’s just a face; if seen, so be it, what’s inappropriate about it? So when the maidservant she brought from the palace accidentally died on the road, she went in and out with the soldiers and attendants, all men, without feeling it inappropriate. It wasn’t until she sustained an injury to her waist that she had to admit, a face might not matter, but other places certainly do.
Fortunately, there was Zhen Wenjun.
Zhen Wenjun not only served people properly but also understood some pharmacology. Li Yanyi, being a princess from a young age, was used to being served, and when faced with a pile of medicine bottles and jars, she didn’t know which one to use. Zhen Wenjun quickly helped her select the hemostatic medicine, tore her clothes open, carefully applied it on the wound, and then bandaged it carefully.
After the medicine was applied, the pain at the wound quickly subsided, and the bandage was light enough not to hinder her movement. Li Yanyi praised her for being skillful, changed her clothes, and went out to tell the Huben army to prepare to set off.
“Your Highness, your wound has just been bandaged, and it might not withstand the long journey!”
“This little wound doesn’t matter! Don’t let me be the one to delay important matters! Set off!”
Although the carriage and horses were stopped, it was only for one and a half hours, and Zhen Wenjun still couldn’t find a post station. Li Yanyi, eager to return, only hoped to reach Runing soon.
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Li Yanyi understood that waiting for her in Runing was a cruel battle, and she was already prepared to fight with all her strength, but she didn’t expect to be severely injured just at the city gate of Runing.
Dozens of Jinwu Guards surrounded Li Yanyi’s carriage, even knocking two coachmen off their horses.
The Huben army and Jinwu Guards frequently moved in Runing and were familiar with each other, and the situation that should have exploded was calmed by some familiar faces.
“What happened? Do you know who is in the carriage?” With Liu Feng not present, the Huben soldiers were led by Huben Lang Xu Huai. Xu Huai stood on the carriage confidently and asked loudly.
“Regardless of who it is, they cannot hinder our Ministry of Justice office from handling a case.” A man with a high hat emerged from behind the Jinwu Guards, his face gray, eyes blood-red, and sharp chin paired with a sharp voice that made people uncomfortable. This was Tingwei Guan Xun’s best operative, Tingwei Shi Jiang Wang. A month ago, he had captured Hong Ai into the imperial prison in Suichuan, and now he was the one stopping Li Yanyi’s carriage. When Li Yanyi lifted the corner of the carriage curtain to look out, Jiang Wang stared directly at her.
“So it is the Eldest Princess.” Jiang Wang, with sharp eyes, did not avoid acknowledging and saluted in the direction of the Eldest Princess, “I thought the Eldest Princess was staying in the residence in Runing and did not expect to find you busy outside. Today, I did not deliberately stop Your Highness; indeed, I have orders to follow, and I ask for your forgiveness.”
“Orders? Whose orders are you following?”
“Naturally, the orders of Tingwei Guan, to come and arrest Shangshu Ling Zuo Xu.”
“Zuo Xu?” Li Yanyi was completely taken aback by this development, wondering why the focus was on Zuo Xu.
Zhen Wenjun, riding on a white horse, poked her head out from the rear of the convoy, excitedly observing the events at the city gate. Who was stopping the carriage? Hearing the voice, could it be a eunuch? From a distance, she only heard a faint voice and could not clearly discern what was said, so she eagerly moved forward.
Li Yanyi had rushed back with the intention of giving Hong Ai a forceful kick to the buttocks, to quickly drag Feng Kun along into the abyss. She did not expect her whereabouts to be exposed, with Li Ju already waiting here for her. She slashed at Feng Kun, and Feng Kun was only slightly scratched, yet Li Ju could not wait to cut off her arm.
Li Yanyi got off the carriage and faced Jiang Wang. Jiang Wang dared not look directly at Li Yanyi, bowed, and saluted, while all the surrounding soldiers knelt down.
“You say you want to arrest Zuo Xu; what is the charge, and what evidence have you found?”
Jiang Wang, facing the ground, confidently said: “The crime of slandering the Emperor, with conclusive evidence!”
Zuo Xu and Lin Quan were seated in the back row of the carriage. Upon hearing Jiang Wang’s voice, Zuo Xu’s face turned pale, and Lin Quan, with his eyes, inquired of him, to which he hurriedly shook his head.
“The crime of slandering the Emperor? Where is the evidence, bring it for this palace to see.”
“Your Highness, every case’s evidence is top secret within the Ministry of Justice Office, even the current Emperor must submit a formal request to view it. I’m afraid I don’t have the authority to directly show the evidence to Your Highness. If the palace wishes to see it, you can submit documents to the Ministry of Justice Office on another day.”
During their conversation, Zhen Wenjun quietly approached, her heart continuously in awe.
This journey truly brought many gains, not only witnessing Ah Xin’s unparalleled martial arts but also encountering conflicts even before reaching Runing. The words “Ministry of Justice Office” made her blood boil. Runing is indeed a legendary place, where all those imagined people and places from her mother’s tales appear within reach, allowing her to witness how these struggles occur and unfold—an opportunity few in the world have.
Zhen Wenjun was excited and without any nervous worry, having been unknowingly trained by the cunning Wei Tingxu to have excellent mental resilience. In the face of calamity, she was unburdened, only wanting to watch the spectacle and learn. Unless Li Yanyi tore off her face to reveal another, nothing could surprise Zhen Wenjun.
The words from this Tingwei Shi were infuriating. What does “even the current Emperor” imply, suggesting that Li Yanyi is nothing compared to the Emperor?
Zhen Wenjun secretly watched Li Yanyi’s expression. Li Yanyi, indeed a figure who rose from princess to Grand Princess, was unshaken by unexpected scenes, and calmly said:
“Zuo Lingjun has always closely followed this palace, busy outside for years, and has just returned to Runing, not even having entered the city gate. How could he insult the Emperor? Someone must be framing him. I’ve long heard the Ministry of Justice Office has the power to act first and report later. If someone wants to intentionally frame and take a life, isn’t it effortless? Let me ask you, if today you arrest the wrong loyal person, what would be your crime?”
Jiang Wang still kept his head lowered and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Your Highness, this crime of slandering the Emperor isn’t against the current Emperor, but the late Emperor. What Zuo Lingjun wrote and where he made wild statements, if he forgot, our Ministry of Justice Office will naturally remind him. If I arrest the wrong person, my superiors will punish me, but my duty is to arrest criminals!” After speaking, he stood up, held the Ministry of Justice Office snake head token in hand, and declared, “With this token, anyone who dares to obstruct will be treated as committing rebellion! Your Highness, apologies. Men! Take Zuo Xu to the imperial prison!”
“Yes!”
The officials from the Ministry of Justice Office dragged Zuo Xu down from the carriage, shackling his hands and legs together, lifting him, and throwing him into the prison cart.
Throughout the process, Zuo Xu did not utter a word, only casting a deep look at Li Yanyi.
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Li Yanyi remained in the posture she had when she got off the carriage, watching her teacher being taken into the prison cart, disappearing into the vast night.
The crime of slandering the Emperor, slandering the late Emperor? If one wants to add a crime, they will find the words to do so. Li Ju is playing with a literary inquisition.
Feng Kun’s lineage was not yet crushed, but they first lost a teacher and strategist, as Li Ju deliberately targeted Zuo Xu, seeing him as the key figure in advising Li Yanyi. Li Ju had long coveted the position of Shangshu Ling to appoint his confidant, but under the protection of Li Yanyi and the Empress Dowager, Zuo Xu assumed the position. Unexpectedly, Li Ju still did not give up, seeking to put Zuo Xu to death.
The pain on Li Yanyi’s side grew clearer with her mounting anger. She looked down and realized the wound had burst open again, with blood seeping through her layers of clothing.
“Your Highness!” Zhen Wenjun immediately dismounted to support the swaying Li Yanyi. At that moment, a group of people came running from afar, and Li Yanyi recognized the leading rider as Zuo Mingling, the garrison captain stationed at the recently regained three counties of Beiguan. Zuo Mingling, from the Runing Zuo clan, is Zuo Xu’s cousin. Before his horse even stopped, he leaped down, rushed to Li Yanyi, knelt, and introduced himself.
Upon seeing him, Li Yanyi knew things were not going well, directly pulled him up, and questioned: “Weren’t you guarding the three counties at Beiguan? Why have you returned to Runing?”
Zuo Mingling replied: “To the Eldest Princess, the Emperor has sent Inspector Guo Ru to take over the garrison, ordered me back. I wanted to argue, but the other had the Emperor’s edict, and I couldn’t resist, so… so I had to return.”
After hearing this, Li Yanyi’s expression changed several times. After her anger, she unexpectedly showed a smile and laughed heartily to the sky: “The three counties this palace conquered, he shamelessly took them. Wonderful! Truly wonderful!”
The Jinwu Guards were still watching from not far at the city gate, and Lin Quan hurriedly advised Li Yanyi: “Your Highness, there are too many people and eyes here. Any matters are better discussed back at the residence. Let us…”
Before Lin Quan finished speaking, Li Yanyi clutched her chest and spat blood all over the ground.