Fish Meat – Chapter 130

The First Year of Zhao Wu

The Path of Ten Thousand Directions (9)

Wei Tingxu’s timing was impeccable, finding this location with such precision. She arrived just in time for the most crucial moment that even Zhen Wenjun might not be able to explain clearly despite talking herself hoarse.

            

Zhen Wenjun immediately jumped off her horse to maintain distance from Mengda Khan.

Wei Tingxu maintained her usual calm demeanor, though it was so deliberately normal that it revealed her intention. Wei Tingxu had probably arrived earlier, hiding behind the stone forest, silently watching them until she deemed it the most appropriate moment to speak up.

Zhen Wenjun knew Wei Tingxu wasn’t truly angry. After surviving life and death situations together and now being in the sweetest period of their relationship, how could she be upset over someone who appeared out of nowhere? Wei Tingxu just wanted to tease Zhen Wenjun a bit, enjoying the pleasure of having everything under control.

            

Understanding Wei Tingxu better and better, Zhen Wenjun played along instead of exposing her, hurriedly yet seriously saying: “Zizhuo, you’ve come at the perfect time! I was just about to tell you about this! Look how lucky we are, we’ve encountered the King of Liuhuo Country! We can capture him and force him to lead us to Liuhuo Country. This way, Aye won’t need to be involved at all, and we won’t even need the Ten Thousand Path Compass to arrive safely. Zizhuo, you truly are our lucky star – no matter how difficult or impossible things seem, with you around, fortune always turns in our favor…” (LP: Changed “Country of Flowing Fire” to “Liuhuo Country”)

Zhen Wenjun was quick-witted, repeatedly using “we” and “us,” making every effort to bind herself and Wei Tingxu together, showing her determination that no one else could intervene.

Wei Tingxu smiled, attempting to speak several times but was repeatedly cut off by Zhen Wenjun’s endless chatter.

            

Mengda Khan understood Zhen Wenjun’s intention to capture him and became flustered, unsure what to do.

He had just escaped from the tiger’s den only to fall into a wolf’s lair!

If he knew how to ride a horse, he could have galloped away from this place! But since he couldn’t, that’s why he chose to leave the palace by ox cart, which led to being chased by the Kelai people. (LP: Changed “Kelayi” to “Kelai”)

            

More importantly… Mengda Khan looked at Zhen Wenjun’s back. How could he bear to leave a woman who had seen both his face and body? If he couldn’t marry her, how could he account for his purity in this life?

In their Liuhuo Country, faces and hair were extremely private parts – men had to start covering their faces and binding their hair from the moment they started wearing clothes. Until marriage, hair and face couldn’t be revealed, only to be unveiled by their wife on their wedding night, as only wives could enjoy their complete being.

Because men in Liuhuo Country were considered to be born with impurity, the wedding night was called “Purification.” Unveiling their true appearance removed the impurity, and only with a woman’s help could the filth be drawn out of their body, making them truly clean men.

            

If a stranger woman saw their hair and face before marriage, they would no longer be pure and could only marry that woman. Otherwise, no woman would be willing to marry them.

Mengda Khan had never seen the outside world with his own eyes. Besides books about their own country, there were no texts about other ethnicities within Liuhuo Country’s borders. He never imagined there could be countries completely opposite to Liuhuo, nor had he ever thought women could be gentle.

In their Liuhuo Country, every woman was fierce and promiscuous, not to mention the Queen who possessed all men in the realm. Even common women had three or four male servants, and despite having numerous husbands at home, they would still go out seeking flowers and willows (idiom for pursuing romantic affairs). No one thought their behavior was wrong; instead, it was discussed as romantic adventures, while men could only serve their wives. After marriage, leaving was impossible unless their wife granted them freedom; otherwise, marriage was a lifelong commitment. Even if stronger or more handsome women appeared, they couldn’t be too intimate, or it would be considered against human morality and face public condemnation.

            

The disparity between men’s and women’s situations was vast, yet everyone in Liuhuo Country considered it natural.

Brothers said this was women’s nature – women could decide which men could have offspring, their natural advantage. They could righteously decide everything, while men had no right to say “no.”

Even so, everyone said Liuhuo women were already very gentle and considerate. Women from other countries were supposedly more fierce and frightening. He was warned never to go outside, for if women from other countries took a liking to him, they would devour him down to the bones. Initially, he didn’t believe it – how could anyone be worse than Liuhuo women?

            

Until he met Zhen Wenjun.

Zhen Wenjun was his savior, appearing like a deity when his life hung by a thread. With just one delicate man accompanying her, she struck down all the fearsome Kelai bandits of Ku’erjianshi. Even Liuhuo’s most skilled riders might not match her strength – she was exactly the type of wife he had always dreamed of.

Only such an unparalleled warrior woman could unify Liuhuo Country and make all women submit! If she married him, she would have the right to become Liuhuo’s king! The whole country would agree, after all, his becoming king was out of necessity – wouldn’t everyone prefer their country to be ruled by a strong woman?

            

Unexpectedly, this Northern Di woman who had seen his face and body showed no intention of taking responsibility, and instead wanted to use him… Was his destiny merely to be others’ tool, summoned and dismissed at will? His country treated him thus, and his potential “purifier” did the same. Thinking of this, Mengda Khan’s heart filled with unbearable sorrow, and he sat on his horse sobbing continuously with tears flowing.

“Look, you’ve scared the young lord to tears. Hurry up and apologize,” Wei Tingxu maintained her tone, leaving Zhen Wenjun uncertain whether she was merely teasing or suggesting they could use Mengda Khan, using marriage as an excuse to have him replace Aye and lead them to Liuhuo Country. Regarding the latter, Zhen Wenjun couldn’t bring herself to do it – she would rather bind him and threaten his life.

“Stop teasing, dear sister, precious sister. If you tease me more, I’ll cry,” Zhen Wenjun pleaded with a pouting face.

            

She understood that confronting Wei Tingxu head-on would be suicide, and she was no match for her in mutual sabotage. The wisest course now was to quickly beg for mercy and act pitiful – Wei Tingxu might spare her life seeing how cute she was.

This tactic truly worked.

Zhen Wenjun pouted with tears in her eyes, shamelessly holding Wei Tingxu’s hand while making whimpering sounds, clinging and being overly affectionate, making Zuo Kunda, Xiaohua, and the surrounding attendants nauseated. Zhen Wenjun wasn’t afraid of embarrassment; she could act as sickeningly sweet as needed, curious to see what expression Wei Tingxu would make.

            

Wei Tingxu lovingly patted her head: “You’re being silly.”

“Sister bullies me, so I have to act silly.”

“Enough.” Wei Tingxu held her shoulders and slightly stood on tiptoes, whispering in her ear, “I don’t want others to see you being this cute. Go tell that young lord that the desert is dangerous, and we’re willing to escort him back to Liuhuo Country.”

            

What a brilliant plan!

Zhen Wenjun nuzzled Wei Tingxu’s ear with hers and reluctantly walked back, telling Mengda Khan as Wei Tingxu suggested.

“What I said earlier was just casual jest, Your Majesty. I am Zhen Wenjun from Pingcang in Da Yu. I am escorting my lady south on the Holy Empress of Da Yu’s orders to visit the King of Liuhuo Country, seeking permission for trade and reopening the Road to Ten Thousand Directions. Meeting Your Majesty here is an incredible coincidence. Given the dangers of the desert and prevalence of bandits, I am willing to escort Your Majesty safely back to your country.”

            

Even now that Mengda Khan was properly dressed, Zhen Wenjun still couldn’t accept that he was male. Mengda Khan was more delicate than many young ladies, with not a trace of masculinity in his voice. If she hadn’t seen everything clearly when his clothes fell earlier, she would never have believed it no matter what he said.

Mengda Khan was about to rejoice at her sudden gentleness, but upon hearing about being sent back to his country, he refused:

“No, I won’t go back! I’ve escaped eight times already, this is the ninth time. I was so close to succeeding when I unfortunately encountered the Kelai… But I can’t go back. Once I return, they’ll force me to be king again, make me learn this and that, and even make me practice martial arts!” He spread out his porcelain-white, delicate hands, “Look, just holding weapons for a few days has already blistered my palms!”

            

“Your Majesty, since ancient times, sages have possessed both literary and military wisdom, great intelligence and courage. Mere book knowledge is far from enough. Like a sword sharpened through grinding (meaning skills developed through practice), only continuous tempering can make Your Majesty become a great…”

“But I don’t want to be king! I just want to be a little princess.” Mengda Khan carefully dismounted using the stirrups and ran over with small steps to hold Zhen Wenjun’s hands. “You’ve seen my face and body, I’m yours now. Why don’t you become the king instead?”

Back to this again…

            

Zhen Wenjun shook her head: “Impossible.”

“Why impossible? Have you already taken a husband?”

“…We women of Da Yu don’t take anyone in marriage.”

            

“Isn’t that perfect then? Even if you’ve married others, you can divorce them. According to Liuhuo customs, if I can’t marry you, I can never marry anyone else in my life. The only way to resolve this would be to kill you.” At this point, Mengda Khan’s eyes suddenly took on a strange gleam completely different from his previous delicateness, and even his voice changed, “Only by killing you and washing away my sins with your blood would I have the courage to continue living. Marry me, or with one command, I’ll have all of Liuhuo’s armies hunt you to the ends of the earth? Choose carefully between these two paths, my lady.”

Zhen Wenjun’s face darkened as she stared at Mengda Khan, who held her gaze with a confident smile playing at his lips.

“Are you threatening me?” Zhen Wenjun said, “What I hate most is being threatened.”

            

Mengda Khan laughed, but just as he was about to say something more, he seemed to suddenly wake from a dream. Realizing how close he was standing to Zhen Wenjun, he let out a startled “yi” and took a big step backward.

“What… what was I doing?”

Zhen Wenjun stood motionless. The Mengda Khan who had just confronted her had completely different eyes from now, as if…

            

As if he were a different person.

“Soul separation syndrome,” Wei Tingxu whispered behind her. “Two souls in one body – he has another soul attached to him, possessing two entirely different personalities.”

“Soul separation syndrome?” Zhen Wenjun had heard of such things – one person with two personalities, like two or more people sharing one body.

            

“Lady Zhen, did I lose my composure just now?” Mengda Khan said. “Sometimes I do this – suddenly lose my memory, and completely forget what I’ve said or done during these blackouts. People say I become terrifying at those times, even…” Mengda Khan hugged himself, trembling, terrified at the memory. “Even… killed many people.”

Zhen Wenjun: “Killed who? Your officials? Your people?”

“No. They say during my blackouts, I led ten thousand riders against the previous king’s isolationist policy, charged out of the desert, and slaughtered surrounding small countries, leaving no survivors, amassing mountains of treasure and slaves… I can’t remember any of it. How could I possibly do such things?”

            

Hearing this, Zhen Wenjun finally understood that the name “Mengda Khan” (“Mengda” meaning “fierce and mighty”) wasn’t misplaced. Though he appeared frail, his body housed a legendary warrior.

“By the sound of it, if you flee without marrying him, he might hunt you to the ends of the earth, and possibly even raze Da Yu to the ground.” Finding this increasingly amusing, Wei Tingxu leaned against her back, giggling continuously.

“Stop making fun of me…”

            

Knowing Zhen Wenjun was too stubborn to agree, Wei Tingxu stepped out from behind her and addressed Mengda Khan:

“Since we’re already in Liuhuo territory, we should naturally follow Liuhuo’s laws and customs.”

Sensing what Wei Tingxu would say, Zhen Wenjun urgently called out: “Zizhuo!”

            

Wei Tingxu was serious this time: “Since Wenjun has seen Your Majesty’s face, she must marry you. How about letting Wenjun take Your Majesty back and set a wedding date?”

Mengda Khan: “Can… can what you say be counted upon?”

“Of course it can. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her.”

            

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Mengda Khan excitedly asked Zhen Wenjun: “Really? Is what she says true?”

Having no choice, Zhen Wenjun could only nod.

Wei Tingxu must have a plan, probably to reach Liuhuo Country first and figure things out later. After such a difficult journey, it would be ridiculous and wasteful to let everything fall apart over something like this.

            

Seeing Zhen Wenjun’s obedience, Mengda Khan was overjoyed, hugging her neck and jumping around frantically.

Nearly suffocating from his grip, Zhen Wenjun grimaced and said: “Since that’s settled, let’s depart.”

“But… if the State Preceptor sees foreigners, she’ll surely kill you all.”

            

“State Preceptor?”

“Yes. She was already State Preceptor when my mother, the previous ruler of Liuhuo, was alive. Mother consulted her on all state affairs, big and small. When Mother fell gravely ill, my eldest sister was only twelve, so Mother appointed the State Preceptor as regent to assist my sister’s ascension to the throne. However, in the following eight years, except for my eldest sister, all my other royal sisters died from various bizarre causes – one even choked to death while eating. My royal sister and I suspected foul play and wanted to investigate, but the State Preceptor refused to let us near their coffins, claiming we shouldn’t disturb the spirits.”

Zhen Wenjun said: “Your royal sister was the ruler of the nation, yet the State Preceptor dared to obstruct her.”

            

“Yes… the State Preceptor’s power as thick as smoke (meaning extremely powerful). All important national decisions required her approval. My royal sister believed that keeping Liuhuo isolated would only lead to decline – what use were all our gold mines and jewels? She said our rivers of gold and precious stones could fetch extremely high prices in other countries, and trade could bring enormous wealth. She advocated reopening the borders. But the State Preceptor and all officials opposed this. These officials were all the State Preceptor’s claws and fangs, not one supported my royal sister! For years, she secretly struggled against the State Preceptor, trying to reclaim royal authority. But sadly…” Mengda Khan’s eyes reddened at this point, “my royal sister died before achieving her ambitions.”

Wei Tingxu asked: “How did she die?”

Mengda Khan shook his head tearfully: “I don’t know… That day I was pouring mare’s milk in my room when Ahu rushed in to tell me royal sister was dead… She had such grand aspirations to govern Liuhuo well, but she couldn’t escape fate either. I still can’t believe all my sisters are gone, leaving only me…”

            

“You know who the murderer is,” Wei Tingxu said. “And you know who’s next. That’s why you’ve repeatedly tried to escape, to flee the State Preceptor’s demon claws. If I’m not mistaken, the State Preceptor put you on the throne knowing a male ruler would be considered illegitimate. When you become everyone’s target, that will be her chance to usurp the throne.”

Wei Tingxu had clearly hit the mark. Even though they weren’t in Liuhuo City, after she finished speaking, Mengda Khan still looked around to ensure the State Preceptor wouldn’t suddenly emerge from the ground before dejectedly saying: “I’m useless… I can’t fight against the State Preceptor, I can only run away.”

“Indeed quite useless,” Wei Tingxu showed no mercy, making him burst into tears.

            

“So, do you plan to remain useless forever?” Wei Tingxu asked him. “Not everyone is born at the peak of power. What matters isn’t what kind of person you were born as, but what kind of person you want to become.”

“You mean…”

“Fight back,” Wei Tingxu’s words were enticing, and Zhen Wenjun caught the excitement in her eyes: “Whoever causes you pain, repay them a hundredfold.”

            

“But I… I’m no match for the State Preceptor.”

“Even if you’re no match, land whatever punches you can, make her spit however much blood you can. Unless you want to let her effortlessly take control of the land your ancestors worked so hard to establish. Would you hand your most precious possession to the person you hate most?”

Mengda Khan decided to return, to go back to Liuhuo and fight a battle to the death with the State Preceptor.

            

Wei Tingxu’s words ignited his wild waves (surging determination). After finding his ox cart, he reluctantly whipped the ox twice. The ox, feeling the pain, moved a few steps but remained slow, far behind Zhen Wenjun’s mounted group.

Zhen Wenjun had no choice but to let him ride in the carriage, ordering attendants to drive the ox.

Shortly after getting in the carriage, Mengda Khan’s fighting spirit turned to drowsiness, and he fell asleep against Zhen Wenjun’s shoulder, snoring softly. Zhen Wenjun had wanted to discuss Liuhuo matters with Wei Tingxu, but before saying much, her shoulder was weighted down, making her extremely uncomfortable.

            

Even Zizhuo hasn’t been this clingy.

Zhen Wenjun secretly tried to shift away, but while Mengda Khan might lack other talents, his sleeping skills were first-rate. Once he found a comfortable shoulder, he refused to leave. For every inch Zhen Wenjun moved, he followed, sleeping soundly no matter how she moved.

“You’re just pretending to sleep, aren’t you?”

            

If Mengda Khan hadn’t taught Zhen Wenjun how to use the Ten Thousand Direction Compass, he wouldn’t have been so lucky to drool three chi’s worth without being thrown from the carriage.

It turned out the smallest inner circle of text on the compass was a Liuhuo blessing meaning “Joy, peace, longevity, and endless fortune.”

“What nonsense? Isn’t that completely useless?” Half an hour earlier, when Zhen Wenjun gave Mengda Khan the compass to teach her how to use it, she was bewildered by this answer.

            

“It’s useful, of course it’s useful!” Mengda Khan hurriedly said. “This blessing is essential in all Liuhuo festivals!”

“Oh? A blessing is useful?”

“A sincere blessing is useful!”

            

Zhen Wenjun wanted to punch his head in. How could such a fool fight against the cunning State Preceptor? Even if they helped him drive away the State Preceptor this time, he’d still need to govern the country. With his tofu-brain (meaning weak-minded)… how could he govern a nation?

And what was wrong with Liuhuo people? She had pondered over the innermost circle of text on the Ten Thousand Ways Compass for so long, thinking it held some profound secret, only to find it was just a blessing… Zhen Wenjun could only roll her eyes.

She had overcomplicated many things.

            

Despite that unlucky blessing, the white sand in the Ten Thousand Ways Compass still fascinated Zhen Wenjun. According to Mengda Khan, not only could the sand sense Liuhuo’s direction from thousands of miles away, but the inner circle’s four time markings could precisely guide travelers’ timing toward their destination. When the time came, the white sand would change direction, but failing to reach the designated location on time would lead to danger. The compass’s mystical power exceeded Zhen Wenjun’s expectations – was it the base’s mechanism or the sand’s magic? Fortunately, she had awakened Aye and let him return to Beixi, otherwise, if she had given him the compass, she would have regretted it deeply.

She wanted to take the Ten Thousand Ways Compass back to Da Yu for thorough study; perhaps it could prove useful in future military campaigns.

Following the compass’s guidance and Mengda Khan’s directions, they rode for a day before finally reaching Liuhuo Country.

            

Zhen Wenjun was prepared to help Mengda Khan fight a battle, just as she had in Guxi Country, planning to drive away the State Preceptor and gain trading rights with Liuhuo. She and Wei Tingxu had been pondering how to open Liuhuo’s borders once they found it, and meeting Mengda Khan was heaven-sent. If they could take control of Liuhuo, the Road of Ten Thousand Directions could be opened.

Fighting was a pleasure for Zhen Wenjun. Neither the Battle of Mengliang nor the Runing Raid had fully satisfied her, let alone testing the blade (meaning a minor trial) in Guxi Country. If this State Preceptor could give her a thoroughly satisfying battle, it would be wonderful.

However, things weren’t as she expected.

            

Three li from Liuhuo’s city gates, they saw a procession of carriages, horses, and camels hurrying forward, seemingly searching for something.

“It’s the State Preceptor!” Mengda Khan immediately hid behind Zhen Wenjun.

A woman around forty, wearing a long dress of black and white, crowned with a cloud-reaching headdress and holding an Eight Trigrams fan, saw Mengda Khan and immediately led her guards to kneel: “May our King have joy, peace, longevity, and endless fortune!”

            

After paying respects, the State Preceptor came forward to carefully examine Mengda Khan. Confirming he was uninjured, her eyes reddened as she sighed: “Your Majesty, if you have any troubles, please confide in your subject. Don’t leave without a word again… I was so worried you might be in danger.”

Zhen Wenjun stood aside, carefully observing the State Preceptor’s every move. She had expected such a treacherous official to be like Xie Fuchen, showing no emotion and keeping all schemes hidden deep inside. But this woman’s joy and worry seemed genuine, as if…

Zhen Wenjun thoughtfully looked toward Wei Tingxu, noticing her chest slightly rise as if taking a breath.

            

Wei Tingxu had reached the same conclusion as her.

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