Fish Meat – Chapter 161
by Little PandaThe Third Year of Zhao Wu
The Lamp Behind the Curtain, the Sword in its Case (20)
“Watch out!”
Before anyone could clearly see what changes had occurred in the long-absent Ah Xin, a sharp sword was thrust towards her back. Li Yanyi wanted to pull her into her embrace and block with her sword, but Ah Xin paid no attention to the sneak attack behind her. She extended her arm backward, her metal-gloved hand pressing against the sword blade like a boneless snake coiling around it, then twisted in the opposite direction, instantly disarming the assassin. Ah Xin delivered a powerful counter-kick, sending the assassin flying ten paces away, vomiting blood.
These two moves, though appearing simple, were actually extremely difficult – only a top-tier master could execute them so effortlessly.
Ah Xin’s martial arts had improved considerably. As she protected Li Yanyi while fighting their way out, Geng You, who had not yet taken up his post in the Northern Frontier, arrived leading twenty elite Geng family soldiers. Their battle cries filled everyone’s ears before they even appeared, creating quite an imposing atmosphere.
The Zhuxie Sect had already lost half their forces and were weakening. Upon hearing the war cries, they thought the Zhuiyue Army had arrived from two other directions, and immediately panicked, preparing to flee.
Hang Lie heard it too and realized he would die if he didn’t leave, but this assassination attempt was a perfect opportunity – if they couldn’t kill Li Yanyi now, it would be even harder in the future. Ah Xun, already wounded and unable to fight, was pulled away by Hang Lie to escape first, while Zhen Wenjun pursued them relentlessly.
Hang Lie’s eyes narrowed as he engaged in combat with Zhen Wenjun.
Zhen Wenjun, young and spirited, practiced an eclectic mix of martial arts. She had received guidance from Xiaohua, and her leg techniques were particularly powerful. From saber techniques to swordsmanship, apart from the foundation taught by her mother in childhood, everything else she had developed through observing others. Though lacking a systematic school affiliation put her at a slight disadvantage in terms of versatility, this actually became her strength.
Hang Lie, having roamed the jianghu as a wandering warrior for many years, had seen almost every school’s techniques and thoroughly understood various saber styles, being skilled at breaking them down. Yet Zhen Wenjun’s self-developed blade work had no fixed patterns – when she should strike downward, she cut horizontally; when she should thrust upward, she stabbed straight ahead. Just when one thought she had left a massive opening for attack, she would suddenly crouch and slash at their toes.
Hang Lie found the exchange with Zhen Wenjun extremely uncomfortable, as every strike landed in places he least wanted to defend. If not for his slight agitation due to Ah Xun’s escape and Zhen Wenjun’s pursuit, the final outcome would have been uncertain.
Zhen Wenjun gained the upper hand and managed to slash Hang Lie once, then turned to chase after Ah Xun. Hang Lie took the opportunity to launch a sneak attack. Zhen Wenjun, already aware of Hang Lie’s movement, raised her arm to block.
Whenever she went out, she would wear the armguard gifted by Lingbi, an excellent piece of protective gear. Zhen Wenjun was confident that when Hang Lie’s sword came slashing, she wouldn’t suffer any injury and could even make him suffer a setback, creating an opportunity to counterattack.
Though she was certain of this, Ah Xin didn’t know about her iron armguard. At first glance, it appeared as if Zhen Wenjun was going to sacrifice an arm to save her life. Ah Xin immediately leaped forward with a metallic “clang,” deflecting Hang Lie’s sword and swiftly pulling Zhen Wenjun behind her.
When Zhen Wenjun was suddenly pushed, she thought it was an enemy from the Zhuxie Sect. When she finally saw the tall female figure’s back, she didn’t immediately recognize Ah Xin.
Ah Xin wore ordinary coarse Hu clothing, her long hair simply tied back with a rope. Though the clothes looked somewhat shabby, Ah Xin’s dignified bearing immediately revealed her noble origins, carrying the manner of an aristocratic family.
“Are you alright?” Ah Xin turned to look at her and asked.
“I’m… fine,” Zhen Wenjun replied in a tone almost identical to Ah Xin’s.
Zhen Wenjun suspected she was Xie Fuchen’s daughter, and if her guess was correct, Ah Xin would be her half-sister.
The first time she saw Ah Xin, she felt familiar because Ah Xin’s features somewhat resembled Xie Fuchen’s. Now, with different thoughts in mind upon seeing Ah Xin again, she noticed how similar their long eyebrows were…
Ah Xin’s gaze toward her was quite meaningful, as if there were words left unspoken.
The two stood in silence, unable to take their eyes off each other.
Having just experienced Ah Xin’s strength firsthand, Hang Lie knew that as Xie Fuchen’s legitimate daughter, Ah Xin was the true heir of the Xie family, while Ah Xun was merely a distant relative. He couldn’t bring himself to harm her.
But with the Zhuiyue Army’s left and right wings and the Geng family’s private forces closing in, Hang Lie had no time to consider which was more important. Ah Xin was clearly on Li Yanyi’s side, and would be safe even without his protection. Hang Lie gave Ah Xin a martial salute [cupped fist gesture of respect], then turned and left.
The Zhuiyue Army’s main force converged from both ends of the alley, slaughtering the Zhuxie Sect assassins one by one, with endless screams and blood spraying everywhere.
Covered in wounds, Ah Xun panicked in the chaotic crowd. Hang Lie cut down several people as he rushed forward, grabbing her to help her escape over the wall. The Zhuiyue Army’s right wing consisted of archers, and at the commander’s order, thousands of arrows were released simultaneously. Hang Lie roared as he wildly swung his sword, deflecting many incoming arrows.
When Ah Xun looked back, she saw Hang Lie’s body pierced with arrows, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
“Go!” Hang Lie shouted, veins bulging on his forehead.
As Ah Xun frantically climbed the wall to escape, she was struck by another overwhelming volley of arrows that blanketed the sky.
Hundreds of arrows interrupted Ah Xun’s panicked movements, and with a “whoosh,” she was pinned to the wall like a piece of cloth.
Zhen Wenjun witnessed this scene and stopped her pursuit.
Hang Lie let out an anguished cry and, despite his severe injuries, charged back into the Zhuiyue Army’s ranks, managing to kill three more soldiers. Finally, it took the strength of nine bulls and two tigers for Zhen Wenjun and the central army to surround and kill him.
When Hang Lie died, he had thirty-two arrows in his body. Even with his heart pierced, he could still move, using his last bit of strength like a madman, only collapsing to his knees after shedding his final drop of blood.
Before dying, he howled at the sky, shouting “Lord Xie”. Ah Xin, who hadn’t intervened, stood watching from a distance with tears in her eyes.
With both Hang Lie and Ah Xun dead, Ah Xin lowered her eyes, sheathed her sword, and turned to leave.
“Ah Xin!” Li Yanyi, holding up her long robes, hurriedly chased after her. Seeing her about to leave again, she couldn’t help but call out her name, disregarding imperial dignity.
Ah Xin paused, turned back, and gave Li Yanyi a ceremonial bow: “Take care, Your Majesty.”
Seeing Ah Xin’s determined departure, Li Yanyi’s eyes rolled back as she fell straight backward.
The Zhuiyue soldiers were utterly surprised by how quickly the emperor fainted, and they rushed forward with cries of alarm to help. However, Ah Xin was faster, catching Li Yanyi steadily before her head could hit the ground.
“What happened to Her Majesty!” Geng You shouted, standing on tiptoes trying desperately to see.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” The Zhuiyue soldiers were also anxious. The emperor was the root of the country [meaning: foundation], and her health was a matter of utmost national importance. If anything were to happen, the Zhuiyue Army would be held responsible for failing to protect the emperor, and they would all lose their heads.
The soldiers’ faces turned earth color [meaning: pale with fear]. Ah Xin looked around helplessly, then turned back and whispered in Li Yanyi’s ear: “That’s enough.”
Li Yanyi slightly opened one eye and replied: “Will you still leave?”
Ah Xin responded with difficulty: “I am the daughter of a condemned official, how can I stay?”
“Then I’ll continue fainting.” As Li Yanyi spoke, she went even more thoroughly unconscious, startling everyone around who then turned to look at Ah Xin.
With everyone staring, Ah Xin’s ears turned red with embarrassment. Having no choice, she had to pick up Li Yanyi, who promptly wrapped her arms around her neck. Ah Xin’s movements stiffened, knowing she couldn’t simply drop the Da Yu emperor on the roadside in front of everyone.
“The emperor is fine,” Ah Xin said. “Take her back to be examined by the Imperial Physician, especially the arm.”
She placed Li Yanyi in the carriage, but when she tried to leave after giving instructions, Li Yanyi wouldn’t let go, still clinging to her neck. Ah Xin couldn’t even straighten her back, and everyone around watched in complete silence.
Thoroughly embarrassed, Ah Xin stood there until Zhen Wenjun said: “Lady Ah Xin should return with the carriage. You’ve done great service in protecting the emperor, and Her Majesty will surely reward you when she wake.”
Hearing the commander speak thus, the central army soldiers all agreed. Though Ah Xin didn’t want to go, she had no choice – they couldn’t remain in this awkward position forever. She finally got into the carriage and lowered the cloth curtain.
Originally, Ah Xin hadn’t planned to show herself at all.
When she was still in the Northern Frontier, she “accidentally” received news about the emperor’s injury – just a broken hand, yet the news had traveled thousands of li from Runing. It was quite an effort for those who spread this information.
Ah Xin certainly knew this was Li Yanyi’s little trick. Li Yanyi knew she was soft-hearted and tried to provoke her with physical injury, thinking this would make her return, but Ah Xin wouldn’t fall for it.
Though she set aside the news of Li Yanyi’s injury, she couldn’t remain calm.
Not just about Li Yanyi – news also reached her about Wei Tingxu becoming Da Yu’s first female official and the establishment of the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, with Wei Tingxu receiving primary credit. Though Ah Xin was in the Northern Frontier, her heart remained in Runing, missing nothing about the central government’s movements. With wolves lurking nearby [dangerous people], Li Yanyi might have sensed the danger but wasn’t necessarily as cunning as these treacherous officials, especially with Zhen Wenjun there…
Ah Xin knew Zhen Wenjun was her sister, but Zhen Wenjun didn’t know.
Although she knew Zhen Wenjun was loyal to the Wei family, now that the Xie family had few members left, Zhen Wenjun was probably her only blood relative. When her father revealed this enormous secret, he didn’t say much, even forbidding her from telling Zhen Wenjun the truth, only asking her to take care of Alai. She hadn’t yet uncovered the complexities behind this, but would investigate thoroughly someday.
Ah Xin recalled Zhen Wenjun’s meaningful gaze earlier, suggesting she might know some inside information…
“What are you thinking about?” In the carriage, away from others’ eyes, Li Yanyi was no longer pretending to be unconscious and moved closer to Ah Xin, touching her reddened ears with her fingertips.
Ah Xin slightly turned her head away: “I’m wondering how you’ll explain bringing me, a condemned official’s daughter, back to the palace to your court officials.”
“So many eyes saw you save me – without your appearance, Da Yu might no longer have an emperor. If those old fellows complain, I’ll use your merit in protecting me to officially appoint you as Great General of the North, leaving Geng You unable to even become a mere deputy commander. Then, many people will find ways to keep you in Runing.”
Ah Xin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “That’s not how the art of rulership works.”
“Whatever art it may be, when I use it, it becomes the art of rulership.” Li Yanyi wrapped Ah Xin’s hand in hers, eagerly drawing closer. “You’re truly heartless, not coming to see me once in all these years. If I hadn’t truly been in danger, were you planning to never appear again?”
Ah Xin nodded with a soft “mm.”
“You’re quite honest. If you can remain this honest when you come back to the Huaichen Mansion with me and close the doors, then you’ll truly be good.”
After the assassination attempt, Li Yanyi stayed at the Huaichen Mansion for three days. On returning to the Forbidden Garden on the third day, she was radiant and energetic. During morning court, instead of her usual dejected and agitated demeanor, she actually wore a smile.
Luan Jiang and others submitted a memorial impeaching Zhen Wenjun, the Zhuiyue Army’s central commander, accusing her of failing to protect the emperor, resulting in injury. They further suspected her of colluding with the Blue Wrist rebels to plot rebellion – how else would outsiders know the emperor’s schedule and set up an ambush in advance? They claimed Zhen Wenjun was unqualified to lead the central army and urged the emperor to imprison her in the imperial jail for thorough interrogation to uncover the truth.
Li Yanyi casually nodded: “Since Minister Luan insists Zhen Wenjun is guilty, let’s investigate.”
Zhen Wenjun was guarding outside the Taiji Hall, not participating in the morning court. Wei Tingxu, standing to the side, maintained a normal expression and remained silent.
Li Yanyi said: “Guan Xun.”
The Imperial Judge Guan Xun stepped forward and responded.
“Investigate her thoroughly for me, show no favoritism!”
“Yes!” Guan Xun replied loudly.
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