Jiang Shan Wei Pin

"Your Majesty?"

Even though Yue Linxi had been following her orders, upon witnessing the current situation, he couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Meng Tinghui finally averted her gaze, glancing back at the lush forested mountains.

Since he had spotted her, there was no chance he would let her go.

She couldn't allow him to come up the mountain and discover these troops, so she had no choice but to descend voluntarily.

With matters having reached this point, she had no other options.

"The situation is peculiar," she feigned suspicion on her face, turning to Yue Linxi and saying, "I fear he has grown suspicious after seeing the two of us on the mountain ridge. If we engage them directly, we will surely be at a disadvantage. Why don't we act openly and ride down the mountain, pretending to be passing merchants? Once we leave, they will likely withdraw, and then we can have our troops descend from the mountain."

Yue Linxi was deeply skeptical and hesitated to agree.

Fearing that any delay might prompt him to come up the mountain himself, she secretly gritted her teeth, gave a sharp cry, and fiercely whipped her horse's flank, charging down the mountain path.

Yue Linxi was taken aback and naturally dared not let her go down alone. Without further thought, he spurred his horse and galloped after her.

The wind whipped through her hair, her heart raced wildly, and as the horse galloped and leaped, she felt as if she were about to fly. Suddenly, many past scenes flashed through her mind—all joyful, yet now they felt distant and unreal.

As soon as she reached the foot of the mountain, before she could rein in her horse and turn, he had already ridden up to her, sharply halting her mount, then looking down at her from his elevated position.

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, so close at hand, and felt a sudden surge of emotion welling up in them.

Behind her, Yue Linxi had also descended the mountain. Before she could react, she saw two riders burst forth from the formation, flanking Yue Linxi and pulling him aside.

After a moment of stunned silence, Yue Linxi was horrified, staring at her in disbelief. "You..."

But she remained silent, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the reins.

"Meng Tinghui."

His thin lips moved lightly, his voice soft, yet it stirred tumultuous emotions within her.

The man before her was filled with a heavy, fierce aura, his body thinner than when she had left the capital, yet it made him appear even more resolute and ruthless. His gaze was cold and intimidating.

He must hate her.

But she didn't know what he would do to her now that he had chanced upon her, intercepted her, and captured her.

He glanced at Yue Linxi, then cast a cold look at the two soldiers, who immediately stepped forward and stuffed something into Yue Linxi's mouth, rendering him unable to speak.

Yue Linxi's eyes widened, and as he was dragged off his horse, he struggled desperately, making muffled sounds in his throat, his expression twisted as he stared fixedly at Meng Tinghui.

Seeing this, she felt her body grow even colder.

"Up the mountain," he turned and ordered one of his trusted officers behind him, "eliminate the rebels."

His tone held not a hint of hesitation or emotion, cold as unyielding iron.

She was somewhat startled, unable to comprehend how he knew that rebel troops were hidden in the forest. Her earlier desperate attempt to avoid a bloody battle had now come to nothing.

At his command, the thousand cavalry, which had been stationary for so long, immediately stirred, their armor clanking as they turned. Warhorses kicked up yellow dust, and amid the fierce autumn wind, spears and halberds charged straight into the forest.

Before long, terrifying sounds of battle echoed from the distant mountain path—the grating clash of spears and swords—and a faint scent of blood began to drift in the surrounding air.

She tried her best not to imagine the scene unfolding on the mountain behind her, nor to look at Yue Linxi, who was being held captive nearby. Yet she couldn't suppress the slight trembling of her lips, nor could she conceal the fear in her eyes.He seemed oblivious to the bloody battle around him, his gaze swiftly sweeping over her from head to toe before he said coldly, "Dismount."

So it was finally her turn.

Her heart sank, but she obeyed, swinging sideways to roll off the horse.

Suddenly, a soldier led a horse toward her from behind. She instinctively glanced up and saw it was her Qingyun.

Her chest tightened as if stuffed with something sodden yet unable to shed a single drop. Her organs ached with stifled anguish.

"Mount," he commanded again, his voice pouring down into her ears.

Her eyes reddened. Biting her lip, she turned to look at him, only to see him already tugging the reins to steer his horse aside, his back as aloof as ever.

Qingyun lowered its head, blowing a heavy, panting breath beside her cheek, then swept its long mane across her body.

She had never seen it so obedient and understanding. Unable to help herself, she wrapped her arms around its neck, lowered her gaze, and let tears fall.

He ought to hate her. Yet he had brought Qingyun on his campaign. She could no longer believe today’s encounter was mere coincidence—he had clearly led his army thousands of li to find her.

But she couldn’t fathom how he had learned of her whereabouts, nor why he would go to such lengths.

She had caused the Great Peace Imperial Army to lose Golden Gorge Pass without a fight. Her name as a traitor who betrayed her country was known throughout the land. She had mingled with the rebel forces—

She was utterly unworthy of his search.

Yue Linxi, seeing him ride straight over, struggled more fiercely but was pinned down firmly by two soldiers beside him.

Seated high on his horse, he looked down at Yue Linxi and asked, "Heading to Shu Province?"

Yue Linxi’s face flushed dark red with rage, his eyes fixed motionlessly on him.

He flipped his arm, lowering his spear, and leaned slightly forward. "It seems you still don’t know who I am."

That word "I," the imperial "We," instantly drained the color from Yue Linxi’s face. Fear flickered in his eyes before twisting into hatred, and he strained to turn his head toward Meng Tinghui.

But Ying Gua raised his arm and pressed the spear against Yue Linxi’s chin, forcing him to look back. "No one has ever dared to ignore my questions."

The spear tip cut into Yue Linxi’s chin, drawing blood. The pain contorted his expression further, and it was a long moment before he slowly nodded.

Ying Gua withdrew the spear, his brow arched coldly. "How fortuitous. I, too, am bound for Shu Province. Since your retinue has been annihilated by my forces, why not let me escort you there?"

Hearing this, she trembled inwardly, for the first time completely unable to grasp what he was thinking.

Yue Linxi, unable to resist, move, or speak, resignedly shut his eyes and ceased struggling.

"Silence implies consent." He turned and called out to the few Imperial Army guards remaining at the mountain’s base, ordering some to stay behind. "Tell Chai Shao: every rebel soldier killed today must be beheaded and counted for merits—not a single head is to be missed!" Lightly flicking his spear, he said to the others, "You there, take this man and follow me ahead."

Yue Linxi was dragged forward, stumbling past beneath her horse, his gaze toward her burning with enough hatred to scorch.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her hands clenching tighter.

While she hesitated, he urged his horse over from behind, cracking his whip sharply near Qingyun and commanding in a low voice, "Go!"

Qingyun bolted forward excitedly, nearly throwing her unprepared from its back. His black steed followed closely, leaping sideways a few strides to catch up.On the sandy road, her crimson long skirt blended with Qingyun’s deep maroon coat, leaping up and down like a blazing flame as they galloped, strikingly conspicuous and impossible to escape.

The group of riders traversed the forested highlands, then turned westward and raced on.

It was only then that she faintly surmised that the flames of war must have erupted in Mingzhou to the west, the closest region to this area. Perhaps the city’s defenses had already been breached by the Great Peace Imperial Army, allowing him to ride here so recklessly and personally lead his troops.

Sure enough, by the time they galloped into the evening, they neared the outskirts of Mingzhou.

From afar, the city walls of Mingzhou still bore traces of beacon smoke, yet the battlements were now lined with the banners of the Great Peace Army, fluttering fiercely. The dense clouds on the horizon were stained black by the smoke of war.

Mingzhou lay not far from the intersection of Jiankang Road and Linhuai Road. The city had first been seized by the Rebel Army and now had been retaken by the Great Peace forces. One could only imagine the chaos and panic that reigned within its walls.

Thus, as she had expected, he did not enter the city directly.

The Great Peace Imperial Army had encamped five miles outside the city. He ordered her to be taken to a tent but remained on his horse for a long time, standing at the eastern edge of the camp and gazing into the distance.

The soldiers led her to an empty tent, pushed her inside, and then stood guard firmly outside.

As soon as she entered the tent, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, unable to stand for a long while.

In the darkness, her heart ached with a throbbing pain.

It all felt like a dream, yet dreams were never this painful.

Leaning against a corner of the tent pole, she pondered for a long time but could not comprehend how any of this had happened.

The fact that the Great Peace Imperial Army could march so swiftly and deeply into this territory was nothing short of miraculous. And that he had managed to intercept her across countless roads, prefectures, and mountains was even more unbelievable.

She was a traitor, a rebel, a treacherous official.

The coldness in his eyes when he looked at her was unmistakable, and his words had made her tremble with fear. Yet, he had not executed her on the spot, nor did he treat her like a condemned criminal. Instead, he had brought her all the way here. What was his purpose?

After a long while, she closed her eyes and sighed.

What was the use of thinking about these things now?

In any case, her reputation was already in ruins. Between them lay the chasm of nations, the world, and a sea of blood and enmity. How could they ever be together and love each other as they once had?

·

By the time Yue Linxi was brought into the camp under escort, night had fallen completely.

He was tightly bound, dragged directly from his horse into the central command tent, and then shoved to the ground.

The light inside the tent was dim yet piercing, and the air carried the mingled scent of thick ink and blood. A man’s calm, unhurried voice came from the front—

"Untie him."

Immediately, someone loosened the hemp ropes binding him and hauled him to his feet, forcing him to look straight ahead.

The man before the command table had already removed his armor. His expression was somber, his features resolute, and even seated, he exuded the imposing aura of a sovereign that one could not bear to confront directly.

The gag in Yue Linxi’s mouth was removed, and he coughed several times, taking a deep, heavy breath. Someone placed paper, brush, and ink on a small stool beside him, and then everyone withdrew from the tent.

Ying Gua’s voice remained calm and unhurried: "Yue Linxi?"

Yue Linxi was slightly startled, not expecting him to know his name.

He pointed to the paper and ink beside him and continued, "I’ve summoned you tonight to have you write a letter to Shu Province. Tell them that you and she have had a smooth journey and will arrive at the gates of Shu Province in five days."

Yue Linxi stared back coldly, unmoving."Some backbone, I see." Ying Gua showed no anger, but his gaze grew cold. "I know people like you aren't afraid of death, so I won't threaten you with it. But if you stubbornly refuse to write, I'll have her killed."

Yue Linxi shuddered all over.

He said nothing more, merely sitting quietly in wait.

Dust motes danced in the beam of light within the tent, each particle clearly visible, as fleeting and uncertain as human lives in this world.

Yue Linxi gritted his teeth slightly. "She caused the deaths of nearly a thousand of my men today. Why should I care whether she lives or dies?"

"You shouldn't care about her life." Ying Gua raised an eyebrow lightly, his gaze turning sharp. "But you should care whether the Central Wan Imperial Descendant lives or dies."

Yue Linxi's face changed dramatically. "You..."

He hadn't expected the emperor to know everything so clearly, with each word striking precisely at his weakest points.

His expression suddenly darkened, his voice turning cold. "Write!"

Yue Linxi still refused to comply, his eyes filled with resentment. "Though she is the Central Wan Imperial Descendant, she deceived and betrayed me on the mountain today. After all these days of my respecting, assisting, and obeying her, I fell right into her trap! Since her heart isn't in restoring our kingdom, what use is there in me preserving her life?!"

A trace of ruthlessness surfaced in Ying Gua's eyes. "In that case, I'll grant your wish and have her killed. But if she dies, who would know why she died? With nearly a thousand of your men annihilated, only you managed to escape alive from the Great Peace Imperial Army. Do you think everyone in Shu Province City are fools?! Though I won't kill you, there will be others who come for your life."

Yue Linxi trembled upon hearing this, his breathing growing slightly rapid. "What exactly do you want?"

The emperor's stern brows relaxed slightly. "I want her to continue being the Central Wan Imperial Descendant. I want you, Yue Linxi, to reap what you've sown. And I want no suspicions raised in Shu Province City. Since you were ordered to bring her to Shu Province, only if she lives can you live."

Yue Linxi's face turned pale. He stood rigidly for a while before slowly bending down, kneeling beside the camp stool. His hand trembling slightly, he picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing the letter to Shu Province.

The autumn night was quite cold, yet his sweat soaked through the thin paper. As each character fell onto the page, Ying Gua's cold voice reached his ears again: "In five days, order the defending general in Shu Province City to open the gates wide to welcome the Imperial Descendant's party into the city. To prevent any mishaps, soldiers must disarm when receiving the carriage—no exceptions."

Yue Linxi's brush tip snapped. He looked up, his expression extremely grim. "You're making me a traitor who will surely face death by a thousand cuts in the future."

"Mm." The emperor looked completely unconcerned as he raised an eyebrow. "If you don't write, your future crime will be conspiring against the Imperial Descendant and treason. If you write, your future crime will be cowardice and treason. Either way you'll die—choose for yourself. I'd be happy to see it done."

Yue Linxi's lips turned purple, trembling uncontrollably.

How could he have imagined that the new emperor of Great Peace would be such a young and ruthless man, so different from what he had envisioned.

"But," Ying Gua raised his eyebrows higher, his sharp gaze fixed intently on him, "if you write, perhaps I'll be pleased enough to spare your life. If in the future you can please me further, I might even help clear your name of this treason accusation. It depends on whether you're willing to trust me and gamble on this one chance."

Yue Linxi's heart sank. Frowning, he completed the letter in one breath, then presented the paper with a defeated expression.He took it, glanced over it briefly, and without looking up, said in a low voice, "I know people like you are best at enduring humiliation to achieve your goals. Today's hardship is nothing to you. If you ever get a chance to turn things around, you will surely repay me a hundredfold, won't you?"

Yue Linxi kept his head bowed, gritting his teeth as he replied, "I wouldn't dare."

"I believe you wouldn't." Ying Gua lifted his eyes, his gaze icy, and called loudly for the guards outside the tent. He ordered, "Take him away."

As Yue Linxi was forcibly dragged out with his arms twisted behind his back, he strained to look back and asked urgently, "How did you know about all these things?!"

Ying Gua stared, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and gave a signal with his eyes.

The soldier kicked Yue Linxi's leg hard and dragged him out of the central army tent.

Outside, there was a burst of angry cursing, which soon faded into silence.

He sat in his seat for a while longer before pinching out the candle, rising, and walking out.

Most of the camp had already settled for the night. The autumn dew was heavy, and the grass blades on the ground sparkled with droplets. The northern night sky was clear, dotted with bright stars, and the lingering black smoke above the walls of Mingzhou five miles away was faintly visible.

He walked to the southern part of the camp. As he approached a tent, two soldiers outside were about to greet him, but he quickly raised his hand to stop them and asked softly, "How is she?"

The soldiers replied, "We brought her food after nightfall. Lady Meng accepted it calmly and then went to sleep."

He nodded. "Go rest for the night. There's no need to stand guard here all night. She will be fine." The two soldiers did not dare to disobey and bowed their heads before retreating one after the other.

He stood alone outside the tent for a long time before slowly lifting the tent flap and stepping inside quietly.

It was pitch dark inside.

Yet he could see at a glance that she was indeed curled up on the narrow cot furthest inside, facing outward, sleeping soundly and motionless.

The crimson long skirt she wore was as mysterious and alluring as a night-blooming jasmine, deep red like blood, abruptly igniting the darkness of the tent.

He stood there quietly, watching her—her face, her body, every part of her from head to toe.

This serene face had appeared in his dreams countless times. Smiling, weeping, joyful, angry... even stained with blood.

Every time he woke from such dreams, his entire body trembled with pain.

During these days of marching the army north, he had not had a single night of peaceful sleep.

Under the starry night sky, with the autumn wind blowing, Heaven alone knew how much fear gripped his heart.

He feared she might take her own life.

He feared he would not find her in time.

He feared they might never see each other again in this lifetime.

Fortunately, she was safe and sound.

Fortunately, he had found her.

Fortunately, he still had the chance to keep her by his side, never to let her leave him again, for the rest of their lives.

The moment he left, she opened her eyes.

The corners of her eyes were damp, and her heart felt as if it had cracked, letting countless joys and sorrows related to him surge forth in an instant, filling her chest and making it hard to breathe.

His footsteps, his presence—they were all so familiar.

Even without opening her eyes or looking, she knew it was him.

She had once planned so meticulously, thinking she would never have to see him again in this life. Yet, as fate would have it, she had fallen back into his hands.

But things were no longer the same as before.

Now, she could no longer read his expressions, fathom his thoughts, understand the ruler's heart, or fulfill her duty as a subject. All that remained was a cold, bottomless fear.She feared neither death nor hatred, but only that the world would descend into greater chaos, that more common people would perish, and that all her painstaking efforts would come to naught like fleeting clouds.

If she lived, remnants of the former dynasty would always rally troops under her name to rebel. But if he learned the truth, how could he ever let her die?

The reputation of a great traitor was perfect. It would make him hate and resent her for a lifetime, never loving her again. Even if she died, he wouldn't grieve or mourn for her.

Yue Linxi and the others, intoxicated by hopes of restoring the dynasty, had believed her every word without question. They never considered that as long as her identity as imperial descendant remained unknown to the world, all their gains from rebellion were like empty cities built on ruins—utterly foundationless.

Stirring up the rebel forces in Chao'an, concentrating troops in Linhuai—it was all part of her plan. Now, seeing the Great Peace Imperial Army breach Mingzhou so quickly, she finally felt somewhat relieved.

As for Shu Province, if she could end her life before they could hold the coronation ceremony for her, no one would be able to use her identity to justify rebellion and restoration. Without the pretext of an imperial heir, how long could these rebel forces persist?

She wanted the name Meng Tinghui to remain that of a traitor until death.

She didn't need to worry about what would happen after her death. What kind of resolute and decisive ruler was he if he couldn't pacify the empire? Henceforth, there would be no more descendants of the former dynasty contending for his throne, and the people would be spared years of war's devastation.

But who could have predicted he would find her!

Her previous plans were now moot, but what would happen next? If Shu Province learned she had fallen into the hands of the Great Peace Imperial Army, they would surely send troops to rescue her. And once he discovered her true identity, what would he do?

In their current situation, perhaps killing her was the cleanest solution.

She turned over, staring wide-eyed at the tent ceiling.

The air seemed to retain traces of his distinctive robe fragrance, scattered faintly around her, making her feel dazed when she caught its scent.

She supposed she still loved him deeply.

Otherwise, how could seeing him make her reluctant to die?

·

A sleepless night.

At daybreak, someone came to escort her to the central military headquarters.

Naturally, she was going to see him.

When she left the tent, she saw soldiers and horses moving along the camp roads—clearly, large-scale troop movements were underway.

Remembering his words yesterday about sending her and Yue Linxi to Shu Province, she grew uneasy, truly uncertain of his intentions.

Outside the central command tent stood two junior officers who looked familiar—she had seen them during cavalry drills at the Palace Guard earlier at court. When they saw her approach, their expressions shifted slightly. They murmured "Lord Meng" and stepped aside.

That address—"Lord Meng"—immediately stirred complex emotions within her.

She was well aware of her reputation at the imperial court in the capital, yet these northern expedition imperial army officers still addressed her as "Lord," which genuinely pained her.

Her steps faltered slightly before she walked straight in.

The tent was in disarray. The command table was piled high with military reports and memorials, several ebony camp stools lay toppled on the ground, maps hung askew in confusion, and pieces of iron armor and long spears were scattered about.

He stood alone amidst the chaos, leaning over the command table searching for something.

She paused at the entrance, gazing blankly at his profile.Had it been her former self, she would have swiftly stepped forward to organize these items for him—whether memorials or military reports, she would have sorted each one meticulously.

But now she no longer had the right to perform such tasks for him.

She was no longer his subject, and he was no longer her emperor.

She was a treacherous official and rebel he had captured, while he was the son of the enemy who had destroyed her nation and family.

Even if he still held affection for her in his heart, she could never stay and love the son of the person who killed her parents. For the sake of sparing the common people from the ravages of war, she could sacrifice and yield, but to once again submit beneath him as before and do everything for him—that was absolutely impossible.

Moreover, how could he ever forgive her for the things she had done?

Surely, he must hate her in his heart, perhaps even want to kill her.

After an unknown length of time, he finally straightened up and turned. The moment he saw her, his eyes narrowed involuntarily. After a moment, he spoke: "Sit."

She lowered her gaze, picked up a small stool from the ground nearby, gathered her long skirt, and sat down.

From start to finish, she did not perform the ritual of a subject to him, did not address him as Your Majesty, did not refer to herself as a subject, and did not even look at him with the same single-minded focus as before.

He watched her sit, then lifted his robe and seated himself as well, his gaze fixed on her face as he called out softly: "Meng Tinghui."

She raised her eyes to look at him.

There was no smile, no hatred—just a calm, composed face, as if he were no longer the man she had deeply loved, and she was no longer the woman who had obeyed his every command.

Staring at the face that had kept him awake countless nights, he suddenly wanted to ask her: How could you have been so cold and resolute in leaving me back then? I was your emperor, your man—how could you disregard my feelings so completely, acting so willfully and arbitrarily, leaving no path for yourself to survive?

But in the end, he only said coldly: "Do you know you deserve to die?"

She stared at him without a word.

He continued: "Deceiving the emperor, colluding with the enemy, betraying the nation, conspiring with rebels—any one of these crimes is enough to condemn you without pardon. Yet I will not kill you."

She replied indifferently: "Why not?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Because I know you are the surviving descendant of the previous dynasty's royal family."

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but she gave a slight smile. "How did you know?"

His expression was somewhat languid, as if her question were entirely unnecessary: "Naturally, Yue Linxi confessed it."

She had intended to deny it, but upon hearing this, her expression stiffened slightly before she sneered coldly: "As expected."

He stared at her intently. "Why did you pretend to be a traitor colluding with the Northern Frontier back then? Why not reveal your royal identity to the world directly?"

Without blinking, she replied: "To make the Great Peace court believe I was in the Northern Frontier, drawing the main force of the Great Peace Imperial Army to the northern border, so that I could carry out my plans here without hindrance. Moreover, I was indeed in collusion with the Northern Frontier—what difference does it make whether I was a traitor or not?"

Not a trace of surprise showed on his face, as if he had long expected her to say this. He only said slowly: "But now that you have fallen into my hands, why not discuss terms with me and see if you can offer more than the Northern Frontier?"

Her expression changed. "The Great Peace Imperial Army is advancing triumphantly now. Why don't you just kill me instead of negotiating for peace?"

He said: "My purpose in leading this campaign personally is to target the Northern Frontier. Even if I kill you now, I would still have to divert troops to suppress the remaining Rebel Army in the Northern Three Routes, and the duration of such an operation is hard to predict. Moreover, I do not wish to prolong military conflict within the nation. If you are willing to form an alliance with me and order the hundred thousand Rebel Army troops to turn around and join forces with the Great Peace Imperial Army to attack the Northern Frontier, then the day of the Northern Frontier’s defeat will not be far off, and the people of the Northern Three Routes will also be spared."Her heart raced wildly, yet she maintained a cold expression, saying, "What I seek is the restoration of our nation's sovereignty and dignity. The ten thousand troops under my command march solely for the cause of reviving our fallen state. How could I possibly assist your Great Peace in attacking the Northern Frontier? Even if I agreed, how could these hundred thousand soldiers ever consent?"

His gaze toward her gradually sharpened, his voice lowering slightly, "If we succeed, I will grant you all the territories of the former Zhong Wan State, along with half of the Northern Frontier's lands."

She was greatly astonished, a fine layer of cold sweat instantly breaking out on her back. It took her a long moment to steady her mind before she whispered, "I absolutely cannot believe your words. How could you permit others to encroach upon Great Peace's territory? How could the ministers of your court ever allow you to cede lands to outsiders?"

He replied calmly, "The territory of Great Peace naturally cannot be ceded. However, I can also fulfill what you and these hundred thousand rebel troops desire and covet."

Growing increasingly bewildered, she had no idea what scheme he was plotting. Frowning, she asked, "What exactly do you mean?"

"Become my empress," he fixed his deep, pool-like eyes on her, "and all the territories of the former Zhong Wan State, along with half of the Northern Frontier, shall become your personal fief, Meng Tinghui."