"Even if the heavens were to collapse, I cannot leave, for beneath my shoulders are those I love."
A biting wind swept past his brow. The young scout sat astride his horse, his back already bent, more than a dozen arrows embedded in it. Yet he had not fallen. Instead, he had bound his spear to the saddle, its tip piercing his own chest, forcibly propping up his already lifeless body as he sat upright.
On his chest, where his armor had been torn away, a few large characters were written in blood on his pale undergarment: Southeast, thirty li, light cavalry, ten thousand.
Zhuge Yue silently regarded the young soldier. He slowly lowered his head and after a long while, softly said, "You have endured much."
With a soft "thud," the spearhead that had borne the weight for so long suddenly pierced through his chest. Dark red blood foamed and seeped from his back as the young soldier fell from his horse. The warhorse let out a mournful whinny, lowering its head to lick the soldier's cheek, circling and neighing in sorrow.
"Your Highness!"
A burly personal guard general rushed forward, dragging a thin, elderly man with him, and shouted, "We've found him!"
The old man was over sixty years old—in this era, living to sixty was considered a ripe old age. He was thin but spirited, and even in his current disheveled state, he showed no signs of defeat. Zhuge Yue looked him up and down, then slowly nodded. "You seem well, sir. It appears you can endure the hardships of a long journey."
"You... Qinghai is a land of barbarians, uncivilized and savage, where they eat raw flesh and drink blood. I am a scholar, how could I..."
Zhuge Yue's gaze sharpened, his slender phoenix eyes bright and intimidating. His voice was unhurried, yet carried an indescribable sense of intimidation.
"This prince has traveled a thousand li to welcome you, with a heavy army clearing the way. It seems you still find my sincerity lacking."
The words were spoken lightly, but the killing intent they carried left Gao Qingzhu stunned on the spot.
Qinghai had marched troops to Cuiwei, cutting through provinces and counties with overwhelming force, leaving countless lives in their wake. With such "sincerity," who would dare say it was not enough?
"Escort Scholar Qingzhu to the carriage."
"Yes."
The gates of Maoling City remained intact, and the imperial troops had offered almost no resistance, opening the gates to let the Qinghai army enter. Now, with Ximeng in turmoil, the Hongchuan Plateau embroiled in endless conflict, the Daxia imperial family retreating to the northern lands, and the Yanbei cavalry occupying the imperial capital, the local garrisons, though nominally surrendered to Yanbei, were still led by former Daxia officials. Thus, compared to the invaders' decrees, Zhuge Yue—the former Daxia Minister of War—seemed far more approachable.
When the Qinghai army entered Maoling City, the local populace mistook them for imperial forces launching a counterattack. Many men took up knives and axes to join the army, while the common people brought out rice and flour from their homes to reward the troops. The streets and alleys were filled with the sound of gongs and drums, joyous and celebratory, with no indication that this was a captured city.
"Your Highness,"
Guo Huai, carrying a heavy broadsword on his back, ran forward, wiping the dust from his face, and said loudly, "The Yan army is approaching. What should we do?"
Zhuge Yue gazed toward the southeast, his expression unchanged, and replied in a low voice, "Fight."For a moment, cheers erupted throughout the entire army. These fierce Qinghai elites had been moving cautiously ever since setting out from Cuiwei Pass, avoiding every battle and pressing forward at full speed—truly stifling their aggressive spirits. Now, hearing that they finally had a battle to fight, everyone was overjoyed and cheered loudly.
However, by evening, when the Yan army finally arrived, they did not launch an attack. Instead, they surrounded the city without deploying a single soldier.
Zhuge Yue knew they must be waiting for reinforcements. Once those reinforcements arrived, the situation would turn very unfavorable for him. That very night, before the Yan army could even complete their formation, the Qinghai army charged out of Maoling. After three fierce assaults, relying on their exceptional mobility, they managed to tear open a gap in the Yan army’s right rear and broke through the encirclement. This force of ten thousand Yan soldiers was not a regular army but rather a reserve force hastily assembled from nearby backup camps upon hearing of Maoling’s distress. Suddenly facing the elite troops of Qinghai, they were naturally no match.
In no time, the southwestern front of Great Yan was ablaze with beacon fires. Garrison troops, sharp as blades, were deployed everywhere, but the Qinghai army’s warhorses were incredibly swift. Many forces rushed to the scene only to catch a glimpse of the billowing dust left in the wake of the Qinghai army.
Finally, on this day, they reached the last barrier—Cangming Mountain. Beyond this mountain lay the territory of Qinghai’s Cuiwei Pass. The night before, the Qinghai soldiers had polished their blades and spears, awaiting the final, decisive battle.
Zhuge Yue, clad in cold, imposing armor, stood beneath the vast, moonlit sky. He raised his wrist high, and a snow-white eagle landed gracefully upon it, obediently extending a leg bearing a message tube.
Unfurling the letter, his eyes fell upon the exasperatingly verbose writing of a certain someone. Fortunately, after reading through the entire message, he found the information he sought. He read the letter twice, then tucked it into his chest, feeling the warmth emanating from those words—like holding a silver warming stove on a bitterly cold, snowy day.
Everyone has their own forbidden line—some are gold and silver, others are power and influence. But his was just one person.
He had never been a kind man. It was only for her that he was willing to sheath his edge. But that did not mean he had forgotten how to kill.
Slowly, he lifted his head. The dark sky hung so low, dotted with sparse stars that seemed within reach. The wind blew from afar, carrying with it a faint scent of Qinghai. His heart was calm, like the waves of grass in Qinghai, swaying gently, layer upon layer.
The next day, eight thousand troops were arrayed at the foot of Cangming Mountain. Unlike the remnants of Daxia or the newly recruited reserves they had encountered before, these were native Yanbei soldiers—a steel-forged army tempered in the crucible of blood and battle.
The frontier wind was always harsh and cold, sweeping across the desolate land and stirring up patches of drifting reeds. The Qinghai warriors tightened the black silk around their wrists, gripped their wolf blades, and coldly stared at the enemy across the field. An intense fighting spirit rose over the battlefield, and even the passing wind carried a faint, metallic resonance.
Yet, at that very moment, a ripple of unease spread through the defenders at Cangming Mountain. Zhuge Yue, on horseback, slowly furrowed his brow. Before long, the garrison troops began to retreat to both sides, and the heavy gates of the pass slowly creaked open, revealing a wide road laid out before the Qinghai army.
"What are they doing?"Someone in the army whispered quietly.
"It must be a trap—the Yanbei dogs are playing tricks."
The crowd grew restless, all the clamorous noises rising like boiling water in successive waves.
Zhuge Yue gazed silently at the silent Yanbei Army across from him, frowning without speaking. Time passed slowly in this eerie atmosphere—the Yanbei side remained quiet, and the Qinghai Army stayed equally silent. Knee-high green grass swayed gently, wave after wave rippling with the wind.
Zhuge Yue’s horse took a slow but resolute step forward.
Guo Huai anxiously blocked his path, urgently saying, "Your Majesty, beware of a trap."
"They dared to open the city gates before me—should I, as king, lack the courage to ride forward?"
Zhuge Yue’s voice was very low, not particularly inspiring, yet in an instant, everyone’s fighting spirit seemed ignited. He raised his head with a light laugh, pointed his sword sheath forward, and calmly addressed all the Qinghai warriors, declaring clearly, "Who dares to ride forward with me?"
"This humble general is willing!"
In an instant, all the Qinghai soldiers roared in unison, their voices thundering and causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Three thousand Qinghai soldiers followed behind Zhuge Yue, their horses galloping like the wind, charging straight toward that towering city gate.
A thousand zhang, five hundred zhang, three hundred zhang—closer and closer. So close they could even see the faces and weapons of the Yanbei soldiers, the battle intent and sharpness in their eyes. Yet, no one drew their blades, no one shouted. They swept through the Cangming Mountain pass, leaping past the gate that should have required countless corpses to breach.
The vast wilderness stretched out, and the heavy gates slowly closed behind them after they passed. Dark war banners fluttered atop the high city walls, like someone’s eyes watching them depart.
Zhuge Yue silently glanced back twice, then turned his horse and said to Guo Huai, a general from Qinghai, "Send word to Yue Qi to bring the troops back."
Guo Huai was slightly taken aback. To coordinate with this operation, General Yue Qi and General He Xiao had already infiltrated the vicinity of Zhenhuang City with thirty thousand elite soldiers, ready to attack Zhenhuang at the first sign of change here, cooperating with Daxia’s forces to divert Yanbei’s attention. Calling them back so easily now seemed to waste all the previous arrangements.
But he said nothing, quickly instructing his subordinates to carry out the order.
Ahead, the layered clouds dispersed, and Qinghai was already in sight.
**
As soon as the physician withdrew, Zhuge Yue entered. The vermilion and sandalwood hall was filled with the fragrance of calming incense. He casually dismissed the maids and walked straight to the bedside, sitting down along the edge.
She had grown much thinner, almost unrecognizable. Her eyes, already large, now seemed even larger. On the day she left, Liang Shaoqing had visited and teased her, saying she resembled a big-eyed monkey from the forest. She had angrily thrown a pillow at him but couldn’t even hold it steady.
She was asleep, breathing evenly. Having just taken her medicine, her breath was much more balanced. Whether it was psychological or not, Zhuge Yue felt that after the old physician’s treatment, even her complexion looked better.
He had fought his way through, paving a path with blood, anxious and unable to sleep throughout the journey. Yet, at this moment, all of it transformed into a sudden surge of joy and relief in his heart.
Thank goodness...
He sighed silently within, acknowledging the fear he would never have admitted under normal circumstances.Fortunately, everything was fine.
A faint sound suddenly came from the crib nearby. He turned his head and saw a small child lying on his side, propping up his head, staring at him with big, round eyes.
The child’s eyes were pitch black, like ripe grapes. He was still so young that even his neck was soft and couldn’t hold itself up. Yet his two little fists were strong, tightly clenched, and he stared seriously at the man sneaking around his mother’s bedside, furrowing his browless forehead.
Zhuge Yue and his son stared at each other. The feeling was somewhat strange, and without any experience, he didn’t even know what expression to make. He raised a finger to his lips, signaling the child to be quiet and not wake his mother.
The child, however, clearly couldn’t understand such a complex gesture. Perhaps he was hungry, so he naturally grabbed his own tiny foot and skillfully stuffed it into his mouth.
Zhuge Yue frowned, thinking, What kind of habit is this? It’s so unhygienic.
He reached out with his long arm, pulled the foot out of the child’s mouth, and then gave him a warning look.
Though the baby was small, he could keenly discern others’ attitudes toward him. So, unsurprisingly, the next moment, the dissatisfied Crown Prince of Qinghai opened his little mouth and let out an ear-piercing wail.
Instantly, maids, attendants, wet nurses, servants, and physicians all emerged from every corner of the hall like scattered beans. Even Chu Qiao, who had been sound asleep, jolted awake and sat up abruptly.
“What happened?”
“Did the Crown Prince wet himself?”
“Call the physician quickly!”
“Don’t cry, Little Highness. Look, what’s this?”
A crowd of servants rudely pushed someone aside. The child’s eyes swept through the crowd and finally settled on his mother’s face. Pouting with grievance, he stretched out his chubby little hands and continued to sob tearfully.
Chu Qiao held the child in her arms, glanced around, and only then noticed her long-absent husband. But she furrowed her willow-like brows and said angrily, “You bullied our son!”
“I did not.”
Zhuge Yue flatly denied it and stepped forward. But as if to refute his words, the child cried even louder the moment he approached.
“You still say you didn’t?” Chu Qiao glared at him. “You’re a grown man, yet you bully a child.”
Zhuge Yue was so furious he felt smoke coming out of his ears. Was this brat really his son? Watching the child smear tears and snot all over Chu Qiao’s pristine collar, he burned with rage. What was this? He had risked life and limb, traveling thousands of miles to find medicine for them, and this was the treatment he got?
“Your Highness, you’re covered in dust. The physician said you should step out first.”
Zhuge Yue glared, frightening the young maid so much she nearly fainted on the spot. But after glaring for a while, he finally left with a dark expression, driven out of his own home by the old physician who seemed to be settling a personal grudge.
Just as he was fuming with anger, a man in a white robe and a scholar’s hat came scurrying into the hall from outside. He first bowed formally and then said, “Your Highness, did you receive my letter? Have you agreed to grant me a marriage?”Zhuge Yue grew even more irritated at the sight of him, frowning as he said, "Meng Feng and General He's wedding date is approaching. Stop causing trouble."
"How can this be?"
Liang Shaoqing retorted indignantly, "In terms of time, I met General Meng Feng first. In terms of knowledge, I'm learned and talented. In terms of compatibility, we complement each other perfectly—one literary, one martial..."
"Guards, drag this madman away."
Two burly men immediately stepped forward. The gentle, talented scholar used all his strength to cling to the door, howling desperately, "Your Highness, you can't burn the bridge after crossing the river! Back then, Qiaoqiao had feelings for me, but I nobly withdrew from the romance, giving you the opportunity. Ah! Your Highness, as the ruler of a nation, how can you throw bananas at me? Such undignified behavior is unbecoming of... Ah!"
"Ah, the Crown Prince has wet himself!"
"Quick, fetch the diapers! Nanny, come here—the Crown Prince might be hungry."
...
Chaos reigned inside and outside the hall, with servants rushing in and out. Everyone was too busy to spare him a glance.
The King of Qinghai, returning victorious, was deeply frustrated. He sat there with a dark expression, feeling that the reality was far from what he had imagined.
It should have been like this: a filial son, a gentle wife, and admiring subordinates—all gazing up at him on horseback with tears of excitement, loudly praising his achievements.
Instead, his son was wailing loudly and chewing on his own feet, his wife had eyes and heart only for the child, and his subordinates were causing trouble, crying and clamoring to steal someone else's bride.
He sighed, continuing to sit in gloomy silence.
"Sister Mei Xiang, should the Little Highness wear this sapphire blue or this beige?"
"Miss, the Little Highness spit up milk. Did he eat too much?"
"Ah, Your Highness, could you please move? You're sitting on the Little Highness's toy."
...
Everyone has their own sore spot—some crave gold and silver, others power. His, however, was two people...
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