To Rule in a Turbulent World Chapter 31-33   60 Apr 27, 2020

Book 3: The Whole River Red

INFO MAP

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 31

TW: Torture/Violence

The sky is brimming with stars but the wind cut like knives on the face and the body. The starry night sky of winter is so brilliant it doesn't feel real, but the faint howling in the distance raised hairs with terror.

You Miao is both freezing and starving, the misery of exhaustion making him dizzy and he's burning with a light fever, his dreams fragmented and broken; there's Li Zhifeng, then there's the golden chariots and iron steeds of the Capital. He doesn't know where the Tartars are taking them; whenever they're awake they'd be dragged to walk onwards like dogs, stopping only at night. The group of them would urinate in their pants, and huddle sitting in the frozen snow seeking warmth from each other.

"Where are they taking us?" A youth asks.

"Da'an." A middle-aged official with hands bound and hair loose answers him. "I've traveled this path before. After going past the Lan Pass it'll be Da'an, there's still a good half a month's road ahead."

You Miao recognizes that man, knows that he's named Lin, and is an honest and upright official, the Vice Minister of Personnel. He asks, "What'll happen once we reach Da'an?"

Vice Minister Lin sighs, and another youth whispers, "It's useless even if the Tartars kill us. I'm guessing they'll lock us up then send letters to our families to ransom us."

"But everyone in my family is dead," Qin Shaonan says, "They won't get the money."

You Miao consoles him, "You don't know that, maybe they're still alive?"

"I saw my dad die with my own eyes." Qin Shaonan says.

Everyone else falls silent.

"Let's not dwell on this. It won't matter even if the Tartars take over the Capital, they're nomads, all they want is money, so they won't kill us. Let's take one step at a time for our remaining days."

"If His Majesty is no more…" Another person speaks up, "What do we do?"

No one dares to speak, and they all look to Zhao Chao. He hasn't spoken a word on the road, almost insidiously quiet. When he speaks up now, it's with a rhetorical question, "There's still people in Jiangnan, do you take the armies of all six prefecture of Jiangnan and places like Jiaozhi and Liyang for dead? No matter how powerful the Tartars are they won't dare to cross the Yangtze so rashly."

The moment Zhao Chao spoke the people feel more reassured.

"San-dianxia, has anyone of the royal family escaped the Capital?" Vice Minister Lin asks.

Zhao Chao mn's, and the rest of the people relaxed. The scholars all feel that as long as there are people of the Zhao family still alive, then the Great Qi will not fall. You Miao consoles again, "My teacher Sun Yu is in Liuzhou Prefecture, he will personally lead the army."

The youths all nod; at a time like this, Sun Yu certainly must go to war. When You Miao thinks of how he had traveled to the Capital to write the exams, then fell from grace this hard, needing Sun Yu to come rescue him, he feels his face is lost miserably, and can't help but shake his head and chuckle wryly.

Gradually, the voices begin to fade. You Miao's head is throbbing hard, and he buries his head in his knees. Suddenly, he feels a bit of snow flutter by, landing by his ears, and You Miao looks up, seeing Zhao Chao is waving at him from his spot that's two people away. You Miao thus tries to shuffle over to huddle with him; the two that are bound between them are almost at their end, lying in the snow on the brink of death.

"Hang on." Zhao Chao feels You Miao's forehead, and whispers.

You Miao closes his eyes and nods.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhao Chao asks in a very small voice

You Miao smiles, "Thinking about who at home would bring out the money to ransom me."

What You Miao said is true. After listening to Vice Minister Lin talk, his mind went to Qiao Jue, Li Zhifeng, and his father You Dechuan, all of whom are in Jiangnan. You Miao can't tell for sure if You Dechuan would take out the money to ransom him, but Qiao Jue definitely will. If they learn of his whereabouts, then it'd probably be Li Zhifeng who'd come to pay the money; one he's a Quanrong, better for negotiations, second, after he arrives at the Capital and sees the city has fallen, he would definitely think of a way to come save him.

Yet who would've thought it's Zhao Chao's words that jolts You Miao out of it.

"Ask who? At a time like this, who'd you ask to save you?" Zhao Chao says in a low voice, "It's no use asking anyone, everyone we can rely on is dead. Even the country is conquered. If the Tartars charge past the Yangtze, who can you count on to save you? You Ziqian! Think of a way to save ourselves!"

You Miao's breath hitches, and Zhao Chao continues, "Look at the stars in the sky, look."

You Miao raises his head, and in that moment, the frigid winds of the distant snowland gently stop their trampling of war captives at last. The night sky is teeming with stars, twinkling and glowing at the end of the heavens.

"We are heading north." Zhao Chao says, "The probable destination is the City of Da'an. Da'an has already fallen into the hands of Tartars back before the five barbarian tribes entered the central plains."

"Right." You Miao replies, "I remember the military reports from autumn mentioning that place."

Da'an is the place where the barbarians conduct trade. The Tartars don't belong to the five barbarian tribes but they have formed an alliance. You Miao asks, "Can we escape?"

"Not here…" Zhao Chao replies, "If we escape here, we've got no food or drink, and no matter how fast we are we can't outrun horses, so if they catch us it's a certain death. Besides, with so many people, we won't be able to run that fast."

"Right." You Miao understands now. Zhao Chao has awakened his will to fight, and he draws out the map of the surrounding area with his finger in the snow, "We can't wait til we reach Da'an either, there'll be no opportunities there. The best time to take action would be right before the Lan Pass."

"Mn," Zhao Chao agrees, "There's a number of small villages before the Lan Pass, I'm guessing they'll pick one of them to rest in. We'll move then. Steal the horses when the Tartars are sleeping. Have you noticed their horses?"

You Miao mns, "They're all war horses from our side."

"I knew they were seized horses the moment I saw," Zhao Chao says, "They're all new horses too. When the time comes, steal the horses and run, they won't be able to call the horses back… run along the foot of the mountain and we'll be able to find the official road."

You Miao's heart is racing, and he nods, "Okay, right, we can go down to Jiangnan on the official road."

Zhao Chao lowers next to his ear, "Let's hope. If we're lucky, maybe we'll run into the Due Diligence Army. None of us have the energy anymore, this is our last chance. Run for as far as we can…"

You Miao creases his brows, "How do we coordinate with the others?"

"No need to coordinate," Zhao Chao replies, "Don't tell them. Aside from the fact it'd be easily found out by the Tartars, if everything is planned ahead, there'll definitely be people who'd freeze when the time comes, and that'll ruin things."

You Miao can understand what Zhao Chao is thinking in a second. Don't say anything now, and release the people to run wild when the time comes will surely shock them into exploding with great power.

Zhao Chao and You Miao discuss and put together a careful plan, then break off, pretending nothing's the matter. In the corner of You Miao's eyes, he notices that Zhao Chao has gone to talk with Zhang Wenhan. Zhang Wenhan nods slowly, and You Miao can tell this means he's joined the plan, the two exchanging a knowing look.

The next day, the sky has only just lightened and the group of them are pulled onto the road once more.

For five consecutive days, there's only the tragically small bit of dough breads, a lot of people died on the road, and the Tartars threw their corpses out to the snowy fields. The first wolf discovered them, and so there's a pack of wolves following the band in the snow. They fear the Tartar's arrows so they don't dare go close, but they trail not far behind, and whenever there's a corpse thrown out, they'd rush forward and rip the dead body apart.

"Lord Zheng!" Someone shouts from the back, "People up front, do us a favour! Walk slower! Lord Zheng is collapsing!"

You Miao recognizes the middle-aged man at the end of the line, he's someone from the censorate, an official who's used to living in prestige and never suffered such a torture before. By the time they've reached the Lan Pass, with a body frozen blue and purple and shivering nonstop, he finally succumbs, unable to walk a step further. One of the Tartars ahead yells something and comes over, giving him a round of whipping, but Censor Zheng only sprawls there in the snow, unmoving.

"I'LL CARRY HIM!" A young man exclaims, "DON'T THROW HIM AWAY!"

The Tartar cusses something vulgar, and gives that young man a round of whipping too, then throws Censor Zheng out into the snow before dragging the captives away. The snow wolves waited until the people are far gone before they rush in. When that Censor Zheng regains consciousness again, he's already surrounded by the pack. He lets out a sharp wail but is soon torn to pieces by the wolves, his blood dying a large piece of the snow.

The wailing comes to an abrupt stop, the wolves probably bit through his throat. You Miao shuts his eyes, unable to stop trembling, and follows the Tartar troop to enter the Lan Pass.

The village by the Lan Pass is already destroyed by the flames of war, leaving behind only an ashen village. Snow is coming down harder now, the snowstorm by the checkpoint bellowing. This area is the drafty gap of the entire north road, and every year when merchant caravans come through here they always have to pray for good weather, otherwise when snowstorms come, half a mountain can be buried. You Miao remembers that many years ago he's also come through here with the merchant caravans once.

The captives are thrown into an abandoned house in the village, while the Tartar soldiers swear loudly as they duck into a wooden cottage that's still in perfect shape, leaving a man behind to guard the night. You Miao is almost paralyzed by the cold, the frigid wind blowing through the cracks of this dilapidated house practically chopping off his ears.

The Ridge veiled in barred clouds, my home cannot be seen; The Blue Pass clad in snow, my horse won't forward go.#

You Miao persists in keeping himself conscious all along until halfway through the night, when the Tartar nightwatch is dozing, and Zhao Chao gives You Miao a look, then makes a hand gesture. You Miao is seized with worry, not knowing whether he's up for the task, his heart thumping wildly in his chest, his eyes unfocused, the current landscape a complete blur. He recalls that year beyond Yanbian when he and Zhao Chao were captured and locked up.

At the time, the two of them exerted great effort in order to kill one Tartar, and if it wasn't for people coming to their rescue, they would've died a violent death. Now, they have a whole ten, muscular Tartar soldiers, and other than himself and Zhao Chao, everyone else are weak scholars. What's even more troublesome is, they haven't eaten for close to five to six days, hanging on on just a bit of dough bread.

Zhao Chao crawls over, cuts through the ropes binding You Miao's wrists, and stuffs the dagger into his hands. It's that dagger You Miao gave him that day when they parted, the one Li Yan gifted You Miao for self-defence that day he left the Capital four years ago.

Zhao Chao lowers his voice, "Don't be scared, if anything, we'll die together."

You Miao swallows, then nods, the hand gripping the dagger trembling. Zhao Chao's already returned to his spot, and gives Zhang Wenhan a shove.

"Move over, don't steal my spot." Zhao Chao gripes.

Zhang Wenhan grumbles something and shuffles a bit over. Zhao Chao then kicks him, and Zhang Wenhen is enraged, blocking him off with his elbow, shouting, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Zhao Chao, "Get the hell out."

Zhang Wenhan and Zhao Chao start to push and shove, and he exclaims furiously, "San-Dianxia what's the matter with you!"

With such a disturbance, everyone around is roused, but having been starved for so many days, none of them can utter anything but weakly say, "Don't argue… don't…"

"San-Dianxia… please just let him go…"

Zhao Chao is relentless, however, and keeps kicking Zhang Wenhan. Zhang Wenhan is also outraged, and when his head is booted to the wall, his legs kick out in struggle. The sudden loud noise of the disturbance quickly brings over the nightwatch soldier with a whip in hand, raising it high to whip when Zhao Chao and Zhang Wenhan both stop at the same time and lunge at him!

You Miao then gets up to his feet, but he only took the first step and a wave of dizziness washes over him, almost making him buckle. Nonetheless, he staggers on and pounces at that soldier whose back is facing him, and Zhao Chao uses his arm to lock around the soldier's neck in a chokehold. The soldier is stupefied, opening his mouth to yell, and Zhang Wenahn instantly shoves his entire fist into the man's mouth.

"Quick…" Zhao Chao squeezes out strenuously. You Miao hasn't even registered anything before his body pulls out the dagger, slitting the soldier's throat. A creepy crackling noise comes, and the neck of the soldier is slashed almost into half, spurting fresh blood, splashing the three of them all over. Zhang Wenhan grunts and pulls out his hand, slumping down on the ground covering his fist, convulsing in agony.

A buzzing noise starts filling You Miao's head, and he scans around the room. Everyone is frozen in shock.

Someone is just about to shout when Zhao Chao immediately gestures for them to remain silent.

"Don't anyone speak." Zhao Chao warns.

"San-Dianxia… save me." That Ji Guang weeps.

You Miao quickly goes over to cover his mouth, signalling for him to not make a sound.

"Wenhan," Zhao Chao calls, "Are you alright?"

Zhang Wenhan gives a painful nod, and You Miao lets go of Ji Guang, going over to check on him.

"My fingers… are broken." Zhang Wenhan says, "Bandage…"

You Miao bandages Zhang Wenhan up, his heart still racing. Zhao Chao moves to go take off that soldier's armour then puts it on himself, "Guard change is about to happen, get ready and don't make a sound. Success or failure are all on this attempt now."

You Miao goes and cuts off the rope on each and everyone's wrists, "In a bit, after the second soldier is killed, San-Dianxia and I will go steal horses. Two to each horse, you all know how to ride, yea? Those who can ride, bring those who can't, and follow the mountain range past the Lan Pass. After getting onto the official road, leave a mark whenever you see a village, and if the run is a success, then wait for us in front of the Zhengliang Pass.

The group grows agitated quietly, each of them rising to their feet, but their steps are unsteady, unable to exert strength.

Qin Shaonan calls out, "Let's go together, Ziqian!"

"It's gonna be chaos here when we start escaping!" You Miao replies, "Shaonan, take Ji Guang with you and run! Do your best to lead them, don't be scared! Dying halfway on the road is still better than dying in the hands of Tartars!"

Qin Shaonan gives a hard nod, and someone asks, "Are there enough horses?"

You Miao and Zhao Chao exchange a look.

"There's enough, so get ready." Zhao Chao says, "Go sit back down and don't talk. Don't yell either!"

Zhao Chao is wearing that Tartar's full leather armour but he's a size smaller, and he goes to lie next to the campfire where the soldier was sitting before, a bit of the leather helmet peeking over the window sill. You Miao on the other hand, goes to hide in a covert place behind the campfire.

It doesn't take long before another Tartar soldier comes over. He shouts something vulgar and starts to laugh, but Zhao Chao simply pretends to snore, putting his head down as he lies sprawled, unmoving. In the instant that Tartar soldier tries to flip him over, Zhao Chao leaps up, locks his arm around his neck in a deadly chokehold, and shoves a flaming fire log down his throat!

The Tartar soldier screams but his cries are muffled, and You Miao immediately stabs the dagger through the back of his head, blood spurting over his head once more. The soldier buckles and slumps to the ground.

The captives all begin to move. Zhao Chao and You Miao each pick up a lit fire log, and You Miao motions, "Quick! Don't make a sound and follow us!"

The group staggers to catch up with You Miao, and Zhao Chao goes off on his own, tossing the burning log outside the house where the Tartar soldiers are sleeping. The fire catches the wind, prancing erratically as it spreads. You Miao leads the group to the stable, "Hurry! Get onto the horses!"

With life at stake, a burst of strength erupts from everyone, and those who don't know how to ride also push with all they've got to hop onto the horses. You Miao then unties the reins, "Run! Run now!"

Amidst the vast snowstorm, the first horse neighs, dashing out of the stable! The Tartar soldiers are instantly alerted but the house has started burning, and they shout and yell, rushing out of the house, confusion everywhere.

You Miao hops onto the horse, a wave of dizziness washes over him, and Zhao Chao dashes over, roaring, "ONTO THE HORSE——!"

Flames blaze and the war horse takes shock. You Miao yanks at Zhao Chao, pulling him onto the back of the horse, and the war horse dashes out of this abandoned village. It's complete darkness beneath the moon, the voices of Tartars are left far behind them, yet it doesn't take long before the clacking of hooves sound. A pursuant had shot an official dead, stealing back the horse, and is catching up!

"HAH——!" Zhao Chao roars, spurring the horse on. Neither of them have bows or arrows, there's only a dagger for self-defense. You Miao thinks inwardly that if he had a bow and arrows on hand, then with Zhao Chao spurring the horse and him shooting, they could've for sure taken care of the pursuants. His only option now is to pull out the dagger and stab it onto the horse's behind. With the sudden flare of pain, the war horse neighs and charges out like mad.

"WATCH OUT!" An arrow flies past their ears, and You Miao roars, "LEAN DOWN!"

The two lie low on the horse, but more and more arrows are flying in their direction. You Miao's head is spinning, but just as he is about to sit up, his pupils contract, and he reaches out, hugging Zhao Chao who is turning his head around the neck, using his shoulder to shield his throat.

Soon after, an arrow pierces You Miao on his left shoulder, and You Miao falls off the horse, crashing into the snow.

"YOU MIAO——!" Zhao Chao cries out and is going to jump off the horse, but his foot is caught in the stirrup. The war horse was stabbed in the behind, so it continues to dash forward in a frenzy, completely out of control, deserting the fallen You Miao far behind in an instant.

You Miao tumbles a few times on the snowy ground, his eyes catching the twinkling starry night sky, but it soon changes to the powder of snow he flared up. Then after that, he's kicked once by the war horse of the Tartars that have caught up, and he throws up a mouthful of blood, his entire person sent flying by the hoove. Then after that, his sight goes black, and he loses all consciousness.

An unknown amount of time passes, and it's a sharp pain that wakes him. Sunlight stabs at his eyes, and angry shouting voices surround him.

His mouth is gagged, his arms twisted and bound behind his back, his legs also firmly tied, and he's thrown onto the icy ground. There are several Tartar soldiers around; he squints his eyes and spots a Tartar Commander. There are quite a number of Hans kneeling before that commander, and he's currently questioning the soldiers around as they anxiously explain. One of them is slapped.

The Tartar Commander says something coldly, and a subordinate comes over, strapping a rope tightly around You Miao's neck, hanging him up.

You Miao is already on the verge of death, almost gasping his last breath, his sight sometimes clear, sometimes blurry. He feels warm, temperate like he's soaking in hot water, and a light brightens before his eyes. It's almost as if the mother who left him when he was little is standing in that field of light, waiting to take him away.

"Please, Great King… please…" Li Yan's voice sounds in the distance.

I'm about to die. You Miao loses consciousness once more.

Right then, a man rushes over from the military drill grounds of the Fortress of Yanbian, and he tumbles and crawls, bending over on the ground before the Tartar Commander, kowtowing nonstop, his head knocking soundly on the ground, crying loudly his desperate pleas.

"OH GREAT KING, PLEASE LET HIM GO! PLEASE, OH GREAT KING… HAVE MERCY…"

That voice is distant yet close, and light shines once again within the darkness. The rope that was going to hang him dead is cut, and You Miao crashes back onto the ground. His head turns, feeling a flash of lucidity before his death, and he sees clearly the scene before him——He sees Li Yan kneeling there before that commander kowtowing like pestling garlic, blood on his forehead dying a large tract of snow. He sees the Taizi Zhao Zhuo and the Emperor of the Great Qi Zhao Mao kneeling before that commander, and the Taizi has his head turned to look at You Miao.

A day later, some unknown object is thrown in, hitting him on the head.

You Miao comes to once more. He's already passed out thrice but he actually regains consciousness again, even You Miao himself is very surprised. How has he not died?

"You Miao." Li Yan whispers in the smallest of voices from outside, "Can you hear me?"

You Miao jolts.

"Where are you, I hear you!" You Miao replies weakly.

"Don't make a sound!" Li Yan says, "Can you move? This is the City of Da'an. Let me ask you, that day when I left the city to go for negotiation talks, did you all open the city gates and fled through the east gate?"

You Miao is instantly enraged, "I didn't! If I ran away would I still be here?"

"What about His Majesty?" Li Yan questions, "I was fucking detained in enemy camp, they fled on their own?"

You Miao's heart jolts, recalling the events of that night. How had the Tartars broken through into the city? Was it the Taizi and the Lord Emperor who saw the situation was bad so they forcibly escaped, and that was how the Tartars captured them?

"I don't know!" You Miao says, "By the time I woke up the Tartars had already entered the city! I was captured afterwards!"

Li Yan then questions, "Did you kill Tartars on the way here, and let our people go?"

"Yes!" You Miao replies.

"Who all escaped in the end? Is San-Dianxia still alive?" Li Yan pushes.

"I don't know…"

"But he escaped?"

"Just what is going on? Answer me!" You Miao exclaims.

"I don't have much time," Li Yan says, "I snuck over when the soldier guarding you got drunk. You must absolutely live on… I have to go!"

You Miao hasn't managed to ask much before Li Yan hurries away. It's dark all around, so You Miao figures he's locked up in some prison cell. Dragging his broken arm, he bends down to feel around and finds the thing Li Yan threw in earlier. It's a dough bread.

He wolfs down that bread, choking on it so hard his eyes rolled back. The place here is so much better than that journey of frigid winds, at least it's not that cold. He starts to slowly recall the course of events of his last escape. Zhao Chao should've escaped; he didn't have the time to check on anyone else. Vice Minister Lin is probably shot dead.

As long as Zhao Chao can go back, at least the country won't fall… But why has Li Yan shown up here? Was he arrested and brought over from the very beginning? If that's true, then that Tartar Commander is most likely Hemetir.

At the end there it seems he also saw the Taizi? You Miao shudders in spite of himself; don't let it be true… don't let it be true.

After eating the dough bread, he leans against the walls of that small, dark cabin, and gazes outside through the window, seeing the shimmering night sky overflowing with stars, the sparkling ribbons that span across the heavens of winter.

"At first when we set out, the willows were fresh and green…"

"Now; when we shall be returning, the snow will be falling clouds…"#

You Miao rests against the walls of his prison cell by his lonesome, mumbling as he sings, but now there's no one there, only himself.

Gradually, he falls into slumber. When sunlight shines in the next day, someone outside opens the prison cage, cusses something at him, then drags him out, pulling him by the hair. You Miao's hair is loose and disheveled, his person covered entirely in Tartar blood, urine, and the foul body odour emanating from his own body, and he's dragged to an open area like a dead dog.

In the military drill grounds outside the military camps of Da'an City, the Taizi, the Emperor, Li Yan, Ping Xi, and other officials from the six ministries are bound in ropes and rounded up, tethered together. At the front, the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of War both look back, the one lined up in front of You Miao is the Bang'yan Chen Qing, and everyone can smell You Miao's disgusting odour, each of them furrowing their brows.

"Greetings my lords," You Miao sneers and cups his hands, "I humbly greet Your Majesty."

The Taizi is lined in the second row, and he turns his head slightly, but he only glances at You Miao before turning away.

"How has Lord You come to be so unkempt?" Chen Qing asks in a whisper.

You Miao is shaking with anger, and his lips twitch upwards, "When you were all running away, I was guarding the city, so naturally I am unkempt."

It's obvious to You Miao now. These people before him were all who ran off in a panic that night. At the time, Li Yan was still conducting negotiations in the enemy camp, and if those bastards didn't try to flee, maybe nothing would've happened. The moment they left the city they were discovered by the Tartars, and a small division of soldiers were sent to pursue them while the major army all went to invade the city.

As for Zhao Chao, the moment he saw the Taizi was going to run that night, he sent an urgent squad over to protect You Miao out of the city, but the Tartars came too fast and almost wiped everyone out. The Tartars who captured You Miao and Zhao Chao was one squad, while the ones who seized the Taizi and the Lord Emperor were another troop belonging to the main force.

And now they who have been brought to the City of Da'an make up practically a good portion of the imperial court, including every member of the royal family… Oh yea, how come the Empress and the Grand Empress is nowhere to be seen? You Miao shudders, not daring to think more on it, and watches unfeelingly as that Tartar Commander approaches and seats himself in the centre of this drill ground.

Then, the group begins to move.

With the Emperor of the Great Qi Zhao Mao as lead, everyone walks over one by one. Zhao Mao goes up first and conducts the grand etiquette of kneeling and kowtowing, "Wishing the Great General a good morning, pray the General enjoys infinite good health."

That commander is indeed Hemetir, and when he hears this, he laughs heartily, "And may the Grand Emperor of the Great Qi also enjoy infinite good health, hahaha."

You Miao, "..."

You Miao is so furious his entire body is shaking. Zhao Mao kowtows three times and Hemetir waves his hand. A soldier by his side hands Zhao Mao a doughy flatbread, and Zhao Mao receives it with both hands, then rises and stands to the side, munching.

Now it's the Taizi's turn.

The Taizi kneels to the ground, his arms extending out as he prostrates, "I also wish the Great General a good morning, may the General remain invincible and undefeated!"

Hemetir laughs vivaciously, "And may the Emperor of the Great Qi go down in history hahaha——"

The soldiers all around are laughing so hard they're tearing up, and the Taizi is also granted a piece of flatbread, but from the side comes an angry roar.

"ZHAO MAO! YOUR COUNTRY'S FALLEN! BUT IS INTEGRITY GONE TOO??"

It's indeed You Miao who yelled, and in an instant, the group falls silent. The Tartars look at each other, then they erupt in devilish laughter, and among them, it's Hemetir who laughs the loudest. The Taizi's expression is unreadable, but the court officials are all chuckling nervously to go along with Hemetir, laughing with him.

The Taizi also starts to chuckle; he glances at You Miao and shakes his head.

You Miao however, reproaches frostily, "San-Dianxia has already escaped. Let's wait for him to come avenge us, Your Majesty, you cannot kneel anymore. All humans must die, so why not die impassionedly instead of dragging out an ignoble existence?!"

The Taizi doesn't dare speak and turns his head away. Hemetir however, continues to stare at You Miao as he instructs, "Take him to the side."

Li Yan sucks in a deep breath and promptly starts shaking his head. You Miao doesn't know why, but after suffering humiliation for so long, all of his tempers are flaring. Now that he's captured again, he doesn't dare think of surviving, his only hope being that Zhao Chao has returned to the south, took up control of the armies, and will make a comeback someday, avenging himself as is right. Seeing how the ruler of a nation is humiliated now, it really is too hard to swallow.

But Hemetir doesn't care for any of this and makes the Taizi prostrate again. After the Taizi kowtows, he receives another flatbread, and he stands to the side to eat it.

Following that it's the ministers' turn to go over to kneel and prostrate, and with every completed obeisance Hemetir grants them each a flatbread to eat. Once everyone has collected their breakfast, Hemetir glances at You Miao.

"Why do you refuse to prostrate?" Hemetir demands.

You Miao stares at him, his brows twitching. He didn't expect this guy to speak Han so fluently.

Hemetir has a hardened countenance with curly sideburns, but his eyes are sharp and unforgiving, "Will you kneel?"

"Maybe when you're dead." You Miao jeers, "One day when your emperor falls into my hands, I'll make him eat shit!"

Hemetir says something in Tartarian with a smirk. You Miao is taken aback at first, but is then pushed onto the ground. Four Tartar soldiers come to surround him, and with iron rods they first beat brutally at You Miao's ankles, and with a muffled grunt You Miao collapses to the ground. Then they lash at him with whips senselessly, whipping so hard his skin is torn and his flesh is gaping. Next, they pick him up with the iron rods, spread him out, separating his arms, and two long spears are pierced through his palms, nailing him onto the ground.

"AUGHH——" You Miao screams with all of his being.

Spread wide and nailed, You Miao convulses uncontrollably, his eyes bloodshot, the sockets of his eyes cracking, and he raises his head with difficulty, glaring at Hemetir hatefully, the blood in his chest surging, and he throws up a mouthful of blood from the back of his throat, spatting it at Hemetir.

Another round of iron rods come clubbing down brutishly, and You Miao is beaten to the point where the blood from his guts is continuously heaved uncontrollably, his limbs writhing like crazy, the hands nailed to the snowy ground clenching and loosening repeatedly, until finally, there is only quiet, and a pool of blood seep out from beneath his body.

The long spears are removed, and You Miao is dragged out of the military drill grounds in a trail of blood, and thrown back into the prison cell.

The Taizi and the court officials watch on numbly, and Hemetir turns back to them, "What shall we play today, oh Emperor of the Great Qi?"

The Taizi promptly plasters his face with an appeasing smile, "Whatever the Great General wishes."

That evening, You Miao's body is in pain everywhere, his innards feel as if they're going to surge out from his throat. This time, he knows he will die, and he curls up in the corner, his breathing broken, wishing only for a speedy death. Li Yan's voice comes from outside the prison cell, "You Miao! Have you gone mad again?! Are you still alive?"

"Fucking… get the hell… away from me…" You Miao grits out strenuously.

"Listen, You Miao," Li Yan begs, "It wasn't easy for this ancestor to save you! You can't just die like this, do it for me! You'll definitely be redeemed back! All my hopes are riding on you now, everyone is bearing humiliation to survive, so why can't you just bear it and think of a way to get revenge in the future??"

"Go back and tell that dog… dog of an emperor…" You Miao draws in his last breath, "Just by his cowardice, he… he… still dare heed the heavens to rule… the country, and dare… dare have this little master go… go into battle… to die for him? FORGET IT——!"

The last breath You Miao draws is blown out with his rage, and he collapses heavily onto the ground. The angry shouts of Tartars come from the outside, and Li Yan lets out stifled grunts as the whips crack. Li Yan hastily begs for mercy, and half-crawls half-stumbles as he runs away. The door of the little dark cabin is opened once more, and the heavily battered You Miao is dragged out.

With only the last blurry bits of his consciousness left, he feels himself being shoved into a sack, and when metal rods begin to clobber him from the outside, he instinctively goes to shield his head with his already-injured hands. In the relentless pummeling of the rods, his breathing slows down and his pupils dilate as he loses control of his bowels, urine and feces releasing uncontrollably into the sack.

The Tartars smell the stench after a while of the beating. Figuring he won't last much longer, they haul the sack off a distance before dumping him out, tying his hands together with rope, fastening the rope to a horse, and sending the horse running around the field, dragging him behind.

You Miao gazes upward, thinking, the sky really is so blue today…

Going by the days, it should be New Year's Eve today.

When spring comes next year, will Li Zhifeng remember to plant that plot of land they had set aside?

Will the waterwheel still be turning…

Next year will probably have a good harvest too…

The horse stops.

"...San-Dianxia is looking for a Han slave of his…"

"All the Hans we captured are in the city…"

You Miao struggles to look up from where his body lies on the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. He feels himself pulled up by the hair; he can hardly even see anymore, but he hears something being said.

"That's him. Convey my thanks to Hemetir, I've been looking for this slave for quite a while."

You Miao is wrapped up in a cotton quilt and carried away from the grounds.

No longer even able to speak, You Miao can only feel Li Zhifeng's head buried against himself, and the worn-out quilt wrapped around them both. A moment later, warm broth tasting strongly of ginseng is poured down his throat.

His consciousness comes back bit by bit, but he can't manage any words as he stares at Li Zhifeng. Then he feels something cool against his neck——it's his mother's jade pendant, the one that Li Zhifeng had someone bring to him for the Palace Exam, and which had gotten lost when the country fell, and now it was back with him.

"It's d...dirty…" You Miao isn't quite sure why that of all things is at the forefront of his mind right now, but looking at the fur coat that Li Zhifeng is wearing, beautiful and brand new, all he can think about is how dirty he is right now as he reflexively tries to push him away, afraid to dirty his clothes.

Li Zhifeng trembles uncontrollably where he's buried against You Miao, howling with restrained agony.

You Miao's life seems to return, a strange feeling suffusing slowly throughout his body. Holding Li Zhifeng's hand and lying there unmoving, he gradually dozes off into a peaceful sleep free of any dreams or hallucinations, like an exhausted traveller who had trudged through the wind and snow for a long, long time and had finally found somewhere he could close his eyes.

He feels Li Zhifeng take off his clothes and wipe him clean with a cloth, then feed him medicine with a spicy kick to it.

"How's your leg?" You Miao mumbles weakly.

He opens his eyes a crack, and sees Li Zhifeng looking at him.

"Is everything alright back home?" You Miao asks tiredly.

Li Zhifeng only continues to look wordlessly at him, so You Miao closes his eyes and goes back to sleep, holding his hand still.

Chapter 32

When he wakes once more, it's to the sight of colorful lights dancing around the top of the tent, coming from the same glass lamp that he had once hung behind the screen. The smell of ginseng jolts his memory, but the slightest movement makes his entire body feel like it's falling apart. You Miao groans in pain, and Li Zhifeng, who was chopping medicinal herbs in the corner of the tent, immediately drops everything to hurry over with alarm in his eyes.

"You…" You Miao has only just parted his lips and Li Zhifeng is already pulling him up into a hug with trembling arms. You Miao can't move at all in the hug, in fact it hurts a little, but he feels only happiness.

"Feeling better?" Li Zhifeng's voice is trembling as he asks, looking into You Miao's eyes.

"I'll live…" You Miao says. "Where is this?"

"Da'an," Li Zhifeng answers in a quiet voice, glancing toward the outside of the tent. "Try to not talk too much."

You Miao's heart drops. "Are we still in Tartar territory?"

Li Zhifeng says, "He's already left."

You Miao isn't too sure what he means, but since Li Zhifeng is here, that means he's safe now, and it feels like the heart that's been suspended in his throat is finally settling back into its place.

"I'm hungry," says You Miao.

Li Zhifeng hurriedly sets him back down and goes digging around in the corner of the tent, retrieving a pack of cured meat, to which You Miao says, "Gimme some."

Li Zhifeng gestures for him to not speak. He tears the cured meat into little pieces and puts them into the ginseng soup to soak until soft, then carries the bowl over to feed him.

Now You Miao finally feels truly alive. He tries moving his hand; his whole body hurts, but at least it can kind of move now. Li Zhifeng manages to feed him a couple of bites before You Miao starts coughing, saying, "I don't want any more."

Li Zhifeng goes to clean up. Sounds can be heard from outside the tent every now and again; whenever there's a voice, his eyes would narrow as he listens in. You Miao stares out the tent as the sky darkens, light disappearing from the slit between the tent flaps. Li Zhifeng changes out the candle at the top of the tent, and the colorful lights of the glass lamp reflect off of You Miao's eyes, almost as if he were dreaming.

Once done with the cleaning and tidying, Li Zhifeng eats a few bites of flatbread, then sits down next to You Miao and starts chopping ginseng with a dagger.

"Is that for me…?" You Miao asks.

Li Zhifeng nods.

You Miao continues, "How did you find me?"

Li Zhifeng: "I set off for the Capital on the fifteenth of October, traveling the southern road when I came across the Han army and Jie army engaged in battle at Liangxi. The Hans lost, and the barbarians destroyed Westwater Bridge, burned all the ferries. I tried going by the northern road instead on the fifth of November while avoiding the Tartars, but couldn't find a way in, and I ended up having to cross the General Ridges. By the time I got here, it was already the twenty ninth of December, and the Capital was already occupied by the Tartars. I...I…"

The words pour out of Li Zhifeng like beans out of a bamboo tube, until he has to catch his breath. You Miao only stares at him in a daze, and as he stares back at You Miao, Li Zhifeng suddenly stops talking and leans in to wrap his arms around You Miao instead, planting kiss after kiss and then stilling, the rims of his eyes frightfully red.

"What happened after that?" You Miao asks.

"I couldn't find you," Li Zhifeng says. "No matter what I did, I couldn't find you. I almost went crazy. Then the Wolf God showed me the way, the Wolf God told me you were to the north, so I went that way, ran into a group of Tartars and killed them all, kept going, and then I finally found you."

"Finally found you…" Li Zhifeng's voice starts trembling again.

You Miao says, choked with emotion, "You're the one who wanted to go back… I didn't want you to go…"

They gaze silently at one another for a moment. Li Zhifeng nods, parting his lips as he looks at You Miao, as if wanting to say something, but nothing comes out in the end. He goes back to chopping the ginseng.

You Miao watches him chop away at the ginseng, and can't help asking, "Where is this place? Isn't it dangerous to stay in Da'an City?"

"The Tartar army's camp," Li Zhifeng answers without looking up. "Their tent."

You Miao jolts as he realizes the situation they're in, then hurriedly presses, "How are we gonna get out? Force our way out?"

Li Zhifeng replies, "Can't do it by force, we'd be as good as dead that way. You just listen to me and do as I say."

Relaxing once more, You Miao tells Li Zhifeng, on and off, about some things, including what happened after they parted ways. Then he asks how things are back at the estate, to which Li Zhifeng answers only, "All settled."

You Miao can't resist asking, "How did you fall off?"

Li Zhifeng only gives a silent nod, but You Miao presses insistently, as if the things back home are more dire than his current situation, until Li Zhifeng finally gives in and says, "I don't know how to swim, so I got washed away by the river."

You Miao immediately wants to laugh, but doesn't dare laugh aloud, and has to hold it back with much effort. Seeing the look on You Miao's face, Li Zhifeng can't help the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He finishes chopping the ginseng and puts it into a medicine pot to simmer on the stove. Then he gets under the covers and holds You Miao gently in his arms, planting a soft kiss to his forehead, like he's found his precious thing and never wants to let go again.

And You Miao, for his part, finally feels at ease. They're in the middle of the Tartar army, but Li Zhifeng is here, so he's not worried. He knows that Li Zhifeng will definitely get him out of here. Several days pass, and You Miao recovers somewhat from all the ginsengs—in fact, he's had so much ginseng that it's starting to give him a bit of a nosebleed#. There's still nothing happening outside the tent. Li Zhifeng goes out a couple days a day, and returns with food every time.

"When are we leaving?" asks You Miao asks.

"When the chance comes," answers Li Zhifeng.

You Miao: "What chance?"

Li Zhifeng: "A chance to get Hemetir to let us go."

You Miao's brows furrow. "Why?"

Li Zhifeng shakes his head. You Miao presses, "Do you know Hemetir?"

Li Zhifeng nods, looking hesitant. You Miao feels even more puzzled, asking, "Seriously, what is it? Do the Quanrongs and Tartars know each other?"

Li Zhifeng mn's and says, "I told them you're my slave."

Understanding dawns on You Miao. "I'll make sure to act the part."

Li Zhifeng doesn't seem to want to say anything else, only nodding simply before grabbing a small knife and setting about slicing lamb meat for You Miao. But the more You Miao thinks about it, the more something feels off. "Why do we have to wait for Hemetir to let us go?"

"Because there's no other way to leave," Li Zhifeng doesn't meet You Miao's eyes as he replies. "This is the central camp of fifty thousand Tartars, and there's another forty thousand barbarians outside."

You Miao can tell that Li Zhifeng is lying. After this many years together, the both of them can readily tell what the other is thinking, often able to pick up on many things from a subtle expression or an unnatural gesture.

You Miao saw through it, and Li Zhifeng knows he saw through it, but he says nothing. After a long moment, You Miao says "oh".

"Won't we get found out, staying here like this?" You Miao says. "You should probably lie low…"

Li Zhifeng looks up at You Miao and says, "Li Yan came by."

You Miao: "What'd he say?"

Li Zhifeng: "He asked you to please save him and bring him back too."

You Miao nods. Li Zhifeng asks, "Save him?"

You Miao: "Can it be done?"

Li Zhifeng: "Yes. His father's already dead, and he has no use to Hemetir. I can make a request for him."

Encouraged, You Miao asks, "What about the Taizi?"

"No can do." Li Zhifeng shakes his head slowly. "There's no way Hemetir would let them go, since the Han emperor holds great value to the Tartars. He had them brought over to Yanbian Fortress a couple days ago and handed to Moran Khan, the same day I got to Da'an."

You Miao tries again, "What about the government officials?"

Li Zhifeng mulls it over with narrowed eyes. You Miao knows he's asking a lot of him, but this is important, a matter of how many people can escape from here. Hans who fall into the Tartars' hands have no way of fighting back, getting tortured and humiliated to death is only a matter of time.

"I'll see what I can do," Li Zhifeng says in the end.

You Miao nods and lies down, curling into Li Zhifeng's arms and slowly falling asleep as the cold wind howls outside.

A couple more days go by, and You Miao, fully healed now, starts pondering about the thing with Li Zhifeng. He knows Hemetir, but he's definitely keeping something from You Miao. Considering Li Zhifeng's skills, forcing his way in for a rescue might be difficult, but he's already found him, so what's so hard about getting out of here?

Oh yeah, Li Zhifeng's never mentioned his clansmen before, could the Quanrongs and Tartars have some kind of secret pact between them? Li Zhifeng came all this way for the sole purpose of finding him, in this You Miao had no doubt. But maybe his identity is actually a sensitive matter… having saved him this time, Li Zhifeng's paid back the life he owed him now.

He doesn't owe him anymore, or rather, to be perfectly honest, it's more like You Miao's the one who owes him now. Will he be going back now, beyond the border? You Miao's heart clenches at the very thought, feeling horribly empty all of a sudden, unsure what to say.

Li Zhifeng looks preoccupied with thoughts as well. You Miao keeps wanting to ask him, but not knowing how to start. What should he even say? Something like, "The Han dynasty is over now. Regardless of what I think of you as, the bottom line is that you're no longer a slave, you're free to go back beyond the border"? Is that slave deed the only link between them? No, You Miao's never thought of him as a slave in the first place, and he's already burned that slave deed with his own hands long ago.

Or should he say something like, "You saved my life, we're even now"? But how could the mutual affection between them in these years be something so simple as a life saved and a life owed? If, now that Li Zhifeng's saved his life, hes going to leave him and go back beyond the border, reclaim his freedom, then You Miao would rather die right here in the Tartar army's camp. He'd sooner choose death than going back alive but losing Li Zhifeng forever.

"Hey," You Miao starts.

Behind him, Li Zhifeng's eyebrows twitch slightly and he props himself up a little from where he was lying behind You Miao to look quietly at him.

"What is it," Li Zhifeng says in a low voice.

"Nevermind," You Miao says.

But Li Zhifeng misinterprets his meaning and slides a hand into his shirt. You Miao's breathing picks up immediately, clutching at Li Zhifeng's broad hand as he feels the rough lines of his palm brush over the newly-healed scars and still-blue bruises on his skin. This sensation, half a year after their parting, makes a certain feeling deep within You Miao's heart stir to wakefulness once more.

"I missed you," You Miao says, voice low, then turns around to wrap his arms around Li Zhifeng's neck, lips and tongues entwining, burning hot. Li Zhifeng's breathing grows rough as he holds You Miao down like a starved wolf. The thing between his legs is hard as iron, solid and scalding-hot. You Miao reaches out to touch, only to have his clothes ripped open roughly by Li Zhifeng, and that hardness pressed into him mercilessly. There's no oil, only the bit of wetness on Li Zhifeng's length, and You Miao cries out in pain as it breaches him.

But Li Zhifeng drives deep inside in one stroke. Although it hurts, the force of the motion makes You Miao see stars, and he can feel Li Zhifeng's arm wrapped around himself with a strength unlike any before.

He pauses for a moment, head buried against You Miao's shoulder, then breathes in deep and begins to fuck him with abandon. You Miao can feel Li Zhifeng's arousal growing even larger inside of himself as it thrusts in and out at a ravenous pace. But the initial pain is soon replaced by pleasure, and You Miao is shaking and coming after only a few thrusts.

"I… wait… Li Zhifeng…" You Miao moans.

Lips parting, Li Zhifeng gazes at him, eyes full of a gentleness never before uttered aloud, but then his brows tightened for some reason, before visibly evening out.

"Ah! Hold up!" You Miao just came, and typically Li Zhifeng would always stop to hold and kiss him for a while, stroke each other off for a bit until he can feel things again before resuming, since continuing to get fucked after having just come would feel extremely unpleasant for You Miao.

But Li Zhifeng doesn't stop this time, continuing to fuck into him like he doesn't care about You Miao's pleasure at all. You Miao squirms and begs, but Li Zhifeng only pins his wrists down and seals his lips.

"Mmf!" You Miao mumbles distressed pleas, but Li Zhifeng doesn't even so much as pause, driving into him a couple more times followed by a shudder.

Suddenly there are voices from outside the tent, speaking in Tartarian. Li Zhifeng immediately covers You Miao's mouth with his hand and says something in reply.

You Miao's heart immediately leaps into his throat in fright.

The tent flap lifts up as someone, laughing boisterously, strides in. His eyes rake over them without reserve—You Miao lying in bed, Li Zhifeng on top of him. You Miao instantly recognizes the man to be the general of the Tartar army, Hemetir!

Hemetir says, "We were just looking for you, but here you are yourself!"

An official behind him mumbles something in the barbarian tongue. Li Zhifeng brushes his hair back nonchalantly and says, "I can understand you."

You Miao quivers uncontrollably with how nervous he is. Hemetir says something else in Tartarian; Li Zhifeng gives a small nod and gets off of You Miao to sit casually to the side, baring his solid, toned chest, not even trying to cover up.

The tent is silent as Li Zhifeng stares at You Miao; Hemetir starts laughing again and makes some comments to the people with him. Li Zhifeng lifts his hand and slaps You Miao right across the face. The burning sting on his cheek jolts You Miao back to his senses, and he hurriedly moves over to kneel and help Li Zhifeng dress and tie his belt.

Hemetir says, "Come over to my tent later, there are a couple of things I wanted to ask you about."

Li Zhifeng nods slightly, and Hemetir leaves.

Only after Hemetir's been gone for a long while does Li Zhifeng turn around and pull You Miao into his arms, holding him close against his shoulder, trembling.

"It's alright… I understand, I understand…" You Miao knows how wretched Li Zhifeng must feel right now—he had been so furious when Zhao Chao had hit him back then, never mind doing it himself.

Li Zhifeng kisses his cheek with his eyes closed.

You Miao asks, "Do I go with you later?"

Li Zhifeng nods. "No matter what happens, don't say anything."

You Miao quickly agrees, "Okay, got it."

Li Zhifeng helps You Miao get dressed and plants a kiss on his forehead, looking into his eyes as he pulls away. You Miao understands immediately——Li Zhifeng is uncertain as well. In all the time he's known him, this might be the most dire predicament they've been in. You Miao doesn't ask anything; he knows that, in these circumstances, there's no point asking anything, just cooperate with Li Zhifeng.

Because he trusts him completely without reserve.

Li Zhifeng gets up and takes You Miao out, waiting for their escort outside the tent. You Miao is still a little unsteady when he walks; after nursing injuries for so long, now when his feet touch the ground, it feels like his entire person is floating, like he's stepping on cotton. The Tartar in front of them is only leading the way, not speaking, and You Miao keeps his head low, appearing perfectly docile and scared, but privately his eyes are darting all around, his mind keeps going back to what's happened before.

It's tents all around, packed so tight not even a breeze can squeeze through, and where he and Li Zhifeng are staying is the heart of this camp. There were troops migrating today, the snow on the ground is a trampled mess, and sludge is everywhere. You Miao has worked as the army censor for months, and can tell with one look that this is the sign of Tartar troops having been moved back, and deducing based on the hoof marks, there are at least over ten thousand men.

Li Zhifeng had mentioned earlier that Hemetir made a trip to the City of Yanbian, and took the Emperor and the Taizi away. And now he's brought back ten thousand men, but for what purpose? Could he be thinking of making Da'an a stronghold? Other than the Tartars, there are also barbarians outside. He wonders where the Quanrong are, and whether they've participated in the operation of the five barbarian tribes and the Tartars this time… The Quanrong.

In that short instance, You Miao finally grasps the current situation.

The country hasn't fallen! The country isn't lost!

Before now, You Miao had been choked with pent up emotions because he thought the country's ruined, but Li Zhifeng had mentioned that there are forty thousand Tartar soldiers here, and fifty thousand barbarians in the outskirts, which also means the Great Qi hasn't perished! Otherwise, their stronghold right now would've been the Capital! If the Tartars thought they had a sure win, then they would've followed up the victory and pressed home the attack instead of stopping in Da'an.

Where has the army of the Great Qi retreated to? Who's leading them? As long as the natural barrier, the Yangtze River, is held down, then the Great Qi still has hope of recovering land. As for Li Zhifeng…

You Miao glances at Li Zhifeng's back, realizing that his identity right now might be considerably sensitive: the Third Prince of Quanrong might also become someone Hemetir is fighting to win over. In other words, this is a good opportunity to negotiate terms.

Li Zhifeng brings You Miao into the city; there are Tartar soldiers standing on guard all along the way. The City of Da'an has a long history of three hundred years. After the grand founder of the Great Qi overtook the world, the city was further reinforced, and became a stone city. It can keep the cold out during winter, block out the sandstorms during the day; a structure built by layered giant stone blocks, it has the very appearance of a forbidding fortress.

No Hans are seen within the City of Da'an now. This immense, great city built upon the hill has many winding paths leading to the higher grounds, and You Miao keeps peering at the halfway, looking at the army camps he first arrived in, the brown tents spreading across the entire hilltop.

You Miao recognizes that imposing stone fortress in the centre; before the stone fortress is a wide and spacious drill ground, and behind the fortress is a cliff. Before this stone fortress was where he was dragged by a horse, hanging onto the last vestiges of his life and almost died.

The great doors at the centre of this stone fortress opens, creating a loud sound. Before this door Li Zhifeng appears very tiny and insignificant. He turns his head and gives You Miao a look, and understanding what he means, You Miao bows his head down before following Li Zhifeng inside.

A boisterous laughter welcomes them. Hemetir is seated in the host seat, a circle of commanding officers sitting around him, all of them drinking and devouring meat.

Immediately after, an officer next to Hemetir says a few things in Tatarian, seeming to be joking. Li Zhifeng doesn't show any sign of being affected, and only says darkly, "Hemetir, I don't speak Tartarian, and my Barbarian is rusty, so let's speak in Han."

Hemetir smirks, "Interesting, Sanado. I didn't think that even though I've conquered the southerners, I still have to use their language to converse with you. Come. Sit."

You Miao's heart stops, and instantly remembers one of the five terms put forward when Hemetir besieged the city was to hand over Quanrong's third prince Sanado. Which means, Li Zhifeng had never told him his identity as the third prince.

Before he has the time to think deeply on it, Li Zhifeng has already seated himself, and You Miao goes to sit behind Li Zhifeng. Hemetir invites, "Come, drink!"

He then claps his hands and music starts, then a group of ladies, divided into two lines, come flowing in gracefully like the orioles to dance. When You Miao sees them he starts shaking nonstop.

They are all Han women, and a majority of them have familiar faces. The one playing guqin is Zhao Chao's sister of another mother, Zhao Lin; the one playing the reedpipe is a girl from Ting'yu Pavilion. The woman leading the dance has a graceful form, tall and slender, and to You Miao's dismay, it's indeed the number one of Ting'yu Pavilion, Liu Shaling. Following closely behind her is Li Yan's wife Madam Tang. You Miao doesn't recognize most of the ones in the line after those two, but the oldest is about twenty and the youngest is only about twelve-thirteen.

Li Zhifeng has grown pensive while You Miao watches the elegantly dancing women, and he notices the girl at the very back of the graceful line has her eyes growing red and tears threatening to spill, probably remembering the fallen Capital. The country's conquered, the homes broken, the emperor captured, and the women of the Great Qi are forced to be dancers; with such a thorn plugging his chest, he can almost throw up a mouthful of blood from rage.

You Miao clenches his fists, tears rolling in his eyes, his body shaking uncontrollably. Li Zhifeng takes a sip of wine, inclines his head and takes a glimpse of him, then places his giant palm on his knee, and You Miao is able to calm down a little.

When the music ends, the maids are divided into two groups, and they each approach a table, picking the flagon up to pour wine for the guests. Li Zhifeng is still a little spaced out for the moment, and with a low, heavily nasal sound, he vaguely hums out the song that was just performed. His eyes seem to be unfocused, and You Miao knows he must've remembered his homeland.

It's Madam Tang who has come to their table. When she sees You Miao and their eyes meet, Madam Tang stares into You Miao's eyes, her hands pouring wine trembling, spilling some of the wine. Li Zhifeng immediately snaps out of it and gives her a look.

"Saozi#…" You Miao calls out to her in a low whisper.

Madam Tang evades Li Zhifeng's eyes and fills his cup, then she pours for You Miao.

"Saozi, do you know who else is locked up in Da'an? Can you help me find them?" You Miao asks in a soft voice.

Madam Tang's hands are shaking even harder now, and spilling almost half the cup. After the wine is poured, Madam Tang leaves, and Liu Shaling approaches to replace her, presenting the meal.

"Young Master You, I have something to beg of you." The voice Liu Shaling employs as she passes by is very soft but she's speaking rapidly, and she swiftly takes off her jade bracelet. She whispers, "Ziqian, I know only you can do this…"

That instant when the bracelet is undone, there's a small 'ding' sound. Li Zhifeng's eyes are sharp, and he immediately spots the dagger hidden under her wrist!

"What are you planning?" Li Zhifeng frowns.

You Miao saw it too, and his face drops instantly, making to stop Liu Shaling. However, barbarian music starts again, and Liu Shaling puts down the flagon, turns around, and re-enters the dancefloor, leading the women to begin the dance, their forms lithe and graceful like butterflies as they sweep past the tables.

The Tartars chortle heartily. A smile hangs off of Liu Shaling's face as she spins, lifts her foot, her movement soft and airy. You Miao watches her every movement but only feels terror, like this dance is a ritual before perishing together with enemies.

"Who is she?" Li Zhifeng asks in a whisper.

Li Zhifeng has never met Liu Shaling before, and his eyes are fixed on her. You Miao answers in a low voice, "Girl from Ting'yu Pavilion."

"She won't succeed in assassinating Hemetir." Li Zhifeng says.

You Miao can't bear to watch anymore. It's as if Liu Shaling is going to be decapitated at any moment, her blood spilling the scene.

"Is Hemetir very strong?" You Miao's voice is quivering.

Li Zhifeng drinks a sip of wine, and answers absentmindedly, "Very."

"How strong?" You Miao asks.

Li Zhifeng gives the head seat a glance, and when he sees that Hemetir hasn't noticed them, he inclines his head and snakes his arm around You Miao's waist, whispering next to his ear, "Stronger than you can imagine."

"And compared to you?" You Miao turns his head and their lips almost touch. Li Zhifeng nuzzles him affectionately with his nose, and says, "You've grown."

Even though they're in imminent peril, for some reason You Miao's heart is filled with the feeling of enchanted romance.

"And compared to you?..." You Miao raises his eyes, presses their heads together, and stares deeply into his eyes.

"Hemetir is one of the three Gods of War north of the frontier." Li Zhifeng replies.

You Miao understands now. This means it's impossible for Liu Shaling to succeed, and his heart lurches in spite of himself.

"We have to think of a way to get her from him." You Miao says.

Li Zhifeng doesn't respond, and only gazes quietly at You Miao, giving him a questioning look.

In that instant, You Miao gets it. Li Zhifeng is asking: Are you sure?

You Miao suddenly wavers. Should he really stop Liu Shaling? This is clearly something she's already thought through, or rather, she's already come to terms with her death. For a moment, You Miao is in a terrible dilemma, but Li Zhifeng is simply sitting there quietly drinking wine, watching the maids dance. Liu Shaling is dancing closer and closer to the head seat, then the women spin around, each being pulled into the arms of an officer.

You Miao's heart instantly lurches, the jade bracelet Liu Shaling gave him gripped tightly in his hands. She hasn't finished talking earlier!

He can only hope that for the sake of finishing what she wanted to say, she won't make a move so rashly.

Liu Shaling is sitting in the arms of a Tartar commander, her eyes hesitant, and she steals another glance at You Miao in spite of herself. You Miao's furrowed brows deepen, looking anxious, and shakes his head minutely from afar.

The one being held by Hemetir is Princess Huaiming; the Princess is only thirteen and a little scared out of her wits, her tears threatening to spill. Hemetir is red in the face from the drinking, and is pressing his beard on Princess Huaiming's face, rubbing back and forth. Madam Tang is slightly older in age, no one has picked her, so she has no choice but to come over to drape herself over Li Zhifeng, but is unnoticeably blocked by Li Zhifeng with a light push, so she can only sit on the side properly.

The Tartars are smooching the women in their arms all over, and You Miao knows this feast is coming to an end. He prays inwardly for the women to please please don't make a move rashly… the Tartars are all drunk on wine, swaying about, and the first person says something loudly, sounding like a request. Hemetir answers him with a chuckle, and the fearless commanding officers stagger out one by one with the maids in their arms.

More and more people are leaving the feast until finally, there's only Hemetir and Li Zhifeng left.

Hemetir instructs something in Tartarian, and the musicians put away their instruments, exit, and two guards close the door.

"Eat some." Li Zhifeng directs You Miao, and passes him a piece of lamb. Naturally, You Miao knows what to do, so he kneels to the side, his head bowed low, and starts gorging himself like a slave.

Hemetir puts his wine cup down, smiling without mirth, "Where did you find this slave?"

Mentally startled, You Miao knows inwardly that this is trouble. Before, in order to save You Miao's life, Li Yan had begged Hemetir for mercy and mentioned You Miao's identity——that his family are rich merchants from Jiangnan, and they would ransom him handsomely. Yet Li Zhifeng says he's a slave, does Hemetir not recognize him?

That's right… Hemetir has only seen him the once, and later had him beaten half to death while he himself left. When Li Zhifeng arrived in Da'an, Hemetir was in Yanbian, and never saw Li Zhifeng save You Miao.

"Raise your head and let me see your face." Hemetir demands in amusement.

You Miao freezes, and Li Zhifeng says coldly, "He's calling you, didn't you hear?"

You Miao quickly looks up, but Hemetir only gives him a glance before he laughs in spite of himself, "By the looks of him, he's at least seventeen or eighteen, right? Why didn't you find a prettier one? One more like a woman?"

"He's got a unique skill and knows how to serve in bed, so I've grown reluctant to throw him away."

Hemetir immediately bursts out laughing, then shakes his head helplessly, unable to fathom that Li Zhifeng has such a hobby. They say the Great Qi enjoys the pleasure of male homosexuality, naturally the Tartars have heard word of this, but usually people favour the gentle and charming young boys. As a boy lover You Miao is a bit old, and doesn't have the soft and meek appearance of a woman at all.

"He also knows how to brew the tea of the Hans." Li Zhifeng says stoically, "Go brew a cup of tea, I will drink with the general."

Hemetir instructs something in a raised voice and subordinates come in delivering the tools, and surprisingly, it's a full tea set that they've stolen.

"The tea the Hans drink is different from our northerners' butter tea, I suppose trying it wouldn't hurt." Hemetir says amusedly.

"They don't add salt to their tea, no milk or butter." Li Zhifeng appears calm and at ease, "It's quite the art."

There's a strip seal taped onto the case, but You Miao can tell it's something stolen from the palace with just one look. There are also two jars of Sunshower Qingfeng tribute tea next to it. He first places the kettle over the charcoal stove to boil water before ripping off the strip seal, opening the case. In the instant that case is opened, a wave of mixed emotions rush to his head——What's in the case just happens to be the tea set You Miao and the Taizi used in the palace, and when that case is opened, one of the glass cups within was already shattered into pieces.

It's incredibly quiet within the hall; no one is speaking, all eyes are on You Miao brewing tea for the moment.

When You Miao sees this tea set that was once from the palace unveiled in this place, a thought suddenly rises in his mind. He can't describe it, but at that moment, a powerful desire for revenge is welling up from the bottom of his heart.

Before this night, he was still lost and uncertain in regards to the country's future, but when he saw this broken glass cup just now, it suddenly made him harden his conviction.

He's going back, and he's going to seek revenge.

Chapter 33

Seeing that the glass teapot can change colours, Hemetir looks it over again and again, his brows gradually furrowing, seeming to be thinking something. You Miao's heart is beating faster now, terrified Hemetir would recognize him, so he pretends to be scared by his stare and bows his head.

"Sanado, the time has come for you to leave the Great Wall." Hemetir says.

"That time has already passed." Li Zhifeng replies impassively.

"Your dge has always been searching for you in these past years." Hemetir says.

"He's worried I won't die." Li Zhifeng clarifies simply.

Hemetir narrows his eyes and smirks devilishly.

When You Miao finishes brewing the tea, he places a cup of green tea in front of Hemetir, then bows low as he places another cup on Li Zhifeng's table. Neither party says a word. Li Zhifeng picks up the teacup by the edge with the tip of his fingers before taking a sip while Hemetir dunks the whole cup into his open mouth, emptying it in a second.

"Heh." Hemetir smirks playfully, "The things the Hans come up with aren't as good as the pestle tea we make beyond the border."

"You Hans spend your days hankering after luxuries and pleasures, fiddling around with those unnecessary matters, proclaiming yourselves refined," Hemetir's words are directed at You Miao, "No wonder your country would fall."

You Miao hangs his head, ready to serve tea again, but Hemetir only makes a giant sweep of his hand, indicating that he's not having any more.

"Sanado, when are you going back to reclaim what should've been yours?" Hemetir questions.

Li Zhifeng grunts, but doesn't give a clear answer. With a hand pressing down on his blade. Hemetir leans forward, "Sanado, you better think on this carefully. Prince Gergen awaits your answer."

Li Zhifeng doesn't bother looking in Hemetir's way, and says, "I've no army of my own, completely alone in this world, and my only subordinate is a Han. Five years ago all of my guards died beneath the Meng River Pass, and now, Khuzha Khan wants to aid me…"

Hemetir interrupts in a low voice, "It's Prince Gergen who is willing to help you return to your homeland."

Li Zhifeng continues, "...What I worry is you've neither the time nor energy."

Hemetir extends a hand, seeming to gesture that he needn't say anymore. You Miao's mind spins, gradually piecing together the fragments of information from their conversation that he himself doesn't know.

Yet in the next moment, Li Zhifeng asks, "Five thousand?"

"Five hundred!" Hemetir seems to be enraged, "I'll give you five hundred of the best soldiers."

Li Zhifeng shakes his head slowly, "Five hundred soldiers can kill but not subdue."

"Then what do you want?!" Hemetir demands.

Li Zhifeng only continues to shake his head slowly.

Hemetir takes in a deep breath, watching Li Zhifeng's silent form, and in that moment, the air within the hall seems tense. Li Zhifeng puts down the cup. He levels one hand by his chest, flipping the palm upwards, and gives a light welcome gesture, then gives You Miao a look.

You Miao understands that this means they're leaving, and rises to his feet. Li Zhifeng bids, "My faraway friend, I thank you for your hospitality."

Hemetir snorts but doesn't keep him, and so Li Zhifeng turns around, taking You Miao with him as they leave.

By the time they've come out the sky is already completely black. Li Zhifeng follows the path they've come earlier and You Miao doesn't dare speak the entire way. When they descended the hill they've parted from the major road that's lit by torches, and You Miao almost trips, unable to see the road clearly. When Li Zhifeng hears the movement he spins around to hold him, then after walking for a bit longer, Li Zhifeng bends down.

"Climb on." Li Zhifeng says.

"No," You Miao doesn't dare having Li Zhifeng carry him, "Be careful of being seen."

"It's fine in this area." Li Zhifeng replies.

"Hemetir has seen me before, and knows I'm a high official of the Great Qi, he just didn't recognize me just now." You Miao says.

"Your identity isn't important at all, just climb on." Li Zhifeng urges.

You Miao is a bit doubtful, but at the end of the day he still trusts Li Zhifeng, so he climbs onto his back, letting him carry him.After leaving the fortress city of Da'an, there's a stretch of a pitch black road, but Li Zhifeng simply carries You Miao thus, his pace slow as he walks. Neither of them says a word, and You Miao contemplates for a very long time before finally deciding to speak up, "Is he telling you to go back to the tribe?"

"Mn." Li Zhifeng's voice is deep and steady, and he replies, "Prince Gergen is the Tartar's eldest prince. If Khuzha Khan dies one of these days, the Tartars will definitely go through a bout of civil unrest fighting for the throne. He wants to win the support of the Quanrong."

You Miao has heard Sun Yu say once that the Tartars have many villages, and they decide who inherits the throne. Unlike the Hans who abide by the rule of establishing the principal and the common, they look at instead the power of each village, and the number of support from foreign tribes. You Miao wanted to ask about Li Zhifeng's decision at first, but who would've thought he'd accidentally receive a different news that distracts his thoughts. He asks, unable to hold back his curiosity, "Is Khuzha Khan dying?"

Usually the princes would only raise the havoc of fighting over the throne when the ruler is in poor health.

Li Zhifeng however, only gives a terse answer, "Not sure."

"The five barbarian tribes don't support Prince Gergen?" You Miao asks.

"No, the five barbarian tribes are divided in factions." Li Zhifeng explains, "There are those who support Gabittu, and those who support Queen Baoiin and the little prince of West Jie."

You Miao is a little confused now, and he mulls this over for a long while with a deep frown, "But the five barbarian tribes and Hemetir have ganged up for a long time, hasn't he already won them over?"

"No," Li Zhifeng replies, "The southern invasion this time was long planned by the Tartars, they've been making preparations since a year earlier, including your Han general Nie Dan being transferred away. The five barbarian tribes invading through the plains of West Liang, delaying the main force and holding them down, was all Khuzha Khan's scheme."

You Miao, "!!!"

You Miao's breathing quickens, and Li Zhifeng lets out a soft sigh, a sigh that sounded particularly clear in the quiet of night.

"Why did you say my identity doesn't matter?" You Miao asks.

"Because the Tartars won't believe that as a Quanrong, I would be willing to help you southern Hans." Li Zhifeng replies, "They also will never imagine that I'd be loyal to a Han."

You Miao hugs Li Zhifeng around the neck and buries his head in his nape.

"I want to go home," You Miao says in a small voice, "Do you want to go home too?"

"Us Quanrong don't have homes." Li Zhifeng says.

You Miao explains, "I meant back to your tribe… if you want to go back to your tribe, then go. I didn't know you were Sanado before, I didn't know you're the Quanrong prince."

Li Zhifeng abruptly asks, "And if you had known?"

You Miao is suddenly stumped by this question.

What if he knew of Li Zhifeng's identity from the beginning? This question is confounding You Miao; suppose if he had known the slave he bought was a prince from the beginning, how would You Miao treat him? Let him go? Or keep him by his side?"

"I don't know," You Miao mumbles to himself, "Things will probably still be the same way."

Li Zhifeng goes back to being his quiet self, carrying You Miao walking in the direction of the army camp.

You Miao contemplates for a long time, and feels there are some things that he still has to tell Li Zhifeng.

"I'm a Han, you're a Quanrong," You Miao starts, "Between countries there will be conflicts, massacres, prisoners of war, slaves."

"We can't control any of that. You were captured by us Hans and suffered, back then Li Yan even had the mind to kill you. But I saved you. I admit, yes, I didn't see you as a friend at first, but in these past years living in the central plains, while you didn't live the life of a prince, I still… I still…"

You Miao couldn't continue all of a sudden, and having listened to this point, Li Zhifeng stops in his step.

"I still… never took you for a slave. Ever since you rescued me at Yanbian, I felt the distinction of master and slave no longer exists between us. That period of time when I returned to Jiangnan, I only had you by my side. Li Zhifeng, I… depend on you very much. I know you only have me, but I only have you too. Besides you, there's no one else. I already thought this while on the way to the Capital for the exams…"

Li Zhifeng suddenly smiles.

"Don't get it." Li Zhifeng grins.

You Miao is a little surprised. He very, very rarely sees Li Zhifeng smile. The night is pitch black, he can't see Li Zhifeng's face, but he knows Li Zhifeng is smiling.

"...At that time, I thought, it seems in this life… I can't bear to leave you anymore…"

Li Zhifeng is just standing there quietly, carrying You Miao on his back. Having spoken to this point, You Miao suddenly feels a wave of sadness wash over him.

"I love you, I want to marry you, just like when we were together, you'd take care of me like I'm your wife… That sounds a little weird, but…" You Miao contemplates for a moment, then says sincerely, "Don't know when we'll meet and be intimate again; tonight at this moment I cannot express my feelings.#"

In that moment You Miao laughs out in spite of himself, thinking inwardly that he has a thousand things he want to say, all long-winded ramblings, but none of it can compare to this one verse.

Li Zhifeng stops in his step and lets You Miao down. The two have already made it close to the army tent, and the infantry tents bright with light are just right there.

You Miao comes around to his side wanting to say more, but Li Zhifeng turns away, evading the lights, and for a flash of a second, You Miao abruptly sees that the corners of his eyes are shining with the glint of tears!

"Go on." Li Zhifeng says.

"No." You Miao takes a step forward and firmly hugs Li Zhifeng around the waist.

"If you want to go home," You Miao continues, "Then go. I won't stop you. What I've said today doesn't have any deeper intentions. Since we've come to know each other, I just wanted to tell you this is how I feel. If I was a woman, then it wouldn't matter if I was a Han or a barbarian, I'd follow you. But I'm a man. I can't not avenge my country and I can't not care for the state of the Great Qi."

Li Zhifeng mn's, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and only responds with, "Got it."

You Miao is a little bemused, but Li Zhifeng simply picks up his hand and leads him towards the tent. You Miao tries again, "You…"

"I… I got it." Li Zhifeng turns his head away, his voice a little choked.

This time You Miao sees it clearly——Li Zhifeng is crying.

The two return to the tent. Li Zhifeng sits down wordlessly, and You Miao doesn't ask after his thoughts anymore, but now that everything that's been piling up in his heart is out in the open, his mind is finally at ease. Li Zhifeng is sitting, and You Miao is lying on the bed, then he flips around, watching Li Zhifeng in a daze, the only thought on his mind is: he's really handsome.

Perhaps after helping You Miao escape, Li Zhifeng will be going home, and they'll be off to their own worlds, never to meet again.

After a very, very long time, though You Miao is already dozing off, Li Zhifeng says quietly, "My brother wants to get rid of me."

When You Miao hears this he's suddenly very awake, "Hm?"

"That year, he set a trap, making me go to the County of Menghe, and there I ran into you Hans…"

"I know." You Miao has already guessed a few things from Hemetir and Li Zhifeng's exchange, "Then afterwards you were captured and brought to the Capital?"

Li Zhifeng nods. You Miao is a little curious of why he'd bring this up now, but then Li Zhifeng continues, "That day in Yanbian City, you let me go, but I couldn't have gone back. My brother would kill me. I could no longer stay in Quanrong."

You Miao immediately remembers those happenings of years past, that time in Yanbian City when he put the slave deed and money in Li Zhifeng's hands and bidded farewell, but Li Zhifeng came back… everything feels like it's something from the previous lifetime, but at the same time as close as if it had just happened before his eyes.

You Miao realizes, "So… after I left Yanbian City that day, you've always been following me…"

You Miao stumbles to crawl up, then firmly hugs Li Zhifeng from behind.

Li Zhifeng is writhing, his breathing harsh and heavy. This is the most agitated You Miao has ever seen him. In the end he doesn't say anything, turns around, stares at You Miao with bloodshot eyes that are laced with held back tears.

They embrace each other, kiss, and it's as if You Miao's soul has returned at last; the heart that's been so highly strung is finally settled. Li Zhifeng's fingers dig into You Miao's hair, and he hugs You Miao with a powerful force never used before.

"Then, do you want to go back to Quanrong?" You Miao asks.

Li Zhifeng's voice is low, "I… I don't know…"

You Miao comforts him, "That's alright, if you want to go then just go."

Li Zhifeng loosens his hold, and they gaze at each other, as if in the next second they would be facing the imminent parting. You Miao looks into his eyes and caresses his face, "You know why I have to go back, and I also know why you would want to go back."

Li Zhifeng's lips twitch, seeming to want to say something, but voices of soldiers come from the outside.

You Miao immediately lets go of Li Zhifeng, and goes to kneel behind him. Li Zhifeng fixes his robes, frowning slightly, and soon after, Madam Tang opens the tent flap, bending down as she enters, and kneels before Li Zhifeng.

You Miao immediately gets it. Madam Tang is here to accompany the night?

Madam Tang blows out a small breath. You Miao can see she's clutching a hairpin for committing suicide in her hands, and quickly says, "Don't be scared, saozi."

You Miao gets up and goes over to the tent entrance to check, making sure that the soldier who brought Madam Tang over has left right after, and announces, "No one's around now."

Li Zhifeng nods, then picks up a copper pot and pours Madam Tang a bowl of sheep milk, placing it in front of her. Madam Tang's eyes are red, her form trembling nonstop. She glances at Li Zhifeng, then glances at You Miao, and You Miao gestures for her to relax, "Drink some water first."

Madam Tang drinks a sip of the sheep milk, her nervousness finally calming bit by bit.

"Where's Liu Shaling?" You Miao asks.

"After tonight she won't survive." Madam Tang settles herself, "Miao-zi, you…" Then she glances at Li Zhifeng again.

"He's called Li Zhifeng," You Miao says, "We can trust him, don't worry."

Madam Tang immediately grabs You Miao's hands, "Miao-zi, promise me one thing. Only you can help us now…"

You Miao recalls the things Liu Shaling didn't have the chance to finish saying during the feast earlier tonight, and immediately says, "I know, I'll think of a way to rescue you all, tell them not to panic."

"That's not it." Madam Tang's lips are dried and cracked, "Saozi is fine. Saozi knows that you're having a hard time saving yourself as it is, I daren't expect for you to rescue all of us. But saozi begs you, if there's a chance, please find a way to save your ge…" Madam Tang folds in the hems of her skirt and prostrates before You Miao. You Miao is instantly stunned.

Madam Tang continues, "Of all you brothers, you're the only one who's safe right now. Li Yan, Qian Hui, Ping Xi, and the others are all locked up. My father-in-law is already dead, the ministers of the six ministries are all sent to the City of Yanbian… you have to think of a way, at the very least take Li Yan and the others away…"

"Done. Saozi, don't any of you despair, and live on properly. Zhao Chao and the others must have escaped safely by now."

Madam Tang stares at You Miao with dead eyes as she kneels there, "Miao-zi, I don't think you understand why they must be rescued."

You Miao frowns slightly, and Madam Tang continues, "It's because only with them back will the south dispatch the army to recover the country and bring His Majesty back. Don't let Zhao Chao return and become content in retaining sovereignty over only a part of the country. The only thing saozi can do for you now is to make you all remember this…"

"DON'T!" You Miao is instantly alarmed and hastily gets up, tugging at Madam Tang's sleeve, "Saozi…"

Madam Tang's voice gradually calms, and she says languidly, "You understand your ge's temper. If his madam dies in Da'an, he won't be able to let this go, and will for sure fight back to avenge me. He won't be a spineless coward and live on for the sake of living."

"No no no…" You Miao exclaims anxiously, "Listen to me!"

Madam Tang grips that hairpin and rises, "Miao-zi, I'll be off first. Please give this to my husband."

From her robes she pulls out a handkerchief covered entirely with purple-black characters——it's a letter written in blood already made from before.

"And give this to Zhao Chao," Madam Tang hands You Miao a jade butterfly, "This is from Princess Huaiming, to ensure he remembers to come back, and personally avenge his little sister…"

Right then, a sharp, heartrending scream shears through the air from a distance.

That voice is far at the top of the hill, but infinitely clear in the silent night. You Miao darts out, but Madam Tang steals past him, making a run for it, and You Miao cries in horror, "STOP HER!"

Li Zhifeng comes out and drags Madam Tang back in, and You Miao exclaims, "Don't let her go to hear death!"

Li Zhifeng hand chops Madam Tang right on the back of her neck, and she instantly faints. You Miao is terrified that she'd go seek her death again, and quickly binds her hands with cloth strings, then puts her in a corner of the tent.

"They made a move?" You Miao questions, "What do we do?"

Li Zhifeng doesn't know what to say for the moment either, and the two stare at each other in silence for a moment. Li Zhifeng says, "I'll go take a look."

"Don't go just yet," You Miao says, "Chaos has started already, if you go now it'll actually be easier for Hemetir to see through you. Wait a bit longer, and if I'm not wrong, someone will come."

As expected, it doesn't take long before a soldier hurries to outside the tent to inquire after them. "Everything's fine." Li Zhifeng responds.

He ties his belt as he walks out, looking calm and composed amidst this confusion, "What's happened over with General Hemetir?"

The soldier answers in a broken Han tongue, "Those women are… assassinate, the generals are all… s-safe."

"Take me to go see." Li Zhifeng orders, then quickly throws You Miao a look. You Miao understood and follows him out, ready to go with Li Zhifeng, but is stopped. Li Zhifeng creases his brows, signalling for him not to follow. Stay and guard over Madam Tang in case anything else happens. He'll think of a way.

You Miao has no choice but to nod and return back into the tent, and Li Zhifeng leaves.

You Miao is a worried mess, and he goes to cover Madam Tang with a blanket in case someone else comes. He then puts his head down over the short table the entire night, until finally, at sigeng time# he couldn't hang on for much longer, and falls deeply asleep. At daybreak, Li Zhifeng comes in, and You Miao jolts awake. When he sees a soldier taking Madam Tang out, You Miao feels his entire body go cold.

After the soldier leaves, Li Zhifeng whispers, "Don't worry, she won't die."

You Miao lies on his side, and Li Zhifeng peels off his outer robe, climbing into the covers to hold him.

"How are things?" You Miao asks.

"Princess Huaiming and Liu Shaling failed in their assassination and died." Li Zhifeng replies.

Tears roll down You Miao's cheeks, and Li Zhifeng continues, "The rest have all kept their lives. Hemetir agreed to grant me Madam Tang, but she can't be kept in the tent directly just yet."

You Miao nods, feeling indescribably sad.

He then asks, "Did you promise Hemetir that you'd go back to fight your dge?"

"No." Li Zhifeng replies.

"You can for now." You Miao suggests.

"No," Li Zhifeng says, "If I can't fulfill the promise, then I'd be breaking my word. Quanrong and Tartars both value promises with the utmost solemnity, it's different compared to you Hans. The only thing we can do is to think of a way to move along with them, we can't say one thing and do another. I'll go inquire for the whereabouts of Li Yan and the others tomorrow, see if I can buy them."

You Miao nods, so spent he can't keep his eyes open, and slowly falls asleep.