HXC Chapter65

Jiang Yunyu was ultimately unable to avoid a final showdown with his former comrade-in-arms.

 

The moment they broke through the city gate, he watched with his own eyes as his comrade, who had once fought alongside him, slit his own throat to demonstrate his loyalty to the emperor and died right in front of him.

 

That night, the army rested in the city. Jiang Yunyu stood on the city wall and drank heavily. No matter how many soldiers came to persuade him, he chased them away. The men had no choice but to find Ji Zhen.

 

“Young Master Xiao Qin, the Young General listens to you the most. Please go and comfort him.”

 

Everyone in the army knew of Jiang Yunyu’s special treatment of Ji Zhen. Despite the cruelty and danger of war, he hadn’t allowed Ji Zhen, who was also in the military camp, to get a single drop of blood on his hands at all. Some even rumored that the two had already fallen deeply in love and were just waiting for a stable time to confess their feelings.

 

Ji Zhen walked to the secluded watchtower alone. In the distance, a single line of lamplight shone and a suit of silver armor gleamed with a chilling light in the cold moonlight.

 

Jiang Yunyu sat on the high parapet wall with several empty wine jars piled on the ground below. Leaning back on his hands, he lifted his head to gaze at the moon as well as the distant glow of the lamps. The light flowed from his beautiful brows and eyes all the way down to his delicate jawline. At first glance, he looked almost androgynous under the hazy moonlight.

 

He heard footsteps behind him and said impatiently, “This general already said that no one is allowed to come up and bother me. Are you tired of living…”

 

Jiang Yunyu turned his head and caught sight of Ji Zhen in the dim light. His angry words faltered, and he asked awkwardly, “Why is it you?”

 

“Why can’t it be me?”

 

Ji Zhen jogged up to the city wall, intending to sit on the parapet like Jiang Yunyu. But as he got closer, he noticed Jiang Yunyu’s two legs dangling in midair with no protection below and immediately got cold feet.

 

Jiang Yunyu, however, saw through his thoughts in an instant. As Ji Zhen was backing away, he grabbed him by the waist. Before Ji Zhen could even cry out, he was seated on the parapet but in the opposite direction from Jiang Yunyu so he could jump back to the ground at any time.

 

Ji Zhen slowly lowered his gaze into the pitch-black darkness below, unable to see the bottom, then snapped his head back up with a sharp motion.

 

Jiang Yunyu laughed at him. “Scaredy-cat.”

 

Ji Zhen didn’t argue. “I’ve always been afraid of heights. I’m not like the Young General, so mighty and fearless.”

 

There was half an arm’s distance between the two parapets. Worried that Ji Zhen would fall, Jiang Yunyu took his wrist and held it tightly without letting go.

 

Ji Zhen’s fingertips trembled slightly but he didn’t pull away from Jiang Yunyu. Smelling the scent of alcohol in the air, he asked softly, “It’s late. The soldiers were all worried about you. When will you go back and rest?”

 

Jiang Yunyu watched Ji Zhen’s bright eyes in the dim light. After a few moments of silence, he said, “When I led the army out, he was in the ranks too. We went through life and death together, fighting side by side. I never thought today I would be the one to force him to his death.”

 

Ji Zhen knew he was talking about the commander who had commit s*icide. He bit his lip. “He will understand your difficulties.”

 

But it was a living, breathing human life, and any words of comfort seemed too pale.

 

“What he said wasn’t wrong, was it?” Jiang Yunyu said. “I really am a treacherous official, a rebellious traitor…”

 

Ji Zhen gazed at the sorrowful expression of Jiang Yunyu. The spirited young marquis from that day had transformed into a dashing great general, whose single command could mobilize a thousand soldiers and ten thousand horses. But how could the hardships and tribulations endured during this time be explained in a few words?

 

They were no longer the carefree youths from childhood who would get into a big fight over a cufflink, an arrowhead, or a jar of fragrant wine.

 

Even the naive Ji Zhen was forced to learn to read the room and came to understand the saltiness of tears and the deep pain of loss.

 

The price of growing up is a long, thorny path, leaving behind blood and tears along the way. It is something no one can avoid.

 

Jiang Yunyu jumped down from the parapet, picked up a wine jar, and, facing the bright moon and clear breeze, poured half a jar of wine onto the city wall. He said in a loud voice, “Travel well. When we meet in the underworld, Yunyu will drink and be merry with you again…”

 

He hurled the empty jar aside aw wine splattered and the earthenware shattered to pieces. Then he looked deeply at Ji Zhen, who was bathed in the silver moonlight.

 

“Tonight, it’s just the two of us. Ji Zhen, there are some words I’ve kept hidden for years and I’ll tell them to you now.”

 

Ji Zhen looked down at Jiang Yunyu, whose cheeks were slightly flushed from the alcohol.

 

“The day you broke off the engagement, I was so angry I ran to the Ji Mansion to find you and said many things I didn’t mean. So many years have passed and there hasn’t been a single day I haven’t regretted being so two-faced for the sake of so-called pride.”

 

Ji Zhen called out softly, “Jiang Yunyu…”

 

“The Jiang and Ji families had an arranged marriage since we were children so I thought no matter what, you would one day marry me. But I never expected that you wouldn’t want me.”

 

Jiang Yunyu’s eyes were red as he accused, “I liked to tease you and loved to see your annoyed face when I made you speechless, but besides that, in what way was I ever bad to you? I always protected you at the academy. If they said one bad thing about you, I’d give them ten punches in return. I treated you, Ji Zhen, as my own person long ago. Why didn’t you want me?”

 

Ji Zhen was flustered by Jiang Yunyu’s sudden confession. He said anxiously, “That’s all in the past…”

 

He tried to jump off the parapet but Jiang Yunyu trapped him in his arms. In front of him was Jiang Yunyu’s embrace and behind him was the high wall suspended in the air. He had nowhere to escape and could only listen as Jiang Yunyu continued.

 

“The night you married Shen Yanqing, I got completely drunk at the Jiang Mansion. I wanted nothing more than to rush to the Shen Mansion and take you back.” Jiang Yunyu tilted his head up slightly. He had drunk too much wine and his words were a little slurred. “But I always remembered you saying, ‘I’ve made up my mind.’ I was afraid that if I went to the Shen Mansion, you would chase me away… but you were mine, Ji Zhen. You were supposed to be mine. Why didn’t you want me?”

 

Ji Zhen’s breathing quickened. The Jiang Yunyu in front of him looked so aggrieved as if he would start crying at any moment. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh so he just said quietly, “You’re drunk.”

 

“Fine, then let’s say I’m drunk.” Jiang Yunyu’s adam apple bobbed. He asked, “Ji Zhen, can you please stop liking Shen Yanqing?”

 

Ji Zhen pursed his lips and avoided his overly intense gaze.

 

In Ji Zhen’s act of avoidance, Jiang Yunyu found a silent answer. He said with extreme disappointment, “You can’t, right? Your heart is still only for him even now, right?”

 

There were tears in Ji Zhen’s eyes. He remembered a fable he had heard as a child. A pair of parents went out and promised to bring their child sweet and delicious rice cakes from the market when they returned. The child happily waited from sunrise to sunset only to find they came back with nothing.

 

Ji Zhen wasn’t quick-witted but because of this story, he had always remembered the lesson that “hopeless hope only doubles the suffering.” He didn’t want Jiang Yunyu to become that child who waited bitterly and received nothing.

 

Therefore, when faced with Jiang Yunyu’s persistent question, he held back his discomfort and softly hummed in affirmation.

 

The light in Jiang Yunyu’s eyes completely faded with that single sound. He had confessed his past regrets and abandoned all his pride, yet he still couldn’t get Ji Zhen to look at him even for a moment more.

 

Jiang Yunyu put his arms around Ji Zhen’s waist, brought him down from the parapet and helped him stand steady. He then gently pushed him, saying, “Go back.”

 

Ji Zhen pursed his lips. In the end, he didn’t say anything and left the city wall with a sense of dejection.

 

He knew that the Young Marquis he had known, Jiang Yunyu, had his own arrogance and dignity. After their talk under the moon tonight, he and Jiang Yunyu were now on separate paths. He no longer had the right to persuade Jiang Yunyu to go back to camp and rest or not to drink so much.

 

But he also couldn’t bear to see Jiang Yunyu increase his sorrow by holding on to a promise that couldn’t come true.

 

—

 

The great army continued its advance southward, its might covering mountains and rivers.

 

The army led by Deputy General Lin also won several victories with good news coming in one after another. Just when everyone thought they were invincible, Deputy General Lin’s army came face to face with the Third Prince Li Muhui, who was commanding the main forces. The battle resulted in heavy losses.

 

The Jiang family army suffered its first defeat and was forced to retreat thirty miles.

 

At the same time, the Wang family army also led troops to resist and stationed military camps in many key locations in the Great Heng. After the Jiang family army had attacked and captured five cities, they hit a wall against the elite soldiers of the Wang family. After nearly ten days of maneuvering, they had only advanced five miles.

 

A fierce battle was unavoidable. Li Muhui made a public statement: as long as the Jiang family soldiers stopped their rebellious ways, those who surrendered would be pardoned and their crimes would be forgotten. Under these circumstances, the Jiang family army no longer had the same magnificent momentum as when they had set out two months ago.

 

If there wasn’t a great victory to boost morale, the army’s fighting spirit would surely waver.

 

Jiang Yunyu and Ji Jue stayed up all night to change their battle strategy. They finally decided that Ji Jue would lead a team of elite soldiers on a night raid via a small path to burn the military provisions in the city ahead.

 

After giving Shen Yanqing water that day, Ji Zhen saw the guards secretly withholding Shen Yanqing’s water and food several more times. He remembered his own words about “not being soft-hearted” and only secretly had Ji An go to feed Shen Yanqing while he himself no longer showed up.

 

But today, Ji An told him that Shen Yanqing had fainted. He ultimately couldn’t ignore it and quietly went to take a look.

 

The military physician was taking Shen Yanqing’s pulse. Ji Zhen stood too far away to hear a word, but he could see Shen Yanqing’s body growing thinner by the day. Two months of cold wind and rain were enough to torture a person until they were just skin and bones.

 

After the military physician walked away, Ji Zhen jogged up to ask about his condition.

 

The accompanying military physician was someone Jiang Yunyu had met in the northern deserts. Because of his excellent medical skills, he was known as “Divine Physician Sai”.

 

“He was already burdened with an old ailment that hadn’t healed and now new injuries had piled on, worsened by long exposure to the sun and wind. It’s a good thing that he has a strong constitution or he would have died already.” Divine Physician Sai stroked his beard. “With me, Divine Physician Sai here, a few doses of medicine will keep him from dying, but to truly recover, he needs careful nourishment. But he’s a captive; it’s already a blessing he gets to eat roots and coarse food. You don’t expect him to be served fish and meat, do you?”

 

“Young Master Xiao Qin, why are you asking so many questions?”

 

Ji Zhen was taken aback. He pretended to be calm and said, “I’m just curious. He’s a captive; it’s not like I need to care about him.”

 

Divine Physician Sai nodded in agreement and went back to his work.

 

Ji Zhen trudged back to his tent, disheartened. Just then, Ji An returned with their dinner from the mess hall. He called out, “Young Master, dinner’s ready.”

 

Life on the march was difficult, with lots of vegetarian food and little meat and Ji Zhen was no exception. He looked at the few small pieces of braised pork on his plate and only ate the rice. Seeing that he wasn’t eating, Ji An thought he had no appetite. “Young Master, if you’re not going to eat, I will.”

 

Ji Zhen anxiously slapped Ji An’s hand away. He said, “Who said I’m not eating? I’ll eat later.”

 

After Ji An finished eating and took his bowl and chopsticks away, Ji Zhen gritted his teeth slightly, picked up the small bowl, and with a rush of courage, walked straight to Shen Yanqing’s prison cart.

 

Shen Yanqing looked haggard yet he still had the strength to smile when he saw him. “I don’t want to scare you…”

 

Ji Zhen swallowed the sourness in his throat and lifted his chin slightly. “Ji An and I don’t like braised pork. You’re getting a good deal.”

 

With that, he shoved the small bowl into the prison cart and turned to leave. But when he noticed the guards on either side eating, he worried they’d snatch the meat the moment he walked away. So he shot Shen Yanqing a fierce glare and said fiercely, “Don’t be ungrateful. Eat it quickly.”

 

His tone was very arrogant, but if one listened closely, his voice was trembling.

 

Shen Yanqing hadn’t had meat for a long time and the greasy smell made his stomach churn, but he still did as he was told without saying a word.

 

Ji Zhen stayed and watched over Shen Yanqing. When the latter finished eating the braised pork with his bare hands, Ji Zhen’s gaze fell on those hands, slick and glistening with oil.

 

Such a handsome pair of hands, once capable of crafting world-shaking articles…

 

Ji Zhen sniffled, took the small bowl, and in the suspicious gaze of the guards, he scoffed, “You’re a sensible one.”

 

He stomped away, his footsteps gradually slowing down as he turned to look back at Shen Yanqing, who had once again drooped his head weakly.

 

A silent “I don’t want you to die” was scattered by the wind.

 

The author has something to say:

Ji Zhen feeding him is like:

On the surface (intimidating): Hmph, hmph, hmph, you’re a captive, you should be grateful you’re getting meat! Don’t be ungrateful!

In reality (with tears flowing inside): Hurry and eat so no one takes it away from you, wuwuwu…