Chapter 50

As Xie Hengzhi turned to walk towards the carriage, Yiling immediately closed the window, nervously sitting inside.

She had been staring at them the whole time and saw Hu Yanqi talking incessantly, his tone full of arrogance.

Her instinct told her that whatever Hu Yanqi had said was likely to be against her.

However, when Xie Hengzhi turned to leave, his expression remained as indifferent as usual, making it impossible to tell what they had discussed.

Yiling felt a clawing sensation in her heart, deeply regretting why she had obediently listened to Xie Hengzhi and waited for him in the carriage.

The amount of information she had learned tonight was overwhelming, and she hadn’t even begun to process it all.

What was even more frightening was that Xie Hengzhi had known about the deep affection between the Shang family and Hu Yanqi long before she did.

Tonight, she had managed to clear things up with Hu Yanqi, but what about Xie Hengzhi? How could she explain it to him?

While other people’s relationships might be mere gossip, the love between Shang and Hu Yanqi was written in black and white, undeniable evidence.

As Yiling sank deeper into unprecedented panic, a cold wind suddenly swept into the carriage, and Xie Hengzhi stepped up.

She immediately turned her face away, not daring to look at him, feeling her heart nearly leap out of her chest.

A long time passed, but she didn’t hear Xie Hengzhi say anything to her.

She couldn’t even hear his breathing, only catching the faint scent of incense from his clothes.

But although he appeared calm, Yiling could clearly feel the heavy, oppressive air around him, as if it could crush her.

She dared not move, absolutely afraid to move.

When the coachman cracked the whip, the carriage began to move slowly.

Yiling’s gaze finally shifted to Xie Hengzhi’s shoes, then slowly traveled up to his coat, his chin, and then…

In that moment when their eyes met, Yiling’s entire body shuddered, and she quickly averted her gaze.

After that, she didn’t dare to look at him again.

The two sat in silence in the carriage, with only the sound of the wheels rolling over the ground in their ears.

No one knew how long it had been, but it felt even longer than the journey to Daluo Mountain.
The carriage finally came to a smooth stop in front of the Xie residence.

The carriage was clearly spacious enough, but when Xie Hengzhi sat inside, it seemed to turn into a confined, narrow space, making Yiling feel breathless several times.

The moment Xie Hengzhi leaned out, Yiling finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, what was meant to come would come sooner or later, and she had to quickly think of a way to resolve her predicament.

So Yiling wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and hurriedly stood up to get out.

When she emerged from the carriage, she saw that Xie Hengzhi had already stepped into the gate, leaving only a distant back.

Yiling quickly called out to him, “Wait for me!”

She hurriedly ran after him, her movements far from graceful!

But when she looked up, Xie Hengzhi didn’t even pause his steps.

Fuming, Yiling muttered “Bastard” under her breath, lifting the hem of her dress and running after him.

“Just now… that sigh…”

Xie Hengzhi was tall and long-legged, and he walked quickly. Yiling usually couldn’t keep up with his pace.

Right now, he doesn’t seem to have any intention of listening to Yiling’s explanation. He walked faster and faster, forcing her to quicken her pace as well.

When she could no longer keep up, Yiling, in a moment of despair, grabbed his hand. “Can you slow down?”

Their hands suddenly clasped tightly together. The cold, silent night contrasted with the burning heat of her palm, which felt especially warm against Xie Hengzhi’s icy hand.

He finally slowed down, though he didn’t even glance at her, which could hardly be considered a refusal.

Yiling sighed in relief but didn’t let go. She walked slowly beside him and said, “You mustn’t misunderstand. I only went to find him tonight to make him give up.”

Seeing Xie Hengzhi looking ahead indifferently, without the slightest change in expression, Yiling had to change the topic. “Just now… what did Hu Yanqi say to you?”

She had already asked, but the man still remained silent, like a mute.

Well, no matter. She would continue to ask and answer herself.

“No matter what he said to you, don’t believe him. He must have exaggerated and fabricated everything!”

The man beside her suddenly stopped walking.

Yiling was stunned and looked up at him.

Xie Hengzhi’s gaze lingered on Yiling’s face for a moment before moving to her hand, which was still holding his.

Before Yiling could understand what he was looking at, Xie Hengzhi suddenly raised her arm and pulled up her sleeve.

There, about three inches above her wrist, there was a faint red scar, about half a finger long.

Yiling had noticed the scar long ago but had never paid it much attention or dared to ask Mama Cao about it.

After all, no one could avoid a little accident in life, and getting hurt wasn’t that surprising.

But now, as Xie Hengzhi looked at the scar, his emotions stirred. His lips tightened as if he were suppressing some impulse.

Yiling: “You’re—”

Before she could finish speaking, Xie Hengzhi suddenly let go of her hand, turned, and walked away, his face darker than the night itself.

Yiling: “?”

She had no idea what had just happened. She stood there dumbfounded, watching Xie Hengzhi’s retreating figure.

He was tall and thin, and in his light-colored clothes, he looked especially refined.

Now, in the cold, late-night air, his brisk steps turned the previously elegant air around him into an almost bone-chilling coldness, making Yiling shiver even from three feet away.

At this moment, Mama Cao caught up from behind and leaned in to ask, “What happened to the master?”

Yiling wasn’t sure either!

She turned and exchanged a glance with Mama Cao, then remembered Xie Hengzhi’s behavior before he left. She asked, “What’s the deal with the scar on my arm?”

Mama Cao clearly didn’t want to bring it up, but since Yiling asked, she couldn’t hide it.

Looking around to ensure no one else was nearby, she whispered, “That’s the injury you got when you tried to elope with that Hu Ba person back then.”

Yiling: “…?”

Oh no!

She quickly turned and ran after him.

But for some reason, Xie Hengzhi seemed to be moving faster than anyone could catch up with.

By the time Yiling reached Linfeng Yuan, he was nowhere to be seen.

She frantically looked around, gasping for breath, then headed straight for the study.

Usually, at this time, unless something important was going on, the servants of the Xie residence would be resting.

But now, Dao Yu stood solemnly outside the study, and through the window, Yiling could vaguely see Xie Hengzhi’s figure.

Yiling walked straight over and reached for the door of the study.

Dao Yu, usually polite, stopped her with a firm hand. “Madam, the master has ordered no one to enter.”

Yiling ignored Dao Yu and tried to push the door open.

But Dao Yu stood firmly in front of the door and said, “Madam, please don’t make things difficult for me.”

“You—”

Yiling knew Dao Yu was just following orders, so she changed tactics. “Then go in and tell him I need to see him!”

Dao Yu pursed her lips and shook her head, her eyes conveying a firm rejection.

“Madam, it’s late. Please return to your room and rest.”

If it had been someone else blocking her, Yiling might have ignored them.

But Dao Yu, while officially a maid, was actually a trusted confidant of Xie Hengzhi, much like Li Chun. Her attitude was a direct reflection of Xie Hengzhi’s own.

She stood like an impenetrable wall before Yiling, unyielding. It was clear that Xie Hengzhi was resolute in not wanting to see her.

After a moment of silence, Yiling finally gave in.

She stopped resisting Dao Yu, turned, and looked toward the study window.

Inside, a light was on, and through the window, she could see Xie Hengzhi walking toward a display case, taking something, and then sitting down at his desk.

At such a close distance, he could clearly hear the movement outside, but he remained calm and composed, continuing with his own affairs as though nothing had happened.

Yiling’s rapid breathing gradually settled down as she watched his silhouette. Her nose suddenly felt a bit sore, and a small, hot feeling unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.

Although these developments were all expected, for some reason, Yiling still felt wronged and on the verge of tears.

She had stood outside the study for a long time, unsure of what else she could do.

At that moment, Xie Hengzhi rose and walked toward the window.

Yiling eagerly took another step forward.

“Xie—”

But as she spoke, she saw the dark figure by the window raise a hand to pull back the veil, extinguishing the candle.

The light went out.

The entire study was plunged into darkness, and Xie Hengzhi’s figure was no longer visible.

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew in, and Yiling shivered.

All the feelings of grievance and frustration disappeared, leaving only the overwhelming sense of darkness and despair.

This sudden turn of events had never been under her control.

The past between the Shang family and Hu Yanqi was undeniable, and Xie Hengzhi knew all about it.

Now, Hu Yanqi had even humiliated Xie Hengzhi to his face. He had no reason to accept such an insult.

When he extinguished the lamp, Yiling understood his stance.

The many abandoned experiences had already taken root in Yiling’s heart. At times like this, she couldn’t tell who she really was, as she was completely engulfed by the familiar despair.

Even when she had done nothing wrong, her biological parents still chose to abandon her.

Let alone now, to Xie Hengzhi, everything “she” did was a great humiliation.

Moreover, the Emperor had promised him untold riches.

Yiling stepped back, took one last look at the dark study, and resolutely walked toward her bedroom.

That night, Linfeng Yuan was quiet but not peaceful.

As the world seemed to close, neither the study nor the bedroom had any movement. The servants on both sides were unaware of what their masters were doing.

Though the two of them often quarreled in the past, this time, everyone could tell that the situation was different.

Inside and outside, everything was silent, yet Xie Hengzhi’s thoughts were far from clear.

He knew very well.

Before marrying Shang Yiling, he had known of the existence of such a man.

After marriage, Shang Yiling had cried every day, longing and pining for him. He saw it all, yet never took it to heart.

After all, he didn’t care which man his little junior sister loved.

But something seemed to have quietly changed.

After she fell into the water, her temperament changed drastically, and Xie Hengzhi, too, found himself uncharacteristically caring about the past.

Washing his hands to make soup for him, sewing new clothes by hand, tying his hair and making sachets—everything pierced his heart like a needle.

Even the scar on her arm clearly showed the determination she had once made to elope with that man.

Was she really so in love?

Was a foolish, inept, overconfident man really worth everything to her?

Now that he knew he had to marry someone else for power, he realized he regretted it.

Had he not seen through this person during those two years of sweet words?

The famous daughter of the Shang family had such poor judgment.

The study, with the lights extinguished, was completely silent, which made Xie Hengzhi’s breathing sound particularly clear.

He sat at the desk, trying for a long time but unable to calm his breath.

At that moment, he noticed the Hetian jade armrest on the desk and raised his hand to strike it down.

Hearing the crisp sound, he finally closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

As the first light of dawn appeared in the sky, the morning mist still lingering, several maidservants had already begun sweeping the courtyard.

Li Chun quickly entered and saw the figure of Dao Yu standing outside the study, his eyes dark with exhaustion.

“You’ve been on duty all night?”

Dao Yu nodded.

Li Chun couldn’t help but glance toward the study, lowering his voice to ask, “Did the master not sleep last night?”

Dao Yu nodded again.

After a moment of thought, Li Chun said, “You go rest first. I’ll accompany the master to the outskirts to check on the snow disaster.”

After Dao Yu left, Li Chun was about to knock on the door but suddenly remembered something and turned to adjust his appearance.

At such a delicate time, he certainly didn’t want to make trouble for himself.

After confirming that not a single hair was out of place, Li Chun finally knocked on the study door.

After a long while, Xie Hengzhi’s voice came from within.

“Come in.”

Li Chun immediately sensed something was wrong from the tone of his voice. He took a moment to gather himself before pushing the door open.

“Master,” he looked toward the desk. “It’s about time. We should set out for the outskirts.”

Xie Hengzhi sat upright behind the desk, still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, indicating he hadn’t slept a wink.

However, his face didn’t show much, just that he looked a little pale.

“Did anything happen with Hu Yanqi last night?”

Xie Hengzhi suddenly asked.

Li Chun replied, “No, after they returned to the inn, they were quite obedient.”

Xie Hengzhi asked again, “What about the palace?”

He was referring to the one sitting on the dragon throne.

Li Chun dared not speak carelessly and replied cautiously, “This morning, His Majesty did not recite his usual scriptures.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Hengzhi did not speak.

As Hu Yanqi had said, if the Emperor truly believed they were stirring up trouble between Great Liang and Chiqiu, he would not have left the palace unscathed last night.

Xie Hengzhi had never planned to kill Hu Ba in one blow. What he wanted was only to sow doubts in the Emperor’s mind.

Clearly, the time had come for him to act according to the situation.

After a long silence, Xie Hengzhi stood up.

He took down the cloak hanging nearby and strode out.

Li Chun eagerly followed.

As they stepped out of the study, Xie Hengzhi stopped and looked toward the sleeping quarters.

The lights were bright there, and both Mama Cao and Mallow were waiting outside. When they saw him, both of them subconsciously retracted their necks in guilt.

Li Chun didn’t know what Xie Hengzhi was thinking. After a long while, he finally withdrew his gaze.

“Enter the palace.”

Because Emperor Renle of the Jin Dynasty was fond of quietude and the Taoist path, despite the many living creatures kept in Taiyi Palace, the place was often eerily silent, making one feel a strange atmosphere upon entering.

Xie Hengzhi had long grown accustomed to the ambiance here. When he entered the main hall, it was still and quiet, with only a few lamps lit.

A low voice came from the throne ahead.

“Have you arrived?”

Xie Hengzhi bowed deeply, greeting the Emperor Renle on the throne.

Emperor Renle leaned slightly against the armrest, merely raising his chin.

“No need for formalities.”

After Xie Hengzhi straightened up, the Emperor looked at him, studying his expression for a long while before speaking.

“Since you’re here, I also wish to hear your thoughts.”

Xie Hengzhi lowered his eyes, remaining obedient and silent.

Emperor Renle stood up, pacing with his hands behind his back, heading toward the window.

“What do you think of Chiqiu’s matter? How involved do you think Hu Ba is?”

Xie Hengzhi replied, “I dare not make a judgment.”

His response was the same hesitation the Emperor Renle was grappling with.

Emperor Renle said, “If Hu Ba truly instigated this matter, then we must not trust him easily.”

Even though Hu Yanqi swore under the sky last night in Suitong Hall, his explanations couldn’t completely clear his suspicion.

Turning back to face Xie Hengzhi, the Emperor asked, “But what if this matter has nothing to do with him?”

Wouldn’t that mean the opportunity to strike against Beiyou would be lost due to a wrong judgment?

Everyone has their private desires. Hu Yanqi may simply want to investigate, and that doesn’t necessarily mean he has ill intentions.

Xie Hengzhi understood that the Emperor Renle was still undecided on the matter.

In fact, it seemed that he was more inclined to take a gamble.

“Your Majesty,” Xie Hengzhi took a step forward, cupping his hands. “At this moment, it might not be a bet worth taking.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Renle’s expression darkened.

This was not the answer he wanted to hear.

Meeting the Emperor’s gaze, Xie Hengzhi spoke in a deep voice.

“Beiyou has harsh weather and scarce water resources. If our army marches out, the consumption of military supplies will be tremendous. If supplies fall short, the assembled troops will suffer from hunger and cold, and morale will greatly decrease. If we face sandstorms or changes in weather, and Beiyou, familiar with the terrain, sets ambushes, our army will be powerless to fight back, suffering heavy losses.”

By the time Xie Hengzhi finished speaking, the Emperor’s face had grown darker still.

He turned his back to Xie Hengzhi, remaining silent for a long time.

Xie Hengzhi continued, “Furthermore, Beiyou lives by herding and is naturally skilled in warfare.

Even in treacherous terrain, their cavalry and archery are as accurate as if they were on flat ground. Our army currently lacks strong cavalry capable of matching them.”

When an emperor ignites the ambition to expand territory, it is like a lion targeting a fat prey.

At this point, offering an objective analysis of pros and cons was not only ineffective but also like adding fuel to the fire.

Although the Emperor Renle’s back was turned, the entire hall was charged with an atmosphere ready to ignite at any moment.

Just then, Xie Hengzhi changed his tone and said, “But Your Majesty’s grand vision for the northern expedition is not impossible to achieve.”

Emperor Renle, who had been staring at the wall and the statue, suddenly looked up, turning around to face Xie Hengzhi.

Xie Hengzhi continued, “As long as Your Majesty gives me time to plan, I will work tirelessly to assist Your Majesty in realizing this great vision.”

The trust built between the two over the years made Emperor Renle eager to hear Xie Hengzhi’s words. He immediately asked, “How would you plan?”

“War is like treating an illness—one must prescribe the right medicine,” Xie Hengzhi said. “If Your Majesty grants authority, I will immediately begin organizing the frontier cities, opening up supply routes for military needs. We will increase the recruitment of soldiers, expand the cavalry, and establish generals such as the General of Fierce Cavalry and the General of Light Cavalry to train the army and build an elite cavalry force on par with Beiyou.”

“At the same time, we will buy off and divide the various factions within Beiyou and foster alliances with northern tribes to isolate Beiyou.”

“Gradually, we will advance, clear the Yuanfu Mountains, and occupy the three eastern counties of Beiyou to cut off their limbs.”

“Given time,” Xie Hengzhi took a step forward, each word deliberate: “We will definitely pacify Beiyou.”

The hall fell eerily silent.

After a long pause, Emperor Renle finally spoke, “What you speak of is but theory; how can I trust it?”