A Bloody Path

When the news of her engagement arrived, Qi Qingran was listening to her aunt tell a not-so-funny joke. The joke was long and dull, requiring her aunt to pause and make slight hints for the gathered women to laugh in unison.

The news was delivered by a young servant sent by He De. He hurried through a crowd of servants lighting lamps and adding oil, appearing abrupt, as if emerging from a dark world.

Strangely, at that moment, her heart "thumped" twice. She knew a significant moment was approaching, one that had been rehearsed in her life for a long time.

The young servant ran to Han Yu, who leaned toward her mother. Her mother, holding her waist, stood up tremblingly. The surrounding aunts looked on in surprise as her mother, with trembling lips, uttered a sentence... The scene was almost comical, as if everyone held bowls of scalding hot soup, eagerly trying to pour it into another's ear.

Then, the women's banquet silently erupted. Soon, they were abuzz with chatter.

It was rare to see these noblewomen so animatedly and collectively discussing something. Some stood, some sat, their white arms raised high, jewel chains and jade bracelets clinking, long hairpins and tassels entwining, and long sleeves and colorful skirts creating a rainbow-like scene. Quickly, the focus shifted from the marriage to the impending war, discussed repeatedly—beneath their serene and plump faces lurked the ravages of a chaotic world, with memories of a decade-long national war deeply ingrained in everyone.

They talked for a long time—or perhaps it was just a moment—but once all details were exhausted and everyone was temporarily convinced of Changxiang City's impregnable defense, the women turned back to the Qi family sisters-in-law, offering congratulations with laughter.

"To offer mountains and rivers as a betrothal gift, such a grand event has not occurred in years. Congratulations, congratulations..."

"Indeed, a pair of children perfectly matched. Double happiness today. Let's drink, and leave the men's matters aside!"

Madam Qi's eyes were cold, yet her smile was so wide it seemed her mouth could not close as she rewarded the young servant twice.

Someone tried to tease Qi Qingran but thought better of it, assuming an unmarried girl might be shy. Instead, they turned to tease Qingzhi—"Now that your sister has found a suitor, what about you? When will it be your turn?"

"I don't want to get married! I want to stay with Mother forever!" Qingzhi, obedient and well-behaved, nestled into her mother's arms, asking sweetly, "Mother, will Sister marry to Mulan Prefecture? Will we not see her again?"

The little impish girl made everyone laugh. "Your sister will leave, but you'll have a sister-in-law! Qingzhi, is the sister-in-law pretty?"

"Very pretty." Qingzhi smiled sweetly, accepting a handful of candies from her aunt, unwrapping one and stuffing it into her mouth as if it was the most delicious thing.

It was ordinary osmanthus chestnut candy. Once her aunt turned away, Qingzhi casually tossed the rest on the table.

Qi Qingran stared at the candy, swallowing hard.

When she was Qingzhi's age, she had a full box of such candies. In those days, in Changxiang City, they were rare treasures. The candies were sent by her mother, with instructions that they were for Ran'er, and neither Azheng nor Yuan'er was allowed to take any. Ran'er was often unwell and had to take medicine, leaving a bitter taste that a candy would sweeten. She had treasured that box for a long time, often opening it to look, count, sniff, and when craving badly, she would close her eyes, wishing to fall ill. She thought if she got sick, she would get to eat candy, and if she was seriously ill, perhaps her parents would come to see her.

Strangely, every time she wished like this, she would soon get a high fever.

That was a long time ago. Later, she grew healthy and never fell ill again, nor did she crave sweets.

But today, at this moment, that intense craving returned, leaving her mouth dry and bitter. She felt feverish, her face burning, hands cold, body weak, legs light, and her head dizzy yet clear. Unable to control her actions, she stood up, her sleeve brushing the table, and stole a piece of candy from her sister, clutching it in her hand.

She spoke up, excused herself to her aunt, apologized to her mother, and bade farewell to the ladies. She found a passable reason, claiming she couldn't handle her liquor. Everyone was surprised but understanding; girls were always shy at such moments.

The women's banquet was not far from her residence. Exiting the moon gate, a left turn through a corridor would lead her there. She stepped out of the moon gate but turned right instead of looking left.

On the right was a winding, quiet path flanked by giant maple trees. It would take only a tea's time to reach the end. One end of the path was crowded with maidservants and servants with bowed heads and forced smiles; the other end was guarded by stern-faced bodyguards, their swords' cold gleam hinting at another world.

That was her father's world.

"Miss! Miss! Where are we going?" She walked so fast that the two maidservants had to trot a few steps to keep up.

Qi Qingran didn't answer, signaling towards the nearby swords.

"Miss!" Two bodyguards emerged, bowing in front of her.

"Deliver a message from the Prime Minister: summon Qi Jiafu to meet me at the empty pavilion without delay."

"Yes!" The bodyguards nodded and left.

Qi Qingran continued walking in silence, heading towards the empty pavilion.

Behind her, one maidservant scolded the other for speaking out of turn. "Mind your manners! Do you know what day it is? Don't ask questions you shouldn't. Just follow where the lady goes."

Yes, just follow, like I once resolutely followed my father, until there was no way out, confronting the nightmare destined for me.

Qi Qingran continued her strides. The evening breeze rose, chilling her front.

The empty pavilion's autumn scenery was deep.

A neat tea set was arranged on the smooth stone table, with two jars of Beifeng spring water beneath.

Qi Qingran sat quietly, lit the stove, boiled the water, and made tea, just as she had done countless times sitting with her father.

The small stove began to boil, steam rising, forming an orange-red mist around the lanterns on the pavilion columns. In this season, nightfall came quickly.

Qi Jiafu arrived soon.

He looked unusually haggard, his shoulders and back wrinkled, his hair disheveled as if he had roughly tousled it with his hands.

Qi Qingran glanced at him in surprise, reading the same surprise in his eyes.

"Miss, what an elegant interest," Qi Jiafu said, seemingly understanding. He approached. "On my way, I was wondering what urgent matter the Prime Minister could have."

"Why can't I summon you?" The water boiled. Qi Qingran focused on pouring it into the teapot, then served the first cup to herself.

"You can, of course," Qi Jiafu stood opposite her. "But Miss, should I stand or kneel to listen?"

"Brother Fu," Qi Qingran pointed to the opposite seat, "sit."

Qi Jiafu did not sit. "Miss, I fear I can't bear it."

"Sit. Outsiders won't see." Qi Qingran stubbornly pointed to the opposite seat. "Brother Fu, I am engaged. Considering we grew up together, you should at least sit and have a cup of tea to congratulate me."

Qi Jiafu sat down.

"I heard from the servant that He Peiyu's betrothal gift is Chuhe Valley. Ha, offering mountains and rivers, General He is generous and grand in his proposal. I thought, I should prepare a dowry in return." Qi Qingran pushed the second cup of tea towards him. "But I couldn't come up with anything, so I invited you to offer some advice."

Qi Jiafu listened, not understanding a word.

"I'll say something, and you can listen as you will. If I say something wrong, correct me at any time." Qi Qingran extended a finger. "First, the obvious. You should know. The He family offering Chuhe Valley serves three purposes: first, the He and Chu families have long been at odds. After the He family gained power, the Chu family has been courting my father. This gift, handed over lightly, publicly declares that the He and Chu families are now in harmony; second, Chuhe Valley, the origin of the recent rebellion, is the homeland the rebellious slaves yearn for. By accepting this land, the Qi family stands openly with the He family, obligating us to send troops to quell the rebels. This will inevitably require deploying the Wind Shadow Riders; third, even though this Qi-Yang marriage may secure Changxiang City for my father and Uncle Yang, the He family's involvement ensures they too have a stake. With 200,000 Southern troops and 7,000 Wolf Fang soldiers, General He openly demanded me, and my father agreed without hesitation. I guess General He feels quite triumphant."

Qi Jiafu understood this time but still didn't grasp Qi Qingran's intentions, so he nodded in agreement.

"No one discussed this with me. Marriage matters are decided by my father and uncle. But before this, I always considered myself the eldest daughter of the Qi family, thinking and planning for the family. When this news came, I was bewildered. I thought, now I'll belong to the He family. I must prepare and consider things for the He family too..." Qi Qingran started cheerfully, but her tone grew increasingly sarcastic, ending with a near-cold laugh.

Qi Jiafu felt a wave of softness in his heart. "Qingran!"

Qi Qingran waved her hand and continued speaking as if to herself. "But when I thought about it, it became quite interesting... You see, the reason Chuhe Valley is so notable is because of its vast ice mines. But these ice mines are buried so deep, they're like a treasure trove you can see but can't touch. The He family has held it for so many years, enduring countless setbacks, probably incurring only losses without any gains. The Chu family is much smarter; they know how difficult mining is, so for many years they've focused on the income from Chuhe River's shipping. The He family wants to claim Chuhe Valley for themselves, but what can they trade for it? Besides the rights to Chuhe River's navigation, they have nothing else. But if they give up those navigation rights, the entire northern part of Mulan Prefecture will have almost no income. Oh, calculate this: for other families, this might be bearable, but for the He family, it's a death sentence. The southern part of Mulan Prefecture has been in rebellion for fifteen years, yielding almost no grain. There's no money in the south, and no money in the north. I'm curious, are those 200,000 Southern Camp soldiers and 7,000 Wolf Fang troops fighting on air?"

Qi Jiafu nodded again, this time with more admiration in his eyes.

"You know, I'm just a woman. I don't understand military matters, and I'm scared just thinking about it. All I can do is sit in the study and do some accounting. I started thinking about what official income the He family has had over these years. Heck, I couldn't think of any income but thought of many expenditures. For example, five years ago, He Peiyu purchased 10,000 purebred mountain ponies from Han Hai—that was when horses were at their most expensive. Purebred mountain ponies were also very rare. Conservatively, this purchase would have cost at least 4 million gold yuan, equivalent to two years of tax revenue from Changxiang City in a good year like this one. And that's just the horses! What about armor? The Wolf Fang's seven battalions are equipped with silver chain mail, red bronze armor, and soft lock armor, making them the best-equipped troops in the country. As for military pay, the He family has been recruiting to suppress the Western Camp, employing all kinds of unnecessary soldiers. The Southern Camp has 200,000 soldiers, but the state's funding is only enough for 70,000. I kept calculating, and the more I calculated, the more frightened I became. Over the past few years, especially the last five, the He family's military expenses probably equal those of the other fifteen families combined. And they've been continuously fighting without any income."

"Perhaps they have unrecorded income?"

"Even unrecorded income is unlikely. The land in Mulan Prefecture is barren and sparsely populated. The toll of war has been heavy. After the war, there were only 700,000 able-bodied people left. Out of those, 300,000 are working for the He family, 200,000 have rebelled, and even if the remaining 200,000 were all sold as slaves, they wouldn't be worth that much. However, another account worth considering is this: among the sixteen families, five border Mulan Prefecture, and in the past five years, they've had good income, especially the Luo family. According to Mr. Zong's secret report, the Luo family's salt mine revenue has doubled because all checkpoint fees have disappeared, and the old salt route through the southwest of Mulan Prefecture is essential."

Qi Jiafu sighed softly. "Qingran, where did you learn all this? Did you go through the Prime Minister's study?"

"No, Father's study is locked tightly. Even if I tried, I couldn't find anything. Honestly... Father has a habit of reviewing documents every night before bed. As his daughter, I must pay my respects morning and night, so I would read a few pages each night and then take notes afterward." Qi Qingran gave Qi Jiafu a sidelong glance. "What's wrong? Don't blame me. I've seen you sneak a peek too, but you never had the chance to see what I saw."

"But you and I are different. You are the eldest daughter of the Qi family, the Prime Minister's cherished pearl. Why would you sneak a look at your own family's things?"

"For today."

"What?"

"It's a long story. Do you want to reminisce with me? Now is not the time, and this is not the place."

"Fine, continue. Qingran, no need to recite the records, just give me your conclusion. Since you called me here, you must have one."

"Selling land."

"Say that again?"

"Selling land. In such times, the only way to get such large sums of money is to sell land. For the sixteen families, the only things worth any price are honor and land. If I'm right, the He family is only nominally in control of Mulan Prefecture, which is why they don't care about Chuhe Valley. They're happy to give away the last piece of land."

This was an incredibly bold hypothesis, earth-shattering for Qi Jiafu.

Fiefdoms are mountains, rivers, fields, and roads, a source of endless population and wealth. A noble without land is no noble at all. While there have been precedents of land being given away due to alliances or marriages, no noble family had ever sold their land for money. If Qi Qingran's guess was correct, it meant the He family was gambling their ancestral heritage for their military, a huge bet. The only question left was—what was the He family betting on?

The tea in front of him had cooled. Qi Jiafu picked it up and put it down again. He had to admit Qi Qingran was indeed the Prime Minister's daughter. Whether the guess was right or wrong, the sheer imagination took courage.

"He Peiyu, the He family's young general, is an ambitious person. Everyone knows this now. I think, for someone like him, Mulan Prefecture is not a good base. Mulan Prefecture is mountainous and watery, with rugged terrain and poor soil. Even in times of peace, it's not a prosperous place. If he settles there, he would struggle his whole life without much achievement, especially compared to my father. So, abandoning the weak points and focusing on the strong ones is a high-risk but potentially rewarding path. It might even help him achieve an unprecedented dominion."

Hearing a hint of admiration in Qi Qingran's tone, Qi Jiafu couldn't help but snort. "A wife knows her husband best. Qingran, you and He Peiyu are quite a match."

Qi Qingran also let out a cold laugh. "Really? Brother Fu, it seems you also admire General He. That's wonderful. Since you feel this way, why don't I talk to Father? The Qi family can't offer a dowry comparable to Chuhe Valley, so let's just give the Wind Shadow Cavalry as part of the dowry. You can come with me, and General He won't mistreat you. How about it?"

Qi Jiafu lowered his head and remained silent.

"Those who can't joke shouldn't try," Qi Qingran said sternly. "Brother Fu, I've been completely open with you. I at least hope you can be honest with me."

"You're right." Qi Jiafu gestured. "So, the He family's ambition is?"

"The He family bought 10,000 purebred mountain ponies, which are not advantageous on plains. But Changxiang City is a mountain city."

"This is just speculation."

Qi Qingran poured him another cup of tea. "Brother Fu, I've said it before—this is just my guess. If there's anything wrong, correct me anytime."

Qi Jiafu sat quietly for a while, then silently drank the tea. "Qingran, do you think the Prime Minister has thought of this?"

"That's not the worst part."

"What?"

"I don't know if my father has thought of it, but I know he believes the Qi-Yang marriage is unbreakable and is willing to pay any price for it." Qi Qingran leaned forward. "That's why I had to find you—Brother Fu, what kind of person do you think General Yang is?"

"General Yang is a true military man. He considers the ten-year siege a humiliation and has a vendetta against the Sikong family. He wants a real army, one that can still stand after his death..."

"No, no, Brother Fu, we don't have time for ideals today."

"Then General Yang probably thinks the same as the Prime Minister: abolish the clan military system and establish a new army loyal to Changxiang City."

"The clan military system has lasted for a thousand years, a double-edged sword with both pros and cons. Before him, many famous generals have existed, but why does only General Yang persistently pursue this goal?"

"Because General Yang has no descendants and no future concerns. After him, the Yang family will cease to exist."

"So, General Yang, like He Peiyu, has cut off his retreat, leaving no choice."

"Yes."

"In other words, General Yang's desires align not only with my father's but also somewhat with He Peiyu's, perhaps even more closely."

"Yes..."

"Don't you see? Heaven and earth knows and you and I especially know the Qi-Yang marriage is a sham—Yang Xuetan is dead. The one to marry Qingzheng is a wild girl hidden in your room!"

"Qingran!"

"How long can we hide this?

 What if we can't? If General Yang finds out the truth, the Yang family won't be in-laws but enemies."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, the seemingly simple Yang family actually has the most variables. Who controls the Dianjiang Academy and the Western Camp in the end is still undecided!"

Qi Jiafu remained silent.

He thought for a long time, hesitating. "Qingran, you should tell this to the Prime Minister, not me."

"It's no use!" Qi Qingran shook her head. "He Peiyu has cut off his retreat. General Yang has no retreat at all. But my father isn't like that. He spent ten years fighting and five years building to get here. He hasn't got it in him to make such a decisive decision! Risking everything?"

Qi Jiafu felt a chill down his spine. "A decisive decision?"

Qi Qingran stared into his eyes. "A decisive move to kill the He father and son, taking advantage of the chaos to force the fifteen families to join forces and eliminate the Wolf Fang's Seventh Division and the Southern Camp."

Qi Jiafu slammed the table. "Wild fantasy!"

Qi Qingran calmly pressed her hand on his. "It's a wild fantasy, but not without a chance."

Qi Jiafu shook off her hand. "No! I won't do it!"

"You must."

"Why?"

"Because you have no retreat either." Qi Qingran stood up. "You have less retreat than anyone, don't you, Brother Fu?"

Qi Jiafu lost his composure, his lips trembling.

Qi Qingran pressed on. "Brother Fu, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you—why didn't you return the ring I asked you to give back to He Peiyu?"

"I didn't have the chance."

"Was there really no chance, or were you afraid to?"

"Qingran, you saw it too. I had no chance."

"Really? You had a chance to attempt regicide, but not to return a ring?"

"What are you saying!"

"You know what I mean. When those two appeared to assassinate the Emperor, you weren't surprised at all. When they were about to succeed, you almost shouted with joy - didn't you?"

Qi Jiafu's back was already pressed against the pavilion pillar.

Qi Jiafu's back was already against the pavilion column.

"You claim to be recuperating, but how many times have you sneaked out? How many times has Jia Xi covered for you? Where did that little maid come from? Who have you been associating with? Brother Fu, I've told you everything I know, guessed, and didn't guess, but how much have you hidden from me, from the Qi family? You know, and I know too. Sometimes, I'm even afraid to guess too deeply—"

Qi Jiafu steadied himself and finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Since we're already talking this far, why not take a guess?"

"Fine, then I'll be bold and guess. Tell me, did you know about the Li family brothers' uprising in advance?"

"I..."

"If you knew everything and didn't tell my father, then you've doomed the Qi family. What would my father think of you? What would he do to you?"

"You..."

"Even if my father lets you off, what will you do? When those people attack, my father will definitely mobilize the Wind Shadow Riders. Tell me, will you kill Li Jie?"

"Stop talking."

"You won't! You're not truly loyal to the Qi family. If you just wanted to be a free man, no one in the Qi family could stop you with your skills—you should've left long ago, but why haven't you?"

"Qi Qingran! What exactly do you want to say!"

"Because you're a slave! You talk about freedom, but you're afraid of it!"

"Shut up."

"I hit the mark, didn't I? You're afraid to admit it, right? If you leave the Qi family, no one will take responsibility for you anymore. Every person you kill, every life you take, will be on your own account! So you're scared, scared of choosing the wrong path. You'd rather follow my father, pretending to endure humiliation, so that all the mistakes would be his."

"I told you to shut up!"

"You don't dare admit it. If you really didn't want to hear this, you'd turn around and leave. Could I stop you? You want to hear it because you don't dare say these things to yourself!"

"Thanks for the advice!" Qi Jiafu turned and walked away.

"Go ahead!" Qi Qingran didn't stop him. "But Brother Fu, once you leave today, in the future, you'll have to kneel to listen to me."

Qi Jiafu stopped and slowly turned back. "Qingran, what exactly do you want me to do?"

"I've told you, kill the He father and son—tonight is the best opportunity. They will be indulging in their festivities, surely lowering their guard. Tomorrow, when they report to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, everything will be finalized, and it will be too late to act." The sky darkened, and there was a dim fire in Qi Qingran's eyes as she spoke softly yet coldly, as if indifferent to anyone, even her own fate: "The chance of success and failure is fifty-fifty. If you kill the He father and son, my father will surely act to take control of this city, and he will rely on you, sharing both fortune and misfortune with you. If you fail, you can leave. The world is vast; there will be a place for you. You won't need to worry about the Qi family's mess anymore." 

Qi Jiafu's eyes gradually filled with fire too: "Have you thought about the consequences? Do you know how many people will die, whether we succeed or fail? Do you know the worst outcome? If I fail and fall into He Peiyu's hands, this city will be drenched in blood. If the Prime Minister also fails, none of your family will survive, and the world will descend into chaos. And it will all start simply- because someone you don't like proposed to you!"

"The world is already in chaos, Brother Fu." Qi Qingran stepped forward, holding his arm with a slight smile: "And you're still shirking responsibility. I suggested it, you act on it, and we both bear the responsibility. You won't fail—if you're afraid, I can go with you. In a pinch, you can use me as a hostage. As the He family's future daughter-in-law, they wouldn't kill me rashly. But nothing is certain; if they do kill me, then you'd better disfigure yourself and remove your brand to prevent them from attacking my father. I've heard that peacemakers' souls rise to the stars after death, while warmongers' souls descend to a mountain of knives and a sea of fire. When we meet there, I'll apologize to you."

Qi Jiafu looked at her as if she were a monster—from beginning to end, her demeanor was calm and even elegant, devoid of any emotion, without any effort to control her emotions. Her body was completely relaxed, her neck showing the graceful curve unique to a grown woman, yet when she lifted her chin, she still looked like a girl. She was planning a grand assassination, even putting her own retreat on the line, yet her demeanor was as light as discussing how to tidy her room. This pathological lightness was not seen in the deeply scheming Prime Minister or anyone else, like a child reading a verdict they couldn't understand, filled with heavy and even bloody fate.

Qi Jiafu didn't want to follow her suggestion—she was untrustworthy, and no rational person would adopt the advice of such an inexperienced girl.

But Qi Jiafu was already considering her suggestion because she was right; he had no other choice.

He was not the Prime Minister, lacking the overall perspective and ability for comprehensive planning. He could only choose a stance—he could never side with the sixteen families and draw his blade against the Li brothers. The Li brothers were the leaders of the rebels; to draw his blade against them meant he would never have the right to speak of freedom again. But deep down, he also couldn't join the slaves' ranks and raise his sword against Changxiang City—he was born here, grew up here, loved and hated this place. He had never been to the legendary Chu River Valley and couldn't understand the deep hatred of being displaced. Weak or lowly, at the moment he saw He Peiyu's military report, he, like everyone else, wanted to protect Changxiang City!

He had joined the Diding Association but couldn't see them as his own—Shao Yishi's reason for accepting him was his excellent swordsmanship and knowledge of the sixteen families. All his worth came from what the Prime Minister taught him hand-in-hand. The Prime Minister treated him as a confidant, overcoming all objections to entrust him with the Wind Shadow Cavalry, showing trust far beyond what a family head should give a servant. Even if the sky fell, he couldn't repay the kindness he received.

But he couldn't stay with the Qi family any longer! Qi Qingran was right; he had kept too much to himself, betraying the family with his every move. But damn it, why hadn't he left? Was it really because of the fear of freedom? Because once out of the Qi family, he'd have to take full responsibility for every decision? Good and evil, life and death, sin and redemption, killing and saving—it would all fall on him, no longer decided by the Prime Minister, but by himself?

His temples throbbed, veins bulging on his fists as countless thoughts swirled in his mind, roaring for a decision. With a bang, a voice in his heart asked, "What do I truly desire? Freedom, or to follow a god-like Prime Minister? Am I, at my core, really just a slave?"

The red clay stove on the stone table was burning brightly, the teapot steaming with white vapor, its lid clattering like a provocateur or an urge.

Alright, he gently closed his eyes, and after a long while, opened them again.

Qi Qingran was watching him, waiting for a decision.

"I hope you wont go on to regret this, Qingran." He was now very calm, a calmness born from deep exhaustion. "When it's time for the night call, meet me at the southwest gate."

Night had completely fallen, and the family feast had ended. Nobles mounted their horses at the main gate, servants holding lanterns to light the way, a few shouts in the night wind, and dozens of flickering lights like ghostly flames floating in the distant darkness.

It was a blood-soaked path with no return.