Chapter 350: The Duality of Light and Shadow

Why is the Zhezhi Dance called that name?

Because it comes from Zhezhi City in the Western Regions.

Then where is Zhezhi City?

It lies on the banks of the Yaoshuai River, historically the capital of Stone Country—or rather Dawan Country—i. e., Fang Chongyong's former life, the Uzbek capital Tashkent.

The authentic Zhezhi Dance has always been a solo performed by women. The dancer must wear the local ethnic costume of Stone Country, footed in brocade boots, with drums as the main accompaniment.

Its movements are richly varied, both vigorous and bright, yet graceful and charming. The sleeves sometimes hang low, sometimes lift. The rapid, intricate footwork makes the attached golden bells emit a crisp sound. Spectators often marvel at the lightness and suppleness of the dance.

When the dance is about to end, there is usually a deep bending motion that unmistakably displays the dancer's beautiful figure.

It makes every physiologically normal man unable to suppress his blood boiling!

At this moment, the ever‑changing rhythm of the drums accompanies the Stone Country princess. Fang Chongyong glanced at Anaye beside him and saw her eyes full of admiration fixed on Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, staring without blinking!

People always admire others for talents they themselves lack, often overlooking their own abilities. If Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya knew that Anaye had studied medicine since childhood and possessed great skill, she would likely be filled with admiration as well.

It must be said that ever since she began dancing, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya has gradually slipped into her comfortable rhythm, dancing more naturally with each step.

She dances with vigor, and the pressure Fang Chongyong places on her naturally eases without her even noticing. Because she is focused on the dance, she cannot even attend to other troublesome matters.

Fang Chongyong crossed his legs, propped his chin with one hand, looking thoughtful.

His thoughts drifted, as if time and space had carried him back more than ten years, becoming Prince Xin'an Li Yi, victorious after capturing Stone Fortress City, seated in a private room of the largest Huamen Pavilion in Liangzhou City, attending a celebration banquet.

And Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya was just like Anaye's mother back then.

Also from Stone Country, also facing imminent disaster, also dancing the Zhezhi Dance before the powerful.

Prince Xin'an Li Yi must have watched a similar Zhezhi Dance and, for a moment, was dazzled by the dancer before him, likely after the banquet ended, carrying Anaye's mother into his own bedroom.

Did Anaye's mother know she would be possessed and favored by a Tang Empire noble?

She probably knew, or rather this was her "survival path".

A stunning beauty surviving by relying on a powerful, vigorous man is the main theme of this era.

Considering Anaye's mother's beauty, at that time she could only be Prince Xin'an Li Yi's forbidden delicacy, untouchable by others. Even if Prince Xin'an were seventy or eighty and unable to walk, he would still keep this woman and handle her slowly.

In other words, in this era, long‑term possession of something like that—whether a woman, a treasure, or a title—actually symbolizes a man's power; ordinary people cannot challenge it, let alone desecrate it.

This transcends beauty and carnal desire, representing a higher‑level social demand. A "sacrifice" like Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, once obtained, need not be used, but must never fall into others' hands to be desecrated.

Otherwise, the lost face cannot be picked up again.

When a noble loses face, it means he can no longer preserve his dignity; even cats and dogs can step on him at any time!

Earlier, He Kangqi's overly attentive attitude probably stemmed from this. The so‑called "precious thing" must be possessed by the "virtuous".

If Fang Jiedushi hasn't touched a woman, they cannot touch her!

If the Jiedushi cannot have a woman that others in the army can, it means those generals are stronger than the Jiedushi and more worthy of allegiance. This is a vital survival issue that tolerates no compromise!

Women are small, face is big; in the world of jianghu, one cannot control one's own body!

"Enough, step back."

Fang Chongyong suddenly called a halt.

Anaye, who had been watching intently, glared at him with a hint of complaint. Fang Chongyong looked into Anaye's eyes, shook his head slightly, indicating she should not cause trouble.

"Ambassador Fang, you want to see the Zhezhi Dance; I just performed it as well, won't you listen to our intention?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, drenched in sweat from dancing and still panting slightly, complained discontentedly.

"Did this ambassador not make himself clear?"

"I said, step back!"

"Do you want this ambassador to have someone kidnap you away in a grand fashion?"

Fang Chongyong lifted his head and shouted at Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya.

"…Dismissed."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya sighed helplessly, then turned and left.

"Return!"

Fang Chongyong bellowed loudly!

"What, what is it?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya suddenly recalled that this man had stripped her of clothing right here, following through without any hindrance.

She couldn't help but feel a lingering fear, blaming herself for getting carried away.

"Do you Stone Country folk not bow when bidding farewell to the Tang Emperor? This ambassador's seal and staff represent the Tang holy ruler as if I were present!"

"You insult this ambassador; I may not argue with you, but the Tang Empire's authority must not be offended!"

Fang Chongyong said with righteous words.

She reluctantly knelt, performed a full‑body prostration, then glared angrily at Fang Chongyong, turned and left in a huff.

Fang Chongyong no longer troubled her, allowing her to leave the office. Of course, the Stone Country envoy team has now been 'protected' by Tang troops, making departure from the Ili River Valley impossible.

After Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya left, Fang Chongyong looked at Anaye and teased, "Look at your distant cousin, her temper's still quite proud, far worse than yours."

"Yeah, in the end you still have to get on your bed; why can't you be as straightforward as me? Going straight to the bedroom now would be more sensible."

Anaye rolled her eyes and couldn't help but retort. Though she knew these things were inevitable, she still felt jealous and uneasy.

Having to accept something does not mean accepting it willingly.

"Hehe, that's because you don't understand, you're eating 'flying vinegar'."

Fang Chongyong wrapped his arm around Anaye's shoulder, waved his hand lightly and said.

"Playing with women, what's the difference? I'm poorly educated; don't lie to me!"

Anaye asked curiously.

"Have you noticed that when you move around the army, there's often a lewd gaze sweeping over you, yet when you look back, you see nothing?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a lowered voice.

Indeed, but ever since we came to the Ili River Valley and I brewed medicine for the soldiers, this situation hasn't occurred.

Ana Ye nodded slightly and said.

"That's natural.

In the past, your status was the Jiedushi's woman on our side. Those Tang army officers and soldiers who coveted your beauty yet could not have you must have thought: the Jiedushi's woman looks sweet and tempting; if they could have her even once, they'd be willing to die.

The label on you is that you are someone's concubine on our side, the Jiedushi's woman, a symbol of honor.

And when you become a military doctor, saving lives, the label on you becomes the provider of food and clothing for Qiu Ba in the army—what they call a doctor's parental heart.

Those lewd thoughts naturally dissipate as well; who can guarantee they won't get injured on the battlefield?

Fang Chongyong used Ana Ye herself as an example, explaining in a clear and simple way.

"Indeed, your brain is still as sharp as it was back then!"

Ana Ye was overjoyed, her eyes narrowed to a slit. She loves that cleverness in Fang Chongyong; everything is clear as fire to her.

"Hehe, speaking of your distant cousin, that's interesting.

The label on her is Saintess and Stone Kingdom princess.

Fang Chongyong's face showed an ambiguous yet profound expression, making Ana Ye want to hit him!

"Can you speak more straightforwardly!"

Ana Ye wore a dissatisfied look at his evasiveness.

"Where there is light, there is darkness.

The brighter the illumination, the deeper the darkness; this is the two sides of one.

The same holds in religion; when a deity saves all beings, it is not without desire.

The so‑called Saintess, in many Western Regions religions, often symbolizes that they are vessels for the deity, i. e., offerings to the god.

In ceremonies, the Saintess often mates with the god and gives birth to the deity's earthly envoy.

In other words, the Saintess has from the start been meant to be defiled by the noble; their sole purpose is that their purity be violated and trampled.

Any woman labeled "Saintess" meets one of two fates:

eternal life in flames, or being defiled by earthly filth, ultimately collapsing into ruin.

You cannot defile a Saintess; that only shows you have not yet earned the right to do so. But your lack of right does not mean the lofty ones lack it either.

Fang Chongyong presented the harsh logic with solemn arguments, yet it sounded convincing.

"Your mind is truly extraordinary; such twisted reasoning I cannot refute!

What does the princess then signify?"

Ana Ye, as usual, was led astray by Fang Chongyong.

"The so‑called princess represents the majesty of imperial authority.

Defiling the princess signifies trampling authority.

Only the strong can trample the existing authority to forge a new one; the weak must obey and cannot resist.

Thus, defiling the princess embodies a strong one's conquest of authority.

Making a princess a concubine, treating her like a brothel courtesan, fulfills many strong men's social demand.

They need such a front to intimidate the petty.

Princesses of the Tang royal family are often arrogant; you can understand it inversely— the prince consort must not defile authority.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya possesses both Saintess and princess identities; this woman, beyond being defiled and possessed, has no other purpose.

She is merely a seemingly noble commodity, and nothing else.

Fang Chongyong spoke at length, a hint of regret on his face.

Under the torrent of the ages, an individual's fate is often as insignificant as dust.

Today it is Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya; who knows if tomorrow it won't be Fang Chongyong himself?

"A Lang, you're truly formidable. After hearing you, I feel that not securing Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya would betray your role as the Western Regions envoy!"

Ana Ye laughed teasingly, feeling much better inside. She also knew, as Fang Chongyong said, that many times what to do or not do is not something you can decide yourself.

Someone of Fang Chongyong's "unspeakably noble" status still patiently explaining to this Hexi country girl, making the reasoning clear, truly isn't easy.

Let someone else be, who cares what you think; I do as I please.

"So you just leave her like that? If you want to act, act quickly."

Ana Ye let out a light sigh, saying she's a straightforward woman; once the reasoning is clear, she won't meddle any longer.

"The Stone Kingdom is central to the Western Regions campaign and cannot be taken lightly. Not to mention a Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya; even if every Stone Kingdom woman looks like Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, I'll do whatever I must!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, saying political matters always come first; women are merely accessories. Besides her beauty, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya has another subtle advantage, but it's inconvenient to explain now.

…

For three consecutive days, Fang Chongyong left Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya aside, ignoring the Stone Kingdom envoy delegation.

He neither allowed them to leave nor agreed to meet them.

By the third day, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya could no longer hold back. Because Fang Chongyong could still wait, they could not any longer; now the Stone Kingdom's situation is truly as dangerous as a basket of eggs about to burst.

Late at night, in a bedroom behind the Bagua City Office courtyard, Fang Chongyong feigned surprise, looking at the unusually "cool"-dressed Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, whose shoulders and collarbones were exposed, and asked, "A Saintess visiting at night, still dressed flamboyantly. This lone man and woman situation isn't proper, is it?"

Her shoulder‑length wheat‑colored hair, naturally wavy, and sapphire‑like eyes exuded charm; truly she was like a beautiful angel descended from heaven. Any man would likely be unable to refuse such a beauty's many requests.

The Western Regions beauty said nothing, yet said everything.

"Ambassador Fang, isn't the beauty on your bed a human? Where does the notion of a lone man and woman come from?"

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya suppressed her fury and asked. Many women, when they speak, focus on strange points.

"Oh, then you are the one intruding; you're the unnecessary one, right?"

Fang Chongyong helplessly spread his hands and said.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya was so angry she could not speak for a moment; recalling the Stone Kingdom's emergency, she forced herself to suppress her fury.

She plans tonight to lure Fang Chongyong into agreeing to send troops to the Stone Kingdom, to stop Gao Xianzhi's rampage. Of course, struggle brings sacrifice. She dresses so sexy tonight—what for, no one asks.

Before coming here, Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya had already made a decision.

But she never expected that Fang Chongyong already has a woman in his bed now! The one he saw three days ago.

"Ambassador Fang, Gao Xianzhi has unprovokedly attacked the Stone Kingdom and has already taken the capital Zhezhi City. My father and brothers have withdrawn with troops to the eastern stronghold Dalosi of the Stone Kingdom; the situation is dire.

I also request Ambassador Fang to lead troops to Dalosi to stop Gao Xianzhi's misdeeds.

As long as Ambassador Fang is willing to send troops, I can agree to any condition."

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya placed both hands on her upright breasts, gently brushed them, and cast a meaning‑laden glance at Fang Chongyong.

She believes he already understands what "any condition" entails.

Anaye, sitting on the bed watching the play, is about to go berserk, about to rush forward and strike, but remembers Fang Chongyong's request and must suppress the raging anger, continuing to watch the play.

This despicable woman, daring to seduce her own man right before her eyes! Indeed, a holy maiden is exactly the sort of thing that should be trampled and defiled!

Anaye thought resentfully.

"Hehe, this ambassador admits that the holy maiden's beauty is outstanding, and any man will develop lecherous thoughts toward you."

Fang Chongyong stood up, looked at Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya with a cold smile, and continued, "So what? You're just a woman, yet you want to sway the military and political situation—do you even deserve that?"

After speaking, he took out a white chalk used for military drills and drew a large circle on the spot where Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya was sitting.

"Without this ambassador's order, if you dare step out of this circle tonight, this ambassador will have Gao Xianzhi wipe out the Stone Kingdom tomorrow. Don't believe it? Try it!"

Fang Chongyong stared at the pale‑faced Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya and said in a deep voice.

After speaking, he walked to the bedside, clasped Anaye's shoulder, and said to Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, "She is my cherished concubine; you are nothing! Keep your eyes wide open and watch how this ambassador spoils her."

Hearing this, recalling how they once supported each other in Shazhou, Anaye was moved to tears, quickly embraced Fang Chongyong and offered a fragrant kiss.

The two, right in front of Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, made love with the intensity of dry wood meeting blazing fire; soon the scene became too erotic to describe.

Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, standing aside, was stunned, never expecting Fang Chongyong to humiliate her in this manner.

"Damned Western Frontier Strategist Ambassador, how can you make love with your concubine right in front of me, a holy maiden!"

"Are you a horse or a human?"

"If you want to make love, you should do it in front of your concubine, not with me, right?"

"Does this Stone Kingdom's top beauty care about saving face?"

(End of chapter)