Chapter 32: Beauty Like Jade

The wine was finished and the banquet dispersed; the night was nearly half over. Bidding farewell to the others, Li Si followed Zi Hao toward the tent where they were temporarily staying. Along the way, she felt him walking faster and faster, and she almost had to jog to keep up. Once inside the tent, he, who had remained silent the entire time, hurriedly gave the order, "Do not let anyone in," and went straight into the rear chamber.

The tent was divided into two sections by two cloth curtains, separating the front and back. The outer area was for meetings and receiving guests, while the inner area was where the Eastern Emperor rested and lived. Li Si stopped in the outer tent. The moment the hanging curtain was lifted, she caught a glimpse of his body staggering, and then her line of sight was blocked by the falling curtain.

When there was no one else around, Zi Hao practically collapsed onto the side of the couch. His brows finally furrowed tightly, and the pain caused by the internal Qi clashing in reverse was fully revealed. It was already difficult to suppress the medicinal poison when mixed with alcohol, and he had forcibly used his true Qi just now—especially for that final sword strike. He had channeled his true Qi into the sword realm, using the Jiuyou Profound Mastery to directly suppress the minds of everyone present. There were likely few people in this world who could contend with the Jiuyou Sword Realm. Such a result had been expected, but every time the level of the Jiuyou Profound Mastery rose, it meant the poison within his body deepened, and the backlash became even more severe. With the two intertwined, it was impossible to distinguish whether the turbulence in his meridians was true Qi or the poison's momentum. The relentless pain caused his tightly clenched knuckles to turn deathly pale.

Without permission, Li Si did not dare to enter casually. She only heard low, suppressed coughing coming from inside the tent. Once it finally stopped, it became so quiet that it was anxiety-inducing. She did not know how much time had passed before she finally heard a low voice call out from inside: "Li Si."

The voice was hoarse and weary, barely audible. Li Si hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered. She saw Zi Hao sitting cross-legged, clearly having just finished regulating his breath. Hearing her enter, he instructed, "Go brew some tea, make it strong. When Su Ling and Qie Lan arrive in a moment, tell them to come in and see me directly."

Li Si looked at his complexion, wanting to speak but stopping herself. In the end, she said nothing and withdrew as ordered. Zi Hao sat motionless with his eyes half-closed, as if thinking of something. A trace of hidden worry appeared between his brows, but it lasted only for a moment before he returned to his usual indifference and calm.

When Su Ling arrived, Li Si had already brought in the freshly brewed hot tea. Zi Hao took it in his hands, and the cup was soon empty. He lowered his eyes and signaled for Li Si to refill it before looking up. "Did you see Gu Qiutong or Shusun Yi?"

Su Ling said, "Both of them have been here."

"How were they?"

"Gu Qiutong is older and steady; he does not speak much, and it is clear that he has always respected Princess Qie Lan's decisions. Shusun Yi is very quick-witted and considers things more thoroughly than others. He asked about many past events in Di Du, including the Queen of the Nine Yi tribe. Of course, what he asked about most was the former state."

"Over these past three years, the former state has treated the Nine Yi tribe with the utmost benevolence, and its influence on them is significant. They naturally had to confirm your thoughts for themselves," Zi Hao said calmly. "Using Gu Qiutong as the commander and Shusun Yi as his deputy—Qie Lan has made good use of these two people."

"Yes, it is clear that the Princess considered using these two very carefully." Gu Qiutong's steadiness supplemented by Shusun Yi's wit; a commander-in-chief must be able to support their own decisions when making major strategic moves, while simultaneously making good use of a deputy with great talent and strategy. This not only exerts the deputy's maximum potential but also creates an invisible check on the commander from the sidelines. Weighing the pros and cons, this is truly the way to employ people. Since the fall of their nation, the Nine Yi tribe has been held together by Princess Qie Lan alone; the hardships involved can be imagined. She is truly a woman worthy of admiration. As Su Ling thought this, he casually picked up the tea in front of him and took a sip. After just one sip, he suddenly frowned.

This tea was extremely strong, with at least twice the amount of tea leaves added, which was completely contrary to his master's usual habits. Just as Su Ling was feeling puzzled, he looked up and saw Zi Hao had already finished another cup, and Li Si was refilling it again at his signal. He felt a shock in his heart; this was clearly not for tasting tea, nor was it to sober up, but to use the strong tea to forcibly refresh his mind. Su Ling's gaze fell toward Li Si, and the two exchanged a look just as they heard Zi Hao ask, "What about Qie Lan?"

Su Ling set down his teacup. "After Gu Qiutong and Shusun Yi left my tent, they went to Princess Qie Lan's. Several elders of the Nine Yi tribe and other generals were already in the Princess's tent earlier."

"Hmm, wait a little longer." Zi Hao closed his eyes and subconsciously supported his forehead with his hand. Although Su Ling did not want him to overexert himself, there were some things he had to ask at this moment. "Master, if the Nine Yi tribe's decision tonight is not satisfactory, please instruct me on how to deal with it."

The tent was silent for a moment. Li Si's hand, which was pouring the tea, faltered. Then she heard the master's voice ring out faintly from within the frost-like water mist: "If the discarded piece is useless, cut the weeds and dig up the roots."

Indifferent, indifferent and resolute.

Under the shadows of his fingers and palms, those clear, cold eyes, that quiet and chilly gaze, were like thousand-year-old black ice on a lonely peak, containing not a trace of emotion, not a hint of hesitation.

Li Si's heart trembled, and the tea in her hand nearly spilled from the cup. She hurriedly pulled back. In her ears came Su Ling's equally calm reply, "Su Ling understands."

There was no need to mobilize the forces of the former state; the fifty thousand elite troops in Zhongshi Shan were enough to fully control the entire Xi Ma Gu. Then, after one night, the Nine Yi tribe would no longer exist on the land of the Yong Dynasty. If it came to that, it must be done with absolute certainty. If even one person escaped, it would alarm the forces of various nations and cause unnecessary trouble. It would still require some effort, especially how to deal with Princess Qie Lan, which would become a thorny problem.

Zi Hao flicked his sleeve lightly and raised his hand to take the teacup and sip. Without needing to look, he knew that this capable and important official must already have appropriate arrangements in mind. He smiled again. "Su Ling, you worry too much."

Su Ling looked up, a gentle and faint smile appearing on his face. "Plan before you act so as not to lose the initiative. The Master once said this, and Su Ling has not dared to forget it for a moment. Thinking more about things is always better than not thinking at all."

Zi Hao leaned back against the cushion behind him, the Spirit Stone Bead String on his wrist sliding down, and he habitually toyed with it in his hand. Both Su Ling and Li Si knew he was thinking about something and did not disturb him. After a moment, they heard him say four words faintly: "Qie Lan will not."

Su Ling nodded and said, "She likely will not, but the opinions of others will inevitably influence her decision, so we must also guard against the unexpected."

Zi Hao said, "Qie Lan just returned from Zhongshi Shan; she should have seen some things very clearly. These three years of warfare have long since made her the true decision-maker of the Nine Yi tribe. For the Nine Yi tribe, she is the 'one' that can break and establish."

For the Nine Yi tribe, Qie Lan is the 'one' capable of controlling the overall situation. For the world, the Nine Yi tribe is likewise that crucial 'one'. The war to conquer the Nine Yi caused a subtle turning point in the world's chessboard. The forces behind the Nine Yi tribe are intricate and complex; there is Di Du, the former state, Chu Guo, and even nations like Mu and Xuan all wanted to intervene, only to be forcibly suppressed by the high-profile Young Prince of Chu Guo. Three years ago, the Eastern Emperor, who had not yet fully controlled the Wang Cheng, personally placed this chess piece on the board. While checking the various nations, it also facilitated the replacement of the imperial power in Di Du. Now, turning the world upside down, he has made it a gateway for the game between all parties.

A thousand threads, all pulled by one. Therefore, no matter the cost, subduing the Nine Yi tribe is a necessary step that must not fail. But if one wants to make things more certain, there is actually a better way—Princess Qie Lan is a woman.

As Su Ling thought this, he voiced his idea. "Master, in the past, you were afraid that the Wang Taihou would take the opportunity to plant Phoenix Clan women in the palace, so you always feigned illness and did not appoint an Empress or consorts. This dragged on for several years. Now that there is no such concern, Princess Qie Lan is outstanding in both appearance and talent, and her status is appropriate. Why does the Master not consider this matter?"

Li Si's heart stirred. Not to mention killing two birds with one stone, looking across the Nine Domains, who else was more suitable to take charge of the Zhong Gong than Princess Qie Lan? She could not help but look at the Master full of hope. Zi Hao, however, just smiled casually and remained noncommittal. The black Obsidian Beads reflected those clear, quiet eyes like a deep pool. As they fell from his fingertips one by one, after a long silence, he finally spoke slowly: "This matter does not affect the overall situation; we shall discuss it later."

The two people in front of him simultaneously had a feeling—whenever the issue of Princess Qie Lan arose, his attitude was always somewhat indescribably complex. He seemed to treat her differently, often revealing some pleasant emotions in her presence, but at the same time, he deliberately kept his distance from her, as if out of some concern, unwilling to let her get too close to him. Zi Hao, however, did not notice the strangeness in their expressions and lowered his head to drink another cup of strong tea.

He could no longer remember which cup of tea it was. Although the tea was strong, the effect did not seem great. After the pain in his meridians eased, his consciousness uncontrollably became a bit muddled. He frowned slightly and raised his hand to press his left shoulder. Sharp pain immediately spread from the wound, stimulating his spirit like a sharp blade. Li Si suddenly saw his outer robe slide open, and a patch of blood slowly seeped out from underneath, staining his white clothes and looking particularly striking. She said in alarm, "Master, watch your wound!"

Zi Hao, however, stopped her from checking the wound and raised his eyes slightly. Footsteps came from outside the tent, and the wind blew the night curtain, causing the starlight of the whole sky to suddenly spill in.

Qie Lan's snow-white robe fluttered against the wind, her calm posture like a pool of clear moonlight shining into the slightly dark tent. Zi Hao's gaze met those bright and beautiful eyes in mid-air, and neither of them spoke first.

Su Ling glanced at Li Si and stood up, saying, "Master, if there is nothing else, I will return first."

Zi Hao nodded and said casually, "In a while, I will transfer Jin Wuyu away from the center. You make arrangements for him to take over the military power of Xi Ma Gu."

"Yes." Su Ling bowed slightly and agreed with a smile, as gentle and composed as ever, though the two women beside him could not hide their momentary surprise.

With one sentence, the command of fifty thousand troops was changed, and years of hard work were handed over to someone else, yet Su Ling seemed to have accepted the most ordinary of orders, without hesitation or dissatisfaction. He bowed, looked up, and the eyes of the sovereign and his subject met. That indescribable calm and tacit understanding made Qie Lan's heart tremble for an instant. Watching the elegant blue-robed figure disappear outside the tent, she was just stunned when something suddenly appeared in front of her. It was Li Si, who had stuffed the medicine she had retrieved into her hand, bowed, and said, "Princess, I am still brewing medicine outside. The Master's shoulder wound has reopened, please, Princess!" Saying this, she did not wait for an answer and followed Su Ling out, lifting the curtain.

The curtain in the tent lifted and fell, leaving only the two of them facing each other.

"The wound had just gotten better, how could you be so careless?" Qie Lan hesitated for a moment, took a clean bandage, and knelt beside Zi Hao, carefully helping him take off his outer robe. She often bandaged the wounds of soldiers in the army herself, so she was not unfamiliar with these things. Zi Hao leaned against the long couch, slightly lowering his eyes to look at the beauty before him. The distinct outline of her face under the lamp reminded him of the woman who had entrusted her to him many years ago—such clear and gentle beauty, with an elegant and strong demeanor.

"I wasn't paying attention for a moment," he replied faintly. Qie Lan remained silent, her soft fingertips brushing against his skin. Between the deep, bone-reaching wound, there seemed to be an imperceptible tremor, inadvertently conveying the emotions she wanted to hide. Even though she felt his gaze, she did not look up until she had finished treating the wound, only then casting a slight glance at him.

The apology that flashed through those moon-like clear eyes swept across Zi Hao's patient and deep gaze. But the slight fluctuation of emotion did not disrupt her pace. She stepped back and knelt opposite him across the table, seemingly wanting to use this long table to separate a distance to keep her mind calm. After weighing her words slightly, she said, "Now that matters here are settled, in a while I would like to lead my people to migrate back to the Nine Yi homeland. I wonder what the King's intention is?"

This was like a negotiating posture, but it did not detract from her beauty. A trace of a smile seemed to appear on Zi Hao's lips as he put on his robe and stood up. "Is this the unanimous decision of the Nine Yi tribe?"

"Yes." Qie Lan nodded slightly. "The six elders of the Nine Yi tribe and all the generals in the army are still in my tent; they are waiting for the King's final decision."

Zi Hao leaned against the couch sideways, holding a cup to taste the tea. After a while, he asked faintly, "Three years ago, what were the conditions for the Nine Yi tribe to borrow troops from Chu Guo, and is your decision related to this?"

The lamplight flickered gently in the depths of Qie Lan's eyes. Under his piercing gaze, her eyes fell on the map of the Wangyu landscape spread out before the table. After a moment of silence, her slender fingertips lightly traced across the vast mountains and rivers, finally landing in the direction of her homeland. "Although the Nine Yi tribe's territory is not vast, in terms of location, it happens to form a defensive line guarding Di Du together with the former state and Zhao Kingdom. During these three years of war, nearly half of the Nine Yi tribe's territory has fallen into ruined cities and wilderness, but more areas have fallen under the control of Chu Guo. If the war continues, no matter the outcome for the Nine Yi tribe, the Liefeng Cavalry can march on the Wangyu at any time, as long as Huang Fei has the intention." She paused for a moment and looked at Zi Hao. He raised his head slightly. "Go on."

Qie Lan said, "Your edict of self-reproach severed the war between our two tribes and also broke Chu Guo's layout. But as long as the Nine Yi tribe has not recovered its homeland for a single day, Chu Guo effectively controls the southern defensive line of the Wangyu. Once they mobilize troops into the territory, even if the royal family can resist, the outcome could be mutual destruction. It is even more likely to give the Mu and Xuan nations, which you and Huang Fei have been painstakingly checking, an opportunity to take advantage. Then it would inevitably turn into a chaotic war for the world. I think this should not be the situation you want."

Zi Hao said faintly, "Continue."

Qie Lan looked up. "Just now in my tent, there was a great argument. Regarding today's banquet and the attitude of the royal family, everyone's views were inconsistent. However, the opinions of all the military generals were surprisingly unanimous, which was quite unexpected." A momentary gaze contained strange emotions; that faint, shimmering light was just like the moon under the water, the time under the flowers, reflecting his calm eyes. "Do you know what Shusun Yi and the others said?"

Zi Hao leaned back slowly and shook his head with a smile.

Qie Lan's beautiful brows knitted slightly. "You deliberately used such methods to suppress them so they couldn't even say a word, yet you don't care about their final thoughts?"

Zi Hao coughed low and shook his head again. "I only care about the result."

Qie Lan took a deep breath, the hazy lamplight casting a clear and beautiful luster on her brows, her skin like ice and bones like jade, her eyes transparent. The end of this war did not mean true peace for the Nine Yi tribe. The Young Prince, who studied under the same master, had the ambition and desire to conquer the world. From the moment she became his apprentice, she knew that even if the Nine Yi tribe won this war, they would not be able to get their homeland back and would ultimately become the beginning of Chu Guo's hegemony over the Nine Domains.

But right now, there was an opportunity.

"Then, what is the result the King wants?"

A faint smile bloomed on Zi Hao's lips. "I want you, and the loyalty of the Nine Yi tribe."

His answer gave no possibility of hesitation, yet his smile was so alluring, like an unfathomable abyss. The vast sea surface seemed to be calm forever, but deep inside there were countless tempting whirlpools. Once one entered this territory, no one could escape.

Qie Lan stared at him for a while, sighed softly, rose to her knees, and took something from her bosom, holding it in her palm. Then her expression became slightly solemn, and with a sincere and respectful posture, she raised it above her head with both hands and bowed her head. "Qie Lan has come to represent all the Nine Yi people in offering the Moonlight Spirit Stone to the Master, and to swear an oath before the Spirit Stone: The Nine Yi tribe is willing to submit to the royal family again, to live for it, to fight for it, to exist for it, and to die for it. No matter when, no matter what, the Nine Yi people will obey all the Master's decisions with their lives and will never betray!"

Every word and every sentence repeated the ancient oath. She offered the Spirit Stone to him, along with the future destiny of the Nine Yi tribe. The mysterious power inherited from the beginning of heaven and earth thousands of years ago in the Spirit Stone emitted a clear, spiritual light under the stimulation of her true power, illuminating the four walls. The tent was filled with clear radiance like water, with pure colors appearing.

When the nine stones appear, the world becomes one.

The light of the Spirit Stone reflected in Zi Hao's silent eyes, brightness and darkness alternating, as if the winds and clouds of the Nine Domains, the changes of the vast sea.

He gently raised his hand to cover her palm, their fingertips touching, and as his Nine Nether Profound Penetration Qi permeated through, the Yuehua Stone suddenly radiated brilliant light, shining in reflection with the Obsidian on his wrist, filling the room with a dazzling flow of light...

(End of chapter)