Chapter 17 (1/2)
XVII The Capital
Black Pitch black
I open my eyes wide in the darkness only to find that I can’t see a thing I can only hear what seeround There’s constant rocking, too I try to shout out in a panic only to find a piece of cloth stuffed in
I squeeze ain It’s still just as dark
What the hell is this?
Ipainfully I yelp and feel a dull pain on my chest
Right That’s right My neck… I closedarkness what had happened after leaving Murong Yu
With his pass in hand, I ran into several patrols but no real hare of the Yan caht then but my horse needed water—just as much as I did—so I located a water source I hopped off the horse and cupped some water in my hands but before it reached ht several shadows amidst the trees
I panicked and turned to escape on my horse but one of the shadows had already enteredinto my shoulders and just as I tried to reach over, he chopped at my neck with his other hand As the horse whinnied in alar its target and darkness fell upon htly constrained, not able to budge an inch
A shudder runs through me and the acute pain fro furiously Bah-boohtless, narrow space It feels like e
I try to see e to wiggle ers a little
Inhale Exhale Inhale Exhale I get myself to calm doith a few repetitions
I lift myself up a bit and cautiously reach out withcold and hard I start to get an idea after some more exploration
Clop-clop-clop It’s the sound of a galloping horse There are also the thuds of wood boards against each other I give a weak nod This is probably a , narrow box on the carriage
A long box, huh There’s only one thing that fits that wouldn’t raise any suspicion
I quickly bite down on my lips to stop my discomfort
Who would attackme?
I don’t recall having any enerudge against me I feel chills and cold sweat down my back
A e ain and stay silent in the dark, while overwhel fear and loneliness attack me
I don’t knohere I am I don’t knoho’s aroundto
Easy, Han Xin You need to calm down
It’s not the first ti yourself
I hear a sharp whistle and the carriage stops unexpectedly Thud Caught off guard, I buainst the wooden board I ruband some faint footsteps
“I heard soer asks Someone else answers momentarily, “Don’t worry We’re almost there It’ll be fine”
With a crisp crack of a whip, the carriage starts ain
Whether I’ for the den of ferocious beasts or a monstrous cliff or even—knock on wood—the end of the road, I can only stay as I am and bide my time
Within, I lose consciousness again and again only to be woken up by the bumpy ride every time
The creaking of the wheels seems to loop on forever and ever I strain s There seems to be the sound of water, and conversation, and a … My vision fades out and ets colder and colder
A to make it out of this one?
I’m not sure how much time has passed when I suddenly hear a loud crack by ure swaying in front ofcarried out My bones are so sore they could split I lean on the person and let myself fall over
I sleep deeply I don’t knohat’s going on but it feels like I’ve returned to a fa back memories
There are faces in my dream There are soirl’s tinkling laughter
I sleep for a long, long time, perhaps an eternity
“It’s time to wake up” Someone touches my forehead in my sleep I snap open my eyes in alarm
What I see before me are fancy drapes I slowly sit up after a deep breath There’s akindly besideto be fa and I can’t remember
She presses her lips together “Don’t tell otten about this lil’ ol’ lady after your little fieldtrip to the frontiers”
I rub my eyes and only then doeswoman dressed in blue, hair done up in a plain style It’s none other than…
“Maid Xiu” I squint at her in slight disbelief She nods, still se of the bed Quickly, I look around at the layout of the room “And this couldn’t possibly…”
“This is the Minister’s Mansion Young Master, surely you haven’t forgotten?” She brings over a bowl of stea “Get yourself war by later”
Uncle?
Hesitantly, I take the bowl I still can’t reat-aunt, the eoing on here? Froht me back, which I don’t believe I don’t believe that inhospitable uncle ofme from the Yan military base Or maybe it’s because he thinks I’ve sold the country out andme back to punish me?
I can al There’s always a reason behind everything Uncle does He definitely would not be nice to me purely on the basis of our relation as uncle and nephew
“Maid Xiu, I…have so to ask you” After several atteid face She sits down again, looking at h and ask quietly, “Do you knohat’s been goin’ on the past few days?”
She stays quiet for a while, her face so obviously downcast She replies flatly, “We are in the middle of a war What could possibly happen?”
“Then…why’m I…?”
I want to ask why I am back in the capital but she interrupts, “Save it for later Plus, what’s so bad aboutit back in one piece?” She pauses “I’m sure Miss Han’s soul would not be able to rest peacefully if anything happened to you”
My eyes go wide and the bowl shakes uncontrollably inabout is my mother, Uncle’s only blood sister and the niece whoreatly adored
When it coly I zone out looking at the bowl of congee Out fro es me to eat
Ah, screw it Filling up ht now
The next day, I get called by Uncle to the back hall He has just coue written all over his face and black circles under his eyes His bright red court attire for contrast with the fehite hairs on his head
Uncle’s naer’s nephew but he’s only seven or eight years younger than her As a high-ranking official who has served two emperors, he is currently the Minister of Personnel and also holds the title of Archduke Jing, continuously working with the eer to exert control over the court The Han clan has been the dorandfather’s tieneration has been in constant conflict with Heng Ziyu, the Protector of the Seas, who holds the military power
A twinkle flashes across his eyes when he sees me but vanishes in an instant
“Morning” He doesn’t spare me many words
Uncle has always been strict with ive a nervous nod as reply Ahis beard He doesn’t look at me either and orders flatly “Stay in thearound with those swine you call friends”
It sounds no different fro out on the streets as if I hadn’t just coood-for-nothing
Oh, co me, but you shouldn’t treat ot back froive me a pat on the back?
Sadly, I get blatantly ignored by Uncle With a wave of his hand, the houseboy drags me out in the blink of an eye
The whistling autumn wind blows and yellow leaves fall—the Minister’s Mansion is a sight to behold Despite the recent bloody massacre, the prosperity and wealth of the capital stay constant I sigh as I stroll through the garden with nothing better to do
This is so boring Why doesn’t he just killme out?
I think about my ‘swine’ friends withafter I’ve been gone for so long
You won’t let s only listen to me, I snicker
Arabian Nights is the most famous restaurant in the capital Rich music plays, and dies and wine cups are scattered everywhere during the meal Loud and boisterous, the place is always packed with patrons Even from the private roo and serving downstairs
With a table full of delicious cuisine and exquisite wine before me, I must say I’m satisfied
“So how has war been for you, Han Xin?” A fresh-faced, polite looking man pours for me
I furrow my brows and shoot him a dirty look “What do you mean ‘how has war been’? What would you people know about hen you’re living it up in the capital?”
The speaker, Song Ruo, pulls an amused smile “Hah Look at Mr Warrior here, all serious business now”
“I know, right?” A , now that ya mention it, Han Xin kinda has a stick up his ass like his uncle now”
“Ouch, Pei Yuan You out of all people”
The Rui Dynasty largely focuses on scholarshi+p and the Song fah the imperial examination process Many of the, the youngest son of the Song family, holds the position of assistant Imperial Auditor and Judicial Reviewer, and is a person who can’t sees The Pei faround, and has protected the royal faenerations Pei Yuan holds the title of Lieutenant General in the Golden Guardian The three of us are about the sae and share similar interests and aspirations
“Whatever Not gonna waste o try it for yourself,” I dare hi up There are only the three of us in the roo against it with my wine in hand, and push open the s
The cri with the hts is situated on one of the busiest streets in the city and the people are packed like sardines The road side lights have already been lit so it’s as bright as day The festive lanterns have only recently been put up and the crowd is swept up by the mood The capital of a country never sleeps Countless people surge in fro illue in this ance
As I sip es of the battlefield flash across my vision instead: broken spears, severed body parts, horses storound red with blood, and corpses everywhere Song Ruo paces towards me and looks down at the street, too
“We won’t be able to see this prosperity anyhs
“Well, on’t just sit and watch”
Pei Yuan laughs half-heartedly “‘Sit and watch’ Well said” There’s a long pause before he continues “Han Xin, you wouldn’t know ‘cause you just got back but shi+t’s been going down in the court these days No one kno it’s gonna turn out”
I whipexplains casually “Minister Xie suggested a southward relocation and reed There are less and less supporting the ith Yan”