Lady Kelpi Translations

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Six:
Go Over Ten Thousand Miles

Shaoshang felt as though she had been crushed beneath a colossal stone mill. The grinding teeth, driven by the relentless turning, crushed her bones with an agonizing, unyielding rhythm. It was as if she were in a charcoal pit, her muscles and skin seared repeatedly by skewers. She seemed to be struggling in an endless hell for what felt like an eternity, until, finally, she woke up.

The outside was still pitch-black. Was it the same night, or had she slept for an entire day?

Slowly, her vision cleared, revealing A’Zhu, tears streaming down her face. A’Zhu was calling for the maids to wrap Shaoshang’s wounds, change her clothes, and feed her medicine and water. As her hearing gradually recovered, she became aware of an intense argument outside. The voices were both familiar and unfamiliar, male and female, old and young… many, many voices. The dazzling lights of lanterns and torches swayed, mingling with the clinking of gold and silver.

Shaoshang suddenly shrank back, frightened by the noise.

Scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind like a spinning lantern: galloping horses, golden halberds, moonlight on the cliffside, and the thunderous cries of hundreds of soldiers. The wind whipped against his deep red, blood-like brocade robe, the dark golden Bi An embroidery seeming to throb with life – he braved the cold wind with agility and determination, never turning back.

A plush touch against her fingers made her look down. It was his fur cloak, wide, thick, and dense, half spread on the bed and half on the floor, wrapped around her.

A’Zhu immediately reached for the cloak, intending to take it away when she saw it. However, the girl’s fingers were like iron wires embedded in it, firmly grasping it. She didn’t dare to forcefully pull it because of how scarred her fingers were, with eight out of ten fingers wrapped in gauze.

Madam Xiao’s high-profile shrieks echoed from outside, “…Third Highness, please take care of yourself. Although you come from a noble background, this is still a young lady’s inner residence. How can you go in?” Father Cheng’s hearty roar followed, with similar intent.

The Third Prince had arrived with armed guards, but he hadn’t anticipated the resistance he met.

After a few more arguments from both sides, the Third Prince became anxious. With a fierce clash of gold, heavy leather boots stepped onto the porch, and the exquisite wooden door was smashed open with tremendous force – the cold wind of the night flew in recklessly, and the smell of medicine and blood in the room scattered.

The Third Prince, in his dusty military uniform, his hair a mess and his golden crown askew, exuded an air of impatience. At this moment, he stood in the inner bedroom and stared at the long-haired girl sitting by the bed with hatred. The four guards on either side all unsheathed their swords and exuded a fierce aura.

The maidservants in the room were all frightened and scattered, either hiding behind the privacy screen or huddled in the corner. A’Zhu supported her trembling body in front of the bed. Only Shaoshang sat motionless, with Lian Fang and Sang Guo curled up at her feet.

“…Is he dead?” Shaoshang looked up, her voice sounding dry and hoarse.

The Third Prince stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. “You still have the nerve to ask! It’s fortunate he treated you with such infatuation, yet you went to report him without any mercy! You cold and selfish woman!”

Shaoshang tilted her head slightly. “I used to go hiking on that mountain slope before. The cliff below isn’t high, and many crooked-necked pine trees are growing on the cliff. He was able to get me to safety from the bare cliff on Xiaoyue Mountain… This time…” She shook her head. “It’s hard to say; he was injured and his skills might not be as sharp as usual.”

The Third Prince’s chest swelled with rage, his desire to strangle the cunning girl almost overwhelming.

Shaoshang shook her head again and said in a tired voice, “Your Highness, you broke into the Cheng mansion today not just to scold me, right? Why don’t you get to the important thing and tell me… is he still alive?”

The Third Prince took a deep breath. “He’s still alive. Chen Anguo had the Tiger Tally Army lower a rope to check. He’s currently trapped in a narrow cave at the bottom of the cliff, unable to move.”

Shaoshang understood the meaning behind his words. “Why not pull him up and treat him well?”

“That cave is treacherous! Easy to enter, but escape is impossible!” the Third Prince roared uncontrollably. “Moreover, he is seriously injured and cannot be directly tied or pulled by ropes. A large number of people must be sent to dig out an opening before he can be slowly lifted! But he committed a heinous crime last night, killing his father, manipulating troops, and forging edicts… what shocked everyone was that both camps with heavy soldiers were in chaos! Now the court and public are aware and afraid. Early this morning, eighteen high-ranking officials joined forces to impeach him and demanded he be sentenced to death!”

Shaoshang stared blankly at the Third Prince. “So, he’s still at the bottom of the cliff. No one dares to rescue him, right?”

The Third Prince, consumed by fury, lunged forward, grabbing her arm. He lifted her arm and bitterly cursed, “It’s all your fault, you wicked woman! If you hadn’t reported it, how could he have ended up like this?”

Shaoshang’s face went pale and her arm was in severe pain from being grabbed. Her tone remained unchanged, “What kind of fate does the Third Prince hope he will have? To flee to the ends of the earth? To hide his name? Or to commit suicide by sword after the matter is accomplished?”

The Third Prince choked.

“The moment news reached me of Ling Yi’s birthday celebration outside the city, I understood his true intentions. With his father’s murder and the covert shifting of troops, last night’s events have left a situation unresolved. Even if he succeeds, what happens after?”

Shaoshang locked eyes with the Third Prince, the ache of her back wound intensifying.

“Escape or remain,” she murmured. “There’s no refuge for him here. Where could he flee? To Shu, perhaps, or seek sanctuary among the Di in the north? Or fade into obscurity in the countryside, hoping that His Majesty’s reign will bring forgiveness and allow his return?”

Her gaze was chilling. The Third Prince couldn’t meet it.

“You understand him more than anyone, Your Highness. He wouldn’t want to… wouldn’t want to live a life of hiding. Death would be preferable.”

The Third Prince released her arm, gently led her back to the bed, then distanced himself.

“So, he must stay. Captured or dead,” Shaoshang’s hand caressed her arm. “He won’t end his life before me.”

The Third Prince turned abruptly, a sneer twisting his lips. “So, you fancy yourself all-knowing?”

Shaoshang met his gaze unwaveringly. “I know because he didn’t want me scared.”

The Third Prince turned his head away, saying nothing.

“Since he’s bound for conviction and imprisonment, the less resistance, the better,” Shaoshang sighed, her exhaustion palpable. “I implored General Chen of the Tiger Ben Army to inform His Majesty, praying for mercy, but…”

“That person is on par with Shen Anguo. Three years ago, he thought my father would hand over the Feather Forest Army to him, but to his surprise, Father gave it to Zisheng! You don’t need to worry about it; I will deal with him in the future!” The Third Prince clenched his fist, his anger evident as he turned to stare at the young girl. “Don’t act so righteous. If he dies, it’s all your fault!”

“If he dies, I will forfeit my life,” Shaoshang whispered. “Will that satisfy Your Highness?”

The Third Prince remained silent and continued to stare at her.

“It’s not entirely true that it’s all my fault. Your Highness seems very anxious tonight. Perhaps you also have a sense of regret.” Shaoshang said. “In fact, I have three things I wanted to ask you about last night.”

“The Third Prince, his hands clasped behind his back and a cold expression on his face, asked, “What three things?”

“First: Is the water in Dongbai Cemetery cold? Second: How is the scenery of Yanhui Pagoda? Third: Are you tired of pretending after all these years?”

The Third Prince’s face changed. “You already know?”

With A’Zhu’s support, Shaoshang struggled to stand up, resembling a woman in her seventies or eighties. “You might as well tell me on the way. Even if you didn’t come, I would have gone to the palace. Now please allow me to change my clothes and wash up. Why don’t you wash up in another room as well? It would be disrespectful to appear before His Majesty looking unkempt…”

The Third Prince stared at her for a moment and said word by word, “If you can defend him, I won’t argue with you anymore! If you dare to try anything clever or scheme, I will definitely take your life in the future!”

…

In the chilly silence of the late-night streets, a group of armored soldiers rode silently, their hoofbeats echoing dully on the bluestone slabs. They formed a circle around a carriage, with only one figure riding alongside – Shaoshang, bundled in plush fur, conversing with the Third Prince through the open carriage window.

“He once mentioned casually that the Crown Prince saved him from icy water and felt grateful. But something about it always felt off to me. Half of Tu Mountain has hot springs; even in winter, the water remains warm. So why would His Majesty choose to stay where there are no hot springs? Where did that story come from?”

“But that spring, when you were ill with a fever, the water in Dongbai Cemetery was still frozen. Master Zisheng is twenty-one this year. He was about five or six years old when he was separated from Madam Huo. He spent two years outside, but shortly after his return, Madam Huo went insane and fell ill. His Majesty brought him into the palace exactly thirteen years ago when he was about eight years old. It was actually you who saved him, right, Your Highness?”

The Third Prince remained silent for a long time before whispering, “You’re right. That year, Zisheng had just entered the palace and liked to be alone. He somehow ran to the edge of a pond and slipped. Fortunately, he tightly grasped some dry grass on the shore. I, too, preferred solitude since I was young. I was hiding there, saw him, and went over to pull him up.”

“So half of your clothes got wet. When you returned, you had a cold and high fever,” Shaoshang nodded. “Since then, you have secretly communicated. Your Highness, you’ve had great ambitions since you were young, right?”

The Third Prince glared darkly at her. “The heart of a villain is like the belly of a gentleman! The Empress and my mother’s well water do not cross the river, and even the princes and princesses on both sides cannot be considered close. Zisheng was also raised in Changqiu Palace, and we both didn’t want to attract attention and kept our relationship quiet.”

“Is the story of the Crown Prince saving him fake?” Shaoshang frowned.

“Zisheng had just learned how to swim. He saw the warm water in Tu Mountain’s hot springs and decided to practice holding his breath. The Crown Prince thought he was drowning and, without hesitation, ‘saved’ him,” the Third Prince said. “Father was so happy when he found out, and all the courtiers and the people spread the story, praising the Crown Prince for appearing weak but having courage. Zisheng wasn’t good at arguing back then, so he kept quiet.”

Shaoshang inwardly sighed. Such a beautiful story stemmed from a handful of misunderstandings.

“How did you see through the matter of Yanhui Pagoda?” the Third Prince asked.

“Why don’t you first tell me when you planned to depose the Crown Prince?” Shaoshang reached out with her fingertips, feeling the gentle night breeze.

After a moment of contemplation, the Third Prince decisively admitted, “At first, there was no mention of deposing the Crown Prince. It was probably two or three years after he got married, when Zisheng and I were only in our teens, that we began to grow dissatisfied with the Crown Princess’s family’s misconduct in the Capital. At first, the Crown Prince had no knowledge of it, but later we secretly arranged for the bitter man to file a complaint against the Crown Prince. Unexpectedly, the Sun family is cunning. Zisheng became angry and personally went to the Crown Prince to expose the Sun family’s crimes…”

Shaoshang clicked her tongue and shook her head. “At that time, the reputation of the Crown Princess was very good. Everyone praised her as virtuous and graceful, with a heart as pure as orchids. The Crown Prince might not have been able to handle it.”

“That’s right,” the Third Prince glanced at the young woman. “Even after the crime was cleared up, the Crown Prince hesitated and did nothing because of the Crown Princess’s crying and pleading. Then she lost her unborn child. It’s said that in the end, Father took action and drove the large Sun family back to their hometown.”

At this moment, the convoy was approaching the Southern City Gate, and the high dome of the gate was sliding horizontally overhead. The full moon was bright, and the night was a deep blue. The arrow towers on both sides stood tall; the pointed roofs looked to be reaching for the moon.

“The common people are innocent and pitiful. They only hope for good weather and clear governance throughout their lives, so they can have a peaceful family and warm clothing and food. If one day there is a drought, flood, locust infestation, greed, and tyranny in the government, the family will be immediately destroyed. The Sun family was just a local aristocrat, and they had never seen the grandeur of the Capital city. They were momentarily proud and didn’t know how to behave properly. From being rewarded by Father to being expelled from the Capital, in just over two years, dozens of households and fields were occupied, and hundreds of people were enslaved… I remember a young woman about the same age as you were forcibly taken into the mansion by the Crown Princess’s younger brother. When her corpse was thrown out, there was not one undamaged spot of skin on her.”

The Third Prince’s eyes were pitch black. Even after many years, it was still difficult to conceal his anger.

Shaoshang frowned. “Forget about Wang Chun for a second. Did Lou Jing also do the same?”

The Third Prince gave a mocking smile. “In the early years of the former dynasty, the courtiers recommended Emperor Wen to ascend to the throne. One of the main reasons was that Emperor Wen’s maternal family and wife were all weak and powerless. The courtiers were left alone and the officials of the Eastern Palace couldn’t help that the Sun family would be demoted.”

“Did the Crown Prince remain indifferent?”

“Of course not. My older brother cried for three months and refused to speak to the Crown Princess. He even gave the girl’s family a generous sum. Well, the people who were harmed by the Sun family also received compensation later on… as long as they were still alive,” the Third Prince couldn’t help but mock them.

Shaoshang fell silent.

“In order to consider the reputation of the Crown Prince, Father could only silently expel the Sun family from the Capital, and then let the original officials go. Hmph!” The Third Prince sneered. “I don’t care about their scheming, but they shouldn’t take innocent people as rafts!”

“Don’t be angry, Your Highness,” Shaoshang whispered.

“I’m not angry,” the Third Prince said, “because the Sun family encountered rolling rocks on the narrow path on their way back to their hometown, resulting in many deaths and injuries, especially the two younger brothers of the Crown Princess were smashed into flesh and mud.”

Shaoshang glanced up at the man on horseback. “The heavens do have eyes.”

“That’s right, the heavens have eyes…” The Third Prince looked at her. “Alright, it’s your turn to speak.”

Shaoshang sighed. “It isn’t surprising to say so. Have you seen Master Cui You’s legendary skill ‘Swallow Swirl?’ With just a few steps, you can soar around a tree like a bird.”

“You heard wrong. That stunt was not passed down by the Cui family. I heard my second uncle say that it was bought by the father of Marquis Cui with hundreds of taels of silver from a wandering hero. Later, the wandering hero died of serious injuries. The Cui family even held a funeral for him.” The Third Prince had no qualms about exposing the truth.

Shaoshang was speechless. ‘Third Prince, your personality really needs to be changed. Haven’t you ever heard of the saying ‘expose people but not their faults?’’

No matter how he learned the skill, Marquis Cui would surely have taught it to his son. After all, Marquis Cui’s two younger sons could circle a tree, so it shouldn’t be difficult for Master Zisheng to perform the ‘Swallow Swirl’ around the tower. But he told her he was eavesdropping on the secret conversations in the tower and couldn’t hear them clearly…how was that possible?

Shaoshang gave a sad smile. “I should have thought of it long ago. No wonder I always unconsciously refused to believe him.” She retrieved half of a jade pendant from her sleeve, inscribed with a single character – ‘Niao’ – and gently rubbed its surface, remembering the time Ling Buyi had returned it to her when their relationship had blossomed.

“I only heard two voices inside, so I thought there were two people there. But it should have been three people. The third person was Master Zisheng! As a martial arts expert, he sensed someone outside and immediately jumped from the window. He used the Swallow Swirl skill to go around the tower to the window behind me. When he saw it was me, he immediately began to pretend to be eavesdropping. He even broke off my jade pendant to scare me, thinking that the other half of this was in his hands.”

They passed through one towering gate after another. The shadows repeatedly hit the riders and carriage. In front of them was the brightly lit Chong Ming Hall on the west side of the Southern Palace.

The Third Prince remained silent for a long time. “You guessed it exactly right. There were three of us in the tower that day: Zisheng, Master Ouyang, and myself. We were discussing the theft of the Eastern Palace seal and trying to uncover the culprit, but it was never our intention to act against the Crown Prince.”

“I believe you,” Shaoshang said.

The carriage stopped, and the deaf and mute driver assisted the girl by pulling out the footstool. The Third Prince also dismounted his horse.

Shaoshang stood still, facing the Third Prince directly. “Someone once told me that since Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty was killed in a river of blood due to a conspiracy by his subordinates to change the throne, none dared to employ framing methods to seize the throne. So, as long as His Majesty’s resolve remains steadfast, the Crown Prince’s position as heir will be unshakable. Even Crown Prince Xuan, known for his weakness and cowardice, managed to ascend the throne.”

“To put it bluntly, your biggest opponent isn’t the Crown Prince, but His Majesty. So how can you make His Majesty change his mind? Without the option to harm or slander him, your only recourse is to employ Yang’s scheme.”

“You must convincingly demonstrate to His Majesty that the Crown Prince is unequivocally unfit to rule.”

Shaoshang looked at the bright hall ahead and bent to smooth out her clothes. “So Master Zisheng thought, ‘Anyway, tonight we’re going to wipe out the entire Ling family, and we’ll just take care of everything for His Highness.’”

She smiled. “After last night, His Majesty is probably just like Emperor Gao who saw the Four Haos of Shangshan back then, understanding that the situation has passed and the will of heaven cannot be violated. Those who sit firmly in their positions will naturally remain stable, while those who cannot will falter.”

“Zisheng, Zisheng…” The Third Prince’s body trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. “He shouldn’t have…”

“He’s that kind of person,” Shaoshang, with her snow-white face and frail figure, expressed. “He was both upright and mysterious, agile and bold, and his mind was intricate. He was willing to sacrifice his life to save me, but he won’t hesitate to abandon me…”

She lowered her head, her eyes moist as she gestured towards the main hall ahead. “His Majesty has chosen to convene the meeting here. I anticipate there will be significant contention, so why don’t you fill me in on the situation?”

The Third Prince also gazed ahead and spoke in a deep voice, “Early this morning, eighteen high-ranking officials united to impeach Zisheng. Upon hearing this, Marquis Cui, who was recuperating at home, immediately went to the palace to intercede for him. However, Marquis Cui couldn’t offer a clear explanation. Father was already furious and refused to heed his pleas. The uproar persisted until this afternoon when Chen Anguo brought back Zisheng’s soldiers to the Capital. I only learned of it after conversing with Marquis Cui…”

He seemed perplexed, struggling to articulate his thoughts. “Zisheng’s father isn’t Ling Yi? Who could it be? What else could drive him to avenge his parents? I’ve never heard of this, and Marquis Cui is equally uncertain. So we went to the Apricot Blossom Courtyard to consult that old woman…”

“Auntie?” Shaoshang inquired.

“Yes, her. After Madam Huo passed away, Zisheng sent her to retire in the countryside. How could we locate her at a moment’s notice?” The Third Prince’s furrowed brow betrayed his anxiety.

“Grand Marshal Cai Yun suggested it’s possible that Madam Huo’s son perished in the war, and Zisheng was taken in by her. Official Tian posited that Zisheng is the son of an enemy family of Marquis Ling, impersonating him for over a decade. Last night, it seemed, was merely a quest for vengeance. But, above all, Zisheng purportedly slew his father to avenge Madam Huo… The truth is shrouded in mystery, and rumors are swirling!”

“Father originally planned to bring Zisheng back for questioning, but the task of clearing a path through the mountain was too daunting. Some argued that Zisheng was as good as dead, so why bother rescuing him? This back and forth continued until nightfall. So I went to interrogate Zisheng’s soldiers again. The leader Liang Qiu Qi is still unconscious and the other, A’Fei, says you might know…”

“That’s right, I do know,” Shaoshang said with a bitter smile. “I’m afraid even Master Zisheng doesn’t know as much as I do now – I’ve figured everything out.”

As she spoke, she lifted her steps and walked to the main hall. The Third Prince grabbed her arm and coldly asked, “Do you have the confidence?”

Shaoshang stumbled and held onto his side. “I already said if he can’t survive, I will sacrifice my life for his,” she stated calmly.

The Third Prince, his frustration rising, couldn’t bear to see her indifference. “Stop talking nonsense!” He scolded in a low voice. “Zisheng has been digging his lungs for you. Do you know what it means to care for someone in chaos? Do you know what it means to stand by them, even unto death? Your heart must be made of ice…”

Shaoshang snapped after hearing this. She threw the half-jade pendant in her hand heavily to the ground – with a loud crash, the jade shattered in all directions.

“I can make wine!” Her chest was heaving, anger overflowing and her eyes sparking.

The Third Prince was taken aback.

“I can brew the purest and strongest liquor in the entire city! But I know His Majesty advocates frugality, and brewing requires a lot of food so I cannot make it all the time. I can make water carts. The water carts I make are more agile and simple than those in a workshop, saving thirty percent of manpower and animal labor. However, as a woman, besides receiving some rewards from gold and silver fields, I cannot serve as an official. I can also build kilns and burn tiles. The tiles I burn are as strong and durable as the tiles of the palace, but they save half the firewood and manpower!”

“Regardless of Ling Buyi, I am someone who lives well, and I have parents and siblings to care for! Just because I’m a woman, I shouldn’t be pressured to ask, ‘Why aren’t you accompanying your man to death?’”

“And because I am just a woman, I am always shrouded in a drum. I don’t even know my husband’s name or who he is. Three days before our marriage, I guessed it was a bolt from the blue. After that, I can’t hold any grudges or indignation, otherwise I will be considered cold, heartless, and selfish!”

“He treated me with his heart and lungs dug out, so I cut open my body, took out my heart, liver, and lungs to give him back! He saved my life, and I repaid it with mine! If I can’t save him tonight, I will compensate with my life, and I am not afraid of death!”

“If one day I want to die, it will be because I am tired of living, not because I have to accompany others to live or die together! Ling Buyi is the person I love the most in this world, but I am still myself!”

The girl’s thin shoulders were thin and trembling like butterfly wings but she maintained a straight posture. Tears rolled down her pale and weak face, wetting her collar ­– this almost solitary stubbornness formed a charming arrogance.

…

Third Prince, please take several seats and let our girl handle this.

Next Chapter: Each at the End of the World