He Qingfu in the diary was still struggling with her decision, but Jiang Yan, who had lived through it all, already knew what she had chosen.
She slowed her page-turning.
There were not many diary entries left. At this point, there was one year until Jiang Chixi would secretly leave the palace, one year until she would die on the battlefield, and only one year left for He Qingfu, who had to reside in her body to avoid dissipating.
During this year, it was as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button on Jiang.
Every day brought dramatic changes.
One event after another recorded in the diary let Jiang Yan truly experience what it meant for dark currents to surge beneath a calm surface—beneath the peace, there were countless clashes, confrontations, and sacrifices.
The spy Jiang Chixi had planted in Chu had, after over a decade, risen to deputy general. Jiang Chixi had never contacted him in all these years, but at the end of autumn, he risked exposure to send her all he knew about Chu’s border deployments.
Chu Hanzhi also sent information.
As the eldest princess of Chu, even though she wanted the throne, she did not leak Chu’s top secrets. Instead, she sent Jiang Chixi the results of her painstaking investigation into the state of Xiao.
“According to reliable sources, Xiao is secretly and urgently producing a batch of improved bows and arrows, with greatly increased range compared to ordinary ones.”
“In short, pay attention to the high ground at the border, avoid the valleys, don’t let yourself get shot full of holes.”
Jiang Chixi still did not reply to her, but burned the letter.
She sighed lightly.
This year, she did everything possible to fill the national treasury, stockpile grain, and prepare supplies. All strategic materials were made as ready as could be. She also formally brought Jiang Rongge into court, having her review memorials daily and then checking them herself.
At first, Jiang Rongge still made small mistakes from time to time, but under Jiang Chixi’s constant guidance, in just half a year she became adept at handling court affairs. Sometimes she could even discuss the web of interests among the ministers with Jiang Chixi, thoroughly understanding everyone’s preferences and grasping their weak points.
Jiang Rongge was now fully capable of taking over Jiang.
But the burden on Jiang Chixi’s shoulders had not lessened, because she did not want to hand over a nation in turmoil to her successor. After choosing Jiang’s next emperor, she devoted herself entirely to the border situation.
At the start of winter, Chu began small-scale attacks.
But thanks to Yao Shian, each attack was repelled under her command. Chu gained nothing, and their casualties were nearly three times those of Jiang.
Xiao remained quiet, but several units had already moved to the border, ready to attack at any moment.
It was at this time that Yao Shian’s body could hold out no longer.
When Jiang Chixi received his letter, Yao Shian was already at the end of his strength.
“Your Majesty, the grain and supplies you sent have arrived. The soldiers are well-fed and warm, all confident of victory, ready to crush the enemy.”
“But my health is truly failing.”
“The person you told me to watch—I did. As you expected, he’s from Xiao. He hid too well all these years; I almost made a huge mistake. I even recommended him to you—what was I thinking?”
Yao Shian’s handwriting was faint, lacking its former strength. He wrote earnestly:
“As you instructed, I didn’t alert him, but mixed true and false information when passing things on.”
“The deputy general you newly appointed is excellent—loyal, brave, just a bit careless, but she’s the best we have now.”
“With Zhaojun’s help, she’ll do even better.”
“I’ve gradually handed over command to her, but those young soldiers are really annoying, always ostracizing her openly and secretly. I’ve corrected them several times and punished them, but they’re still not convinced. It reminds me of twenty years ago, when no one respected me either, but Your Majesty trusted me, so I became who I am today.”
“Yesterday I coughed up blood—only Zhaojun saw.”
Yao Shian calmly described his condition, analyzing his likely death:
“It should be in the next two months. I’d like to pretend I don’t know, but I really can’t make it through this winter.”
“I’m afraid my death will shake the army’s morale. After all, I’m strong, and they’ve followed me for so long.”
“These two months, I’ll have the deputy general lead more, let her spend more time with the soldiers, get hurt and bleed a bit more, so she won’t be so exhausted in the future.”
That was where the letter ended.
No requests, no farewells.
Yao Shian knew exactly how much Jiang Chixi could bear, so he didn’t pretend to be cheerful, but expressed his true feelings completely.
Jiang Chixi bent down and locked the letter in a wooden box.
Inside the twenty-centimeter-high box were tightly packed letters.
After finishing, she slowly straightened up.
There was no sorrow in Jiang Chixi’s eyes, only a sense of reflection.
A few minutes later, she picked up Gu Zhaojun’s letter from the table and sat by the window to read.
Gu Zhaojun’s tone was as usual.
She calmly laid out her analysis, detailing several possible enemy strategies and ranking them by likelihood. She drew a heavy line under the last one.
“At present, it seems likely the two countries will split their forces. One will release false information, ambush above the valley, lure Jiang into the trap, and use arrows to kill us. The other will circle around and invade from the rear.”
“And this false information is likely to come from Chu Hanzhi. Her friendship with Your Majesty is real, but that may be used by others.”
“Chu Hanzhi’s recent messages have all gone too smoothly. I suspect someone is manipulating things behind the scenes.”
“Also, that Xiao spy was exposed too suddenly. I personally think it’s a trap within a trap—he revealed himself on purpose and must have another use for Xiao.”
Jiang Chixi read the letter for a long time.
Finally, she shook her head slightly.
Five years ago, Gu Zhaojun placed first in all three imperial exams, astonishing everyone. But instead of entering the government as her grandfather wished, continuing the Gu family’s three-generation tradition as imperial tutors, she requested to go to the border.
At the time, Jiang Chixi tested her with many military questions from the high platform. The girl answered calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
Now, Gu Zhaojun had fulfilled her promise.
—“My value to Jiang is not in the court. The border is where I can realize my ambitions.”
Jiang Chixi liked ambitious people.
So she ignored everyone’s advice and approved it on the spot, arranging for Gu Zhaojun to leave for the border that very night.
Now, Gu Zhaojun had become the most outstanding strategist, remaining clear-headed and steadfast amid the dust of the frontier.
“Everything will be all right.”
Late at night, when Jiang Rongge came to Jiang Chixi’s bedchamber to review memorials with her, Jiang Chixi said,
“You have the bravest subjects, and you have me.”
*
Because of Jiang’s affairs, He Qingfu visited the underground palace less and less.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t spare even a few minutes, but during the day, there were always people around Jiang Chixi, and at night, Jiang Rongge would come to her.
The two of them would lie on the bed like a real mother and daughter, chatting idly, falling asleep when tired.
But the longer they spent together, the less chance He Qingfu had to see little Jiang Yan.
In December, He Qingfu waited a whole week before finally finding a chance to go to the underground palace.
As soon as she entered, she saw little Jiang Yan sitting on the bed.
The little girl’s expression was icy.
Chen Xihe said softly, “This is normal. You have to understand.”
The little girl pointed at herself. “Are you talking to me?”
Chen Xihe immediately turned his head.
He looked at He Qingfu. “I’m talking to your mother.”
He Qingfu looked at the little girl’s face. “I understand, I understand. I haven’t come for a week. I’d understand if you forgot me.”
Little Jiang Yan snorted coldly.
He Qingfu squatted in front of her. “Who am I?”
Little Jiang Yan turned her face away.
He Qingfu kept asking for a long time. At last, the little girl’s expression softened a bit:
“Jiang Chixi.”
He Qingfu was stunned for a few seconds, then nodded.
She had almost forgotten her own identity, yet still wanted to hear her real name from the girl’s lips.
After a few quiet seconds, the little girl spoke on her own:
“I know. Father Consort told me. You’re with your daughter.”
“She’ll inherit the throne. Unlike me, she’s more important.”
He Qingfu quickly said, “How could that be?”
“You’re Mother’s most important daughter.”
She gave an example: “You look like me. Anyone who sees you would think you’re my real daughter. The moment they see you, they’d like you best.”
Little Jiang Yan lifted her chin.
“That’s true.”
Chen Xihe tried to correct her from the side: “I didn’t say the second half, Yan Yan, don’t make things up.”
Little Jiang Yan lay on the table, pretending not to hear.
While pretending, she snapped the root of the celery in her hand.
She was just too cute.
He Qingfu couldn’t help herself and pinched the little girl’s cheek. After a moment, she picked her up and sat her on her lap, even lowering her head to kiss her.
Little Jiang Yan covered her cheek, her face full of resignation.
But she didn’t push He Qingfu away, just sat quietly on her lap.
After a while, the little girl yawned.
He Qingfu lowered her head. “If you’re sleepy, go to bed.”
Little Jiang Yan nodded, washed up on her own, got into bed, and hugged the feather pillow beside her.
He Qingfu had never seen this before and asked curiously, “This is…?”
Chen Xihe said, “She always likes to grab something when she sleeps, so I pulled some feathers for her.”
He Qingfu glanced at him.
After a few breaths, she sighed, “I’m really glad you became Yan Yan’s Father Consort, and glad I saved you.”
Chen Xihe shook his head.
When they were almost at the exit of the underground palace, He Qingfu paused and turned back.
Now there was only one day left until Yao Shian’s critical illness, and only three days until Jiang Chixi would feign illness, hand Jiang over to Jiang Rongge, and secretly leave the palace.
After that, there would be no return.
He Qingfu would also be gone forever.
She brought up what she had once asked Chen Xihe to do: “Prepare in the next two days. The evening after tomorrow, you can leave the underground palace.”
“Find a place to hide.”
“Do what you promised me: for a thousand years, don’t get involved in any karma.”
Chen Xihe was taken aback.
After a while, he said slowly, “So soon?”
He Qingfu nodded.
Chen Xihe frowned. “But what about Yan Yan? Where will you take her?”
He Qingfu still hadn’t really decided.
But she said, “Don’t worry. We all have our own paths.”
Chen Xihe was silent for a long time.
After a while, he looked at He Qingfu. “Actually, I can tell you’re not right. I can’t figure out why, but no matter what, you shouldn’t have the runes that saved me or know how to use them. The information you receive, your position—you shouldn’t be so friendly to the yao race.”
Before He Qingfu could reply, Chen Xihe said directly, “Is it for Yan Yan?”
“Everything you’ve done, is it for her?”
He Qingfu didn’t know how to answer, but after a long time, she shook her head, then nodded.
Chen Xihe breathed a sigh of relief.
His expression relaxed. “That’s good.”
“I’ve thought it over. Hiding from the world for a thousand years is too hard.”
“Me not seeking out karma doesn’t mean karma won’t seek me. So I’d rather have no chance to get involved at all.”
“Only death is safe.”
As soon as Chen Xihe finished speaking, He Qingfu looked up in shock.
“What?”
In her plans, Chen Xihe would be confused, would suspect, but not this.
Definitely not this.
Perhaps finding He Qingfu’s expression amusing, Chen Xihe smiled beautifully.
His smile was gentle and easy, “Help me find a place.”
“Somewhere I won’t be found. Suppress my soul there, seal me for a thousand years. That way, I won’t enter the world, nor the cycle of reincarnation. It’s the safest way I can think of.”
“I’ve thought about this for a long time. My mind is made up.”
Chen Xihe looked not far behind him, at the little girl sleeping soundly.
“Isn’t it to help Yan Yan?”
“I want to help her, and you.”
“I believe someone will come to unseal me—whether it’s you, or Jiang Yan a thousand years from now.”