RP Chapter 1 - Chang Feng - Part 2

Chapter One - Part 2

She looked at him motionless and there were tears in her eyes, perhaps because of the pain. However they never fell. Instead she smiled and called softly: "Your Highness."

The whirlpool surged and finally turned into blazing anger. The young man took a step forward and asked in a low voice: "What did you call me?"

Han Weisang knew that she might be close to death so she laughed softly. While laughing, she said: "Your Highness..."

Your Highness.

It seemed like no one had called him that in years.

The Commander let her go and his eyes moved from her messy skirt to her fingers with the exposed flesh.

"I thought you were dead." After a long time, he said this quietly.

The girl smiled and looked at him with raised eyebrows: "Yes, I… should have died."

"It's better for you to die than to reappear in front of me."

It was night, the rain had stopped, revealing a very faint crescent moon in the distance.

He walked out of the house and the night wind blew. The young Commander's long hair was swept up and his neck was slightly cool.

As fast as lightning, a black shadow flew to his side and whispered: "Commander."

"Speak." The Commander asked calmly.

"I've checked it out. That girl has lived here for more than a year. She was taken in by the old zither player because she had nowhere to go. Every time there is a banquet, the zither player and his son come to the party. This time, the old zither player fell ill and so there was no other choice. Thus she was brought here…”

The Commander narrowed his eyes and a sneer appeared on the corner of his lips.

"Commander." A maid quietly walked forward and whispered, “Lady Bo still hasn't gone to sleep. She has been waiting for you..."

There was finally a touch of tenderness between the corners of his lips and between his brows. He nodded: "I know, I’ll go over shortly."

Han Weisang was the only one left in the room. She took a breath, sat down by the candlelight and inspected her hands carefully.

The nails of the little finger and index finger of the right hand have been completely turned up, and the bones are visible in several places. Blood dripped down and tiny blood flowers bloomed upon the ground, drop by drop. After the man left and the oppressive murderous aura left with him, it was as though she had just become aware of the pain.

However, compared to what she did to him, even if these ten fingers were chopped off alive by him, it would not be too much, right? Han Weisang gritted her teeth and gently wiped away the blood with the clean cloth at the corner of her clothes. She had no choice but to smile. Before he came in, she intentionally injured her hand but was still too careless and was recognized. 

But...how could she not be recognized?

Her zither skills were taught by him.

It's just that at that time, he was not a general, but His Highness Prince Ning of the Jin Dynasty. He led the army to great victories at the age of sixteen and made magnificent achievements in battle. Now that the world is falling apart, he controlled the area of Wuchu {this is a demographic area which is situated around current Jiangsu and Hubei} but he is regarded as the greatest rebel.

Jiang Zaichu is no longer who he once was.

Han Weisang stood up slowly, straightened her hair in the basin of turbid water and then leaned back on the chair. She collected her thoughts. He didn't kill her immediately, so he would definitely torture her more. When she thought about it, she calmed down. She closed her eyes and fell quickly into a light sleep as she was very tired.

When it was getting to the chou hour {sometime between 1AM and 3AM}, Jiang Zaichu got up from the couch. The beauty beside him was already asleep. A strand of black silk was draped over the red brocade quilt. The skin upon her shoulders was as smooth as snow, leaving only some ambiguous traces like red butterflies. He turned sideways, stared at her for a moment, tucked the brocade quilt under her neck and then walked out the door.

The attendant quickly put on the wind cloak for him and whispered: "An urgent report from the Shu Kingdom has arrived."

The moonlight was brighter but because it was just in the early stages of waxing, the look was still a little lazy. Jiang Zaichu walked towards the study without haste or slowness.

"What about her?"

The attendant took a moment to react before he understood that he was referring to the young zither player who had been brought back in the middle of the night.

"She’s still there, asleep."

"She can still sleep." Jiang Zaichu gave a faint smile and said, "Bring her here."

Several sticks of thick wax were burning in the study, making it as bright as daylight.

Jingyun came in a rush. When he saw Jiang Zaichu, he knelt down on one knee and saluted, "Commander."

He has been Jiang Zaichu's reading companion since he was a child and they have had a deep bond of friendship between them since childhood. When Jiang Zaichu led troops to pacify the border areas, Jingyun was his deputy. When Jiang Zaichu used his troops to start a rebellion, Jingyun followed him loyally. Jiang Zaichu treated him completely like an insider and stretched his hand to help him up. He asked, "How is it?"

"The Prime Minister of Shu, Yang Lin, is now in control of the government. The little Marquis of Shu is but a puppet in his hands. Whether he is abolished or crowned depends on the word of Yang Lin. It is said that in the next few days, he will take action against the Marquis... and then report it to the Northern Court and ask for himself to be recognized as the new Marquis of Shu."

Jiang Zaichu tapped his fingers lightly on the table. In the middle of the night, the sound of taps was loud and clear.

Jingyun looked at his calm expression and couldn't help but ask: "Brother, do you think the Northern Court will agree to the canonization?"

Jiang Zaichu didn't answer. After a moment, he asked, "What do you think?"

Jingyun was stunned, "Are you asking me?"

Behind the barrier, there was an extremely slight noise, as if something had been knocked down. Jiang Zaichu raised his gaze slightly and looked straight in that direction, pursed his lips and said nothing. His eyes were dark.

Jingyun suddenly understood, could it be that... one of the Commander's favorite concubines was still in this study? He looked at Jiang Zaichu with some confusion. Although he knew that the Commander doted on Lady Bo very much, he never confused business and love. How could he suddenly ask a woman about important military matters?”

"In your opinion, will the Northern Court agree to enthrone a new Marquis of Shu?" Jiang Zaichu said in a deep voice. He again spoke in that direction.

Behind the screen, the graceful figure walked out step by step, a dozen steps away from Jiang Zaichu, and knelt down.

It was indeed a woman but her clothes were plain. She didn't look like the Commander's favorite.

The girl was already thin and when she dropped her knees to the ground, there was a thumping sound that made Jingyun's heart hurt. He looked carefully but the woman's forehead was on the ground and she did not raise her head. He could only see a bloody right hand but he didn’t know how it came about. 

Seeing that she didn't answer, Jiang Zaichu turned to Jingyun and smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, go and have a rest."

Although Jingyun was curious, he could only turn around and said, "Jingyun takes his leave."

He walked to the door and was about to step out when he suddenly heard the kneeling woman speak, her voice trembling slightly: "Please, Commander...please," she said in a difficult tone, "Please, save the Marquis of Shu."

The voice shocked Jingyun. He paused, turned around and looked at the girl. He said in disbelief: "Are you...are you Ah-Wei?" {Chinese people use “Ah-” followed by a character in the person’s full name as a nickname. The Wei from Ah-Wei comes from Hai Weisang.}

Weisang didn’t raise her head. Still rested her forehead on the ground. Her figure was as thin as a stone statue, motionless.

"Commander! She -" Jingyun was eager to know, raised his head and asked, "Is she the Princess?"

Jiang Zaichu rested his right hand on the desk. His long black hair tied only with an ebony hairpin and he said casually: "Jingyun, do you want to know?"

Jingyun gritted his teeth, put one hand on his scabbard, nodded and said, "Yes."

"Raise your head and greet your old friend." Jiang Zaichu ordered quietly.

Weisang raised her head very slowly. She had an unadorned face with a pointed chin and her black eyes were as clear as water. Her face was extremely pale - the living water back then was now dead and silent.

Clang— The long sword in Jingyun's hand unsheathed, slashing straight at Han Weisang. The sword edge was as cold as water and, before it even touched Weisang, the sword energy had already cut off a strand of her long hair. Han Weisang did not evade and looked straight at Jiang Zaichu without moving her  eyelashes, as if she was indifferent to the sword.

The sword edge had already cut her neck and bright red droplets oozed from the slender blood marks. Only then did Jiang Zaichu casually shout: "Stop."

Jingyun's long sword paused but he still left it against her neck and said bitterly: "Commander! If it hadn't been for her -"

"It would be too boring for you to kill her now." Jiang Zaichu chuckled and waved his hand. He then smiled more and more weirdly, "Princess Jiahui, don’t you think so?" {Jiahui is her titular name, Princess Jiahui means “Fine Flower Princess”. Also I translated it as ‘Princess’ but the title is actually ‘Junzhu’ which usually denotes a high ranking woman of royal blood but not the direct daughter of the Emperor who would usually be called ‘Gongzhu’.}

"Yes." Weisang knelt still, her dark eyes filled with blood, "General Jing, there is national hatred and family enmity between you and me. If you kill me with one sword, wouldn't you be doing me a favor?" {So if you look at this, it seems like his first name is Yun and last name is Jing, hence should be written Jing Yun instead of Jingyun. However in the later chapters he appears to have a different surname and Jingyun appears to be his first name. So I'll just keep it like this for now, may change it later if it seems appropriate.}

Jingyun sheathed his sword loudly: "You witch, you almost killed the Commander back then but you still expect the Commander to help you today?"

Jiang Zaichu flicked his fingers slightly, motioning Jingyun to go out. He said with a smile: "Let me and the Princess discuss this matter again."

Jingyun closed the door.

Weisang bent down very slowly, kowtowed and said word by word: "A woman from a fallen kingdom dares not be called ‘Princess’."

Jiang Zaichu squinted his eyes and watched her kowtow heavily one after another. Her white forehead was already bruised and her skin was torn.

"Jingyun said something incorrectly just now. I can indeed help you but it just depends on why I should help." Jiang Zaichu slowly said while she kowtowed. "Weisang, let me give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If you can persuade me, I will help you save the life of the Marquis of Shu."

Weisang was still kneeling but she straightened her body and said hoarsely: "If the Commander can agree, Han Weisang’s life or death, humiliation and torture, will all be decided by the Commander."

Jiang Zaichu smiled scornfully: "Han Weisang, you think too highly of yourself - whether to kill you or humiliate you, now that you are in my hands, is there any room for discussion?"

There is a slight itching feeling on her neck. Her skirt was sticky and stained, and her white clothes were stained with a ferocious scarlet patch. But she stood up straight, looked directly at Jiang Zaichu and smiled slightly: "Commander, you are indeed not the same as His Highness back then."

Jiang Zaichu remained silent. Although his expression was calm, his knuckles were slightly raised.

"The Commander rescues the Marquis of Shu. Han Weisang volunteers to be a slave to help the Commander take over the world." The girl's eyes were clear and she spoke word by word. "How about that?"

Jiang Zaichu suddenly stood up: “You have this ability?"

"I know the Commander doesn't believe it at this moment." Han Weisang took a step forward, "But within three months, I can deliver Changfeng City to the Wu Army in order to show my sincerity."

Jiang Zaichu rebelled against the Jin Dynasty and spent three years subjugating the South. Changfeng City was stuck between the north and the south, surrounded by mountains on three sides. It was a famous fortress city and the first pass from south to north. The Commander has now established his foundation in the south and so, in order to move on, he will definitely need to  conquer Changfeng City.

"Do you know what you are talking about?" Jiang Zaichu walked up to Weisang, grabbed her chin with one hand and said in a deep voice, "Changfeng City?"

"Yes, Changfeng City." Weisang looked directly at him without fear.

"Okay. I will protect the Marquis of Shu for three months. But Han Weisang, if you can't give me Changfeng City at that time, even if Yang Lin doesn't kill the Marquis, I will send my troops to directly destroy Shu!" He had forced her into a corner, "As for you, you are a slave and a woman, so there are many ways to humiliate you."

After hearing his words, Weisang's breath suddenly relaxed. She had to hold on to the wall a little to barely support her shaky body: "Thank you, Commander."

Jiang Zaichu glanced sideways at her, his eyes cold: "Get out."

She was careful every step she took outside, for fear that she might faint accidentally. When she struggled outside the door and saw the moonlight shining all night, she suddenly felt strange. People are always like this, their pain will be temporarily hidden under extreme pressure. But once you let go of your anxiety, that pain will amplify in an instant and surge in like waves until they drown you. She wiped her neck casually. It was unclear whether the blood on her hand was from her fingers or from Jingyun's sword.

How great, I’m not dead yet.

She chuckled. No one told her where to go from now. The attendants lowered their heads as if she didn't exist. She paused in the foyer in confusion, then walked in the previous direction based on her memory.

Just go to a place where you can be alone.

She thought so, walking slowly and staggered step by step.

Jingyun stared at her for a long time, his eyes changing from resentment to confusion. He took a deep breath, then turned around and knocked on the door.

The Commander held his hands behind his back and looked up at a map of the mountains and rivers. For some reason, his back looked a little bleak.

"Brother, kill her." Jingyun said every word. "If you can't do it, I will do it."

Jiang Zaichu still stood still and said briefly: "Jingyun, she is still useful."

"Regardless of whether she is useful or not, I'm afraid that you..." He paused, not daring to say the next sentence. "Besides, the only way to conquer this world is with a long sword in your hand, she -"

"Are you afraid that I'll be soft-hearted?" Jiang Zaichu interrupted his incoherent words and turned around. His eyebrows were extremely cold, "Jingyun, have you ever thought about why she appeared here?"

"It was the old zither player who took her in. He was kind to her and so she came here on his behalf."

"She knew I was here but she still came. Do you really believe that she was just repaying a favor?"

Jingyun's eyebrows furrowed. He was originally a gentle and calm young man and so thought about it for some time. He muttered: "Yes, if she doesn't want to come, she can find various excuses. But she… still came."

"Not only did she come, she also intentionally injured her hand just before I entered the banquet. To make it seem as though she was trying to avoid me."

Jingyun thought of her bloody right hand and his eyes lit up: "She... also did that on purpose. She showed weakness as soon as you met, hoping to make Elder Brother soft-hearted."

But why?

She knew clearly that she would be tortured and die if she came to his door, but she still came.

"Our people can find out that Yang Lin wants to dethrone the Marquis of Shu, so she must also know." Jiang Zaichu's slender fingers gently rubbed the center of his eyebrows. He spoke word by word slowly, as if he was clarifying his thoughts, "If the balance between Shu and Di can’t continue then she can no longer protect the Marquis of Shu, so she can only come to beg me.”

"Are you going to help her?" Jingyun was shocked, "Commander, no!"

Jiang Zaichu looked at this brother quietly. For some reason, he wanted to smile. In Jingyun’s eyes, he may still be the same Prince Ning from three years ago. He had been young, impulsive and high-spirited. He wasn't interested in his nation or his country, and just wanted to indulge in  charming smiles. But now, he has 200,000 soldiers under his command, following him to fight with every inch of armor and inch of soil to conquer the lands of Wu and Chu. The himself back then was too naive and too soft.

He coughed lightly: "If she dares to come to me alone to beg me, she must come up with corresponding chips. Jingyun, she said she can help us take Changfeng City."

Jingyun suddenly stood up, his sword-shaped eyebrows and starry eyes were extremely shocked: "Changfeng City?"

In the battle of Yacheng a few days ago, the Commander finally completely wiped out all the various warlords in the lands of Wuyue {around current day Jiangsu and Zhejiang} and now it was time to make plans to go north. The Commander was a military genius. He always raises troops and arranges them unexpectedly in a tactical manner, but he never mentioned when the Northern Expedition would be. One of his worries is the first pass: Changfeng City.

Changfeng City was by no means invincible but if you want to win it, you must attack with great strength and pay a great price. The great city would take thousands of corpses to breach. He knew that the Commander was just looking for a way to destroy the city which can spare the lives of the soldiers.

"Come and see." The Commander waved and motioned for Jingyun to stand next to him. His sharp eyes were staring at the corner of the map. "Changfeng City is surrounded by mountains on three sides, which is its natural barrier. The southern wall is the high White Cliffs and the Jin Dynasty spent decades fortifying it. I have been stationed in the city before and I know better than anyone that its military strength is far beyond that of the cities we have conquered over the past few years."

"Let's attack with force! Our brothers aren’t afraid of death!" Jingyun raised his head and the young general's brows were filled with the light that only comes from victory.

Jiang Zaichu was noncommittal. Under his handsome brows, his eyes were calm. He was still staring at the rough city marks drawn with ink pens but his thoughts were flying further and further away, as if he could touch the hard city, the cold armor, as well as the sticky and hot blood.

*

Translators Notes: If you like the translation, please leave me a comment. It will help me translate faster!

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