Beauty, Power and Intrigue Chapter 104

Since the owner of the ready-made clothing shop had exposed Song Chuyi’s gender, Ji Huan had not been suspicious, but the more he interacted with her, the more he felt that although she looked somewhat delicate, her temperament was really not what a woman should have. Song Chuyi did not know what Ji Huan was thinking and was secretly delighted that Xing Shou’s medicine was indeed very effective – even people who originally knew she was a woman were beginning to become uncertain.

As for other matters, she had no mind to think about them for the time being.

Handan was not far from Puyang, the road was flat, and there were many trade routes. They traveled without stopping, and after about six or seven days they reached the riverbank. After crossing the river, the soldiers of Zhao could return to report back.

Because they had left the battlefield to escort Song Chuyi, not all of them were actually willing, because once one joined the army, only by cutting off more enemy heads on the battlefield would one have a chance to turn one’s fortunes around.

A man of iron bones should risk his life to rise above others. Moreover, they had heard that this time there was an attack on the royal city and success was all but certain, yet they had missed the good opportunity for nothing.

There would indeed be many more opportunities to fight in the future, but one had to know that supporting a new ruler to ascend the throne and defending the territory were fundamentally different, and the rewards received would naturally be greatly different as well.

Therefore, after discussing it privately, those people put Song Chuyi and Ji Huan onto the ferry and immediately turned back.

It was early morning. The river flowed east, and the vast mist blended the water and the sky into one, with a faint trace of a waning moon at the horizon. The warm orange sun seemed to slowly float up from the water, gentle at first, and upon reaching a certain point, dazzling sunlight burst forth, piercing the mist and casting shimmering light across the river.

Song Chuyi stood on the deck looking into the distance. The wind carried moisture and a faint fishy smell of water plants, along with the chill of early spring.

“Sir, shall we return to the cabin?” Ji Huan reminded her when he saw she had not moved at all.

Song Chuyi answered and was about to return to the cabin when, as she turned, she saw a woman with a graceful figure five steps away. Half of her face was covered by a light veil, making her features unclear; only her delicate brows were slightly knitted as she lowered her eyes to the water, seemingly lost in thought.

“Insolent brat!” the swordsman behind the woman shouted at Song Chuyi while gripping his sword.

Ji Huan’s thick brows knitted, and he took a slight step forward.

Song Chuyi raised a hand to signal him not to be rash, and said to the swordsman with an expressionless face, “I did not know the scenery here was your private property. If I have given offense, please forgive me.”

Having said that, she actually bowed in apology. Song Chuyi never took such insults to heart, but if she did not block the man’s words a little, she would feel uncomfortable.

The swordsman gave a cold snort and ignored her.

Song Chuyi had one foot inside the cabin when the conversation between the swordsman and the woman reached her ears. “Madam, set your mind at ease. There will be no trouble.”

“That strategist escaped. Only Ah-Yu and Buwang were captured and taken back. The King of Wei is eager to hold them accountable. They…” The woman’s voice was gentle and lovely, carrying an unravellable thread of sorrow. “I cannot let anything happen to him.”

What a coincidence, Song Chuyi sighed inwardly while also feeling curious: who was the “him” the woman spoke of? Ji Yu? Longgu Buwang? Or Longgu Qing?

“Huan, do you know that woman?” Song Chuyi asked in a low voice.

Ji Huan glanced a few times. “I do not know her.”

Song Chuyi nodded, entered the cabin, and found a seat by the window, kneeling down.

Passage on this boat was expensive, so there were not many people aboard, and most were merchants. The cabin was very quiet.

Leaning against the window, Song Chuyi lifted a cup of wine and asked leisurely, “I hear the King of Wei is going to attack Wey?”

Ji Huan was stunned for a moment, then realized she was speaking to him. He took it seriously and said hurriedly, “Really?”

Song Chuyi gave a soft laugh. “What, you did not know? You must at least know that the Marquis of Wey deliberately incited the six states to attack Wei in retaliation for losing several cities half a year ago, no?”

Before Ji Huan could answer, someone else cut in. “I heard it was Qi, Chu, Han, Zhao, and Qin. Where does the talk of six states come from?”

“Oh?” Song Chuyi turned to look at the speaker and cupped his hands slightly in puzzlement. “Not Yue?”

The man was about thirty or so, very stout, his belly no smaller than that of a woman five months pregnant. His skin was fair, he had a three-inch beard on his chin, and his face was quite amiable. “Yue is in a remote region. Its reach cannot extend that far.”

“Who is it that went to persuade the feudal lords? Truly formidable.” Song Chuyi sat up and leaned forward slightly.

This was the most discussed topic of late. Once it was brought up, many people had something to say. Someone interjected, “I heard there were two. One was Min Chi, courtesy name Zihuan, who went toward Qi and Chu; the other was Song Chuyi, courtesy name Huaijin, who went toward Qin and Zhao.”

“Yes, yes.” The fat man nodded and said, “Those are the two known so far. They say both are very young… Alas, if given time, they would surely be outstanding figures. What a pity…”

“What is the pity?” Song Chuyi asked, puzzled.

“Since the rise of the feudal lords, every ruler has striven to climb higher. Those enfeoffed as lords wanted to become marquises, and those enfeoffed as marquises wanted to become dukes. The Marquis of Wey is quite a case in point – the moment Wey’s national strength weakened, he immediately demoted himself from duke to marquis.” The fat man gave a scoffing laugh, took a sip of wine, and said, “I have never met the Marquis of Wey, so I do not know whether he is as timid as a mouse or truly thinking of Wey’s interests. But on these two points alone, once the King of Wei is enraged, the Marquis of Wey will certainly deliver these two people over obediently to apologize to the King of Wei. If you do not believe me, we can make a bet.”

Song Chuyi chuckled and said, “On this point, I actually believe you.”

“That may not necessarily be such a pity,” a thin, middle-aged scholar retorted. “For someone capable of devising such a scheme, how could the King of Wei not want to employ them? For them, it is a blessing, not a disaster. Moreover, I heard the news spread from Zhao. Perhaps that Song Huaijin deliberately leaked the information in pursuit of fame.”

“To casually slander another’s reputation on mere speculation is hardly the conduct of a gentleman,” said the fat man, who felt the scholar must be jealous of talent and deliberately damaging another’s name. Though only a merchant, he usually could not stand such scholars.

The scholar’s face turned cold. He picked up his wine cup and said no more.

Song Chuyi said thoughtfully, “What that gentleman said is not entirely without reason, but I do not quite understand. Since Song Huaijin could devise such a scheme, he surely is not a fool. Zhao is in the midst of internal turmoil and fighting bitterly – he could not possibly have chosen this time to go persuade the Marquis of Zhao. Even if it were for fame, inviting one or two people to Puyang to spread the word would suffice. Why specify that the news came from Zhao? Would that not be deliberately ruining his own reputation? And for the news to spread so quickly – that is rather interesting.”

“What you say makes sense too,” someone agreed.

The crowd fell into thought, but after turning it over and over, they could not reach any conclusion.

After hearing the news they mentioned, Song Chuyi was almost certain in her heart that this was Min Chi’s doing.

This matter was clearly aimed at her. She was in Wey, and her conduct in dealing with people could not be called good, but it was not enough to have formed deep hatred either.

It was not that Song Chuyi had never suspected Ying Si, but leaving aside what kind of person he was, given Qin’s current situation, he would not stoop to such a foolish act. He had finally found an excuse to delay abolishing the new laws – how could he possibly lift a rock only to drop it on his own foot?

Only Min Chi. If he used this opportunity to defect to Wei and conveniently shift the blame onto Song Chuyi, then she would bear the reputation of betraying her master for glory. Even if she had talent greater than heaven, afterward probably no state would dare employ her.

The rulers of the seven great states could all be said to overlook minor faults when employing talent. They could even tolerate Wu Qi’s notorious reputation of “killing his wife to seek command and not going into mourning when his mother died.” But ask yourself: who would heavily employ someone who might stab them in the heart at any moment?

The King of Wei would not use such a person, but he would certainly fear that other states might use her. Therefore, the only way was to kill Song Chuyi.

The King of Wei had always regretted not listening to Gongshu Cuo’s advice to kill Shang Yang, allowing him to flee to Qin and carry out reforms. The rapid strengthening of the enemy behind Wei’s back kept him awake at night. Having learned such a bloody lesson, this time he probably would not hold back.

Song Chuyi took a sip of rice wine, and the corner of her lips lifted almost imperceptibly. She thought: No matter whether you are the original Min Chi or not, this new score must be settled.

During this period she had been unable to figure out whether history had changed or whether she had been reborn into a similar place, and she had doubted whether she should take revenge at all. Min Chi’s move had conveniently confirmed her stance for her.

Thinking of it this way, he was actually quite considerate.

The boat turned a corner and began to follow the current, its speed doubling.

Song Chuyi set down her wine cup and looked out the window.

After a moment, the woman and the swordsman from the deck came in together and found seats in the farthest corner. The maid lowered the rolled-up curtains on both sides, creating an independent space.

Two hours later, the boat slowly came to shore.

On the ground by the river lay a thin layer of white snow, yet the willow trees were already putting forth faint yellow buds. In the sunlight it was a scene of spring snow.

The boat docked along the pier. The hull rocked when it touched the bank, and then the sound of the anchor being dropped followed.

Once the boat was slightly steady, everyone began directing their servants to move their belongings and prepare to disembark.

The two large bundles Zhao Yilou had prepared for Song Chuyi at the time had mostly been food. After being consumed along the way, only very little remained, so she leisurely watched the crowds coming and going on the pier.

“Young brother,” the fat man said, bowing to Song Chuyi. “I am but a merchant, yet seeing that your conversation is extraordinary, I am quite taken with you. Would you be willing to lower yourself to make my acquaintance?”

Song Chuyi was slightly surprised and returned the bow. “You are too kind, sir. Meeting you is likewise my good fortune.”

“My surname is Gui, of the Zhen clan, and my given name is Jun. I am from Zhencheng in Wey,” the fat man said. When he smiled, the flesh on his face piled up so much that his eyes could not be seen.

Zhen Jun? Song Chuyi was stunned for a moment before saying, “My surname is Song, and my given name is Yinyue.” [1]

“The Song clan? You are actually of the ducal house of Song? Forgive my disrespect,” Zhen Jun said, naturally changing “young brother” to “sir.”

The two sat together and talked for a while. When Zhen Jun learned that Song Chuyi was going to Puyang and would stay there for some time, he invited Song Chuyi to travel with him.

Song Chuyi gladly accepted.

From the pier to Puyang was not far – at most half a day’s journey – but by the time they arrived it would probably be too late to enter the city. Having someone to keep her company was not bad either…

Translator’s Notes:

[1] “Zhen Jun” sounds the same as “truly handsome” in Chinese.