Chapter 3
Chapter 3
In early November, the wind was already bitterly cold, and the sun had begun to set over the Dragon Head Plains . Surrounded by a 100,000 Dragon Tooth Cavalry, Ye City stood like a solitary mountain, bleak and desolate, stained in a spreading blood-red tinge .
The city’s land routes with the outside had been completely cut off due to the lack of troops, and Ye City’s only remaining route was via the Grand Canal which started in Yang Country’s capital city, Zhen, and passed through Shangzhou and Yecheng . To maintain this path of survival, Crown Prince Chengde sent a massive number of troops to guard the route along the canal .
“His Highness the Seventh Prince has returned!” As soon as they went ashore, they heard a cheer from the soldiers along the river, and the horns from the watchtowers on the shore rang out continuously from the landing port . A message was sent all throughout the city . The soldiers defending the city then quickly moved, and several famous generals came up to pay their respects .
Prince Xueya first off the boat ordered people to take the brocade mound to cushion the feet and to help Jin Bihui down the boat . There were some whispers among the soldiers, but they did not dare point it out: this time, the prince traveled to Yang Country . He had never been able to invite reinforcements before, but he had brought back a woman . They really didn’t understand the reason why .
“Help the imperial concubine off the boat . ” Seeing that the first person to come to greet him was his most trusted general, Shen Tiexin, Yan Bai sighed and gave an explanation, and saw his subordinate’s face filled with amazement . He didn’t have the heart to argue anything — along the way, he had tried hard to persuade that old boatman to come with him to Ye City to join Prince Chengde, yet that mysterious old man only smiled and shook his head, unmoved in the slightest . Prince Xueya would always treat worthy men with courtesy and this was well-known among the aristocracy . He had never seen such a stubborn old man who, despite his repeated pleas, still remained unmoved .
As soon as the boat entered Li Country’s border, the boatman stopped the boat and withdrew, allowing the prince to stay and smiled at the newlyweds in front of him . “You’re a young couple that just recently married . What reason do I have to stay?” He looked at the red-clothed woman, his eyes full of care . “Little girl, you can’t be so fierce again — be careful that your husband’s family doesn’t send you home, yes?”
Jin Bihui expressed irritation, but the old boatman didn’t respond . He just turned around and heartily sang . Unexpectedly, it was the ruler of Li Country’s song, “Tie Yi Han” . However, the original lyrics of “north air spreads to the golden watchman’s rattle, cold light shines upon the iron clothes” were replaced with ancient verses:
“The battle drums clang, soldiers eagerly train . Others repair roads and fortify walls, I alone enlist and walk south . ”
“Following commander’s grandson Zhong, uniting countries Chen and Song . Unable to return, my heart’s restless and worried…”[1]
The song was like an unwavering wisp of sound as it drifted away . The wooden planked platform which quietly extended over the river . A stone rampart at the riverbank . Lanterns swaying amidst the wind and rain — the Seventh Prince stood at the ferry crossing to change boats and continue the journey north . He watched the old man’s back as he rowed and heartily sang with his white hair flying in the wind . Suddenly, his sharp mind, forged by the continuous battles lasting half a lifetime, had also become distracted .
The brocade mound had not yet arrived . However, before his subordinates had arrived to serve her, Jin Bihui, who had not yet changed out of her big red wedding dress, peered out from the boat’s cabin and looked around from the front of the boat . She exclaimed, “Is this Ye City? Wow, how amazing!”
Without saying another word, she followed her husband as she leaped from the boat and landed lightly on the embankment . [2]
The soldiers and servants all around were shocked . They involuntarily took a few steps backward and stared at each other blankly, not knowing where this woman who acted this way came from .
Sponsored Content
“Don’t be too unbridled!” There was really no choice but to manage her, Yan Bai furrowed his brows and lowly berated .
However, at this moment the newlywed wife saw the soldiers who came to greet her and clearly remembered that day in the Sea King’s fleet and treated her husband’s army as if they were her own brothers . She looked at everyone and smoothly patted the soldiers’ shoulders as they kneeled to move the brocade mound . “Many thanks, where else could you have such laborers? You’ve worked hard, little brothers!”
After she finished, the surrounding soldiers and guards who were horrified became visibly moved . The soldiers who moved the brocade mound, vigorous and energetic, could now smell a sweet fragrance . Their withered and sickly faces also suddenly flushed blood red . A long amount of time passed and they stuttered, not knowing how to respond .
At the city gate, even Crown Prince Chengde, who had heard the news just now and personally left the city to greet him, stood there stupefied . He had forgotten to greet his seventh younger brother .
“Imperial elder brother . ” It was Yan Bai who saw his older brother first, so he hurried to greet him . Before kneeling down, he was stopped by Crown Prince Chengde as usual . The crown prince was completely astonished . Although it was too late to ask this question, he only hastily asked, “Is Yang Country willing to send troops?”
Yan Bai looked at his imperial elder brother’s eager eyes and knew that Ye City was at the moment of running out of food and the soldiers were exhausted . He subconsciously glanced to the side where his newlywed wife was still looking around everywhere and sighed, “Imperial elder brother, let’s enter the city and then chat, shall we?”
“What did you say, Seventh Brother? You’ve already married?!”
Ye City’s original government office was used as a military base, and only a few of the high-ranking decision-makers in the Crown Prince’s army were in the back chamber of the council ship at present . However, Crown Prince Chengde still couldn’t help but be taken aback after hearing his report of the trip, “Yutang Jin Family — and that’s exactly the woman you brought here today?”
“Yes . I was in a difficult position and helpless in Yang Country . Matters were urgent and I had to get married before the battle . Please forgive me for not telling imperial elder brother . ” Under the equally astonished gazes of several generals beside him, Prince Xueya lowered his head and quietly reported back .
“The only daughter of the Yutang Jin Family — is she that…is she that famous woman?” To the side, the left army flank’s Vice General Shen Tiexin blurted out and almost let the two words “Terrifying Tigress” slip . He hurriedly corrected himself, but his expression was already rather awkward .
Crown Prince Chengde’s gaze was somewhat complicated: Jin Bihui — even he had heard of this woman’s name . She was the female leader of the largest pirate group on the sky-blue seas and the only daughter of the Yutang Jin Family who now controlled Yang Country’s national politics .
This woman’s reputation for bravery and viciousness had spread amongst every country .
The crown prince’s eyes changed slightly and his gaze wandered, but he sighed softly, “Seventh Brother, it seems to have been hard on you — in truth, you have no need to be like this . The current situation is such that even if the Yutang Jin Family forces me to marry that woman, it would also be possible . ”
Sponsored Content
Prince Xueya stared blankly and looked up at his older brother somewhat unexpectedly, “Imperial elder brother has already designated Wuchen as the Crown Princess . How can you speak of ousting again?”
“It’s as you say, the matters are urgent . What does it matter if it can bring about the unification of Li Country?” Crown Prince Chengde somewhat glossed over the meaning with a laugh and changed the subject, “Is Yang Country willing to send troops?”
Prince Xueya took a moment and then carefully chose his words, “Yang Country promised that they should be able to send troops north along the canal to reach Ye City in early December . ”
“It’s a pity that the city has already exhausted its manpower and resources . It will be difficult to last until December . ” The one who spoke was Chief Advisor Xu Fuyan who sat beside Crown Prince Chengde . This old man, who had assisted two previous emperors and now served under the crown prince, evaluated the overall situation coldly and thoroughly . He coughed a few times and stroked his long beard and his eyes suddenly turned sharp, “Yang’s Emperor Chang . Does he not intend to assist me?”[3]
Prince Xueya also looked stern . He looked at the old man and quietly replied, “I am not concealing anything from the Chief Advisor . Emperor Chang and the courtiers do indeed intend to hide their hands in their sleeves[4], but Uncle Jin has already promised to try his best to convince the Emperor to send reinforcements to Ye City before the year ends . As for financial and material resources…” After a slight pause, as if there were some sorrow in his heart, the Seventh Prince softly took a sip of his tea . Then, he steadily set down the teacup . “This time, my wife’s dowry will be sufficient enough to sustain the entire Ye City through the winter . ”
As soon as the words fell, everyone in the military base was shocked .
“Wealth akin to an entire nation’s . ” A long time had passed until the Chief Advisor spoke slowly in a low voice tinged with emotion .
That chest was but three chi long and two chi wide . It wasn’t big and didn’t seem heavy . [5]
—Yet, it will actually be able to supply the entire Ye City’s military and civilians for the whole winter?
As soon as they entered the inner room, the three jewelers from the Western Border saw the chest on the table and their eyes just couldn’t help but light up — this chest wasn’t made of sandalwood or eaglewood but was nailed together with a whole piece of a hawksbill turtle shell which was carved and polished! There was a decorative pattern of fine gold threads on the pitch-black and smooth surface . It was, of course, a hawksbill turtle of the highest quality .
The jewelers unconsciously gulped: Hawksbill turtles were born in the deep sea . Not to mention they were difficult to catch and usually only as big as the size of a palm . They were then used to make combs or jewelry — this two to three chi hawksbill turtle may not necessarily be found in even the Dragon Palace . [6]
Worthy of being the Sea King’s daughter .
Sponsored Content
The three merchants glanced at each other . Beforehand, they privately negotiated to cooperate in forcefully lowering the price, so they felt a little discouraged .
Jin Bihui, however, was carefree and did not care at all about so many people watching . She looked at her husband, but Prince Xueya’s expression was grave and he was silent . Prince Chengde on the other side was also lost in thought .
“I’ll open the box now!” Jin Bihui glanced around . Not in the mood to delay any longer, she raised her hand to open the box .
In an instant, rays of light shimmered . The people in the inner room were unable to open their eyes and subconsciously raised their hands to cover them .
Only the three jewelers were so eager that they involuntarily cried out in surprise and rushed at it instead—
Inside the chest, there contained a magnificent sight that jewelers would not be able to see even in their dreams: The thick velvet cushion was densely covered with a layer of night jewels as large as a dragon’s eye . And around the center lay a mother pearl as large as a dove egg from which the eye-catching brilliance came .
Scattered on the pearl were many ornamental jewels, including the Jade Ruyi, Water-Repelling Spiritual Horn, and the Amethyst Jade . Each of these was a treasure that jewelers in the Zhongzhou Continent had dreamed of all their lives .
However, what left several jewelers dumbfounded and speechless was what was placed at the four corners of the chest . It was used to prevent the five demon chiefs of legends — four beads of different colors were not eye-catching and had a faint, dull hue .
“Heavens! This, This is—” The eldest of the three jewelers rubbed his eyes heavily and stammered . All of a sudden, while facing the chest his knees went weak . He then quickly kneeled .
“Staying wind, repelling fire, yielding water, warding dust!” The other two jewelers were bewildered, as if in a dream, and followed on their knees — for those in their line of work, meeting the supreme treasure from legends must be worshipped with the utmost respect . They did not dare to blaspheme it in the slightest .
Even Crown Prince Chengde and the other subordinates beside him were all shocked and unable to speak, not to mention the jewelers . Only the Seventh Prince, already aware of his wife’s surprisingly generous dowry, just looked expressionless .
“Guess you guys do have some skill . No losses thanks to Dad pushing you guys to come to buy this dowry . ” Jin Bihui stood by the edge of the table, her hand on the dowry chest’s cover . She smirked as she watched the faces of the jewelers . “Looks like your pockets aren’t deep enough! Or perhaps like this — the three of you pool your money together and buy as much as you can . How about it?”
“I wonder…I wonder how much Imperial Concubine is asking for?” One glance up at the case and as if the jewels gleam had pierced his eyes again, the eldest jeweler wiped the sweat from his forehead . He rose from the ground, no longer arrogant or domineering as he had asked somewhat anxiously .
Jin Bihui was startled and turned to Prince Xueya to seek her husband’s opinion — originally, this batch of items was also meant to aid with his emergency . Before they were married, the father had spoken to his daughter about the groom’s background and plight . She didn’t know how much financial resources Ye City needed to pull through this time .
Yan Bai’s eyes, however, looked toward Chief Advisor Xu, who was beside Crown Prince Chengde .
“At least… half a million gold is required . ” Chief Advisor Xu, who was in charge of the city’s affairs, estimated the entire expenditure of the military and civilians for one winter and made a price . He waited for the three merchants to pay the money on the spot .
“Half a million gold… Half a million?” For some reason, the jewelers laughed, relatively relief .
“Ha . ” The jewelers were about to agree, but then they heard someone next to them laugh . In the inner room full of aristocrats, the laugh seemed extremely jarring . Everyone turned to look, yet they saw the newlywed Imperial Concubine slamming the hawksbill turtle chest shut . She looked over at her husband and couldn’t help but ridicule, “Hey hey, did you make a mistake? You only need half a million gold? So then why were you making such a big deal? I thought you guys needed enough money to empty out a country’s treasury since you begged the Yutang Jin Family for help… Half a million? Tch!”
TL Note: Heya, think i’ll try to update every Saturday
Footnotes:
[1] Part of this poem, “击鼓”, is also at the end of the end of the manhua . It’s about soldiers far from home and their feelings about being separated from their loved ones . Poems really aren’t easy to translate haha T-T
[2] Definition: a wall or bank of earth or stone built to prevent a river flooding an area .
[3] Guess this is Yang Country’s emperor or if it means something else .
[4] Means they don’t want to be involved in their affairs
[5] Traditional measurement . 1 chi ~ 1 foot
[6] Dragon Palace: the Dragon King’s palace at the bottom of the Eastern Sea