Green Mountain
Chapter 346 - 286, Dongjia

Chapter 346: 286, Dongjia

Quwu Mountain, an eastern extension of the Qilian Mountain Range, has long been a place of strategic contention for military forces.

Standing on the main peak, South Valley Peak, one can overlook the entirety of Guyuan City.

On this mountain summit lies a small, unmarked grave, in front of which stands a tombstone devoid of inscriptions.

Beneath the dazzling starlight, a woman dressed in black, her face veiled under a hat with a thin gauzy curtain, concealed her features.

She was holding a cloth, bending over to wipe the tombstone while murmuring softly, "Over all these years, I’ve never dared to return to Guyuan. It’s not that I fear facing you, but that I dread what changes might await. So I hoped Guyuan would forget both you and me—that might’ve been for the best."

The woman softly continued, "But did you see? The sky we once gazed upon twenty years ago in Guyuan remains the same, unchanged as now when I lift my head; people haven’t changed either. I will visit you often from now on. Once I’ve completed my final task, I’ll stay here with you."

At this moment, footsteps echoed from the mountain below as Third Master Hu ascended under the cover of night, carrying a severed head. Upon reaching the grave, he carefully placed the head before the tombstone. After backing up two steps, he gave a deep bow. "General, I’ve brought Yuan Zhen to you."

Not far away, Xiao Wu stood holding a food box, nervously waiting.

Third Master Hu turned and glared at him. "What are you waiting for, stunned like that?"

"Ah!" Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped closer, first cupping his hands toward the woman in black to salute, and respectfully addressed her as "Proprietress." Only then did he begin setting out the food box’s contents—roast chicken, buns, oranges, and rice wine—before the grave.

Still wiping the tombstone, the woman in black asked softly, "Old Second is gone?"

Xiao Wu’s nose twitched, his voice trembling. "Yes."

The woman paused briefly, her hand halting midway. "Did he say anything before he passed?"

Xiao Wu responded in a low voice, "He said loyalty and honor are not spoken, but exchanged with one’s life."

The woman in black asked again, "That’s all?"

Xiao Wu hesitated briefly before giving a quick nod. "That’s all."

The woman’s gaze fell upon the nameless tombstone. After a long moment, she said calmly, "From now on, you’ll be the shopkeeper of Dragon Gate Inn. Do your work diligently and ensure the money from those fat sheep is sent to Hu Junxian. He’s currently in dire need of funds. But make it clear to him—he can’t block the Lampfire caravan anymore; I’ve never taken losses in this life."

Xiao Wu muttered softly, "Proprietress, Hu Junxian has always disliked us; he might not even accept our silver."

The woman replied without hurry, "Guyuan’s border army has suffered severe losses. The court’s pension silver has been scraped layer by layer; how much will even remain in his hands? Tell Hu Junxian that this silver isn’t for him; it’s for the pension of the border soldiers."

Xiao Wu complied. "Understood."

The woman nonchalantly murmured, "Go ahead."

Xiao Wu turned and walked away.

The mountain summit was left to the company of two.

Straightening her back, the woman stared at the tombstone and posed a question to Third Master Hu. "Old Third, you previously sent word that you encountered ’him’?"

Third Master Hu nodded. "I happened to meet him along the way and followed him into Dragon Gate Inn. Chen Liqin has now been promoted to the Eastern Palace Office, and he came to the Imperial Capital with the Chen family."

The woman hesitated for a good while before finally giving in to curiosity. "How is he?"

Third Master Hu thought back and described, "About as tall as me, high and lean with strikingly refined yet heroic features—much like yourself. When he pressed his dagger to my throat, I nearly mistook him for you."

The woman carefully pondered these words, as though engraving them in her heart. "Anything else?"

Hu replied earnestly, "He’s excellent—brave, intelligent, meticulous in his actions, and skilled in combat. He’s already an Executive Officer of the Innate Third Level."

The woman’s voice grew intent. "Where did he acquire the pathway of Executive Officer?"

Hu answered, "From what I know, the Chen family once sent him to the Imperial Medical Hall at Prince Jing Mansion as an apprentice; the path was taught by an Imperial Physician in the Medical Hall—a blessing born of misfortune, perhaps."

The woman replied calmly, "The Chen family dared to send him to the Medical Hall as an apprentice? It seems Mrs. Liang is unaware that I’m still alive. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare, even with double the courage. Who taught him?"

Hu answered, "Seventh Grade Imperial Doctor, Yao Qimen."

The woman paused briefly in surprise. "Him? I only knew of his skill in medicine and his harsh demeanor, but never heard that he was an Executive Officer as well... What else did you learn?"

After a moment of thought, Hu shared, "Wang Daosheng praised him, saying he glows without blinding and hides deep waters within stillness."

The woman nodded. "It’s rare to hear Wang Daosheng offer such praise; perhaps his character is commendable... Anything further?"

Hu thought for another moment before saying, "He’s now working for the Crown Prince, already a Right Guard in the Eastern Palace Office, Sixth Rank."

The woman queried again, "How did he get involved with the Crown Prince? Has he married?"

Hu shook his head, "He hasn’t."

The woman pressed further, "Does he have a woman he admires?"

Unknowingly, she had asked too many questions.

Hu hesitated for a moment before tentatively broaching an idea. "Proprietress, if you miss him so dearly, instead of asking me, why not go see him for yourself?"

The summit fell silent, with only the rustling of the cold wind.

After a long interval of silence, the woman finally sighed gently. "No. I didn’t raise him. Best that he truly believes I’m dead. You mustn’t see him either—don’t drag him into our mess of grievances."

Hu bowed, "Understood."

Turning to descend, the woman spoke. "Clearing the General’s name is nearly insurmountable. But his life was one of heroic feats; we cannot stand by while he bears the stigma of treason and betrayal. Nor can I allow his tombstone to remain nameless. The agent who framed him might have been silenced, but the mastermind surely lives on. At the Imperial Capital’s postal station Archive Room, I discovered a letter—it may pertain to the events of that year."

Hu followed behind her. "Very well, I’ll investigate."

...

...

Under the night sky, Guyuan City lay silent as though it were an empty wasteland.

Fires burned in basins, and the surviving infantry of the border army gathered together. Some stared blankly, waiting for dawn, while others dozed deeply beside the corpses.

Chen Ji, Zhang Xia, Zhang Zheng, Xiao Man, and Li Xuan leaned against a clean section of wall, watching as the border army infantry boiled water and slaughtered a lame warhorse, cooking its meat in pot after pot.

A white broth bubbled within the pots, its aroma gradually wafting through the air.

A shadow passed overhead, blocking the moonlight and firelight.

Chen Ji raised his head—it was Hu Junxian and Zhou You passing by on horseback.

Hu Junxian reined in his horse and scanned the group from his saddle, finally settling his gaze on Li Xuan. "Would you consider joining my border army?"

Li Xuan was taken aback. "General Hu is speaking to me?"

Hu Junxian’s voice was coarse. "Join the border army, and I’ll guarantee that you’ll be promoted to Deputy General within seven years. At that point, whether you choose to stay in Guyuan or use Qi family’s influence to secure a post as governor of a frontier province, the choice is yours."

Hu Junxian extended an enticing offer, only for Zhou You to counter in jest. "Lord Li, joining Guyuan’s border army is a road of no return—far from family, with no letters received across the miles. There’s none of Imperial Capital’s grandeur here, only endless sand and unyielding earth. Lord Li, think carefully before you answer."

Their opposing stances left it unclear whether they truly wanted Li Xuan in their ranks.

Li Xuan gazed up at Hu Junxian’s imposing stature before ultimately clasping his hands in refusal. "I am deeply honored by your offer, but my family and wife reside in the Imperial Capital—I simply cannot leave them behind."

As a son-in-law of the Qi family, from the day of his marriage onward, his fate was no longer his own. His wife would never permit him to join Guyuan, nor would the Qi family.

Upon hearing his rejection, Hu showed no insistence. He casually remarked, "Then I wish Lord Li swift ascension and boundless success."

Zhou You grinned and saluted Li Xuan. "I was quite rude earlier—farewell for now!"

His attention then shifted to Chen Ji. "Mr. Xiao Chen, might you..."

Before he could finish, Hu raised a hand to interrupt him. "He need not come to Guyuan."

Zhou’s smile froze in awkwardness. He hurriedly apologized to Chen Ji before spurring his horse to catch up with Hu Junxian.

Xiao Man’s eyes widened in indignation. "Hold on, you two!"

Hu Junxian and Zhou turned their horses around, puzzled by Xiao Man’s outburst.

Zhang Xia sensed trouble and reached to stop her, but Xiao Man brushed her hand aside and declared angrily, "Why won’t you invite my master? What do you mean by ’he need not come to Guyuan’?"

Hu Junxian sized up the young maid from head to toe before patiently addressing her inquiry. "It’s not that I don’t want him—I know he wouldn’t stay. No need to waste time."

Unsatisfied, Xiao Man pressed further, "Even if he wouldn’t stay, shouldn’t you at least ask?"

Hu Junxian replied coldly, "Li Xuan lacks adaptability; in the Imperial Capital, a place brimming with restrictions, even his skill may find little room to flourish. Rather than serve as a caged songbird, he’d be better off a soaring eagle in Guyuan. But your master is different—he thrives in the Imperial Capital, navigating its currents effortlessly. If he establishes himself in the Capital Territory one day, the Guyuan border army will need his guidance and that of his mentors within the capital. Do you understand now?"

Startled, Xiao Man simply muttered, "Ah... Then why couldn’t you phrase it nicely!"

Hu Junxian dismissed her, turning his horse away without another glance.

Xiao Man turned back, gazing apologetically at Chen Ji. "Master, did I cause trouble?"

Chen Ji chuckled lightly. "Not at all. Standing up for me is the last thing that could cause trouble."

Zhang Zheng laughed heartily. "Only a man like Hu Junxian exhibits such magnanimity and vision. Be more cautious when you reach the Imperial Capital—officials there are far more petty and vindictive."

Xiao Man muttered under her breath. "What’s so great about the Capital? Aren’t they all just two eyes and one mouth!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the distance. "Master, save me!"

Chen Ji ignored it.

The voice grew desperate. "Brother-in-law, save me!"

Everyone turned around—to their astonishment, Qi Zhenzhuo and others were still bound on horseback. After the chaos of the battle, people had nearly forgotten them entirely.

It was only at this moment that Chen Ji realized Qi Zhenzhuo’s earlier cry of "Master" had been directed at him.

Li Xuan grabbed his sword to unbind everyone. Xiao Man glared at the freed figures of Chen Wenxiao, Chen Liqin, Mrs. Liang, and Wang Gui as she muttered under her breath. "Why are they as hard to kill as Yuan Zhen? If I had known, I would’ve taken care of them myself..."

Chen Ji: "..."

Just then, Chen Liqin, newly freed, snatched a loose broadsword from the ground and swung it fiercely at Chen Wenxiao. "Disgraceful child—how dare you tarnish our family’s name!"

Crying out, Chen Wenxiao fled, calling for help. "Mother, save me! I only acted out of necessity!"

Chen Liqin chased him in circles, blade in hand. Meanwhile, Mrs. Liang spread her arms protectively around Chen Wenxiao like a hen shielding her chick. "Husband, stop! He’s your own flesh and blood!"

Chen Liqin erupted in fury. "I’ll act as though he never was! Step aside! If I don’t kill him, Daning’s laws surely will!"

Watching the spectacle, Zhang Zheng sneered. "What an act. He doesn’t have it in him to swing the blade for real. This whole display of sacrifice is another sham—mark my words, they’ll smooth it over somehow."

Meanwhile, Hu Junxian and Zhou You observed from afar. During the Chen family and the Crown Prince’s capture earlier, the Heavenly Strategy Army surrounded them exclusively. Now that the Heavenly Strategy forces are depleted, what happened remains unclear; they could only watch in silence.

Xiao Man, quick-witted as ever, suddenly darted forward to tug on Hu Junxian’s reins.

Hu Junxian scowled. "What business do you have now, little maid?"

Xiao Man whispered conspiratorially. "General Hu, my master aided Lord Li earlier during the battle. Doesn’t that count as meritorious service?"

Unconcerned, Hu replied coolly. "Naturally, it does."

Encouraged, Xiao Man added, "Does the border army appreciate such service?"

Zhou You let out a hearty laugh. "We appreciate it wholeheartedly, clever maid. But get to your point—what are you scheming now?"

Xiao Man eagerly expanded her case. "Then Chen Wenxiao, who was captured by the Heavenly Strategy Army alive, sought to betray my master—a man with meritorious service. Doesn’t that count as colluding with the enemy and treason?"

Hu Junxian turned his gaze to Chen Wenxiao, pondering briefly. Then, with decisive authority, he gestured toward the border infantry. "Seize him! Guyuan’s border army will escort him to the Imperial Capital for trial in the Ministry of Justice!"