Love in Red Dust - Chapter 91
Chapter 91
Guan Zhaojing was sensible enough to stand guard at the entrance, ensuring no one entered and giving them enough space to speak their private thoughts.
Reunited after a long separation, their hearts were filled with joy, yet they both felt awkward, as if they had returned to the very beginning of their love—trembling, cautious, and hesitant.
It had been a long time since he had seen her in men’s attire. In that moment, she looked just like a young soldier, lost in a crowd where one would never notice her. He smoothed her hair and pulled her to sit on the kang, drawing the charcoal brazier closer. He asked if she was cold, then pulled his heavy cloak over her shoulders.
"The climate here is harsh. Did you run all this way alone just to make me feel tormented? There are wolves, leopards, and bandits on the Gobi. Thank goodness you arrived safely; if anything had happened to you, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life." He cradled her hands in his, looking them over repeatedly. "To be reduced to this... you have suffered so much."
Dingyi touched her cheekbones, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Oh, my face is beyond saving. But when I thought of coming to see you, nothing else mattered. Fortunately, the heavens were merciful, and the journey was quite smooth. I met a group of horse traders near the border who brought me to Balang. Later, I encountered the Thirteenth Prince; he didn’t recognize me, so I pretended to be a fallen traveler to slip into his camp, and then I followed them until I found you."
She smiled, her snow-white teeth set against her flushed cheeks. He looked at her and felt even more distressed. "Are you actually proud of this? Do you have any idea how dangerous it was?"
Yet, any danger she faced was nothing compared to the fear for his safety. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I just wanted to see you, and I also have something to tell you." She pulled out the silk pouch from her bosom and placed it in his palm. "You have a son; his name is Xian'er. Everyone praises how beautiful he is. Do you know those chubby dolls in the New Year’s prints? My mentor says Xian'er looks exactly like that. They say sons look like their mothers, but he doesn't—he looks more like you." She smiled and gestured, "He has a golden ring in his eyes, just like you."
His expression was one of complete shock, reeling from the news. "Wasn't it gone? How did you give birth? That time... was the miscarriage a lie?"
She covered her ears and closed her eyes. "I’m sorry, I lied to you. When my uncle came to see me, I had him get me a jar of chicken blood specifically to deceive you."
He was so angry he swatted her backside. "To think you dared to lie to me! You are far too bold—there is nothing you wouldn't dare to do. Do you even have me in your eyes?" After a moment, he felt a pang of heartache. For a woman, a matter as major as childbirth—with her husband not by her side—she must have been terrified. He sighed, "A mother crosses the threshold of death to bring life... Fortunately, both mother and child are safe."
He unwrapped the pouch, revealing a small tuft of soft, fine hair. It was so fragile, yet it pulled at his most sensitive nerves. The bond between father and son—it was only now that he truly understood it. He had a son. He cried and laughed, cradling that tuft of hair and murmuring, "Xian'er... This is our son! I wasn't by your side when he was born, but I will definitely make it up to you and the child." He solemnly tucked the pouch into his robe and asked, "Who is taking care of the child now? How could you leave him alone to come here?"
Dingyi hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "I went to the Red Shell Temple and managed to bring Hailan back. Thanks to her, she has been by my side all this time. Before I left, I entrusted Xian'er to her. She is careful and loves Xian'er very much; I am at ease knowing he is with her."
Only then did he relax, nodding. "It has been hard on her. I have always felt guilty toward her and Rujian. Thirteenth Brother said the case of Hongzan has been concluded; the court gave its approval, ordering him to take his own life. It is considered a reckoning for those who died unjustly. But Rujian’s cause of death remains unclear; to investigate further would likely require opening the coffin for an autopsy."
Dingyi shook her head. "Things have reached this point; let us not disturb his rest anymore. He suffered his whole life; let there be peace after his death." After saying this, she looked at him and cautiously probed, "Speaking of the Thirteenth Prince, how do you and your brother get along? Have there been any conflicts?"
Hongce said no. "Thirteenth Brother is a brilliant man and places great importance on blood ties. Perhaps it is because of his mother—after the previous dynasty fell, the Empress Dowager only had one nephew left, and the guidance given to Hongxun was centered on benevolence and filial piety. They are both like that. Ever since I returned to the capital from Khalkha, he has shown me great care, far closer than my other brothers." He looked at her suspiciously, "Why do you ask?"
She didn't know how to begin, but hiding it would never solve anything. After a long silence, she said, "You keep asking why I came to find you. It is because I heard news in the capital. That day, when the Seventh Prince came to the Wen family estate, he said the army had suffered a military defeat and someone at court was using it to impeach you, claiming you were colluding with the enemy and plotting treason. The Emperor, suspicious, sent the Thirteenth Prince to investigate. If it is true, he is to..."
His expression changed. "To do what?"
She squeezed the words through her teeth with great difficulty. "To order your death."
"What a joke!" He was infuriated, gritting his teeth. "In the eight battles, large and small, that we have fought so far, although there have been setbacks, the entire army’s morale is currently soaring. Where does this talk of 'colluding with the enemy' come from? I have been serving the court since I was twelve. All these years, I have poured out my heart and blood; have I ever sought the slightest bit of personal gain? And now this—they slap such a massive label on me just to put me to death? I, Yuwen Hongce, have walked straight and sat upright. Even if the Emperor were standing right here, I would say the same: I will never deny what I have done, but what I have not done, even if they break my spine, I will never admit to."
She said, "I know, you would never do such a thing. But you cannot stop those who use public office to settle private grudges. If it truly comes to a dead end, could you take me and run away? Let’s find a place without war, without court struggles, and live an ordinary life—wouldn't that be good?"
A mocking smile curled the corners of his lips. "Where could we go? Can four horse hooves outrun an army of tens of thousands? I am upright and do not fear shadows; they can dispose of me as they wish. It is just one life—if they want it, let them take it. But if I run, it only provides evidence for their claims. Not only would I be ruined, but my descendants would be cursed for generations." He turned back and pressed down on her shoulders. "Is this why you traveled thousands of miles to find me? You fool. You should have stayed in the capital to look after Xian'er; there is no need for you to worry about men's affairs."
Even now, he was still thinking about protecting his descendants. With such a man of principle, it was no wonder he lived a harder life than others. She smiled through her tears. "If you knew I was in danger in the capital, would you not disregard everything to return to my side?" She stroked his face. "You are my man, the father of my son; I must stay by your side. No matter how difficult the road is, I must stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Only then can I live with my own conscience."
So, asking him to live in dishonor was impossible. If the court gave him the poisoned wine, he would drink it down straight—not for himself, but for his wife and child. He was so foolish that it pained her heart, yet it also made her even more certain that she hadn't come in vain.
"Let's not think about those things. You said the Thirteenth Prince is brilliant—with him here, he will surely restore our justice." She pursed her lips and smiled, looking a bit shy. "You haven't seen me for so long, and you aren't even going to kiss me? Is it because you think my face isn't as tender as it once was, and you can't bring yourself to do it?"
He let out a scoffing laugh. "What nonsense!" He leaned forward, kissing her from her forehead to the tip of her nose. "In my heart, you are always as you were when we first met. Even if your hair is gray and your teeth have fallen out, you will still be that girl standing in the snow watching me set off the lanterns."
Even the prospect of life and death could not diminish such joy. She had only given a small, insignificant amount of love, yet in return received his long-lasting yearning—she had made a very profitable deal.
"I haven't achieved much in this life; my greatest achievement is making you fall in love with me." She returned his kiss. "Actually, to earn this lifetime is enough. Letting you love me so bitterly... in the next life, I should set you free. You deserve a better woman..."
He didn't hear her, his warm lips winding down into the collar of her tunic.
There were too many people in the military camp, and the loyal guards stood outside the Royal Tent; any soft moans were stifled against his lips. She reached out to grip the tiger skin on the kang, the vibrant patterns twisting between her fingers. Struggling to endure, entangled in a desperate intimacy, they floated and drifted in the void, leaving him to bloom in splendor—yet nothing could dissolve the night, as thick as ink.
She kept her men's attire and no longer needed to go back. She filled a vacancy, becoming one of his personal guards. Because she was so close, she finally understood how heavy the responsibility on his shoulders truly was.
The Thirteenth Prince came to see him a few times. From outside the tent, she listened to them speak, and faint arguments arose. Her heart began to race—the alternating high and low tones of their back-and-forth were like a bow pulled to its limit, and she didn't know when it would snap.
The Thirteenth Prince emerged, walking hurriedly past her. As he walked, he said, "Evidence is laid out right before your eyes, yet you remain stubborn—you are the type of person who won't shed tears until they see the coffin!"
Dingyi could barely stand. What evidence? It was likely someone was determined to destroy him. How many military commanders through the ages had been framed? The Twelfth Master could not escape it either. She knew it all stemmed from his having toppled the Small Prince Zhuang. The Prince Zhuang estate had many retainers, countless people in the light and in the shadows; how could he defend against them all? Moreover, the old Prince Zhuang was still alive—the younger brother of the Retired Emperor—and he must hate Hongce, his nephew, to the bone!
She followed the Thirteenth Prince’s departing figure. He stopped before a squad of patrolling soldiers, gestured toward the back, likely ordering them to keep a close watch on the Royal Tent.
Earlier, she had inquired about Hongce, who said the Thirteenth Prince was a man who valued blood relations. These past few days, she had observed him carefully; though they were not of the same mother, they had a strong bond, so perhaps begging him to show mercy might work.
Dingyi took a deep, steadying breath. The time had truly come. Having seen him, she had no regrets. If one of them had to be sacrificed, she was insignificant; as long as he and Xian'er were well, that was enough.
She stepped forward, but someone emerged from the Thirteenth Prince’s tent with a flag planted on his back—at a glance, one could tell he was an express messenger carrying an eight-hundred-mile urgent dispatch.
This was to return to the capital to deliver a memorial—the very memorial containing that "conclusive evidence," no doubt! She looked back into the distance; the grass was already sprouting new buds, a downy green covering the wilderness. The spring of Khalkha had arrived.
She requested an audience and stood outside the tent waiting, but the conversation inside was unusually clear. She heard the Thirteenth Prince shouting angrily: "Blow it out your mother's ass! Have you been out in the world for only a day? Don't you know the rules of the imperial clan? He was born of the same father as I; what good would it do me to humiliate him? The Emperor had a secret order: dispose of it privately to preserve the face of the Great Ying. You, you little punk, intend to defy the imperial decree? Get out! Get out of here!"
A moment later, a man came crawling out of the tent, holding half his face as he ran off. The guard behind him gestured roughly, "The Prince says you can come in."
She thanked him, entered the tent, and cupped her hands toward the Thirteenth Prince. He said "Oh," and hurriedly invited her to take a seat, laughing: "The Twelfth Sister-in-law is here? Forgive my lack of courtesy; the current conditions are not like those in the capital, so I had to make you wait." He poured her tea and handed it over with both hands, "Do you have business with me?"
The Twelfth Master wanted to transfer her to his side; her true identity had to be confessed to him, so there was nothing to hide now. She looked at him, called out "Thirteenth Prince," and knelt before him, her legs bending.
Hongxun was startled. "This... this will not do..." He tried to help her up, but he was unsure how to touch her, pacing back and forth in a panic. "Please, don't be like this; anything can be discussed. Twelfth Brother and I are blood brothers, and you are my own sister-in-law... To do this is to cut short my lifespan! Please, get up; sit down and we can talk just the same."
Dingyi shook her head. "I will speak while kneeling; if I sit, I cannot find the words. You said it yourself: the Twelfth Master is your own brother. When I was in your camp, I heard more or less of the inside information about the Twelfth Master supposedly colluding with the Mongols. I will not explain on behalf of our Master; explanations are useless. You know his character. Now that he has encountered a great crisis, I beg you, for the sake of your brotherhood, to show mercy. I will not make things difficult for you; you are the Imperial Commissioner and must carry out your imperial orders. I just want to know... when the poisoned wine will be granted, so that I may prepare myself."
The Thirteenth Prince sighed, "Twelfth Sister-in-law, please rise. I will show you something."
Dingyi slowly stood up and took the letter he handed her. The characters on it were crooked and worm-like, leaving her completely bewildered.
"You don't understand it, do you?" He arched an eyebrow. "This is Mongolian. Every imperial prince must learn it from the time they start their studies. Whether it is Mongolian or Chinese, the underlying principles are the same; every stroke and every dot holds its essence. This letter is in Hongce’s own hand, written to Zasak, the leader of the left wing of the Setsen Khan Tribe. Zasak’s subordinate in charge of documents stole this letter and delivered it to me. This is the evidence of Hongce’s treason." He paced back and forth on the thick felt mat with his hands behind his back, looking distraught. "I did not want this, either. I know that Twelfth Brother suffered much since he was young; of all the brothers, only he was sent away to the borders for over a decade. So, at the slightest sign of trouble, I truly could not bear to investigate. But you know, Sister-in-law—when the monarch demands a subject’s death, the subject must die. The Emperor’s intent is to follow the old precedent and announce that he succumbed to a sudden illness. This way, the sins will not extend to his descendants, and my nephew can still enjoy the shade of his father’s legacy."
She listened, tears streaming down her face, wiping them with her handkerchief, yet they would not stop. She could only nod while choking with sobs. "I understand. I just want to ask the Thirteenth Prince one thing: there is no second serving of the poisoned wine, is there?"
Hongxun hesitated before answering that there was not. "No matter where you go, that is the rule."
"Then, when exactly will it be?"
His tone was almost uncertain. "...Tonight."
"Then I have one more request for the Thirteenth Prince: let me be the one to serve the wine. You do not want outsiders to know, do you? Then I am the most suitable person to do it." By now, Dingyi had calmed down and was able to face him with composure. If this was to be achieved, it would depend on his help. She said, "If that cup of gold-dusted wine must be granted, then let me drink it in his stead. My life is of no consequence; I only ask to save his. Even if he is imprisoned, as long as he lives, there is hope."
Hongxun looked at her in amazement. Her expression was solemn and austere; she was truly fearless, which, ironically, made her seem somewhat unapproachable.