Chapter 857: Chapter 597 Grand Finale (Part Seven)
The eighth year of Jingning, a tumultuous autumn.
In March, Wen Xingsu led an army of 160,000 to revolt at the front line. After the mutiny, he besieged Xinjing, renamed the rebel army as the "Andu Army," proclaimed himself as the King of Andu, and forced Pei Jue to issue an edict of abdication.
Pei Jue urgently concentrated troops in Xinyi, mobilized forces to defend Xinjing, closing the gates to trap the enemy, encircling the Andu Army along with Xinjing in the Andu County area.
At the same time, he issued a decree harshly criticizing Wen Xingsu for his false benevolence and righteousness, accusing him of orchestrating the mutiny at Suo Yue Ridge to force the imperial court, holding the Empress hostage, spreading false words, and slandering innocence—his words were detestable, his actions shameful. In contrast, Pei Jue openly expressed his love, declaring that he and Empress Feng were "bound as husband and wife, unwavering in mutual affection."
In April, Wen Xingsu allied with former Jin elders who advocated "Restoring Jin against Da Yong," as well as various noble families whose privileges had been weakened after the founding of Da Yong, to resist Yong Army together...
Undoubtedly, Wen Xingsu had a clear mind.
Relying solely on his power, even with a hostage in hand, he was unlikely to be a match for Pei Jue.
He needed more support.
The old officials of the Jin Dynasty and aristocratic families quickly formed a powerful alliance out of their own interests, creating a massive force to counter Pei Jue and challenge him head-on.
However, while noble families and forts in various regions responded actively, Changmen remained eerily silent.
They sent the elderly, women, and children to Little Jieqiu, closed their estates, and kept only a portion of young men to guard. They proclaimed to the outside world that amidst the chaos, they would only pursue self-preservation and would not interfere in any disputes.
Evidently, the people of Changmen held doubts about Feng Yun’s "rebellion."
The whole of Huaxi was surrounded by Wen Xingsu’s Andu Army, and the people of Huaxi likewise chose silence...
Upon hearing the news, Ao Qi took the Crown Prince Jun to the walls of Andu City, pledging to live and die with Xinjing. The citizens in the city responded enthusiastically, swearing to protect the Crown Prince and defend the Da Yong Dynasty to their death.
For a time, rumors of the Da Yong Empress rebelling with her uncle, severing ties with the Emperor, and leaving the young Crown Prince to guard the city alone spread throughout the land.
The empire was in turmoil, and imperial authority was precarious.
No one could clearly discern who was defying the heavens.
In May, the borders faced an emergency as the Northern Rong Tribe invaded.
Xiao Cheng seized the opportunity and issued an order for Great General Xie Congguang to lead troops to split forces northward via the Mingquan Waterway and Suo Yue Ridge, attacking Da Yong Army from both flanks...
Pei Jue was besieged on all sides.
The Yunchuan Army was trapped in Bingzhou.
From that point, flames of war spread across the land...
The empire decayed, and the world fell into chaos.
The three kingdoms—Da Yong, Qi, and Yunchuan—were completely dragged into the war.
With a clear goal, Wen Xingsu aimed to force abdication and topple Da Yong’s regime step by step.
By June, after enduring rebellions, internal strife, mutinies, and divisions, Pei Jue led the Red Armor, Yellow Thorn, and Orange Crane armies to battle Wen Xingsu at Huaishui.
Meanwhile, Helian Qian, Yu Zhong, and Shi Yin led the Purple Lightning and Azure Dragon forces to cross Zhu River, joining ten thousand elite Yunchuan troops in a surprise attack on Bingzhou, forcing the Qi Army to retreat and engaging in a two-month tug-of-war around Zhu River and Hongye Valley...
In August, the tides of war turned abruptly. Qi Emperor Xiao Cheng fell ill on the battlefield and fainted from his horse, causing chaos in the Qi Army’s morale. Unable to withstand Helian Qian’s forces, they retreated to Jiulong Town south of Xinyi.
By October, Pei Jue gradually reclaimed Guyi, Dan Prefecture, and the Mingquan area, personally leading the army to assist Chunyu Yan, breaking through Bingzhou and driving the Qi Army back to Hengqu Pass.
During these months, several rumors surfaced about the deteriorating health of Qi Emperor.
Whether they were true or false remained unknown, but the rumors weakened the Qi Army’s morale. Unable to withstand the Da Yong Army’s frenzied counterattacks, they suffered repeated defeats.
At this point, Bingzhou was incorporated into Da Yong’s territory.
Except for the Andu Army’s controlled territories north of Huaishui, the entire Da Yong Kingdom was once again under Pei Jue’s control...
After nine months of turmoil, the chaos was mostly quelled.
Rather than claiming that Wen Xingsu, with his 180,000 troops surrounding Xinjing, had the support of old faction officials and powerful families, securing an advantage, it was more accurate to say that Wen Xingsu and his Andu Army had been sandwiched by the three forces of Ao Qi, Pei Jue, and Chunyu Yan into the stuffing of a dumpling.
Only the dumpling had entered the pot, but no one dared to light the fire.
Because in Wen Xingsu’s hands was a pawn that was absolutely fatal to Pei Jue...
Or perhaps, a hostage.
Wen Xingsu had never used Feng Yun to threaten Pei Jue.
Pei Jue had never believed that Feng Yun would rebel.
During the months of confrontation in Xinjing, Ao Qi repeatedly sent messages in the name of Crown Prince Pei Jun, addressing Wen Xingsu as "Uncle," attempting to negotiate.
Wen Xingsu refused.
To Pei Jun’s earnest pleas for his mother, Wen Xingsu gently advised him.
He only told Pei Jun that his uncle and mother merely wanted to give him something better.
He also said that the mother would only have one son, but the father could have countless...
Ao Qi, enraged, cursed in the palace. Rui Bao, on the other hand, calmly advised him, "You and I both know that the Empress would never rebel. Uncle’s words are only meant to unsettle us; don’t take them to heart."
Ao Qi looked at the seven-year-old Rui Bao, thought of Feng Yun whose fate was unknown, and held the child, repeatedly assuring him.
"I promised the Empress I’d always protect the young master. I’ll do what I promised. As long as I have breath in me, Wen Xingsu won’t break through Imperial City."
Rui Bao nodded, wiped Ao Qi’s tears, and then began to cry too, saying he missed his mother.
The child displayed wisdom and composure beyond his years, but such maturity only deepened Pei Jue’s anguish as he remained in Xinyi.
A family of three, scattered across three places.
Pei Jue couldn’t comfort his son; instead, his son tried to console him.
While in Bingzhou, at Huaishui, before Chunyu Yan, Pei Jue gritted his teeth and vowed, "If Wen Xingsu ever falls into my hands, I will have him torn apart by horses, a death unworthy of mercy."
Before this, Pei Jue had also sent envoys to the Andu Army camp, extending earnest overtures and expressing that Da Yong could relocate its capital to Xijing, ceding five prefectures in Xinzhou including Andu to Wen Xingsu. They could govern on opposite banks of Baihe, signing a pact of mutual non-aggression.
With only one condition: Feng Yun must be returned...
Wen Xingsu made no reply.
He remained calm.
Calmly watching Pei Jue lose control.
In the nine months since losing Feng Yun, Pei Jue hadn’t heard a word of news nor caught a glimpse of her. That alone was enough to drive any man insane...
However, what even Wen Xingsu didn’t anticipate was that the supposedly "dying" Qi Emperor Xiao Cheng actually sent his mentor, Grand Tutor Yan Buxi, crossing Huaishui by night to have a heart-to-heart conversation in his camp...
"The Qi Emperor harbors deep affection for Feng Shi’er Niang. My lord may state any price, and all can be negotiated."
One sentence conveyed his intentions clearly and earnestly.
The Emperor of Qi desired Feng Shi’er Niang. As long as he was given her, Wen Xingsu could name his terms freely.
Then, Yan Buxi began deftly utilizing his eloquence to forge alliances.
"Let me set aside my dignity and share a few heartfelt words. My lord and the Qi Emperor have been acquaintances since childhood, both having studied under me, addressing each other as brothers, with deep affection... With such a foundation, why worry about failing to scheme and govern the world together?"
"My lord may form a blood alliance with the Qi Emperor, unite with Qi against Yong, and upon success, you two can rule on opposite banks of the river, one in the south and one in the north, sharing the empire. Cooperation for eternal victory, legendary names in history, a dynasty for generations..."
Such rich temptations, laid out like bait, enough to make anyone salivate...
Wen Xingsu remained unmoved.
No one knew anything about Feng Yun from start to finish.
She became like a needle lodged in everyone’s hearts, and Wen Xingsu’s single statement, "In this life, Yaoyao and I will live and die together," was enough to make them hesitate—
The Da Yong unrest shifted from settled to stalemated.
-
The seasons turned, and leaves fell again in the courtyard; the weather started cooling down.
Feng Yun was anxious and distressed...
She was unaware of the events outside, as Wen Xingsu had isolated her from information. But time passed day after day in her waiting, leaving her feeling like a trapped beast.
The small courtyard used to confine her was lavish, quiet, and provided exquisite clothing and food, as if keeping a golden bird in a cage—giving her the best, but never opening the bars.
There was no one familiar around her.
Guards came and went, preventing her from taking a step...
Initially, Feng Yun would be sarcastic, self-deprecating, enraged, or even abusive.
As time dragged on, she ceased to speak.
Whenever Wen Xingsu found time, he would come to see her, but she grew quieter by the day and more haggard by the day.
Her face became thinner, her eyes hollowed, her figure frail, so much so that Wen Xingsu couldn’t help shedding tears, each visit breaking his heart even more.
In the past, their sibling gatherings included flower viewing and tea-drinking with endless conversations. Yaoyao’s eyes were always brimming with smiles.
It made every return trip to Changmen light and joyful for Wen Xingsu...
When had it turned to heaviness, helplessness, and heart-wrenching pain?
On that afternoon, Yaoyao had come to him to apologize for the corporal punishment inflicted by his mother.
In their youth, they had embraced the darkness, knowing its taste, but she had forgotten how to pity him.
The path home eventually grew narrower...
Wen Xingsu reached out to brush her hair, his eyes deep like a chasm.
"Why do you torment yourself?"
Feng Yun looked at him silently, her eyes devoid of emotion.
Wen Xingsu: "Do you hate me so deeply?"
Feng Yun chuckled softly, staring at her fingertips and fiddling with her garments, without responding.
She had been confined in the courtyard for too long.
He gave her very little freedom to move around.
Occasionally he would relocate her, cutting off any chance of escape each time...
"Yaoyao, you know I can’t bear to see you like this..."
He reached for her hand, slightly bent his knees, and squatted down, looking up at her with reverent eyes.
"Let me take you away, okay? Far, far away..."
Feng Yun asked, "Your desire is not just for power, is it? Imperial ambitions, empire and beauty? I think not."
She had been pondering this question for a long time now.
Was it the empire?
Pei Jue acquired the Jin Dynasty empire, while Wen Xingsu had been a participant and knew the ropes.
But from Wen Xingsu’s demeanor, she saw no fervor for the throne.
Was it beauty?
She was already within his grasp; acquiring her would be effortless.
Yet he maintained restraint and decorum, refusing to touch her.
Feng Yun couldn’t comprehend.
And Wen Xingsu wouldn’t give her an answer.
"Yaoyao, there’s no need for clarity. The more you understand, the heavier the bind."
From that day, Wen Xingsu altered her confinement arrangements somewhat.
The maid would initiate conversations with her.
Talk about the weather, her attire, the flowers and plants in the courtyard, even bringing in three kittens for her company, and finding entertainers to perform songs for her—trying to restore some vitality in her.
Feng Yun would only say, "What about Pei Jue? Let Pei Jue come to see me."
And then the atmosphere would become eerily quiet.
Pei Jue seemed like a forbidden topic; no one dared to bring him up.
It was at this time that Feng Ying appeared at her door.
