# Chapter 12: Who Is It?
"Queen Mother, please hurry. His Majesty is waiting for you." Ying Shan supported Wei Yang, helping her, step by step, ascend the city tower.
This young mother of the nation appeared on the city tower in full royal regalia—the first time her splendor was displayed before the nation's army.
Her eyes like autumn waves, lips like painted rouge, skin so delicate one could see through it—approachable yet commanding. Clad in phoenix-embroidered silk, her golden hairpins clustered atop her cloud-like bun made her radiance shine even brighter, stunning all eyes that gazed upon her.
The majestic man in golden dragon robes turned to glance at her, utterly unmoved, his expression blank as he extended his hand toward her.
Wei Yang coldly swept her gaze over him, casually placed her hand in his palm, and stood at his side—but her heart remained with that man in crimson armor below the city wall.
The military horns sounded. The Wei Zhen Army stood ready for deployment. The commanding general turned his head, gazing up at the city tower—and that gaze lingered for a long while.
Beneath his dazzling crimson helmet, a pair of clear, gentle eyes overflowed with boundless deep affection and infatuation, revealing such heart-wrenching tenderness, such lingering reluctance.
Wei Yang's heart had been completely devoured by his wanton, alluring gaze, churning with rapidly fermenting bone-deep love and intoxicating, blind obsession. She wanted to pretend this was none of her business, but the deception only made it worse—her eyes could not help but微微转红.
The horns sounded again. A trace of bitter sorrow appeared at the corner of his mouth. Hopelessly, he turned his head away. Then he raised his silver-bright blade, pointing forward.
The army marched out grandly. Wei Yang gazed at the figure growing smaller under the blinding summer sun, biting her lower lip to keep herself from shedding tears.
She did not know that the man beside her was even more agonized and grieved, his heart being cut to pieces.
That person who had glanced back from below the city wall—he had not been looking at her, Wei Yang. He had been looking at the monarch of this nation.
At the one he had followed all his life.
You Lian Mountain lay at the border between Anqing in the north and Huinan in the northwest of Yuanliao. Initially it was merely a peasant uprising within a county seat, calling for an end to grain and tax deliveries to Yuanliao. Soon several neighboring counties banded together, relying on the steep mountains and treacherous waters, and had broken away from Anqing's jurisdiction. But how could tens of thousands of disorderly rebel forces resist Yuanliao's iron-armored lions? In just over ten days, they were scattered and defeated.
At each county seat, the merciless commanding general would point his blade at the city tower, eyes blazing with ferocity, and command: "Whether they resist or beg for mercy—leave no one alive!"
The Wei Zhen Army pressed into the cities with overwhelming force. Each county seat was pillaged like a bandits' raid. Rebel corpses littered the ground, blood flowed like rivers, and the severed heads of rebel leaders were displayed hanging from city towers.
When the final county seat was conquered that day, Man Cheng surveyed the devastated streets within the city, which reminded him of the fall of Anqing ten years prior. For a moment, he lost himself in thought.
Memories buried in rolling smoke—who had called out to him on the brink of life and death? Who had risked everything to search for him? Who had held him tight, tears streaming down their face?
That person... has already changed.
Wu Lianheng, right general of the Wei Zhen Army, came to report: "General, the severed heads of the rebel leaders have all been displayed. As for their families..."
Man Cheng didn't even look at him. "Don't you know how to handle it?"
"But—" Wu Lianheng hesitated, then continued: "One of them says he knows the General! He's begging for an audience."
Man Cheng冷笑道："Knows me? How interesting. I'll go see what tricks they're playing."
Man Cheng rode his horse over. Among the many captives, an old farmer in his fifties threw himself at the foot of his horse, trembling voice: "Your Majesty, don't you remember this humble one?"
Man Cheng was startled. He studied the man carefully but did not recognize him. The man continued: "Your Majesty, I am Yan Jing, former captain of the Anqing palace guards!"
Now Man Cheng remembered. Yan Jing's wife had been Man Cheng's wet nurse!
Yan Jing knocked his head repeatedly, tears streaming down his aged face, choking: "When Anqing fell, I failed in my protection and lost Your Majesty. I deserve ten thousand deaths."
The comfortable, happy memories from the Anqing palace came flooding back. Man Cheng was dazed, lost in recollection.好不容易正过神来, he forced a smile: "Steward Yan, you have the wrong person. There is no King of Anqing in this world. Anqing now belongs to Yuanliao. I am the commanding general of Yuanliao."
"Yes, yes!" Yan Jing, seeing that Man Cheng had recognized him, nodded frantically, hope gleaming in his eyes.
Man Cheng casually asked: "How is my milk mother?"
"She died when Anqing fell!" Yan Jing pulled forward a young woman. "This is Yan Mo—does Your Majesty remember?"
How could Man Cheng not remember? Yan Mo was the milk mother's daughter, the same age as himself. Because her mother was the crown prince's wet nurse, Yan Mo could only drink thin porridge after birth.
Yan Mo clutched a two-or-three-year-old child, gazing at Man Cheng perched high on his yellow horse with terror, her voice shaking: "My husband's head is already hanging from the city tower. I beg Your Majesty, for the sake of our childhood acquaintance, spare us!"
In childhood, she had often come to play at the palace, and Man Cheng had even asked her to embroider a purse for him. That frail little girl had now blossomed into such beauty—disheveled clothes could not conceal her stunning looks.
Zhong Shan asked: "Man Cheng, should we..."
"Leave no survivors."
Cries and screams erupted instantly.
Yan Mo clutched the child in her arms desperately, shrieking in despair: "Xia Man Cheng, you are not human—I will haunt you as a ghost and never forgive you—"
Man Cheng's face was frost. He turned his horse around, coldly: "If I feared ghosts, how could I have survived to this day?"
# Prior Events
Zhang Zhou galloped swiftly to Lang Jing Garden, throwing himself from his horse. Palace maids and servants scrambled in panic, bowing and kneeling as he passed. He paid them no mind, rushing straight for the inner courtyard. Before he even reached Man Du's room, he heard chaotic sounds within. He strode in, and the room fell silent instantly. Jin Yin knelt beside Man Du's bed, tears streaming down her face. She turned to look at him, too choked to speak.
He approached. Man Du's pale, bloodless face had no sign of life. Bloodstains spotted the bedside. Seven or eight physicians knelt trembling inside the room.
"Where is Physician You?" Zhang Zhou's face dark, each word like ice.
"His entire family has vanished." Zhong Shan replied.
Zhang Zhou's veins bulged on his forehead, roaring: "Then chase him immediately!"
Zhong Shan replied steadily: "I already sent men to pursue him."
Zhang Zhou turned to look at him, then suddenly asked: "Where is Man Cheng?"
Zhong Shan slumped onto a chair, head bowed in silence. His arm had somehow been wounded, the bloody bandage wrapped hastily.
Old Steward Fu quavered at the door: "General Xia took a pair of swords, mounted his yellow horse... and rode toward Hum Gate..."
Zhang Zhou was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Let him go." He waved his hand. "Physician Wen, what do you think? What should we do about the little prince now?"
The lead Physician Wen prostrated on the ground, not daring to lift his head, voice trembling: "The poison has entered the marrow. For now, we can only use medicine to suppress it. Once the poison becomes resistant to the medicine and flares up..." He hesitated, then continued: "When it flares up... the little prince will experience excruciating pain throughout his body. Within a month, every bone will shatter, muscles will tear, and he will bleed to death..."
Zhang Zhou's lips went white. The sound of Jin Yin's endless weeping cut into his ears, his heart aching as if stabbed: "Then how long can the medicine suppress the poison?"
"At most two years..."
Hurried hoofbeats sounded outside. A man rushed in and knelt on the ground.
Zhong Shan asked lazily: "Did you catch Physician You?" He had already anticipated the outcome.
The soldier replied: "Subordinate... we caught him. Physician You and his family were about to pass through Hum Gate, only..."
Zhang Zhou pressed urgently: "Only what? Where is he?"
"General Xia had also arrived... Physician You's family of eight... all... all..."
Zhang Zhou's expression went grim. He asked again: "Where is Man Cheng?"
"Riding toward the Shuangtu Manor."
Zhang Zhou was alarmed: "What's going on?"
The soldier hesitated, then said quietly: "Physician You confessed that it was General Shuangtu who ordered..."
The shock was immense. Zhang Zhou kicked the soldier aside, bellowing: "Why didn't you say so sooner!" He rushed out of Lang Jing Garden, mounted his horse, and galloped toward Shuangtu Manor.
"Thump thump thump..." A frantic pounding on the door.
The old steward of Shuangtu Manor called out: "Coming..." Hurrying toward the door. The red-lacquered gate creaked open, and the steward suddenly let out a horrified cry: "General Xia, you—Aaah—"
Blade flashed. Blood sprayed. Man Cheng strode into Shuangtu Manor, charging toward the inner courtyard.
The Shuangtu Manor was a martial family. What kind of situation hadn't they seen? Before Man Cheng could reach the main hall, three young generals led dozens of guards to surround him completely, pinning him in the courtyard. Old General Shuangtu stood outside the circle, shouting sternly: "Xia Man Cheng, have you no regard for law? How dare you run wild at Shuangtu Manor?"
"You old dog," Man Cheng stood in the courtyard, his bloodied twin blades gleaming silver. He raised his right hand, pointing the steel blade at Shuangtu. "Why did you order that dog of a physician to poison my brother's medicine?"
"Hmph!" Shuangtu's expression unchanged, righteousness in his voice: "His Majesty's heart is too kind, bewitched by you and your siblings. He has been too lenient with your Xia family, nurturing a tiger that will eventually turn on its master! Within Yuanliao city, your Xia family is the greatest hidden threat. If you are not eliminated, the Zhang dynasty cannot be secured!"
Outside Shuangtu Manor, two large locust trees cast shade as cool as water. A cold crescent moon hung in the icy air.
Zhang Zhou rode swiftly to Shuangtu Manor, dismounting abruptly. The gates stood ajar. He pushed through. The air was thick with choking blood. Corpses lay scattered everywhere.
Man Cheng stood in the courtyard, hands hanging limp, twin blades dragging. He was drenched in blood.
Zhang Zhou's heart was deeply, slowly ripped apart, cut blade by blade.
That once-so-innocent face would never return.
# Prior Events
"It's so hot today. I just want to soak in water and not move. How am I supposed to memorize all this stuff?" He raised his hand to shade his eyes from the sunlight streaming through the window, then slumped dejectedly onto the desk, cheek pressed to the tabletop, mumbling: "Zhang Zhou, I'm dying from the heat..."
"You'd better memorize. I've already finished memorizing mine. You've skipped several days. If you slack off again today, when the Earl returns, I'll get scolded too." Zhang Zhou wielded his sword nearby, contemplating the sword manual he had just memorized.
The spot where Man Cheng's cheek had warmed the desk. He shifted his face, finding a cool spot, muttering indistinguishably: "I have guards. Why do I need to learn this?"
"Guards can rebel too."
"I have you."
Zhang Zhou smiled, blade never stopping. "How could I stay in Anqing as a hostage forever? My father king will eventually bring me back to Yuanliao. You know that."
Man Cheng fell silent.
Jin Yin burst in, full of sunshine, like a little deer, bouncing happily. In her pink dress, her fair skin flushed pink, she heard this conversation and giggled清脆的笑声："That's easy! When you become king, just send troops to attack Yuanliao, secretly defeat his father, and send him back as a hostage, hahaha..."
Man Cheng laughed too: "Great idea, sister."
Zhang Zhou found it both funny and exasperating. "Don't ever let you two siblings gain power. You have no sense. Enough chatter—Jin Yin, the moment you arrive, he loses all motivation to memorize." Jin Yin tugged at Zhang Zhou's hand, acting spoiled: "I came to ask you both to go watch a play with me. It's no fun alone. Let's skip today."
She snatched the sword manual from Man Cheng's hand, smiling sweetly: "I'll talk to Grandfather Earl. He won't be angry."
Man Cheng's face lit up. He scrambled down from the tall chair—he was small for his age. He bounced over and threw his arms around Jin Yin's arm, grinning: "Sister whines, and Grandfather won't scold us. Let's go quickly."
A hearty laugh drifted in through the window. Earl Rong Guan, silver-haired but still vigorous, walked in with Concubine Rong, chuckling: "These brats have learned to scheme against me!"
Concubine Rong smiled gracefully: "These two children never apply themselves to their studies. Jin Yin, you must not spoil them!"
Jin Yin blushed, pleading: "Concubine Rong, Man Cheng has been memorizing for so many years and still doesn't understand. His sword swings are a mess. What's the point? He's still so little. Let's wait until he's older."
"Nine years old is not little!" Concubine Rong drew Jin Yin closer, arm around her shoulder. "Your father ascended the throne at eight. Man Cheng is the crown prince now. If he can't read or study, won't practice martial arts—what will become of him?"
Rong Guan stroked his beard, chuckling: "Zhang Zhou, have you memorized those pages today?"
Zhang Zhou glanced at Man Cheng, saw him blinking frantically, and scratched his head embarrassedly. "Um... not yet."
Rong Guan sighed softly: "I'm old. When I'm gone..."
"Father, what are you saying?" Concubine Rong nudged her father with her elbow,埋怨道："You're still going strong. Why speak such unlucky words?"
"It's only a matter of time. Our Rong family has long since declined. In this chaotic age, once I die, Anqing's future is uncertain..." Rong Guan苦笑, then turned to Zhang Zhou and Man Cheng: "My secret manual—I pass it to you two. Once you've memorized it, burn this sword manual. Even if you don't understand now, so long as it's in your mind, someday you'll know its use. Man Cheng, you must memorize this sword manual until you could recite it backwards. At least then you can protect yourself. Only then can I rest easy."
Man Cheng grinned, his clear eyes radiating innocence, his naive voice ringing in Zhang Zhou's ears: "Alright, I'll be obedient."
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Rong Guan's silver-bright hair. His kind smile, and those words—Zhang Zhou would never forget—
"But I hope this sword technique, you will never need to use. Never use it."