# Chapter 40: Obstinate
Zhongshan lifted his twin hammers and was about to mount his horse to rally the troops when a rider approached at speed—it was Peng Hong. Though confused, Zhongshan set down his hammers and bowed respectfully.
Peng Hong dismounted, glancing around meaningfully. The surrounding soldiers quickly withdrew.
"Cheng Zhongshan, do you know you will die on this mission?"
Zhongshan was no fool. He'd long understood Zhang Zhou's intentions, but he hadn't expected Peng Hong to warn him. Alarmed, he clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I will be careful."
"Hmph." Peng Hong's expression darkened. "You don't understand what I'm saying? I advise you to flee once you're outside the city gates. Don't go to Wei County, or no matter how careful you are, you won't escape death."
Zhongshan maintained his respectful tone. "Thank you for your concern."
Peng Hong lost patience. "Do you think I'm here on Zhang Zhou's orders to tell you to run? Don't be so ungrateful. Why would Zhang Zhou let you live? Everyone in the city knows about your affair with Man Cheng. He's tolerated you for years!"
Zhongshan asked coolly, "If what Man Cheng and I have is an affair, then what about you?"
Peng Hong fell silent.
Zhongshan fixed him with a cold stare and suddenly asked, "And what about you and Princess Jinyin?"
Peng Hong staggered as if struck, gasping for breath. He stepped back, pointing at Zhongshan. "You... you..."
Zhongshan looked at him with pity. "You don't need to worry—I won't tell Man Cheng. Though Man Cheng is often disrespectful to you, he holds you in high regard. I won't ruin the image of a good brother in his heart. You're wondering how I know, aren't they? The way those siblings look at the person they love—it's identical. No amount of acting can hide it."
Peng Hong steadied himself, his expression easing slightly.
Zhongshan continued, "Your Highness, you're like Zhang Zhou—one controls the empire, the other has a virtuous wife and fine children. So even when you get what you love, you don't know how to treasure it." His gaze swept to the city walls where Man Cheng stood, his voice heavy with forlorn resignation. "But I have nothing. He's my only reason for living."
Peng Hong watched him, suddenly seeing the man who rode victorious across battlefields in an entirely different light. After a long moment, he sighed slowly. "Honestly, it's not that I want to save you. Xiu Yi took pity on you and begged me to help. With your peerless martial skills, you could find glory anywhere. Why must you..."
Zhongshan smiled. "Thank the princess for her concern." Then, gazing tenderly at Man Cheng on the city walls—the man he loved beyond reason—he said, "Where could I run to? Wherever I go, he won't be there."
Zhongshan picked up his hammers from the ground and said softly, "Since meeting him, I've understood something—the chaos of this world, wars and right and wrong—what does any of it matter? Political power, significance—what meaning does it hold? Wealth and glory are as fleeting as morning dew."
Man Cheng stood on the city tower, watching the dark mass of soldiers below form into ranks. The military horns sounded. The figure in crimson armor looked up, gazing at him.
Man Cheng's heart clenched painfully. His eyes immediately blurred with tears: this agonizing feeling was exactly the same as when he watched Zhang Zhou depart from the town in Zhenzhou!
Man Cheng froze: when had the man below become comparable to Zhang Zhou in his heart?
Panic and confusion overwhelmed him. Before he could regain his composure, his eyes met Zhongshan's. The gentle gaze was now filled with hazy obsession and deep reluctance to part.
Man Cheng cried out involuntarily, "Zhongshan!"
Below, beneath the vast expanse of sky and tower, though Zhongshan couldn't hear Man Cheng's voice, he understood everything from the shape of those lips calling his name a thousand times over. A trace of blissful happiness curved his lips. He turned and spurred his horse out of the city.
Weiyang lay in a rocking chair by the pavilion window. She heard footsteps but didn't turn around.
Those footsteps were unfamiliar. She knew it wasn't the person she'd been waiting for.
"You... I've heard you haven't been taking your medicine properly..." Zhang Zhou looked at her haggard face, guilt gnawing at him. "It's been so long. Stop grieving. Your health is most important."
Weiyang stared silently out the window, her expression cold as ice.
Zhang Zhou's face was full of remorse. "Weiyang... I've been very busy lately and haven't had time to visit. Do you need anything?"
She turned to face him and smiled gently. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." She rose and walked toward him gracefully. "You've been absent from Rongxi Garden for so long. Where have you been seeking pleasure?"
Zhang Zhou frowned. "Are you interrogating me?"
"I wouldn't dare." Weiyang's voice was soft. "I simply missed you..."
Zhang Zhou's heart softened. He gentled his tone. "Lately, matters of state have kept me busy at the Yaoji Hall..."
"There's no need to explain, Your Majesty. I'm currently helping you look for candidates for your harem, but I have no leads. Do you have any women in mind?"
Zhang Zhou was startled. "Weiyang, I won't take another wife."
She cut him off immediately. "Your Majesty, surely you're joking. What king doesn't have three palaces and six courtyards full of consorts? Doesn't this Ruyi Palace feel desolate? Besides, I cannot bear children. If you don't select consorts, who will continue the Zhang dynasty's lineage?"
Zhang Zhou replied coolly, "Whether I take consorts is my decision. You needn't worry."
"Your Majesty is so kind to me..." Weiyang drew close to Zhang Zhou, leaning against his shoulder.
Zhang Zhou smiled bitterly and held her tightly.
Weiyang raised her arms to embrace him. From within her sleeve, a small dagger slid out, thrusting toward Zhang Zhou's face. Unprepared, Zhang Zhou jerked his head aside just in time, but fire-hot pain seared across his cheek.
Weiyang swung again. Zhang Zhou grabbed her wrist. "What are you doing?"
Weiyang ground her teeth. "Zhang Zhou, I want to kill you!"
Zhang Zhou touched the cut on his face, staring at her in disbelief. "Why...?"
"Why?" Weiyang trembled violently, shouting. "You poisoned my child! You hypocrite! You beast! You knew about my affair with Man Cheng, so you secretly killed my child! I hate you! I hate you!"
Zhang Zhou's expression hardened. He pushed her away and said coldly, "You know perfectly well. As queen of Yuanliao, you have no self-respect. I respected your status and didn't want to confront you directly. But since it's come to this, I have nothing more to say. From now on, I advise you to stop seeing Man Cheng, or you'll bear the consequences."
"Hah! You're threatening me?" Weiyang laughed coldly. "Zhang Zhou, as long as I'm alive, I will continue with Man Cheng. What can you do? Kill me!"
Zhang Zhou regarded her calmly and said only:
"You'll regret this."
"I'd like to see what you can do! What can you possibly do!"
Ignoring Weiyang's frantic screaming, Zhang Zhou silently left Rongxi Garden.
In the Yaoji Hall, several military officials wore grave expressions. Lei Fuyan spoke: "Your Majesty, the flood embankment at Dan Lake has collapsed. In a few months, spring rains will come. If another flood hits, the counties near Dan Lake will..."
"Collapsed? Wasn't it repaired just last year?"
"According to the petition from ten thousand officials and citizens of Huisong City, the city governor Zhang Yuanhao forced the common people to pay for the embankment repairs, but the materials used were shoddy and substandard. Your Majesty, if this isn't investigated thoroughly, I'm afraid..."
Before he could finish, Zhang Zhou said, "Didn't Zhang Yuanhao open the Gang Beast Gorge for me? How else could I sit on this throne? He's getting old now. Let him have a few more years of prosperity. Allocate funds from the treasury for the repairs and have him start immediately."
"Your Majesty, last year during the repairs, countless laborers died on the embankment. Those who didn't die from exhaustion, thousands were beaten to death. The area around Dan Lake is seething with resentment. Zhang Yuanhao is a military man—his temperament is brutal. I suggest we give the repair funds to the governor of Liqi City instead..."
Qu Zhenlie snorted heavily. "What's wrong with being a military man? The Liqi City governor is weak and incompetent..."
"Enough!" Zhang Zhou cut them off. "Zhang Yuanhao will handle it. Send two supervisors from the city."
Lei Fuyan hummed unhappily. "Yes."
Peng Hong interjected, "Your Majesty, the unrest in Wei County isn't as severe as the city governor reported. The Wutao Army and Weizhen Army..." He paused, observing Zhang Zhou's expression. Seeing his impassive face, he continued, "Both armies have pacified the bandits hidden in various locations. We'll stay a few more days to clear out the remnants."
Zhang Zhou nodded. He already knew.
The doors of the Yaoji Hall suddenly slammed open. Everyone startled and turned to look. Man Cheng, dressed in casual clothes, strode in without announcement.
Zhang Zhou frowned.
"Oh, Your Highness, Prime Minister, National Uncle—long time no see. What are you discussing with His Majesty?" Man Cheng spoke in an阴阳怪气的 tone, swaggering forward.
The three men remained silent.
"What? Is it something I'm not qualified to know?" Man Cheng stepped onto the carpet and climbed the stairs, walking directly to Zhang Zhou's desk. He gripped the table and smiled, his tone carrying not a trace of warmth. "Why does Your Majesty always have such a stern face when you see me?"
Zhang Zhou snorted and turned away, refusing to look at him.
Man Cheng swept his gaze over the three men below, his expression blank. "I also have business to discuss with His Majesty. Please withdraw."
The three exchanged glances. Zhang Zhou said, "Leave us."
As Peng Hong and the others exited the Yaoji Hall, Lei Fuyan sputtered angrily, "His Majesty truly is... truly is..." He said "truly is" twice but couldn't find words, so he simply stormed off in a rage.
Peng Hong recalled Man Cheng's deathlike pallor just now and shuddered, sighing endlessly.
In the vast Yaoji Hall, only two people remained.
Man Cheng approached the dragon throne, sat on Zhang Zhou's lap, and pressed his lips to kiss him. Zhang Zhou turned his head away, his expression one of disgust.
Man Cheng faltered but persisted, wrapping his arms around Zhang Zhou's neck. His soft lips traveled to Zhang Zhou's neck, gently nipping at his ear.
Zhang Zhou said quietly, "What do you think you're doing?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Man Cheng brought his lips close to Zhang Zhou's again, his voice languid and seductive. "You've barely looked at me for so long. I miss you terribly..."
Zhang Zhou showed no interest, coldly allowing him to trace his lips with his tongue.
Man Cheng felt dejected. He moved his lips to the wound on Zhang Zhou's face. "How did this happen? Who did this? Does it hurt?"
Zhang Zhou's heart softened. The worry lines on his brow eased. "You don't need to worry about it... you... don't cause trouble here..."
Man Cheng ignored his coldness entirely, his fingers slowly sliding downward. Zhang Zhou's body grew hot, his breathing faltered. Then he heard Man Cheng whisper softly in his ear, "Zhang Zhou..."
"Hm?"
"You... please spare Cheng Zhongshan. In the future, I..."
"Xia Mancheng!" Zhang Zhou flew into a rage, shoving Man Cheng away violently. "How can you be so base!"
Man Cheng clenched his teeth to hold back his tears. His embarrassment shifted to bewilderment, then to anger, and finally to calm.
Zhang Zhou's fury hadn't abated. Seeing Man Cheng's expression, he felt a chill.
After a long moment, Man Cheng approached again, staring directly at Zhang Zhou. "Zhang Zhou, let me tell you something." He grabbed Zhang Zhou's collar, his voice frigid. "You'd better tell your beloved general to turn back before it's too late, or his head won't stay on his shoulders!"
Zhang Zhou wasn't threatened in the slightest. He met Man Cheng's gaze coldly. "Try me."
Man Cheng scoffed and rose to his feet, looking down at Zhang Zhou. "I should be the one saying that."
Zhang Zhou was stunned. Man Cheng was already walking away. "Zhang Zhou, Cheng Zhongshan surpasses you in every way!"
Zhang Zhou was shocked and furious. Before he could respond, Man Cheng had already left.
Man Cheng entered Rongxi Garden without hesitation. Ying Shan bowed and said, "The queen is on the pavilion."
Man Cheng acknowledged her and climbed up. Weiyang leaned against a table doing embroidery. She smiled radiantly at him. "You've come."
"I think you've lost your mind!" Man Cheng's tone held no warmth as he berated her. "The cut on Zhang Zhou's face—you did it, didn't you?"
Weiyang bit her lower lip hard, tears pooling in her eyes.
Man Cheng walked to the window, gazing toward the Yaoji Hall. He said viciously, "I'm warning you. If you hurt him again, I'll kill you."
Weiyang shuddered violently. Her eyes went wide. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. When she gathered herself enough to look clearly at the man before her, she saw only murderous intent in his eyes. The world spun around her. "You... what did you say?"
Man Cheng glanced at her, said nothing more.
Weiyang's voice trembled as she tried to explain, "I... that's because... because he poisoned our child!"
Man Cheng stared at her in shock. "Who told you that?"
"Do I need someone to tell me? He knew about us—would he let that child be born?" Weiyang rose unsteadily and moved closer to Man Cheng. "I hate him! Man Cheng! With your military strength, with your abilities, why fear him? You could easily take his place on that dragon throne! Man Cheng, destroy him! Destroy him, and this Yuanliao will be yours, and I will be yours too."
Man Cheng was shaken.
Kill Zhang Zhou.
Kill Zhang Zhou?
Weiyang leaned on Man Cheng's shoulder, unaware of his horror. "He poisoned our child. Why are you still loyal to him? You..."
"Weiyang!" Man Cheng interrupted her calmly. Slowly, he said, "In this entire Yuanliao city, the person who truly cares for you is him. All the medicine he gave you was for stabilizing your pregnancy and nourishing your body."
Weiyang stared at him incredulously, her mouth opening to say "impossible" when he continued, "Do you remember before I went to the Kingdom of Deng, how many times you drank the eight-treasure porridge I had Lanxing prepare at Zhongbi Manor? There was an extra ingredient in it—I went to great lengths to have it smuggled from the remote borders..."
Weiyang's legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor.
"Weiyang..." Man Cheng looked at her with pity, each word falling like a stone. "The child—I killed it. Not him."
"You're lying!" Weiyang screamed hysterically. "You... you're lying! Why? That was your child! Why? Why?"
Man Cheng looked down at her, a cold smile forming. "You're truly foolish. How can you still not understand... I love him. Not Zhongshan—Zhang Zhou."
It's Zhang Zhou.
The person I've followed my entire life!
I live only for him. He is everything to me.
"Didn't you want to know how Xingguang died? I poisoned her. And Yingyou—I pushed her. My own sister—I secretly sent her to the Kingdom of Deng. Because they wanted to compete with me for him, I would do anything to eliminate them..."
Weiyang forgot to cry, forgot grief. She stared at this beautiful, otherworldly man, and terror washed over her entire being.
"Weiyang..."
"Don't say it!" Weiyang waved her hands desperately, terrified he would say something that would destroy her completely.
"Weiyang!"
"I beg you, don't say it! Don't say it!"
"I never liked you at all." Man Cheng's face was devoid of emotion. "Before you came, he would at least spare me some time. After you arrived, he found me even more loathsome. Do you understand now? I despise you. I hate you. I wish you would vanish immediately... I got bored of you long ago. The reason I didn't end things sooner wasn't because I missed anything about you—it's because he cares about you. He wouldn't let me end it. Isn't that laughable? He wouldn't let me end it... he actually wouldn't let me end it..."
Weiyang covered her ears, but every word, without omission, drilled into her heart. Her already shattered heart crumbled to dust.
Her single-minded devotion, her disregard for everything—had earned only this heartless man, who took pleasure in watching her despair and anguish.
A smile crept onto Man Cheng's lips. Not triumph, but desolation—
In this lifetime, how many men, how many women, have wept for me? I've lost count.
I know I love the wrong person, but my reason cannot说服 my heart.
This heart of stone, I only cherish his tears.
Too bad, he will never shed tears for me again.
After a long, long time, Weiyang raised her head and stared at Man Cheng, biting her lip until it bled. The soft, helpless grief in her eyes vanished, replaced by hatred. She had loved one person with all her might, and that same person made her hate with equal intensity. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Xia Mancheng, I... I won't let you have it easy!"
Man Cheng was unmoved. He snorted, turned, and left Rongxi Garden.