《The Rivers and Mountains》 Prologue By the time Da Xuan was passed down to the seventh Emperor Xiao Wen, it had long since declined from its original state. After Emperor Xiao Wen¡¯s passing, Emperor De Jia succeeded the throne. Ignorant yet arrogant, with harsh and demanding taxation¡ªthe citizens of Da Xuan have no way to survive, causing unceasing rebellion all over the country. Translator''s Theatre: CH 1 ¡ª¡ªEarly autumn, In Chang''an, the Imperial City. ? The moon of Chang''an had always been very round. In the early autumn weather, the sky was unclouded, so that one could only see the isolated, pure full moon¡¯s solitary figure hanging in the sky. The splendid moonlight faintly sprinkled down, contrasting against a pool of clear water nearby, causing people to feel a slight chill. "That¡¯s all I know." Ye Zijue sat next to the desk, with a hint of chill on her face. Her hand clenched the pen to reveal slightly pale knuckles, seemingly as if she was trying to endure something at all costs. CH 2 Inside the imperial study, Ye Zijue stood to one side, rapidly reading the urgent letter from the frontier. The man who was clad in a yellow gown sat to one side, calmly waiting for her. The room was filled with a quiet atmosphere, with both the doors and windows sealed shut, so that not even a sliver of wind can enter. After a moment, Ye Zijue closed the report, and lifted her head: "This the military intelligence from how many days ago?" "Three days ago." The yellow robed man kneaded his forehead in a somewhat exhausted manner: "The Liao Army joined forces with the rebels, and commenced an attack converging from two sides. Tang San is now awaiting our response." "Repelling the Liao people for the country, or perhaps..." His eyes carried a tired smile: "To defeat the rebels for zhen." "Our military strength is not enough to simultaneously confront the enemies?" Ye Zijue tightly wrinkled her brows. The man slightly smiled: "Zijue, in fact, we still have a glimmer of a chance." CH 3 Translator: LIN Editor: Meow Meow Early next morning, Ye Zijue waited at the Ting Feng pagoda in accordance with the instructions given by Su Yuanan. After a short time, a man in a green gown appeared opposite her. With a shallow smile on his face, he lightly shook the small fan in his hand, seeming as though he was a son of nobility out on a leisure walk. However, he did not have the look of an accomplished youth, due to that extra air of shrewd calmness. Without speaking, he turned his head to look outside the pagoda. There were all kinds of people there, those who were noble and righteous, and those who would even sell their own sons and daughters. They were the ones who made up the foundation of this country. He smiled lightly: "We haven''t gone out for many years." He looked after the affairs of the country without rest, it was only natural he would not have the time for entertainment. She also did not speak, only silently sipping her tea. Su Yuanan glanced at her, smiled and said: "Zijue, let¡¯s drink today." Subsequently, without waiting for her opposition, he shouted loudly: "Give me two jars of Nu Er Hong" CH 4 Translator: LIN Editor: Meow Meow Watching Su Yuanan walk out of the Tingfeng Pavilion, Ye Zijue¡¯s gaze immediately froze over. She called for the servant to prepare a horse, promptly riding out of the city. Madly rushing through both day and night, she finally arrived in Taiyuan Prefecture on the third day, and found Bai Rongzhi. She climbed over the wall, directly intruding into Bai Rongzhi¡¯s study. With one foot, she kicked open the door and rushed straight in, leveling the sword against Bai Rongzhi¡¯s neck. Holding the documents in his hand, Bai Rongzhi motionlessly looked at her. A short moment later, he suddenly smiled: "Junior Apprentice Sister, recently, our meetings have become more and more peculiar." "Senior Apprentice Brother, you know why I came ." She looked at him coldly, the sword shifting even closer to his neck: "You must make Yang Yuan send troops." CH 5 Su Yuanan sat in the imperial study room, continuing to review the memorials that came from all over the country. Tang San rushed in, with a face filled with disbelief, asking: ¡°You want me to go and fight against the Liao people?¡± Su Yuanan nodded. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°But Yang Yuan¡­¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s Bai Rongzhi .¡± Su Yuanan placed down his brush, his eyes containing a hint of a smile: ¡°The news had just arrived, Yang Yuan was disposed of by Bai Rongzhi.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the same thing!¡± Tang San was slightly anxious. Su Yuanan shook his head: ¡°Bai Rongzhi, this person, admittedly has some issues, however his ability is unquestionable. He is not only a wise ruler of this generation, but would also be able to stabilize the country.¡± ¡°So you would hand over the country to others with your own two hands?¡± Tang San raised his voice: ¡°Yuanan, you can follow me to fight against the Liao people. Even if they occupy the capital, we can still retaliate, as long as there is life, there is hope!!¡± ¡°But, have you ever thought about the common people?¡± Su Yuanan sighed gently: ¡°Tang San, not only the common people, even if our troops have finished fighting the Liao people, do we still have the ability to fight the rebels? Moreover, if they attacked at the same time from two different sides, what can we do? It is impossible for me to cooperate with the Liao people, as it is no different from inviting a potential new source of trouble. I would rather leave the country to my own countrymen, than to let outsiders take advantage of it.¡± Tang San no longer spoke, as he felt a lump rise in his throat. At the age of seventeen, he had rebelled against the Tang Sect, before following him in joining the imperial court and becoming an unsurpassable general. However, he now wants to abandon all that rightfully belongs to him for the good of the common people. ¡°Will you remain alive?¡± Although it was a foolish question, Tang San could not help but ask. Su Yuanan lightly sighed: ¡°Tang San, after fighting the Liao people, if Bai Rongzhi does not bestow you a reward, you can bring your troops to ransack the imperial palace. There are still many treasures in the palace, then, you can go to roam far and wide. You were originally someone who roamed the country, yet for so many years,¡± Su Yuanan took a step back and deeply bowed to him: ¡°I, your younger brother finally thanks elder brother.¡± ¡°Yuanan,¡± These words have already indicated that he is not only an emperor, but also a capable ruler, how could Bai Rongzhi continue to allow him to live? Tang San looked at him for a long time, before he kneeled and thumped his head against the ground. Choked up, he said: ¡°Chen hears and obeys the Emperor¡¯s decree.¡± Finished speaking, he immediately left. Su Yuanan felt a little tired and soon went back to the palace to rest. He dismissed everyone, laid down on the bed, closed his eyes to rest for awhile. Not knowing how long he had slept, he hazily began to dream. In the dream, it was from the time when he and Ye Zijue had first met. He accompanied her to go to the Lantern Festival. Amongst a sea of people, they were separated. He was pushed by the tides of people towards the direction of the matchmaking temple. Not knowing what the temple besides the matchmaking temple was, seeing that there were fewer people, he squeezed out of the crowd and entered the temple. It was unknown what Bodhisattva was worshipped in the temple. A young girl was kneeling there, making a wish. She did not wish in regards to her own desires, but instead for ¡°God to bless and protect the common people, providing them with their basic necessities.¡± His heart moved slightly, silently standing behind her. The young girl seemed to become aware of his presence, curved her lips, and said: ¡°And, with the blessings of Lord Buddha, let the person behind me not disappear when he is together with me. It is very troublesome to find him.¡± In fact, in this memory he only laughed and did not speak. However, after becoming aware that this was a dream, he crouched down and gently hugged her. The young girl turned her head, revealing her fair and pure complexion, and looked at him in surprise. He lightly smiled with falling tears: ¡°Zijue, we won¡¯t part. Never parting in this lifetime.¡± The girl¡¯s face gradually blurred, he seemed to have faintly heard someone complaining: ¡°You said we would not part, why did you want me to leave?¡± He opened his eyes, seeing the travel-worm woman in front of him. He smiled softly. He truly¡­ how come he fell from one dreamland into another dreamland. ¡°So, why didn¡¯t you go?¡± He reached out and held her into his arms. She also reached out and tightly held him. ¡°Yuanan¡­¡± She called him gently: ¡°I love you. I¡¯ve always wanted to say this¡­ I always wanted to tell you¡­¡± ¡°I love you.¡± He answered, and the woman was slightly stunned. He immediately kissed her lips, whispering softly: ¡°I love you.¡± CH 6 ¡úThe 6th night ¡û It was a dream of unparalleled beauty and ecstasy. During his youth, he had similar dreams. But never once had they been as vivid as this. Even after he woke, he could still feel the warmth of her touch. He opened his eyes gently, it was still five o¡¯clock,he was about to get up early for the morning court, but with a slight movement, he realised something was wrong. Someone was there! As he shifted his gaze down, he saw a woman¡¯s peaceful sleeping face. His face darkened, but his heart was partly rejoicing and partly worrying. Why had she ¡­¡­ come back again? ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± The woman with closed eyes suddenly spoke, full of certainty and determination. Su Yuan¡¯an sighed softly, ¡°Okay, then you¡¯re not leaving.¡± With that, he walked out. He no longer spoke of her leaving. He went to see her everyday, as if there were no state affairs to take care of. She didn¡¯t see him working hard every day, because he was with her, lingering every day, and singing happily every night¡­ He told her, ¡°Zijue, in my next life if I am reincarnated as a man again, I will be a tyrant- cutting down anyone who displeases me- and I will snatch up any woman who looks beautiful.¡± He suggested, ¡°How about we just run away like this? Afterwards I will take you all over the world. When the time comes, my lady must remember to protect me, who is weak.¡± But, in the end, he was just saying that. Her informants kept her up on the situation-Tang San was entangled with the Liao, Bai Rongzhi was gaining ground and would enter the capital in the next few days, and Su Yuan¡¯an had sent a secret letter to Bai Rongzhi and Tang San. He asked Bai Rongzhi not to touch Tang San, and asked Tang San to rebel if Bai Rongzhi dared to touch him. He had given up on his own life for the sake of the people, but could not let his brother do the same. Ye Zijue clenched the pages in her hand with resentment and threw them straight at Su Yuan¡¯an, who was sitting at the side reading a book. She slammed her hand on the table and shouted at Su Yuan¡¯an, who looked puzzled: ¡°You treat your brother¡¯s life as if it were your own, and the lives of all the people in the world as your life, but you do not treat your own life as such?!¡± Su Yuan¡¯an smiled softly and shook his head: ¡°Zijue, I was born for the people and this is my duty. What do you think the history books will say about me in the years to come? It will be written that I was corrupt, that I imposed heavy taxes, and forced the people to live in poverty. So Bai Rongzhi obeyed the will of god and will save the people from the fire¡­..¡± His gaze lost focus, and with some resignation he sighed out, ¡°Probably. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s how it will go?¡± ¡°Su Yuan¡¯an,¡± Ye Zijue uttered, biting her lip, ¡°you are ruthless.¡± Ye Zijue walked up to him and hugged him gently: ¡°Zijue, I was thinking that it would be great if you had a child.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zijue responded, looking up. Su Yuan¡¯an smiled. ¡°You must live like a weed, no matter what. There are always new things and people in life, and there is always hope behind despair.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear you say this.¡± She murmured in a low voice: ¡°I want to take you away.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave. It would only hurt you.¡± Su Yuanan shook his head: ¡°Zijue, Bai Rongzhi doesn¡¯t trust me. Besides, as an emperor, there¡¯s no escape.¡± Ye Zijue was silent. Su Yuan¡¯an smiled softly and looked down at her: ¡°Zijue, shall we have a baby?¡± Tln: Su Yuanan ur abt to legit get dethroned but here u r being horny¡­ CH 7 ¡úThe Last Night¡û A few days later, late at night, the city of Chang¡¯an burst into flames. Ye Zijue heard shrieks and cries, and immediately opened her eyes, knowing that Bai Rongzhi had led his men into the Imperial City. She reached for the sword next to her, but was pressed down by the man next to her. Su Yuan¡¯an smiled at her then whispered softly, ¡°My Lady, don¡¯t take the sword, get dressed.¡± She watched him in silence, as he got out of bed and found her clothes. He put them on her, one by one, clumsily. She gazed into the night at his handsome face and he kept smiling, without fear. When she was dressed, he brought her to the mirror, combed her hair and painted her eyebrows. His workmanship was so poor that it gave her a headache. She closed her eyes in pain and burst into tears. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± He gently put a hairpin in her hair, then picked up a brush, and traced her eyebrows ¡°Zijue, I¡¯ve been thinking, if only I had married you sooner¡­¡± He sighed gently, ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s crooked.¡± Suddenly, he hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. He buried his face in the nape of her neck, and then spoke in a raspy voice: ¡°Zijue, you must live well.¡± Her whole body slowly went limp, unable to breathe. The nape of her neck was wet, and her vision faded to darkness. At the lantern festival. There was a young man who was looking for her in a sea of people in a panic. In all honesty, she had seen him. She had heard him calling, but she wanted to poke fun at the emperor, who was hated by the world. So she ignored him, watched him scurry through the crowd, calling her name as he squeezed into the secluded temple. He called out to her: ¡°Zijue, Zijue.¡± ¡°I am here¡­¡­¡± Her face felt wet. When she suddenly woke up, she felt that she was in a tunnel being carried by someone, the space was narrow and dull. She put her two fingers on the artery of the person carrying her, and demanded angrily, ¡°Take me back.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­¡± ¡°I told you to take me back! ¡± ¡°His Majesty has said¡­..¡± There was a fire outside the door and a crowd of people with weapons in the hall. Su Yuan¡¯an sat directly above with his eyes closed slightly. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and saw that it was her. His face changed instantly. Su Yuan¡¯an gave her a reproachful look, then turned to look at Bai Rongzhi with a sneer, ¡°Brother Bai is really clever, he has been playing tricks by my side for so many years, how much information has Lord Ye reported to Brother Bai?¡± There was a fire outside the door and a crowd of people with weapons in the hall. Su Yuan¡¯an sat directly above with his eyes closed slightly. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and saw that it was her. His face changed instantly. Su Yuan¡¯an gave her a reproachful look, then turned to look at Bai Rongzhi with a sneer, ¡°Brother Bai is really clever, he has been playing tricks by my side for so many years, how much information has Lord Ye reported to Brother Bai?¡± ¡°Thank you indeed, Lord Ye.¡± At this time, Bai Rongzhi was very cooperative. Ye Zijue looked at the crowd coldly. Without a word, she slowly walked forward. Bai Rongzhi looked at her threateningly, quietly flashing the concealed weapon in his sleeve. Ye Zijue smiled gently ¡°Brother, let go¡­¡­¡± ¡°Lord Ye must be tired.¡± Su Yuan¡¯an interrupted her immediately, then insisted with a sneer, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see her again, Brother Bai, please ask Lord Ye to leave.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Ye Zijue interrupted him. Bai Rongzhi and Su Yuanan kept giving her looks, but she glared at Bai Rongzhi coldly without acknowledging it. A soldier next to him took a step forward and whispered, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s time to act.¡± Ye Zijue¡¯s face turned cold; She pointed her toes, and immediately moved to Su Yuan¡¯an¡¯s position. As soon as she moved, Bai Rongzhi knew what she was thinking. He immediately pressed the concealed box in his hand, and silver threads burst out of the air and intertwined into a big net. However, he was still a bit too full of himself, as Ye Zijue had already arrived in front of Su Yuan¡¯an. With a tap of her foot, she helped Su Yuan¡¯an escape. Su Yuan¡¯an shook his head: ¡°Zijue, even if we escape today, we will not be able to escape for the rest of our lives. I don¡¯t want to hide for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°I am not afraid. ¡± Ye Zijue looked up at him, ¡°As long as you¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°Zijue, do you know,¡± he smiled slightly, ¡°You are insulting the dignity of an emperor. The Daxuan empire was finished by my hands, I¡­¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± An arrow came out of the air, and she swung her sword to block it. Su Yuan¡¯an suddenly tumbled onto her back, she was about to speak when she heard him say, ¡°I¡¯ve just been poisoned, you¡¯ll have to carry me.¡± Ye Zijue replied in surprise, ¡°We¡¯ll leave at once.¡± Ye Zijue was considered a master in martial arts- she was especially good at kung fu. Dodging left and right, she nimbly carried him on her back. In a few moments they flew out of the Imperial City. Zijue ran towards the grass hut on the outskirts of the capital. Su Yuan¡¯an laughed softly from behind her: ¡°What a fool, why are you in such a panic?¡± ¡°You¡¯re calm, aren¡¯t you?¡± she retorted. However, at the sound of his voice, Ye Zijue was relieved that he was all right. She quipped, ¡°You have got to lose weight, I¡¯m going to die.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He said with a grin: ¡°Even if I¡¯m fat , don¡¯t you still like me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± He retorted with a grin, ¡°Even if I¡¯m fat, you still love me.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Ye Zijue countered in a harsh tone. Su Yuan¡¯an smiled lightly, leaning onto her back affectionately. ¡°My lady, you said you love me before.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you say it?¡± Ye Zijue grumbled. Su Yuan¡¯an chuckled: ¡°Okay, then listen carefully. Lady, I love you.¡± Ye Zijue stopped in her tracks. She felt his body temperature dropping, but didn¡¯t dare turn around. She bit her lip and started running again. She pushed forward as fast as possible, even though she was at a fraction of her normal strength. ¡°Why don¡¯t you say so, my lady?¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯ll say it.¡± Ye Zijue made her voice sound as relaxed as possible, ¡°I like you. Su Yuan¡¯an, my husband, I like you so much. I love you so very much¡± Tln: I am not crying u r fuckk ahhhh my heart cant take this ¡°That¡¯s a good one. We¡¯ll have to talk about it more in the future.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame we don¡¯t have children yet.¡± ¡°I will have them later.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, if you give birth to a daughter she will be named Su Aian, if you give birth to a son he will be named Su Aiyuan.¡± Epilogue February 17th, 2023 ºó¼Ç ¡úEpilogue¡û As she wept, a soft sigh came from beside her: ¡°Madam, great joy and grief are not good for the fetus.¡± She looked up with surprise to see a girl in blue with a helpless look on her face.