The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 140 Palace Change
At the farthest western edge of the Great Xia, bordering Yizhou, there lies a mountain range rarely visited by humans. The locals call it “Qingsong Ridge.”
The reason Qingsong Ridge sees so few visitors is due to the abundance of poisonous plants within the mountains, as well as the frequent appearance of wild beasts. The ridge is filled with miasma and swamps, making it a perilous place.
It was said that deep within these mountains, there were man-eating mountain demons and spirits.
If herbalists, woodcutters, or hunters venture into the ridge, no one dares to go deep inside, for fear that they may never return.
Once, a group of curious young people, seeking excitement, entered the ridge together. After losing their way in the forest, they encountered the “ghost wall” and spent a full day and night trying to find their way out. Eventually, they collapsed from exhaustion in a maze of illusions, and when they woke up, they had somehow found themselves outside the forest.
Since then, rumors of ghosts and demons in the mountains grew more widespread, and over time, no one dared to enter the ridge anymore.
To the southwest of Qingsong Ridge, at its highest peak, lies “Meishan,” the very mountain where the Imperial Master Yishan had once secluded himself.
What no one knows is that if one passes through the dense poisons and miasma of Qingsong Ridge and continues westward, one will find a place that seems like a paradise, hidden from the world.
This place covers a vast area, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a flat terrain in the center. Due to its unique geographical environment, it has also formed a special climate, one that is both suitable for habitation and ideal for growing crops.
A gentle stream meanders through the land, allowing life to thrive. This river is called “Shenxi.”
In the beginning, the name ‘Shenxi’ originated from a legend.
According to the legend, a shepherd from beyond the passes once searched for a lost flock and accidentally stumbled upon a hidden paradise. In the river of this paradise, the shepherd discovered gold sand.
Whether this tale is true or not remains uncertain, and over time, it was gradually obscured by violence and plunder, sinking into oblivion.
It wasn’t until years later that Qin Yan, following a few meager clues, found this secret place and named it “Shenxi Valley.”
———–
Qin Yan ordered that formations be set up around the perimeter of Shenxi Valley to create a maze of illusions, with regular patrols ensuring that no news of the valley reached the outside world. Over the years, this place remained truly isolated, cut off from the world.
During this time, the population of Shenxi Valley consisted of former soldiers and injured veterans from the Pingxi Army, as well as refugees from the Great Xia, the Xirong, and even some smaller kingdoms of the Western Regions. There were recluses, swordsmen, and even former bandits.
Under Qin Yan’s strong-handed management, these people somehow coexisted peacefully in this secluded valley, even intermarrying and living together.
The people living here only knew that large quantities of grain were periodically transported out of the valley. Given the identity of the valley’s ruler, Qin Yan, it was assumed that this grain was used as military supplies for the Pingxi Army stationed in the northwest.
But no one knew that, in the beginning, what was being transported out of the valley were crates filled with gold leaves.
This is how Qin Yan came to control the Great Xia’s most prominent bank, Yu Qingfeng, and how the large-scale Mulan Horse Farm beyond the northwestern border came into being.
————-
In the early fifth lunar month, Taizifei Qin Yan, accompanied by her subordinates, including Jiang Mu, traveled south from the northwest through Xiao Pass to Shenxi Valley.
Qin Yan stationed an army of 100,000 in Shenxi Valley, naming them the “Shenxi Army.” These soldiers were well-trained elites, and many of them had once served in the Guo City Silver Armor Guard.
Shenxi Valley, the council hall of the Valley Master Mansion.
Qin Yan sat at the head of the table, listening to reports from her subordinates.
“Master, the Western Rong forces have secured the border pass, the capital, and the palace are all well-arranged.”
“To be on the safe side, we have set up two retreat routes, which will be adjusted according to the situation.”
“The detailed plans have been shared with General Shen Ci of Xiao Pass. General Shen Ci asked me to inform you that he will lead 400,000 Pingxi Army troops, ready to assist at any time.”
Qin Yan quickly reviewed the marked map of the Western Rong imperial palace handed to her, then dismissed the others, “You may leave to prepare, Jiang Mu, stay.”
At this moment, Jiang Mu had no idea that the conversation Qin Yan was about to have with him would determine whether the Western Rong would live or perish.
————–
In the middle of the night, in the Western Rong imperial palace, in mid-fifth lunar month.
Emperor Jiang Quyi of the Western Rong was suddenly awakened in the palace. He keenly sensed that something was wrong outside and immediately rose to listen carefully.
Inside the bedchamber, A Yan slowly opened her eyes in a dazed manner. Her bare, slender arms weakly clutched the blanket as she sat up, confused, and called out, “Your Majesty…”
At that moment, an urgent voice from outside came through, “Your Majesty, it seems that assassins have entered the palace!”
A Yan gasped in shock, but Jiang Quyi motioned for her to be quiet with a raised hand. She quickly covered her mouth and fell silent.
Jiang Quyi coldly asked, “How many assassins?”
The voice from outside responded, “Your Majesty, this humble servant is not sure. I haven’t seen anyone. But it seems that there are cries of killing from all directions, and some of the palaces have flooded with water.”
“What’s strange is that, aside from the guards outside the hall, we haven’t seen any of the other palace guards come to protect us. I’m afraid…”
Jiang Quyi immediately got out of bed and began to get dressed. In her panic, A Yan trembled as she climbed out of bed, hurriedly putting on her clothes.
To please the Emperor of Western Rong, A Yan had worn only a thin gauze garment when she came, and now, in her state of fear and confusion, she felt an intense chill all over her body, trembling uncontrollably.
Jiang Quyi grabbed his sword and strode out of the hall. As soon as the door opened, a sharp arrow flew toward him from across the hall. Fortunately, Jiang Quyi was quick enough to dodge by leaning to the side, but the arrow scared A Yan, who was just a few steps behind him, causing her to fall to the ground.
“Ah…” A Yan screamed as she crouched down, hiding behind Jiang Quyi.
“Protect the Emperor!” The dozens of guards outside the hall quickly drew their swords, taking up defensive positions.
Jiang Quyi swiftly looked in the direction from which the arrow had come. He saw a group of black-clad, masked figures marching toward the hall.
Jiang Quyi immediately recognized one of them, Jiang Xun, his nephew.
At the head of the group was a tall, elegant woman dressed in a dark, brocaded robe.
“Qin Yan!” A Yan, who stuck her head out from behind Jiang Quyi, shouted in disbelief, “It’s Qin Yan! Your Majesty, kill her, kill her! That’s Qin Yan, the Taizifei of Great Xia, Qin Yan!”
How could Jiang Quyi not recognize her? After all, Qin Yan’s extremely beautiful face was so recognizable.
At this moment, Qin Yan and her group were only a few feet away from the palace gate. Qin Yan also recognized the Emperor of Western Rong, Jiang Quyi, at the palace gate. She raised her hand and waved, and the 100 subordinates behind her immediately drew their bows and shot arrows in the direction of Jiang Quyi, and a rain of arrows shot out instantly.
The guards at the palace gate waved their knives to block the arrows, but Jiang Quyi grabbed the woman hiding behind him and blocked her in front of him, and the guards escorted him to escape quickly from the other side.
The people Qin Yan brought were all very skilled and well-equipped. Jiang Quyi’s guards were shot and fell one by one, including A Yan who was carried in front of Jiang Quyi.
A Yan was hit by several arrows, and the one that pierced her chest was the most fatal.
Jiang Quyi moved to the corner of the corridor outside the bedroom, threw the exhausted A Yan to the ground, and fled.
A Yan, who fell to the ground, spat out blood, and the blood from the arrow wounds on her body flowed out, staining her yellow gauze skirt red.
A Yan’s body twitched slightly, and her eyes opened in pain. One by one, the men in black quickly passed her and chased the Emperor of Western Rong. No one cast a glance at her until a piece of the hem of a dark black brocade robe stopped in front of her.
It was Qin Yan.
And Qin Yan only stopped for a moment, coldly looking down at the heavily injured woman lying on the ground, almost on the verge of death. Afterward, she simply looked away and continued walking.
A Yan forced a bitter smile from the corner of her lips.
Had Qin Yan recognized her just now? She should still remember her, right…
Qin Yan, this woman whom she hated so much, yet she always acted so indifferent, as if she didn’t even see her.
Qin Yan made her feel so laughable, how could she not hate her?
In the distance, voices were chaotic, and the palace attendants were running in panic.
A Yan’s vision grew blurry, and her strength was rapidly fading.
Was this it? Was this how it ended…
She still hadn’t gotten her revenge.
Qin Yan, Song Yin, Empress Dowager Xiao, Xie An, Xie Changyuan…
Brother Changyuan……
In the middle of the chaos in the Western Rong imperial palace, no one paid any attention to the woman, Madam Yan, who had been struck by several arrows. She was now lying on her back in the corridor outside the Emperor’s bedchamber, having just been brought into the palace. Her face was calm, her eyes staring at the ceiling, a smile that should never have appeared on her lips, but her body was already stiff with death.
———–
That night, at the palace gates, Emperor Jiang Quyi of the Western Rong was intercepted by Qin Yan’s people. Outnumbered and unable to resist, Emperor Jiang Quyi was killed by Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu took his sword and cut off his uncle’s head, Jiang Quyi. Jiang Mu raised the emperor’s severed head high and shouted, “Jiang Quyi is dead!”
“Father, Mother, Brother, Sister, I, Jiang Xun, have avenged you!”
The news of the death of Emperor Jiang Quyi and the return of the former emperor’s youngest son, Jiang Xun, spread rapidly throughout the Western Rong imperial palace and soon reached the capital.
This well-prepared palace coup came to a swift end. The battle was over, and the factions loyal to Jiang Quyi were either killed on the spot for resisting or captured. Among the captives was also Jiang Quyi’s young son, only ten years old.
Of course, Qin Yan’s plan succeeded so smoothly due to the help of the old officials who had once served the former emperor of Western Rong, but they probably never expected the shocking actions that Qin Yan would take next.
————
The next day, in the Great Hall of the Western Rong imperial palace.
Since this palace coup could only be considered an internal political upheaval within the Western Rong imperial family, the transfer of power was exceptionally simple.
Jiang Quyi was dead, and his only surviving son had been captured by Qin Yan. As a result, Jiang Xun, the son of the former Emperor of Western Rong, was naturally supported by a group of officials and ascended to the throne.
At this moment, in the Great Hall, beside the throne, there was another seat, and sitting there was none other than Qin Yan, the Taizifei of the Great Xia. This caused some confusion among the civil and military officials in the hall.
Once Jiang Xun’s enthronement ceremony was over, Qin Yan slowly addressed everyone in the hall, “Now, I present two choices to Western Rong.”
“First, because Western Rong has repeatedly allied with the Turkic people to raid our Great Xia borders and has openly supported the independence of Yizhou, Western Rong must face the wrath of the people of Great Xia.”
“The Xiaoguan Pingxi Army of Great Xia will march to the Western Rong border, and at that time, both new and old grievances will be settled.”
“Second, Western Rong may merge into Great Xia and abandon its sovereignty.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was stunned into silence.
Abandon sovereignty? Merge into Great Xia!
Qin Yan continued, “If Western Rong merges into Great Xia, it will be governed jointly by both Western Rong people and Great Xia people. This can prevent the inevitable border conflicts caused by the proximity between our two nations.”
“Western Rong is already a harsh and cold land, and everyone can see how difficult it is for the common people of Western Rong to survive. If the Western Rong people obtained the status of Daxia, they could trade, govern, and settle in Great Xia. This would be a win-win for both Great Xia and Western Rong.”
“I will give you half a day to consider.”
After speaking, Qin Yan stood up, exchanged a glance with Jiang Xun on the throne, and then led her people out of the hall.
————–
Once Qin Yan had left, the people in the hall immediately began to discuss heatedly.
No one wanted Western Rong to abandon its sovereignty, but the Taizifei of Great Xia had a firm attitude, and the ten thousand soldiers she brought were stationed throughout the capital. They had also just received news that Great Xia’s 400,000 strong Pingxi Army was pressing on the Western Rong border, making it seem as if war was imminent.
The Taizifei was not negotiating, she was openly threatening with military force.
They had agreed to cooperate with Qin Yan to prevent Jiang Quyi from recklessly allying with the Turkic people, sending troops to place Western Rong in a dangerous position, and to spare the common people of Western Rong from the ravages of war.
But in the end, they had invited a wolf into their midst. It was too late to regret it now.
What Qin Yan, the Taizifei of Great Xia, had said about Western Rong’s harsh conditions was indeed a fact. If the people of Western Rong could join Great Xia, then…
The court officials argued passionately, with the voices in the hall split nearly evenly.
An hour later, the newly crowned Emperor of Western Rong, Jiang Xun, spoke, “I hereby announce that Western Rong will abandon its sovereignty and merge into Great Xia.”
On the same day, the gates of Western Rong were opened wide, and General Shen Ci of the Pingxi Army led 200,000 troops into Western Rong.
At the same time, official documents sealed with the Western Rong imperial seal were sent to various countries.
The state documents stated:
“Emperor Jiang Quyi of Western Rong has passed away due to a sudden illness. The former emperor’s youngest son, Jiang Xun, has ascended to the throne.”
“Western Rong hereby declares the abandonment of its sovereignty and merger into Great Xia. For the time being, Great Xia’s Taizifei Qin Yan will govern Western Rong.”
———–
The news reached the Khagan of the Turkic, Ashina Qigu, when Western Rong’s Ninth Princess, Ashina Mingzhu, fled back to the Turkic after the palace coup.
Ashina Qigu had been preparing to lead troops to aid Western Rong when he suddenly received word that Great Xia’s Taizi Feng Zhan was personally leading an army to the Turkic border.
Ashina Qigu could only give up on going to Western Rong and instead focus all his efforts on countering the Northern Army of Shuobei, which was eyeing them hungrily.
When the state documents from Western Rong arrived in the Turkic Empire, Ashina Qigu was filled with rage, his heart bleeding with hatred.
Western Rong has merged into Great Xia! This was a devastating blow to the Turkic Empire.
Is Taizifei Qin Yan governing the Western Rong now?
This coup in Western Rong must have been masterminded by Qin Yan herself.
Qin Yan, Qin Yan!
This woman, with her stunning beauty and ruthless methods!
When Empress Dowager Xiao of Yizhou received the news from Western Rong, she immediately ordered the generals to secure the borders.
Empress Dowager Xiao was stunned by Qin Yan’s ability to take over Western Rong without shedding blood. She hadn’t expected Qin Yan to have such power to seize control of another nation’s throne.
Empress Dowager Xiao also had no doubt that Qin Yan would eventually turn her sights on Yizhou, it was just a matter of time.
In the capital of Great Xia, the court was filled with astonishment and excitement. Even He Yanming, the Minister of War, had not received prior notice that Taizifei Qin Yan would act against Western Rong. But now that it was done, it solved a major threat.
With Western Rong under control, the link between the Turkic and Yizhou was severed. Even if Yizhou were to declare independence, what was there to fear?
It was truly a great victory!
Meanwhile, Princess Xinyue, the Regent of the Southern Xinjiang, sat silently for a long time after receiving the letter from Western Rong.
Taizifei Qin Yan was indeed formidable, and she was worthy of being her opponent.
As for the Southern Xinjiang, they could not sit idly by.