Chapter 112: Vassal

Chapter 112 - Vassal

First watch of the morning.

The sky was still pitch black.

Amidst the chanting of the monks' morning prayers, the six energetic individuals rode out from Guanyin Temple on horseback.

At this moment.

The first incense sticks of the devout believers had yet to be lit!

According to Pei Xiao's understanding, if they gritted their teeth, they could complete the five-day journey with only two or three rest stops and finish it in one go.

However, they found that there were hardly any flat official roads along the way. They needed to traverse mountains and valleys, so their speed couldn't increase, but they were even more exhausted.

Looking at Yan Sanhe and her servant,

There was no need to mention that inhuman Li Buyan. Despite clearly feeling unwell, the venerable Yan Sanhe climbed the mountain with incredible speed.

She wasn't human either!

The leading martial monk was named Zhitong. He considerately took out a handwritten copy of the Diamond Sutra from his chest and said, "If you're tired, read the Diamond Sutra. It can help alleviate fatigue."

The Diamond Sutra?

Even if you gave me Diamond Pills, it wouldn't help.

Pei Xiao rolled his eyes and continued climbing the mountain with his walking stick.

His horse was still being led by Huangqi.

Li Buyan was the first to reach the mountaintop and shouted, "Master Zhitong, how many more mountains like this are there?"

Zhitong replied, "Miss Li, after crossing seven more mountains like this, we'll arrive in Dongxing County."

Pei Xiao's legs went weak, and he almost tumbled down the mountain.

Seven more?

Oh, Grandmother, are you trying to take your precious grandson's life?

Yan Sanhe turned to look at Pei Xiao and then at the sky. "Buyan, you go down the mountain first and find a place to rest."

"Alright."

Li Buyan quickly ran out of sight.

Xie Zhifei's gaze flickered as he climbed next to Yan Sanhe. "Are you tired? Do you want to rest now?"

"It's safer to spend the night at the foot of the mountain."

Yan Sanhe turned to look at him and said casually, "I'm fine."

Due to blood loss, her face was deathly pale, and her forehead and nose were covered in sweat.

He couldn't describe the feeling in his heart; it just felt suffocating.

When the two Misses of the Xie family had their menstrual periods, they would only lie in bed and rest. Several maidservants would attend to them attentively, and the small kitchen would prepare different soups and broths every day.

The matriarch had said that daughters should be pampered, so that the young ladies raised would be delicate and precious.

Xie Zhifei walked silently forward for a few steps and stood firmly in front of Yan Sanhe.

Going down the mountain was fast, but it was also easy to slip. He blocked her path...

Yan Sanhe looked at him for a moment without saying anything, then let out a soft sigh.

It took them two hours to descend the mountain, and by then, it was completely dark.

After resting for the night, they continued their journey...

When they reached the last mountain, even Li Buyan's speed slowed down.

As for Lord Pei, he collapsed onto Huangqi like a dead fish, barely breathing.

No wonder Grandmother never returned to her natal home after entering the capital at sixteen.

How could she return to this godforsaken place!

Taking advantage when no one was paying attention, Huangqi whispered to his master, "My lord, I'll carry you down the mountain later."

Pei Xiao secretly glanced at Yan Sanhe. "Scram! Your master doesn't need to save face!"

In reality, Yan Sanhe was gritting her teeth and enduring the hardship.

Experiencing her menstrual period while continuously traversing mountains for five days, the taste of which only those who experienced it would know. However, she wasn't used to complaining, and even if she did, no one would care.

What about being born into a wealthy family as a secondary daughter...

Or having a status not inferior to the Ji Family...

Just based on her endurance and hard work, her birth status wouldn't be high.

Seeing everyone either pale-faced or barely alive, the intelligent monk climbed to the highest point to boost morale. Pointing down the mountain, he exclaimed loudly,

"My lord, Third Master, come and take a look. Dongxing County is right under our noses."

Lord Pei was already half-buried, and Third Master was still breathing, albeit like an ox.

He struggled to his feet and, lifting his head, found that Yan Sanhe had already moved to stand beside Zhiniang.

Seeing it was her, Zhiniang quickly made way for her.

Over the past few days, he had come to realize that Yan Sanhe, the most taciturn of the six, was actually the one in charge who always had the final say.

Yan Sanhe gazed into the distance.

A river stretching for thousands of miles split the vast expanse of land into two halves. Even from such a distance, she could vaguely sense the breadth and rapids of the river.

"Master Zhiniang, is that river the Beicang River?"

"Yes."

Zhiniang pointed further away.

"On the other side of the Beicang River lies the old street of the Great Qi Country. You can see that the houses on both sides look quite different."

"The Great Qi Country?"

A hint of surprise flickered across Yan Sanhe's face.

In their haste along the journey, she had forgotten that Xie Daozhi had once mentioned that the Great Qi Country was connected to the destruction of the Zheng clan.

"So, the Beicang River is essentially the border line?" she asked.

"It's not exactly a border line; the imperial court has established a provincial governorate here, which can directly submit memorials to the Emperor."

A warm breath descended, and Yan Sanhe turned her head, discovering that Xie Zhifei was standing beside her.

Perhaps due to his stubble growing out, his complexion appeared more rugged than usual.

Yan Sanhe curved her eyes slightly. "Now it is, which means it wasn't always so. Could you elaborate?"

"Mimicking me now?"

Yan Sanhe subtly took half a step back without showing any change in expression. "I'm interested!"

"In fact, since the Qin Dynasty, the Great Qi Country has been part of our Chinese territory up until the Han and Tang dynasties. After the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it underwent several wars and turmoil, eventually breaking away from Chinese rule to become an independent small country."

Xie Zhifei's gaze remained fixed on the distance.

"Although it's a small country, it has always relied on our Chinese rule, essentially serving as a vassal state."

Yan Sanhe asked when unsure. "What is a vassal state?"

"A vassal state is like your relationship with Li Buyan. You say Li Buyan is your friend and companion, but in reality, she listens to you very closely. If you tell her to go east, she won't go west."

Xie Zhifei turned to look at Li Buyan.

"She always thinks of you first when she has something good; and when Li Buyan is in danger, the one he can seek help from is also you."

Li Buyan listened intently, not missing a single word, thinking that this analogy could only come from someone like Third Master Xie.

"And you, seeing her in trouble, would never stand idly by. Do you understand?"

"A point I don't understand: I leave decisions regarding Li Buyan's matters to her; but who decides on the internal affairs of the vassal states?"

Well asked!

Xie Zhifei replied, "For vassal states, they can decide minor matters themselves, but major ones are decided by the great country they are attached to."

Having their own kings, officials, armies, and people, yet still having to follow the political orders of a great country...

Yan Sanhe furrowed her brows slightly. "Third Master, please continue."

Xie Zhifei fell silent for a moment.

"In the early years of the late emperor's reign, he bestowed the title of Emperor of Great Qi upon the Chen family. The Chen family paid tribute to Great Hua every year and often sent officials to learn and exchange with Great Hua, so the relationship between the two countries was very harmonious."

Others might not have picked up on the undertones, but Yan Sanhe did.

The so-called major matters referred to things like who would be the emperor of the vassal state, which was decided not by others, but by the emperor of the great country.

"In the later years of the late emperor's reign, a monumental event occurred quietly in Great Qi – Wu Guanyue, the nephew of Emperor Chen, staged a coup and usurped the throne."

Xie Zhifei's voice suddenly sank. "Because the two countries were far apart, the late emperor died without knowing about it, and no one in Great Hua was aware of it."

Wu Guanyue?

Yan Sanhe's heart skipped a beat.

Xie Daozhi had mentioned that this person and his son were the masterminds behind the massacre of the Zheng clan.