Chapter 38: Peeking (III)

Chapter 38: Peeking (III)

Meng Zha didn’t really understand why the King had suddenly sought him out, ordering him to intercept the Little Magistrate’s purchased stone materials, bring him into the pass, and specifically instruct him to bring up the massacre at Ranqiu Mountain during the banquet.

He had already sized up the Little Magistrate countless times in private.

This man stood only up to his chin, and aside from his pretty-faced but hollow looks, he couldn’t discern any remarkable qualities.

Unfortunately, the king’s command could not be defied.

Moreover, he had witnessed the Ranqiu Mountain massacre.

At his age, he often found himself reminiscing about past glories.

Seeing that the others were all looking at him, eager to hear unusual stories of the Jing tribe, Meng Zha felt quite elated and began to recall the brilliant days of his youth, just like the middle-aged men he used to mock as a boy.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Helian Che tapped the table in a steady rhythm, his thoughts reaching farther and deeper than anyone else’s.

…

After giving birth to Yaya, Mother recovered somewhat, and she immediately threw herself into training troops and drilling the army.

The Helian family was not of the Jing tribe’s royal lineage.

At that time, the Jing tribe’s royal house acknowledged the Huyan family as their sovereigns. The Helian family, being half-blood between the Jing and Yan tribes, was completely loyal to the Huyan family.

The Helians were fierce and skilled in battle. Both men and women were born on horseback, wore armor as everyday attire, and hunted with bows and arrows across the world. They were often praised as “fierce as falcons, keen as crows.”

Helian Che’s father, Helian Hao, due to years of war, had accumulated countless old and new injuries that turned into chronic ailments, making him unable to take the field again. So it naturally fell upon Mother, Da Yue, to lead from the front.

They were cousins who had grown up together, and were already as close as flesh and blood.

Da Yue was wholly dedicated to military affairs, and the newborn Helian Ya was given to Helian Che to raise.

Helian Che lived with some military women who handled logistics.

They were open and straightforward by nature, not bound by countless formalities of Dayu. Moreover, since Helian Che was just a child, they didn’t go out of their way to avoid him, so he often saw them breastfeeding their babies.

But by the time Yaya was born, the children of these military women had already grown up and were running around.

Since there was no breast milk available, Helian Che had to fend for himself. Noticing that his brother liked to chew on things, he would wash his fingers clean, dip them in goat’s milk, and feed him bit by bit.

Yaya wasn’t a fussy child. He would squint his big, grape-like eyes, lazily snuggle in Helian Che’s arms, daydream, sleep, or tilt his head up to look at him.

Every time Helian Che caught his gaze, his heart would melt.

But he also had one worry:

Occasionally, Yaya would mistake his big brother for his mother and try to nurse from his chest.

Helian Che dreaded this the most, because if the other military women saw it, they would surely laugh at him. And if he didn’t stop him, his chest would hurt terribly.

…Yet he couldn’t bear to hit him.

He couldn’t even bring himself to tug his ear.

Thus, amidst all the pulling and squabbling and playful scuffles, the bond between the two brothers grew deeper day by day.

He earnestly taught him: “Say ‘big brother.’”

Helian Ya couldn’t speak, but only smiled at him.

Helian Che wrapped a red sandalwood bead that he used for braiding his hair around Helian Ya’s wrist, tempting him: “Say ‘big brother,’ and this will be yours.”

He persistently taught Yaya, even though Uncle Damuqi mocked him, saying a kid that tiny could barely say ‘Mama,’ let alone ‘big brother.’ He might as well sing a folk song.

So Damuqi started bellowing a folk song with his gravelly voice.

Helian Che couldn’t stand the noise. He held the child in both arms and tried to shoo him away with his feet.

But Helian Ya loved Damuqi’s folk songs and giggled.

Damuqi was pleasantly surprised: “Oh, this little guy has good taste! No one has ever appreciated my singing before.”

Seeing that Yaya wasn’t annoyed by him, Helian Che graciously let his uncle stay.

Damuqi cleared his throat and sang a little tune: “A jug of old wine on my back, I ride my horse waiting for the girl to chase. The one who comes after me is my mother, she ties a talisman on me, telling me to come back early—”

Helian Ya listened quietly, looking fascinated.

The three of them, one adult and two little ones, sat side by side by the riverbank, watching the clear water gurgle away into the distance.

Helian Che thought: there could be no better days than this.

But after all, Helian Che was still a child.

He was playful and impulsive, eager to show his brother all the wonderful things he had ever seen, to make him happy and joyful.

But Helian Che knew that Mother would never agree.

So one day, he secretly took Helian Ya into a nearby city pass called Ranqiu Pass.

He didn’t think there would be any danger.

After all, they were still within the Jing tribe’s territory. Dayu had been locked in a prolonged confrontation with them at Tongma and Qingyuan, and there was no way they could have advanced this far so quickly.

It was the first time his little brother had left the military camp. Helian Che chose a beautiful piece of blue cloth embroidered with a small No-butterfly Flower petal.

He made a sling baby carrier, hung Helian Ya diagonally across his chest, and after deeming everything foolproof, he eagerly carried Yaya through the streets and alleys, exploring and wandering, buying many children’s toys and a pure gold longevity lock necklace.

The day grew late.

Helian Che felt a little hungry. He fed Yaya with a small pot of goat’s milk, then walked along playing with him.

He stretched out his arm flat, imitating his uncle’s posture when training a falcon, and balanced Yaya on his arm.

Lately, Helian Ya had learned to sit steadily, but a child’s half-grown arm was inevitably unsteady. Yaya wobbled and teetered, but always managed to stabilize just when he seemed about to fall.

Helian Che found him utterly adorable, like the Da’afu roly-poly doll his uncle had given him as a child.

The difference was that there were many Da’afu dolls, but Yaya was the only one.

While they were having a great time, they came to an intersection of a main street and an alleyway. Suddenly, someone patted his shoulder from behind.

Someone spoke to him in the Jing tribe language: “Little guy, what are you doing here?”

Helian Che didn’t recognize the voice. Sensing trouble, he didn’t turn around and tried to run ahead.

But from just a step away, a gleaming blade thrust straight at him.

The excruciating pain of his shoulder being pierced through made Helian Che's body go limp. Before he could even let out a scream, someone hoisted him up.

Another person stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth from the side, muffling him.

A third person slapped his back shoulder, dislocating the joints of both his arms.

A sickeningly familiar voice came from slightly above and to the side: "Ah Bao, tired from walking? Come with your uncle."

Helian Che was swiftly hustled by them into a dark, deserted alley.

Coming to from the bone-deep pain, Helian Che was thrown like a pile of trash at the end of the deep alley.

Helian Che fell into the dust, covered in dirt, with unbearable pain in his back.

Even with both arms dislocated, he instinctively tried to raise them to protect his little brother before him.

Then, his shoulder suddenly felt lighter.

...Someone had cut the swaddling clothes tied around him with a knife.

Helian Ya rolled to the ground, letting out a short cry of pain.

Watching the little brother he had cherished like a precious jewel fall to the ground, Helian Che's heart shattered. He went down on his knees, dragging himself forward, vowing to shield his brother under his own body.

But with his limited mobility, he was simply too slow.

The one who had stabbed him picked up Yaya from the ground before he could, using a dagger to push aside the swaddling and examine his face.

Helian Che was furious, as if he could hear the roar of his own blood.

Dark shadows loomed before him, mingling with the blood flowing into his eyes. The world once again looked just like the day his little brother was born.

...A bloody red.

The other two looked at the man holding the infant.

He was probably the leader among the three.

Helian Che struggled to raise his head, trying to see his face, but because of excessive blood loss and weakness, he simply couldn't.

The man hesitated, musing for a long time before giving an order in the Jing tribe language: "Kill him."

The words had barely reached his ears when Helian Che was kicked to the ground. Something was thrust into his chest, and a sudden chill and pain shot through him.

The sunset in his eyes rapidly descended.

The world turned pitch black.

...

Helian Che was not that unlucky.

The dagger was caught by his ribs, slowing its momentum, stopping just half an inch from his heart.

He lay in bed for a full three months.

Later, Helian Che learned what happened from the military doctor.

...

When his eldest nephew was severely injured, nearly losing his life, and his youngest nephew went missing, Damuqi flew into a rage like a mad lion. Anyone who passed by risked being torn to pieces.

Ranqiu Pass was in Jing tribe territory, under strict military control, which should have been impenetrable.

But as the saying goes, every man has his own way. After investigation, it was found that the three bandits had used the drainage channels being built in the pass to enter and exit, leaving no trace, making it impossible to track.

As for possible culprits, Damuqi had his suspicions.

The wars between Dayu and the Jing tribe were frequent, and the nearby bandits were not idle either.

A band of outlaws had long been entrenched on Ranqiu Mountain, specializing in kidnapping for ransom, often descending to kidnap civilians—especially women and children—to ransom them for money.

This area happened to be the middle ground between the Helian clan's forces and the Jin clan's forces.

The mountain lord was on good terms with the Jin family, frequently paying tribute in silver. In return, he would do free intelligence-gathering services for the Jin family. Thus, the Jin family became the outlaws' shield, allowing them to run rampant.

But Ranqiu Mountain had never been able to form relations with the nearby Helian forces.

They feared that if they pushed too far, the Helian army would come after them. So, in their kidnapping business, they kept things small, only seeking money, not lives. Once the money was paid, they would release the victims.

The common people had nowhere to turn for help, so they had to scrape together every last coin to ransom their families.

Damuqi suspected that Ranqiu Mountain had been foolish enough to poke the tiger, so he led his guard force straight up to attack Ranqiu Mountain.

...

All of this was told to Helian Che by the military doctor while tending to him after he woke up.

Maybe it was because the military doctor was old, he rambled and never got to the point.

It was only when Helian Che grew a bit older that he realized the doctor didn't want to give him bad news too quickly.

But at that time, Helian Che didn't understand.

His anxiety grew as he waited, and he couldn't help but ask: "Did you find Yaya?"

As soon as he spoke, he coughed violently, spitting a handkerchief full of blood, before he could even catch his breath.

The old military doctor had to tell him the truth.

"General Damuqi led his troops and laid siege to Ranqiu Mountain. A minor bandit, who was acting suspiciously, tried to sneak down the mountain and was caught by the general's men."

"He confessed that he had just pulled off a job—kidnapping a child..."

Hearing that, Helian Che immediately tried to sit up, but the old military doctor pressed him back down.

His throat was clogged with blood, he said hoarsely: "Where is the child? Where is Yaya?"

The old military doctor sighed, the emotions in his aged eyes making Helian Che's heart race with anxiety.

"That scoundrel had snatched the child and was carrying him up the mountain just as it was being surrounded. He made it halfway up the mountain, heard from a bandit who had just escaped the encirclement that General Damuqi had come up the mountain to find a missing child."

"He connected the dots and grew suspicious, fearing that he had indeed taken Yaya. He figured dead men tell no tales, so he threw the child off the cliff, then ran down the mountain—but didn't get far."

"He tried to deny it, but someone had seen him carrying a living child up the mountain, so he couldn't deny it."

Helian Che's face went deathly pale.

Thrown down the cliff face...?

Ranqiu Mountain indeed has a sheer cliff and precipice, a hundred zhang high, with a river below. Even monkeys cannot descend it, let alone humans.

His ears began to ring, and he could barely hear his own voice: “...Was that Yaya?”

“That man was a fool and couldn’t explain anything clearly.”

The military doctor wrung out a cloth and wiped the sweat from his face: “When he saw General Damuqi, he was scared out of his wits. One moment he said he snatched the child from a passing scholar, the next he said he found it by the roadside. He couldn’t even describe the color of the swaddling clothes or the child’s appearance.”

Hearing this, a glimmer of hope arose in Helian Che’s heart: “Didn’t someone see him carrying the child up the mountain? He... cough... what did he say?!”

“Alas...” the military doctor said cautiously, “He said he was far away and didn’t see the child clearly. All he knew was that it was wrapped in blue cloth.”

The two stab wounds that had pierced his body hadn’t killed Helian Che, but at this moment, an invisible blade pierced his heart.

The military doctor, who had seen life and death many times, tried to comfort the stunned Helian Che: “What was thrown off the cliff may not have been Ah Ya. They kidnapped Ah Ya for a reason. Let’s wait a few more days. Perhaps someone will send a letter, asking us to exchange Ah Ya for cattle or horses.”

Helian Che clenched his cold hands as hatred silently spread in his heart like wildfire: “Are all the people on Ranqiu Mountain dead?”

“All dead.” The doctor took his hand and gently wiped his palm with a soft wet cloth, his voice as gentle as ever: “They caught a hundred and ten men and beheaded every one of them. General Damuqi ordered that every ten heads be tied together by their hair and thrown into the valley as a sacrifice to the child.”

...

On the other side of a wall, Meng Zha was vividly recounting the momentous feat of slaughtering his way up Ranqiu Mountain, with heads rolling everywhere back then.

He Qingsong and the others were so stunned that they quickly sobered up. They kept swallowing hard, feeling a chill creeping up the backs of their necks.

At the table, only Le Wuya kept eating and drinking as if nothing was wrong, ordering another bowl of pear and honey water.

Seeing this civil official so composed, eating and drinking without worry, Meng Zha couldn’t help but be curious: “Magistrate Wenren, do you have any wise insights?”

“I wouldn’t call them insights.”

Le Wuya said calmly: “You should have waited. You didn’t know whether the child taken from Ranqiu Mountain was your young master. Instead of attacking with such fanfare, you could have sealed off the mountain first, then gone to the Jin tribe to have their leader bring out all the hostages on the mountain. Check them one by one to see if they match and compare their travel records. Only then would you know if it was their doing.”

“By killing everyone, you only gained a moment’s satisfaction. The young master’s fate remains unknown, and you’ve offended the Jin tribe. It’s not a good deal.”

He raised his glass, a slight smile on his lips: “But then again, the Helian family is now the master of the Jing tribe. It doesn’t really matter whether they’re offended or not.”

Meng Zha was stunned.

He remembered back when he was young and brash, newly enlisted. Because he was tall, ruthless, and vicious in fights, General Damuqi selected him for his young personal guard.

He was only thirteen or fourteen, at an age when he had no sense of his own limits. He won his first major victory, personally cutting off two bandit heads.

When he followed General Damuqi back to camp, reeking of blood and brimming with excitement, General Damuqi was summoned to the main tent.

Due to postpartum weakness, General Da Yue had been weak and in poor health, slow to recover.

On the day she learned that her two biological sons were on the verge of death and one had gone missing. After arranging for a military doctor for Helian Che, suppressing the news, and sending people to investigate how the villains had infiltrated the city, she finally collapsed from exhaustion.

When she woke, news of Damuqi’s massacre on Ranqiu Mountain was brought to her.

Through the tent, Meng Zha heard Da Yue’s calm voice: “...You should have waited.”

“Seeing such cruelty, others would probably rather kill Ah Ya than send him back.”

“By doing this, he probably... won’t come back.”

Young Meng Zha stood outside the tent, the sharp wind accompanying Da Yue’s gentle voice slowly sobering his mind.

As he listened, he almost felt ashamed.

The blood on his hands dried under the wind, sticking to his skin, giving a weighty feeling.

In their hearts, Da Yue was a goddess.

Even if she was pale and frail, bedridden, she was still a goddess.

Reminded of past events by the young magistrate, Meng Zha put away his boastful tail.

Looking at the magistrate again, he found him increasingly peculiar.

But he couldn’t pinpoint what was strange.

The way his eyebrows curved, his expression—they seemed somewhat... similar to the person he had admired back then.

Looking at his face, Meng Zha felt a sudden urge to cry.

He rubbed his eyes.

Had he reached an age where reminiscing about the past brought tears?

Wenren Yue thought for a moment and said: “In any case, the mountain bandits had long plagued the area and needed to be eliminated sooner or later.”

“Isn’t this a good opportunity?”

Le Wuya savored his honey water and said leisurely: “Let the Jin tribe come forward to negotiate with these bandits. They will certainly release all the hostages on the mountain and behave for a while. During that time, find a corpse that died of disease and throw it near the mountain’s water source.”

He propped his chin and looked at the slightly changed expression of Meng Zha: “As I recall, the water on Ranqiu Mountain flows toward the Jin tribe’s territory, right? Two birds with one stone. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Wenren Yue’s expression shifted slightly as he looked at Le Wuya.

Le Wuya noticed his gaze, did not avoid it, and smiled at him:

I am that kind of person.

What do you think?