Chapter 105: Xiongnu

Chapter 105: Xiongnu

Han Ruzi had wanted to capture Lin Kunshan to get his questions answered, but in the end, he was the one who was captured. He had no choice. Marquis Guiyi’s family had no way out, and the plan of his daughter, Jin Chuiduo, was too simple. Both father and brothers disagreed with her, especially Marquis Guiyi, who still hoped to find a risk-free plan.

Prince Du was dead, and they needed help now more than ever.

As dawn approached, the Jin family hid Chai Yun’s body in an empty room. Marquis Guiyi went out to make inquiries, and his two sons took Zhang Yanghao to find Lin Kunshan, leaving his daughter and maidservant to guard the other captives.

The three captives, including Qilang, had their hands and feet bound, sitting in a corner, not daring to make a sound. Only Han Ruzi was not bound, sitting on a chair. Behind him stood a maidservant with a sword. A few steps in front, Jin Chuiduo paced back and forth. Every time she turned, she glanced at Weary Marquis.

Han Ruzi couldn’t help it any longer and spoke, “What do you want to say?”

Jin Chuiduo stopped, still holding a longbow in her hand but without an arrow nocked. “They say you’re a imbecilic ruler. Doesn’t seem like it.”

“They say you’re... But you seem like it either,” Han Ruzi regretted his words as soon as he spoke. He couldn’t afford to offend this girl who could kill without hesitation.

As expected, Jin Chuiduo’s face turned cold. She drew an arrow, nocked it, and shot it incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, the arrow grazed Han Ruzi’s ear and hit the wall behind him, startling the sword-wielding maidservant guarding him. “Miss, your archery is as accurate as ever.”

The three people sitting in the corner were even more frightened.

Han Ruzi, on the other hand, was unafraid. He only moved his eyes slightly. “All you’ve done is waste one arrow.”

“I have enough arrows to kill you all five times over.”

“There are four of us, and you only have fourteen arrows. There’s not enough to kill us five times,” Han Ruzi corrected.

Jin Chuiduo looked down at the arrow quiver at her waist. Indeed, there were only fourteen arrows left. She originally had twenty arrows, but she had a habit of shooting arrows for no reason at all. That’s how she practiced archery, and some arrows were never retrieved, naturally reducing the quantity.

“I’m not keeping you here to get through the border passes.” Jin Chuiduo had to find a way to scare this supposed tyrant. “A deposed emperor without any power, I know the imperial court wouldn’t take you seriously.”

“Mm.”

“I’m going to offer you to the Chanyu[1] of the Xiongnu.”

“A deposed emperor that the Chu empire ignores, why would I be valued by the Xiongnu?”

Jin Chuiduo smiled faintly, even more alluring, and anyone who saw this smiling face would be irresistibly moved. It was hard to believe that she was a daring little troublemaker. “In Chu, you’re a deposed emperor, but in Xiongnu, you’ll be the ‘former emperor’ of the Chu empire. I believe the Chanyu will definitely want you. With a former emperor in hand, when the Xiongnu launches a major invasion to the south, it will be even more justified.”

Han Ruzi had to admit that this girl had some insight. So, he said earnestly, “You claim to be a Xiongnu, but how much do you really know about the Xiongnu?”

“More than you do.”

“The Xiongnu is currently divided into two parts, east and west, each with its own Chanyu. Which one do you plan to seek refuge with?”

Jin Chuiduo remained silent, her expression becoming stern.

Han Ruzi continued, “The Western Chanyu suffered repeated defeats during the reign of the Martial Emperor and fled a thousand li. They have not dared to advance south for over a decade. I presume they’re not whom you intend to seek refuge with. The Eastern Chanyu had previously submitted to Chu, but they caused trouble on the border during the rebellion of Prince Qi. Unfortunately, Prince Qi was defeated. The Eastern Chanyu, caught unprepared, lost his insider and ended up in an awkward position. So he has stationed troops in the north, unwilling to engage in a decisive battle with the Chu empire.”

Jin Chuiduo still didn’t speak.

Han Ruzi could only rely on court bulletins to learn about major court events. Without Yang Feng’s help in interpreting them, he relied on his own imagination to decipher those tedious documents and memorials. He spoke whatever came to his mind, regardless of accuracy.

“You want to hand me over to the Eastern Chanyu, but all signs indicate that the Eastern Chanyu has no grand ambitions. He just wants to take advantage of the situation for some benefits. Barring any accidents, he is likely to submit to Chu again before the end of this autumn.”

Suppressing her anger, Jin Chuiduo said to the maidservant, “I’ll take a rest. Watch them. Don’t listen to the deposed emperor’s nonsense. Remember that?”

“Yes, Miss.”

As soon as Jin Chuiduo left, the maidservant chuckled softly, “The young lady must be checking on Xiongnu customs in her books. It’s your fault for being so talkative. The young lady reads slowly. It might take her a whole day to find it.”

“I’ll tell you which book it is, and you can...”

Han Ruzi had good intentions, but the maidservant placed the sword on his shoulder. “The young lady told you not to talk nonsense. You’re not allowed to talk nonsense.”

“I’m not talking nonsense. Can I speak normally?”

After thinking for a while, the maidservant said, “You can.”

“Are you not a Xiongnu?”

“No.”

“Then why do you want to go to the steppes?”

The maidservant turned to Weary Marquis, looking at him. “You’re really persistent, even trying to persuade me. Why do I want to go to the steppes? Because the young lady wants to go. I shall follow her through thick and thin, whether it’s with the Xiongnu or with the Chu empire. It doesn’t matter; I’m the young lady’s maidservant.”

As Han Ruzi was about to speak again, the maidservant pointed her sword at him. “I may be foolish, but I’m not stupid. You’re talking nonsense again. I might as well put my sword through your mouth.”

Han Ruzi shut his mouth and shook his head, indicating he wouldn’t speak anymore.

Without power or connections, he couldn’t figure out how to persuade the Jin family.

In the afternoon, the father and sons of the Jin family returned one after the other. The Weary Marquis was extremely anxious. “The disappearance of Chai Yun and the Weary Marquis has spread. Many people are looking for them. Our family needs to leave the city as soon as possible.”

Han Ruzi thought Zhang Yanghao might take the opportunity to escape, but he returned obediently, with a hint of conspiratorial satisfaction on his face. He didn’t even look at the three captives sitting in the corner. After Marquis Guiyi finished speaking, Zhang Yanghao said, “Lin Kunshan invites the Marquis Guiyi’s family to meet outside the city. He can safely escort you to the northern border.”

Marquis Guiyi looked at his two sons. “Have you met that sorcerer?”

Both nodded.

“Is he trustworthy?”

The two exchanged glances. The elder son said, “Lin Kunshan is an extraordinary person. He surely has a way to send our family away safely. We believe in him.”

Marquis Guiyi nodded thoughtfully. Han Ruzi asked, “Where outside the city are we going?”

“The Subtle Fragrance Garden in the Little Southern Hill,” Zhang Yanghao replied without hesitation.

[1]Chanyu was the title used by the rulers of the steppe nomads north of China until it was superseded by the title of Khan/Khagan.

[2] The potatoes we know today came from the Americas, so the potato being referred to here is not the same potato we know today, but a native plant which is similar to the potato.

[3] There would be a mess in the generational order because the Chanyu would be Marquis Guiyi’s son-in-law and father-in-law at the same time. According to traditional Confucian ethics, this would be a clear indication of barbarism.

If you are reading this on an aggregator site, do consider visiting / to support this translation project by leaving a comment.

← CH 104