Ya She

Chapter 45 Rhinoceros Horn Seal
—Yan—

The Ji surname is the first of the eight ancient surnames, the surname of the Yellow Emperor, and the royal surname of the Zhou Dynasty, making it extremely noble. Although the Ji Qing lineage is not a pure direct descendant of the Zhou Dynasty royal family, it is currently the royal family of the Yan state, one of the Seven Warring States.

The true direct line of the Yan royal family, according to custom, took the name of the kingdom as their surname, while the collateral branches inherited the surname Ji.

Ji Qing was only three days younger than Yan Dan. They were cousins. Yan Wang Xi personally bestowed upon them the colors of vermilion and blue, which are two colors commonly used in painting. Furthermore, because they are respectively cinnabar and azurite mineral pigments, which are not easy to fade, historians used vermilion records to record meritorious deeds and blue records to record events. Therefore, vermilion and blue are synonymous with historical records.

This shows how much hope King Xi of Yan placed in his eldest son and nephew.

When Ji Qing was born, his mother died in childbirth. The Queen of Yan took pity on him for being young and orphaned, and took him into the palace to care for him. Not long after, his father remarried. The woman treated Ji Qing as her own son and gave him several younger siblings, and the family lived in harmony.

Because Ji Qing and Yan Dan grew up together, they were of similar age and cousins. As they grew older, their speech and behavior became increasingly similar. The only difference was that Yan Dan's eyebrows were too soft, like Empress Yan's two thin, yellowish eyebrows. Ji Qing, on the other hand, had two sword-like eyebrows, like two small flying swords pointing straight up to his temples, making him look like a sharp blade just beginning to show its edge.

When Ji Qing was five years old, his father commissioned someone to find a pair of rare rhinoceros horns. All rhinoceros horns are solid at the front and hollow at the back, meaning the part towards the tip is solid, while the back is hollow. Ji Qing's father used the hollow part of the horn to make a pair of valuable rhinoceros horn cups, and used the remaining two solid tips to have a master carve a private seal for each of the two cousins.

These two rhinoceros horn seals are an antique red color. It is said that this type of rhinoceros horn is becoming increasingly rare, and it is feared that the rhinoceros that only grows antique red horns will become extinct in a few years. Rhinoceros horn has a pleasant fragrance that can calm the wearer and relieve fatigue. Apart from a dragon-tiger carved in the round at the tip as the seal knob, there is no other carving on the body of the seals, making them appear smooth and translucent, like two pieces of blood jade. Even Yan Dan, who has seen many rare treasures, is very fond of them and often carries them with him, constantly rubbing them between his fingers.

When Ji Qing was young, he was just like Yan Dan, and he loved his own rhinoceros horn seal very much. However, as he grew older, he also realized that his identity was different from that of Crown Prince Yan Dan. Therefore, Ji Qing rarely played with the two rhinoceros horn seals, which looked almost identical except for the seals.

As a member of the Yan royal family, Ji Qing never lacked food or clothing from a young age and was accustomed to being fawned over. Following Crown Prince Yan Dan, he also learned calligraphy and martial arts, and experienced nothing that displeased him. Ji Qing once believed he was the happiest person in the world.

Many people, including him, firmly believed that Yan Dan was the next king of Yan.

But reality dealt them a heavy blow.

Before the birth of Yan Dan and Ji Qing, the newly enthroned King Xi of Yan believed that the state of Zhao was weakened and its military strength greatly diminished after the Battle of Changping. Therefore, disregarding the objections of his subordinates, he launched a military campaign against Zhao, only to be besieged by Lian Po's army. From then on, King Xi of Yan became hesitant and dared not launch any more battles.

The State of Yan was located in the northeast, and its people were known for their fierce and warlike nature. However, its land was not as fertile as that of the Central Plains, and its national strength had always been weak. With the State of Qin's continuous conquests in recent years, capturing several cities from Wei and Zhao, even the State of Yan, which was the most remote from Qin, was filled with unease and fear.

King Xi of Yan wanted to send Yan Dan to Xianyang, the capital of Qin, as a hostage.

In the earliest times, people would exchange precious items as collateral to fulfill oaths. Later, this evolved into nations exchanging members of the royal family, princes, or other important figures to ensure the signing of a covenant. However, when one nation held an absolute advantage, the exchange ceased and became a one-sided affair.

Yan Dan also has two younger brothers, but they are still young. He cannot shirk this enormous responsibility.

Ji Qing sympathized with Yan Dan, but could not understand the demands Yan Dan made.

Yan Dan agreed to go to Qin, but his only condition was that Ji Qing accompany him.

"Why must I go?" Ji Qing pursed her lips, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, her small face filled with reluctance.

The Qin people were like wolves and tigers, capable of stopping children from crying at night in other countries. Moreover, the Qin capital, Xianyang, was a thousand miles away from the Yan state's Ji city, making it a place as dangerous as a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.

Yan Dan sat upright before Ji Qing, gazing at the face that was almost identical to his own. A sneer curled his lips as he said, "The Yan royal family's food, clothing, and daily necessities are all provided by the people of Yan. The people of Yan are willing to fight to the death on the battlefield, while you merely offer yourself as a hostage. What face do you have to repeatedly retreat?"

Ji Qing blushed after hearing Yan Dan's remarks. Although she felt that something was wrong, she couldn't say a word in rebuttal.

'Langxuan, are you worried about your family? Come with me!' Yan Dan stood up with a flick of his sleeve and led Ji Qing out of the palace straight to the Ji family residence.

Ji Qing stood silently outside the window, watching her father, stepmother, and several younger siblings chatting and laughing, a scene of harmony and joy. She felt like an outsider.

'Langxuan, you should be all grown up by now,' Yan Dan said softly from behind him.

'What does it mean to grow up?' Ji Qing closed her eyes, feeling that the scene in the room was extremely jarring.

"Growing up is not about whether one undergoes a coming-of-age ceremony, but about whether one understands right from wrong. Firstly, one should know that even without you, the sun and moon will still rise in the east and set in the west, and water will still flow from high to low; nothing will change."

'If there's one, what about the second and third?'

"Come with me to Xianyang, and I will explain things to you again in the future."

'……promise.'

On the day he left Jicheng, Ji Qing was not as reluctant as he had imagined.

Perhaps it was the scene he witnessed that day, or perhaps it was the words Yan Dan whispered in his ear, but Ji Qing knew that even if he were to leave or even die, his family could continue living after their grief. Just like his father, who had a stepmother after his mother's death.

Sitting in the carriage, Ji Qing watched through the fluttering curtains as the city walls of Jicheng slowly receded into the distance. His family members who had come to see him off gradually turned into a few grains of sand on the horizon, disappearing from sight. He turned his head, overwhelmed with mixed feelings, only to be astonished to find Yan Dan gracefully removing the crown from her head.

Because this journey would take many years, the two cousins, though not yet of legal age, underwent the coming-of-age ceremony ahead of schedule. However, Ji Qing noticed that his cousin wasn't actually uncomfortable with wearing a hair crown; instead, he continued to remove his robes.

When they left, King Xi of Yan held a grand farewell ceremony for them. Therefore, Yan Dan wore a black Xuan Duan Sushang ceremonial robe, while Ji Qing, being of a different status, could not wear the noble black robe and instead wore a lower-ranking blue and yellow ceremonial robe.

"Your Highness, would you like to change your clothes?" Ji Qing was going to Xianyang as a servant, so although he was still a little unaccustomed to it, he quickly got into the role.

Yan Dan smiled and took off her black and white formal dress, leaving only a white linen robe underneath: "Didn't you ask me why I insisted on having you accompany me?"

"Why?" Ji Qing raised his head; this was a question that had always lingered in his mind.

Yan Danshen reached out, stepping over the table between the two of them, and stroked his cousin's sword-like eyebrows, staring intently at him as he said, "From this day forward, you are Yan Dan, and I am Ji Qing."

Ji Qing stood there dumbfounded until he felt a cold, sharp blade approaching his brow, which brought him back to his senses. He dared not move, and could only stare blankly as Yan Dan meticulously cut away his two sword-like eyebrows with a dagger. The fine eyebrow hairs scattered before his eyes, a few of them flying into his eyes. Ji Qing closed his eyes uncomfortably.

Ji Qing stood there dumbfounded until he felt a cold, sharp blade approaching his brow, which brought him back to his senses. He dared not move, and could only stare blankly as Yan Dan meticulously cut away his two sword-like eyebrows with a dagger. The fine eyebrow hairs scattered before his eyes, a few of them flying into his eyes. Ji Qing closed his eyes uncomfortably.

"Look up... Reach out..."

Inside the carriage, only Yan Dan's calm voice rang out repeatedly. Ji Qing, who had never been able to disobey his cousin's orders since childhood, could only close his eyes and comply. He could vaguely sense Yan Dan helping him undress and dress. Surprised that his cousin, the Crown Prince, who had always been waited on hand and foot, was actually serving others, Ji Qing was astonished.

In this relaxed atmosphere, Ji Qing pondered carefully the intentions of his cousin, the Crown Prince.

Hostages were always among the most tragic figures of the Warring States period. Raised in luxury and privilege, they were suddenly plunged into misery. No wonder they were always taken along – it was to change their status. Hostages were also among the most tumultuous figures in history. If they could survive their time as hostages and return home safely, ascending the throne would be a certainty, as exemplified by King Goujian of Yue, and King Zhuangxiang of Qin, the father of the current young King of Qin.

So, his clever cousin, the crown prince, didn't simply leave; instead, he stayed by his side. Was he meant to make him suffer humiliation? To use him as a shield?
Being a hostage is a life-or-death situation. Even if you die in the end, your cousin can secretly run back to Yan and resume his life as crown prince.

The fine hairs in his eyes stung slightly, making him feel like he was about to cry.

The jade pendant on his waist jingled, and Yan Dan's deep voice suddenly rang in his ear: "Langxuan, do you know the second thing I said?"

Ji Qing's eyelashes trembled a few times. After composing herself, she slowly uttered two words: "I don't know."

"Growing up is not about whether you have a coming-of-age ceremony, but about whether you understand reason. First, you should know that even if you are gone, nothing in this world will change. Second, you should know that there are always some things in this world that you cannot change no matter how hard you try."

Was this an implication? Ji Qing bit her lower lip, and after a long while, she squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth: "...Yes."

Ji Qing forced back the tear from the corner of his eye. He opened his still stinging eyes, and the crown on his head felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. He looked down at the black Xuan Duan Sushang dress that Yan Dan had originally worn, and stared at it for a long time.

Ji Qing raised his head and looked at Yan Dan, who had already changed into a dark blue servant's robe. He noticed that Yan Dan's imposing aura had subsided, and he was now looking as unremarkable as an ordinary servant. Ji Qing's gaze involuntarily fell on the rhinoceros horn seal at Yan Dan's waist, and an unspeakable resentment welled up in his heart. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, since your identity has changed, shouldn't you change the rhinoceros horn seal as well?" As he spoke, he took out the one he always carried with him from the sleeve of his changed clothes.

Yan Dan tucked the rhinoceros horn seal from his waist into his robes and said calmly, "It doesn't matter. What should you call me?"

“…Mingji.” Ji Qing thought for a long time before remembering Yan Dan’s courtesy name. Dan Mingji, Qinglangxuan… their courtesy names were also very similar. But now, Ji Qing hated this similarity immensely.

"good."

Ji Qing didn't say another word, sitting numbly in the carriage, listening to the sound of horses' hooves outside, knowing that the carriage was rushing towards Xianyang, towards his unknown yet foreseeable tragic future.

He was powerless and helpless.

秦

Ji Qing's life took a dramatic turn when he was twelve years old.

He became the crown prince of Yan and was sent to Xianyang as a hostage, with no end in sight for his return to his homeland.

Xianyang was several times larger than Jicheng, and the renowned Xianyang Palace was magnificent and imposing, giving one a sense of insignificance when standing beneath its towering walls. When Ji Qing saw the young King Zheng of Qin, he felt an even more compelling aura of imperial dominance.

Ji Qing lowered his head, subconsciously comparing Yan Dan with the King of Qin Zheng in front of him, but then burst into laughter.

Yan Dan? That man is now a servant, not even allowed to enter the main hall of Xianyang Palace. But he is now the Crown Prince of Yan.

Having grown up with Yan Dan since childhood, Ji Qing was adept at imitating his speech and mannerisms. The other servants along the way might have noticed something amiss, but no one dared to speak out. In other words, everyone understood that this was a situation they were powerless to change.

Yan Dan didn't want to be a hostage, so only he could take his place. After all, he was the most suitable candidate.

Ji Qing took a deep breath to clear his mind and greeted King Zheng of Qin with the respect due to a subject.

In fact, King Zheng of Qin, who had imprisoned his mother, killed his two half-brothers, forced his uncle Lü Buwei to commit suicide, and was rumored to be utterly cruel, did not make things difficult for Ji Qing. He merely exchanged a few casual greetings before having him escorted away. Ji Qing glanced at the stacks of bamboo slips on King Zheng's desk and gave a self-deprecating smile.

Yes, how could King Zheng of Qin, who was busy with countless affairs of state, care about him, a hostage from the State of Yan?

The State of Yan was the farthest from the State of Qin among the Seven Warring States. Fan Sui once advised the King of Qin that the best way to make distant alliances was with Qi and Chu, and the best way to attack nearby states was with Han and Wei. He argued that if Qin gained control of Han and Wei, how could Qi and Chu survive on their own? This famous strategy of making distant alliances and attacking nearby states was completely ignored, showing that the State of Yan was not taken seriously at all.

Sending him, this hostage, all the way to Xianyang was probably more about appeasing King Xi of Yan.

The people of Xianyang were simple and honest; six or seven out of ten passersby carried swords and other weapons, their martial spirit unmatched by any other country. It was rare to see anyone dressed in fine clothes; everyone walked briskly, and there were no idlers strolling the streets. Ji Qing glanced around casually before lowering the carriage curtain and arriving at the hostage residence in a daze. His future life would then consist of lingering in this small area.

In fact, he could still freely enter and leave the hostage residence, but every time he went out, Qin guards would follow behind him, seemingly to protect his safety, but in reality to monitor his every move. This feeling of being watched by countless eyes was like a thorn in his side, and Ji Qing found it very difficult to accept.

Moreover, he is only twelve years old this year, so King Zheng of Qin could not possibly arrange any tutors to teach him. He even had to send someone to buy books for him, and each scroll had to undergo layers of inspection before it reached him.

Such a life is like a huge quagmire, slowly drawing people deeper and deeper until they suffocate.

Ji Qing became increasingly taciturn, but Yan Dan would sneak out of the hostage residence almost every few days, spending his days leisurely in the streets and alleys of Xianyang. He quickly learned the Xianyang accent and became friends with many people.

Watching Yan Dan thriving like a fish in water, Ji Qing couldn't help but think darkly and gloomily, if Yan Dan hadn't become a hostage, would he have been just as carefree? Or would he still be living the wealthy and leisurely life of a prince in Ji City?
But as Yan Dan said, there will always be some things in life that are beyond our control and we have no choice but to accept.

Ji Qing had gotten into the habit of grooming her eyebrows every month, while Yan Dan was gradually changing her appearance little by little using various herbal juices.

When Ji Qing saw that unremarkable, thin, and sallow face, he couldn't help but be stunned.

As time went by, they became completely different, both in appearance and physique, as well as in personality and behavior.

Ji Qing became gloomy and indifferent. He became more and more accustomed to his status as a hostage, to the point that those days in Ji City many years ago seemed as distant as if they had happened in a previous life.

He felt that he was the crown prince of the Yan state.

Every night, under the dim light of an oil lamp, he would take out the rhinoceros horn seal he always carried, and trace the winding lines on it with his fingertips, telling himself over and over again that his name was Ji Qing, and his courtesy name was Langxuan…

In the blink of an eye, several years had passed in Xianyang, and Ji Qing had grown up.

Even with poor treatment, King Zheng of Qin would never deprive Ji Qing of his food; Ji Qing had already grown into a handsome and dashing young man. However, every time he groomed his eyebrows in front of the bronze mirror, he always felt that if his own sword-like eyebrows were still there, they would certainly enhance his appearance considerably.

In those years, Qin general Neishi Teng first attacked Han, capturing King An of Han. Qin then established Yingchuan Commandery in Han territory, and Han was destroyed. Afterwards, Qin's counter-espionage plot succeeded; King Qian of Zhao cut off his own arm, and the renowned general Li Mu died tragically by the sword of the king he had served. King Jian decisively defeated the Zhao army, captured King Qian, and Qin incorporated Zhao into its territory, establishing Handan Commandery. Zhao was thus destroyed.

The situation grew increasingly dire; Qin's ambition to unify the world was unstoppable. The entire city of Xianyang was filled with fighting spirit, and reports of victories poured in.

Having spent so many years in Xianyang, Ji Qing was occasionally invited to events hosted by the Qin elite. However, unlike Chu, Qin didn't have many banquets; instead, it focused more on spring and autumn hunts. The Yan and Zhao regions, frequently at war with the northern nomadic tribes, were skilled in horsemanship and archery. Although Ji Qing, as a former heir apparent, had never personally experienced battle, he had acquired exceptional skills through observation and experience. But being young, his arm strength was insufficient, so his hunting results were less than ideal. Moreover, many wouldn't allow him to hunt smoothly. Ji Qing knew his value lay in being the subject of ridicule and mockery from the Qin nobles and aristocrats.

At first, Ji Qing would fight back in anger, but he also found that the more he did so, the more excited those people became, and the more bullying and humiliation he would suffer. So he gradually learned to be indifferent and numb. Sure enough, this uninteresting reaction bored those people, and they gradually shifted their focus, allowing Ji Qing to survive peacefully in Xianyang.

Even though he forced himself to minimize his presence, Ji Qing couldn't resist the urge to inquire about intelligence from the front lines. During the autumn hunt today, he overheard the sons of military families loudly discussing the fall of the Zhao Kingdom, and their jarring laughter made him feel utterly dejected.

Both the states of Han and Zhao have already perished. Zhao borders Yan, and not far northeast of Handan lies Ji, the capital of Yan. If the Qin army is fierce, how can Yan survive?
What about Yan Dan, who should bear all of this and think about all of this? The real Crown Prince of Yan has been hiding his whereabouts all these years. If it weren't for the fact that he could see him once a month when he received his monthly allowance, Ji Qing would almost think that this person had already escaped from Xianyang.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became, so he decided not to even return to the hostage residence. Ji Qing wandered aimlessly through the streets of Xianyang. Perhaps because he had been relatively well-behaved in recent years, the number of guards following him had decreased by more than half, and now there were only two left. His casual stroll was clearly within acceptable limits, so no one came up to stop him.

Ji Qing was in a daze, not even knowing what he was thinking. In fact, the faces of his family members in his memory had become somewhat blurry. Perhaps if he appeared in front of his family now, they wouldn't recognize him, after all, he had been gone for so many years...

Ji Qing didn't know how long he wandered around until night fell, when he gradually came to his senses. Only then did he realize that he had stopped in front of a porridge shop called Lin Ji.

Looking at the crooked seal script on the signboard, Ji Qing realized that there was only one place in Xianyang that sold food from Yandi. He then remembered that Yan Dan had mentioned this place before, and that a few years ago, Yan Dan would often bring him sweet bean soup from this place. However, by then, he had already begun to distance himself from Yan Dan, and he ignored the sweet bean soup that was placed on his table every night. Gradually, the sweet bean soup stopped appearing.

With a strange feeling, Ji Qing stopped outside the porridge shop. In a daze, he saw a beautiful figure lift the curtain and emerge. The moonlight was bright, which made the beauty's snow-white skin and black hair stand out even more. In that instant, the surrounding noise seemed to disappear, and a poem he had heard in his childhood kept echoing in Ji Qing's mind.

"The moon rises bright, the beautiful one is graceful, so charming, yet my heart is troubled! The moon rises white, the beautiful one is alluring, yet my heart is filled with sorrow! The moon rises shining, the beautiful one is dazzling, so radiant, yet my heart is filled with grief!..."

Ji Qing immediately understood why Yan Dan liked to frequent this porridge shop. This woman was probably a little younger than them. Could it be that Yan Dan had already taken a liking to her?
Although it was just a guess, Ji Qing was absolutely certain. Because from childhood, the two cousins ​​had always been exactly the same, in appearance, mannerisms, and even their favorite things. Just like their father, who always gave them things in pairs, like the pair of rhinoceros horn seals. Ji Qing smiled and stepped into the porridge shop, naturally striking up a conversation with the young proprietress, easily learning her identity. Her father was a soldier from Qin, and her mother was a woman from Yan. Her mother had died early, and her father was still serving in the military, so she relied on the porridge shop she had learned from her mother. Because only nobles could have surnames and clan names, commoners like her, without husbands, could only inherit their father's surname; everyone called her Lin Nu.

As Lin chatted and laughed, she served a bowl of steaming sweet bean soup. This sweet bean soup was made by simmering rice water and red beans together, without any vinegar or sourness, and was purely sweet and fragrant. Ji Qing took only one bite, and her eyes couldn't help but redden.

This was the main food in the Yan Kingdom. Although he was the crown prince and had better food at every meal, he was still fond of this sweetness because of his young age and often asked the servants to make it for him.

It's been...it's been so long since I've tasted this flavor.

The fragrant and soft sweet bean filling his mouth, Ji Qing's forced memories of forgetting flashed before his eyes, and an overwhelming homesickness swept over him like a tide, causing tears to flow uncontrollably.

Ms. Lin had obviously seen this scene many times before. She considerately went into the inner room and after a while, brought out a plate of freshly steamed buns.

Ji Qing had already composed himself, though he felt rather embarrassed. He now possessed a touch of youthful shyness and unease, not daring to even glance at Lin Nu, and devoured the steamed bun with the sweet bean soup in a whirlwind.

After putting down his bowl, Ji Qing wanted to chat with Lin Nu for a bit more, but then he caught sight of the two guards who had been with him standing outside the porridge shop, reminding him that he should go back.

"How should I address you, young master?" Judging from Ji Qing's attire, Lin Nu could roughly guess that he was of high status. Calling him "young master" would not be an insult to his status.

Ji Qing was taken aback, and suddenly a strange emotion spread through her chest.

Did Yan Dan experience something similar back then?

He couldn't even tell the woman he liked the most what his real name was.

Ji Qing lowered his eyes, a bitter smile curving his lips, and said slowly in a low voice, "I... am Prince Dan of Yan."

Ever since eating the sweet bean soup at Lin Nu's shop, Ji Qing has become a completely different person. He no longer has a gloomy face every day, and he appears at Lin's porridge shop almost every night just to eat a bowl of sweet bean soup and exchange a few words with Lin Nu.

He had already learned during their conversation that Yan Dan was indeed acquainted with her, but only as a regular customer. Yan Dan hadn't told Lin Nu his real name, or even used his courtesy name. When Ji Qing found out, he smiled outwardly, but inwardly he scoffed. To be so cautious, unwilling to use a false name to deceive Lin Nu, showed how much his cousin, the Crown Prince, truly valued her.

Ji Qing went to Lin's Congee Shop very frequently, but he never encountered Yan Dan. Gradually, he stopped regarding his cousin as a threat.

Given Yan Dan's current emaciated appearance, it's no wonder that Lin Nu would be interested in him. Moreover, if Yan Dan were to regain his status as Crown Prince Yan in the future, he would certainly not marry a commoner woman as his queen.

After returning to Yan, he would regain his freedom. Although his younger brother might inherit the title of heir apparent, he might not be tolerated by Yan Dan in Ji City because he had impersonated Yan Dan. He could choose to live in seclusion in other parts of Yan, or even in other countries. He and Lin Nu would be left to depend on each other for survival.

Whenever Ji Qing thought about this future, she would pace back and forth in the room with excitement.

In his view, fine clothes, luxurious food, and mansions were nothing but extravagant prisons. He no longer wanted to encounter anything beyond his control; he wanted to take control of his own life.

However, he is still a hostage being imprisoned and cannot give Lin a happy life.

Ji Qing's heart began to stir. He tossed and turned for several nights before finally writing a petition to King Zheng of Qin, requesting the return of Yan. After revising it several times, he solemnly entrusted someone to deliver it to the Xianyang Palace.

In the days that followed, Ji Qing lingered at Lin's Congee Shop, hoping to find an opportunity to reveal his identity to Lin and win her heart. However, each time he stroked the rhinoceros horn seal in his sleeve and looked at Lin's charming and smiling face, he found it difficult to open his eyes.

Yes, wait a little longer. When he is allowed to return to China, he will tell Ms. Lin everything.

After composing himself for the fifth time, Ji Qing left Lin's Congee Shop and slowly walked back to the hostage residence along the familiar road. He thought that this night would be like countless nights before, with nothing happening, but when he saw the gate of the hostage residence, he discovered that the rhinoceros horn seal that he had always hidden in his sleeve had vanished.

How could this be? It was still there when I left Lin's Congee Shop!

Ji Qing frantically searched through his sleeves. Seeing this, the two guards who were watching him came up and asked if he needed help.

Cold sweat broke out on Ji Qing's back. He absolutely could not let anyone else get their hands on this rhinoceros horn seal, otherwise how could he explain why he was holding a seal engraved with someone else's name? Ji Qing's existence in the Yan Kingdom was not difficult to find out; anyone with a discerning eye could quickly detect the problem.

Pretending to be nonchalant, Ji Qing was actually extremely anxious. He frantically checked the streets he passed for any rhinoceros horn marks, while his mind raced with thoughts of the consequences of losing them.

He was incredibly careless. Yan Dan carrying the other rhinoceros horn seal was utterly foolish, but at least it was meant to serve as proof of his identity later. This rhinoceros horn seal, besides bringing him endless trouble, was completely useless! He should have ground it down and destroyed it long ago.

He just couldn't bring himself to do it. He felt that this was the last thing that could prove he was still Ji Qing, a reminder of his true identity at all times. Destroying it would be like destroying his own core self.

Ji Qing turned a street corner and immediately saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old standing against the wall, looking back and forth at the pedestrians on the street, as if waiting for someone. Ji Qing's eyes immediately fell on what seemed to be something held in the boy's hand, and the knot of the red silk ribbon hanging from between his fingers was the auspicious cloud knot that Ji Qing recognized very well.

Before his brain could react, Ji Qing quickly walked over, but the moment the boy turned back to look at him, he saw the boy's face clearly and immediately felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The young man was dressed in an unassuming wide-sleeved green robe with a dark brocade pattern. His features were exquisite, and his figure was as upright as a graceful bamboo after the rain.

Ji Qing had seen him in the main hall long ago. Back then, as a child, he had already rendered great service to the Qin state and was appointed as a high-ranking minister. He spoke eloquently under the spotlight. Later, he willingly became the study companion of the eldest prince, Fusu, quietly becoming Fusu's shadow, yet he was still not to be underestimated.

The two had already made eye contact. Ji Qing wanted to turn around and leave, but it was too late. He could only bite the bullet and bow to the other person as a greeting.

"Prince Yan was in such a hurry, did he lose something?"

The young man also bowed, and gave him a mysterious smile.

Ji Qing had recovered his composure by now and calmly nodded, saying, "It is a rhinoceros horn seal, which belongs to my cousin."

“I did indeed find a rhinoceros horn seal. The relationship between the Crown Prince of Yan and his cousin is truly enviable.” The green-robed youth opened his palm, and in his jade-like hand, the wine-red rhinoceros horn seal lay there quietly.

Ji Qing's brow twitched at his pointed words, but he remained calm, after all, no one had ever seen a second rhinoceros horn seal like this. Ji Qing smiled generously and said, "When I left Ji City, my cousin was still young, and I couldn't bear to be separated from him, so I gave him this item to accompany me. I promised that the day I returned to Ji would be the day I would return this item."

He didn't know how Yan Dan had managed to cover up his disappearance when he left with Yan Dan, but he believed that the other party had planned for a long time and would definitely handle the loopholes. However, when Ji Qing mentioned his childhood, he recalled that he and Yan Dan left Ji City at about the same age that the young man in front of him was made a high-ranking official.

Indeed, people are different.

With a wry smile, Ji Qing took the rhinoceros horn seal back from the young man's hand. Thinking that saying more would only make things worse, he solemnly thanked him and turned to leave.

The green-robed youth watched the Crown Prince of Yan's slightly flustered steps and narrowed his eyes with amusement. There was probably more to that rhinoceros horn seal than met the eye; should he take the time to investigate?

As he was pondering, the green-robed youth felt two gazes fall upon him, and he could faintly hear the sounds of discussion.

"Huh? That... could it be the boss from when he was a kid?! My god! He's such a cute boy!"

"Keep your voice down! It'll be bad if we get caught! By the way, that rhinoceros horn seal is made from an ancient red rhinoceros horn from the sub-rhinoceros species, right? Good heavens! Sub-rhinoceroses are said to have become extinct in the Central Plains by the Han Dynasty, and then completely disappeared from the earth. Even Emperor Qianlong never saw a real sub-rhinoceros. Almost all rhinoceros horn artifacts from the Ming and Qing Dynasties were dyed to imitate the colors of antiques! Good heavens..."

"...Why do I feel like your voice is louder than mine?"

The boy frowned, noticing that the two people's accents didn't sound like those of the other six countries, and that they were speaking incoherently. When he turned around, he couldn't find the speaker at all.

The boy clenched his fist secretly; it seemed that the defenses of Xianyang needed a thorough overhaul.

Ji Qing returned to the hostage residence with trepidation, locking the rhinoceros horn seal that he had lost and found in the bedside cabinet, no longer carrying it with him.

Soon after, King Zheng of Qin received a reply regarding his request to return to Yan. He made an oath to him, saying, "If the sun shines at noon twice, and millet rains from the sky, and crows grow white heads, horses grow horns, and the wooden elephant at the kitchen door grows fleshy feet, then I may return."

Ji Qing's face turned ashen. King Zheng of Qin had no intention of granting his request. He said that only if the setting sun returned to its zenith, grains fell from the sky, crows turned white-headed, horses grew horns, and the wooden statues on the kitchen door grew fleshy feet, would he be allowed to return to Yan. These five things were simply impossible, meaning that he would never be able to return to his homeland in this lifetime.

The huge blow kept Ji Qing from going out for many days. It wasn't until the evening of the fifth day that he remembered that he hadn't been to Lin's Congee Shop for several days.

Thinking that since he could never return to Yan, could he settle for second best? If he were to remain confined in Xianyang like this, surely he would eventually get married? Perhaps if he chose the unremarkable Lin girl as his wife, King Zheng of Qin would feel much more at ease.

Even with this comforting thought, Ji Qing himself found it hard to accept his lack of ambition.

But what could he do? He was just a hostage being held captive, wasn't he?
Ji Qing was very depressed, but he never expected that he would be greeted with a seal on the door after only five days of not coming to Lin's Congee Shop.

What happened? Ji Qing hurriedly asked the neighbors on both sides, only to be told that Lin Ji's business had been shut down two days ago on charges of treason, and that Lin Nu had been arrested as a spy for the Yan Kingdom. Regardless of whether it was true or not, she was certain that she would never be able to return.

Ji Qing was struck dumb, completely bewildered as to why this had happened. Since Shang Yang's reforms, Qin's punishments had always been known for their harshness and cruelty; even Shang Yang himself had been torn apart by chariots, let alone committing treason. Ji Qing begged the two guards who had been following him to find out what was going on, but one of them gave him a knowing smile, hinting that he shouldn't get involved.

Is this... King Zheng of Qin's dissatisfaction with his petition to return to Yan?
A profound sense of powerlessness overwhelmed Ji Qing; he barely knew how he got back to the hostage residence.

He stood alone in the courtyard for a long time, thinking of all the possible ways to rescue Lin Nu, but he felt that the hope of rescuing her was slim.

No matter who pleads for her, if King Zheng of Qin wants Lin Nu dead, it's as easy as crushing an ant.

Ji Qing wandered aimlessly through the empty hostage residence, and inexplicably found himself in the side courtyard where the servants lived. Suddenly, he desperately wanted to see Yan Dan. Yes, Yan Dan also loved Lin Nu, and he couldn't just stand by and watch her die. He was so clever; he was bound to find a way!

But his initial excitement turned to ice-cold as he pushed open the wooden door.

He smelled a strong stench of blood.

Yan Dan, whom we hadn't seen in a long time, lay in a pool of blood, a sharp dagger embedded in his lower abdomen. He hadn't even been able to climb onto the bed, let alone have the strength to treat his wound. He didn't know how long he had been lying there, yet he was still half-awake. He heard Ji Qing push open the door and even opened his eyes, his gaze clearly filled with surprise and joy.

"Heavens...why didn't you call for help?" Ji Qing rushed over in a panic, frantically trying to stop the bleeding.

"Don't...make a sound." Yan Dan coughed a few times, a trickle of blood spilling from her lips. Ji Qing was taken aback, knowing that Yan Dan's injury was no simple matter; otherwise, he would have already called for help.

How could this person do this? Just watch me die? If I hadn't impulsively come to see him, would he have just lay here alone, quietly dying? The wound on Yan Dan's lower abdomen was truly horrific, and given that the optimal time for treatment had passed, Ji Qing knew that if he removed the dagger, Yan Dan would soon die from blood loss. In fact, it was already a miracle that he could still open his eyes at this point.

Ji Qing found a pot of water in the room that had been stored for who knows how long. She lifted Yan Dan's head and fed him a few sips of water. The cold moonlight shone through the window onto Yan Dan's face. Ji Qing couldn't bear to see the bloodstains on it, so she used the remaining water on her sleeve to gently wipe away the bloodstains from his face.

The grass juice that Yan Dan had been using to cover her face was wiped away, revealing a face that was very similar to Ji Qing's, but also incredibly thin, weak, and pale.

Ji Qing was greatly troubled and asked in a low, sorrowful voice, "What... what exactly happened?"

Yan Dan forced a smile and sighed, "It's my fault for dragging Lin Nu into this..."

"Mingji! You're a spy?" Ji Qing was shocked! At the same time, everything that had happened before suddenly made sense. No wonder Yan Dan willingly became a slave, no wonder he quickly learned the Xianyang accent, no wonder he rarely appeared, no wonder he changed his appearance... It turned out that he exchanged identities not to have her shield him from humiliation, but because being a servant would allow him to gather information more effectively!

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Ji Qing felt both relieved and heartbroken. He was relieved that his cousin, the Crown Prince, was indeed not a cowardly person who feared death, but he was heartbroken that he couldn't help at all.

Yan Dan forced a smile and whispered, "Lang Xuan, letting you leave Ji was already... unfair to you. Besides, you've taken my place... cough cough... the entire Qin state is watching you, we absolutely cannot... make the slightest mistake."

Ji Qing was suddenly jolted, realizing the foolish things he had done these past few days. He had lingered at Lin's porridge shop, presumptuously submitted a petition requesting the return of Yan, and lost his rhinoceros horn seal only to have it found by the young high-ranking official…

Ji Qing's hands, which were holding Yan Dan, trembled as she sobbed, "It's all my fault...it's all my fault..."

"Don't cry... Langxuan, Qin law says that ministers attending the court are not allowed to carry weapons... All the palace guards carrying weapons must be placed below the throne, and they may not approach without an imperial edict. After you return to Yan, you can find a brave warrior to assassinate King Zheng of Qin in court. This is the perfect opportunity... As long as King Zheng of Qin dies... Qin will be without a ruler... and the siege of Yan will be lifted immediately..."

Yan Dan intermittently shared the information he had gathered, combined with his own thoughts. He expressed his deep regret that he could not personally escort King Zheng of Qin to his death.

"But... but how can I return to Yan?" Ji Qing was completely at a loss.

Yan Dan sighed silently, realizing that he had indeed been too protective of his cousin, keeping him from knowing anything about his daily life, which was clearly a mistake. Having no other choice, Yan Dan had to pull himself together and entrust Ji Qing with all the arrangements he had made in Qin over the years, instructing him on how to disguise himself as a servant to leave Xianyang, which route to take, and who to find for backup.

After saying that, he instructed Ji Qing to take out the rhinoceros horn seal that he always carried with him. After a moment of silence, he exhaled and slowly said, "Langxuan, you actually have another choice."

What kind?

"Restore your original identity, escape Xianyang, and say that Prince Dan of Yan has died in Xianyang." Yan Dan's eyes were glazed over, and he was having difficulty breathing; he was on his deathbed.

"Mingji!" Ji Qing's eyes welled with tears, but he didn't know what to say. He had dreamed of regaining his original identity, but at this moment, it didn't seem to matter anymore. But to be asked to plot the assassination of King Zheng of Qin...

"I...I can't do it..." Ji Qing was uneasy. He was so ordinary, and he only complained about his fate every day. How could he bear such a heavy burden?

"Langxuan...do you know what I said last time...and what I said about one or two things?" Yan Dan suddenly asked.

Ji Qing was taken aback, but quickly continued, "Growing up isn't about whether you have a coming-of-age ceremony, but about whether you understand reason. Firstly, it's about knowing that even without you, nothing in this world will change. Secondly, it's about knowing that there are always some things in this world that you are powerless to change no matter how hard you try..."

"Thirdly... thirdly... even knowing that some things are beyond our control and there is nothing we can do... even if it is fate... we must do our best... to fight..." Yan Dan's words were shrill, and then abruptly stopped.

Ji Qing sat in the pool of blood until it was completely dark before returning to his room, dressed in a robe stained with blood.

He took out his rhinoceros horn seal from the bedside table and placed the blood-stained rhinoceros horn seal on the table as well.

This is the first time in many years that the pair of rhinoceros horn seals have been placed together.

Ji Qing stared intently at the two rhinoceros horn seals.

Who exactly is he? Is he Ji Qing? Or Yan Dan?
This time, he can choose his own identity, instead of having someone else choose it for him.

After a long, long time, he picked up one of them and smashed it to pieces with a heavy object.

(End of this chapter)