Yin Zhiqing took a deep breath and shook her head, "I don’t know, and I don’t want to know anymore." She stood up, her expression sorrowful as she looked at Jiang Li, saying, "I once heard about the hardships you faced on Green City Mountain and felt deep sympathy for you. Now it seems, you are much better off than . The cris you are accused of are false, and one day you will clear your na, without guilt in your heart. Whereas the cris I carry are real, and can never be absolved."
"You are you, and Yin Zhan is Yin Zhan," Jiang Li reminded her.
"If possible, I too wish my surna were not Yin. I’m sorry, Jiang Li," Yin Zhiqing said, "I can’t help you, nor can I take you away from here. But do you really think that Duke Su would venture deep into enemy territory for your sake? The fields of deer field are filled with Yin Family Troops. If he cos, his death is certain."
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat. She had an intuition that Jih Heng would definitely co, yet she said, "If wishes could co true, I hope he never cos."
Yin Zhiqing stared at her steadily, and after a long ti, finally said, "I hope so too."
Jiang Li didn’t know what her "I hope so too" ant. Was it that she hoped Jih Heng didn’t care for Jiang Li enough to exchange his life for hers or that she hoped Jih Heng wouldn’t get hurt?
"There’s another thing I want to ask of the County Princess of Pingyang," Jiang Li said.
"I can’t help you with anything," Zhiqing replied.
"It’s not for ; it’s for Jih Heng."
Yin Zhiqing frowned, "What do you an?"
"I don’t know how your brother is going to deal with Jih Heng, but I’m sure he will show no rcy. If Jih Heng ends up trapped because of , it’s the last thing I want to see. You like Jih Heng and certainly wouldn’t want him to die. If possible, please help him when the ti cos. As for , you needn’t bother. Whether I live or die doesn’t really matter. Even if I truly die, as long as it doesn’t bring trouble to others, that’s good enough for ."
Yin Zhiqing didn’t say anything further, just stood there, seemingly lost in thought for a while, before finally saying, "I understand." She then walked out of the tent.
Jiang Li didn’t follow her. The tent seed to echo with the desperate sobs of Yin Zhiqing. She knew there was no ti left. Now that Yin Zhan had died, Yin Zhili would imdiately begin his next plan—he would use her as bait to trap Jih Heng.
Jiang Li silently prayed in her heart, "Mother, if you have a spirit in the sky and are watching over your daughter, please help Jih Heng, and ensure he stays safe."
...
That night, a fierce snowstorm raged. By the next morning, the snow still had not stopped. The snow from the previous night had not lted, and fresh snow was added on top, with blood underfoot deep enough to cover a person’s knees. All around was a vast expanse of white.
Jiang Li stood inside the tent, guarded by the soldiers at the entrance. As she looked outside, all she could see was the distant, vast plain and the forest in the distance that had now beco blanketed in white.
It was said that many years ago, deer field was a dense forest located near the Yangtze River, ho to many white deer. The white deer would drink from the Yangtze River, giving the place its na, "deer field." Centuries later, the forest had almost completely disappeared, and the area had turned into a plain, with no more traces of white deer. However, the na "deer field" remained.
The Yangtze River was not far from here. Usually, one could not see its end, but now it was entirely frozen over. People could walk upon it without breaking the ice. The heavy snow fell thickly, and on this plain, there appeared to be nothing but the colors white and the black of Armored Clothing.
Soone approached, the soldiers stepped aside, and Jiang Li saw Yin Zhili.
Yin Zhili looked quite different from before. He always wore white and had the gentle deanor of a cultured gentleman, more like the elegant scion of a noble family than the son of a general. Jiang Li had never seen him in Armored Clothing before, yet today he was donned in it, his long hair tied up, his face bearing an indifferent and harsh expression. He walked into the tent.
Jiang Li turned to look at him.
"I have so good news for you, Jih Heng killed my father and survived," he said.
Jiang Li did not cheer with joy at this. Yin Zhili probably did not know that she had already been inford of this by Yin Zhiqing the previous night. But Yin Zhili didn’t seem to care and continued, "With my father dead, the tasks he entrusted to must be carried on. Do you understand what I an, Miss Jiang the Second?"
"I understand," Jiang Li replied, "you intend to use as bait to trap Jih Heng."
Yin Zhili’s hand at his side clenched slightly, and he said, "Originally, I thought that if my father didn’t die, and Jih Heng died first, this outco could be avoided. Even though you would still hate for it, I would not have to kill him myself in front of you or use you. This would be the worst choice for . But now it seems that fate has not sided with . I am still forced down this path, and struggle is futile. This is our inevitable end."
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