Love Seized by the Blade

“Seizing love with the blade, seizing love with the blade…”
From afar, I, who had witnessed it all, trembled with excitement, clutching at Gongsun Bai’s sleeve and shouting wildly: “Heavens! Too melodramatic! Did you see that? How could it turn out like this…”

Gongsun Bai shook off my hand with some distaste. “This is not ‘seizing love with the blade.’ It is ‘trading love with the blade.’”

Awkward—truly awkward. Nothing under heaven could be more mortifying.

The instant the blade Du Ming was revealed, countless eyes turned at once. Some watched with gloating, eager to see Yu Hanjun’s reaction; more were consumed by greed, their gaze fixed upon that peerless weapon.

Yu Hanjun forced his eyes away from the steel and fixed them on Zhao Jin. “Young Master Zhao, your blade is indeed unmatched beneath the skies. But she is my wife, not some trinket for barter. Name your price—this blade, whatever sum it commands, I shall pay.”

Zhao Jin sneered in silence. At the side, Yu Hanjun’s servant grew anxious.

“Second Master! This is heaven’s fortune! With this blade in hand, what need have you to fear the elder young master…”

Yu Hanjun’s face darkened. He barked: “Silence!”

Zhao Jin gave a cold laugh, scorn plain upon his face. “Tell me, what thing does Yuluo Pavilion possess that Forging-Sword Manor does not?” His eyes swept toward Qin Yan, then returned, his voice sharp as steel. “Yu Hanjun, mark my words. This is Du Ming. If you yield her, not only shall the blade be yours, I shall also swear brotherhood between our houses. Before my father, I shall speak on your behalf. Then your standing within Yuluo Pavilion will be greatly eased.”

This was no secret in the martial world: Yu Hanjun, second son of Yuluo Pavilion, was never favored by the old master. Born of a lowly concubine, though his talents matched or surpassed his elder brother, he held no right of succession.

Perhaps thinking of his plight, Yu Hanjun fell silent.

At his side, Qin Yan’s heart clenched. She whispered softly: “My lord…”

Yu Hanjun gave no reply. His gaze fell upon the dark gleam of Du Ming’s blade, and in his mind flickered countless thoughts.

If… if I were to trade, what then?
One concubine not yet wed, in exchange for a blade famed across the realm. With this weapon, my rank in the family would soar; even my mother’s lot would improve.

Yes—beauty is rare. But a divine blade rarer still!

At times, silence itself is the answer.

Qin Yan’s heart grew cold. For this realm was woven from her memory, and through it our senses were joined. I felt her panic, her despair.

She stared at the man beside her—the one she had yearned to wed, the one she had striven with all her soul to win. He was unmatched, his name resounded across the land. For her, he had borne the shame of “marrying a courtesan.” Yet in this moment, he could be free.

“Done.”

Qin Yan shuddered, as though a knife had pierced her heart. At last, she heard his answer.

In the next instant, cheers erupted all around.

“Congratulations, Young Master Yu!”
“Congratulations, Second Master!”
“With Du Ming, your great cause is assured!”
“….”

Amidst the acclaim came a voice, clear and crystalline.

“Congratulations.”

It was Qin Yan. She gazed steadily at Yu Hanjun, and then bowed deeply. “Though not yet entered your gates, I was nonetheless carried forth by your grand sedan. Thus, pray permit me to call myself your concubine, to repay this bond between us. Here, this concubine has three congratulations—may my lord accept them.”

She lifted her face, smiling a smile to topple kingdoms. “First, I congratulate my lord: before the multitude, you traded away a concubine not yet wed for a treasure beyond compare.”

The noisy street fell silent at once.

“Qin Yan…” In Yu Hanjun’s eyes flickered pain.

“Second, I congratulate my lord for casting aside a lowly woman, and thus preserving the honor of Yuluo Pavilion. I am but a courtesan, scorned by all. My lord planned to carry me home with all pomp and ceremony—an affront to reason, a stain upon your noble house. But now, no longer. From this day, I shall never again appear before you, nor set foot in Yuluo Pavilion. A man as devoted as my lord ought rightly to wed a maiden of spotless birth. Whichever lady has the fortune to stand beside you, I offer her my blessing. May she live in peace all her days, and never suffer the fate that has befallen me.”

The crowd stared, mockery and disdain in their eyes. A few servants moved to silence Qin Yan, but Yu Hanjun raised his hand.

“Let her speak.”

“Third, I congratulate my lord.” A single tear slid from Qin Yan’s left eye, falling to the earth. “My lord is decisive, fit to command armies. When I dwelt by your side, I oft fretted that you were too hesitant, too kind, easily deceived. But now I see I worried in vain. With such resolve, none under heaven can match you. With such decisiveness, you are destined for greatness. I but sacrifice myself to aid your cause. If by my ruin you may achieve your destiny, what matters it if I die beneath the blade, never to know release? I am but a base courtesan. You may have as many as you please.”

The tear dried at once, as though it had never fallen. Were it not for my keen eye, and the bond that joined us, even I might not have noticed.

Her eyes never reddened. Her face bore no sorrow.

Having spoken her three congratulations, she lifted the phoenix coronet from her head. Upon it gleamed nine pearls, worth a fortune. Crafted specially for her wedding day—how joyous it had been to wear, how bitter to remove.

Crash!

The coronet struck the ground. Pearls scattered everywhere.

“Oh dear, broken by accident,” she said lightly. Tilting her head, she revealed a mocking smile, then lowered her eyes to Yu Hanjun, gaze sharp as poisoned steel. “My lord would not demand recompense, surely? But if you must, perhaps seek it from Young Master Zhao.”

With that, she pressed her foot upon the pearls, grinding them into dust.

Then, with quick steps, she walked to Zhao Jin’s side and stood silently.

Zhao Jin swept her with a single glance, from head to toe, his face expressionless. He snorted, turned, and strode away.

Qin Yan lifted her skirts, followed in his wake. One before, one behind, they vanished into the crowd.

Never once did she look back. She did not see Yu Hanjun standing there, eyes brimming with tears.