CHAPTER 47

 

Zumu's Desperate Longing and the Heartbreaking Discovery

 

Ever since the army of the Ling Kingdom retreated to defend the city of Dazi, a series of ominous portents had occurred, filling Queen Zumu's heart with immense anxiety. Her heart burned with worry, and she found it difficult to sleep day and night. Her thoughts churned endlessly: "A woman as ill-fated as I, if I fall into the hands of the Hor King, I won't be able to escape, nor will I be able to die. It seems now that unless the Hor King seizes me, he will not give up. What should I do? If I could use a scheme to deceive the Hor King for a while, perhaps the Great Lion King will return soon. As long as King Gesar returns, he will naturally repel the Hor's million-strong army."

 

But, Great King, when will you return to the Ling Kingdom? Zumu wrote a letter and entrusted her Soul-Binding White Crane to fly to the Demon Kingdom. However, a long time had passed, and there was still no news.

 

Meanwhile, the Hor army had arrived at the city walls, constantly clamoring for the Ling Kingdom to hand over Zumu. Sinba Meruze was reluctant to force Queen Zumu to abandon Ling and submit to marrying the White Tent King. But whenever he thought about sparing the common people from disaster, his heart felt as if struck by a stag's antler, and he galloped in pain towards Dazi.

 

One day, Zumu climbed alone to the highest peak in the Ling Kingdom. Reaching the summit, she didn't pause to catch her breath and took out a crystal treasure mirror she carried with her. This was a divine mirror that could clearly show every corner of the world. She had climbed the peak this time precisely to see if her Great King was still in the human world. Through the treasure mirror, Zumu not only saw King Gesar but also saw Meisa Bungji and another girl as beautiful as a celestial maiden, both drinking and singing with the King. If Zumu hadn't looked, it would have been better; seeing this was like ten thousand arrows piercing her heart, the pain reaching her very bones. This heartless King, had he truly forgotten her? Forgetting me, Zumu, is a small matter, but how could he forget the people of Ling! Now, the Yellow Hor troops were besieging Ling, killing people, plundering horses, and seizing goods. The ministers, common people, women, children, and elderly of Ling were suffering profound calamities. Everyone was hoping the King would return to Ling one day earlier, to soon defeat the Hor troops and rescue the people from their suffering. But the Great King, he paid no heed to letters sent, cared not for the kingdom's ruin and the people's peril, and still had the heart to drink and sing. What a heartless man!

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"Heavens!" Zumu cried out and fainted.

 

A little magpie's chattering woke Zumu. Her eyes blurred with tears, she saw the magpie and hurriedly asked it to go see King Gesar: "Flower Magpie, please tell the heartless King to return quickly to Ling." Then she sang:

 

Day and night, Zumu's heart burns with anxiety,

The White Tent King pressures her daily.

Please, Great King, return tomorrow,

Do not linger abroad and forget your home.

Even if you do not remember me, Zumu,

You should still see your birth mother,

You should still miss elder brother Gyatsa,

You should still care for the women and children of Ling.

Flower Magpie, auspicious bird,

Fly quickly, do not delay.

 

After singing, the flower magpie flew away, and Zumu slowly descended the mountain.

 

Further Disappointment and a Fox's Offer

 

Several more days passed. Zumu again climbed the mountain peak with the crystal treasure mirror. Using the mirror, she saw the King and his two consorts still drinking and singing. The flower magpie that had delivered her letter was shot dead at the entrance of the great tent. Zumu's heart shattered. The heartless King truly cherished no past affection and had even shot the magpie delivering her letter. Heavens! Heavens! What was she, Zumu, to do? Zumu fainted once more.

 

When Zumu awoke again, she saw a beautiful red fox lying beside her, licking her wrist. Stroking the fox's neck, Zumu felt only despair and coldness.

 

"Queen Zumu, I am willing to find the Great King for you. I am willing to deliver a letter for you," the fox spoke.

 

"Didn't you see the little magpie delivering the letter was shot dead by the King?"

"That was because it annoyed the King with its noise. I won't anger the King. Please, speak quickly whatever message you have."

 

Seeing the fox's sincere feelings, Zumu tremblingly took off a gold ring from her finger and said through sobs: "Sister Fox, take this ring to King Gesar. Tell him that in Dazi city, a girl is suffering. She waits day after day for the King to return and save her. Now, she has been driven to the point of having no way out. If the King still pities her, he must return quickly. If he delays further, it will be too late. The Hor King wants to seize her, and the Ling Kingdom will also perish at the hands of the Hor people."

 

The red fox, carrying Zumu's gold ring, left. Zumu descended the mountain again, her eyes red.

 

Stalling Tactics and a Daring Plan

 

Sinba Meruze saw Zumu coming down the mountain and waited for her at a bend on the mountainside, urging her to consider the greater good and go with him to Hor. This was who knows which time; he hoped this time the Queen would agree to go back with him.

 

Seeing Sinba Meruze, Zumu spoke before he could urge her: "My aunt is gravely ill. I need to attend to her for a few days before I can leave."

 

Sinba Meruze saw Zumu's red, swollen eyes. Not knowing it was from crying over King Gesar, he truly thought Zumu's aunt was seriously ill and, moved by compassion, nodded in agreement.

 

The White Tent King waited three days, then another three, and finally could endure no more. He again sent Meruze to urge Zumu to set off.

 

Zumu thanked Meruze and then said: "My aunt's condition has improved, but I also have an elder sister living in Middle Valley. I must bid her farewell."

 

"You women always have so many matters," Sinba Meruze said somewhat impatiently, but still went with Zumu to Middle Valley.

 

When Zumu emerged from her sister's home, her expression was again clouded with sorrow, tears welling in her eyes.

 

Seeing this, Sinba Meruze thought, could her sister also be ill? This time, he could not delay further. Any more delay, and the White Tent King would become furious.

 

Zumu remained silent, following Sinba Meruze back quietly. It was Meruze who couldn't contain himself: "Queen Zumu, is your sister well?"

 

"Very well," Zumu replied tersely, unwilling to say more. She just lowered her head and followed slowly behind Sinba, thinking as she walked. As they neared Dazi, Zumu's eyes suddenly lit up—she had an idea.

 

"If the Queen's affairs are all settled, shall we depart?" Meruze probed.

 

"Alright!" Zumu no longer demurred, agreeing with unexpectedly swift readiness.

 

"You go back first and tell your White Tent King that we will go to Hor once we select an auspicious day. Rest assured, this time I will not break my word!" Zumu added.

 

"Good, I will go back and report to the King immediately," Sinba Meruze said.

 

With that, Sinba Meruze happily returned to bring the good news to the White Tent King, while Zumu hurried towards the palace. She was eager to put her plan into action.

 

Her two loyal maidservants and childhood companions, Azhongji and Lizhongji, came out to greet her. Seeing them, Zumu immediately took Lizhongji's hand: "Azhongji, tell me, does Lizhongji look like me?"

 

"Hmm, please don't be angry, Queen. People in Ling all say Lizhongji resembles you, though she is not as beautiful as you."

 

"Hmm, good, but..." Zumu suddenly felt she couldn't find the words to voice her plan.

 

Seeing the Queen hesitate at this point, Lizhongji roughly understood the reason in her heart. She had accompanied Zumu since childhood, and Zumu had treated her like a sister. Now, the Yellow Hor army was pressing on the border precisely to force the Queen to submit. If sacrificing her alone could bring peace to all of Ling, then whatever arrangement the Queen made, Lizhongji was willing.

 

"Sister Zumu, I have long had this thought, but dared not presume. If the Queen permits, I am willing..." Lizhongji seemed prepared, her expression unusually calm.

 

"Then, I... how could I face you..." Hearing this, Zumu couldn't help but cry again.

 

Azhongji also seemed to understand something. She appeared very excited: "This is wonderful, wonderful! Lizhongji, you silly girl, why didn't you say so earlier?"

 

The Substitution and the Hor Retreat

 

Having found a compromise, Zumu immediately sent Azhongji to invite the Old Chief Steward and Gyatsa. Rongtsa Chagen and Gyatsa Xiega arrived quickly. Lizhongji explained their scheme. The Chief Steward praised repeatedly: "Excellent, a brilliant idea!"

 

Gyatsa was not so optimistic: "The idea is indeed good, but it's hard on Miss Lizhongji alone."

 

"Brother Gyatsa, don't say that. For the sake of Ling, for the Queen, I... I am willing..." Lizhongji's voice choked with emotion.

 

Zumu and Azhongji silently bowed their heads, their hands tightly holding Lizhongji's.

 

Zumu's plan gained the Chief Steward's approval. Although Gyatsa did not fully agree, considering the Ling army's heavy losses and the people's profound suffering, he thought that if they could use a scheme to stall the Yellow Hor people until King Gesar's return, it would be for the best.

 

The Old Chief Steward then sent a message, stating that to end the conflict between the two kingdoms sooner, Queen Zumu agreed to follow the White Tent King back to Yellow Hor. However, Yellow Hor must abide by the agreement: once Queen Zumu reached the Hor camp, Hor must withdraw its troops. Upon receiving the letter, the White Tent King was overjoyed. Three years of war had wearied him, but to marry Zumu, he was willing. Today, the flower from his dreams, the moon in the water, was now tangibly before his eyes. How could he not be delighted!

 

Sinba Meruze and Tangze Yuzhou felt somewhat puzzled. But for the sake of an early withdrawal and peace, they pretended ignorance and said nothing.

 

On the auspicious day, Zumu adorned Lizhongji with her most beautiful jewelry and silk wedding attire. After meticulous dressing, Lizhongji looked utterly stunning and even more strikingly resembled Zumu. If one didn't look carefully, one might truly mistake them for the same person. When the auspicious hour arrived, the thirty-women bridal escort team selected by the Chief Steward from Ling's aunts and sisters-in-law was also ready. The accompanying dowry items were fully loaded onto twelve mules. Zumu tearfully bid farewell to Lizhongji, urging her to take good care of herself. Amidst the farewells of the crowd, the bridal procession set off.

 

The Hor troops stood in orderly ranks, awaiting the arrival of the exquisitely adorned Ling "Queen" at the Hor camp.

 

When he saw the beautiful Queen he had longed for so deeply walking towards him, the White Tent King suddenly couldn't believe his eyes. He ordered Sinba Meruze and Qiangla to verify her identity: "Meruze, Qiangla, go quickly and see if it's the real Zumu. Don't be deceived by those Ling scoundrels! Go quickly!"

 

Tangze Yuzhou said: "Great King, look at such a grand bridal procession. Could it possibly be fake? Who else could it be but the Zumu you've dreamed of day and night?"

 

The White Tent King laughed heartily, his joyous voice nearly shaking all the leaves from the trees.

 

After welcoming "Zumu," the bridal escort team bid farewell and returned. According to the agreement, the White Tent King immediately ordered the troops to withdraw and held a grand wedding banquet, creating a scene of great festivity.

 

Early the next morning, the Hor million-strong army set off in its entirety back to the Hor Kingdom.

 

The people of both the Hor Kingdom and the Ling Kingdom also settled their minds, believing the war was about to end. After the Hor army's retreat, the heroes of Ling also breathed a sigh of relief. The various heroes bid each other farewell and began returning to their own tribes.

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