Before the age of six, Li Zhongqian had almost no worries.

He was the most beloved son of Wei Commandery’s Great General Li De and the Xie family’s legitimate daughter Xie Manyuan. He was the nephew raised personally by the universally acclaimed Young Master Wuliang.

The world was in chaos. Whether in the north or south, war raged and people could barely survive. Outside Jingnan City, there were frequent disturbances from chaotic armies, but the sorrows of these troubled times remained far from him.

He grew up surrounded by silk and brocade.

The severalzhang-high wall outside Jingnan City kept all suffering at bay. He grew up without worry or care. Although Xie Wuliang taught him about the hardships of common people and often took him outside the city to help the masses, showing him how life was as worthless as grass in chaotic times, and though he understood that people were like ants in such an era, he had never truly experienced any hardship himself.

His father was one of the hegemons vying for control of the realm. His uncle was resourceful in making money, always able to procure supplies when the Wei army was in dire need. He was extraordinarily gifted and immensely strong – able to compose poetry at age five and also swing a golden hammer hard enough to make his cousins kneel and beg for mercy.

The clan members said his father would surely choose him as the heir.

It was almost certain.

His elder brother Li Xuanzhen was unremarkable. Xuanzhen’s mother Lady Tang came from humble origins and had an odd temperament, quarreling with Li De every few days. Whether it was the Wei Commandery nobility who had followed Li De from the beginning or the aristocratic families who joined later, they all viewed Xie Manyuan as the true mistress.

Only Xie Wuliang disagreed. He reminded Li Zhongqian: “The eldest young master is your brother, and Lady Tang is your senior mother. Do not disrespect them.”

He also admonished Xie Manyuan: “Don’t look down on her just because of her humble origins. She is the Great General’s first wife. The Great General is usually calm and collected – when his younger brother was killed, he could endure for two years before seeking revenge. Yet when he learned of his first wife’s death, he impulsively led troops despite his subordinates’ objections. This shows his deep feelings for his first wife and eldest son. If you respect Lady Tang and care for the eldest young master, the Great General will see it. If you slight them, though the Great General may not speak of it, he will surely remember.”

Xie Manyuan was not a jealous person and naturally would not make things difficult for Lady Tang. However, as Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian grew day by day, and as the Wei army’s power expanded, more and more people believed Li De would be the final victor to claim the Central Plains and the Li family heir would become the future crown prince. The aristocratic families grew restless and quickly made their choices, separately supporting Li Xuanzhen and Li Zhongqian. Two undercurrents of power were at daggers drawn, and Li De’s rear court was no longer peaceful as friction between Lady Tang and Xie Manyuan became frequent.

The Li family cousins supported Li Zhongqian, and aristocratic families friendly with the Xie clan eagerly came to propose marriage.

Li De often praised Li Zhongqian in public, saying he had both the elegance of the Xie family and inherited the Li family’s martial talent, calling him a qilin child.

That New Year’s Day, during the Li clan’s ancestral sacrifice in Wei Commandery, Li De held Li Zhongqian’s hand as they ascended the altar. Pointing to the thousands of troops standing solemnly outside the city, he said gravely: “A man born into this world should become a marquis in his prime. With achievements in battle, how can one guard the old hills? Second son, you have grown up. You must be diligent and hardworking, never slack off.”

He gave Li Zhongqian a short sword he had once used himself.

At that moment, Li Zhongqian felt he could hear his own suddenly quickened heartbeat – excitement, nervousness, uncertainty. Taking the short sword, he held his head high: “Your son will not disappoint you, father!”

Li De smiled slightly and patted his head.

Below the altar, bells and drums sounded together, their sound shaking the clouds.

At that time, Li Xuanzhen stood in an inconspicuous corner, his features indistinct.

Everyone told Li Zhongqian: Second young master, the position of heir will certainly be yours.

For a long time, Li Zhongqian felt somewhat elated.

His father commanded the realm and led heroes to pacify the chaos. His uncle helped those in danger during troubled times. When he grew up, he too would be like his father, uncle, and the Xie family ancestors – taking responsibility for all under heaven, supporting the state, not failing the Xie family’s spirit, and not disappointing his father.

Shortly after the ancestral sacrifice, Lady Tang died violently.

Li De’s hair turned white overnight.

He rushed back to the Li family home, his face weathered, eyes bloodshot, drawing his sword to kill Xie Manyuan: “Jealous woman! You forced her to death! You forced her to death! Haven’t I been good enough to the second son? Why did you still have to force her to death?!”

Xie Manyuan had never experienced such shock and humiliation from childhood to adulthood. Her husband, who had shared her bed and treated her like a precious treasure, changed completely overnight, gnashing his teeth and wanting to kill her.

She stared blankly at Li De, forgetting even to dodge.

The guards desperately blocked him. Li Zhongqian also stepped forward to persuade Li De but was pushed away.

The cold blade came within a finger’s width of his nose.

Li Zhongqian would never forget the look in Li De’s eyes as he pointed the sword at him.

Cold, disgusted, without a trace of warmth.

So it was true after all.

Father had never truly loved him. All that doting was just an act. Father’s truly beloved son was only Li Xuanzhen.

Li Zhongqian had noticed signs before.

Father always pulled him forward to praise him in front of subordinates at banquets, speaking of his high hopes. Father seemed to not care at all about Li Xuanzhen, but that time when Li Xuanzhen fell ill was the first time he saw panic and anxiety on his seemingly omnipotent father’s face.

That night, Li De stayed by Li Xuanzhen’s side for a day and night, even personally going to the temple to set up prayer banners for Li Xuanzhen.

Li Zhongqian finally understood why concern would flash through his uncle’s eyes when his father praised him in public.

Father feared the Xie family would poison Lady Tang, that’s why he showed such love to him.

How laughable.

He had even felt sorry for his overlooked elder brother Li Xuanzhen… not knowing he was the most pitiful one.

After Tang Ying died, Li De tore off his mask, officially naming Li Xuanzhen as his heir and taking him to his side to personally care for him.

Xie Manyuan’s face was washed with tears, but fortunately, news soon spread that she was several months pregnant. Li De’s anger subsided, and he apologized to her, saying he had acted impulsively that day when he first returned.

Xie Wuliang sighed deeply, “It’s too late.”

“When Lady Tang died, the Great General went mad and drew his sword to kill. The eldest young master, though still young, witnessed his mother’s tragic death yet could calmly handle Lady Tang’s affairs, detaining all servants, collecting evidence of your disputes with Lady Tang, and investigating the Xie family. While doing all this, he continued to respect you as a mother as if nothing had happened. When seeing me, his attitude was respectful, just as before, even more respectful than before… this child cannot be underestimated.”

After being named heir, Li Xuanzhen carried himself with propriety and spoke with grace. Everyone was shocked and amazed. Later at the martial arts competition, he single-handedly shot and killed a black bear, stunning all present with his skill.

Li De no longer concealed his favoritism toward Li Xuanzhen. The aristocratic families he had secretly won over began openly supporting Li Xuanzhen. Having conquered half the realm, he would no longer be easily constrained.

Only then did people realize Li Xuanzhen was not unremarkable, but had been deliberately keeping a low profile.

Li Zhongqian’s childhood ended at age six.

Almost overnight, he discovered everything had changed.

The cousins who used to follow him around eagerly became Li Xuanzhen’s shadows. The noble families who had competed to make him their son-in-law turned their attention to Li Xuanzhen. Even the old family friends who had relied on the Xie family shifted their allegiance to Li Xuanzhen.

The warmth and coldness of human relations, the fickleness of the world.

Xie Wuliang took Li Zhongqian to the battlefield, having him put down his books to learn warfare from the family generals.

“Second young master, don’t be afraid. No matter what happens, come to Uncle. Uncle will protect you.”

Li Zhongqian gripped his uncle’s hand tightly.

He was a child unloved by his father.

It didn’t matter. Uncle loved him.

Three years later, Southern Chu feigned east but attacked west, trapping the Wei army by the Yangtze River. The gravely ill Xie Wuliang donned his armor and defended Jingnan to the death, tying down Southern Chu forces, finding himself isolated without support. After desperately holding out for several days, he had his subordinates cut off his head to appease Southern Chu’s fury, begging them not to massacre the city.

Not a single male of the Xie family escaped Jingnan.

The Xie family women also died tragically.

They originally had a chance to escape the city during the chaos but were recognized by commoners.

The women wept silently, pleading with the common people.

In the silence, a sharp voice rose from the crowd: “They are Xie family members!”

The steward collapsed to the ground.

Those simple words decided the fate of the Xie family women.

Days later, Li De defeated the Chu army and led troops back to Jingnan, retrieving Xie Wuliang’s head.

The day the coffin was sent out of the city, citizens from all over came to mourn, ten li of long streets all in white mourning clothes.

Nine-year-old Li Zhongqian held his uncle’s memorial tablet, coldly sweeping his gaze around.

Among these weeping crowds, which ones truly grieved for uncle? Which ones had stopped the Xie family women, from wanting to curry favor with the Southern Chu people by handing them over?

Uncle was such a fool.

A lifetime of sincerity, pouring out his heart and blood, sacrificing himself nobly – all he got in return were a few tears.

Was it worth it?

If Xie Wuliang were still alive, he would certainly answer that it was worth it. He used to say that the rise and fall of the realm was the responsibility of every man, that the people’s lives were hard and the world was in chaos – how could a man of the Xie family only care for himself?

That day, Li Zhongqian didn’t shed a single tear.

Uncle took responsibility for all under heaven, but all under heaven had the hearts of wolves and dogs.

Uncle was dead.

Li Zhongqian’s aspirations, beliefs, and everything he had believed in since childhood, all died along with his uncle.

He became a walking corpse.

What joy was there in living, what fear in death?

People shook their heads and sighed, urging him to accept fate and move on, then openly and secretly began distancing themselves from the Xie family – Xie Wuliang was dead, he and Xie Manyuan had lost their support, the heir was gradually showing signs of imperial bearing, they had to make the right choice for their families, could no longer associate closely with him lest they be seen as his supporters.

Everyone looked at him with sympathy and pity, helplessly hinting that they had no choice.

The Xie family’s destruction perfectly symbolized Li Xuanzhen’s secure position.

Li Zhongqian gave a cold laugh.

“Mother, uncle is gone.”

Xie Manyuan looked at him blankly, “Who are you? Where is my brother?”

She kept asking Li Zhongqian: “Where did my brother go? Did he go trade with the Southern Chu people again?”

Li Zhongqian crawled in front of Xie Manyuan, grabbed her sleeve, pushing her forcefully, trying to shake her awake: “He’s dead! Mother, uncle is dead! Wake up! Uncle will never come back again! Only you and I are left, only us!”

Uncle was dead!

She was his mother, and now she was all he had.

Xie Manyuan began to laugh, pushing Li Zhongqian away: “How could my brother be dead? My brother is still alive, my brother told me to wait for him at home. There’s fighting everywhere, all the tenant farmers have fled, he has to go raise money…”

She kept watch at the door, staring down the corridor.

“My brother will return tomorrow.”

The servants standing in the room burst into loud sobs: “Second young master, your mother can’t handle the shock. Don’t frighten her.”

Xie Manyuan was sometimes lucid, sometimes confused, living in memories. The doctors said forcing her to wake up would have unthinkable consequences.

“Second young master, be understanding of your mother…”

Li Zhongqian lay on the cold floor tiles, closing his eyes in despair. He got up and walked out without looking back.

He sat in the memorial hall keeping vigil for Xie Wuliang, not eating or drinking, not sleeping or resting.

The chief secretary knelt before him, crying and begging him to eat something and drink some water.

He didn’t move a muscle.

What was the point of living? He would die by Li De’s or Li Xuanzhen’s hand sooner or later.

The cold wind beat against the prayer banners, the chill penetrating to the bone. Li Zhongqian stared fixedly at Xie Wuliang’s memorial tablet, feeling neither cold nor hunger, his body had lost all sensation.

A rustling sound came from the corner, a dark shadow moving.

Li Zhongqian remained motionless.

The shadow continued shuffling forward with huffing sounds, stopping for a moment when it got close to him. After several tired gasps, it continued inching closer.

He seemed to recognize that small figure, yet also didn’t, his heart without the slightest ripple, his mind empty, filled only with the sound of the wind.

The little one used both hands and feet, finally crawling to him, and letting out a long breath. With a pat, her small hand landed on his leg, tugging at his sleeve to climb up.

“Brother…”

Li Zhongqian ignored her and didn’t reach out to help her either.

She stared at him for a while, gripping his sleeve to pull herself up.

The tiny bundle leaned against Li Zhongqian, soft and warm.

The warmth penetrated his clothes, gradually warming his stiff arms.

His soul wandered, his thoughts hazy.

Suddenly his chin felt warm.

He frowned slightly, lowering his gaze.

The little one leaned against him, looking up, staring at him intently, slowly pulling out a warm pastry from her clothes, holding it to his lips.

“Brother, eat.”

Li Zhongqian looked at the pastry in her hand.

His pale face reflected in her bright eyes as she said carefully: “Brother, don’t stay hungry.”

Li Zhongqian looked at her and the pastry in her hand closed his eyes for a moment, then bent down and fiercely bit into the pastry.

All sensation returned to his body, his stomach cramping painfully with hunger.

He devoured it ravenously.

Something hot and wet slid from the corner of his eye, mixing with the flatbread between his teeth, salty and bitter, his throat burning with pain.

“Brother, I have more here.”

Seeing him finally willing to eat, her eyes curved in happiness as she pulled out another ghee pastry.

Li Zhongqian said nothing, taking and swallowing them all.

He still had his sister.

His mother had lost her mind, and his sister was still so young. He was a man, he had to take good care of his sister and protect her. He couldn’t fall.

Li Zhongqian finished eating, carried Yao Ying on his back, and strode out of the memorial hall without looking back.

He revered his uncle.

But he was destined not to become someone like his uncle.

The great affairs of the realm, the joys and sorrows of common people – what did they matter to him?

He only cared about his own family.