Meng Jianqing stepped lightly into the study, closed the door behind him, and sat across from Shen Guangli at the long table.
Though the glazed lamp on the table was quite bright, Shen Guangli’s features remained as ethereal and indistinct as ever.
He closed the case file in his hand and scrutinized Meng Jianqing for a long time before saying, “The Imperial Guard has many talents. Those cleverer than you and more capable than you certainly exist, but it seems none of them have your good fortune.”
Meng Jianqing was slightly startled and wanted to explain the various preparations he’d made for this case—that this stroke of luck wasn’t mere chance—but Shen Guangli continued, “When fortune comes, heaven and earth share the same hue; when luck runs out, heroes lose their freedom. You must understand this saying much more deeply now, don’t you?”
Meng Jianqing was alarmed, then thought that regardless of his preparations, if he’d encountered someone other than Instructor Kong at the Black Water Channel—or an enemy vessel—
Shen Guangli sighed softly, “But you seem very adept at assessing situations, don’t you?”
Meng Jianqing immediately composed himself, bowed his head, and replied, “Your Excellency must have heard of Gongsun Yi and Meng Jianchen traveling five hundred li beyond the Great Wall, getting lost with exhausted provisions, yet capturing the Wuliangha tribal princess. I was thinking that without Gongsun Yi, Meng Jianchen would likely have died in the desert. But without Meng Jianchen, even if Gongsun Yi had the luck to encounter the Wuliangha princess, he wouldn’t have had the ability to capture her—ultimately still a dead end.”
Shen Guangli observed him, then smiled slightly, “Oh? Your reasoning makes sense. Do you know who the Yun siblings are?”
Meng Jianqing replied, “These past days I’ve been handling the transfer procedures for that ship’s treasure and haven’t had time to investigate.”
Shen Guangli smiled coolly, “Oh? You haven’t had time to ask Qin Youming for details?”
Meng Jianqing raised his head, “Speaking of Colonel Qin, I believe that successfully recovering Fang Guozhen’s hidden treasure and retrieving the Golden Lock Guanyin that Xiaoxi Tian wanted was made possible by Colonel Qin’s comprehensive intelligence. Shouldn’t Your Excellency reward him?”
Shen Guangli replied flatly, “I’ve already submitted a request to promote Qin Youming to Major. This is the just-issued approval. Go congratulate Major Qin. He has another case there—since you’ve returned, it’s assigned to you. Oh, keep that golden medallion from now on. Return it when I order.”
Meng Jianqing bowed in acknowledgment. After waiting and seeing that Shen Guangli had no other instructions, he took his leave and quietly closed the door behind him.
Shen Guangli watched him go and fell into contemplation.
The old servant emerged quietly from the shadows to remove the cold tea. Shen Guangli started awake and said as if to himself, “Meng Jianqing has changed, hasn’t he?”
The formerly ambitious Meng Jianqing, though perhaps overly deep and mature, had not been difficult to fathom and control.
But returning this time, Meng Jianqing’s expression and demeanor carried a hint of desolate composure.
Had he truly tasted blood and strong wine, found them ordinary, and developed this vast melancholy, like red reaching its peak and turning to ash?
Shen Guangli flicked his finger lightly, gazing into space and murmuring, “People who desire nothing are the hardest to handle, aren’t they?”
The old servant was silent for a while before saying, “Young people, no matter how mature and worldly, are still prone to impulse. Perhaps encountering one or two disappointments leaves them completely dispirited; then encountering one or two pleasant things makes them ambitious again. The old saying goes well: rivers and mountains may change, but nature is hard to alter. What someone is, they ultimately remain.”
Shen Guangli was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled slightly, “Old Yan, in the end, you’re still inclined to protect him, aren’t you? The Yan family tradition of protecting their young is well known. Truly, rivers and mountains may change, but nature is hard to alter!”
The old servant smiled with lowered head, “Your Excellency jests.”
But he didn’t deny Shen Guangli’s words.
The two guards Meng Jianqing had taken to Zhejiang were waiting outside the courtyard. Seeing him emerge, they anxiously approached and asked, “Lieutenant Meng, what did Commander Shen say about that matter?”
Meng Jianqing paused before remembering, “You mean shooting the pig dragons?”
Both guards nodded repeatedly.
Though they weren’t the leaders, how could subordinates escape responsibility for what Meng Jianqing had done? These past days, they’d been on edge, desperately wanting to learn from Shen Guangli what had become of this matter.
Meng Jianqing couldn’t help but smile slightly, “That matter—around His Majesty are all clever people who know what’s best to do. So you needn’t think about it anymore, much less mention it.”
Among that group of clever people, none would be foolish enough to mention the fatal taboo words “shooting pig dragons” to the Hongwu Emperor.
Because the first to die would be himself.
Shen Guangli wouldn’t even mention this matter, acting as if he knew nothing.
Hearing of Meng Jianqing’s return, Qin Youming had long prepared a table of food and wine, heating it repeatedly. When Meng Jianqing entered, he beamed with joy, pulled him to sit down, and rubbed his hands, saying, “Good, good, it’s good you’re back!” He seemed less concerned about his promotion to Major. Reflecting on himself, perhaps because of advancing age, his ambition for rank was gradually fading. He felt life offered many joyous and celebratory things—these two words, “rank and fame,” sometimes amounted to just that.
Qin Youming had naturally investigated the Yun siblings thoroughly and now explained everything. Those siblings came from a celestial mountain by the sea!
Though Meng Jianqing harbored suspicions, he still couldn’t help being secretly shocked, roughly guessing that Instructor Kong probably had similar origins. The mutual suspicion and hidden resentment during their journey, combined with their assistance enabling his return, created entanglements whose fortune or misfortune remained unclear.
Qin Youming continued that Instructor Kong had gone to sea a year ago on the Hongwu Emperor’s orders to purchase dragon’s blood resin, essential for the military but only produced in Southeast Asia around Borneo. Because of a great pirate named Chen Zuyi rampaging in Southeast Asia, whom all regional countries feared like a tiger, Instructor Kong had requested an escort from the celestial mountain people. Reportedly encountering Chen Zuyi en route, all three ships Instructor Kong brought were sunk, with soldiers killed. Only the celestial mountain’s Thousand Li Ship, being too fast for Chen Zuyi to intercept, escaped and sailed north.
Meng Jianqing privately calculated that the dragon’s blood resin Instructor Kong purchased had all been transported back by the celestial mountain’s Thousand Li Ship. It seemed that in that encounter, the celestial mountain had essentially used Instructor Kong’s three ships as sacrificial pawns to entangle Chen Zuyi while they sailed away. Whether the commander was Instructor Kong or the seemingly commanding Yun Yanran remained unclear.
At this point, Qin Youming laughed, “I heard Yun Yanran’s return this time serves both public and private purposes. Since childhood, he’s been betrothed to the sister of Rear Army Vice Commissioner Zhang Dasheng, returning now to marry her. Reportedly, bringing his sister along also serves to select a husband for her. When this news spread, the capital became quite lively! Someone spread rumors about a martial arts competition for marriage—before the principals spoke, suitors from everywhere started fighting among themselves. The Patrol Office was overwhelmed and even requested our assistance yesterday! Having traveled with them for many days, surely you observed clearly—is his sister really as celestially beautiful as people say?”
Meng Jianqing smiled, “If there truly were celestial maidens, they’d probably be just like that.”
Qin Youming looked him up and down and laughed again, “I say, Brother Meng, why don’t you try too? Should we ask Commander Shen to arrange a marriage proposal? Speaking, it’s rare to encounter such a good match, isn’t it? Talented and beautiful, and besides, this celestial mountain family background might be one thing among scholars, but for military families, it’s quite different! Not to speak ill, but I think you should marry. Otherwise, every festival, you’re like a lonely ghost wandering around, and Commander Shen happily assigns you missions.”
Meng Jianqing was startled, then thought Qin Youming’s words made perfect sense.
He calmly analyzed this matter in his mind, even clearly recalling Yun Yanjiao’s dazzling appearance.
Meng Jianqing was suddenly alarmed—he could no longer remember Meihong’s appearance.
What remained in his memory were only dreamlike, vague, and indistinct scenes, along with sudden suffocating pain and desolation.
He steadied his mind and changed the subject: “What case has Commander Shen recently assigned you?”
Qin Youming retrieved a case file from the small cabinet behind him.
After reviewing it, Meng Jianqing’s brow gradually furrowed.
After a long while, he raised his head. “Does Commander Shen think this case might be related to the celestial mountain?”
So it was assigned to him? Because he already had a subtle connection with the celestial mountain?
Qin Youming said, “It might also be related to Xiaoxi Tian.”
Meng Jianqing pondered silently.
Outside the window, a firework suddenly shot into the night sky.
It was already the Lantern Festival. Another year’s winter was ending.