Yun Ye descended from the carriage with his hands clasped behind his back. The lights of Chang’an were already dimming for the evening. Yun Shou helped his father onto the carriage, then climbed aboard himself, instructing the coachman to proceed slowly so Wang Cai could keep up.

Yun Ye patted his son’s large belly and said with a laugh, “Neither your mother nor I are fat, so how did you end up this plump? You’re nearly forty years old—exercise more! When I was your age, I was still as light as a swallow!”

Hearing his father’s words, Yun Shou smiled and replied, “Your son has never neglected his martial arts training. Even now, I can practice sword forms for half a shichen without becoming winded. But this flesh truly troubles me. I asked Immortal Sun about it, and the old gentleman said my innate constitution is too robust!”

Yun Ye burst into laughter, slapping the seat with delight. “Daoist Sun has always been an expert in the way of health preservation. Now that he’s become a terrestrial immortal, his words are naturally golden rules and jade principles.”

“However, everything your Uncle Cheng does has nothing to do with longevity, yet he’s the most robust of all the old folks. So you see, no principle in this world is absolute—there are always exceptions to everything.”

Seeing his father in high spirits, Yun Shou hesitated before saying, “Ever since the Great Emperor passed away and the Empress Dowager retired to Yushan, the entire world has gradually quieted down. His Majesty has also shown some restraint and no longer pressures his ministers excessively, so the court is quite peaceful now. However, Xu Jingzong plans to retire. He always manages to choose the best moment to retreat with his reputation intact.”

“Hmph, that’s political wisdom. After using someone for forty or fifty years, it’s time to let him go home and die peacefully. Is that young fellow named Wang Wei still serving as Secretary beside His Majesty?”

Seeing his father unwilling to discuss court affairs, Yun Shou smiled and said, “Your insight is truly keen. This man possesses elegant bearing, and most remarkably, he has a gentle temperament. I hear he enjoys meditation and enlightenment, and the poems he composes carry an ethereal quality. Self-appointed critics have dubbed him the greatest talent of our Great Tang. If Father enjoys his poetry, I can invite him to our residence tomorrow?”

Yun Ye shook his head. “No need. I’m living in seclusion. If I make too much commotion, people will think that though I’m old, my ambitions remain, and that I wish to emerge from retirement. That way, how could Zhangsun Chong and Dugu Mou sleep soundly? Better to stay out of it. This time your mother fell ill, I should accompany her properly. How did she fall sick anyway?”

“Mother just keeps getting cramps. You said she needs calcium supplementation and to take that thing Wang Cai eats. Mother refuses, saying it’s feed for livestock, not for people.”

Yun Ye irritably rapped his son’s head with his fan. “Stubborn fool! Don’t you know your mother’s temperament? She considers herself a noble phoenix—of course she won’t eat medicine pills meant for Wang Cai! Can’t you coat them with beeswax on the outside, put them in an expensive box, and concoct some miraculous story to promote them? That way she’ll take them. Go handle it when we get home, and say I obtained these precious medicinal ingredients from overseas!”

Yun Shou accepted the task with a bitter expression. A dignified Minister of War being rapped on the head repeatedly with a fan by his father—it really was too much.

This time, Yun Ye had gone out alone for a full two months, leisurely traveling throughout Heluo, Shaolin Temple, Funiu Mountain, Mang Mountain, and Xizi’s palace—he visited them all. It could be said he enjoyed himself immensely.

If he hadn’t learned that Xinyue was ill, he wouldn’t have planned to return yet, intending instead to visit Mount Wangwu and Taihang. The household staff dared not disturb Yun Ye’s itinerary or ask questions. Since he said he was touring mountains and enjoying scenery, then he was touring mountains and enjoying scenery—not searching for some immortal sanctuary.

The gray-bearded Liu Jinbao knew the master was simply playing—bathing in ponds, sleeping in flower groves, conversing with old monks, catching rabbits in the mountains with Xizi. In short, he enjoyed himself the entire journey and absolutely did not search for any so-called immortals. However, in Liu Jinbao’s view, the master had no need to seek immortals—because he himself was an immortal.

Returning home, he found many people seated in the reception hall. Cheng Yaojin, Li Tai, and Hypatia were all present. Upon entering, Cheng Yaojin immediately asked with a chuckle how the search for dragon veins had gone, and whether he could have one so that when he died, he could be buried there.

Such words could only be spoken in Li Tai’s presence—with anyone else, it would absolutely be a heinous crime.

“Uncle Cheng, this junior simply went to play, nothing else. Feeling stifled at home, walking through mountain forests and viewing scenery felt comfortable. Next time let’s go together.”

As soon as Yun Ye finished speaking, Xinyue began sobbing. Yun Ye smacked his lips and said, “Enough, next time I go out I’ll take you along. When I left, I invited you to come, but you refused. Why are you crying now?”

Xinyue covered her face bashfully and retreated to the inner quarters. The mountain of flesh that was Li Tai said sullenly, “I’m just too fat, otherwise I’d definitely go out and play with you. Spending a lifetime cooped up in a laboratory is tedious. The more one dislikes people, the more one desires the intimacy of mountains and waters. I understand your thoughts—they’re the same as mine. Now I find everyone annoying.”

Hypatia snorted coldly. “We’ve simply grown old and lost our looks.”

Li Tai retorted defiantly, “I even find myself disgusting!”

Cheng Yaojin had no plans to return home tonight. He stood up to find Wu She, having heard that Wu She now lived in unbearable suffering—truly unable to live yet unable to die. Though he had long wished for death, every morning he opened his eyes to find himself still alive and would fly into random rages.

Seeing Cheng Yaojin leave, Li Tai chuckled and said, “You go comfort your wife—a brief separation is like a new marriage, after all. I’ll stay in my courtyard.” Hearing his vulgar talk, Hypatia spat in disgust, then helped Li Tai up and departed.

Yun Ye smiled without speaking and sat alone in the reception hall, silently watching the flickering candlelight. Living long enough, one recalls past events. Those dusty old matters surge like tides before sleep. Even in dreams, he clearly dreamed of another world. This trip out was really seeking peace of mind.

Knowing he had left home, everyone felt uneasy—from the Emperor to his ministers, all speculated about what he was truly doing.

Now nearly all military commanders graduated from Yushan. Although Emperor Li Chengqian personally conferred honors and certificates on each graduating class, not one person overlooked this man who had nearly vanished from Great Tang’s political stage.

Yongzhou in Lingnan was now practically a state within a state. Li Rong had successfully isolated this city from the nation. It was his private fief, granted by Emperor Taizong.

Hidden forces are what make people fearful. If Yun Ye had honestly remained at Yushan in retirement, Li Chengqian wouldn’t have worried so much. Despite harboring a last sliver of hope that Yun Ye wouldn’t commit any treasonous acts, deploying the best agents to track him remained a necessary measure.

Touring Heluo accompanied by agents from the Emperor, the Zhangsun family, the Dugu family, and countless others of unclear origin—Yun Ye found it highly amusing.

When visiting Dan Ying to see Daya, those agents angered Dan Ying, who personally captured seven or eight of them and hung them on Luoyang’s city walls for public display. But the deterrent proved ineffective—even more people tracked Yun Ye.

Xiao Miao brought a basin of water, removed her husband’s shoes and socks, and washed his feet. Xinyue complained from the side, “At your advanced age, why still make such a fuss? Stay home properly and let me attend to you comfortably. Why endure wind and sleep rough—for what purpose?”

Yun Ye rested his head in Xinyue’s arms and said slowly, “Someone once told me ‘where my heart finds peace is home.’ Now my heart is unsettled, my spirit unfixed. Finding myself again is too difficult!”

Li Chengqian’s coughing echoed enormously through Wanmin Palace. His work of reclaiming power was nearly complete. He wiped his crimson face with a towel soaked in ice water, then opened another memorial and studied it carefully.

Li Chengqian’s review of memorials at this moment could be called tragic. Though wanting to calm down, his bellows-like chest prevented him from catching his breath. His breathing became rapid, veins bulged on his forehead. He felt like an old ox plowing mountain ridges. His bespectacled eyes saw everything blurred.

Li Chengqian deeply detested this feeling. Heaven had given him too little time. In the ten years since ascending the throne, Great Tang had grown prosperous and powerful, but he himself had grown increasingly weak. He felt this nation was extracting his vital essence and spirit. He was like a rotting corpse continuously nourishing Great Tang, this brilliant flower.

Li family members couldn’t escape the torment of breathing ailments. Grandfather, father, plus mother—not one escaped. Atai now also required oxygen to relieve his dizzy spells.

The characters on the memorial blurred again. Li Chengqian removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and stared listlessly at the “Complete Imperial Survey Map” on the opposite wall.

Nearly all the colors were yellow. Only a few small areas displayed an unhealthy gray. If Yun Ye were here, he would certainly recognize those few regions—Zhaozhou, Hengzhou, Liaodong, as well as Yuezhou, Yongzhou, and Guangzhou. Looking farther still, one would discover a blood-red patch on the vast ocean—that place was Far Island.

A child wearing a golden crown ran into this hidden side hall. Only two people in the world could freely enter this room—one was Li Chengqian, the other was the just-eight-years-old Li Jue.

Li Chengqian held his son before the map, smiling as he pointed at each prefecture, hoping Li Jue would completely memorize them. This was land their ancestors had exchanged for with their blood—descendants must not forget.

Hearing Li Jue repeatedly recite in his childish voice the places he pointed to, Li Chengqian’s heart filled with pride.

“Father Emperor, these few places look truly ugly in color!” Li Jue pointed at those grayed areas and questioned his father.

“Indeed very ugly, extremely ugly. But Father now lacks the ability to turn those places into beautiful yellow. Jue’er, these places need you to change their color. Father Emperor can only accomplish this much. If I do more, the realm will fall into chaos.”