The last remnant of winter’s cold wind swept over the towering city walls. The accumulated snow between the field ridges had completely melted. Farmers bent down and grasped a handful of rich, lustrous brown earth in their hands to look at, imagining healthy, plump seeds taking root and sprouting in such moist soil, heralding a harvest season full of abundant fruit. All couldn’t help beaming with joy.

A procession of carriages, orderly as a military march, slowly approached the western gate of the capital. Riding at the very front of the formation was a handsome young man with light brown skin. His expression was relaxed as he took a deep breath—this was Liangqiu Fei’s favorite season, neither requiring the inconvenient heavy furs wrapped around oneself as in the depths of winter, nor warm enough like late spring to make one’s bones lazy.

Reining in his horse at the familiar city gate, Liangqiu Fei couldn’t help recalling the perpetually ice-shard-encrusted rough walls of the northwest frontier, the beyond-the-border heavy snow that could bury people and livestock overnight, the surging ice wind that the instant it rushed into mouth and nostrils could carry away all warmth from one’s chest cavity, the stone fortresses piled from enormous rocks where no matter how large a fire stove was built, chill would inevitably drill in through the cracks—the great aristocratic clans of the northwest did have comfortable and warm mansions, but the Young Master refused to live in those and also refused to build his own house, only dwelling together with the soldiers. Yet the soldiers could rotate out every three years, while the Young Master had tormented himself in that icy hell for five years.

Now, they had finally returned.

Liangqiu Fei was secretly feeling emotional when a female martial attendant rode over on horseback, her face wreathed in smiles: “Brother Afei, our young lady requests you go over for a moment.”

“Alright… I’ll come right now.” Liangqiu Fei glanced at his elder brother Liangqiu Qi ahead, then spurred his horse toward the front section of the carriage train, stopping with that martial attendant before an elegant and refined covered carriage.

The carriage window slowly lifted, revealing the dignified and beautiful face of a young married woman. Liangqiu Fei smiled and cupped his hands: “What instructions does Lady Luo have?”

Luo Jitong gave a playful glare and smiled: “What instructions? I treat you as a younger brother from my own family, yet you’re being so formal with me! Could it be that seeing the capital has arrived, you want to become distant from me!”

Liangqiu Fei hastily cried injustice: “How could that be! These years thanks to Lady Luo caring for us brothers, Afei is grateful in heart and will never forget!”

Luo Jitong’s expression dimmed: “Unfortunately, your elder brother doesn’t think this way.”

“Lady Luo, don’t mind my brother. He’s always had that disagreeable face, the same toward everyone.” Liangqiu Fei’s eyes rolled as he laughed heartily. “However, speaking of which, if my brother weren’t cold-faced and heartless, since the Young Master established his residence at age fourteen, the young ladies who came knocking would have broken down the gate long ago!”

He originally said this to comfort Luo Jitong, but the speaker was unintentional while the listener took it to heart. Luo Jitong’s smile stiffened. She sighed softly: “Needless to say, in your brother’s eyes, I’m probably no different from those young ladies.”

Liangqiu Fei choked, saying awkwardly: “How could that be! Lady Luo is overthinking… overthinking…” He didn’t dare touch Luo Jitong’s gaze because he thought of another woman.

In Liangqiu Fei’s view, this Lady Luo from an aristocratic family not only inquired warmly after their Young Master and them retainers, attentive and considerate, but also was deeply righteous, kind and approachable—much better than ‘that woman.’ Unfortunately, the treatment of the two women differed greatly.

Three years ago, when the Young Master fell ill with high fever, Luo Jitong cared for him day and night without removing her clothes. When the Young Master recovered, Liangqiu Fei excitedly called out ‘future lady.’ The Young Master said nothing in person but immediately demoted him to tend horses—a full three months before he could return. Initially he was confused. After his own elder brother pointed it out, Liangqiu Fei never again dared to presumptuously stir up trouble.

But back then, his brother Liangqiu Qi had also presumptuously called ‘that woman’ young mistress, and the Young Master’s face had been equally stern and proper, yet afterward he rewarded brother with two Ferghana hybrid thoroughbreds worth a thousand gold—brothers from the same father and mother, how could the difference be so great? Liangqiu Fei couldn’t help falling into contemplation.

Seeing Luo Jitong’s dejected expression, Liangqiu Fei changed the subject: “I don’t know what’s wrong, but the closer we get to the capital, the more gloomy and unhappy the Young Master becomes. A few days ago he’d still chat with Marquis Cui, but now he barely speaks even with Marquis Cui.”

Luo Jitong sighed: “The General is timid upon nearing home. Initially, driven by passionate indignation, he committed a tremendous error without regard for anything. Now having to face old acquaintances again, naturally he feels grieved and timid.”

Liangqiu Fei was quite impressed: “Lady Luo speaks well. This humble one also guessed this was the reason.”

As they were speaking, a guard hastily rode over on horseback and whispered a few words by Liangqiu Fei’s ear. Liangqiu Fei’s eyes lit up. While waving away that guard, he said toward the carriage: “Lady Luo, although we arrived two days early, the Crown Prince still rushed to greet our Young Master and has now arrived.”

Luo Jitong trembled, her face full of gratitude: “In early years our Luo family relied on the Xuan and Wang families. Now Wang Chun has been demoted, Lady Xuan and the former Crown Prince have been deposed. My family has never had dealings with Empress Yue or the Third Prince, so father and brothers have been quite alarmed. Fortunately you were willing to tip me off, allowing me to use General Huo’s reputation to pay respects to the Crown Prince… Such a kindness, I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Liangqiu Fei was flattered: “The Crown Prince’s arrival—so many people saw it. I merely informed you one step earlier. How can that be called a kindness? Lady, please go quickly. This humble one will go ahead first!” Fearing Luo Jitong would continue thanking him, he immediately spurred his horse and slipped away.

In less than a moment, Liangqiu Fei rode to the front of the carriage train. He saw the city gate wide open, the former Third Prince now Crown Prince standing not far away with light escort and simple retinue, tearfully embracing his Young Master’s arms. Marquis Cui laughed heartily at the side.

Liangqiu Fei hastily dismounted and stood beside his own elder brother. Liangqiu Qi glanced at his younger brother but said nothing.

Old friends reuniting, the Crown Prince looked Huo Buyi up and down, his heart full of mixed feelings, not knowing where to begin.

Huo Buyi’s smile was still as handsome and moving, his figure still tall and slender. Yet the Crown Prince recalled how Father Emperor used to complain that his adopted son lacked human warmth, indifferent as if a wandering ghost. Now Huo Buyi finally had human warmth, but it was fallen leaves swept up by late autumn cold wind, desolate cold rain beating against faded window screens, the hoarse sound from a broken, out-of-tune clay flute.

This kind of human warmth, the Crown Prince felt would be better not to have. “You… have these years treated you well…” His heart ached beyond words.

Huo Buyi smiled slightly: “Your Highness sends letters every two or three months asking this and that. This subject has scraped his brains dry—daily food, drink, and living arrangements, I’ve told you everything. What else doesn’t Your Highness know?”

The Crown Prince glared at him: “I’ll settle accounts with you later!” Then turning to Marquis Cui: “Marquis Cui, how have you been? Still heroic as ever. Eh, where are the two young masters?”

Marquis Cui smiled: “How does Your Highness think we could arrive two days early? It’s because we left all the baggage behind! My sons are escorting it slowly—they’ll arrive in two or three days.”

The Crown Prince said: “That makes sense. Zicheng returning ahead of schedule—it wouldn’t be good to enter the city with mountains of goods.”

Marquis Cui cried out in suffering: “Oh Your Highness, do you think we went to dig for gold mountains? Where would the northwest border stations get mountains of goods? Mostly just wild animal furs and such bulky items.”

Huo Buyi laughed lightly and glanced at Marquis Cui.

Marquis Cui said helplessly: “Uh, alright then. This subject comes from merchant origins as Your Highness knows. Those wild animal furs, in this subject’s hands, will probably quickly become mountains of goods—Zicheng, why are you rushing to expose me? Half of it is yours!”

The Crown Prince swept away days of gloom, laughing heartily for the first time in ages.

Just as they were joking, Luo Jitong had already changed into an elegant curved-hem robe and came forward gracefully with several martial attendants, prostrating herself: “This concubine Luo pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince. After many years’ separation, I pray His Majesty and Her Majesty are well and enjoy endless longevity.”

The Crown Prince had seen Luo Jitong at Changqiu Palace several years ago and often heard she was dignified, courteous, gentle, and considerate. Seeing her now in Huo Buyi’s carriage train, he couldn’t help feeling both surprised and delighted. While watching Huo Buyi’s expression, he spoke with rare geniality: “Lady Luo, you’re here too. Quickly rise. This prince didn’t expect you to be traveling together with Zicheng.”

Luo Jitong stood gracefully upright and frankly confessed: “My mother’s health is ailing. Father and brothers summoned me back to fulfill my filial duties. As it happened General Huo was also returning to the capital, so I shamelessly sought shelter under the General’s banner.”

“How can this be called shameless?” The Crown Prince felt things were getting closer and closer to his expectations and smiled: “You were selected in childhood to be Fifth Sister’s study companion. You and Zicheng have known each other over ten years. Traveling together and caring for each other is merely a small convenience. Zicheng naturally wouldn’t refuse… Uh, right, today Father Emperor is holding a banquet in Xuande Hall to welcome Zicheng and Marquis Cui. Lady Luo, you should come along too.”

Luo Jitong said joyfully: “This is a tremendous kindness for this concubine, but how dare I intrude?”

“It’s not an intrusion. In the future perhaps…” The Crown Prince looked at the silent Huo Buyi beside him and coughed lightly. “I hear these past years you’ve cared for Zicheng considerably. Perhaps Father Emperor has questions to ask you.”

“Respectful compliance is better than polite refusal.” Luo Jitong bowed gracefully and generously.

The Crown Prince expressed satisfaction, secretly feeling such a dignified and proper woman was right.

He recalled four years ago at an imperial family banquet, when he was about to go to Yong’an Palace to pay respects to the Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Yue had him casually invite Cheng Shaoshang to come along. Who knew that disrespectful little girl would immediately retort: ‘This subject no longer has a marriage contract with Lord Huo. In what capacity should I attend an imperial family banquet—to be selected as a minor wife for which prince?’—it nearly made him lose his temper on the spot!

Look at Lady Luo—how gentle and obedient. Even though her relationship with Huo Buyi wasn’t yet clear, when called, she agreed immediately. Women should have a woman’s manner.

Watching everyone before him board carriages and mount horses, Liangqiu Fei was about to follow when his own elder brother grabbed him.

Liangqiu Qi lowered his voice: “You called Lady Luo over, didn’t you? Looks like you want to tend horses again!”

“Not true!” Liangqiu Fei denied first, then said: “Besides, even if I did, so what? We’ve followed the Young Master for so many years. Women who wanted to get close number at least ten or eight. If the Young Master really didn’t want them, he’d have found ways to drive them away long ago. But these past years Lady Luo has come and gone from our residence, and the Young Master hasn’t said anything.”

Liangqiu Qi said in a heavy voice: “But Marquis Cui and the Governor have hinted so many times, yet the Young Master hasn’t nodded.”

“This shows the Young Master is currently in between! Just one more push, and perhaps the Young Master’s marriage will succeed!” Liangqiu Fei restrained his excitement. “The Young Master is already twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He should marry and have children!”

“Li Si also said this—told us to beat the drums from the side, not just stand and watch.” Liangqiu Qi said.

“Exactly!”

“But old Zhang told us not to meddle.” Liangqiu Qi added. “He feels it’s not right.”

“What’s not right? The Zhang family originally made pottery. That fellow Zhang Shan, no matter what difficulty he encounters, only knows how to say over and over ‘mm, the firing isn’t sufficient’!”

“He said this time it’s not that the firing is insufficient, but that we’re firing in the wrong kiln entirely.”

“Ah?!”

“Zhang Shan said we should wait until we see the other kiln before making plans.” Liangqiu Qi said word by word.

Liangqiu Fei’s mind turned several circles before he understood, stammering: “But, but… that kiln has already gone cold… Several years ago the Young Master said he hoped ‘she’ would find another good match and live without worry or sorrow. Last month when we heard ‘she’ had become engaged to that Yuan fellow, didn’t the Young Master have people prepare congratulatory gifts?!”

“The words aren’t wrong, but elder brother thinks we should still listen to what that fellow Zhang Shan says.”

“Why?”

“Because Li Si is still a bachelor, but Zhang Shan has one wife and five concubines. His household is peaceful, and outside he has countless lovers, yet it’s all equally calm and smooth.”

Liangqiu Fei: …

In the North Palace, Xuande Hall, the Emperor stretched his neck waiting for a long while. Empress Yue at his side coolly remarked, ‘Your Majesty, if you stretch your neck any further, your body will hatch from its shell.’ Fortunately, the Emperor’s longing for his son was acute, so he had no time to banter with her.

Sitting in the upper seat on the right, the Second Prince smiled: “Father Emperor, please sit first. Zicheng has been clear in his actions since childhood. If he said he could arrive at the second quarter of midday, he definitely won’t be late.”

Sitting in the upper seat on the left, the Eldest Princess was rather sour: “Today this daughter originally planned to go soak in the hot springs at Mount Tugao. Who knew an hour ago Father Emperor urgently summoned us all here—turns out it’s to welcome Zicheng. In Father Emperor’s heart, we blood-born children probably don’t compare to Zicheng.”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed. The Grand Prince Consort saw the opportunity quickly and hastily smoothed things over: “Your Majesty, look—the Eldest Princess has children and is already a mother, yet she’s still acting spoiled with you. Seeing you dote on Zicheng a bit more, she wants to throw a tantrum.”

These words were beautifully spoken. The Emperor indeed relaxed his brow and smiled while mildly scolding his eldest daughter: “You—if you had half of Zixun’s sense, it would be good! Zicheng suffered so many years in the northwest. What’s wrong with me feeling more heartache for him? You go garrison the northwest frontier for five years for me, and I’ll dote on you the same way!”

The Grand Prince Consort cooperatively supplemented: “Women don’t understand court politics. Zicheng’s achievements these past years truly aren’t small. Not to mention alternately attacking and courting the northern tribes, settling them appropriately—just speaking of last year’s Shu campaign, Father Emperor originally wanted to dispatch another army to circle from Long region into Shu as strategic support. Who knew Zicheng could actually train a tiger-wolf army in that bitter cold place in the northwest and go directly through Longxi into Shu—with this one stroke, not only did Father Emperor save mobilizing so many soldiers, but also needn’t laboriously move armies…”

“Alright, alright.” The Eldest Princess pretended to be annoyed. “Father Emperor and Zixun, you father-in-law and son-in-law, are of one mind. Only I’m the one who doesn’t understand!”

The Emperor couldn’t help laughing: “Good that you know! When Zicheng arrives, you mustn’t talk nonsense!”

The Eldest Princess responded in a delicate voice.

Having reprimanded his eldest daughter, the Emperor turned to look at his second son in the upper right seat: “Then… the Prince of Donghai really won’t come?”

The Second Prince immediately replied: “Father Emperor, elder brother doesn’t still resent Zicheng. You know him—elder brother just doesn’t want to see many people. In a few days when Yong’an Palace holds a banquet, with fewer people and more quiet, he’ll speak properly with Zicheng.”

The Emperor nodded: “I know Zikun’s temperament. This is also good.” The eldest son’s disposition wasn’t resilient enough. Since the heir change, he had never again attended family banquets. For matters at Yong’an Palace, the Second Prince always relayed messages.

As they spoke, Cen Anzhi quick-stepped into the hall, reporting that the Crown Prince’s party had arrived. Everyone looked together toward the hall entrance.

Floating light, reverse shadows—several figures appeared at the hall entrance. The Emperor gazed at the tall, slender figure behind the Crown Prince, momentarily dazed. The originally casual Empress Yue also slowly sat upright—the two seemed to see the peerless military general from over twenty years ago, that eternally steady and faithful foremost among ministers, slowly walking toward them.

The Emperor’s hand supporting the table trembled slightly. Empress Yue saw moisture appearing in his eyes and sighed inwardly.

The Emperor slowly descended from his seat, bent down and pressed on the kneeling adopted son’s solid shoulders and back. A tear dropped with a splat. For a moment, the hall was silent—he had thought that within this lifetime, he would never again see his sworn elder brother’s appearance.