Regarding the matter of Wei Qishan and his deceased wife, having been in the northern border for so long, Xiao Li more or less knew the general outline.

Now hearing him mention his deceased wife again, what he subconsciously thought of was Wen Yu’s countless times leaving him behind.

After the restoration of Jin became hopeless, Wei Qishan’s deceased wife had chosen resolute death.

Wen Yu, for the sake of revenge, when her alliance marriage with the Prince of Chen failed to achieve its purpose, had also been willing to bear children with Jiang Yu to obtain power.

From a certain perspective, they were somewhat alike.

But back then, Wei Qishan had been constrained by the barbarians and concerned for the common people of the northern border, not daring to do battle with Great Liang’s Emperor Wen Shian. Ultimately, he hadn’t been strong enough.

He would not follow in those footsteps.

Xiao Li’s jaw tightened slightly as he raised his eyelids, “So the Marquis is ‘begging’ Xiao to become a minister of Jin?”

Wei Qishan gazed at him for a long time, his eyes full of the desolation and helplessness of one defeated by the years.

Though unwilling to admit it, in the past when he had employed Xiao Li heavily while also trying to place iron shackles around his neck to tighten them, what he had feared was precisely this young man before him—as untamable as a wild wolf on the wilderness—becoming too powerful, until one day he would threaten his own position in the northern border and replace him.

Now, he had to beg the other party to take over everything he had painstakingly built.

Wei Qishan suppressed that trace of bitterness in his heart and said slowly, “North Wei previously claimed externally to be restoring Jin. After you take over, if you change the banner overnight, it will be disadvantageous both for external reputation and for internal reorganization of troops. If you want to establish your own banner, you can wait until the timing is more mature.”

He was giving Xiao Li in advance what he would be able to obtain before long anyway, using time and a righteous reason to contend for that highest position in exchange for Xiao Li taking over the northern border in a more moderate manner, to preserve this final dignity for himself and the Wei camp.

Henceforth, North Wei would no longer be his Wei clan’s North Wei.

After another three to five years, perhaps even the name North Wei would no longer exist.

But this was already enough.

He hadn’t let the common people of the northern border suffer warfare again under his rule, hadn’t let his subordinate generals follow him down that dead-end road to die in vain, and had found a thread of survival for the Wei clan members.

Going to the Yellow Springs now, he could walk with greater peace of mind.

Too many unspoken words—Wei Qishan hid them all in that melancholy gaze.

Xiao Li let him gaze, saying, “I understand.”

His voice was deep and hard, “If the Young Lord of the Wei residence is sufficiently well-behaved, what the Marquis said before, Xiao can permit. If he causes trouble…”

He didn’t finish the latter words. Wei Qishan took up the conversation, “I will teach him properly.”

He paused, then finally said another phrase, “Many thanks…”

Thanks that he was still willing to preserve this dignity for him.

Xiao Li only answered “Living beings suffering devastation is not my wish either—it’s merely each taking what they need,” then was about to walk outside when Wei Qishan called out to him, “There’s one more matter.”

Xiao Li stopped.

Wei Qishan said, “Princess Hanyang wishes to see you.”

–

The snow near year’s end always fell endlessly from morning to night.

Wen Yu sat in the lakeside pavilion hung with windbreak reed curtains, propping her cheek as she gazed at the snow scenery of water and sky merging into one color outside the pavilion.

The reed curtain at the pavilion entrance was lifted. The harsh cold wind dispersed some of the warmth created by the charcoal fire in the pavilion.

Wen Yu turned her head and saw Tong Que holding up the curtain while Zhao Bai stood on the other side outside the pavilion holding his sword. Xiao Li’s tall form bent slightly, lowering his head a bit to avoid the reed curtain as he stepped into the pavilion.

Snow flakes clung to his collar, and his body was also soaked with the cold air of the wind and snow outside. Because he was even thinner than before, his brow and eyes appeared even sharper.

After their parting at the mountain hermitage, the two met again after more than a month apart. After sitting down, neither had anything to say.

The water in the teapot on the red clay stove boiled. Wen Yu picked it up to brew tea for him, only then saying, “The snow outside must be heavy. Have a bowl of hot tea.”

The person sitting opposite said, “I came to receive General Yuan.”

Wen Yu’s hand pouring the teapot paused slightly. The tea in the cup filled and overflowed a bit.

No emotion could be seen on her face. Only after setting down the teapot did she raise her eyes to look at the person opposite, “So you’ve made your choice?”

Xiao Li met her gaze calmly. The fierceness and pressing aggression that used to be in his eyes had all been restrained within something more composed and substantial, “Mm.”

Wen Yu was silent for a moment. The corners of her mouth slowly curved up as she asked, “Why?”

Xiao Li asked in return, “Would Your Highness be willing to divorce the Prince of Chen and choose me?”

Without waiting for Wen Yu to answer, he stated coldly, harshly, and with extreme ruthlessness, “If Your Highness is willing, Xiao Li can also break faith and abandon righteousness.”

His violent aura and sharp edge finally seeped out somewhat from that composure.

After the two battles at Mount Yanle and Luodu, Liao Jiang had died, Wei Qishan was ill, North Wei had no successor, and decline was already apparent.

Not adding insult to injury—he considered this already the greatest benevolence and righteousness toward North Wei.

Wei Qishan had foreseen that outcome in the near future and, at the end of his life, entrusted the entire North Wei to him.

But with just one word from Wen Yu, he could also discard that bullshit faith and righteousness and forcibly seize everything that should be seized.

But after Wen Yu lowered her eyes and gazed at the steaming hot tea cup before her for a long time, she only answered, “I understand.”

Her expression was so bland that one couldn’t make out the melancholy and sadness in her eyes as she said, “General Yuan is staying in Minister Li and the others’ courtyard. I’ll have someone summon him immediately.”

Outside, after Tong Que received the instruction, she quickly had a Qingyun Guard go to the guest courtyard to deliver the message.

She looked toward the pavilion interior with some worry.

But separated by a layer of reed curtain, she could only see two blurry shadows sitting across a low table from each other inside.

Neither moved, nor spoke again.

Inside and outside the lakeside pavilion, for a time only the sound of heaven and earth’s raging wind and brutal snow remained.

Before long, a Qingyun Guard came to report that Yuan Fang had been brought over.

Xiao Li’s cold, deep eyes seemed to forcibly suppress some emotion as he finally asked, “Even now, what Your Highness chooses is still his South Chen?”

Wen Yu didn’t look at him. She picked up the tea cup on the table that had been poured too full earlier and took a sip, her long lashes slightly lowered, saying, “Provincial Governor Xiao now also commands troops and should know that some decisions ultimately cannot be made only for oneself.”

The Liang and Chen kingdoms had been allied for a long time, their mutual interests tangled and intertwined like roots, long inseparable.

One rash decision from her—who knew what kind of rivers of blood it would result in below.

People of the past often sighed over fate and destiny. Today, she too had come to know the weight of these two words.

Xiao Li’s eyes were icy cold. He pulled the corners of his lips in a slightly mocking manner, only saying, “Your Highness should remember today’s choice. Farewell.”

He rose and lifted the curtain, striding out in large steps. Outside the pavilion, Zhao Bai’s face was frosty as he pushed his long sword out an inch with his thumb, seeming to want to block him, but was pulled back in time by Tong Que.

From the lakeside pavilion to the shore was a long path, bordered by water on three sides and wind on all four. Xiao Li’s cloak was again covered with snow flakes. His lips were pressed into almost a straight line. He didn’t look back.

Inside the pavilion, Wen Yu gazed at the snowy lake scenery outside the half-rolled reed curtain, picked up the tea cup before her and took another sip, also not turning her brow or eyes even slightly.

The tea had gone completely cold, leaving only a bitter astringent taste between her teeth.

The heavy snow continued falling in flurries. Tong Que carefully lifted the reed curtain, hesitantly calling, “Your Highness?”

Wen Yu said, “Let’s return to South Chen. Recently the Grand Tutor’s letters have been quite urgent. I fear they can no longer hold back Empress Dowager Jiang and the others. Attacking Luodu to rescue sister-in-law and A Yin can be left to General Fan.”

–

The day Wen Yu’s carriage and horses left Fengyang, the Liang-Wei allied forces attacked Luodu together as previously agreed.

On the official road covered with white snow, the dark wheel rut marks were covered and pressed by the footprints of the troops behind, extending into the distance.

Inside Fengyang city, the former residence of Prince Changlin had been requisitioned by Pei Song as living quarters after the rebel army entered the city, but it hadn’t been severely damaged.

However, when the rebel army withdrew, they had generally still looted the residence thoroughly. Many giant vases and vessels that couldn’t be taken away had all been smashed to pieces.

That “Ode to the Goddess” white jade screen that the common people still talked about with great interest had also been shattered in the treasury beyond reassembly.

When Zhang Huai came looking for Xiao Li with an urgent report from the northern border, he found him in the prince’s residence treasury covered in dust and grime, piecing together bit by bit that white jade screen that had been shattered long ago and had been stepped on with much mud by the Pei soldiers who had come and gone emptying the treasury, roughly recreating its former appearance.

Zhang Huai inexplicably felt a bit alarmed.

He stood outside the door and steadied himself for a few breaths before speaking, “Provincial Governor, a letter came from Dingzhou. The Marquis of Shuobian probably won’t make it.”

Xiao Li placed the last piece of broken jade in his hand back into the “Ode to the Goddess” and gave a light “Mm.”

–

Wind and snow extended endlessly. It was already near dusk, the sky color increasingly gray and overcast.

Wei Ang spurred his horse to the carriage window and said, “My lord, this subordinate just led men to check. The Beimo River has frozen over—boats cannot pass, but for carriages and horses to cross, it needs to freeze for one more night.”

The iron-plated carriage window was pushed open. Wei Qishan, wrapped in a cloak and supported in sitting position inside the carriage by Wei Pingzin, already had a full head of gray-white hair like a seventy-year-old man.

He looked with vacant eyes at the opposite riverbank shrouded in wind, snow and cold mist, saying with difficulty, “After crossing the Beimo River… it will be Youzhou…”

Wei Ang knew he urgently wanted to go see Youzhou again. As he lowered his head and clasped his fists, his eyes reddened, but his voice dared not let Wei Qishan detect the slightest abnormality. He guaranteed, “Before noon tomorrow, the army will definitely reach Youzhou.”

After Wei Qishan’s devastating defeat at Luodu and upon hearing of Liao Jiang’s death, on his way back to the northern border, due to serious illness he had stopped for several days in Dingzhou.

He seemed to know his days were numbered and insisted on continuing north to take another look at Youzhou, which he had guarded for most of his life.

Those below could all see something was wrong and naturally dared not disobey him.

Wei Pingzin had already sent someone to Zhuojun to fetch Lady Wei and her daughter. After Wei Ang received the news, he handled the Mount Yanle affairs, then immediately led troops through the night to rush over.

Wei Qishan only stared fixedly at the Beimo River between heaven and earth, frozen solid like a silver ribbon, murmuring, “Still need to wait until tomorrow…”

Now even coughing had become especially laborious for him. After weakly coughing lightly twice, he said with slight gasps, “Then let’s make camp by this Beimo River.”

After Wei Ang went down to direct the soldiers to make camp on the spot, Wei Xian brought over newly brewed medicine and handed it to Wei Pingzin to have him attend to Wei Qishan taking his medicine.

Wei Pingzin scooped up medicinal liquid and brought it to Wei Qishan’s pale gray lips, holding back tears as he said, “Father, time for medicine.”

Wei Qishan didn’t open his mouth. He seemed trapped in some memory, his lips only slightly moving as he murmured, “After spring begins… shepherd’s purse growing in the wild fields is most delicious… mixed with coarse flour to make flatbread, or cooked in dumpling soup… all taste good…”

“One year… your Uncle Liao and I guarded Youzhou. Heavy rain caused a landslide that blocked the road. Provisions couldn’t be delivered for several more days. Your Uncle Liao and I led the soldiers to dig shepherd’s purse from the wild fields to cook with kaolin clay to stave off hunger. We stubbornly held out against the barbarians’ fierce attacks until reinforcements arrived…”

His speech carried breathiness, “I… I fear I cannot wait to go to Youzhou, nor wait until spring to drink another bowl of shepherd’s purse soup…”

Wei Pingzin held the medicine bowl, tears streaming down his face. Suddenly he shouted like a madman, “Pass my order—break the ice on the river, launch boats! Also shovel the snow and search to see if any shepherd’s purse has grown!”

No one below moved. Wei Pingzin grabbed everything at hand that could be thrown and hurled it at them, roaring hysterically, “Go!”

Whether carving out a path through the ice river for boats to pass, or finding wild vegetables in this severe winter that would only grow after spring began—both were impossible tasks.

After Wei Pingzin threw this fit, the generals below still assigned men and horses. Those who would chisel ice on the river surface went to chisel ice, those who would shovel snow to find wild vegetables went to find wild vegetables.

Wei Pingzin knelt in pain before the carriage seat, using his sleeve to hastily wipe his eyes, saying to Wei Qishan who was as withered as dead wood, “Father, we can go to Youzhou tonight and also eat shepherd’s purse!”

The soldiers chiseling ice by the river sharpened pointed wood and swung hammers downward, quickly smashing out a hole. They also chopped down thick horizontal logs, tied ropes to both ends, threw them into the smashed ice hole, and had men pull them to pound the opening in the river surface ice even larger.

Broken ice rustled and fell into the congealed water below with a “splashing” sound, as if the river water was flowing rapidly again.

Wei Qishan’s head rested against the carriage wall. Powerless, he half-closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of wind and snow outside and the splashing sound like rushing river water, murmuring in a low voice, “The great river surges… flowing eastward, we of this generation… mere weeds… ill-fated people…”

Inside the carriage, Wei Pingzin suddenly let out a mournful crying sound, “Father—”

Outside the carriage, the soldiers were first bewildered, then whether they were breaking ice on the river, shoveling snow to find shepherd’s purse, or setting up camp and tents, all stopped their work and knelt down one after another toward the carriage.

Wei Ang hurried back from the half-erected camp tents and knelt before the carriage together with the other Wei generals, shouting in extreme grief, “My lord—”