Hua Zhi thought very well of Wu Yong’s feelings — after all, he had never seen Shao Yao with her face substantially healed. He had spoken those words on the basis of seeing the ruined face that Shao Yao had carried at the time. A man who could set aside appearances entirely and grow fond of a person in this way — that fondness was a great deal more genuine than the ordinary kind.

Though Gu Yanxi was deeply reluctant to see Shao Yao married far away, he had to acknowledge that it was unlikely anyone else would hold Shao Yao in higher regard than Wu Yong. He accordingly expressed no opinion whatsoever, only saying, “Don’t worry about any outside considerations — you only need to manage what you yourself are willing to do.”

Shao Yao leaned against Hua Zhi without speaking.

Wu Yong had only a limited time to remain in the capital. After several days passed with no word, he grew rather anxious. Not wanting to go to the Hua Family again, he went instead to what had once been the Shizi’s residence and was now the Regent’s residence, intending to intercept Gu Yanxi — after all, they did have some dealings between them, did they not? Surely entrusting the matter to him would be more reassuring?

But Gu Yanxi simply would not see him. A person he did not wish to receive could not possibly be intercepted by him. With his departure from the capital drawing near, Wu Yong was so anxious he could not even sleep. He wandered about the courtyard in the dead of night, thinking that if all else failed he would go before the Emperor the next day. There were not likely to be any major battles hereafter — he could spend half the year in the capital and half at Yinshan Pass, which would let Shao Yao spend half the year at her home. Surely that could move her? This was the last card he had left to play…

“Who’s there!” Wu Yong tensed and looked toward the courtyard wall. Someone had appeared on top of it without his noticing — from the silhouette…

Wu Yong’s pulse quickened. He immediately stepped forward and looked carefully — and was disappointed to find it was not who he had thought. Shao Yao was not this fine-looking.

“Has the young lady come to the wrong place?”

Shao Yao — who had been mistaken for someone else — leaped down from the wall and said nothing, just walked slow circles around Wu Yong.

Wu Yong’s brow furrowed and he made to go back inside, when a thought suddenly struck him. Could it be… a honeytrap from the Regent? Was someone sent to test him?

The more he considered it, the more he felt he must be right. Wu Yong’s resolve firmed and he walked away all the faster, stepped inside, and shut the door firmly behind him with a thud.

“Young lady, please be on your way. Half past midnight is no time to give anyone something to talk about.”

Shao Yao: “…”

She was not in any hurry. She sat herself down comfortably in the courtyard and let her mind wander.

She had in truth already made her decision — it was not that she needed Wu Yong to make some grand gesture or expression of devotion before she would give her answer. There was just a certain reluctance in her heart that would not quite settle, and even a note of unreasonable grievance. If Wu Yong had never come to propose, she could have gone on clinging to Hua Zhi’s side, could have gone on pretending that marriage had nothing to do with her.

Yinshan Pass — even at a hard gallop, it took ten days to get there. Nothing like the convenience of the capital.

But leaving aside how every military man in the capital seemed to be made of soft stuff, her standing meant she could not marry down. Elder Brother Yanxi had already risen to the highest position in the realm, and with the Anguo Marquis as his mother’s family — and with Hua Zhi as his wife — he would also become kin to the Hua Family. If she married into any other household it would be awkward. Little Six did not worry about such things now, but there was no guarantee he would feel the same in years to come.

Wu Yong was the most suitable match.

“Come out.”

Wu Yong, who had been peering through the crack of the door, startled at the voice. This was — this wasn’t —

He flung the door open, stepped over the threshold, then hesitated, not quite daring to come closer. He was terribly afraid there was a great pit ahead waiting to swallow him.

“Hopeless.” Shao Yao rolled her eyes. She drew the long whip from her waist and launched an attack straight at Wu Yong.

A familiar style, a familiar approach — Wu Yong dodged in a rather sorry state of disarray, but his face broke into a smile. It really was Shao Yao!

“Your face has healed?”

Shao Yao put away the whip and looked at him sidelong.

Wu Yong grinned and shuffled over. “It takes a little getting used to.”

“Should I cut it up again for you?”

“No no no, it looks wonderful, it looks wonderful.”

Shao Yao gave a dismissive huff. “The war has barely been over, and you’re not staying at your Yinshan Pass. What are you doing in the capital?”

“Proposing.” Wu Yong said it at full volume, without the slightest hesitation. “Shao Yao, I have feelings for you. Just say yes.”

Even Shao Yao, who lacked that particular sensitivity, had her face flushed red by this brazen declaration. She turned her back and fiddled with her whip. “Because you have feelings for me, I’m supposed to agree?”

“I know Yinshan Pass is rather far — but there are not so many rules out there. My parents are gone, so if you came you would be in charge of the household. There is no one to make your life difficult. When the weather is fine, we can go ride on the open grasslands beyond the pass. Out there you can do whatever you please. If you miss home, we’ll come back to the capital. I’ll go before the Emperor tomorrow to request leave — half the year in the capital, half guarding the pass. The men of Yinshan Pass all owe their positions to the Wu family — I’m not afraid of anyone trying anything behind my back while I’m away.”

Shao Yao pressed her lips together. That was the thing — Wu Yong was the most suitable. At the very least he was dim enough, and she could still beat him in a fight.

Wu Yong, glimpsing hope, circled around to face her and continued his well-reasoned persuasion. “You know this — my back courtyard has no one in it. I also promised the young miss I would not take anyone else in future. Shao Yao, I will treat you well.”

Shao Yao looked up at this man who was baring his heart to her. “I can come back whenever I want?”

“Of course — I’ll come back with you.”

Shao Yao held his gaze steadily for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll marry you.”

“!” Wu Yong, who had only just glimpsed hope and now received this tremendous surprise, was slightly stunned. Shao Yao’s way of doing nothing by the usual path truly showed itself in every possible way!

“I’m going to go propose right now!” Terrified that Shao Yao might change her mind, Wu Yong turned the moment his senses returned and moved to change his clothes.

Even Shao Yao was amused by him. “Try going to propose at this hour and see what happens.”

Wu Yong’s steps halted. Coming back to himself, he stood in sudden mortified helplessness.

Really quite dim. Shao Yao gave a dismissive huff, sent her long whip snapping outward for leverage, and vaulted up onto the courtyard wall. She was just about to leap down when the person behind her called her name. She turned back.

Wu Yong jogged over and looked up at her. “You won’t change your mind, will you?”

“No.” Shao Yao answered without hesitation. She left without looking back. She was not one to be moved by sentiment, but she could see that this man had genuine feeling — and that was enough.

Wu Yong gave a few enthusiastic jumps of joy. What was needed for a proposal? Right — he needed a matchmaker. That should be easy enough — the old general Zhou Jing, who had old ties with the Wu family, would certainly be willing to help… wait. That wouldn’t work — Shao Yao and the Hua Family were practically one and the same. You couldn’t take the matchmaker from the bride’s side. And what else was there — right, he needed to ask the Emperor for an imperial marriage decree, and then the betrothal gifts…

Wu Yong did not sleep a wink that night. The next morning, brimming with energy, he went to the palace. The moment the Emperor saw him like this he knew Shao Yao must have given her answer. He had anticipated that Shao Yao would — that young woman’s nature was truly free beyond measure, yet she was a person who knew her own mind. Such a person in his family was someone he would naturally protect.

The words of caution were already at the tip of his tongue, yet before he could speak them, Wu Yong declared he would remain in the capital half the year. The Emperor labored to swallow those words back down and said instead, “If you are away half the year, will Yinshan Pass not have problems?”

“Your subject can split the time into two visits — three months each. It will not be a problem.” Wu Yong paused, then added, “Your Majesty may also dispatch a deputy general to keep watch there.”

The Emperor shook his head. “The founding Emperor left a standing decree: the Wu family shall guard Yinshan Pass from generation to generation. We will not reach our hand into that territory. If you are confident this arrangement will cause no problem, we give our consent.”

“Your subject thanks His Majesty for his grace.”