On the third day of the fourth month, the army returned to Nan Du.

Duan Xu met up with them three days before the army reached Nan Du. During an early summer downpour, the lush grass along the official road was stained with mud as he stood waiting with an umbrella in the rain. When he saw Qin Huanda riding on horseback leading the vast procession, he raised the edge of his umbrella.

Qin Huanda noticed the young man’s bright eyes containing a hint of desolation, and an indescribable gloomy atmosphere about him. Yet in an instant, Duan Xu’s eyes curved into a smile, sweeping away all traces of gloom.

He bowed and said, “Commander Qin, I’ve returned.”

Commander Qin regarded him coldly. If not for Duan Xu’s illustrious background and great achievements, how could he disregard military discipline like this, disappearing for so long only to return now? He didn’t wish to say much, merely nodding to acknowledge his return. As the heavy rain gradually subsided, Duan Xu folded his umbrella and walked leisurely to the rear of the army. Qin Huanda then heard soldiers from the Tabai and Chengjie armies cheer that their general had returned.

The Tabai army was one thing, but the Chengjie army had only been under Duan Xu’s command for two or three months, yet it had already become Duan Xu’s army, completely loyal to him.

Qin Huanda glanced back, and his deputy said, “General Duan is…”

He didn’t continue, but Qin Huanda understood.

This man was an exceptional talent who would one day become a significant threat.

When Meng Wan saw Duan Xu return, she was overjoyed, but immediately noticed that he didn’t look well, appearing as if recovering from a serious illness. She couldn’t help recalling legendary stories of evil spirits harvesting souls and taking lives, secretly becoming worried. This time, Duan Xu said he was going to find friends in the martial arts world, then disappeared for a month. She instinctively felt he had gone to find Seventeen.

Although the evil spirit Seventeen didn’t seem particularly malicious, she was still a harmful supernatural entity. What if she had harmed Duan Xu?

Just as Meng Wan was hesitating to speak, Xue Chenying rushed over and grabbed the corner of Duan Xu’s clothes, looking up at him with bright eyes and saying, “Third Brother, where is… Sister Seventeen? Didn’t she come back with you?”

Meng Wan pretended to casually observe Duan Xu’s expression. She saw him lower his eyes for a moment, then raise them again with a smile. He looked somewhat tired but still appeared cheerful.

“She went home,” Duan Xu answered briefly. He crouched down and pinched Chenying’s cheek, saying, “I’m going home too, Chenying. Let’s go home together.”

Meng Wan breathed a sigh of relief, but looking at Duan Xu’s pale face, she felt somewhat uneasy.

The celebration ceremony welcoming the victorious royal army to Nan Du was very grand. Duan Xu rode on horseback through the cheering crowds and music, with a joyous atmosphere filling the streets. Da Liang was prosperous and stable, and Nan Du was the most flourishing and wealthy place in all of Da Liang. Looking around, one could see exquisitely carved beams and painted buildings, pavilions, and towers—a peaceful and prosperous era built on gold and silver treasures.

A peaceful and prosperous era for half the kingdom.

Duan Xu slightly narrowed his eyes but still displayed a timely pleasant smile.

When he dismounted in front of the Duan residence and handed his horse to a servant, looking at the tall gate and stone qilins on both sides, hearing servants loudly announcing that the third young master had returned, he felt as if the half-year absence was like a lifetime ago. Chenying tightly gripped the corner of his clothes. Duan Xu looked down at him and asked, “Does it feel strange? Are you afraid?”

Chenying nodded nervously and repeatedly.

He rubbed the back of Chenying’s head and smiled, “I feel the same way—it seems strange to me too.”

Just as Duan Xu finished speaking, he heard a clear shout calling “Uncle!”

A boy of about ten wearing dark green clothes ran out from inside. The child looked tall and spirited, with features somewhat resembling Duan Xu. He ran like the wind to Duan Xu, hugged his waist, and shouted, “Uncle, you’re finally back!”

His voice was so loud it startled the sparrows on the eaves.

Duan Xu smiled, lifted the boy with one arm, and spun him around, saying, “You’ve gained quite a bit of weight!”

“Uncle, put me down! I… I’m already ten years old! I’m a grown-up!” The boy’s face flushed with embarrassment as he struggled persistently in Duan Xu’s arms. Duan Xu then put him down and said to the woman walking behind, “Sister-in-law, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

The woman had gentle and refined features, with the demeanor of someone from a distinguished family. She was the widow of the eldest son of the Duan family. She pulled the boy close and said softly, “Everything has been fine, except Yiqi keeps talking about you. He’s grown taller recently and keeps saying he’s grown up, refusing to be disciplined in every way. I’ve been getting headaches over it. You’ve come back at just the right time to help me straighten him out.”

She looked Duan Xu up and down for a moment, then sighed, “Brother-in-law, you’ve become much thinner. You must have suffered greatly this time.”

“When the Dan Zhi invaded our Great Liang, everyone in the border army suffered. Mine was nothing,” Duan Xu smiled and said to his nephew Duan Yiqi, “Since Yiqi says he’s grown up, would you like to join me on the battlefield?”

“It’s bad enough that you risk your life out there, and now you want to lure your nephew away too?” This sentence came out with an authoritative and solemn voice, showing signs of age, certainly not from his gentle sister-in-law.

Duan Xu looked up to see a thin middle-aged man wearing a dark blue robe embroidered with crane patterns standing at the door. He was very tall, but somewhat hunched due to years of illness, though his eyes remained sharp and bright. On his left stood a young girl in pink butterfly-patterned clothes who was supporting his arm. With beautiful eyes full of radiance, she looked at Duan Xu with obvious delight.

Duan Xu smiled and bowed deeply, saying, “Father, your unfilial son has been away for months. Have you been well?”

Duan Chengzhang studied Duan Xu for a long time. If his eldest daughter-in-law could see Duan Xu’s travel-worn appearance and accumulated injuries, he certainly could too. He once had three sons, but now only this one remained, who had nearly lost his life on the battlefield.

He finally sighed and said, “How does it look standing at the gate? Come in to talk.”

Duan Xu agreed and walked through the gate surrounded by his family. His sister-in-law went to support his father, so his little sister in her flower-like pink dress came to walk beside him, saying, “Third Brother, you’ve lost weight.”

“Jingyuan, you’ve gained quite a bit.”

“…”

Just as Duan Jingyuan was about to get angry with her cheeks puffed out, Duan Xu said timely, “Your new clothes look nice. The fabric has a warm luster, and the pattern is one I’ve never seen before.”

Duan Jingyuan immediately stopped being angry. She spread her arms proudly to show off her dress, saying, “Right, right! Let me tell you about my clothes—you won’t find another like it in all of Nan Du… But, how did you know these were new clothes?”

“Such a big event as my triumphant return—how could you not wear new clothes to welcome me?”

Duan Xu’s little sister loved beauty. She wasn’t good at studying, but she excelled at creating perfumes, mixing colors, and designing clothes with unique flair. He could imagine that if one day he were to die wrapped in a horsehide on the battlefield, his sister would surely make the most beautiful mourning clothes, becoming the most gorgeous woman at his funeral.

If such a day came, would she come too?

Duan Xu paused for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, driving thoughts of He Simu from his mind.

His family welcomed him home with much concern and lively conversation. After lunch, his father called him alone to the study.

In the study, calming incense wafted up in white smoke. His father coughed lightly twice, prompting Duan Xu to ask, “Father, is your cough acting up again?”

“This old body is just like this, coming and going.” Duan Chengzhang waved dismissively. He sat in the pear wood armchair behind the desk and pointed to a nearby chair, “Sit down.”

In the past, when his father wanted to speak with Duan Xu, he always made him stand. The other chairs in the study seemed to be mere decorations. This was the first time his father had asked him to sit.

Duan Xu smiled slightly and said, “My wounds have almost healed. Standing for a while won’t hurt.”

Duan Chengzhang didn’t insist. He was silent for a moment, then said, “What do you plan to do from now on?”

His expression didn’t show much joy, unlike what one would expect from the father of a victorious general.

Duan Xu answered smoothly, “I am already the commander of the Tabai and Chengjie armies. Upon returning to the capital, I will likely be further promoted, with a position perhaps second only to Commander Qin…”

“Nonsense!” Duan Chengzhang slammed the table and then started coughing again.

His reaction was within Duan Xu’s expectations. Duan Xu stopped speaking, his hands clasped behind his back neither too tightly nor too loosely, waiting for his father’s next words.

“You still want to return to the army? Haven’t you risked your life enough? You need to stay in the court at Nan Du. Minister Du needs you. The path was originally laid out for you, but unexpected branches led you astray. It’s time for you to return to the proper path.”

Duan Chengzhang’s tone brooked no argument. Perhaps feeling he was being too severe, he paused and softened his expression slightly, “You do have a talent for military affairs. In the future, serving as the Privy Councilor in court would be just as suitable.”

Duan Xu rubbed his wrist clasp, smiling brightly, “Very well, I’ll listen to Father.”

Duan Chengzhang thought that Duan Xu had always been filial and obedient, rarely defying his wishes, and completing assigned tasks well. His heart eased somewhat, and his tone grew increasingly gentle, “Now that you’ve returned to the capital, there’s another important matter that should be put on the agenda. Shunxi, you’ll be turning twenty this year. It’s time for you to marry and have children to extend the Duan family line.”

“Doesn’t the Duan family already have Yiqi in the grandchildren’s generation?”

“Yiqi is Yiqi, you are you. Don’t conflate the two!”

Duan Xu lowered his eyes and smiled casually, saying, “I’m not familiar with the noble ladies of Nan Du. In Father’s opinion, whom would it be appropriate for me to marry?”

This response pleased Duan Chengzhang. He asked Duan Xu to fetch three scrolls from the bookshelf and told him, “These are portraits and birth charts of Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue’s third legitimate daughter Suyi, Scholar Lu’s fifth legitimate daughter Changling, and Duke Xie’s fourth legitimate daughter Qiuyan. See if any of them appeal to you.”

Duan Xu held the three scrolls and smiled, “Minister Wang, Scholar Lu, Duke Xie.”

One had real power, one was the emperor’s teacher, and one was an aristocrat. If Minister Du’s family had a daughter of marriageable age, he probably wouldn’t even have the right to choose.

Although the Duan family was related to the imperial family and had produced distinguished officials for three generations, after the successive deaths of his eldest and second brothers and his father’s resignation due to illness, the family gradually showed signs of decline. Now that the glory of the Duan family was being revived through him, it was natural to seize this opportunity to stabilize their position. His father had indeed prepared everything.

Duan Xu rotated the scrolls in his hand but didn’t rush to open them to see the wives his father had chosen for him. Instead, he looked leisurely at his father and suddenly said with a sincere tone, “Father, I heard that you once had a childhood sweetheart who grew up with you, but she left after you married Mother.”

Duan Chengzhang was stunned, clearly not expecting his son to bring up this history.

After a pause, Duan Xu continued, “I also heard that Mother had another fiancé before you, but that person was executed after being implicated in a treason case. Many years later, you reinvestigated and cleared his name.”

Duan Chengzhang frowned and said, “What are you trying to say?”

“Father, I have no experience in matters of the heart. Since you want me to marry, I’d like to seek your guidance. Do you still remember what your childhood sweetheart looked like? Do you regret marrying my mother?”

People in Nan Du all said that Lord Duan had no concubines or mistresses besides his wife and that they were a respectful couple who treated each other as equals.

But Duan Xu knew very clearly, having vaguely seen it since childhood, that his parents had never loved each other.