The black-clad guard outside seemed somewhat hesitant upon seeing Qing Xia, and only after a long while did he hesitantly whisper: “Miss Qianru has left. I heard she was taken away by people from the courtesan house again.”

“What?” Chu Li’s eyebrows shot up as he suddenly stood, and the foot-thick pile of documents on his knees all scattered to the floor with a swoosh, fluttering down in white fragments like a group of broken butterflies dancing gracefully. Chu Li immediately stepped forward, his foot landing on two white sheets. Beside his pristine white boots were the woman’s delicate, small handwriting: “The naval fleet is divided into four fleets – North Sea, East Sea, South Sea, and Inland Sea – using mutual checks and balances, as well as in Jinling, Chengtai…”

“Weren’t you told to watch over her properly? How could you let her be taken away?” Chu Li’s expression was grave, his brows tightly knitted with terrible anger.

The black-clad subordinate fell to his knees with a thud: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this morning Miss Qianru’s younger brother came looking for her. Your Majesty was inconvenient to show yourself, and Lord Xia had already given instructions, so we…”

Chu Li raised an eyebrow, turned his head, thought for a long while, then said in a somewhat low voice: “You gave instructions?”

Qing Xia nodded: “Yes. Last night before returning to the residence, I ordered someone to find her family. She is an outsider after all. With her in the residence, you couldn’t remove your disguise all night yesterday. Moreover, we depart the day after tomorrow with countless matters to attend to and no time for other concerns. I don’t see anything improper about letting her family take her away. Furthermore, the Jin family is after all a prestigious clan. Even if Jin Shaohuang said nothing at the banquet, we did publicly humiliate the Jin family’s eldest young master, which damaged the Jin family’s reputation. If we continued protecting that woman afterward, it would inevitably make people say the Governor’s Office bullies others with power. With trade negotiations imminent, we cannot let small matters ruin big ones or create friction with the Dongnan clans. Besides, Jin Shaohuang is a smart man – I don’t think he would oppose us because of his brother. So even if that woman returns home, no one will make things difficult for her.”

Chu Li suddenly smiled coldly: “How thoroughly you’ve thought it through. Didn’t you hear? She’s been taken to the courtesan house now. Is this what you call no one making things difficult for her?”

Qing Xia’s expression remained unchanged: “The Jin family won’t harass her again, and I have no need to do so. If she’s returned to the courtesan house at this time, there’s only one explanation – she must have gone back voluntarily.”

Chu Li’s expression darkened, his eyes boring intensely into Qing Xia’s face as he said in a deep voice: “Voluntarily? Do you think any woman would voluntarily return to that place?”

“There are countless unthinkable things in this world. She has no special skills, can’t endure hardship, doesn’t engage in productive work, yet supports a brother who’s useless except for writing a few plagiarized poor essays. If she doesn’t sell her looks, what else can she do? Jin Shaoyou originally redeemed her, and I abolished that rule in the Ministry of Rites – she’s already free. Yet she still returned, which shows she feels that way she can live better. Why must you meddle unnecessarily?”

Chu Li’s frown deepened as he said with slight mockery: “I never expected you would say such things.”

“What’s unimaginable about it?” Qing Xia raised her eyebrows slightly and said coolly: “Everyone walks their own path. There are countless pitiable women driven to desperate straits by life. Some are willing to lower themselves to menial work, selling their labor through hard toil to earn money for survival. Others choose to sell their bodies for gold and silver. Everyone has their bitter tears – I don’t have so much time to pity others. Moreover, I’ve never thought such people have anything worth my pity. If you sympathize with her, why not buy her back and support her with gold, silver, silk and satin? That would be better than this anxiety.”

Chu Li looked at Qing Xia. The gentleness from before gradually faded as his expression was covered layer by layer with coldness. Finally, he smiled coldly: “Fine, you’re right. I’ll go buy her back now.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and turned to leave.

Qing Xia stood in the great hall in her thin garments. Sunlight fell on her body, bright and glaring, yet it made her shiver involuntarily. Jing Yu ran in, saw Qing Xia’s pale face and blue lips, and for a moment didn’t dare approach.

As the sunlight gradually shifted westward, the pale, stubborn woman finally bit her lower lip lightly and slowly crouched down, picking up the scattered manuscripts one by one. Light and shadow fell sparsely on her, mottled and pitiful, making her shoulders appear even more gaunt and her thin frame even more frail.

That day, news that the Grand Commander of Dongnan, Xia Qing, had become infatuated with a courtesan and bought her back to his residence spread like wildfire through every street and alley of the sea market city. Those prestigious families who had previously wondered why Commander Xia showed no interest in women immediately became active again, and invitations to various banquets suddenly arrived like snowflakes.

Qing Xia returned in the evening from a salt merchant’s banquet in the sea market, then made a detour to the Maritime Trade Opening Office to discuss tax law matters with various officials large and small. With Qing Xia’s understanding of contemporary tax law, the legislation she had drafted was already extremely comprehensive – even if these civil and military officials worked themselves to death, they couldn’t match it. What was called discussion was actually Qing Xia arranging future affairs. Seeing that one young, practical official transferred from Southern Chu was quite alert and capable, she entrusted most matters to him and made proper arrangements.

When she returned to the residence it was already deep night. She had drunk much wine at the evening banquet and eaten almost nothing. After riding for a while, her stomach inevitably began churning. Just as she reached the small pond, her stomach suddenly began heaving with nausea. Her steps became unsteady as she supported herself against an artificial rock and began vomiting uncomfortably.

Song Yang stood behind her and stopped upon hearing the sound. Suddenly seeing two young maids walking through the corridor, each carrying a bucket of steaming hot water, he intercepted them to take their buckets. But one little maid said with difficulty: “This is what Lord Le Song ordered us to take to Miss Qianru at Shuhe Courtyard. If we’re late, I’m afraid…”

“Shut up! When I tell you to give it to me, just give it to me! What nonsense are you talking!” Song Yang quickly interrupted the two maids, afraid Qing Xia might hear.

The little maid timidly handed the wooden bucket to Song Yang. He took one bucket and turned around, but when he reached the small pond, Qing Xia was already nowhere to be seen. Song Yang was slightly stunned, his expression inevitably becoming wistful.

Qing Xia walked slowly alone, her head throbbing, alcohol rising, her whole body tired and uncomfortable. In these past months, she had never gotten drunk. No matter how poor her alcohol tolerance, no matter how many people urged her to drink, she had always controlled herself with restraint. But today, for some unknown reason, she really wanted to drink until completely intoxicated. She was very tired – every cell in her body seemed to be clamoring about its exhaustion. If possible, she really wanted to sleep forever and never again face those unspeakable worries.

Ahead was a bamboo grove with swaying bamboo shadows, beside it a clear spring pool, and behind it was today’s liveliest place in the Governor’s Office – Shuhe Courtyard.

Qing Xia supported herself against a bamboo stalk and slowly sat down, facing the pool of clear water with the flickering lights of Shuhe Courtyard behind her. Her heart suddenly became peaceful, as if floating far away, remembering many things.

She suddenly remembered her childhood, remembered that dark, lightless cellar, her parents’ bodies gradually rotting beside her, emitting foul odors, her own cries gradually becoming hoarse, waiting day after day for that light she didn’t know when would come. She remembered one orphanage after another, remembered that disgusting, filthy old director, remembered that pitch-black little room with its nauseating smell. She remembered the wandering streets, the lights of countless homes, and that thin, weak child under the overpass crying loudly on New Year’s Eve. And also the hardships she endured during arduous training due to her malnourished body and natural female constitution – on every night when everyone else was asleep, she still trained alone in the empty square. Long-distance running, rock climbing, shooting, combat, endurance, resistance to blows, pain tolerance – she studied tirelessly, learning all forms of defense and attack. Her determination to do her best was like a mad venomous snake, gnawing at her heart day and night. Even in African jungles, in Afghan mountains, in uninhabited desert areas, she had never given up hope.

Because if she had survived such difficult days, how could she pathetically fall when things were gradually improving?

But now, she really suddenly wanted to fall. She was very tired and just wanted to rest completely, never again thinking about those things that made her weary and tired.

Suddenly, a koi jumped out of the pool water with a splash, sending up large droplets that splattered on her face. Qing Xia frowned slightly, shielding her face, only feeling the coolness on her face and relaxation throughout her body. The pale-faced woman was slightly stunned, then smiled.

Qing Xia cupped a handful of ice-cold water and splashed it on her face, then shook herself like Da Huang and stood up.

Moonlight faintly scattered on her body with a desolate color. Qing Xia in her brocade robe raised her head, leaned against a bamboo stalk, and breathed deeply, then turned and walked toward her bedchamber.

A gentle breeze brushed her face. Some indescribable worries were thus left in this bamboo grove, gently washed away by that pool of clear water. Let it end here.

On the dim high tower, a tall figure in black robes with dark hair stood above, eyes deep and focused, gazing through the sparse bamboo grove and fixed on the woman’s form. The cool breeze came, lifting his fluttering robe corners, so lonely and desolate.

Tomorrow would be the day of military departure. From morning, Qing Xia organized provisions and supplies, dispatched scouts to secretly coordinate with the Nanjiang border army, mobilized the Dongnan garrison, and made all preparations to deceive observers.

At the same time, to prevent instability in Dongnan after her departure, she was extremely busy all day long – settling rear guard defenses, dispatching trusted personnel, promoting capable and loyal minor officials, suppressing major officials with different intentions, undermining the power of several elders, restraining the instigation of Dongnan clans, coordinating major and minor affairs of trade ports. She didn’t even have time to eat.