The night was dim and quiet, with moonlight completely blocked outside the windows. In the surrounding darkness that enveloped all four sides, Shu Shenhui couldn’t see her face clearly, yet could feel her lying quietly beside him the entire time, as if she hadn’t moved even a finger. After closing her eyes, she should have fallen asleep quickly, her breathing becoming inaudible. Thinking that at this moment she was sleeping peacefully beside him, amid his heavy mood, a relaxed feeling like obtaining satisfaction also emerged. The wind, frost, and hardships of the long journey now all transformed into fatigue, beginning to assail him. He dared not embrace her, only finding one of her hands beneath the covers, gently grasping it, and slowly falling asleep.

He slept extremely deeply. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to discover it was already broad daylight. Everything from last night rapidly surfaced in his mind, including her dry, red eyes that seemed about to bleed. He turned his face and found only himself remaining on the couch.

All the bedding had been piled onto his body. She was gone.

Shu Shenhui’s heart jumped. He hurriedly got up from the couch, opened the door, and saw that familiar silhouette standing in the courtyard, looking as if she had been standing there for quite some time.

Just as he was about to call to her, he saw her turn her head, smile at him, and say: “I’m fine now. Thank you. This journey here couldn’t have been easy for you – rest well some more. I’m going to check on my aunt, so I won’t accompany you for now.”

Her eyes still carried a web-like trace of faint bloodshot veins, and her voice was dry and hoarse, but her overall appearance finally no longer resembled the frightening state of last night.

Then she instructed the local servants to attend well to the Regent Prince, finally nodding to him before departing.

The servants told him that the young master’s mother was already in poor health, and with excessive grief, after he had taken her away last night, she finally couldn’t bear it and collapsed.

After Shu Shenhui finished dressing, he had servants lead him to visit. Arriving there, through an open window, he saw her feeding medicine to the woman.

“…It’s all my fault for worrying my aunt and frightening her. Please rest assured, I’m truly fine now…” She comforted the woman with words.

The woman refused to take medicine, just tightly gripping her sleeves, tearfully saying: “Hanyuan, as long as you’re all right. With your uncle gone, the sky has collapsed… You must take good care of yourself and help your younger brother. Otherwise, how can he shoulder this burden…” Saying this, she wept continuously.

She set down the medicine bowl, grasped the woman’s hands, and repeatedly comforted her. Only after the woman received her assurance and thought of how Great Wei’s Regent Prince had personally come last night did her heart finally settle somewhat. Then she took the medicine and was helped into the inner room, her figure disappearing.

Yan Cheng had also heard the news and hurried to attend, stopping behind him. Shu Shenhui turned his head to see him standing quietly with lowered head, eyes downcast, expression respectful.

Sensing Shu Shenhui looking back at him, Yan Cheng raised his eyes and bowed: “Sister is caring for mother, I fear she may be neglecting Your Highness. If Your Highness has any needs, please feel free to instruct me.”

Shu Shenhui slowly walked out and asked: “Where is the place where your aunt met with her accident years ago?”

Several days later, without telling anyone, Shu Shenhui rode swiftly and found that cliff.

Bare rocks jutted jaggedly, the precipice dropping ten thousand ren. That old incident from the past now left not a trace to be found, only wild grass and thorns growing all over the cliff side, with several vultures spreading their wings, flying over the valley above, emitting strange cries.

His attendants waited far behind, watching that quietly standing figure ahead.

He finally completely understood all the events that had happened to her back then.

After her mother leaped from the cliff holding her in swaddling clothes, soon after, the rebel city of Changle was pacified soon after. Those who participated confessed the circumstances and location of the mother and daughter’s accident, and only then did her maternal grandfather, uncle, and father find this place. By that time, her mother had long since passed away, while she had luckily survived, but from then on, her life was completely changed. She became what she considered herself to be – an ominous person who brought misfortune to those close to her.

Shu Shenhui again recalled that deep night several days ago when he had burst in to see her kneeling before her uncle’s spirit.

Yan Zhong’s unexpected death – had it, to some extent, touched upon her sense of guilt again?

Shu Shenhui stood on the cliff until dusk, until the evening colors darkened and returning birds circled.

He gathered broken stones at the cliff’s edge into a pile, inserted a stick of incense he had brought, silently prayed, then turned to leave.

According to Yunluo’s funeral customs, the city lord’s body lay in state for nine days before the burial procession.

After that night, Jiang Hanyuan returned to her original self. These past days, she presided over funeral affairs, together with Yan Cheng, receiving the endless stream of mourners from far and near, arranging various reception matters. The originally unsettled and panicked hearts gradually calmed.

On the day of the burial, Jiang Hanyuan’s aunt fainted from grief. Jiang Hanyuan led Yan Cheng in presiding over the funeral.

After the funeral ended, everyone gathered in the council hall.

Those who came included not only Yan family retainers and subordinates, but also many city lords from far and near who had arrived over these days. They were all Great Wei’s vassal kings. Additionally, Great Wei’s General of Allegiance Liu Huaiyuan, stationed at the western pass, had also arrived.

Shu Shenhui, in his capacity as Great Wei’s Regent Prince, personally presided over this meeting, announcing Yan Cheng’s inheritance of the city lord position and Yan Zhong’s original Great Wei Cloud Banner General title. Moreover, to commemorate Yan Zhong’s heroic achievements, he was posthumously enfeoffed as Great Wei’s Prince Pingyi. The investiture decree and royal seal would soon depart from Chang’an, delivered by a special envoy.

The Yan family retainers and tribesmen present were moved to tears of gratitude. Countless citizens had also gathered outside the city mansion. When the news spread, they all knelt in thanks.

This long and sorrowful funeral affair finally came to rest. Those who had passed would forever sleep beneath the earth, while the living still had to continue their duties.

Shu Shenhui had already stayed here for some days and had to prepare to depart. But before leaving, he still had one important matter to accomplish.

He found Jiang Hanyuan and said, “Sisi, I must go. Before leaving, I want to pay respects to your mother.”

She had just finished attending to her aunt, and her gaze settled on his face.

Shu Shenhui also looked at her, their eyes meeting without the slightest evasion.

The red threads in her eyes remained unclear. She looked at him for a moment, then nodded: “Tomorrow morning I’ll take you.”

That night, the two shared a room. During the day, she had taken Yan Cheng to visit citizens to comfort their hearts. She appeared somewhat weary, lying down and closing her eyes. Like the previous nights, they had slept together, and Shu Shenhui didn’t disturb her. After one night passed, the next morning both rose. Fan Jing and several of Shu Shenhui’s attendants were already waiting. The group rode out of the city to that valley.

Unlike the clamor of Yan Zhong’s burial day, today this place had lake water reflecting snow mountains, gentle breeze creating ripples, returning to its original tranquility and silence.

Jiang Hanyuan brought Shu Shenhui to her mother’s tomb, then withdrew, leaving him alone.

With a reverent heart, Shu Shenhui solemnly paid respects. Finished, he emerged and saw her standing beneath a large tree near the valley mouth in the distance.

In this deep autumn season, the entire tree was withered, yellow leaves carpeting the ground. From afar, it looked like a layer of gold had been spread.

She stood there, slightly raising her head as if gazing at the distant sky above.

Shu Shenhui stopped, following her gaze upward.

The autumn sky was azure blue, with flowing clouds like snow. At the horizon, shadows of a pair of southward-flying wild geese dotted the sky, wings spread across the firmament.

She seemed to keep watching those goose shadows while he waited silently. After a long time, a breeze passed, scattering more withered leaves. She seemed to suddenly come to her senses, turned to see him, then stepped forward.

Shu Shenhui went to meet her.

In her still somewhat hoarse voice, she smiled and said: “On behalf of my uncle, I thank Your Highness for all your care. The citizens are all grateful to the court. I also heard Your Highness instructed General Liu to protect Yunluo at all times – thank you for the arrangement. After I also return to Yanmen, I’ll leave Fan Jing to temporarily assist my younger brother. This way, Yunluo should be stable and won’t affect the western pass situation due to the uncle’s departure. Please be assured, Your Highness.”

Shu Shenhui gazed at her, as if countless words filled his chest, yet he didn’t know where to begin.

Looking at her, he finally only said: “Take care of yourself.”

Jiang Hanyuan nodded: “Your Highness, too.” When she said this, her bloodshot eyes curved in a smile. After a pause, she added emphatically: “I’m truly fine now! I know your schedule is tight, and His Majesty’s matters are more important. Go with peace of mind. You’ll depart early tomorrow morning – return to the city first and rest well. I want to stay here alone a while longer and will return later.”

Liu Huaiyuan and others were still in the city. Before departing tomorrow morning, he still needed to meet with them once more to arrange protection matters.

Shu Shenhui stood silently a moment longer, then nodded: “All right. Return early.”

Jiang Hanyuan saw him to the valley mouth, smiling as they parted. Shu Shenhui mounted his horse and returned to the city. After meeting with Liu Huaiyuan’s group, she still hadn’t returned. He felt restless and couldn’t bear it, so he left the city again and returned to the valley.

When he arrived, the sun was already setting, but she was gone. Shu Shenhui inquired with the tomb keeper who lived year-round near the valley mouth. The tomb keeper was mute with poor hearing. After understanding Shu Shenhui’s meaning, he gestured with his hands, pointing toward a distant direction, indicating she had gone there.

Shu Shenhui looked and saw a stone mountain there, bathed in evening light, standing quietly.

He changed course to pursue. Arriving nearby, he could see clearly – this was a cliff-carved desolate mountain, standing alone in the wilderness outside the city. She had indeed come here. At the foot of stone steps leading halfway up the mountain, he saw her mount.

He stood at the mountain’s base. The twilight grew thicker. Finally, he stepped forward, treading on stone steps long uncleaned and covered with dust, slowly ascending.

After so many days in Yunluo, Jiang Hanyuan had finally come here alone to visit her friend whom she should never be able to see again in this life.

The stone cave remained unchanged. Stone couch, stone table, stone stools – everything was still there, even some unused medicinal herbs. But the person who had once sat here quietly reading scriptures was gone. Empty and desolate, spider webs stretched in corners, dust everywhere.

Jiang Hanyuan slowly looked around. She saw no scripture books. They should have been allowed to be taken that day. Amid her sorrow, this finally brought Jiang Hanyuan a last trace of comfort.

Wherever Wu Sheng might be now, even at the ends of the earth, as long as those scriptures he treasured remained by his side, surely with his wisdom and enlightenment, he should find contentment.

She picked up a reed-grass broom that had fallen in a corner, dusting away the dirt. After finishing cleaning, she gathered up the medicinal herbs scattered on the ground by wind, bundled them neatly, and arranged them back in place. As if everything was just like before. The master of this place would return at any time.

“I’m sorry.”

A low voice suddenly came from behind.

Jiang Hanyuan’s hand paused. She placed the last bundle of herbs properly, slowly turned around, and saw Shu Shenhui standing on the platform outside the stone cave.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted from behind him, casting his shadow onto the stone wall at the cave entrance.

They looked at each other for a moment. She saw guilt in his eyes. Her lips revealed a smile again as she said in a relaxed tone: “It’s not your fault. Your Highness truly needn’t apologize for this.”

After speaking, she walked out: “How did Your Highness come here? I was just passing by and was about to return.”

He didn’t move. As she passed by his side, he suddenly reached out and grasped her arm.

“Sisi! I know you’re very sad inside. Extremely sad. But before me, you didn’t need to be like this.”

He pulled her before him, making her face him directly, gazing into her eyes as he spoke word by word.

Jiang Hanyuan looked at him for a moment, the corners of her mouth lifting again: “Your Highness misunderstands, I truly—”

“You truly are very sad. You lost your mother while still in swaddling clothes. You’re convinced your mother died because of you, that you’re an ominous person. You grew up with difficulty, finally became a powerful female general, yet were forced to accept an unwanted marriage, marrying a man you look down upon. For this, you also lost a friend who might have been considered a lifelong confidant. Now your uncle is gone too! How could you possibly be fine!”

“Sisi, don’t continue like this – you don’t need to. Your mother, your uncle, or…”

Shu Shenhui glanced around the empty stone cave behind her, “this friend of yours – if he truly was your confidant, he wouldn’t want to see you like this either!”

The smile on Jiang Hanyuan’s face slowly disappeared. She lowered her eyes, avoiding the gaze directed at her by the man opposite.

“It gets dark quickly here, and there’s some distance back to the city. Let’s return—” she said with difficulty.

But he didn’t move.

“Sisi, don’t jump from Iron Sword Cliff anymore.”

Jiang Hanyuan’s complexion changed slightly. She quickly raised her eyes to look at him, opening her mouth.

“Don’t deny it.” He interrupted her. “Yang Hu told me! On your mother’s memorial day, you jump from the cliff top. You were fifteen that year!”

Jiang Hanyuan was startled, her expression becoming rigid: “I was just—”

“Don’t tell me you were just enjoying it!” Shu Shenhui interrupted her words again.

“Suspended in mid-air with nothing to rely on, seeming about to be shattered to pieces at any moment. Though only a few breaths’ instant, such torment feels unbearably long. When you fall into the water below, it’s even more terrifying. If there truly is a netherworld in this world, that would be it! Who would enjoy such a feeling!”

“What do you know! Stop talking nonsense—” Her breathing began to grow disordered, anger showing on her face.

“Of course I know! Because I’ve jumped down! On the very morning I had originally decided to depart for Chang’an!”

Jiang Hanyuan’s eyelashes trembled.

Shu Shenhui stared intently at her pale face, slowly clenching his palm that still bore unhealed scars.

“Sisi, I tell you, this action of yours is too foolish. Besides repeatedly tormenting yourself, do you think your mother would want to see you like this? And your father, too. If he also knew, how would he suffer?”

“I absolutely will not allow you to jump from Iron Sword Cliff again!”

He spoke word by word.

The sun fell behind the mountain, the golden crow collecting its last ray of afterglow. The sky suddenly darkened, wild wind grew stronger, and returning crows made cacophonous sounds in the wind sweeping over the mountaintop.

Jiang Hanyuan stood motionless, confronting the man before her, breathing increasingly rapid, the corners of her eyes growing redder. Suddenly, she broke free from his grasp, lowered her head, and stepped to leave.

“Wait!”

This time, Shu Shenhui didn’t stop her, only spoke.

She halted, her back to him.

“Sisi, I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. The following words were what I planned to tell you tonight.”

He paused, looking at the silhouette before him.

“I know you’re very sad now, and I know your difficulties since childhood. I dare not say I can empathize completely, because my past truly can’t be called difficult. But I want to tell you, I hope you can relax somewhat.”

“In others’ eyes, you’re a general who must protect the weak and resist the Beidi. But before me, you truly don’t need to be like this. What would happen if you let me know you’re sad? Of course, if you truly don’t want to see me, I can leave tonight even. Last time in Maple Leaf City, you made things clear to me. Do you think I came this time still begging or forcing you to be good with me? No, no matter how much I, Shu Shenhui, might like a woman, I wouldn’t debase myself to such an extent. I just felt uneasy, wanted to accompany you, and incidentally fulfill the promise I made earlier. That’s all. Since you truly don’t need my companionship, and I’ve already paid respects to your mother, the matter is finished. I won’t forcibly stay to provoke your dislike.”

He glanced at the vast twilight shrouding the dim wilderness on all sides.

“Return to the city early. I’m leaving.”

After speaking, he walked past her, descended the stone steps, finally mounted his horse, and galloped away. His figure grew more distant until it finally disappeared at the road’s end.

Jiang Hanyuan continued standing like that until the sky completely darkened, and no one around could see her anymore. Suddenly, tears that had been cut off seemed like water bursting through a dam, flowing from her eyes that had been so dry that even blinking was difficult. She tried to hold back, desperately suppressing them, but not only couldn’t she hold back – the tears instead grew more and more abundant. Finally, she couldn’t maintain her composure anymore and began sobbing quietly. Later, she sat on the ground, buried her face in her knees, and wept uncontrollably.

Shu Shenhui’s heart carried the slight anger she had provoked. In one breath, he rode back to Yunluo city’s gates, hesitated for a moment, still not seeing her return. His anger slowly dissipated. He looked at the increasingly dark sky, gazed at the black shadow of that distant stone mountain, hesitated briefly, hating that he ultimately couldn’t let go. Gritting his teeth, he turned his horse around and rushed back.

When climbing those stone steps again, he told himself in his heart that he was only trying to compensate for the harm the imperial family had caused her in the past. No matter what, he couldn’t leave her alone here. Even if she was the ghost-frightening female general.

As he gradually approached the cave entrance, suddenly, in the night, a broken, extremely suppressed, low weeping sound entered his ears.

He was stunned, then reacted, taking several steps as one, quickly rushing back to that cliff-carved stone cave. At one glance he saw that silhouette. She was sitting at the cave entrance, body curled into a ball, head buried as she wept. His entire being immediately panicked, all his previous annoyance with her vanishing without a trace.

He stopped before her, initially not daring to approach, much less speak. After a moment, hearing her cry as if she had become a grieving child, he could bear it no longer. He walked to her side, bent down, extended his arms, and tried to gently embrace her.

He feared she would struggle and not let him near. But she didn’t. He successfully held her, letting her cry in his embrace. Initially, she continued sobbing like that, crying endlessly. Gradually, she finally stopped, ultimately letting him hold her motionlessly.

Shu Shenhui didn’t stand up, nor did he speak. He only leaned against the cave wall, removed his outer cloak, wrapped both her body and himself tightly together, the two bundled as one. Then he continued holding her, letting her rest in his embrace.

Fan Jing knew Jiang Hanyuan had come here. When darkness fell and she still hadn’t returned, worried, he brought people to search. Arriving at the foot of the mountain path, he saw the two horses stopped below and ordered his men to halt.

He raised his head, gazing at that stone cave at the path’s end. After a moment, he quietly turned away and led his people off.