Chapter 1: One Year

(One year later)

Another harsh winter had passed, and spring had arrived.

This year, Yunzhong Commandery received unusually abundant rainfall, thoroughly watering the earth until everything turned lush green and glistening with moisture.

Even the borderlands, where battle formations clashed continuously and horse hooves trampled back and forth, were dotted with greenery. Standing on the hillside and gazing out, it looked like shattered emeralds—

This was Xie Yanlai’s impression.

Zhong Changrong didn’t feel the same way. He’d never seen shattered gemstones before, but that didn’t prevent him from viewing it all with a face full of smiles.

“Those damned Xi Liang scoundrels have been acting like cowardly turtles hiding their heads during this period—grass has even started growing,” he said. “It’s gotten so bad that we don’t even have victory reports to send back.”

Xie Yanlai replied, “No news to report is itself a victory report.”

This was indeed true. Zhong Changrong gazed into the distance. Further ahead lay beyond the borders of Da Xia and didn’t belong to Xi Liang either—it was designated as neutral territory neither side controlled.

“This time we must redraw the border!” He stretched out his hand to point ahead. “See that? A hundred li forward would be an excellent location to build a city—perfect defensive position, and the land is fertile, most suitable for grazing pastures. Many years ago, General Chu said we should seize this land, but unfortunately—” He swallowed the rest of his words, then clenched his fist, full of heroic spirit. “This time, I will definitely fulfill the General’s wish.”

Expanding territory was every soldier’s dream. Hearing such words would normally inspire enthusiastic agreement, but unfortunately, the person Zhong Changrong had brought out today was Xie Yanlai.

“Whether that wish can be fulfilled isn’t decided by someone who fights wars,” the young man beside him said lazily. “It depends on whether those who don’t fight wars want it fulfilled.”

Zhong Changrong’s heroic spirit immediately dissipated. His heart felt blocked, and he was angry enough to curse, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Actually, when he’d said “unfortunately” earlier, he hadn’t meant it was unfortunate that General Chu had passed away, nor that it was unfortunate the General had been sidelined for many years. In fact, even when the General was in favor, there had been no possibility of fulfilling his wish.

What he regretted was that the martial Emperor, intoxicated by the joy of victory and unwilling to take further risks, had halted the offensive when the border army’s morale was at its peak.

Zhong Changrong turned his head to glare at Xie Yanlai. This kid was truly infuriating. Would it kill him not to speak, or to say something pleasant for once?

“Times have changed from the past,” he said irritably, pointing toward the direction of the capital. “My young mistress—”

“Your young mistress is the Empress, not the Emperor,” Xie Yanlai interrupted him, speaking earnestly. “Uncle Zhong, you’ve been commander for over a year now. Can’t you be more steady in your words and actions? Do you also want to be cursed as an arrogant maternal relative like me?”

Zhong Changrong laughed angrily. “Who are you lecturing!”

Xie Yanlai raised his eyebrows without speaking, answering with his expression: Of course I’m lecturing you.

“Of course I know this court isn’t run by my young mistress alone,” Zhong Changrong huffed, shooting him a pointed look. “There’s also your Xie clan.”

He looked ahead again.

“But my young mistress surely shares this same wish and will definitely work hard to achieve it.”

He turned his head to look at Xie Yanlai again.

“Moreover, expanding territory isn’t something shameful. Doing such things, my young mistress takes pride in it, not shame, and certainly won’t fear any criticism.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed. “Congratulations to Your Majesty the Empress and General Zhong for being invincible, serving nation and people, and leaving a fragrant name for a hundred generations.”

The soldiers standing at the foot of the hill couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but calculating the time, it was about right—whenever these two were together for more than the time it took an incense stick to burn, they would start quarreling.

“General Zhong—” a deputy general called out.

Zhong Changrong turned, full of irritation. “What are you shouting about!”

The officer stretched out his hand, pointing at the sky. “It’s going to rain, General. Let’s return to camp.”

Zhong Changrong looked up and saw that the originally clear sky had suddenly filled with rolling clouds—a stifling rain was gathering.

“Return to camp,” he commanded loudly, ignoring Xie Yanlai as he strode away with great steps.

Xie Yanlai also ignored him, following behind at a leisurely pace.

The troops at the foot of the hill moved in unison.

By the time their party galloped into the city, the pattering rain had turned into a torrential downpour.

Too lazy to don rain cloaks, in just those few short steps, Zhong Changrong and his group all had their clothes soaked through.

The soldiers dispersed to their own quarters while Zhong Changrong dove headfirst into the government office. Immediately, a soldier came running toward him, holding hot tea in one hand and a towel in the other—

“Sir, quickly dry yourself off—this is ginger tea—as soon as I saw the weather changing, I immediately brewed ginger tea—”

Zhong Changrong’s heart felt warm. Although he disdained being served like this, being served this way was actually quite nice. He reached out to take it.

But that soldier rushed past him, running toward the person behind.

“Young Master, I knew you wouldn’t wear a rain cloak—the rain cloaks in our army aren’t made well.”

Zhong Changrong’s face turned dark as a pot bottom. He turned to glare fiercely, but Xie Yanlai had already drained the ginger tea in one gulp, and the soldier was holding up the towel to wipe his head, face, and body—

“—Young Master, the spring rain is cold and chilling. Hot water is also ready—wash up and change into clean clothes—”

Xie Yanlai showed no displeasure at his attentiveness, accepting it naturally. After drinking the ginger tea, he even critiqued it: “Too sweet. Why would you put sugar in ginger tea?”

The soldier looked distressed. “I was afraid Young Master would find it bitter, so I added a handful of sugar.” He added, “I’ll go brew another bowl right away.”

He acted on his words, lifting his foot to run, but the next moment he was kicked aside.

“Squad Leader Xiao Shan!” Zhong Changrong cursed. “Get lost to the side.”

Squad Leader Xiao Shan rolled to the side, but still wanted to continue rolling forward—

“School Captain Xie, the inspection is finished. What are you still doing here at my place?” Zhong Changrong then told another person to get lost. “Hurry up and leave.”

Xie Yanlai sneered. “Isn’t it because you don’t think things through completely? Every time you think of something, you have someone summon me. Now that I’m leaving, don’t summon me later. I’m not idle with nothing to do in Luo City.”

With that, he turned and strode away.

Xiao Shan chased after him for a few steps. “Young Master—” But knowing he couldn’t make him stay, he called, “Young Master, let me get you a good rain cloak—”

Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked from behind again by Zhong Changrong.

Xie Yanlai had also disappeared from view.

“General,” Xiao Shan turned around with slumped shoulders, looking unhappy. “Why are you hitting me?”

Zhong Changrong exclaimed, “I hit you and you give me attitude? But that Xie Yanlai—” He pointed toward the doorway where the figure had vanished. “Last year he beat you until you cried, yet when you see him, you act like you’re seeing your own father?”

Mentioning last year’s incident, Xiao Shan’s eyes suddenly reddened, as if the pain of that beating had surged back.

“What do you understand, General?” he said with a thick nasal tone. “You all only saw that I cried, but you didn’t see that Young Master Xie was also crying. While beating me, he was crying himself. What does that prove? It proves I disappointed him too much. He had high expectations for me—the beating fell on my body, but the pain was in his heart. I have no father, but if my father were alive, he’d probably treat me just like Young Master Xie does.”

Zhong Changrong listened in astonishment, both amused and exasperated. What utter nonsense.

He didn’t actually know what had happened between Xie Yanlai and Xiao Shan. It seemed that right after he’d left, someone reported that Xie Yanlai had given Xiao Shan a beating and sent him back.

He hadn’t taken it seriously—since Xie Yanlai came to the border army, he’d gotten into private fights more than once or twice.

That dog’s temper, naturally annoying to people.

Of course, some generals had also made snide remarks to him, saying that Xiao Shan was Zhong Changrong’s man, so naturally the Xie clan wouldn’t use him. They reminded him that the Xie clan wasn’t of one mind with them, and he should guard against this Xie Yanlai too.

Zhong Changrong naturally ignored such talk. The Xie clan was indeed not of one mind with him, but this Xie Yanlai—

He was heartless!

Zhong Changrong’s mind wandered slightly as Xiao Shan crouched on the ground muttering. “I broke Young Master’s heart. I’ve been working hard to improve myself for a year, hoping Young Master will notice me—”

Zhong Changrong kicked him. “You worthless thing. I give you soldiers and horses, made you squad leader, let you lead troops into battle—you don’t think of repaying me, but only think of getting Xie Yanlai to notice you. What good does getting his attention do?”

“General, fighting under Young Master Xie’s command is so satisfying,” Xiao Shan retorted, becoming animated. “When Young Master fights, it’s with ingenious strategies, incredible speed, and ruthless methods. The battles he fights leave not a single Xi Liang soldier alive—extremely fierce.”

This kid Xie Yanlai was indeed fierce in battle, fighting as if he didn’t care about his own life, which was why Zhong Changrong couldn’t help worrying every time.

“Fierce, yes—and the casualties are fierce too,” he muttered.

“That’s not true at all,” Xiao Shan immediately objected. “Young Master fights the fiercest battles, trains fiercely in private, and protects everyone fiercely on the battlefield too. Young Master doesn’t recklessly trade lives for military merits. He’s clever—both skilled and capable of fighting. Many of the brothers under his command have received his help. Otherwise they’d have died on the battlefield long ago. Although I haven’t had the honor of fighting alongside Young Master, when he beat me that time, it looked severe, but he avoided vital areas. My backside has plenty of flesh, so he only struck my buttocks—”

Zhong Changrong really couldn’t listen anymore and kicked him again. “Shut up! It’s been a year since you came back and you’re still like this.”

Xiao Shan got up and started walking away.

“Hey, hey, where are you going?” Zhong Changrong called again. “Do you have any more of that ginger tea? Is the hot water ready? Where is it? I got drenched too—”

Xiao Shan didn’t turn his head. “The hot water is ready, in the pot. Sir, you can go scoop some and drink it yourself. After you’re done drinking, soak yourself in the pot. I still have things to do—it’s our squad’s turn to patrol the city today.”

Zhong Changrong glared angrily. Why did it become just drinking a couple gulps of hot water when it came to him?

“You stinking brat, you still remember you’re supposed to patrol the city? Yet you sneak into my place to fawn over someone,” he cursed.

But the kick missed—that kid had already run off like a wisp of smoke.

Zhong Changrong cursed under his breath as he went to wash up himself. He’d just changed out of his clothes when a message was delivered. Hearing it was from the capital, Zhong Changrong couldn’t even wait to dress properly before taking it. He opened it and read thoughtfully, pacing back and forth in the room several times before finally stopping, as if he’d made a difficult decision.

“Someone come,” he ordered. “Summon School Captain Xie from Luo City.”

……

……

Xie Yanlai burst in carrying the atmosphere of rain with him.

“General Zhong,” he called out, “I said before, don’t casually summon me—”

Zhong Changrong glared at him. “There’s a new assignment.”

Xie Yanlai stood in the hall, raising his hand to brush the rainwater from his brow, his phoenix eyes slanting upward. “This subordinate officer will not comply with orders.”

Zhong Changrong gave a cold laugh. “Go to the capital.”

The cold laugh that had been rising to Xie Yanlai’s nose immediately stopped, and his fingers froze on his brow.

The capital.

In that distant capital was someone he hadn’t seen in a long time—her.