Xie Yanfang didn’t care what happened at the great hall. He carefully examined the document he had written and called a eunuch in.

“This is a detailed explanation of several court matters I just finished writing. Send it to His Majesty.” Xie Yanfang said. “When His Majesty finishes his lessons, he can read it at leisure.”

The eunuch smiled respectfully: “Lord Xie jests. Lord Xie writes in such clear and easy-to-understand language that His Majesty loves reading it. Every night before bed he reads and can’t put it down. Eunuch Qi has to urge him before he’ll set it aside.”

Xie Yanfang said: “If His Majesty enjoys reading it, I’ll continue writing for His Majesty.”

He wouldn’t rush to walk directly before Xiao Yu.

He would wait slowly, showing his heart to this child, waiting for this child to let go of his grievances and come to him of his own accord.

By the time night fell and all officials except those on duty had left, the imperial city finally quieted down.

Though there were no longer crowds of officials, documents piled like mountains on Deng Yi’s desk. The busy Deng Yi suddenly stopped and called for someone.

A clerk approached.

“Go.” Deng Yi said. “Bring me that military merit registry.”

The clerk was momentarily stunned, then reacted and understood what Deng Yi meant.

“My lord is going to approve it for Chu Ling?” He asked.

Deng Yi held his brush and said: “Not approving it for Chu Ling. I want to see why someone doesn’t want me to approve it.”

……

……

Fingers turned through the document, lamplight flickered. Soon the fingers stopped at one place and tapped lightly.

The clerk hurried to look closer and read the names written there: “Liang Yao, Liang Qiang.” He exclaimed: “It’s the Liang clan!”

“So it’s the Liang clan.” The clerk clapped his hands again, suddenly understanding. “That fellow did it on purpose!”

Those who paid money to get in here had no other skill than being sharp-eyed and keen-eared, serving as Deng Yi’s eyes and hands. Naturally they had noticed that official was Xie Yanfang’s man.

“No wonder that fellow deliberately picked a fight right away—he was purposely trying to enrage my lord.” The clerk said. “The Liang clan has a grudge against the Xie clan. The Liang clan being exiled to the border commandery was the Xie clan’s doing. Xie Yanfang definitely doesn’t want to see the Liang clan gain merit.”

The clerk finished speaking animatedly all by himself. Deng Yi only looked at the names on the military merit document and said: “Chaos brings forth heroes. Warfare is a tragic thing, but for many people it’s also an opportunity.”

Hadn’t he himself also gained opportunity amid chaos?

He didn’t mind if others also had this chance.

Deng Yi raised his brush and wrote the character for “approved” at the end of the document, then took the Grand Tutor’s great seal and the imperial seal and stamped them.

“As General Chu wishes.” He said.

……

……

Xie Yanfang left the imperial city. He wasn’t surrounded by layers of guards—only Du Qi accompanied him. Walking through the marketplace, even the night couldn’t hide his elegance. Passersby couldn’t help but look over.

“It’s Third Young Master Xie.”

“Third Young Master Xie!”

Some whispered, some called out excitedly, but everyone refrained from disturbing him, watching as the young master rode leisurely with one attendant, a pleasing sight.

“Third Young Master Xie holds an important position and the situation is unstable, yet he still travels without guards.”

“Can’t compare with Grand Tutor Deng. When Grand Tutor Deng travels, he has streets sealed off.”

“How can a petty person who’s achieved success compare with a noble scion?”

Xie Yanfang paid no attention to the surrounding gazes and discussions, immersed in thought. However, when urgent horse hooves sounded from behind with urgent orders, Xie Yanfang immediately moved aside with Du Qi, watching a courier gallop past.

“Military merit rewards for the border commandery.” Du Qi said quietly, then added mockingly: “The Grand Tutor’s orders couldn’t even wait through the night—he rushed to send them off.”

Xie Yanfang watched the departing courier: “This is good. General Chu won’t be troubled by this matter.” He looked at Du Qi. “Miss A’Zhao has already seen her father, hasn’t she?”

Du Qi nodded: “She has.”

Xie Yanfang looked into the distance: “General Chu’s health has worsened, hasn’t it?”

Du Qi nodded again and said quietly: “His eyes can no longer see. By calculation—he doesn’t have much time left.”

Xie Yanfang sighed softly: “Miss A’Zhao must be both happy and sad now.”

……

……

The night wind howled wildly over the border commandery. The city was under curfew. Aside from soldiers, no other figures were visible.

A group of mounted soldiers galloped from outside the city.

Among them, the girl wearing padded armor stopped before the government office.

The soldiers guarding the government office bowed one after another: “Miss.”

Previously they had originally called her Empress, but it always felt awkward. Chu Zhao waved her hand grandly and said: “This isn’t the imperial capital. An empress patrolling the city with soldiers isn’t an empress anymore. Everyone is family—just call me Miss.”

So everyone comfortably called her Miss. They were family, after all.

“Want to come to the gatehouse for a drink to warm up?” Chu Zhao asked, lifting her heavy hat to look at the soldiers behind her.

Should they or shouldn’t they? Ding Dachui didn’t dare answer and looked toward the young officer ahead—though the boss hadn’t come, Ding Dachui still hadn’t become the decision-maker.

Xie Yanlai’s entire face was wrapped in a scarf with only his eyes showing. He glanced at Chu Zhao: “Rather than drinking wine, Miss Chu should continue patrolling with us.”

Chu Zhao laughed mischievously: “No.” She made a delicate gesture. “Miss Chu is young and frail. She needs to rest. The heavy responsibility still relies on you fine lads.”

Xie Yanlai scoffed and spurred his horse to gallop away. Ding Dachui and the others hurried to follow—

Though the boss hadn’t come, Ding Dachui still hadn’t managed to expose Granny Ding’s true identity to Chu Zhao, because every time he wanted to speak, he always felt someone watching him. He just couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Forget it, take things one step at a time—having finally latched onto the big tree that was the Empress, Ding Dachui didn’t want to die so early.

The group galloped away.

Chu Zhao quickly entered the government office and ran straight toward the rear courtyard.

“Miss, Miss.” A’Le waited in the corridor, face full of smiles. “It’s even colder today.”

Chu Zhao made an affirmative sound, clutching her cloak tightly as she rushed into the room.

“Father, are you asleep?” She stood in the hall and shouted loudly. “I’m back.”

With such loud shouting, even someone asleep would be startled awake. A’Le smiled helplessly.

A voice already came from the inner chamber, calm and measured: “I know. Not asleep yet. Waiting for you.”

Chu Zhao kicked off boots that were as hard as ice blocks. A’Le removed her cloak while two other maids put warm shoes on her feet and used hot towels to pat her body, helping her warm up quickly and also to avoid bringing the cold air into the inner chamber.

A moment later, Chu Zhao hurried toward the inner chamber and looked at Chu Ling lying in bed.

Under the dim lamplight, the middle-aged man in bed had a face like white paper, his eyes unfocused. However, his face still bore a smile and he looked toward where Chu Zhao was.

The girl under the lamplight had a face like a flower in bloom.

“Father.” She said with some pride. “Guess what I brought back?”

Chu Ling said: “Did the young lady patrolling the city catch a spy?”

“No.” Chu Zhao laughed and opened her hands that had been held before her, revealing a small rabbit white as snow. “I found a rabbit in the snow.”

“A’Zhao is impressive.” Chu Ling said. “To be able to catch a rabbit in the snowy night—did A’Jiu catch it?”

“It wasn’t A’Jiu!”

“Fine, he discovered it first, but I caught it myself.”

The girl’s clear voice rang out in the inner chamber. Chu Ling lay in bed listening with a smile, then felt something soft and fluffy in his hand.

“Father, look, the little rabbit is like a snowball.” Chu Zhao said.

Chu Ling said: “Rabbits bite. Don’t forget—when you were little you got bitten and cried for three days.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily: “Really? I don’t remember that at all.”

“Was it too long ago?” Chu Ling asked with a smile. “Have you forgotten things from childhood?”

Yes. Chu Zhao sat by the bed thinking—for her, having lived a second life, childhood really was very distant.

“Father, tell me about when I was little.” She said.

Chu Ling gently stroked the snow rabbit with one hand and spoke softly: “You weren’t ordinary as a child. When you were just born, red light filled the room. A fortune teller passing by immediately changed expression and pointed, saying an auspicious omen had descended from heaven—”

Chu Zhao laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.

“Father—did you sneak off to the street to listen to the teahouse storytellers again?”

A’Le stood in the outer chamber. Hearing the father and daughter’s laughter and conversation inside, she smiled too, raised her hand to wipe away tears, and quietly withdrew.

Deep in the night, the sounds of conversation inside gradually stopped.

Chu Zhao watched the hand stroking the snow rabbit motionless, her face as white as the snow rabbit itself. She slowly reached out to feel Chu Ling’s pulse. The next moment she sighed with relief and slumped back down on the floor beside the bed.

Thank goodness, Father was still alive.

Though the physician said he could die at any time.

Chu Zhao held the snow rabbit in her arms, leaning against the bed, burying her head in her knees. Tears wet her dress.

But she was still very happy. This time, she could accompany Father as he left this world.

……

……

The cold wind of late night howled unrestrained. When Xie Yanlai walked back to his lodgings, he was blown about unsteadily.

With such strong wind, he stopped and glanced toward the government office, wondering if Chu Zhao could sleep?

The next moment his foot turned toward another direction.

“Who’s there?” He said coldly. “If you’re capable enough to get into the city, why hide?”

The cold wind swirled, and a figure swayed. Someone walked out from around a corner.

“Young Master A’Jiu.” A gentle female voice. “It’s me.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound of acknowledgment with a half-smile: “Oh, Granny Ding. What’s this? Unfamiliar with the area? Came but can’t find where Uncle Ding is?”

Mu Mianhong walked a few more steps. In the night her thin body swayed, but the fierce wind couldn’t blow her away.

“A’Jiu.” She didn’t answer, nor did she say anything else. She only said: “I want to see General Chu.”

Xie Yanlai laughed with a “ha”: “I knew I guessed right. Chu Zhao is a fool who refuses to guess at your intentions, but I knew at a glance—you came for General Chu.”

His hand pressed to his waist.

“Don’t draw your weapon.”

The female voice said, carrying laughter and also—tenderness?

Xie Yanlai scoffed. This kind of trick might work on foolish bandits like Ding Dachui, but what use was it before him? He could remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before his eyes. Could a few delicate words do anything to him?

“I’m A’Zhao’s mother.”

Cold wind suddenly rushed into his mouth. Xie Yanlai’s scoff turned into coughing. He moved his hand from his waist to cover his mouth, suppressing the coughing.

In the middle of the night—this was truly seeing a ghost!

……

……

“Aren’t you dead?”

Xie Yanlai asked hoarsely, glaring at the woman before him.

The woman asked with a smile: “A’Zhao told you about me?”

Though it was deep night, Xie Yanlai could still detect the familiar gaze—just like that Zhong Changrong, though Zhong Changrong glared while this woman smiled.

Xie Yanlai scoffed: “She doesn’t need to say. General Chu said so over a decade ago. Everyone in the world knows.”

The woman before him was silent for a moment, then nodded in the darkness: “Yes, you’re right.”

Melancholy and sorrowful? Xie Yanlai’s face was numb. Whatever sad past stories they had were none of his business.

“Xiao Man is my person.” The woman wasn’t melancholy and sorrowful. She quickly raised her head. “General Chu and Zhong Changrong both know me. Zhong Changrong and General Chu also know Xiao Man. A’Jiu, you don’t question my identity either. I won’t say more to waste time.”

Xie Yanlai looked at her coldly, neither confirming nor denying, only saying: “I don’t care who you are, but if you came to find me to tell Chu Zhao your identity through me, you’ve found the wrong person. First, Chu Zhao and I aren’t close. Her private affairs have nothing to do with me, and I won’t meddle—second, you followed Chu Zhao so long without daring to say who you are, and General Chu hasn’t said you’re alive all these years. Even a fool knows how troublesome you are.”

The woman’s voice was sorrowful: “Poor A’Zhao. Don’t you think she’d be very happy to know her mother is still alive?” She stepped forward. The fierce wind swept away the thick night. They could see each other’s blurred faces.

This Granny Ding no longer covered her face. In the night her countenance was bright as the moon.

Her gaze was as gentle as moonlight.

“Child, do you have a mother?”

The moonlight was gentle, but Xie Yanlai in his black clothes was like an iceberg, saying coldly: “Chu Zhao was raised by General Chu. He raised her very well. Chu Zhao hasn’t had a mother for over a decade and doesn’t need one going forward. As for whether I have a mother, it has nothing to do with whether she has a mother—Granny Ding.”

He also stepped forward, drew his sword, and pointed the blade at Mu Mianhong.

“Leave quickly. Don’t let me see you again. Otherwise, I’ll kill you.”

The woman wasn’t frightened. The sorrow on her face also dispersed. She smiled gently and whispered: “Good child.”

What’s wrong with her! Xie Yanlai could no longer restrain himself and was about to swing his blade—

The woman curtsied.

“A’Jiu, I’m not asking A’Zhao to acknowledge me. I came to find you to ask if you could help me inquire with General Chu whether I can see him once.”

“I know his time has come. I want to see him once more.”

“Moreover, if General Chu is willing to see me, please take A’Zhao away. Don’t let her discover it.”

“Everyone around him hates me and guards against me. If I appear, there will certainly be commotion. A’Zhao is by the General’s side at all times. I’m afraid she’ll discover it.”

“So I can only beg you, this outsider who knows nothing, to be troubled and ask for me.”

“Mu Mianhong thanks you for your great kindness.”

Mu Mianhong. Xie Yanlai was stunned. This name was so familiar—previously when he was a courier about to come to the border commandery to deliver messages, he had made very thorough preparations, studying and familiarizing himself with every relay station along the route, as well as the customs and people of the border commandery.

The name Mu Mianhong was among them.

Mountain bandit.

Great mountain bandit.

Back then, it was a large bandit stronghold personally eliminated by Chu Ling—

The rumors from back then, the dispute between Chu Ling and the Emperor, the truth that had been abandoned for over a decade—

In a daze, he seemed to understand everything, yet also understood nothing. Xie Yanlai shook his head. What did events from over a decade ago have to do with him!

He shook his head, straightened up, and also sheathed his blade.

“If he won’t see you, you disappear immediately and never appear again.” Xie Yanlai said.

This meant he agreed. Mu Mianhong hurried to bow deeply again: “Thank you, Young Master Xie.”

Xie Yanlai walked past her, then stopped and turned back to say coldly: “Also, Chu Zhao is not a pitiful child. She lacks nothing. She has parental love. You needn’t feel sorry for yourself or be self-moved.”

With that, he strode away and disappeared into the night wind.

Xiao Man emerged from the side and snorted: “Auntie, this youngster is really too fierce. Hearing that someone’s lost mother appeared, that mother and daughter could reunite—what great joy—what’s with his attitude? Threatening to kill people.”

Mu Mianhong watched the figure disappearing into the night and said softly: “He’s fierce because he’s protecting A’Zhao.”

This child, upon hearing her identity, his first thought was vigilance. He wouldn’t permit her to bring harm to A’Zhao.