Xie Yanfang didn’t care about what was happening in the great hall. He carefully examined the document he had written and called for a eunuch to enter.

“These are detailed explanations of several state affairs I’ve just written. Take them to His Majesty,” Xie Yanfang said. “His Majesty can read them when he finishes his studies.”

The eunuch smiled respectfully: “Master Xie is joking. Your writing is so clear and easy to understand. His Majesty enjoys reading it very much. Every night before sleep, he can’t put it down, and only does so when Eunuch Qi urges him.”

Xie Yanfang said: “If His Majesty enjoys reading them, I will write more for him.”

He wouldn’t rush to appear before Xiao Yu.

He would wait patiently, showing his heart to the child, waiting for the child to let go of his resentment and approach him of his own accord.

When night fell, the imperial palace quieted down as all officials except those on duty had left.

Though the throngs of officials were gone, the documents piled on Deng Yi’s desk were like mountains. The busy Deng Yi suddenly stopped and called for someone.

A minor official approached.

“Go,” Deng Yi said, “bring me that military merit register.”

The minor official was stunned for a moment, then understood what Deng Yi meant.

“Sir, are you going to approve it for Chu Wei?” he asked.

Deng Yi, holding his brush, said: “It’s not about approving it for Chu Wei. I want to see why they don’t want me to approve it.”

……

……

His fingers turned the pages of the document. Under the flickering lamplight, his fingers soon stopped at one spot, tapping it lightly.

The minor official quickly approached to look, reading the names: “Liang Yao, Liang Qiang.” He exclaimed: “It’s the Liang family!”

“So it’s the Liang family,” the minor official clapped his hands in realization. “That boy did it deliberately!”

Their only talent as paid informants was to be Deng Yi’s eyes and ears, and they naturally noticed that the official was Xie Yanfang’s man.

“No wonder that boy deliberately provoked you. It turns out he meant to anger you,” the minor official said. “The Liang family has a feud with the Xie family. The Liang family’s exile to the border commandery was the Xie family’s doing. Xie Yanfang doesn’t want to see the Liang family receive merit.”

The minor official excitedly finished speaking all by himself, while Deng Yi just looked at the names on the military merit register and said: “Heroes emerge in troubled times. War is a tragic thing, but for many, it’s also an opportunity.”

Hadn’t he also found opportunity in troubled times?

He didn’t mind others having the same opportunity.

Deng Yi wrote the character for “Approved” at the end of the document, then affixed the Grand Tutor’s seal and the imperial jade seal.

“As General Chu wishes,” he said.

……

……

When Xie Yanfang left the imperial palace, he wasn’t surrounded by layers of guards. Only Du Qi accompanied him as he walked through the streets. Even the night couldn’t conceal his elegance, and passersby couldn’t help but look at him.

“It’s Third Young Master Xie.”

“Third Young Master Xie!”

Some whispered, some exclaimed excitedly, but no one disturbed him, watching the young master stroll with his attendant, a pleasing sight.

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

“He can’t be compared to Grand Tutor Deng. When Grand Tutor Deng goes out, the streets must be cleared.”

“How can an upstart be compared to a noble family’s young master?”

Xie Yanfang paid no attention to the gazes and discussions around him, absorbed in his thoughts. However, when horse hooves thundered from behind and urgent orders were shouted, Xie Yanfang and Du Qi immediately moved aside, watching as postal couriers galloped past.

“Border commandery military merit awards,” Du Qi said softly, then sneered, “The Grand Tutor couldn’t even wait until morning and rushed to send it off.”

Xie Yanfang watched the departing couriers: “This is good. General Chu won’t have to worry about this matter.” He looked at Du Qi, “Has Miss A-Zhao seen her father?”

Du Qi nodded: “She has.”

Xie Yanfang looked into the distance: “Has General Chu’s health deteriorated further?”

Du Qi nodded again, saying softly: “His eyes can no longer see. Counting the time—he doesn’t have long.”

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

……

……

The night in the border commandery was filled with howling winds. The city was under curfew, with only soldiers visible and no civilians.

A group of riders galloped in from outside the city.

A girl wearing padded armor stopped in front of the government office.

The soldiers waiting at the government office all bowed and said, “Young Miss.”

Earlier, they had originally addressed her as Empress, but it felt awkward. Chu Zhao had waved her hand and said, “We’re not in the imperial palace. An empress who patrols the city with soldiers is no longer an empress. We’re family, just call me Young Miss.”

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

“Do you want to come to the guardhouse for a drink to warm up?” Chu Zhao asked, lifting her heavy hat to address the soldiers behind her.

Should they or shouldn’t they? Dachui didn’t dare to answer, looking at the young officer in front—the leader hadn’t come, but he, Dachui, still wasn’t the one in charge.

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

Chu Zhao giggled: “No.” She pretended to be weak and delicate, “Miss Chu is young and frail and needs to rest. The important task still relies on you, good men.”

Xie Yanlai snorted and urged his horse onward. Dachui and the others hurriedly followed—

Though the leader hadn’t come, Dachui also hadn’t found the opportunity to reveal Madam Ding’s true identity to Chu Zhao. Every time he wanted to speak, he felt someone watching him, and he didn’t dare to say anything.

Never mind, he would take it one step at a time—having finally attached himself to the Empress, this great tree, Dachui didn’t want to die so soon.

The group galloped away.

Chu Zhao quickly entered the government office, running to the rear courtyard.

“Young Miss, Young Miss,” A-Le was waiting in the corridor, her face full of smiles. “It’s even colder today.”

Chu Zhao made a sound of agreement, hugging her cloak tightly as she rushed into the room.

“Father, are you asleep?” she called loudly from the hall. “I’m back.”

Such a loud shout would wake him even if he were asleep. A-Le smiled.

A voice came from the inner room, neither hot nor cold: “I know, I’m not asleep yet. I was waiting for you.”

Chu Zhao threw off her boots, which were as hard as ice blocks. A-Le helped her remove her cloak, while two other maids put warm shoes on her and patted her body with hot towels to warm her up quickly and prevent her from bringing the cold air into the inner room.

A moment later, Chu Zhao hurriedly walked to the inner room, looking at Chu Wei lying on the bed.

Under the dim lamplight, the middle-aged man on the bed was as pale as paper, his eyes lifeless. However, his face still wore a smile, and he looked toward where Chu Zhao stood.

The girl’s smile bloomed like a flower in the lamplight.

“Father,” she said with a hint of pride, “guess what I brought back?”

Chu Wei said: “Did the Young Miss who was patrolling the city catch a spy?”

“No,” Chu Zhao smiled, opening the hands she had held in front of her to reveal a snow-white rabbit. “I found a rabbit in the snow.”

“A-Zhao is impressive,” Chu Wei said. “Being able to catch a rabbit in the snowy night—was it A-Jiu who caught it?”

“It wasn’t A-Jiu!”

“Alright, he found it first, but I caught it myself.”

The girl’s clear voice filled the inner room. Chu Wei lay in bed, listening with a smile, then felt something soft and furry in his hand.

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

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

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

“Has it been too long?” Chu Wei asked with a smile. “Have you forgotten all about your childhood?”

Yes, Chu Zhao thought as she sat by the bed. For her, who had lived a second life, childhood was indeed very distant.

“Father, tell me about my childhood,” she said.

Chu Wei gently stroked the snow-white rabbit and softly began: “You were no ordinary child. When you were born, the room was filled with red light. A passing fortune teller immediately turned pale, pointing and saying this was a heavenly auspicious sign—”

Chu Zhao laughed so hard she held her stomach.

“Father—have you been eavesdropping on storytellers in the teahouses again?”

A-Le, standing in the outer room, heard the laughter of father and daughter and smiled too, raising her hand to wipe away tears as she quietly withdrew.

As the night deepened, the laughter in the room gradually subsided.

Chu Zhao watched as the hand stroking the white rabbit stopped moving. Her face turned as white as the rabbit. Slowly, she reached out to feel Chu Wei’s pulse, then sighed in relief and slumped back down on the floor beside the bed.

Thank goodness, her father was still alive.

Although the doctor said he could die at any moment.

Chu Zhao held the snow rabbit in her arms, leaned against the bed, buried her head in her knees, and tears soaked her dress.

But she was still happy that this time, she could accompany her father as he passed away.

……

……

The howling wind of the late night was unbridled. Xie Yanlai was staggering in the wind as he walked back to his lodgings.

In such strong wind, he stopped and looked toward the government office, wondering if Chu Zhao could sleep.

The next moment, his foot turned as he looked in a certain direction.

“Who is it?” he said coldly. “You’re skilled enough to enter the city, why are you still hiding?”

A figure swayed in the howling wind, emerging from the corner of a building.

“Young Master A-Jiu,” a gentle female voice said, “it’s me.”

Xie Yanlai made a sound, with a half-smile: “Madam Ding? What’s wrong? Unfamiliar with this place? Can’t find where Mr. Ding is?”

Mu Mian Hong took a few more steps. In the night, her frail body swayed, but the fierce wind couldn’t sweep her away.

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

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

His hand moved to his waist.

“Don’t use your weapon.”

The female voice said, with a hint of a smile, and also, affection?

Xie Yanlai snickered. Such tricks might work on foolish bandits like Dachui, but not on him. He wouldn’t change his expression even if a mountain collapsed before him. How could a few weak, gentle words affect him?

“I am A-Zhao’s mother.”

The cold wind suddenly rushed into his mouth. Xie Yanlai’s snicker turned into a cough. He withdrew his hand from his waist to cover his mouth, suppressing the coughing.

This was like seeing a ghost in the middle of the night!

……

……

“Aren’t you dead?” Xie Yanlai asked hoarsely, staring at the woman before him.

The woman smiled and asked: “Has A-Zhao told you about me?”

Though it was deep in the night, Xie Yanlai could still detect the familiar gaze, just like that of Zhong Changrong, except Zhong Changrong glared, while this woman smiled at him.

Xie Yanlai made a sound: “Does she need to tell me? General Chu mentioned it over a decade ago. Who in the world doesn’t know?”

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

Was she feeling dejected? Xie Yanlai’s face remained expressionless. Whatever sad story they had in the past had nothing to do with him.

“Xiaoman is my person.” The woman didn’t remain dejected for long, quickly raising her head. “General Chu and Zhong Changrong know about me. Zhong Changrong and General Chu also know about Xiaoman. A-Jiu, you don’t question my identity either. I won’t waste more time.”

Xie Yanlai gazed at her coldly, neither confirming nor denying, only saying: “I don’t care who you are, but if you’re coming to me, wanting me to tell Chu Zhao your identity, you’ve found the wrong person. First, I’m not close to Chu Zhao. Her private matters aren’t my concern, and I won’t meddle in others’ affairs. Secondly, you’ve followed Chu Zhao for so long but haven’t dared to reveal who you are. General Chu hasn’t mentioned you’re still alive for so many years. How much trouble you are, even a fool would know.”

The woman’s voice became sorrowful: “A-Zhao is so pitiful. Don’t you think she would be very happy to know her mother is still alive?” She stepped forward, and the fierce wind swept away the thick night, allowing them to see each other’s blurry faces.

Madam Ding was no longer covering her face. In the night, her face was as clear 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 ice mountain, coldly saying: “Chu Zhao was raised by General Chu. He raised her well. Chu Zhao has been without a mother for over a decade, and there’s no need for her to have one now. As for whether I have a mother or not, it has nothing to do with whether she has one or not—Madam Ding.”

He also stepped forward, drawing the sword from his waist, pointing its tip at Mu Mian Hong.

“Leave immediately. Don’t let me see you again, or I will kill you.”

The woman wasn’t frightened. The sorrow on her face dissipated, and she smiled gently, whispering: “Good child.”

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

The woman curtseyed.

“A-Jiu, I’m not asking A-Zhao to recognize me. I came to find you to ask if you could help me ask General Chu if I could see him once.”

“I know his time is limited. I want to see him once more.”

“And if General Chu is willing to see me, please take A-Zhao away so she doesn’t find out.”

“Those around him hate and guard against me. If I appear, there will surely be trouble. A-Zhao is constantly by the General’s side, and I fear she’ll discover me.”

“So I can only ask you, an outsider who knows nothing, to trouble yourself to ask for me.”

“Mu Mian Hong, thank you for your great kindness.”

Mu Mian Hong? Xie Yanlai was stunned. This name was so familiar—when he was a postal courier and had to deliver a message to the border commandery, he had made thorough preparations, studying and familiarizing himself with every postal station along the way, as well as the customs and people of the border commandery.

The name Mu Mian Hong was among them.

A bandit.

A great bandit.

A great bandit stronghold that was once wiped out by Chu Wei—

The rumors of that year, the dispute between Chu Wei and the Emperor, the truth that had been abandoned for over a decade—

In a flash, he seemed to understand everything, yet also nothing. Xie Yanlai shook his head. What did matters from over a decade ago have to do with him?

He shook his head and stood straight, also sheathing his sword.

“If he doesn’t want to see you, you must disappear immediately and never appear again,” Xie Yanlai said.

This was his agreement. Mu Mian Hong quickly bowed 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, including parental love. You don’t need to wallow in self-pity or indulge in self-emotion.”

With that, he strode away, disappearing into the night wind.

Xiaoman emerged from the side and snorted: “Auntie, this boy is too fierce. Hearing that someone’s lost mother has appeared, a mother-daughter reunion should be a joyous event, but what’s his attitude? He even threatens with life and death.”

Mu Mian Hong watched the figure disappearing into the night and said softly: “His fierceness is to protect A-Zhao.”

When this child heard her identity, his first thought was caution. He wouldn’t allow her to bring harm to A-Zhao.