Chu Zhao’s head tilted and struck the edge of the bed, jolting her awake.

The little rabbit in her arms had long since run off, cowering under the bed. Startled by her sudden movement, it jumped up again and squeezed into a crevice in the bed frame.

Chu Zhao came to her senses and hurriedly knelt up to look at the bed. Chu Ling slept soundlessly—

She grasped her father’s hand to feel his pulse, then let out a breath of relief and slid down to sit on the floor. He was still there—

The room was dim, with candlelight flickering in the outer chamber.

“Father.” Chu Zhao called softly, shaking Chu Ling’s arm.

Although doctors said that patients needed more rest, when the physician said this, Chu Ling had smiled and said he would soon rest forever anyway, so rather than that, while he was still alive, he should spend more time with everyone.

“So, Ah Zhao, if I fall asleep, remember to wake me up,” he had instructed.

Until he could no longer be woken.

With Chu Zhao’s shaking, Chu Ling opened his eyes. Though he could see nothing, he immediately responded: “Ah Zhao, did I fall asleep again?”

Chu Zhao nodded, making herself smile as she said: “Yes, Father. The stories of my childhood were too boring—you talked both yourself and me to sleep.”

Chu Ling seemed thoughtful: “So when you were young, I could fall asleep so easily—it wasn’t because I told stories well, but because I told them boringly.”

Chu Zhao laughed heartily.

Hearing the father and daughter talking and laughing in the inner chamber, A’Le came in from outside: “General, Miss, you’re awake. Would you like to eat something?”

As she spoke, she made hand gestures to Chu Zhao.

“Miss, as you instructed, chicken soup has been stewing in the kitchen.”

Chu Zhao made a sound of acknowledgment and first asked if Chu Ling wanted to eat.

“Yes.” Chu Ling said, “Since I’m still alive, I should eat.”

Chu Zhao smiled and said good: “Father, I’ll go get it myself.”

With that, she pulled A’Le toward the outer chamber.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

A’Le said: “A’Jiu came looking for you. He says you stole his rabbit and wants you to return it.”

Chu Zhao scoffed: “What nonsense—it’s clearly mine! I’m going to find him!”

Her footsteps stomped away into the distance.

Chu Ling lay on the bed and couldn’t help but smile. His eyes were blind, his body had no strength, but his hearing was exceptionally good. He could even hear the patrol of soldiers and horses passing outside the courtyard, insects crawling on the wall in the corner—

A person slid through the door like a swallow, footsteps very light, suggesting agile movement.

Chu Ling thought of their previous meeting. During the chaos in the capital, this young man had also undergone a baptism by fire—his aura should be different now.

His aura was like a sword carrying cold air, circling around him.

“A’Jiu, what are you looking at?” Chu Ling said.

The person standing by the bed was startled and stepped back.

“Do I look different from before? Did I frighten you?” Chu Ling asked.

Xie Yanlai looked at the general on the bed. Indeed, compared to his imposing appearance from their first meeting, even compared to when they’d met just days ago, the current general was almost unrecognizable.

Chu Ling had withered completely.

“No,” he said.

Whether he meant there was no difference or that he wasn’t frightened, Chu Ling smiled: “After all, you’ve fought through chaos and killed Xi Liang bandits as well—nothing can frighten you.”

Xie Yanlai lowered his eyes and said: “No, I’ve seen my mother’s death.”

Chu Ling’s smile faded, leaving only gentleness. Looking in the direction where Xie Yanlai stood, he said: “Each of us must bid farewell to our own parents.”

Xie Yanlai didn’t respond to this.

“A’Jiu, thank you. That Ah Zhao could come see me off—it’s thanks to you,” Chu Ling said.

Xie Yanlai quickly interrupted: “General, please don’t say that. This has nothing to do with me. She came of her own accord. I came under the Emperor’s orders to bring her back. It’s just that one is the Emperor, one is the Empress—I’m just a servant who can’t afford to offend either side, so I obey both.”

Chu Ling laughed heartily: “You’re right. We servants are just this helpless. In the future—”

Xie Yanlai interrupted again, glancing outside. He hadn’t come to chat with General Chu. This general had limited time—he should spend it talking with the people most important to him.

“General,” he said, “Mu Mianhong asked me to inquire if she could see you.”

The withered general on the bed fell silent.

It seemed like a very long time, yet also just a breath.

“Did she follow us the whole way here?” Chu Ling asked.

Xie Yanlai said: “Not the whole way. She was the one who saved Miss Chu when she was attacked, then she traveled with us. She left when we reached the commandery city.”

Chu Ling was silent for a moment, then said: “I’ll see her.”

Xie Yanlai didn’t ask more questions. He responded affirmatively and turned to leave.

Chu Ling said from behind: “Don’t let Ah Zhao know.”

Xie Yanlai didn’t turn back: “I understand.”

Having said this, he gritted his teeth again. What was he saying? One was her father, one was her mother—who was he to say he understood? What business was it of his!

He strode out quickly, then strode back quickly. Without speaking, he grabbed the little rabbit from the crevice by the bed and strode away again.

Chu Ling didn’t inquire about his return; he only smiled.

The room returned to quiet, though Chu Ling’s ears were not quiet. He listened to footsteps receding, then heard delicate footsteps approaching—

The delicate footsteps stopped at the doorway, as if not daring to take another step forward.

“Come in,” Chu Ling said. “At this point, there’s no need to dwell on the past or feel anxious and hesitant.”

Following his words, the halted footsteps fell like urgent rain, rushing from outside straight into the inner chamber—

Mu Mianhong stood by the bed, her slender figure swaying in the dim light. She looked at the man lying on the bed, and more than ten years of the past instantly flooded her heart—

She covered her face with both hands and knelt down.

“When it started, I don’t know,” she sobbed and murmured.

Chu Ling’s expression was calm, neither joyful nor angry: “What would it matter if you knew? Can you bring the dead back to life?”

Mu Mianhong cried and said: “General, you still speak so harshly.”

Chu Ling fell silent.

In the quiet room, the past churned up.

It seemed like a long time, yet also just an instant, before Chu Ling broke the silence, pressing down the past.

“The reason I’m letting you see me.”

“Is because you saved Ah Zhao’s life.”

“Whoever saves my Ah Zhao is my benefactor.”

“Since my benefactor has a request, and the request is merely to see me once, I naturally consent.”

Only a benefactor, only because she saved his daughter—nothing more.

Mu Mianhong knelt by the bed, looking at the man before her who was both strange and familiar, tears streaming down like rain.

……

……

“He said he was waiting for you by the kitchen.”

A’Le searched inside and outside the kitchen, asking the servants and guards. The servants and guards all shook their heads, saying they hadn’t seen Xie Yanlai.

“Ignore him,” Chu Zhao said. After tasting the chicken soup and preparing to serve it, Xie Yanlai came back from outside.

“Where did you go?” Chu Zhao asked.

Xie Yanlai didn’t speak, just patted his chest—

Chu Zhao immediately spotted the little rabbit bulging from his chest and pounced: “It’s mine! Despicable—you actually used a diversionary tactic!”

Xie Yanlai turned to dodge, raising his eyebrows: “It’s mine. I discovered it first.”

Chu Zhao didn’t care and reached into his chest to snatch the little rabbit.

Xie Yanlai extended his hand to press against her forehead: “I can give it to you, but there’s a condition. I already told your father about it, and your father said there should be a condition.”

Father? Had he just gone to speak with Father? Chu Zhao giggled: “What sweet talk did you feed my father this time?”

Xie Yanlai said: “General Chu is just and fair. He agreed I could take the rabbit, but you have to make me a bowl of soup, and then I’ll give you the rabbit.”

Chu Zhao scoffed: “Fine! I dare make it—as long as you dare eat it.” She actually went to wash her hands and make soup.

A’Le pursed her lips, ignoring their bickering, and went to stand by the door. Xie Yanlai leaned against the doorway waiting for his soup, listening to Chu Zhao’s endless chatter.

“Is my father still awake?” “What did you say to him?” “You’ve been on patrol all night—why don’t you go sleep?” “When you have free time, come talk more with my father.”

He answered her questions intermittently. As they were talking, a commotion came from outside, voices like thunder.

“—Why are you here! Someone—”

This was Zhong Changrong’s voice.

Xie Yanlai’s expression changed. Chu Zhao dropped her bowl with a clatter and lifted her foot to rush outside.

“Chu Zhao.” Xie Yanlai reached out to stop the girl who had rushed to the doorway. “Wait.”