A corner of the tent was lifted, and along with the dazzling sunlight came the aroma of roasted jerky. Jing Jing frowned and rolled over, opening her eyes groggily, clearly not fully awake yet. The morning breeze carried a hint of refreshing sweetness, instantly dispelling the thick medicinal smell inside the tent.
Chu Qiao didn’t raise her head. One hand supported her forehead, while the other held a black agate chess piece between her index and middle fingers, continuously tapping it on the white jade chessboard. The sound was crisp, frequent, and monotonous, revealing a hint of suppressed frustration. Yet she seemed oblivious to it. The chessboard was filled with intersecting lines and scattered pieces, but she hesitated, unable to make her move for a long time.
“Miss, everyone is ready,” Duo Ji said in a deep voice as he stood at the entrance.
Chu Qiao’s brows furrowed slightly into a crease. Duo Ji’s voice lingered quietly in the air, but she didn’t respond for a long time. Just when Duo Ji thought she hadn’t heard him and was about to repeat himself, she suddenly scattered all the chess pieces on the board, turned her head, and said firmly, “Tell everyone that starting today, we’ll be traveling day and night. Be prepared.”
Chu Qiao and her group had left the Scholar City yesterday and were now on their way to Tang Capital.
Half a month ago, Shen Jun, the only son of the great Tang scholar Shen Mobai, had suddenly visited and specifically asked to see Chu Hui.
Chu Lin was Duo Ji’s Eastern Land name, chosen by himself. He adopted Chu Qiao’s surname and used the character “hui” from Huihui Mountain.
Shen Jun’s visit to Duo Ji wasn’t a big deal, as Duo Ji’s reputation for scholarship had spread far and wide during his year in Scholar City. However, what happened afterward made Chu Qiao vigilant.
According to Duo Ji, after Shen Jun saw the treatise on world salvation that he was copying, he took it very seriously and even wrote to his father that night. Shen Mobai, who had been serving in Meishan, returned to Scholar City on the third day and kept Duo Ji at his residence for three consecutive days. In his tone, there seemed to be an implicit intention to recruit him.
Originally, this wasn’t unusual. An elderly scholar admiring a talented young man and wanting to support him wasn’t strange news. However, half a month later, Shen Mobai introduced someone to Duo Ji, and Chu Qiao finally recognized the crisis.
The person was young yet carried himself with dignity, had a mysterious identity, and even a scholar like Shen Mobai showed him great respect. Combined with Duo Ji’s description of his appearance and manner of speech, she couldn’t help but vaguely recall someone she had only met once. Thinking of some rumors she had heard recently, Chu Qiao felt increasingly tense, as if a storm was brewing. Three days later, she decided to head north, determined to meet Li Ce to ease her worries.
On the second day, the group arrived at Xiuling. The journey was filled with high ravines, streams, lush vegetation, and vast green pines. If not for her troubled state of mind, it would have been a pleasant journey of leisure and sightseeing.
However, a thunderstorm on the evening of the third day interrupted Chu Qiao’s journey.
The mountain roads became difficult to travel, with mud and depressions. By the afternoon of the fourth day, they finally reached the Qingheng River, only to discover that the flood after the heavy rain had washed away the only bridge. Another group that also needed to cross the river was rushing to repair it, but with only about thirty people, progress was slow.
Now they had only two options: either turn back and take a detour through Huaisong, which would delay them for at least ten days, or wait for the bridge to be repaired before crossing the river.
Chu Qiao gave each of the hired carriage drivers and guards an extra ten silver pieces. These honest folks immediately joined the bridge repair team ahead with great joy.
Soon, Duo Ji came to the carriage and said, “Miss, they’ve sent someone to thank us.”
Seeing that the other party didn’t intend to come and speak in person, Chu Qiao was content to stay quiet. She nodded slightly and said, “Go thank them back, and say that we’re all traveling the same way and need to cross the river. No need for thanks.”
The sky quickly darkened. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the weather was unusually stuffy. Chu Qiao slightly lifted the curtain of the carriage window. The western sky was covered with dense clouds; another heavy rain seemed imminent.
Mei Xiang had cooked meat porridge with several servants. Chu Qiao noticed that the team on the other side of the crossing was quiet. All the servants were repairing the bridge, with only a simple blue cloth carriage standing quietly under an old pine tree. In the evening’s red light, the carriage seemed to be tinged with a red glow. As the breeze passed, the curtain fluttered slightly, revealing a corner of a snow-white gold-embroidered boot, calm and indifferent, clearly belonging to someone of high status.
Mei Xiang called the guards and invited everyone to eat porridge. Seeing this, Chu Qiao told her to send the extra porridge to the people on the other side. When Mei Xiang returned, however, she was carrying a large package wrapped in oiled paper. When opened, it contained fine pastries and two large pieces of dried beef.
“They know how to return a favor,” Mei Xiang said with a smile, picking up a piece of pastry and sniffing it. “This seems to be the thousand-layer pastry from Yufuji in Baishui Pass. Miss, smell it, does it resemble what we import from Baishui for our shop?”
Chu Qiao frowned as she took it and looked at it for a while before saying quietly, “It’s not the same. What we buy are mid-range pastries, not this crisp. Such pastries wouldn’t withstand long-distance transportation for business. They must have bought them just for the journey.”
After listening, Mei Xiang clicked her tongue slightly. Although she had lived comfortably for years, she still remembered her humble origins. She murmured, “Giving away such expensive pastries, they must be quite wealthy.”
Jing Jing had been ill with a minor ailment for the past few days, constantly sleeping listlessly. Now, smelling the fragrance, she opened her eyes, and without clearly seeing what it was, called out to Mei Xiang, “Sister Mei, I want some.”
“We must be cautious. These people’s origins are unknown, so we should be careful. Mei Xiang, find a place to throw these away. No one should eat them,” Chu Qiao said.
Mei Xiang was slightly stunned but immediately nodded, “You’re right, Miss.”
The thunder had rumbled for half the day, and strong winds had howled for a long time, but by nightfall, they had subsided. When it was completely dark, the wooden bridge was finally repaired.
The other group also seemed in a hurry to continue their journey. Someone came over to exchange a few words with Duo Ji before leaving first.
Chu Qiao, unwilling to delay further, also led her people across the bridge after the other group had crossed.
However, when they reached the crossing, they saw that the porcelain bowl Mei Xiang had used to deliver the meat porridge was placed in some reeds, with the porridge intact, apparently untouched. Several wild mice were feasting at the edge of the bowl.
Chu Qiao lowered the curtain of the carriage window and quietly leaned back against the soft cushion, her brows gradually furrowing.
At midnight, they finally left the mountainous area and reached a flat plain. The guide said this place was Youyouyuan; beyond it was Xizhao Mountain, and after crossing it, they would reach Qiufeng City, the largest city in the southwest. From Qiufeng City, east would lead to Tang Capital, north to Baishui Pass, and beyond Baishui Pass was the territory of Da Xia.
After days of trekking through mountain ravines and wilderness, the sight of the plain made everyone feel more at ease.
It’s always like this on the plains: a tree in the distance looks close, but to reach it might take a whole day’s ride.
After walking on Youyouyuan for two full days, they finally reached the so-called Xizhao Mountain.
The mountain’s name was beautiful, and its scenery was equally magnificent. Several continuous mountain peaks stood tall, with lush pine trees and scattered flowers. A white waterfall cascaded down from the mountaintop, forming a white ribbon, with mist rising like a fairyland.
Being close to Qiufeng City, the mountain roads here were exceptionally wide, allowing two carriages to travel side by side without crowding.
As the sun set in the west, the fiery sunset cast a blush over everything. The pine trees and rainforests were tinged with red, flowers bloomed brilliantly, birds sang among the flowers, and the gorgeous scenery was breathtaking—truly worthy of the name “Sunset Glow.”
That evening, Chu Qiao ordered them to set up camp in a valley. The servants let out a collective cheer; the relentless journey of the past few days had indeed left everyone visibly exhausted.
However, before they could fall asleep, the howls of wild wolves, sometimes distant, sometimes near, began to echo around them. The sounds were eerie, making one’s hair stand on end.
Jing Jing, terrified, turned pale and huddled in the tent, nestled in Mei Xiang’s arms, eyes tightly shut, yet unable to fall asleep.
Chu Qiao couldn’t help but worry too. The ferocity of the hungry wolves in the southwest was well-known. Now, with their small number, mostly consisting of hired ordinary guards and carriage drivers, and with women and children in the group, an encounter with a wolf pack could have unimaginable consequences. She summoned Duo Ji and Ping An, gave them a few instructions to prepare, and finally felt a bit more at ease.
However, by late night, the wolf howls grew louder, interspersed with men’s shouts.
Chu Qiao stepped out, put on her windbreaker, instructed Ping An to guard the camp with several men, and headed towards the source of the sounds with Duo Ji and over ten guards.
Just after turning around a slope, a pungent smell of blood hit them. Looking carefully, they saw that in a depression in the valley, about a hundred wild wolves were attacking a group of people. Though the group was small in number, they were agile and skilled, chopping and moving with imposing might, behaving fiercely—clearly not easy to deal with. The wolf pack was vicious, with white fangs gleaming, relying on their numbers and showing no fear.
Blood splattered, the stench was overwhelming, and the screams were constant, sending chills down one’s spine.
“Miss?” Duo Ji frowned and said in a deep voice, “The wolf pack is too numerous. If these people are defeated, we won’t be able to stand alone.”
Chu Qiao nodded and said, “Everyone, prepare.”
The guards and carriage drivers, being people who had traveled extensively, might not match regular troops, but they were extremely brave. They prepared their bows and arrows and took their positions. Duo Ji, with a cold expression, said in a deep voice, “Fire!”
A volley of fire arrows dipped in pine oil shot out in unison. Instantly, the wolf pack was ambushed from behind, and more than ten wolves immediately fell to the ground with pained howls.
The wolf pack, enraged, turned to charge toward them, as swift as lightning and incredibly fast. In just a few leaps, they were right in front of them.
Duo Ji, quick-handed and sharp-eyed, grabbed a bucket of tung oil and splashed it in front, then threw a torch. A wall of fire instantly rose in front of the mountain, with flames reaching up to three zhang high. Several hungry wolves couldn’t stop their charging momentum and crashed into the fire, immediately letting out piercing screams.
The wolf pack feared fire and immediately became disorganized. The other group, seeing that someone had come to help, became even more spirited. The leaders shouted and charged forward, chopping and slashing, pursuing the advantage.
The hungry wolves were indeed fierce. After such a fierce battle for over an hour, they finally retreated in disarray. Before leaving, they let out a few threatening howls, clearly intending revenge.
Wolf corpses lay everywhere, and the stench was pervasive.
From the valley below, someone called out loudly, “Who are the friends above who helped us? My master thanks you all for your righteous assistance!”
Duo Ji was slightly startled upon hearing this. He peered down but couldn’t see clearly due to the trees blocking the view and the darkness of the night. He called out loudly, “Is that Brother Cao? We met at the Qingheng River.”
The other party was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, “So it’s Young Master Ji. I’m somewhat indisposed at the moment, but I’ll come to thank you later for your great kindness.”
Duo Ji quickly said, “Brother Cao, there’s no need for such formality. Are you injured? Do you need wound medicine?”
“It’s just a minor injury, not worth mentioning. Thank you for your concern, young master.”
Chu Qiao noticed a hint of caution in the other’s tone. She gently tugged at Duo Ji’s sleeve and gestured towards their camp.
Duo Ji understood and quickly said, “Then I’ll take my leave. Take care, Brother Cao.”
When they returned to the camp, Ping An was anxiously pacing back and forth. Seeing Chu Qiao, he immediately ran up and asked, “Sister, are you hurt?”
“No,” Chu Qiao shook her head and said to Duo Ji and the others, “Everyone keeps your wits about you tonight. Keep the torches burning all night, and prepare fire arrows, sulfur, and tung oil. Wolf packs are vindictive; be careful they don’t come seeking revenge.”
Everyone nodded. Chu Qiao returned to the tent and saw that Jing Jing was already asleep.
Mei Xiang helped her remove her cape and said softly, “Letting Duo Ji go would have been enough. Why did Miss need to go personally?”
Chu Qiao shook her head, her brows tightly knit, and said softly, “I’ve been restless these past few days, not knowing if something might happen.”
“Miss must be worried about His Majesty the Tang Emperor. Don’t worry, the Emperor is such a shrewd person; he won’t easily fall prey to petty schemes.”
Chu Qiao sighed gently, holding the cup of ginseng tea Mei Xiang handed her with both hands. The steam rose in wisps, but it couldn’t warm her cold hands.
“I hope so.”
For some reason, she suddenly thought of the group of people in the valley just now, and her heart inexplicably filled with worry. She couldn’t help but ask, “Mei Xiang, do we still have the wound medicine we bought from Xinglin Hall last time?”
Mei Xiang was startled and anxiously asked, “Who’s injured? Are you injured, Miss?”
“No,” Chu Qiao quickly shook her head and said, “No one is injured.”
She lay down on the felt mat, feeling a bit vexed. Mei Xiang looked her up and down with lingering fear as if suspecting she was lying.
What’s wrong with me? Chu Qiao frowned slightly.
Early the next morning, Chu Qiao’s group had barely gone far when they saw a group of people quietly waiting ahead. It was the group from last night.
A middle-aged man in his thirties came over, exchanged a few words with Duo Ji, and after some pleasantries, walked to Chu Qiao’s carriage. He bowed and said, “My master thanks the young lady for her helping hand last night. We shouldn’t be so impolite and abrupt, but receiving such kindness must be remembered. Thus, I boldly ask for the young lady’s name. Please forgive our impudence.”
Chu Qiao frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, “Seeing injustice on the road, one should offer help. There’s no need for such formality.”
The man was slightly taken aback upon hearing this and said again, “May I inquire about the young lady’s name?”
“You are quite strange. Your master only sent you forward, clearly not wanting to reveal his identity, yet you forcefully ask about mine? It’s normal for strangers meeting by chance to be cautious of each other. Since we don’t trust each other and both have matters to attend to, why not continue on our way immediately? Isn’t it boring to talk more here?”
The man was left dumbfounded, not expecting to be rebuked like this by Chu Qiao. After he retreated in a daze, the group ahead soon hastily departed.
Jing Jing clicked her tongue and said, “Sister is so impressive!”
Chu Qiao sighed and leaned back on the soft cushion.
What was impressive about that? She just didn’t want to waste time with them. The longer they delayed, the more anxious she became, and the opposing group gave her a sense of oppressive crisis. She felt that they were not ordinary people. At such a time, it was better to be cautious and have fewer troubles than more.
However, after traveling for less than half a day, another sudden incident halted their steps. By this time, even someone as dull as Ping An sensed something amiss.
On a somewhat narrow mountain path, several large trees and a pile of silt and rubble lay across the road, standing about half a person high, blocking the way forward. Everything seemed obvious; it was likely a landslide and mudslide caused by the heavy rain a few days ago. However, after multiple coincidences, no one was willing to believe this simple reason anymore.
The group of people stood in front, glaring at Chu Qiao’s group, who had arrived leisurely, making no effort to hide the hostility in their eyes.
Duo Ji, Ping An, and the others frowned in confusion, their hands naturally hanging at their sides, but their fingertips slowly brushed against the hilts of their swords and knives.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, with birds singing and the sun warmly shining down, the atmosphere was eerie and tense. No one moved to clear the debris and silt from the road; instead, they glared at each other, no one taking a step forward for a long time.
“What a coincidence,” Mr. Cao said with a cold smile, speaking slowly.
Ping An raised an eyebrow but was pulled back by Duo Ji. The young man frowned slightly and smiled faintly, “Indeed, it’s quite a coincidence. Having shared hardships with Brother Cao several times in recent days, even I, who doesn’t believe in fate, must say that heaven’s intentions are hard to fathom.”
“In my opinion, it’s not heaven’s will, but someone deliberately playing tricks.”
Ping An immediately said angrily, “Who are you talking about?”
Brother Cao coldly shouted, “Who are you people? Tell us the truth!”
“I think you’re the one who doesn’t look like a good person!” Ping An shouted angrily, drawing his sword with a swish. The cold light flashed, and he stepped forward, ready to attack.
The other side, seeing this, immediately drew their weapons. At that moment, a silver light suddenly flashed, hitting Ping An’s sword hilt with a ding. The precious sword roared like a dragon and fell to the ground with a clang. A clear, stern female voice said calmly, “Ping An, don’t be rash.”
Like a pool of cold water suddenly poured into boiling water, the atmosphere instantly calmed down.
The whole scene fell silent, with even the sound of breathing almost audible.
The breeze rustled, sweeping across everyone’s brows and eyes. In the distance, green pines swayed, creating waves of green. Birds circled and flew in the sky, chirping.
“Pop.”
A faint sound suddenly came, like boots stepping on small stones. The wind blew up the blue cloth curtain, and the Cao men immediately exclaimed in surprise, “Master?”
The person didn’t say a word but walked straight towards Chu Qiao’s carriage.
Duo Ji raised an eyebrow and immediately shouted, “Stop!”
The person paid no attention. Duo Ji gripped his sword hilt, his brows rising in anger, and was about to draw his sword.
However, just as the sword was half-drawn, a dull sound suddenly rang out. The person moved with eerie quickness, disarming Duo Ji in the blink of an eye, and casually tossed the sword to the ground.
Duo Ji’s face reddened, and he snorted angrily, about to charge forward. The person, however, showed no fear, quickly walked to Chu Qiao’s carriage, and reached out to lift her curtain.
With a “whoosh,” fresh wind suddenly blew in. The noon sunlight was dazzlingly bright, making Chu Qiao pause for a moment as the light pierced her pupils, even as she held a small crossbow aimed at the carriage door.
Duo Ji rushed forward from behind, his fingers formed into claws, reaching for the person’s neck. With his skills acquired from over three years of training under Chu Qiao, at this moment, he could subdue an enemy.
However, the person neither dodged nor evaded. He wore a moon-white long robe with cloud patterns, sword-like eyebrows, and star-bright eyes, with a clean and handsome appearance. He stood calmly in place, looking at her with clear eyes. For a moment, it was difficult to discern his emotions; his gaze was like a deep pool, a cold lake in silent solitude.
“Swoosh!”
The crossbow bolt was released, passing by the man’s ear and brushing past Duo Ji’s arm as it shot out, swift as lightning and carrying a sharp killing intent that instantly froze everyone’s movements.
“Duo Ji, step back,” Chu Qiao said quietly. There was no anger in her voice, but it carried an undeniable authority.
Duo Ji raised an eyebrow and called out, “Miss?”
Chu Qiao slightly raised the corner of her eye but didn’t speak, only turning her head to look at him calmly.
Duo Ji immediately came to his senses and slowly retreated, though his eyes still looked at the man in front of the carriage with defiance.
The fragrant breeze was intoxicating, and the weather was so beautiful it made one’s heart flutter. A row of brightly colored orioles landed on a nearby branch, singing in melodious tones. The trees stretched out like freshly drawn eyebrows, and the dense forest nearby was lush and verdant, with various charming flowers blooming among them, exquisitely beautiful, as if in a painting.
As the wind passed, the corner of the man’s robe was gently lifted. Unlike the perfumed scent of young masters from wealthy families, he carried a unique, faint fragrance of orchids. His temperament was clean and handsome, like a handful of clear snow.
“Ah!” Jing Jing, sitting behind Chu Qiao, suddenly stretched out her hand, pointing at the man’s waist, and exclaimed, “His jade pendant is the same as sister’s!”
White and lustrous, round and transparent, a jade pendant hung at the man’s waist as he stood in the wind, emitting a soft glow.
Chu Qiao’s expression gradually softened. While everyone stood silently, she suddenly reached out and placed her hand on the man’s shoulder, jumping down from the carriage. She smiled warmly and instructed Ping An, Duo Ji, and the others, “Don’t just stand there, quickly clear the path ahead.”
“Huh?” Ping An widened his eyes, looking at Chu Qiao, then at the man, and finally asked foolishly, “Sister, do you know each other?”
“Yes,” Chu Qiao nodded with a relaxed expression, seemingly with a hint of joy.
Ping An wanted to ask who this person was, but before he could open his mouth, the man’s gaze drifted over to him. It wasn’t particularly stern, but it had an icy coldness as if he was very unwilling to hear this foolish young man prattle on.
Seeing this, Brother Cao and his men immediately lowered their heads and retreated, taking out tools to start clearing the road.
Chu Qiao turned to the man and said, “Come with me.”
With that, she walked away.
“Miss!” Duo Ji quickly stepped forward, blocking Chu Qiao’s path, and said in a deep voice, “Where are you going?”
Chu Qiao said, “Duo Ji, don’t worry, this is my friend.”
Duo Ji looked at the man suspiciously, only to see him slightly frown and give him a calm glance. His eyes were like a frozen mirror lake, exceptionally cold.
It wasn’t just ordinary indifference and coldness, but a kind of innate arrogance that could only be cultivated through extensive experience and high position. Duo Ji instantly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and his spine involuntarily shivered. In his daze, Chu Qiao and the man had already walked far away.
The weather that day was exceptionally good, clear as a jade-green lake, with golden sunlight. The two walked one after another, and before long, they reached a secluded mountain hollow. A waterfall cascaded down from the mountain peak, falling into a cold pool, splashing large droplets of water that were crystal clear, reflecting the brilliant sunlight in a colorful, dazzling display.
Chu Qiao turned around and looked at the man before her. After more than a year without seeing him, he seemed unchanged, still the same as before. She opened her mouth to say something, but the thousands of words gathered at her lips, not knowing where to begin. In the end, it all turned into a faint smile at the corner of her lips, not knowing if she was smiling at herself or others.
“What are you smiling at?” Zhuge Yue was still his usual self, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was very impatient to stand there with her.
“Nothing,” Chu Qiao shook her head, still smiling, and said, “It seems that every time I meet you, it’s strange.”
Zhuge Yue turned his head away, looking elsewhere, still with that familiar awkwardness.
“What are you doing here?”
Zhuge Yue gave her an answer that was both perfectly accurate and perfectly vague: “Business.”
“Oh,” Chu Qiao nodded and asked, “Are you going back now?”
“Yes.”
Then, the two stood in place, neither speaking again.
In the blink of an eye, almost two years had passed. During these two years, he had been a powerful force in the court, changing the world with a turn of his hand, and becoming one of the most influential people on the continent. Chu Qiao, in her remote location, occasionally heard the news of him, always with a strange sense of unreality. Sometimes she even wondered if the person she knew was the same as the decisive and resolute man in those rumors.
She had also heard various rumors from Qinghai.
Rumors said that although nominally under Da Xia, the region implemented self-selected officials, not chosen from clans but selected through examinations, giving even commoners a chance to participate. Rumors said that new laws had been established there, encouraging agriculture and water conservancy, protecting industry and commerce, and that merchants from the interior with enough courage had already gone to Qinghai to do business. Rumors said that slavery had been abolished there; wealthy clan families could buy household slaves, but if the slaves were willing to pay for their freedom, they could be released from slavery. And even household slaves could not be killed at will, or they would be severely punished by law. Rumors said that the place wasn’t as desolate and declining as legend had it, but rather vast in territory, with its unique character, populous, and now with many prosperous and flourishing towns…
There were also rumors that the King of Qinghai was now infamous, known as the Bandit Marshal. In court, he fought for money and grain every year, using various pretexts to compete for various resources, continuously transporting them to Qinghai. Every month, Qinghai would report major disasters, droughts, floods, and glaciers, claiming that the people there had no clothes to wear or food to eat, strongly requesting the court to provide money and grain to rescue the refugees.
Yet, as soon as those resources left Zhenhang, they would flow into the market, exchanged for large amounts of gold and silver, and then blatantly transported to Qinghai proper. Now, half of Yan Bei’s military forces were tied up by Qinghai, and Da Xia didn’t dare to confront him, only allowing him to act with impunity.
Rumors said that this man was called “Lord Father” by the people of Qinghai, “Bandit” by the people of Xi Meng, and “Vampire” by Da Xia officials. Even his good friend and ally, the Seventh Prince Zhao Che, tactfully advised him: “That’s enough, you eat the meat, at least let them have some soup to drink.”
Rumors said that although the people of Xi Meng hated him to the bone, the more courageous ones were now secretly preparing to relocate. Every day, Cuiwei Pass was crowded with families trying to sneak in.
The Da Xia Council of Elders angrily accused him of deliberately allowing the Cuiwei Pass garrison to be lax in their duties, letting the people from Xi Meng’s interior flow into Qinghai.
He innocently shrugged his shoulders, saying that Yan Bei’s military might was too great, and they had no extra forces. If they wanted to effectively restrict such incidents, the Ministry of Revenue urgently needed to allocate 100,000 taels of gold to Qinghai to expand their military…
There were so many rumors, but now that Chu Qiao saw him, those rumors suddenly disappeared from her mind like smoke and clouds.
He was still himself, not the Great Marshal of Qinghai, not the brilliantly talented Lord Father of Qinghai, not the cunning and shameless Vampire of Da Xia. He was still that cold, proud man with a touch of awkwardness and willfulness, the young master Zhuge who had gone through life and death with her, saving her from danger multiple times.
A few traces of emotion suddenly rose in her heart, gradually suppressing the initial excitement and joy of seeing him again. Looking at him, though still handsome, still cold as ice, there were now a few lines at the corners of his eyes. Looking carefully, his gaze also showed some weariness and hardship.
She quietly pressed her lips together and said softly, “After just over a year, you’ve aged.”
Zhuge Yue was suddenly stunned by her words, the touch of a weather-beaten look in his eyes fading. He looked down at her, seeing that her appearance remained the same, only thinner.
He was only twenty-six this year, and by no means could be described as old. However, the hardships and exhaustion of these years, the struggles and battles of those rough times, and the bloody killings splashed at the corners of his brows and eyes, all flowed through his weathered eyes with this word “old,” like rolling tides.
Behind all the glory were sleepless nights of burning lamps, the lonely shadow of the cold moon through the west window, the restless tossing and turning at the cold window, and the loneliness of standing alone in the wind.
The face remained the same, but the heart had grown weary.
How could he, not age, how could he not grow old?
Looking at her, the anger of the past year and more suddenly disappeared, even that childish willfulness aged away with this simple statement.
“Have you been well this past year or more?”
“Nothing much to say about being well or not, just still alive.”
Zhuge Yue said calmly. Though the words weren’t pleasant, they lacked his usual cold tone. Chu Qiao knew that he wasn’t arguing with her, but expressing a genuine sentiment. Perhaps only people like them could understand: there’s nothing to say about being well or not—being alive is good enough.
“I’ve been doing well too.”
Though Zhuge Yue didn’t ask, Chu Qiao volunteered, “I opened an inn, and life is comfortable.”
“I know.”
The man replied calmly, but Chu Qiao was startled and looked up at him. “You know?”
“I stayed at your place three times.”
Chu Qiao was completely stunned, then heard Zhuge Yue ask in a deep voice, “It’s been a year, have you figured it out yet?”
“Figured… figured what out?”
The man slowly frowned, with an expression that suggested she was deliberately playing dumb: “Do you plan to run an inn for the rest of your life?”
Chu Qiao stared at him, speechless. That was exactly what she had been thinking.
“Or do you plan to marry just anyone before you turn thirty?”
Chu Qiao was greatly embarrassed: “Who told you that?”
“Who else could it be?” Zhuge Yue said, “Naturally, it was Li Ce. Don’t you know? The Spring Rain Pavilion opposite yours is run by him, and the Four Seas Inn diagonally behind is run by me.”
Chu Qiao was stunned into silence. She suddenly recalled those two inns with few customers, and before this, she had been smugly self-satisfied, thinking that her inn had squeezed them out of business. Little did she know it was the handiwork of these two distinguished individuals.
This meant that Li Ce must have been fully aware of the situation in Scholar City, and should have been well-prepared for the actions of those people.
Suddenly remembering something, she looked up and asked, “So you knew our identities from the beginning?”
“No,” Zhuge Yue said. Seeing that Chu Qiao didn’t believe him, he impatiently said, “Although I went there, I never saw you.”
Indeed, for more than a year, she had lived in seclusion, rarely going out.
“Why did you come out this time?”
Chu Qiao didn’t know how to explain, after all, it was Li Ce’s state affairs, so she vaguely said, “I’m going to Tang Capital.”
“Hmph—”
Zhuge Yue snorted coldly. Nearby, the green trees were entwined with light purple wisteria and pollia, their fragrant breeze coming gently, like a pool of floating clouds.
“Young Master.”
The man surnamed Cao said from a distance, “The road has been cleared and we can proceed now.”
Zhuge Yue didn’t respond, standing silently for a long time, seemingly impatient with the oppressive atmosphere. He turned to leave.
“Zhuge Yue!”
Chu Qiao suddenly called out, “Next time you come to Scholar City, you can come see me.”
“I don’t have time to go there,” Zhuge Yue replied coldly, slowly turning around and saying with a serious face, “I’m about to return to Qinghai. Will you come with me?”
He said it just like that, as naturally as asking someone if they’d eaten yet. Chu Qiao, however, was stunned. She was always like this—she could handle anything with composure, except when facing him, when all her wisdom would desert her. She stared at him blankly, as if trying to find another mouth on Zhuge Yue’s face to prove that he hadn’t just said those words.
“Li Ce said you’re stubborn, that you were going through a major change at the time and couldn’t think clearly, and advised me to give you more time.”
Zhuge Yue said with complete composure, “Have you figured it out now? Will you come with me?”
“You, you are Da Xia’s Military Marshal? And you have a family in…”
“You don’t need to worry about all that,” Zhuge Yue frowned and said in a deep voice, “You just need to say whether you’ll come with me or not.”
A flock of birds flew by, then another flock, many flocks had flown over the forest, yet Chu Qiao still hadn’t spoken.
Zhuge Yue suddenly became angry and said harshly, “Are you coming or not?”
“I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming!”
Chu Qiao answered loudly. The two of them shouted at each other with red faces and thick necks, their voices echoing around, making the place seem eerily quiet.
“Meeting you here is good, saves me another trip to tell you,” the man deliberately pretended to be unconcerned, as if everything was under his control, not considering whether this was his usual talkative nature.
“Don’t wander around anymore, go back to your courtyard and stay there. Once my business is done, I’ll send someone to fetch you.”
With that, he turned and left with style.
“Anyway, I can also open an inn in Qinghai.”
A voice suddenly sounded from behind. Zhuge Yue abruptly turned back and glared at her fiercely, with a ruthless expression.
White clouds floated in the sky, and birds peeked out from behind the leaves, as if wondering at how the affairs of the world truly couldn’t be measured by common sense.
When she returned to the carriage, Mei Xiang was waiting for her with a smile, but Jing Jing was even happier, grinning from ear to ear. Chu Qiao naturally understood her little thoughts but was unwilling to speak of them. Today’s events were simply too incredible. Chu Qiao sat down quietly, her heart still pounding wildly.
Had she been too impulsive?
“Miss,” Mei Xiang smiled as she added a soft cushion for her, saying, “Not everything in this world can be handled with reason alone. In my opinion, Miss was too calm before. Being impulsive occasionally isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
Chu Qiao turned to look at her in surprise, amazed at Mei Xiang’s sharp insight.
Mei Xiang laughed and said, “Don’t you know, Miss? Now you wear everything on your face. Compared to the Miss of before, Mei Xiang thinks this version of you is more likable.”
The carriage began to move. Duo Ji came over with a frown and asked, “Miss, are we going to travel with those people?”
“Of course, we’re traveling together!” Jing Jing lifted the curtain and called out, “We must travel together, and in the future, we’ll even live together, hmph hmph!”
With that, she angrily dropped the carriage curtain.
Mei Xiang poured a cup of ginseng tea for Chu Qiao and sighed softly, saying, “Miss, not everyone will wait year after year for another person. Some things, if you don’t seize them at the time, if something changes in the future, you will regret it.”
The warm, fragrant breeze blew in through the slightly lifted carriage curtain, like a mother’s gentle fingers. The sky was clear blue, and high-flying eagles soared in the distance, piercing through the clouds, far from the dust.