On the seventh day of the second month, the Wolf Star brought a killing frost. A golden star appeared at the edge of the Purple Sandalwood position, foretelling chaos and destruction.

Just as Zhuge Yue received news that Chu Qiao had been taken away by the Zhuge family patriarch, inside the ancestral hall of the Wei family’s main gate, Wei Guang personally handed a golden arrow to Wei Shuye. The old man’s expression was solemn, his voice low as he slowly said: “Shuye, do not disappoint your uncle, nor the ancestors of the Wei family.”

Wei Shuye held the golden arrow with both hands level, looking at it with fierce gleams rolling in his eyes. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but like a fish out of water, his lips merely moved without a word coming out.

“Ye’er, the ancestors of the Wei family are watching you, and so is your father. You know what must be done, so act accordingly.”

Wei Shuye’s brows furrowed tightly. After a long while, he slowly nodded: “Who?”

Wei Guang smiled faintly, dipped his finger in the teacup, and then slowly wrote a character on the incense table.

Wei Shuye’s eyes widened immediately, his brows knitting together as he looked uncertainly at the elderly man, seemingly seeking an answer.

“This is the wish of the master of Sheng Jin Palace. Child, go now. You need not know the reason. You only need to know that everything you do is for the Wei family, for the souls of all generations of Wei clan heroes. That is enough.”

The young figure gradually disappeared. The setting sun shone through the wide-open doors, casting everything in a blood-red hue. Wei Shouyou emerged from the back hall, came to the old man’s side, and respectfully bowed: “Uncle.”

“Is everything prepared?”

“Rest assured, Uncle. All arrangements have been made.”

“Good.” The old man slightly bowed his head, turned to face the ancestral tablets, kowtowed, and offered incense. His magnificent robes dragged on the ground, stirring up faint ashes of incense.

Wei Shouyou was older than Wei Shuye, appearing steady and mature. Seeing the old man about to rise, he quickly stepped forward to support Wei Guang’s arm. His tone was casual as if making idle conversation: “Uncle, what do you think are the chances of success for that northern lord this time?”

“Heh…” The old man laughed softly, with undisguised sarcasm in his voice: “None whatsoever.”

Wei Shouyou frowned, asking doubtfully: “The northern lands are vast, with fierce customs. Though the climate is harsh, they connect to the Western Regions with prosperous trade. After the Northern Selection was implemented, talented people gathered there in abundance. Although the old prince may not possess great talent, he is extremely kind to his people and deeply loved by the commoners. Surely he has some fighting chance?”

The wrinkles on Wei Guang’s face creased together as he took a deep breath and said calmly: “An innocent man commits no crime, yet possession of jade brings misfortune. Why do you think the master of Sheng Jin Palace has determined to eliminate him? When a person goes too long without making mistakes, that itself becomes a mistake. The way of power lies in balance—extreme prosperity leads to decline, and the cycle repeats. It is precisely because the Prince of Yan possesses so many advantageous conditions that the master has developed the intent to kill.”

Wei Guang turned his head to look at this most favored child under his tutelage and earnestly said: “Shouyou, the people say the Council of Elders wields authority over Da Xia, and that the seven great families are nominally subjects but royal themselves. But uncle tells you, the one in the palace is the true master of the Da Xia Dynasty. This is something you must always remember.”

Wei Shouyou rarely saw Wei Guang speak so seriously about something, so he quickly lowered his head and respectfully acknowledged.

Wei Guang took a long breath and slowly said: “The reason the Prince of Yan has no chance of victory is because he never intended to rebel. False accusations, heh heh.”

The sunset was like blood. On the streets of Zhen Huang City, someone suddenly cried out in alarm, startling other pedestrians. Everyone raised their heads in unison to see, in the distant sky, a blood-tear-like red star eerily flickering in the not-yet-completely-dark sky, its light pulsing, strange and terrifying.

Outside the gates of the Zhuge mansion, Zhu Shun, who had just learned he had provoked a deadly enemy, was being carried out. Seeing Zhuge Yue mounted on horseback, he instantly forgot all his pain, let out a howl, and rushed forward, grabbing Zhuge Yue’s leg, crying miserably: “Fourth Young Master, please listen to this slave’s explanation! This is a misunderstanding!”

With a “swoosh,” a stream of blood shot skyward. The man screamed in agony as one of his fat ears fell to the ground, dripping with blood.

“Keep your life and wait properly for my return.”

The young man’s face was gloomy, his tone calm, yet it sounded so sinister to those who heard it. Zhuge Yue’s eyes were cold as he turned his horse and rode away. The guards gave Zhu Shun a sympathetic glance before following in unison.

The man who had lost a hand just days ago lay on the ground, rolling and wailing, but none of his so-called confidants dared step forward to help him.

At dinnertime, snow began to fall from the sky. By Chi Shui Lake, everything was silver-white. Yan Xun, wearing a snow-white sable fur coat with a hood, held his horse by the lakeside. His expression was calm. From a distance, the young man appeared in magnificent clothes, with handsome features and steady eyes. Against the frozen lake and snowy landscape, he presented a uniquely elegant and graceful figure.

The setting sun gradually descended behind the mountains. In the direction of Sheng Jin Palace, eternal whale oil lamps flickered brilliantly, emitting dazzling light. Yan Xun turned his head to look toward the palace gates, his gaze gradually becoming fixed.

“Young Master!” The page boy Feng Mian ran over from far away, panting as he arrived before Yan Xun, and exclaimed loudly: “Something terrible has happened!”

Yan Xun raised an eyebrow and asked: “What is it?”

“That Miss Xing’er, they say she’s been taken away by the patriarch of the Zhuge family.”

“What?” Yan Xun’s sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed as he asked solemnly: “When did this happen? Where did you hear this? Is the information reliable?”

“I heard it from a servant who does errands for the Zhuge household. I’m not sure how accurate it is, but they said it was Miss Xing’er from Qing Shan Courtyard.”

The young man frowned, pondering for a moment, then suddenly mounted his horse and said: “Feng Mian, let’s go to the Zhuge villa.”

“Huh?” Feng Mian was startled and cried: “Young Master, are we going? What if the information isn’t accurate? Why not wait a bit longer?”

Yan Xun shook his head: “If it’s not accurate, we’ll just come back. It’s no big deal.”

“But what reason will we give for going? We’re not going to just charge in looking for someone, are we?”

Yan Xun’s eyes shifted, and he said: “We’ll say we’ve come to pay our respects to Elder Zhuge before leaving. It’s fine, let’s go.”

Hoofbeats rolled, raising large clouds of snow mist. Not far away, in the western part of the city, a force of three hundred soldiers was quietly waiting. A scout galloped back and reported to the young commander: “Report, sir! I saw the Yan heir heading toward the Zhuge family villa.”

“The Zhuge family?”

Wei Shuye frowned and said solemnly: “What is Yan Xun doing at the Zhuge house? Could the Zhuge family want to intervene? Zhuge Mu Qing didn’t attend the Council of Elders this time. Could he be deliberately avoiding this matter?”

“Commander,” Mu He rode forward, bowed respectfully, and said: “This subordinate believes that’s unlikely. Zhuge Mu Qing has always been on good terms with the Batuha family, and this time he’s occupied with the flood disaster in the eastern territories. This subordinate believes it might just be a coincidence.”

Wei Shuye nodded and said: “If that’s the case, things will be much easier to handle.”

The cold moon hung in the sky. Suddenly, Sheng Jin Palace blazed with light. Wei Shuye looked up and slowly said: “It’s time.”

Upon hearing this command, the army quickly set out toward the mansion of the renowned Second Master Zhuge Si of the Zhuge family.

The stars flickered in the sky, and the orbit of fate had slowly begun to turn. The youths did not yet know what enormous impact this night would have on their lives. The mysterious fog obscured the path ahead, preventing them from seeing the trajectory and direction of the stars. But in the grand scheme of things, the gates of time had already opened, and a new page in the magnificent epic was about to begin.