Gao Qi waited outside the study, bowing respectfully to Luoshen and pushing open the door for her, saying quietly: “Young mistress, please enter. The master is waiting inside.”

The room was brightly lit with candles. Gao Qiao sat on the square couch, and seeing her enter, nodded with a smile, indicating for her to come close.

Luoshen climbed onto the couch and sat beside her father.

Gao Qiao didn’t speak immediately. Father and daughter sat in silence for a moment before Luoshen said: “In the future, daughter cannot serve by father’s side. I only ask that wherever A’Ye goes, you remember to take care of yourself.”

Father had finished settling all affairs here – clearly, he would be leaving Jiankang soon.

Many people in Jiankang, including the Gao family members, believed that Xiao Yongjia had already died in that military chaos, and that Gao Qiao’s continued refusal to hold funeral rites for his deceased wife was simply because he stubbornly refused to accept such a fact.

There was even a rumor secretly circulating – those people whispered behind closed doors that Eldest Princess’s death had struck Lord Gao so severely that he still couldn’t accept it because he had been childless for half his life, and his wife had died just before childbirth. Such a human tragedy, no matter who experienced it, would be difficult to accept for a time – no wonder he remained so haunted by it.

More than half a year had passed, yet there was still no news of mother. Thinking of her uncertain fate, thinking of father’s impending departure with no knowing when they might meet again, her heart gradually filled with sadness and melancholy.

Gao Qiao said: “A’Mi, A’Ye went to Bailu Zhou last night. When the boat reached the inlet, I turned back…”

He paused, slowly raising his gaze to his daughter’s face.

“A’Ye lacks the face to set foot on that island…”

He smiled bitterly.

Luoshen looked at the deep lines etched at the corners of her father’s mouth, suppressing the sourness welling in her eyes, and said: “A’Ye, A’Niang’s incident was entirely an accident. You mustn’t be too…”

The words stopped before completion.

How could father not be heartbroken? How could he not blame himself?

Gao Qiao smiled slightly and nodded.

“A’Ye has wanted to leave Jiankang for a long time – now I can finally fulfill that wish. A’Ye knows your A’Niang is still alive. Don’t worry – someday, A’Ye will definitely bring her back.”

“A’Ye—”

Luoshen could no longer contain herself, her eyes immediately reddening.

Gao Qiao gently patted his daughter’s hand in comfort.

He said: “A’Mi, I know what you and Jingchen were thinking. After Jiankang’s affairs settled, you originally planned to follow him to Yi Cheng, or perhaps Chang’an. Those are good places, better than Jiankang. But now, you cannot leave. A’Ye has wronged you.”

The court previously had a regulation that family members of all ministers above the third rank, whether court officials or regional officials, must reside permanently in the capital without special cause.

This regulation had gradually become meaningless after the court’s southern migration, as imperial power was usurped by aristocratic families. Only recently, after quelling Xu Mi’s rebellion, Feng Wei felt that even before Xu Mi’s revolt, the Xu family had completely moved out of Jiankang, leaving no restraints and acting without scruple. He thus proposed to the Ministry of Rites to restore this former statute.

When first proposed, Empress Dowager Gao Yongrong naturally nodded approval, and none of the civil and military officials below disagreed.

To set an example for all officials, Feng Wei had already brought his elderly father from Yuzhang to Jiankang half a month ago. Officials both civil and military followed suit.

“Jingchen’s mother has poor eyesight and is advanced in years. Feng Wei specifically mentioned to me that she need not follow this order. But A’Mi, Jingchen holds high position as head of all officials, looked up to by all. You are the Grand Marshal’s wife…”

Gao Qiao looked at his daughter, a trace of guilt showing in his eyes.

“If you also don’t reside in Jiankang, this order becomes meaningless, unable to command all officials or set example from above.”

Several days before Li Mu returned from his campaign, Luoshen already knew of this matter.

In the future, barring special circumstances, regardless of where Li Mu might be, she must reside permanently in Jiankang.

Her former plan to follow Li Mu and bring A’Jia and the others to Yi Cheng was now impossible. To say she felt no disappointment would be false.

But things had come to this – as long as her husband served as the court’s Grand Marshal for one day, she must serve as the Grand Marshal’s wife for one day.

She had no choice, just like Li Mu.

Today he appeared infinitely glorious, seeming powerful and prestigious to outsiders. But who knew that this Grand Marshal title might be nothing more than invisible shackles to him?

Luoshen looked at her father, unable to contain herself any longer, the words bursting forth.

“Daughter has something to say that may be defiant, but I want to ask father. A’Ye, daughter still remembers when you clearly considered Langjun harboring ill intentions and guarded against him everywhere. Why now do you force him to be this Grand Marshal? That precious throne in the palace – what capable person under Heaven doesn’t covet it? A’Ye, aren’t you afraid that with high position and power, lacking restraint, he might someday truly develop treacherous intentions?”

Gao Qiao was silent for a long time before saying: “A’Mi, since you’ve asked, A’Ye won’t hide it from you. Even now, A’Ye still cannot see through Li Mu. After he captured Chang’an, rather than saying he was an external minister and regional lord, it’s more accurate to say he showed no regard for the court. A’Ye saw none of the bearing a loyal minister should have in him. But when Great Yu faced destruction, it was precisely he who returned with troops to rescue us, turning the tide.”

“He seems unwilling to serve the court loyally, clearly harboring some resistance to it in his heart, yet his actions are completely worthy of being called those of a loyal minister and good general, without half a fault that could be criticized.”

“The Southern Dynasty is already terminally ill. Without a strong leader, relying only on the current court officials, the court itself would likely collapse before he ever plots usurpation.”

“A’Mi, do you understand A’Ye’s meaning? Li Mu is like a double-edged sword. Turned toward good, the court might reverse its decline and see revival like dead wood in spring. Turned toward evil, Great Yu’s Xiao imperial foundation could be completely overturned…”

He remained deep in thought for a long time before looking at Luoshen.

“A’Ye has considered this repeatedly. But in the end, A’Ye still chose to place Great Yu in his hands. Gambling on this choice, gambling on my own judgment.”

He pulled his lips in self-mockery, revealing a trace of bitter, faint smile.

“A’Ye has misjudged many people in this lifetime. But this time, A’Ye feels I shouldn’t be wrong again.”

“Moreover, you’re by his side. A’Ye hopes that while being his wife, you won’t forget the responsibilities you should bear as a daughter of the Gao family.”

Gao Qiao gazed at his daughter and slowly added this sentence.

Luoshen was stunned, her heart gradually growing confused and extremely sad.

She remembered how long ago, mother had earnestly taught her that she was not merely a Gao daughter, but also Li Mu’s wife.

Yet tonight, father reminded her that while being Li Mu’s wife, she must not forget her responsibilities as a Gao daughter.

How could she not understand father’s meaning?

In the end, father still didn’t completely trust Li Mu. Even though he had decided to believe in him and place this Southern Dynasty he had painstakingly maintained for years in his hands.

She couldn’t help but recall that night when her cousin brought the young emperor to visit, followed by a long private discussion with father in the study. Her face pale, she said word by word: “A’Ye! What exactly did you and the Empress Dowager secretly discuss that night?”

“Trust those you employ, don’t employ those you distrust. You need Langjun to support this court, yet you don’t trust him. If even you are like this, what about others?”

“Daughter won’t forget the responsibilities a Gao daughter should bear. If not for those two characters ‘Gao family,’ daughter would never have married him initially.”

“But now, I truly don’t understand – Great Yu may be important, but has A’Ye never considered that with Langjun in such high position, if in future his achievements overshadow his master and others cannot tolerate him, should he then bare his neck for execution to preserve his so-called loyal minister reputation?”

“If so, better not to be such a loyal minister! Forgive daughter’s disloyalty and unfilial nature – daughter will leave Jiankang with Langjun immediately to avoid future entanglement in such matters of loyalty and treachery!”

She rose and kowtowed heavily to her father, then got up to leave the couch.

“A’Mi!”

Her father’s sharp call came from behind.

Luoshen stopped, slowly turning her head to see father rising from the couch, slowly standing up.

“A’Mi, A’Ye has served three generations of Xiao emperors. The scene of your grandfather on his deathbed earnestly entrusting Great Yu to me – A’Ye dares not forget to this day. The details of A’Ye’s conversation with your cousin the other night cannot be repeated, but A’Ye guarantees to you that it was absolutely not plotting with the current Empress Dowager how to harm Li Mu!”

“A’Ye can only tell you that the current Empress Dowager is no longer the cousin you once knew – you can no longer view her with old sentiment. But if she can fulfill her duties from now on, assist the young emperor, continue the restoration, maintain the state and bring peace to the people, then everything A’Ye has done today will be worthwhile.”

“Such arrangements are the last thing A’Ye can do under the promise made to your grandfather that day. I have done my utmost – how Heaven wills it, let Heaven decide…”

After speaking, Gao Qiao began coughing again, coughing incessantly with pain showing on his face.

Seeing her father in such condition, Luoshen felt another pang of sorrow. She hurried back to his side, supporting him and rubbing his back. When he gradually recovered and she moved to fetch water, she saw him wave his hand, slowly straighten his back, turn and walk to a bookshelf against the wall, taking a small box from one of its drawers.

The box was locked with a bronze lock, with a key placed on top.

Gao Qiao turned and walked before Luoshen.

“A’Mi, after I leave, keep this thing safe. A’Ye hopes you’ll never need to open this box. But someday in the future, should you encounter urgent difficulty, it might help you. Keep it.”

Gao Qiao placed the small box along with its key in Luoshen’s hands.

The box was somewhat heavy. Luoshen didn’t know what was inside, but accepted it, staring fixedly at her father without moving.

Gao Qiao gazed at his daughter’s face for a long time, then raised his eyes toward the doorway direction, saying: “Go now.”

“A’Ye!”

Gao Qiao’s lips showed a trace of smile as he nodded at her: “Go!”

Luoshen tightly gripped the box in her hands, turned around, looking back repeatedly as she walked to the door, opened it, and saw a figure standing right at the courtyard gate.

She quickly turned her head away, rapidly wiping her eyes.

Li Mu saw the study door open and Luoshen’s figure appear in the doorway. He immediately strode forward, taking the steps in a few bounds. His gaze swept over the traces of tears remaining at the corners of her eyes, his brow slightly furrowing, then he looked toward Gao Qiao inside and said in a low voice: “It’s getting late. Father-in-law should also rest. Your son-in-law will take A’Mi back now.” After speaking, he bowed to him, reached out to grasp Luoshen’s hand, whispered “Let’s go” quietly in her ear, and led her away.