Li Xie immediately leaned close to Luoshen’s ear, spoke a few words, and under her shocked gaze, placed an object in her hand, then quickly jumped into the river and disappeared from sight.

Luoshen looked down at what was in her hand, her heart beating wildly, almost leaping from her throat. Steadying herself, she turned to look.

Along the path from the courtyard to the riverside, a group of people was approaching.

Though still some distance away, by moonlight she could see clearly that the person in front, surrounded by palace guards and attendants, was her cousin, the current Empress Dowager Gao Yongrong.

With no time to think further, she immediately hid the object in her sleeve, quietly instructed the guards, then turned and walked toward Gao Yongrong who was coming to the riverside. Drawing closer, she knelt on the path in formal greeting.

Gao Yongrong quickened her pace, stepped forward to help her up, chiding: “Elder Sister has told you so many times that in private meetings, such formalities are unnecessary. Why won’t you listen?”

Luoshen smiled slightly: “Though no outsiders are present, positions differ, and proper etiquette cannot be omitted. Moreover, bearing Elder Sister’s affection, I’ve already been quite indulgent toward myself.”

Gao Yongrong laughed: “Who told me I have only you as a true younger sister? If I don’t dote on you, who would I dote on?”

“I know Elder Sister is good to me. So late at night, why hasn’t Elder Sister rested, instead coming to see me here?”

Gao Yongrong ordered those behind her to move farther away, glancing around at their surroundings.

River waves rippled gently, reflecting the solitary moon. A flat boat was moored to a bluish-black rock by the riverside, swaying lightly in the night wind, appearing increasingly empty and lonely.

Gao Yongrong looked at Luoshen, led her to the pavilion, and sat down: “So late at night, why haven’t you slept either, standing here alone in the wind?”

Luoshen smiled: “I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for some air.”

Gao Yongrong said: “Are you thinking of your husband?”

Without waiting for Luoshen’s reply, she nodded slightly: “Even if you don’t say it, I know. These years, everywhere has been unstable, and your husband has been traveling everywhere. You two are separated more than together. Since he left last time, half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Originally we thought he could return soon, but unexpectedly trouble arose in the north again, preventing you two from reuniting until now.”

Her tone was full of sighs.

“Since Elder Sister mentions my husband, I won’t hide anything. I also heard about today’s court affairs. Because they greatly concern my husband, I wanted to inquire of Elder Sister. But knowing Elder Sister is always extremely busy, especially with Yan envoys arriving today, I feared disturbing Elder Sister, so I first asked Elder Feng a few questions. Elder Feng just left not long ago.”

She watched Gao Yongrong intently.

“Elder Feng said court officials seem mostly inclined to accept the Yan state letter? But I wonder what Elder Sister thinks?”

Gao Yongrong’s face showed no trace of surprise. Only the earlier sighs slowly faded as her gaze fixed on Luoshen’s face.

“A’Mi, your husband eliminated Xia Jie this time and presented prisoners to the capital, achieving great merit for our Southern Dynasty. Do you know how Elder Sister plans to reward him?”

She spoke slowly but didn’t answer the question, then continued: “When Elder Sister learned of your husband’s great victory, I immediately decided he must be enfeoffed as a prince this time. From now on, he may wear sword and shoes in the palace hall, enter court without hurrying, and receive praise without prostrating. What do you think?”

Luoshen said: “My husband leads troops against enemies not seeking rewards. Moreover, what he received before is already sufficient—he dares not accept such generous court honors again. Please Elder Sister withdraw this.”

“With your husband’s achievements, no amount of reward would be enough in Elder Sister’s view. You needn’t decline.”

She patted Luoshen’s hand consolingly: “Now all is finally well. When your husband returns soon, the realm will be at peace. Afterward you should be able to be together properly, no longer one east and one west—called husband and wife yet rarely able to spend even a few days together in a year.”

Luoshen looked at her, silent for a moment, then said: “Elder Sister, you’re going to accept Murong Ti’s state letter?”

Gao Yongrong’s face still bore a smile: “Though Dayu has had favorable weather these years and the treasury is somewhat more abundant than before, warfare has never ceased, and people complain loudly—they urgently need rest and recovery. Northern expeditions are certainly important, but Elder Sister has considered carefully. Having just finished fighting the Jie people, it’s truly inappropriate to fight the Yan people again. Moreover, the Yan people differ from the Jie people. The Jie people were in decline like the setting sun, but the Yan state is rising—victory won’t be easy for a time. If we continue fighting like this, it will be bad for both state and people. Now that they actively show weakness and intend to cede territory, if our Dayu shows no response, it would be inappropriate. Better to use this opportunity to negotiate peace, which also benefits the people.”

“I’ve already sent an edict to your husband. Without further court orders, he must not speak lightly of war,” she said.

“This is also the consensus of court officials,” she added.

Luoshen suddenly stood up and looked at her for a moment.

“Elder Sister’s concerns are not unreasonable. But dare I ask Elder Sister, if this is Murong Ti’s trick, and once our Dayu relaxes vigilance, he breaks the covenant and has other designs, what should be done then?”

“When soldiers come, we’ll block with generals; when water comes, we’ll cover with earth. If he truly breaks his word and uses deception in the future, by then our Dayu will have sharpened weapons and fed horses, sending troops to destroy him and recover lost territory. But now, for the people’s sake, if we can cease warfare, naturally peace is best.”

Gao Yongrong’s tone was measured and deliberate.

Moonlight shone through a corner of the pavilion roof, making her face half bright and half dark.

She also slowly stood up, saying gently: “A’Mi, I hear you often live here alone, which must be lonely. I’m somewhat worried. Why don’t you come live in the palace with me now? Think how close we’ve been since childhood, yet how long it’s been since we had intimate talks? If you enter the palace, Elder Sister will have a companion. When your husband returns, he can take you out of the palace.”

Luoshen said: “Elder Sister, I want to stay here and wait for my husband’s return.”

Gao Yongrong said: “Elder Sister is thinking of your good. This place is surrounded by water on all sides—it’s too open. Though there are guards, it can’t compare to the palace’s safety.”

“What if I only want to stay here?” Luoshen asked word by word.

Gao Yongrong’s face still bore a smile: “A’Mi, Elder Sister still remembers how you looked as a child—you always listened to Elder Sister most. It’s better to enter the palace with me, don’t make me worry about you anymore.”

She took Luoshen’s arm, patiently coaxing, as if the Luoshen before her was truly still that little girl from before.

Luoshen stared steadily at Gao Yongrong before her, watching the smile in her eyes and the gentle murmuring at her lips. Suddenly, many childhood scenes flashed through her mind.

Though long ago she had known that today’s Elder Sister was no longer the Elder Sister from her former memories, and in her heart she had already prepared for the worst.

But each time, when she saw Gao Yongrong’s smile toward her and the care that showed through, it would make her waver in her heart, secretly hoping. Hoping everything was just overthinking.

Heaven knows how much she had always treasured this sisterly bond with Elder Sister.

She was her family. If possible, she truly hoped this affection could be preserved for a lifetime.

Even just moments ago, when she suddenly heard what Li Xie told her, her first feeling wasn’t relief, but horror.

Horror that Li Mu, her husband, had such deep scheming to think of making such decisive arrangements so early.

At this very moment, her heart felt terrible, yet she also felt a trace of relief.

It was the relief of finally being freed from the torment of doubt and wavering.

Tender masks could conceal momentary emotions but could never permanently cover human hearts.

The man she admired and loved deeply, standing tall like a mountain, deep and vast like an abyss—he had been so incompatible from the beginning with this entire court that wore gorgeous outer robes while emanating corrupt, moldy odors beneath.

The rupture that was bound to come had finally arrived today.

Luoshen stood there, gazing at Gao Yongrong’s smile.

“Elder Sister, are you treating me as a prisoner?”

She asked.

“If I become a prisoner, what kind of identity is Li Mu—who fought bloodily for Dayu, conducted northern expeditions to recover territory, and forcefully promoted new policies—in your eyes?”

Gao Yongrong was startled, slowly releasing the hand that had been holding Luoshen’s arm. The smile on her face gradually disappeared.

“A’Mi, do you know what those words you just spoke mean?”

She frowned, her tone becoming somewhat cold and hard.

“Naturally I know.” Luoshen smiled.

“Elder Sister, I might as well tell you—not only will I not go to the palace, but tonight I will also leave Jiankang.”

“My husband will come take me away.”

Gao Yongrong’s expression tightened as she quickly surveyed their surroundings.

Three sides were courtyards, and across the dark river surface that couldn’t be seen, she had already laid her inescapable net.

She slowly exhaled, secretly laughing at herself. These years, perhaps she had truly been oppressed too severely, so that hearing Luoshen mention this, she had almost believed it for a moment.

“A’Mi, stop making trouble! Come, enter the palace with Elder Sister right now!”

She darkened her expression, speaking in an unquestionable tone, turning to summon the palace guards who had accompanied her.

Luoshen raised her hand, revealing an object from her sleeve.

It was a small gourd carved from green jade, with its mouth hung by a red silk cord, dangling below Luoshen’s fingers, swaying slightly. Under the moonlight, it glowed with lustrous jade light.

“Elder Sister, look—what is this?” Luoshen said.

Gao Yongrong turned around. Upon seeing the jade pendant in her hand, her expression changed drastically. She snatched it away, looked down briefly, then demanded harshly: “The pendant from Deng’er’s waist pouch—how is it in your possession?”

Luoshen looked at Gao Yongrong, whose expression had instantly turned anxious and flustered. She remembered what Li Xie had just told her—that the Grand Marshal had planted people in the palace long ago, precisely to guard against today’s change.

Once an arrow left the bow, it would never return.

She suppressed the surge of emotion in her heart—whether relief or sadness, she couldn’t tell—and slowly said: “Elder Sister, I told you my husband would come take me away. You might want to return to the palace first to see whether I’m deceiving you.”

Gao Yongrong’s face looked pale as snow under the moonlight. She stared at Luoshen with eyes full of fury for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran away swiftly.