Gao Huan’s first reaction was wild joy.
When he learned earlier that Li Mu had received imperial orders to go to Yi Cheng to develop and establish a city, Gao Huan was practically drooling with excitement, dreaming of following Li Mu there.
Even if it meant being a lowly soldier holding horses for him, he would be willing.
Just think about it—following the peerless god of war, going deep into the northern lands, turning a thousand-mile barren wasteland into a future military stronghold for the Northern Expedition. What a magnificent and grand enterprise this would be.
Just imagining it made him passionate and excited, his blood boiling.
Unfortunately, he knew his uncle wouldn’t let him go, and Li Mu might not want him either—even now, he still couldn’t walk naturally while carrying such a large boulder, though he had been secretly practicing nonstop since his return.
Li Mu had been gone for over a month. Gao Huan had become disheartened and gradually desperate. Suddenly his sister called him and asked him to arrange to send her to Yi Cheng, obviously to join Li Mu. He nearly jumped up and cheered aloud.
He knew how to get to Yi Cheng.
From Ba Commandery, following the West Han River through Liang Province out of Shu, then north, near Qiuchi in southern Long, that’s where Yi Cheng was located.
He had fantasized about the route Li Mu took countless times in his mind.
He immediately nodded, saying “Sister, don’t worry, leave it to me. I’ll arrange it right away!”
He hurriedly turned to leave, but his steps slowed as he reached the door, finally stopping.
This northern route, though unlikely to encounter the main Xia-Jie forces, was bound to be winding and treacherous, with inevitable encounters with small groups of roving soldiers and bandits.
He himself wasn’t afraid—if he couldn’t fight, he could run. But if he brought his sister along, he had to consider safety issues.
After hesitating for a long time, he turned back with a dejected expression: “Sister, I really want to help you, but I don’t have personal troops. Taking you alone, I’m afraid something might happen on the road…”
His face flushed red with shame.
He remembered that when his elder brother was his age, he was already commanding thousands of troops.
Yet he was so useless—not to mention personal troops, he couldn’t even carry a boulder properly…
“Go ask elder brother to lend you a squad of personal troops. Just say you want to go to Guangling to join second uncle and need an escort to cross the river.”
Gao Huan didn’t dare look at his sister, afraid of seeing disappointment in her eyes, when he suddenly heard her say this.
Looking up, he saw her smiling at him, and suddenly everything became clear, his eyes brightening.
“Sister, wait for me. I’ll go borrow them right now!”
Gao Huan went out and immediately sought out Gao Yin, repeating exactly what Luoshen had told him, looking at him hopefully.
Gao Yin looked him over.
This sixth brother had always seemed to look down on Guangling, single-mindedly wanting to follow Li Mu—he had long known this.
Li Mu had gone to Yi Cheng, and seeing him sighing and frowning all day, suddenly running over to borrow troops, saying he wanted to go to Guangling?
“I happen to be going there in a few days too. Wait a few more days, and I’ll take you when the time comes.”
Gao Yin said.
Hearing this, Gao Huan was dumbfounded, but how could he give up so easily? He pestered Gao Yin relentlessly, saying he wanted to go immediately and couldn’t wait.
Gao Yin looked at him with a half-smile: “If I don’t lend them, you won’t steal my seal again, will you?”
Gao Huan’s face heated up, and he said sheepishly: “Why doesn’t elder brother trust me? Last time was an emergency, so I had no choice but to use desperate measures. This time I really want to go to Guangling for training. Please lend me some men, elder brother. I can’t wait another moment!”
Gao Yin’s expression turned serious as he stared at him: “With your little tricks, you still want to fool me? You want to sneak off to Yi Cheng again, don’t you? Give up that idea. In a few days, I’ll take you to Guangling!”
After speaking, he turned and left.
Like ice water in midwinter poured over his head.
Watching his elder brother’s departing figure, Gao Huan was truly unwilling and chased after him again.
“Elder brother! I’m doing this to help sister! She wants to go to Yi Cheng. Don’t you love her the most too? Won’t you help her, not even lending a few soldiers?”
In his heart, he truly felt injustice for Li Mu. In his excitement, he simply shouted: “Li Mu received imperial orders to go north this time. If he succeeds, it will be a thousand-year achievement for our Dayu! He gave up the wealth of the Southern Dynasty and took only over a thousand troops to dangerous territory. What courage and spirit—who in our Southern Dynasty can match it? But this time uncle brought sister back home again. Hmph! Don’t think I don’t know—clearly uncle doesn’t think highly of him and wants to renege on the marriage! He endures hardship for our Dayu, blazing trails through wilderness, yet our Gao family treats him like this behind his back—it’s truly unjust! Fortunately sister is righteous and wants to go to Yi Cheng to accompany him! Such noble character—elder brother, are you completely unmoved?”
Gao Yin looked surprised, watching the extremely agitated Gao Huan. After pondering for a moment, he left him behind and went directly to find Luoshen.
He found Luoshen and told her about Gao Huan seeking him out, asking: “A’Mi, is what sixth brother said true?”
Luoshen had expected Gao Huan couldn’t hide it from elder brother and had been waiting for him to come. She nodded.
“A’Mi, Li Mu’s military prowess—perhaps only Murong Xi in the north could match him in this world. Elder brother truly admires him. But since uncle brought you back at this juncture, he must have his considerations. Elder brother cannot take it upon himself to send you to Yi Cheng. Don’t think of this anymore—stay peacefully at home.”
“If you have something to say to Li Mu, elder brother can deliver a message for you. How about that?”
He thought for a moment and added.
Luoshen said: “Thank you for elder brother’s kind intentions. But I must make this trip to Yi Cheng. If you won’t help me, I won’t force you—I’ll find another way myself.”
Gao Yin and Luoshen looked at each other for a moment. Seeing her calm expression—no crying or acting cute—overnight she seemed no longer the little sister he knew. As he hesitated, he heard Gao Huan shout again: “Elder brother, if you won’t help us, fine, but don’t go tattling! If you tell on us, sister and I will look down on you for the rest of our lives!”
Gao Yin glanced at him and turned away.
Once Gao Yin left, Gao Huan felt both regret and worry. Looking at his sister, she acted as if everything was settled, calling her maids to start packing. His heart filled with anxiety and self-blame, yet also confusion. “Sister, it’s my fault for being useless and ruining things. I think elder brother can’t be relied upon…”
He paced around the room like an ant on a hot pot, when suddenly his eyes lit up.
“How about we leave before uncle and aunt find out! I’ll go borrow men from Li Xie! As long as I mention brother-in-law’s name, he won’t refuse to lend a few soldiers!”
Li Xie was the former Palace Guard commander, now promoted to head of Jiankang’s capital defense.
“Sixth brother, what nerve you have! Wasn’t your previous confinement punishment enough?”
A furious shout came from outside the door, which was then pushed open.
Gao Huan jumped in fright, turned around, and saw Xiao Yongjia standing outside with a face like frost. Gao Qiao was beside her, also staring at him with clear displeasure.
He also saw Gao Yin behind them both and was struck speechless.
Luoshen was sitting by the bed, folding clothes with her maids.
The maids looked panicked and stopped what they were doing.
But she only turned to glance at the commotion by the door, then continued folding clothes with her head down.
Xiao Yongjia entered the room, stared at Luoshen for a moment, and said: “A’Mi, what is the meaning of this?”
Luoshen stopped her movements, slowly stood up, faced her parents, and said: “Since Father and Mother already know, I won’t hide it anymore. I want to make a trip to Yi Cheng. I hope Father and Mother won’t try to stop me.”
Gao Qiao immediately said: “Never mind that the journey is long and dangerous—even if it were a smooth road ahead, you cannot go! It was father’s mistake in the past, marrying you wrongly. What needed to be said was already told to you by your mother some days ago. A’Mi, those with different principles cannot work together, let alone be husband and wife for life! Li Mu is not one of us Gao family! Not knowing before was one thing, but now that we know, father cannot make the same mistake twice, watching you be dragged down by that Li Mu and ruining your entire life!”
Gao Yin also stepped forward, saying to Luoshen: “A’Mi, don’t blame elder brother. You’re still young, and sixth brother is just making trouble. Please listen and stay home, all right?”
Luoshen said nothing, only looking at Xiao Yongjia: “Mother, I have something to tell you.”
Gao Qiao was about to speak again but was stopped by Xiao Yongjia.
“All of you go out first.”
She stared at her daughter and said.
Gao Yin left reluctantly.
Gao Huan muttered quietly: “I really don’t understand. Brother-in-law is a peerless hero, now going to handle affairs for the court—how is he not one of us…”
Before finishing his words, seeing Gao Qiao glare at him angrily, his tongue flashed back, and he didn’t dare complain anymore. Hanging his head, he reluctantly followed Gao Yin out.
“A’Ling, don’t scold her. Just talk nicely to A’Mi again.”
Gao Qiao was somewhat uneasy, walked to his wife’s side, and whispered this reminder. After speaking, he looked at his daughter again, sighed, and slowly left with his hands behind his back.
…
Only mother and daughter remained in the room.
“A’Mi, what’s wrong with you? Originally I thought you had calmed down too. After going to Jingkou, how did you change your mind again when you came back? If I had known this, I wouldn’t have let you go!”
Luoshen said: “Mother, don’t misunderstand. When I went to Jingkou, mother-in-law not only didn’t try to keep me but advised me to let go of past matters and not worry about her son anymore.”
Xiao Yongjia was startled.
“If that’s so, why do you want to go to Yi Cheng again?”
She stepped forward to take her daughter’s hand, brought her to sit by the bed, glanced at the clothes just folded and placed on the bed, and sighed.
“It’s not that mother wants to forcibly separate you two, but mother truly cannot see what future he has. His ambition for the Northern Expedition is already hopeless, and moreover, he has the heart to establish himself as supreme! He is a minister of the Southern Dynasty—to achieve this goal, how can he do it without overthrowing the court?”
“When your father mentioned this to me, I originally didn’t believe it either. But that night, when I asked him directly, he didn’t deny it.”
“A’Mi! However incompetent His Majesty may be, he is still your maternal uncle. Without Dayu, how would you have everything you have today? Your father absolutely cannot tolerate him having such treacherous intentions!”
Xiao Yongjia frowned deeply, lost in thought for a moment.
“Moreover, even if mother could let go of these concerns, relying on Li Mu alone—with the world as it is, with barbarian enemies without and aristocratic clans within—under such pressure, how could he possibly turn the tide and reverse the situation?”
“Never mind the future! If Li Mu doesn’t turn back, he has only one path—a dead end! Even if you blame mother again, mother will not let you follow him!”
Luoshen shook her head.
“Mother, I know you and father’s feelings for me. But I must make this trip. I need to ask him face to face for clarity!”
“I remember that night watching the tide at Jingkou, he told me that even if the whole world became his enemy in the future, he would never harm me, father, or mother. At the time I didn’t understand what he meant. Now it seems I’m beginning to understand!”
“But I want him to give me an explanation in person. Since he had such treacherous intentions from the start, why did he marry me in the first place! Having married me, why did he abandon me and leave? If one day he really becomes a rebellious minister and traitor, how will he manage not to harm me, father, and mother?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and raised her face again.
“Mother! Even if I completely break with him, it should be with clear words—that I don’t want him, not him leaving with empty words like this!”
She stood up from beside the bed, walked before Xiao Yongjia, and knelt down.
“Mother, I’m determined to make this trip and ask him for clarity face to face! Otherwise, I will have no peace day or night, unable to eat or sleep peacefully!”
“If you refuse, unless you imprison me for life, otherwise, given any opportunity, I’ll go find him myself! Next time, I won’t have sixth brother seek elder brother’s help.”
Xiao Yongjia fell silent.
She understood.
Her daughter must have known that if she properly requested to go to Yi Cheng, she and her husband would definitely oppose it. So she used Gao Huan and Gao Yin’s words to first express her determination to herself and her husband.
She stared at her daughter kneeling before her.
That flower-like beautiful face was becoming increasingly thin. At this moment, this pale little face showed a red flush on both cheeks due to excitement.
In those beautiful eyes looking at her, two flames seemed to be burning.
Xiao Yongjia had never known that her obedient daughter who smiled when happy, cried when sad, and loved acting cute with her and her husband over everything, also had such a stubborn and strong side hidden in her nature.
At this moment, in a trance, Xiao Yongjia seemed to see her former self.
She was momentarily confused, subconsciously wanting to object again.
But that word “no” simply couldn’t come out.
She suddenly remembered a bird she had once raised as a child. Its feathers were extremely green, its voice extremely pleasant, and she loved it dearly. But a bird expert in the palace said this bird had a fierce nature—if caged, it would die of grief and anger. She didn’t believe it and housed it in a golden cage, feeding it jade-like food, but still that person was proven right.
The bird cried day and night, refusing food and water, even hitting the cage with its head until blood flowed. After several days like this, when she couldn’t bear it anymore and finally released it, the bird was already dying and passed away that very night.
Xiao Yongjia slowly stood up and said: “Let me consider it further.”
…
Early the next morning, Gao Huan, who had been anxious all night, suddenly learned news.
His aunt had actually changed her mind and agreed to let him escort his sister to Yi Cheng!
Of course, it wasn’t just him—accompanying them would also be her own Eldest Princess guard unit. The leader, Fan Cheng, was once a battlefield hero, with two hundred men under him, all equipped with sleeve crossbows—all elite soldiers.
With such a guard unit as escort, this journey would surely be safe.
At the same time came another piece of news.
His uncle seemed very dissatisfied with his aunt’s decision, and reportedly they had argued early that morning.
But Gao Huan expressed no concern about this.
He never would have expected that just when he thought the journey was hopeless, things would suddenly turn around!
Since his aunt had spoken, based on Gao Huan’s limited life experience, this basically meant the Yi Cheng trip was set in stone.
Gao Huan was ecstatic and ran to his sister, seeing she had already packed her things. She smiled and asked if he was ready to depart.
So it was that on this day in March, Gao Huan, with infinite admiration for the Eldest Princess aunt, tried his best to ignore his uncle’s extremely ugly and gloomy face, rode his fine horse, and escorted his sister in her carriage out of Jiankang with great satisfaction. They reached the ferry and boarded a large ship.
The large ship would follow a fleet transporting military supplies west along the river, reach Jing Province, then go to the north bank, to Ba Commandery, and then follow that military route he had imagined countless times, heading north to their destination—Yi Cheng Commandery.
Gao Qiao stood at the ferry, watching that large ship surrounded by military vessels raise its sails, gradually disappearing at the horizon where river waves ended.
He turned to look at his wife beside him, seeing her gaze still fixed in the direction their daughter had gone. His current dissatisfaction still not extinguished, he frowned tightly, said not a word, left her behind, put his hands behind his back, and went directly to Tai City.
Near evening, close to the seventh hour, Gao Qiao finally finished the day’s court business and returned to the Gao residence.
Originally thinking that after such an argument today, his wife had already returned to Bailu Zhou, Gao Qiao entered his room full of worries, but was surprised to find she was still there.
Her hair was still in a bun, her clothes unchanged, sitting upright in the room, seemingly waiting for him.
Gao Qiao was startled. Remembering this morning when she had insisted on arranging for their daughter to go to Yi Cheng against his objections, his anger flared up again. His face darkened, and he didn’t enter but just stood there, saying coolly: “It’s not early anymore. Why haven’t you gone to rest?”
Xiao Yongjia stared at him, her eyes unblinking.
Seeing she didn’t speak and being stared at like this, Gao Qiao gradually couldn’t maintain his composure. He entered and frowned: “A’Ling, I’m not blaming you, but this time your actions were truly reckless! If it were anything else, even if Li Mu showed me no respect, I wouldn’t have brought our daughter back like this. You’re not young anymore—long past the age when you could act willfully. Why are you still so immature, unchanged in your willfulness! It’s been twenty years, yet you’ve made no progress at all! You truly disappoint me!”
By the end, he was speaking with deep pain.
Xiao Yongjia continued looking at him as if completely unmoved by his scolding.
Gao Qiao felt utterly helpless, held his forehead, and sighed deeply.
“Forget it, forget it! You’ve already sent our daughter away—why should I say more about this! Go rest. I’m going to my study!”
He turned to leave but saw Xiao Yongjia suddenly smile at him.
The candlelight in the room was brilliant, already making her skin glow like condensed fat. With this smile, she was even more radiant as pearls and jade, boundlessly beautiful.
Gao Qiao unconsciously stopped, frowning suspiciously: “What do you mean by smiling?”
“Gao Qiao, I know you’ve always been disappointed in me. I’ve always been such a person, and probably can’t change in this lifetime.”
“Let me tell you something else—not long ago, I killed someone. Are you going to send me to the Court of Judicial Review for righteous punishment according to law?”
Xiao Yongjia stopped smiling and stared at him, saying quietly.
Gao Qiao stared at her for a moment, his frown deepening.
“A’Ling, what nonsense are you talking?”
“I’m not talking nonsense.”
Xiao Yongjia looked at her husband’s upright and righteous face, her gaze becoming somewhat unfocused.
“Zhu Jiyue. Zhu Jiyue was killed by me.”
She said word by word.
Gao Qiao was greatly shocked, stunned in place for a moment, then suddenly seemed to come to his senses and quickly came to his wife’s side.
“A’Ling, you’re not talking nonsense, are you? How could she have been killed by you?”
He seemed somewhat uneasy and reached out to touch her forehead.
Xiao Yongjia avoided his approaching palm.
“You heard correctly. I killed her. That day she tried to seduce Li Mu, arranging to meet him at Qingxi Garden. I learned of this and was furious, rushed over, and got into an argument with her. I had a sword in hand. She tried to snatch my sword, lost her footing, fell toward me, and my sword pierced her neck. She died right there by my hand.”
Gao Qiao stared at her steadily for a moment, then asked: “What about the fire? How did the fire happen?”
“Li Mu arrived, sent me back, and helped me set that fire to cover things up.”
Gao Qiao was stunned, his expression frozen as he stood motionless.
“Years ago I caused Shao Yuniang’s death, and now I’ve personally killed another person. You can certainly report me to His Majesty or divorce me. I won’t blame you, nor will I force you to continue being husband and wife with me.”
The room fell silent.
“Forget it… from what you say, you didn’t kill her intentionally… since it’s over, let it be…”
His complexion was still extremely unpleasant.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice sounding extremely strained.
Xiao Yongjia smiled slightly.
“Thank you.”
Gao Qiao looked at her, a trace of complex emotion showing in his eyes. His arm moved slightly, his hand seeming to reach toward her, but after extending halfway, he slowly drew it back.
“It’s late, you should rest—”
He murmured and slowly turned around.
“Wait, I have one more matter.”
Xiao Yongjia’s voice suddenly came from behind him.
Gao Qiao turned back and saw her take a sachet from her sleeve, untie it, and pour out a jade pendant.
The jade was pure as clouds, carved with cloud and water patterns—a man’s waist ornament.
Only the silk cord hanging below was somewhat faded, apparently quite old.
Xiao Yongjia held the jade pendant in her palm, examined it for a moment, then gently placed it on the table and pushed it toward him.
“Gao Qiao, you should still remember this, right? A gentleman compares virtue to jade. I once forcibly took this from you. Now I’m returning it to you.”
Gao Qiao was confused for a moment but finally recognized it.
This jade pendant had originally been his.
He vaguely remembered—it was long ago, when Xiao Yongjia was only thirteen years old.
Also at that year’s Winding Water Floating Cups gathering, the dashing Gao family heir with his sword met the little imperial princess at Leyou Garden.
Under the peach blossom tree, she had arrogantly blocked his path, pointing at the jade pendant at his waist, saying the pattern was nice and she wanted the palace jade craftsmen to carve one just like it. She would return it after use, then took the item from his waist without allowing any argument.
Later, that jade was never returned.
Still later, he married her and became her husband.
Over all these years, Gao Qiao had long forgotten he had a jade pendant that remained in Xiao Yongjia’s possession.
He looked up at his wife, his face full of confusion: “A’Ling, what do you mean by this?”
“Gao Qiao, I forcibly took your jade pendant from you back then. Since it wasn’t mine, it ultimately isn’t mine. I’m returning it to you now.”
“During this time, I’ve been reflecting on myself. I was the one who forced you to marry me back then, and over these many years, I haven’t fulfilled my duties as a wife. I know you’ve tolerated me for many years—I’m very sorry. Now I understand. If you’re willing to divorce me, then let’s divorce. If you’re concerned about reputation or afraid of hurting our daughter and want to maintain our nominal marriage, that’s also acceptable to me.”
“You’re middle-aged but only have A’Mi as a daughter. I’ve delayed you. If you don’t want to divorce, from now on, you may freely take concubines to continue the Gao family line, lest your branch end with you.”
Gao Qiao was dumbstruck, motionless, completely without reaction.
Xiao Yongjia rose from behind the table, passed by his side, walked to the door, turned back and said: “The reason I disregarded your objections and sent our daughter to Yi Cheng today is because I know our daughter has grown up and doesn’t want to have everything arranged by us anymore. Since she wants to go, let her make this trip. I trust A’Mi—she can judge right from wrong herself.”
“As for people’s fortune and misfortune, that’s even more unpredictable. For instance, back then, when I loved you madly and married you, that was the most joyful moment of my entire life. How could I have known then that one day we would reach today’s situation?”
After speaking, she opened the door, stepped over the threshold, and walked out.