When Gao Qiao chased out the door, Xiao Yongjia had already boarded her carriage.

The window curtains were tightly closed, her face invisible.

He wanted to stop the carriage, opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Accompanied by the rumbling of wheels, he watched the ox cart carrying his wife gradually disappear into the thick night.

That night, Gao Qiao completely lost sleep, not closing his eyes for even a moment.

He stared at the jade pendant that Xiao Yongjia had returned—one he had long forgotten—and fell into deep confusion, worry, melancholy, and disbelief.

He truly couldn’t understand his wife’s sudden action.

They had been married for nearly twenty years, and arguments like today’s weren’t the first.

Moreover, without exception, they all ended with his own compromise.

Today was no different.

Given the dangerous consequences this matter might lead to, though he was extremely dissatisfied with Xiao Yongjia’s decision and had been greatly angered at the time, faced with her persistence, he had ultimately given in helplessly.

He was long accustomed to this way of getting along with his wife and thought she had accepted it too.

Regarding this argument, Gao Qiao’s original expectation was that his wife would return to Bailu Zhou again.

And he had secretly made a decision. If she didn’t recognize the principled error she had committed, he wouldn’t take the initiative to reconcile with her in the short term.

He had to make her clearly aware of his firm attitude on this matter.

His immediate priority was how to persuade their daughter to change her mind, or make Li Mu abandon his disloyal intentions and work with him to serve the state—after all, Gao Qiao greatly admired Li Mu’s talent and had high hopes for him.

If Li Mu had gone astray due to youthful impetuosity, and he, holding high position and being an elder, failed to restrain and guide him, that would also be his fault.

So before his daughter’s departure, he had specifically had a long talk with her, telling her that when she saw Li Mu, she must advise him to abandon his treacherous thoughts and return to the righteous path.

But what Gao Qiao hadn’t expected was that after sending their daughter away, his wife had delivered such a shocking blow.

After coming to his senses, his first reaction was that his wife was deliberately throwing a tantrum again, wanting him to bow his head and admit his mistakes.

But thinking of her various abnormal behaviors during this period, he quickly dismissed this idea.

Since she wasn’t throwing a tantrum, then it must be real.

But Gao Qiao simply couldn’t accept all this.

Though they had been incompatible for years with marital discord, for Gao Qiao, this had become part of his life, just like the state affairs he had to handle with all his energy every day.

When alone and idle, thinking about their marital relationship, he had felt anxious, helpless, and exhausted, until finally becoming numb and just getting by day by day.

But he had never thought that one day he would break this way of life.

Occasionally in the deep of night, he had even thought that if Xiao Yongjia died before him in the future, he wouldn’t remarry—they would share the same grave.

But if he died first, Xiao Yongjia would most likely remarry, so the burial chamber would probably only need space for him alone.

Though somewhat hurtful, thinking it was a matter after death, he felt relieved about everything.

And today, suddenly, everything was in chaos.

He was left upset, restless, and even more confused.

After all these years, with their daughter grown up, he had long accepted such a wife, and she should have accepted their current marital situation too.

Why suddenly propose divorce now?

Gao Qiao asked himself—he had never done anything to wrong her.

What was she thinking?

That night, he sighed deeply and stayed awake all night. By early morning, getting up groggy and washing his face with cold water to clear his mind, as he prepared to leave for the morning court session, he suddenly remembered something.

The Daoist temple on Bailu Zhou used to have Daoist nuns.

That old Daoist nun whose religious name he didn’t know—he had encountered her several times before and vaguely remembered her appearance.

But in recent visits to the island, when passing Ziyun Temple, he noticed the main gate was always tightly closed.

He had casually asked once and was told that all the Daoist nuns inside had been driven away by the Eldest Princess.

He remembered Xiao Yongjia used to often visit Ziyun Temple, sitting with that old Daoist nun for half a day at a time.

He had even felt pleased about this, thinking it was a good place for the idle Xiao Yongjia to cultivate herself and pass time.

At the time he hadn’t paid much attention, thinking those Daoist nuns must have offended his wife, and hadn’t inquired about the reason.

Now thinking about it carefully, Gao Qiao finally became suspicious. Before leaving, he called Gao Qi and ordered him to investigate the inside story of why Xiao Yongjia had driven away the Daoist nuns.

That day, though Gao Qiao appeared no different from usual at Tai City, he was actually distracted and eager to return home, leaving early in the evening—but Xiao Yongjia hadn’t returned.

He was alone in his study, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, when Gao Qi entered with news. He said he couldn’t find out the specific details, only that the Eldest Princess had been furious and ordered all the people in the temple driven away, not allowing even one to remain. Fortunately, after investigation, he had found a female disciple of the old Daoist nun Liao Chenzi, who had now shaved her head to become a Buddhist nun but secretly engaged in unspeakable activities. He had brought her and asked whether to see her.

Gao Qiao had her brought in.

The nun was brought before him. Seeing Gao Qiao sitting upright above, she dared not look directly at him, bowed her head and knelt, and when Gao Qiao asked about being driven away, she didn’t dare hide anything and told the whole story.

She said the old Daoist nun, seeing the Eldest Princess living alone on the island, occasionally revealing boudoir grievances in daily conversation, thought she was thirsty and wanting drink, and wanted to curry favor with her. So she took it upon herself to find a beautiful young man skilled in bedroom arts who had long served aristocratic ladies, secretly brought him to the temple, and tried to offer him that day. Unexpectedly, this angered the Eldest Princess, leading to all the Daoist nuns in the temple being driven away from top to bottom.

After hearing this, Gao Qiao was dumbfounded. After a long while, he came to his senses, had Gao Qi take the nun away, and as he pondered carefully, couldn’t help breaking into a cold sweat again.

In the current Southern Dynasty, with mystical discussions and moral decay, among Jiankang’s aristocratic families, noble ladies who didn’t maintain wifely virtue were also everywhere. Previously there had been Zhu Jiyue as an example.

In Jiankang, Xiao Yongjia’s reputation was indeed not good.

But the most criticized aspects were only extravagance, jealousy, etc.—never any romantic scandals.

So during these years when Gao Qiao and Xiao Yongjia had been separated, he had never thought of his wife in this regard.

He never would have dreamed that without his knowledge, on Bailu Zhou where his wife lived, beautiful young men had once set foot, and that old Daoist nun had even tried to act as a go-between.

If not for her upright character, wouldn’t he have long become a second Prince Yu Lin?

Gao Qiao’s face alternated between red and white, various feelings surging in his heart. As he stood dazed, suddenly another thought emerged in his mind.

Gao Qiao knew well of Xiao Yongjia’s former devotion to him.

It was also she who had insisted on marrying him, which led to their union.

After marrying her, Gao Qiao had never had the thought of taking concubines—besides his own lack of interest, Xiao Yongjia’s jealousy made Gao Qiao miserable, and he simply had no such thoughts.

Now she not only proposed divorce but even urged him to take concubines, her tone so magnanimous and sincere that she clearly wasn’t being manipulative.

Could it be that she had finally succumbed to the corruption of outside influences, her nature completely changed, wanting to live freely and carelessly from now on, each going their separate ways?

Gao Qiao’s heart raced wildly.

Reasonably speaking, with Xiao Yongjia finally seeing sense and willing to let him go, Gao Qiao should feel relieved and breathe a sigh of relief.

But he couldn’t relax.

Instead, he suddenly very much wanted to go to Bailu Zhou to see what Xiao Yongjia was doing at that moment.

He hesitated no longer, set aside other matters, immediately left the house, and rushed to the western city ferry.

As he approached the ferry, he hesitated again.

Given her resolute attitude yesterday, if he went over now and she treated him coldly, how should he handle it?

While hesitating, he reached the ferry. Before deciding whether to board or not, he saw a horse parked there, seemingly left by an outsider, so he asked the guard.

The guard said: “Murong Ti just came to visit—the Eldest Princess allowed him on the island.”

Gao Qiao was shocked.

After Murong Ti came to Jiankang, he had several times presented visiting cards, but Gao Qiao had ignored them all.

Unexpectedly, today he had presumptuously come to visit Xiao Yongjia. How could Gao Qiao endure this? He immediately darkened his face, boarded the boat, and went straight to the island. Upon landing, he hurried to the villa. Reaching the gate, he saw it open, with Murong Ti just being escorted out by the steward.

The steward was seeing off a guest on behalf of his mistress, his attitude quite polite. Suddenly seeing Gao Qiao standing on the walkway outside the gate, he quickly left Murong Ti behind and came up to greet him.

Seeing Gao Qiao, Murong Ti was slightly startled, then smiled and quickly approached to pay respects, very respectfully saying with a smile: “Before my nephew came south, my uncle had words, saying our Murong clan were originally ministers of Dayu. When he came to Dayu years ago, he was fortunate to befriend Lord Gao. Though we later met on the battlefield, it was due to circumstances beyond control, truly not my uncle’s wish. Now finally able to abandon darkness for light, my uncle repeatedly instructed me to visit Lord Gao and convey old friendship on his behalf. My admiration for Lord Gao has long been deep. Previously seeking audience several times unsuccessfully, knowing Lord Gao had some misunderstanding of me, I dared not disturb further. Having long heard of the Eldest Princess’s virtuous reputation, I presumptuously visited today, originally wanting to ask the Eldest Princess to speak on my behalf to express my sincere admiration. How fortunate to encounter Lord Gao here—truly my nephew’s great fortune!”

After speaking, he bowed deeply again.

Gao Qiao said coldly: “Prince Linzhi need not be so ceremonious. Though His Majesty allows you to remain in Jiankang, I fear the Southern Dynasty is too small to contain your Murong clan’s ambitious spirit. I’m merely an ordinary minister of the Southern Dynasty—what is there worth seeing?”

Murong Ti looked alarmed and apologized.

Gao Qiao turned to the steward and said “See the guest out.”

The steward saw his master was displeased and dared not delay, quickly turning to Murong Ti: “Young master, please follow me.”

Murong Ti respectfully bade farewell to Gao Qiao again before departing. Reaching the ferry, he stopped, turned back to glance behind him, then boarded the boat and left.

…

After meeting Murong Ti in the flower hall and having him escorted out, Xiao Yongjia sat alone by the window, gazing at a branch of beautiful crabapple extending obliquely in the evening light outside. As she gradually lost herself in thought, she heard somewhat hurried footsteps outside.

Turning her face, she saw Gao Qiao had come. She didn’t move or say anything, just looked at him.

“A’Ling, what did Murong Ti come here for just now?”

Gao Qiao asked immediately upon entering.

Xiao Yongjia said: “Nothing special. Just that he’s been in Jiankang for some time without paying respects, so he came to see me today!”

Gao Qiao suppressed his displeasure: “He has presented visiting cards to me several times, but I refused to see him. The Murong clan has ulterior motives. His Majesty loves grand achievements and was deceived by him, not listening to my words, which is why he was allowed to stay in Jiankang. You should know this too—why did you still see him?”

Xiao Yongjia frowned slightly: “I’m nominally the Eldest Princess, only knowing eating, drinking, and pleasure all day, long estranged from you—who in Jiankang doesn’t know? Since he’s been allowed to stay in Jiankang and came to visit as a junior, I saw him, said a few words, and sent him away. What harm could that do? Would this damage your reputation, Gao Qiao, or cause court upheaval?”

She stared at Gao Qiao: “Moreover, whom I see is none of your business.”

Gao Qiao was momentarily speechless. After hesitating, he still couldn’t suppress his dissatisfaction: “What did he see you about? Did he speak well of Murong Xi?”

He snorted: “Murong Xi, to survive in the past, didn’t hesitate to endure humiliation and serve the Xia. Now seeing his cause failed, he fled north in chaos, waiting for a chance to return. Most hatefully, he dares to use our Dayu’s name to win Han people’s hearts. Such a disloyal, shameless person—His Majesty being confused is one thing, but if you’re also deceived, I truly have nothing to say!”

Xiao Yongjia raised her eyebrows: “I’m just a woman who doesn’t concern herself with court affairs. If you find Murong Xi displeasing, defeat him on the battlefield when you next meet.”

Gao Qiao felt increasingly frustrated.

During his second Northern Expedition, it was because of Murong Xi’s obstruction that his army was held up at the Huai River, unable to reach Luoyang, missing the opportunity.

Thinking of it now still filled him with regret.

Being countered like this by Xiao Yongjia and unable to refute, he could only suppress his anger, exhale the stifling breath in his chest, and use as gentle a tone as possible: “A’Ling, I’ve thought about what you said last night, and it’s very inappropriate. If we divorced, never mind reputation, A’Mi would surely be heartbroken. I can’t bear to make her sad—don’t mention divorce again.”

“As for taking concubines, that’s even more absurd. When have you seen me complain about having no son? Having no son doesn’t matter to me. Among my nephews, there are many talented ones. I can choose an outstanding one as family head in the future—the Gao family will have successors, and I’ll have no regrets.”

Xiao Yongjia said: “As you wish. Whether to divorce or not, whether to take concubines or not—it’s all up to you. Life is short, and you’re middle-aged. Having been delayed by me before, I only hope you can live more comfortably in the future and not wrong yourself too much. That way, I can have some peace of mind too.”

She rose from the window and nodded slightly to Gao Qiao: “I’m tired and going to rest. Do as you please.”

She walked toward the door.

Gao Qiao watched her back as she left without looking back. Thinking how after all these years of giving in to her everywhere, he was finally treated like this—discarded like worn shoes—his heart filled with bitter anger. Unable to bear it anymore, he chased after her in a few steps and grabbed her arm.

“A’Ling! Explain this clearly to me! How exactly have I wronged you that you treat me like this?”

Seeing his face showing suppressed anger and her arm being gripped painfully, Xiao Yongjia couldn’t help frowning: “Let go of me!”

Gao Qiao wouldn’t release her.

“All these years, I’ve had so many daily affairs, but you don’t understand. Instead, you separated from me, embarrassing me, making people mock me behind my back as henpecked—have I ever complained even half a word?”

“You don’t share my bed—have I ever forced you or sought other maids?”

“Every time you argue with me, even when you’re being unreasonable—which time haven’t I given in to you?”

“Now with one phrase about life being short, you want to divorce me? How have I wronged you, Xiao Yongjia?”

His face was dark as he stared at Xiao Yongjia.

“Or do you despise me for being old and want to find someone new?”

Xiao Yongjia’s arm was gripped so tightly she couldn’t move, and she was frowning and enduring the pain when she suddenly heard him say such a thing. Startled, she forcefully shook off his hand.

“Gao Qiao, what kind of person do you think I, Xiao Yongjia, am?”

“True, as you say, in twenty years I’ve made no progress. Now I’ve seen the light and don’t want to make things difficult for you, much less for myself, yet you act like this—what do you mean?”

She laughed coldly and nodded.

“But your words do remind me. Just watch—if I find someone I fancy in the future, I’ll certainly live very happily. I advise you to live however makes you comfortable from now on. Never be hard on yourself or wrong yourself again!”

After speaking, she rubbed her arm that had been painfully gripped, turned and headed outside.

Gao Qiao was furious. Staring at her retreating figure, he grabbed her from behind in one motion, lifted her despite her struggles, forcibly carried her back to the couch by the window, threw her down, and pounced on her himself, while tearing her clothes and gritting his teeth: “Good! Good! These are your words! Today I won’t wrong myself! If you want to abandon me, get past me first!”

Xiao Yongjia was firmly pinned down on the couch, forced to lie on her back.

Having been married to him for nearly twenty years, when had she ever seen him lose composure like this, much less been treated this way? Seeing his brutal strength and terrifying gaze, as if he had become a different person, her heart pounded wildly, her face flushed red, and she struggled with all her might. But how could she match a man’s strength? When her leg lifted, it was pressed down by him, only kicking over a candlestick at the corner of the small table on the couch.

The flower hall had no door. Footsteps sounded outside—several servant women were startled by the noise of the falling candlestick. Not knowing what had happened, they hurried over and saw their master pressing the Eldest Princess down on the couch.

The household servants all knew that Lord Gao and the Eldest Princess had an incompatible relationship, and in recent years they no longer lived together. Suddenly seeing such a scene, they were shocked. Exchanging glances, they hurriedly retreated.

Xiao Yongjia felt both shame and shock, gritting her teeth: “Gao Qiao, have you gone mad? What place is this—how dare you treat me like this!”

Gao Qiao froze.

His gaze fell on his wife pinned beneath him. Seeing her disheveled hair, gasping breath, flushed face, and her collar torn open by him revealing white skin that appeared and disappeared with her rapid breathing, he suddenly stiffened.

He closed his eyes, suddenly released the woman beneath him, rolled off the couch, roughly straightened his own clothes, left her there, and walked out of the flower hall. Under the startled and uncertain gazes of the servant women outside, he said “Attend to the Eldest Princess well” and hurried away.

Xiao Yongjia lay on the couch, her limbs bent as they had been when Gao Qiao left.

After a long while, her breathing gradually calmed. She closed her eyes, motionless, as if she had fallen asleep.

Outside the window, night fell deeply.

Another evening had arrived.

…

Half a month later, Luoshen’s boat reached Jing Province on the north bank of the river.

Yang Xuan had received news early and knew she would arrive today. He came personally to the ferry early to welcome her.

After Luoshen disembarked and rested for the night, she set out early the next morning. Personally escorted by Yang Xuan out of Jing Province, she continued toward Yi Cheng under the guidance of a pathfinder he had assigned.

The group continued north along the military road without stopping. After traveling for over half a month more on the road.

This evening, Fan Cheng, fearing Luoshen was tired from the journey, ordered his men to cut wood and grass, make camp, and prepare to spend the night. The guide returned saying this area was already within Yi Cheng Commandery’s territory, only about twenty li from the city. Walking quickly, they could probably arrive before sunset.

Luoshen had never experienced such a long and arduous journey in her life.

It had been bearable on the boat earlier, but for this past half month, to arrive more quickly, when leaving Ba Commandery she had abandoned the water route of the West Han River and chosen to travel by horse cart on the nearest military road.

This road was in extremely poor condition. Though thick cushions were laid in the horse cart, the constant jolting from morning to night was unbearable. Having traveled to this point today, she originally felt her bones were about to fall apart and her whole body ached, but suddenly hearing the city was ahead, her spirits immediately lifted, and she ordered immediate departure.

Fan Cheng and Gao Huan could only follow her arrangements and continue north.

Dusk gradually deepened.

Luoshen sat in the bouncing, jolting horse cart racing forward, looking out the window at the distant wilderness.

After leaving Jing Province and Ba-Shu, along this northward route, the villages they passed were almost nine-tenths empty—ruins everywhere. Some places were like barren wasteland.

Here was the same.

In the wilderness on both sides of the road, traces of former fields could still be faintly discerned. But now they were buried under wild grass and thorns.

The wildly growing grass spread like wildfire in all directions, burying everything, leaving only endless desolation.

Only the sunset in this wilderness remained magnificent.

The sky above the distant mountains was half the color of crab shells, half purple. The fiery red setting sun hung above the mountain peaks, chasing Luoshen’s carriage, continuously moving forward.

“Sister, I can see watchtowers and city towers!”

Gao Huan on horseback outside the cart suddenly shouted.

After days of travel, wind and sun had made him much thinner and darker, and his voice was hoarse too.

But at this moment, his hoarse shout carried undisguisable wild joy.

Luoshen’s heartbeat suddenly quickened. Enduring the nauseating discomfort from the jolting, she supported herself on the carriage window and slowly stuck her head out to look ahead.

There, ahead, the shadow of a deep blue city wall appeared in her line of sight.

The city wall rose several zhang high with thick foundations, and above the city gate stood a tall gate tower.

Watchtowers on both sides spread like an eagle’s wings, protecting the gate in the middle with imposing grandeur.

The setting sun that had been chasing Luoshen’s carriage now hung directly in front of the gate tower, its rays split into beams of golden light by the battlements.

Clearly, this was a recently built defensive fortification.

Suddenly appearing on this desolate land, it was like an oasis suddenly appearing in a desert—shocking to behold.

This was Luoshen’s destination for this journey.

The city where Governor Li Mu resided.

Yi Cheng.