The sky began to lighten faintly.

The roof tiles were still wet. Last night’s accumulated rainwater dripped down slowly from above, drop by drop, falling into puddles on the foundation stones of the steps.

Li Mu had already awakened. He lay with eyes closed, feigning sleep, one arm embracing Luoshen who was still deeply asleep against his chest.

Scene after scene from last night floated through his mind.

He felt somewhat ashamed of himself for taking advantage of such a moment to force her to say the words he wanted to hear.

She was so innocent and so obedient, making it easy for him to achieve his desires. From her enchanting little mouth, she had spoken the words he longed to hear.

Recalling it now, beyond satisfaction, a faint sense of emptiness arose in the depths of his heart.

If it hadn’t been for him forcibly pursuing her back last night and making such a promise, making her believe that between him and this court, as well as those who defended this court—like her father—there would never again be a day of hostility, he probably would have truly lost her this time.

In his previous life, when she married him, she had already been widowed for many years. The Dayu court was also tottering. And he wielded power throughout the court, occupying a high position. She understood him and was willing to love him.

In this life, he had forcibly married her.

She was still a noble, delicate flower protected under the wings of her parents and brothers.

That she would fall for him so quickly, even willing to contend before her parents for his sake, traveling thousands of miles to seek refuge with him.

By what right could he earn such deep love from her—even he himself didn’t know.

Instead, every time he thought of it, he felt it was like the moon in a mirror, flowers in water.

That night at Chou Chi, at his most passionate moment, she had suddenly made such a request of him.

For her, it should have been unintentional.

But for him, it immediately reminded him of that wedding night in his previous life, also within the bed curtains, when she asked him whether he harbored ambitions to overthrow the dynasty.

What a similar scene it was.

The more time he spent with her, the more he found himself involuntarily loving her one degree more each day.

Perhaps because he loved her too much, he inevitably suffered from both hope and fear.

He couldn’t control himself and would always suspect that when that inevitable day of rupture arrived in the future, would she, who now wholeheartedly wanted to be with him, change her mind and abandon him?

He had once thought he would be very magnanimous. Let her make her own choice.

If she truly didn’t want him anymore, he could understand her too.

When turmoil came, he would do everything in his power to protect her and those around her.

As long as she was safe and well.

But when it really came to that moment and she was about to leave, he realized he wasn’t nearly as magnanimous and carefree as he’d thought.

He completely couldn’t bear her abandoning him and returning to that world of hers that he intended to shatter.

In that world, she had many admirers.

And he had already become subservient to her, unable to turn the tables.

He knew this.

Even though now his position was still lowly and his status still humble.

But the thought of permanently possessing, even completely conquering her, making her submit to him for life, had never been as strong as at this moment.

…

The soft dripping sound of accumulated water falling from the eaves continued incessantly, making the morning’s tranquility even more apparent.

He closed his eyes, his palm gently caressing the warm, silky smooth skin of the girl’s back in his arms—so smooth it could barely hold onto one’s hand—that real feeling of her belonging to him.

Outside the courtyard, shouts suddenly came: “Governor Li! Madam! The city guards report that Young Master Gao returned before dawn to outside the city, insisting on seeing the Governor and Madam!”

It was that old soldier guarding the gate.

Li Mu remained motionless, as if he hadn’t heard.

The girl in his arms, however, was startled awake by this sudden clamor. Her eyelashes trembled, and she immediately opened her eyes, extending a soft, warm arm to push him: “Husband, wake up! Did you hear? They said my elder brother has come? You’re not allowed to shut him out again! Quickly let him in!”

She seemed a bit nervous.

Li Mu slowly opened his eyes, gazing at her worried expression, smiled, raised the hand that had just been pressed against her back to rub her head that had nuzzled over, then rolled over and, amid her “Oh my!” of complaint, pressed her beneath him.

“No! Elder Brother is still waiting—”

She kept refusing.

Li Mu said nothing, only continuing with his business.

Soon her voice became vague and soft, gradually lowering.

…

Just before leaving the room, Li Mu stopped, reached out to straighten Luoshen’s collar, then leaned close to her ear and asked in a low voice: “When you see Elder Brother later, do you know what to say?”

Luoshen’s face flushed slightly as she softly hummed in acknowledgment.

…

Gao Yin had waited a long while in that front hall of the Governor’s Residence before finally hearing approaching footsteps.

Li Mu brought his sister and finally appeared.

Facing his displeasure, Li Mu acted as if nothing had happened, wearing a smile as he made small talk, his attitude polite and respectful.

As if last night’s unpleasant experience of forcibly taking his sister away and locking him outside the city gates had never occurred at all.

This was fine, but what surprised Gao Yin even more was his sister.

She was completely different from yesterday.

When she followed Li Mu in, crossing the threshold, Li Mu extended his hand to help her, and she let him take it.

Then she stood beside Li Mu, standing very close to him.

When Li Mu apologized for being late and making him wait so long, she seemed bashful, lowering her head, and a faint blush could be seen spreading across her cheeks.

What Li Mu had done to her earlier this morning before coming here was obvious at a glance.

This made Gao Yin somewhat angry despite himself.

When Gao Yin suppressed his dissatisfaction and turned to her, asking whether she wanted to return to Jiankang with him, she finally raised her head, quickly glanced at the man beside her, then said in a low voice with guilty eyes that held a hint of pleading: “Elder Brother, please trouble you to go back and tell Father and Mother that husband and wife are one body, I’m staying…”

“Please tell them to rest assured—I’ll be very well here!”

As if to convince her elder brother, she emphasized this with a solemn tone.

Gao Yin looked at his sister, who had completely changed her attitude in just one night. After a long moment, he slowly shifted his gaze back to the man beside her, staring at him.

Li Mu smiled and said: “Thank you for your trouble, Elder Brother. After you return, please deliver that letter I gave you last night to Father-in-law.”

Gao Yin was silent for a moment before finally saying: “Very well. I’ll return now. Take care of yourself from now on. If anything happens, remember to send me word at any time.”

These words were directed at Luoshen.

Luoshen had initially been worried that Elder Brother would insist on carrying out Father’s wishes and definitely take her back with him.

Hearing him change his mind now, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Along with relief, she also felt somewhat guilty.

“Elder Brother, I’ve made you come all this way for nothing…”

She called out to Gao Yin but didn’t know what else to say and stopped.

Gao Yin smiled and comforted her gently: “It’s no matter, don’t overthink it. Since you’ve decided to stay, my coming here to see this place with my own eyes gives me an idea of things, so I can give Uncle and Aunt an account when I return.”

Luoshen nodded, her eyes slightly reddening.

How truly fortunate she was to be born into this world—not only meeting her ideal husband, but also receiving such care from her parents and brothers, day after day, year after year.

Gao Yin also gave instructions to Fan Cheng, A’Ju and the others, saying that after he returned, he would have them go back into the city.

After finishing his instructions, he took one last look at Li Mu with complex emotions, then turned and left.

…

Gao Yin returned to the camp, informed Fan Cheng and A’Ju who had been waiting, and instructed them to return and continue following Luoshen in Yi Cheng.

A’Ju was naturally very happy, and even Fan Cheng seemed relieved.

Gao Yin turned to look at the tent where Gao Huan had slept last night, seeing it still standing there alone and conspicuously, and said: “Sixth Brother hasn’t gotten up yet?”

A’Ju said: “I went to look at the tent opening earlier. Sixth Young Master was still sleeping. I thought he must have been really tired yesterday. Seeing him still asleep, I didn’t wake him.”

Gao Yin frowned, turned to go over himself, reached the tent, lifted the tent flap with one pull, walked in, and called: “Sixth Brother, get up!”

He called several times, seeing Gao Huan still curled up under the covers with his head covered, not moving at all. He went up and pulled the covers away, then stood stunned.

Where was there anyone under the covers?

Clearly it was just a pile of his clothes stuffed there, shaped like a person to deceive onlookers.

Gao Yin came to his senses and flew into a rage, knowing he must have snuck away last night while others were sleeping, evading the night watch guards.

Just as he turned to chase after him again, he suddenly saw a piece of paper peeking out from under the pillow and covers, apparently a letter left behind. He picked it up and read through it.

In the letter, Gao Huan said that having been here for some time, he had witnessed firsthand the military dangers of the northern territories and the plight of refugees. As a child of the Gao family, reflecting on his past life of only knowing wealth, pleasure, and occupying positions without merit, he felt deeply ashamed. A great man should have lofty aspirations. He wanted to follow Li Mu and accomplish what Uncle had not finished—launch a Northern Expedition, drive out the barbarians, recover the two capitals. He hoped Elder Brother would grant him this, and he bowed in respectful supplication.

These words were written with stirring passion, full of a young man’s righteous vigor and soaring ambition.

Holding the letter, the anger on Gao Yin’s face gradually faded. Finally he put away the letter and walked out.

Fan Cheng had already organized the men and asked whether they should immediately search the nearby wilderness. Since Sixth Young Master wanted to stay in Yi Cheng, he probably wouldn’t have gone far.

Gao Yin stood by the roadside and surveyed the surrounding fields: “Forget it. Since he’s determined to stay, let him be.”

Fan Cheng acknowledged this.

On this trip, he had made the journey for nothing—not only failing to bring his sister back, but in the end even letting Sixth Brother stay behind at his own wish.

But fortunately there was still Li Mu’s letter. Presumably in the letter he would have something to say to Uncle, so when he returned, it wouldn’t be completely impossible to give an account.

Gao Yin pondered for a moment, then ordered his attendants to prepare for the journey and return south by the same route.

He traveled rapidly, and after more than half a month, on this day he finally reached Jiankang. Entering the city and resting briefly, he immediately took Li Mu’s letter and went directly to seek Gao Qiao to report.