The flattering words from the palace attendant beside her filled her ears continuously, yet Luoshen’s mind was distracted.

She thought about what her mother had said before entering the palace, and about the scene when she had just met with A’Jie—A’Jie was still exactly as she remembered, so good to her, warm, thoughtful, and had later summoned Deng’er.

Deng’er was A’Jie’s son, the current Crown Prince. Though not yet three years old, he was already clever and bright, clinging to Luoshen’s side, calling “Aunt, Aunt” incessantly. Luoshen was very fond of him.

The empress’s palace was filled with laughter and the charming childish chatter, brimming with family warmth.

Luoshen had been smiling throughout, yet her heart knew that A’Niang’s words were truly correct.

She was no longer the former Miss Gao who relied only on her parents’ protection.

A’Jie was also no longer merely that A’Jie who had once shielded her from danger with her own body in childhood.

They could never return to the past.

For some reason, this realization suddenly filled Luoshen’s heart with deep loss and an inexplicable sadness.

Upon leaving, her already aching cheeks could no longer sustain the smile she had maintained for most of the day.

She lowered her head slightly, walking silently on the smooth, broad palace pathway. Just outside the palace gates, she looked up and was surprised to see Li Mu’s figure.

He wore court robes, standing not far from the palace gates beside a guardian beast statue, seeming to have seen her emerge long ago, quietly watching. Seeing her notice him, he smiled at her and walked quickly forward.

The smile on his face was like a ray of sunlight breaking through clouds, coming toward her.

Luoshen called out “Langjun,” overcome with delighted surprise.

Li Mu stopped before her, smiling: “When I left court, I happened to meet Gao Qi at the palace gates and learned the empress had summoned you into the palace, so I waited here. Come, let me escort you home first.”

All the loss and sadness in her heart seemed to vanish instantly because of this man who had been waiting here for her.

She smiled and agreed.

Li Mu helped her into the carriage, mounted his horse himself, and rode alongside the carriage as their party left the imperial palace toward the Gao residence.

The ox cart proceeded at a leisurely pace through Jiankang’s streets. Along the way, Li Mu was continuously recognized by people.

Passersby stopped and whispered among themselves.

“Is that Li Mu, General Li who captured Chang’an? He truly has impressive bearing and magnificent presence.”

“Barbarians flee just hearing his name, not even needing to fight—they run first and hand over Chang’an…”

“Heaven has finally opened its eyes to give us General Li, the reincarnation of the Military Star. We Southern Dynasty people have been suppressed for so many years, but now we finally have a war god to reclaim our ancestors’ lands for us Han people…”

“With Lord Gao and General Li as this father and son-in-law pair in the Southern Dynasty, one handling internal affairs and one external, we need never fear again!”

“Indeed! General Li and Miss Gao are truly a perfect match of talent and beauty, made by heaven…”

Luoshen quietly lifted a corner of the curtain to look at her husband outside the carriage.

The admiring exclamations from the people behind left no trace on him. He rode beside her, eyes fixed ahead, continuing forward at the same unhurried pace.

Behind them, another ox cart was currently stopped at a crossroads.

Inside sat a young man with the appearance of an aristocratic family’s son.

Though the procession ahead had already passed, the admiring voices of passersby continued to drift into his ears.

He lifted the curtain blocking his view, staring at the gradually departing ox cart ahead, his gaze falling on the mounted man’s retreating figure beside the carriage. His expression grew increasingly ugly. Suddenly he ordered the ox cart to stop, alighted, had a mounted attendant dismount, leaped onto the horse himself, lashed it with his whip, and spurred it forward in pursuit. He quickly caught up, but rather than slowing down, he charged directly into several Gao family attendants following behind Li Mu.

The attendants were completely unprepared and nearly knocked to the ground, stumbling before managing to steady themselves. Furious, they turned around, only to recognize that their attacker was actually Lu Huanzhi of the Lu family.

Since the two families had previously been close, and Lu Huanzhi was an old acquaintance of the Gao family, they didn’t dare explode in anger and could only forcibly restrain themselves.

Gao Qi suppressed his displeasure and quickly approached, questioning in as controlled a tone as possible: “Second Young Master Lu, this road isn’t narrow, and our carriages and horses aren’t monopolizing the path. Why didn’t you take the empty road but charged directly into my men? What’s the reason for this?”

Lu Huanzhi glanced at Li Mu, who had stopped his horse ahead and turned to look back, showing a smile on his face as he quickly clasped his hands toward Gao Qi: “Uncle Qi, I’m truly sorry—I didn’t do it intentionally. It’s all this beast’s fault!”

He made a show of kicking the horse’s belly.

“This beast was presented to me by an Assistant Commander a few days ago. I’m not familiar with its temperament yet, and it doesn’t recognize me—only the Assistant Commander. Just now it must have seen a real Assistant Commander and wanted to recognize its master, so it wouldn’t obey my control and galloped off on its own. I couldn’t stop it, which is how this accident happened. Uncle Qi, please bear with me. If anyone was injured, just tell me and I’ll compensate!”

Gao Qi couldn’t help feeling secretly angry.

This Lu family brat had no real ability, but his talent for sarcasm and mockery was apparently self-taught.

Li Langjun had previously served as an Assistant Commander. His words were clearly mocking Li Mu’s humble origins.

Gao Qi quickly looked toward Li Mu, but saw his expression remained calm, apparently not taking Lu Huanzhi’s words to heart at all, only asking: “Is everyone alright?”

Hearing his question, everyone quickly said they were fine.

Li Mu nodded: “Good that no one’s hurt. Sorry to have startled you brothers. Tonight I’ll buy drinks to calm your nerves. Let’s go.”

Hearing about drinks, the attendants were delighted, laughing: “Forget it, forget it! For Li Langjun’s sake, we’ll consider it being bitten by a mad dog. Ignore it, ignore it!”

Seeing Li Mu wouldn’t argue with Lu Huanzhi, Gao Qi also suppressed his anger and ordered everyone to reform ranks and continue.

Lu Huanzhi remained there, seeing Li Mu wouldn’t even spare him half a glance. The roadside onlookers pointed and whispered about him, their expressions full of disdain and dissatisfaction, joining the attendants in their mockery. Looking again at the ox cart Li Mu was protecting, seeing the curtains tightly closed, knowing who sat inside, he felt both angry and ashamed, forcing a cold laugh: “Just a crude warrior—through mere luck he tricked his way back with Chang’an, and this deserves such praise? My Lu family’s military force has warriors like this everywhere—they’re used like dogs! When my elder brother captures the Eastern Capital, then you’ll know what true heroism is!”

Inside the carriage, Luoshen’s usually hidden fiery temper suddenly flared.

Seeing Lu Huanzhi suddenly appear from nowhere to deliberately collide with the Gao family servants and make sarcastic remarks about Li Mu had already angered her considerably. But seeing Li Mu wouldn’t argue with him, she could only forcibly restrain herself.

Now hearing Lu Huanzhi still spouting such nonsense, how could she endure it any longer? Speaking through the curtain: “Second Brother Lu, your words are rather chilling to hear. I only see that without those Lu family military warriors you call ‘used like dogs,’ no matter how capable your elder brother is, could he single-handedly raise the banner of a great family and defeat countless Jie enemies to capture the Eastern Capital?”

Hearing a young woman’s voice suddenly emerge from the carriage—melodious in tone yet like striking ice and jade, containing hidden anger—everyone knew it must be Li Mu’s wife, Miss Gao, speaking. Startled, those who had been discussing and jeering all fell silent.

“The Southern Dynasty has supported countless family scions born into privilege. ‘Respect the worthy like honored guests, love the people like one’s own children.’ Those so-called family scions who only know how to speak nonsense, engage in empty talk all day, powder their faces, and even compete with women in finery—since they themselves cannot achieve such ideals, can’t they show more respect and keep some decency when speaking of those fighting, even bleeding and dying for the court and Southern Dynasty people at the front? You wave your elder brother’s reputation around like this—do you think you’re bringing him honor? He’s of noble character—if he knew, he would be ashamed!”

After her words fell, silence surrounded them. Someone unknown started it, but suddenly cheers erupted from the crowd. People discussed excitedly, pushing toward the ox cart, hoping to glimpse the true appearance of the legendary Miss Gao who had just spoken.

Li Mu’s gaze quickly withdrew from the carriage with lowered curtains, his expression unreadable, simply ordering the cart driver to proceed.

The driver received the command and immediately drove forward.

Gao Qi glanced at the stunned Lu Huanzhi, whose face alternated between red and white, finally feeling he’d vented his frustration. He shouted and led his men after the carriage.

The ox cart carrying Miss Gao departed, but the crowd continued their heated discussions, pointing at Lu Huanzhi incessantly.

Lu Huanzhi finally came to his senses, heavily kicking the horse’s belly and lashing it viciously. The horse, in pain, let out a long, miserable whinny before turning and galloping away frantically.

Li Mu looked back at Lu Huanzhi’s retreating figure on horseback, slightly narrowing his eyes before turning to continue forward.

Arriving home, Luoshen’s anger had mostly subsided.

But for some reason, she had a vague feeling that unlike her own joyful mood upon returning home, from yesterday—from the moment they had set foot in Jiankang—she sensed Li Mu’s entire emotional state carried a hint of gloom.

This was a difficult intuition to describe.

Even last night in bed, he felt completely different from before in Yi Cheng—he had even hurt her slightly.

Now she was even more worried.

Thinking about the recent scene, she feared it would make him even more estranged from the aristocratic families. Seeing him escort her into the room, then tell her to rest while saying he still had business and was about to leave, she couldn’t help calling out to him and embracing his arm.

“Langjun, please don’t let these people bother you.”

She explained.

“Not everyone among the aristocratic families is like Lu Huanzhi. Take Lu Jianzhi, for instance—though they’re brothers, he would never be so unreasonably rude. Please don’t take it to heart anymore, alright?”

After speaking, she looked up at him.

Li Mu looked down slightly at her beautiful eyes gazing at him with worry. After a moment, he gently drew her into his embrace.

“I know. A’Mi, I should thank you for defending me just now. I’m fine—don’t worry.”

His face showed a gentle smile and his tone was tender, finally putting Luoshen at ease.

Li Mu held her, being tender for a moment, then said softly: “I still have some business to attend to. Let me go out briefly—I’ll return to accompany you, alright?”

This was only his second day back in the capital, having just received his appointment this morning. Luoshen knew he must have many affairs to handle and immediately nodded.

Li Mu smiled, kissed her, and turned to leave.

…

Under the pointing and staring of passersby, Lu Huanzhi fled like an escapee to his ox cart, lowering the curtains to seal himself completely from view.

Though he couldn’t see outside anymore, he seemed to still feel countless mocking gazes shooting toward him like sharp swords. He immediately ordered his men to drive away.

Both ashamed and resentful, angry and hurt, with some heartbreak mixed in, he didn’t want to return to the Lu residence and had his servants leave the city. Outside the city, he rode alone, galloping wildly for a while until reaching a desolate, uninhabited place. He dismounted, drew his sword, and with reddened eyes began wildly slashing at roadside weeds and wild trees.

He didn’t hate Luoshen, the woman he had secretly admired.

He only hated Li Mu more. Not only had he taken her away, but with sweet words and deception he had blinded her, making her forget her own origins for such a lowly person, disregarding their past friendship, and humiliating him so before the crowd.

For a moment, the grass leaves and bark flying everywhere from his slashing seemed to transform into the shadows of the man he despised.

He ground his teeth, slashing with increasing fervor. Even when sharp wood splinters cut his hands and fingers, blood splattering, he felt no pain—only continuing to slash. Just as he was reaching near-madness, he suddenly heard someone behind him say: “Young Master Lu, what use is such slashing? Even if you cut down this entire wasteland, you couldn’t harm your enemy in the slightest. If others knew, it would only invite more mockery!”

Lu Huanzhi was startled, spinning around abruptly to see Prince Xin’an Xiao Daocheng had somehow appeared ghost-like behind him, standing silently—unknown how long he’d been there—with a slight smile, his gaze fixed on him.

The Lu family had never had much contact with Xiao Daocheng.

He suddenly stopped, staring at Xiao Daocheng, panting heavily, then abruptly sheathed his sword and strode away.

“Young Master Lu, I know who you hate. I won’t hide from you—I too have some personal grievances with that man. Unfortunately, he has the favor of Gao Qiao and the emperor and empress, and borrowing his merit in capturing Chang’an, his influence soars upward. Even if your Lu family captures Luoyang, returning afterward would only invite more imperial suspicion due to your prominence. But that man is different—he enjoys shade under Gao Qiao’s great tree. In the future, I fear you and I will both be trampled under his feet, unable to rise again.”

Lu Huanzhi stopped, and after a moment, slowly turned around, panting: “What do you mean?”

Xiao Daocheng walked toward him.

“Though your elder brother is outstanding among aristocratic family scions, I’ve always believed you’re not inferior either. Though this solitary king lacks talent, I’m currently trusted with some duties by His Majesty. I have no other abilities, but when necessary, I can still manage to pass along information. If you think well of me, in the future we could have more contact—there would be no harm in it.”

“Young Master Lu, what do you think?”

He showed a smile to Lu Huanzhi, who was staring at him.

…

That night, to celebrate Chang’an’s recovery, the emperor held a grand imperial banquet at Hualin Garden. The chief meritorious minister Li Mu naturally attended, along with other civil and military officials. With song and dance flourishing, both ruler and subjects enjoyed themselves thoroughly. The next day, the emperor hadn’t recovered from his hangover, so the morning court was temporarily dismissed. Gao Qiao led the ministers to conduct business at the Tai City offices. Xiao Daocheng used the pretext of discussing repairs to several palace halls and reducing expenditures to request an audience with the empress.

Gao Yongrong still received him in the previous Taichu Palace. After discussing palace repairs, everyone else was dismissed.

“Empress, guess what I encountered yesterday?”

Without waiting for Gao Yongrong’s answer, Xiao Daocheng leaned closer, lowered his voice, and recounted everything.

Gao Yongrong was shocked: “What? Lu Huanzhi has musical scores that A’Mi previously sent to Lu Jianzhi?”

“Correct. Written in her own hand after she married Li Mu.” Xiao Daocheng’s face showed slight satisfaction.

“Yesterday I happened to encounter Lu Huanzhi’s street humiliation of Li Mu, only to be scolded by your A’Mei instead. Seeing his resentful heart, I followed him. Originally I just wanted to see if there was anything useful, but unexpectedly, I caught a fish. Lu Huanzhi was originally wary of his elder brother and didn’t dare act rashly, but with just a few words from me he was provoked to anger, agreeing to have people spread them everywhere.”

He smiled. “Just wait and see—in a few days, everyone in Jiankang will have the fortune to hear the musical pieces Li Mu’s wife composed for the Lu family’s eldest young master.”

“One is an invincible general who just captured the Western Capital and is known throughout the realm, the other is a charming aristocratic young master currently attacking the Eastern Capital. Don’t you think this is extremely interesting?”

Gao Yongrong’s expression was very ugly: “You leave the palace immediately and tell Lu Huanzhi not to do this!”

Prince Xin’an was stunned, staring at Gao Yongrong, asking in surprise: “What’s wrong with you? Don’t tell me that because she’s your A’Mei, you can’t bear to act?”

Gao Yongrong remained silent.

Xiao Daocheng laughed. “You’re a clever person—don’t you understand why I arranged this?”

“Imperial power doesn’t flourish. Since our Xiao house moved south, we’ve been controlled by powerful families, like puppets. Don’t you want to escape this suffering forever? His Majesty’s first priority upon ascending the throne should be eliminating powerful families, ensuring they can never again interfere with government! Only by promoting our own people—those elevated by His Majesty’s patronage—can we have their complete loyalty and gratitude to His Majesty and the empress!”

“You want to use the Gao family to suppress the Xu and Lu families first. But Xu Mi and Lu Guang aren’t ones to sit and wait for death. Now with the allied forces’ Northern Expedition momentum strong, if they capture Luoyang, His Majesty might not be able to relocate to the Eastern Capital to control the old territory, but the powerful families’ influence will certainly rise again. Then who could help you suppress them? Such a heaven-sent opportunity could not only deepen the hatred between the Lu family and Gao Qiao and Li Mu, but also suppress Li Mu. When snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Do you truly not want this?”

“You must also know that before Li Mu even returned to Jiankang, people throughout the streets praised him universally. Today I personally heard people say he was sent by heaven, the reincarnation of the Military Star, to save our Dayu from fire and flood. With such popular support, doesn’t the empress feel any alarm?”

“If the empress values sisterly affection, consider that this subject never spoke. This subject obeys your command and will immediately have Lu Huanzhi desist!”

He bowed to Gao Yongrong in farewell.

“Stop!”

After taking several steps, he heard Gao Yongrong’s voice behind him and stopped, turning around.

“If the empress permits, this subject will proceed according to the original plan.”

Gao Yongrong slowly walked to a human-height crane-shaped candlestick, staring at the thick-as-an-arm giant candle burning even in daylight. After a long moment, she raised one hand, pressing her palm down to cover and extinguish the flame.

“Do it cleanly.”

Gripping her hand burned by the candle flame and wax, she slowly turned around, staring at Xiao Daocheng, speaking coolly.