The gauze curtain swayed slightly, silence all around.

“This minister speaks of these things only to tell Your Majesty that fate between people is the most mysterious thing in the world. The paths of human life are also the most unpredictable. Until reaching the very end, no one should surrender to an undetermined conclusion.”

Inside the gauze curtain, Tie Ci rarely let out a light laugh.

“How rare.”

She didn’t continue explaining what was rare, but everyone understood.

Rare that you didn’t undermine, kick someone when they’re down, fan the flames, add fuel to the fire, or take advantage of the situation to advance yourself.

Rong Pu wasn’t angry either, smiling candidly: “Right now I only want Your Majesty’s injuries and illness to heal quickly, to return to being that spirited Tie Ci who commanded the realm with confidence.”

Tie Ci said nothing.

Others had become beautiful tales, yet the source of those tales had become an ill-fated romance.

Rong Pu’s heart was sincere, but unfortunately even he understood that there was no going back.

The dead could not return to life, and that dead Tie Ci could never come back either.

After a long while, Tie Ci said: “What other interesting things are there? Good or bad, tell me about them.”

Rong Pu hesitated slightly.

Tie Ci waited a moment, then turned her head on the pillow in surprise.

Rong Pu appeared gentle but was actually resilient—after all, he was a ruthless person who buried explosives in his own home.

She had never seen him hesitate before.

After a moment of quiet, Rong Pu said: “Nothing else really. Just that a few days ago, a merchant offended Vice Commander Wan and Vice Governor Buqing, and was ordered by Buqing to receive over ten lashes.”

Wan Ji and Buqing were both trusted military officers who followed Tie Ci on the southern tour. The latter was even someone Dan Ye specifically left beside Tie Ci, now serving as Vice Governor of the Flying Cavalry Camp.

Though it sounded like uninteresting news, Tie Ci keenly asked: “What kind of merchant?”

Wan Ji and Buqing both understood her temperament. Even Buqing, who came from Western Rong with a rough nature, never dared abuse his power and bully others outside.

Rong Pu paused and said: “A silk shop under Wanqian Bank.”

A period of silence.

Rong Pu added: “This family has had many troubles recently. I heard they’ve had considerable conflicts with Gui Qizhai and suffered some bullying.”

During the fall of the Xiao family, the two houses had joined forces against enemies. During the Shengdu upheaval, they had also worked together to protect the people. Unexpectedly, they were now fighting to the death.

Only Wanqian Manor was clearly at a disadvantage. After all, everyone in Shengdu’s upper circles knew their background, while Gui Qizhai was considered the Imperial Preceptor’s property. The relative importance was incomparable.

Tie Ci remained silent.

Rong Pu said no more, picking up some other matters to discuss casually, then took Tie Ci’s pulse.

While taking her pulse, Yun Buci entered. Seeing Rong Pu taking the pulse, she laughed: “Great physician, what do you think of His Majesty’s pulse?”

Rong Pu rose and bowed: “Master jests. Pu was just thinking of consulting with Master about some puzzling aspects of His Majesty’s pulse.”

“Hey, don’t ask me—I don’t understand your traditional Chinese medicine.” Yun Buci waved her hand, tossing a small box to Jian Xi: “Store this carefully. Three times daily, taken with warm water after meals.”

Jian Xi stored it away and acknowledged. Yun Buci said: “Her pulse shows no improvement?”

Rong Pu didn’t want to be so blunt, saying tactfully: “Internal injuries are gradually healing, but the meridians are discordant.”

Yun Buci said: “If there’s no inflammation and the pulse is still like this, my medicine won’t help either. Heart ailments require heart medicine.”

Rong Pu really couldn’t stand her direct way of speaking and changed the subject: “The Imperial Preceptor’s miraculous medicine has recently cured many important ministers. Everyone is very grateful to you.”

Yun Buci said to Tie Ci: “Speaking of this, A’Ci, I need to criticize you. What are you doing keeping such a large group of sickly old men in your court? Almost every one has high blood pressure, diabetes, or arterial sclerosis. At the very least, they have herniated discs. They’ve served the country loyally their whole lives and should retire to the second line. You should give them some vacation time. Don’t be like a capitalist making a bunch of old bones work 996 every day.”

Rong Pu: …Why can’t I understand a single word?

Tie Ci smiled: “Master, you should know that veteran ministers have sufficient experience and can weather storms. It’s not that we don’t give young people opportunities, but they need time to grow.”

Rong Pu: …Why does His Majesty understand immediately?

“Young people are more vigorous in implementing national policies. Old-timers only look back and forth hesitantly.” Yun Buci waved her hand: “You’re young yourself, and I see you’ve become too lifeless. I know you’re heartbroken, but don’t you still have these loyal ministers and people who love you? Of course, most importantly, you still have your master.”

Tie Ci said: “By the way, Master, Grand Tutor He and the cabinet have petitioned to establish you as Grand Preceptor. Are you willing?”

Yun Buci thought for a while: “Who told me to be your master? If I don’t manage you now, who will?”

Tie Ci was silent for a moment, then smiled: “Thank you, Master.”

Rong Pu bowed: “Greetings to Grand Preceptor.”

Yun Buci waved her hand, saying wistfully: “Actually, I think being a nun was better…”

Suddenly someone burst in impetuously, lifted the gauze curtain, and sat beside Tie Ci’s bed, reaching out to pull her: “Tie Ci, get up, get up! Don’t keep sleeping in bed. I just learned to ride that bicycle thing—I’ll take you for a ride!”

Tie Ci was pulled into a coughing fit by this reckless fellow. Jian Xi and Chi Xue quickly rushed over.

Tie Ci waved her hand, calmed her breathing, then said: “Dan Ye, if you keep barging in like this, I’ll order Mo Ye to be roasted and eaten.”

The sea eagle pacing outside the hall let out a sharp “squawk” and ruffled its feathers.

Only then did Dan Ye reluctantly let go. Seeing that he had pulled Tie Ci’s inner robe askew, he kindly wanted to help smooth it out. His hand had just reached Tie Ci’s chest when Jian Xi rushed over and slapped it away with a “smack.”

The dignified Western Rong King was startled.

Chi Xue hurriedly stepped forward to pull away the reactive little firecracker, bowing to Dan Ye: “Great King, His Majesty cannot get up yet, much less…”

Tie Ci suddenly said: “Change clothes.”

Chi Xue froze.

Rong Pu frowned.

Getting out of bed was already difficult—how could she ride that drafty vehicle for a pleasure ride?

He was somewhat puzzled. Dan Ye was impulsive, but Tie Ci was so steady and not someone to be self-destructive. During this time of taking medicine and resting, she had never been negligent. She should be very clear about her physical condition. How could she suddenly agree to go out for a ride?

He thought of something and raised his eyebrows slightly.

Yun Buci seemed unconcerned: “Going out for a stroll is good too. Staying cooped up all the time won’t work either.”

Chi Xue had no choice but to help Tie Ci change clothes and put on a thick cloak. The cloak’s enormous fur collar almost buried Tie Ci’s entire face. When Chi Xue fastened the collar ties, looking at her increasingly sharp jaw and face three shades whiter than the snow-white fur collar, her heart ached.

Dan Shuang, who had already healed but rarely served in the hall recently, came over to carry Tie Ci out. Dan Ye pushed her away and bent down to carry Tie Ci out himself: “I’ll do it!”

He carried Tie Ci out and settled her on the bicycle’s back seat, took off his own cloak to wrap Tie Ci into a fat bear. Chi Xue chased out and wrapped Tie Ci’s face with a long scarf.

Tie Ci very wisely reached out to grab the horizontal bar.

Sure enough, Dan Ye jumped onto the front seat, and with one push, the bicycle shot out like an arrow.

Tie Ci suddenly leaned backward.

The palace servants cried out in alarm—if Tie Ci hadn’t grabbed quickly, she would have rolled to the ground.

Only then did Dan Ye react, pedaling more slowly, traveling along the palace road toward the front hall.

All the way they met dumbfounded stares and the constant sound of things falling to the ground.

Tie Ci sat on the bicycle’s back seat with her hands tucked in her sleeves, looking up at the sky continuously passing overhead.

It was the same sky, the same clouds. Everyone lived under the same sky and clouds.

It seemed very close, but was actually very far.

The wind was blocked by the broad, solid back in front of her. Above, the sea eagle’s cry was sharp and fierce.

Dan Ye shouted in the wind: “Can’t you hold my waist? Do you want to fall off!”

Tie Ci smiled and reached out to embrace his waist.

Dan Ye pedaled even more energetically, swaggering past Chengqian Hall.

A group of ministers who had just finished discussing affairs and were preparing to leave the palace saw this scene and dropped their jaws.

He Zi stared at the bear on the back seat for a long time and asked Zhu Yi: “Is that… His Majesty?”

Zhu Yi squinted: “It looks like two majesties.”

“His Majesty is too reckless!” Duan Yande hurried over: “She’s still recovering from serious illness—how can she be exposed to wind like this! No, I must stop them!”

“If the wind can reach her, I’ll declare the wind the winner.” He Zi shook his head: “Forget it. Let His Majesty have some fun… Zhu Yi, what are you staring at?”

Zhu Yi was silent for a while, shook his head, and said nothing.

Just now, watching that man and woman swagger past on the bicycle, he couldn’t help feeling dazed.

For no reason, he felt that this scene should have had someone else pedaling.

For a moment, he seemed to see a handsome young man pedaling in front, the Crown Princess with flying robes embracing his waist, her face against his back, sitting behind him. Not far away, before Chengqian Hall, His Majesty and Consort Jing stood by the railings, watching with smiles.

Suddenly, his eyes grew moist.

…

The bicycle rang all the way as Dan Ye looked up to see the palace gate.

In front of the palace gate, a carriage was waiting.

Dan Ye rode quickly over, extending his long leg to brake hard just before reaching the carriage. Yesterday had brought light snow, leaving a thin layer on the ground. His long legs scraped up a patch of snow on the ground, barely stopping beside the carriage.

Dan Ye laughed loudly, very pleased, and turned to lift Tie Ci down. But Tie Ci had already gotten down herself, wrapped in the cloak, returning the cape to him: “If you don’t want to laugh heartily, don’t laugh like that. It looks awful.”

Dan Ye’s laughter stopped abruptly. He touched his face but said nothing.

Tie Ci lowered her eyes, thinking he probably had forgotten that since the family upheaval and exile to the desert, he had never laughed like he used to.

Those days at Yueli Academy now seemed like another lifetime.

Understanding in her heart that they were all trying to comfort her in different ways, she smiled slightly, patted Dan Ye’s shoulder, and was helped into the carriage by the waiting Jian Xi: “Come, accompany me out for a stroll.”

Since she had spoken, Dan Ye naturally had no objection. Getting into the carriage, he squeezed beside her and told her about Western Rong affairs—how the Hanli Khan irrigation project was progressing well, how Qi Yuansi had become skin and bones, how many Western Rong girls were still pursuing him. Indeed, what you said back then was right—this is a world that judges by appearances…

The carriage stopped. Dan Ye poked his head out, startled, then slowly turned back with widening eyes, his voice becoming strange: “You brought me to a brothel?”

Tie Ci said: “Do you like it? If so, go down and have fun.”

Dan Ye’s bottom remained firmly planted, scoffing: “Don’t joke around. I never touch common powder and rouge.”

Tie Ci said: “You should establish a queen too.”

“Are you telling me to choose a queen from a brothel? That’s too much!”

“What are you thinking?” Tie Ci said: “I just remembered something and came by to see how it’s being carried out.”

Dan Ye fell silent. Tie Ci read memorials while he also pulled out his own memorials to read. Mo Ye flew back every three days, bringing some political affairs. He had neglected much state business these past days and nights guarding Tie Ci.

The two sat knee to knee, each reading memorials. Until this moment, both had returned to their natural calm. The flying, restless expression on Dan Ye’s face had disappeared, his gathered brow carrying the bearing of a ruler long accustomed to governance. Jian Xi sat to one side watching this pair of still-young man and woman, thinking of their experiences, thinking how even those as noble as them were still dissatisfied, unhappy, and unfree. Her expression couldn’t help but darken.

She turned to look into the courtyard. The brothel’s main door was open, people coming and going inside, and no one minded the carriage blocking the entrance.

Suddenly a commotion erupted. Jian Xi said softly: “Your Majesty.”

Tie Ci looked up and lifted the curtain.

Dan Ye also leaned over, just in time to see a group of women being driven to the bottom of the steps. A madam-like woman stood in front with hands on her hips, shrilly saying: “I don’t care what kind of lady or titled woman you were before! Here with me, you’re just goods for thousands to ride and ten thousand to taste! If you don’t obey, I’ll beat you until you do! Bring the whip!”

The customers standing in the corridor watched with interest. This was normal—there were always some good family women who fell into prostitution and resisted to the death. Brothels inevitably used both soft and hard methods to make them suffer.

However, such work generally wasn’t done in broad daylight. Today was quite a treat for the eyes.

Some sharp-eyed people noticed the whip had barbs—one lash would tear skin and flesh. They all became excited.

Others wondered: “Wait, what kind of taste does Cuixi House have? How can this batch of women really include some who are thirty-four years old? That’s too old!”

Those women all had their mouths bound. Each had delicate skin and tender flesh, clearly from good families, though several were indeed too old—old enough to be mothers to the brothel girls.

The servant beautifully cracked the whip in a flourish and lashed down with a “crack.”

Someone wailed muffledly, fell and rolled, their cries heart-rending.

The madam pursed her lips, thinking they were really delicate—she hadn’t even used much force yet. In the past, when training girls, she was much harsher.

After several lashes, they were all rolling on the ground. Someone was already crying and shouting not to beat her, that she’d do anything.

Suddenly the inner door was burst open, and several older women rushed out.

This immediately triggered crying, cursing, and commotion.

Then the bewildered customers were cleared out. Servants apologetically escorted them out but didn’t close the door.

Though Dan Ye watched in confusion, he vaguely understood that today’s visit was to see this scene: “This is…?”

Tie Ci looked at him approvingly, thinking the Western Rong King had indeed made progress after governing for several years.

She said: “It’s not strange you don’t recognize them… These are the Xiao family’s female relatives.”