Xia Houchun left with the cat, and those few candles were finally extinguished by the wind. Tie Yan sat alone in the darkness for a long time before donning his cloak and going out.

His personal eunuch silently followed out. The imperial sedan waited at the palace gate, but Tie Yan waved it away and walked out of the palace on foot.

From Chong Ming Palace to Rui Xiang Palace was neither a far nor close distance—by Tie Yan’s own stride it measured three thousand one hundred and twelve steps. Halfway there, he passed Consort Jing’s Dian Fang Studio.

Tie Yan saw from afar that lights were still burning inside. Remembering that Consort Jing had been under house arrest, and that when Tie Ci left the palace neither he nor Consort Jing had a chance to see her off, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply. His steps turned aside and he entered Dian Fang Studio.

This time Dian Fang Studio looked much more proper, with palace servants each in their places. As soon as Tie Yan entered, someone came to greet him. Seeing him, they were startled and were about to rush to announce his arrival when Tie Yan stopped them.

Two shadows were reflected on the window screen—the one with delicate, graceful lines was obviously Consort Jing, while the other was slightly bowed with hair in a bun, presumably Nanny Qin whom Tie Ci had promoted before leaving.

Tie Yan stood beneath the window, listening to the soft, low conversation inside.

“Your Majesty’s needlework becomes ever more refined. This hemp cloth is most breathable in summer, and the color is elegant—the Crown Princess will surely love it.”

Consort Jing smoothed a needle through her hair, then said melancholically after a while: “Making all these things with nowhere to send them, and even if sent, there may be no one who wants them—probably just wasted effort.”

Nanny Qin immediately said seriously: “Your Majesty must never speak such complaining words again. Now that Your Majesty has made these, when the Crown Princess returns and sees them, she’ll only be delighted. The Crown Princess’s feelings toward you—this old servant has told you many times. You shouldn’t doubt it anymore.”

Consort Jing was silent for a while, then sighed: “Yes, thinking about what happened that day, I’ve pondered it for a long time. I suppose I’m a muddled person… The Crown Princess must be disappointed in me, and His Majesty is disappointed in me too…”

Nanny Qin said: “This old servant presumes to speak boldly. Though this is the imperial family, in the end it’s still one family. His Majesty doesn’t frequent the harem and has only one daughter, the Crown Princess. You are the Crown Princess’s birth mother—these are the closest relationships. In one family, how can there be talk as if from two different households?”

Consort Jing stopped her needlework, thought for a long time, then sighed again.

Tie Yan frowned outside the room, thinking this woman’s clingy, wishy-washy nature was truly tiresome.

Standing in the corridor, he felt both annoyed and relieved—relieved that Ci’er didn’t resemble either parent.

He coughed and said: “Yes, one family shouldn’t be distant or treat each other as outsiders.”

As he spoke, he stepped through the door.

The two women inside—Consort Jing hastily stood up, nearly pricking her finger with the needle.

But Nanny Qin, while kneeling down, didn’t forget to take away Consort Jing’s needlework.

As soon as Tie Yan saw Consort Jing’s white flower appearance, he felt uncomfortable, but at this moment couldn’t help but restrain himself. When Consort Jing asked with a slight blush whether he needed a late night meal, he coughed and said: “We cannot sleep. Accompany Us on a walk.”

Consort Jing was somewhat disappointed but still agreed, stealing glances at him, unable to read the emperor’s mood, making her heart restless again.

But Nanny Qin remained calm, bringing a silk cloak for her, saying: “The night wind is strong—Your Majesty should be careful not to catch cold. Accompanying His Majesty on a stroll, perhaps you can even ask about the Crown Princess’s recent situation.”

This was reminding Consort Jing what to say and what not to say, which perfectly suited Tie Yan’s wishes. He looked at her approvingly.

Remembering this nanny was personally chosen by Tie Ci, he felt even more proud and comforted.

Consort Jing was feeling uneasy but received the hint, and her small face began to brighten.

The two left Dian Fang Studio. Tie Yan had people follow at a distance as he strolled with Consort Jing along the blue brick pathways.

He seemed preoccupied. Consort Jing tried to speak several times, looking at his back, but always held her tongue.

Ever since losing several sons in succession, Tie Yan rarely summoned the harem. The Empress and consorts were all ornaments, and he treated Consort Jing ordinarily. So much so that when Consort Jing saw him, it was like seeing a distant relative—wanting to speak but finding no appropriate words.

Suddenly Tie Yan stopped.

Consort Jing nearly bumped into his back. Looking up, she saw the blue background with gold characters of the Rui Xiang Palace plaque, and those eighteen bronze studs symbolizing rank.

She was stunned, not expecting to walk here, remembering what she had seen the last time she came here. Her face changed slightly.

The palace gates of Rui Xiang Palace were tightly closed, but through the gates they could hear Little Bug calling out loudly: “Ladies should go to sleep now—be careful with fire! Someone go to the front and get cats from Commander Xia Hou! Coming every day to secretly pet our cats—if you don’t ask him, he’ll never return them! Hey, who’s still playing cards? Without the Crown Princess here, who’ll provide faces for you to stick paper strips on? No more late-night snacks! If you get fat, the Crown Princess won’t want you when she returns!”

Laughter, playful scolding, and the bang-bang-bang of closing windows came from inside—a lively scene of human warmth.

Tie Yan and Consort Jing stood outside the gates, listening to this rare atmosphere of human warmth in the imperial palace, momentarily entranced.

Tie Yan knew that since his daughter left the palace, Rui Xiang Palace had been like a sealed palace, with the palace servants inside never emerging.

He had thought that palace without its master would surely be like stagnant water, but unexpectedly, behind closed doors they had formed their own little world, still vibrant and alive.

Ci’er truly had this ability—she had always been generous and kind to her own people, making those around her feel as if bathed in spring breeze, joyful and peaceful.

But toward enemies, she could be equally ruthless, daring to act and think boldly.

Stronger than himself.

Lights swayed inside, and even after people went to sleep, someone still carried lanterns for night patrol.

The gate opened and a young eunuch came out. Seeing them, he was startled, then came over to bow.

Tie Yan waved to excuse the ceremony and asked what he was going to do.

The young eunuch said with a laughing whisper: “To get cats.”

Tie Yan smiled too, waving for him to go on his business. The young eunuch bowed respectfully to both of them again, then walked away with light steps.

The commotion here immediately alerted those inside. Little Bug poked his head out, saw the two people, and was also startled, but didn’t make a fuss. After bowing to them, he opened the gate halfway without asking anything, then retreated into the shadows behind the gate.

Tie Yan turned to Consort Jing: “Have you noticed? The people in Ci’er’s palace always seem light and comfortable, yet not to the point of being frivolous or disrespectful. They act with great propriety. This shows they receive good treatment, but the rules are strict.”

Consort Jing thought about it and nodded.

Though she had many faults, she wasn’t stupid. Comparing with the people in her own palace, she also felt the palace servants of Rui Xiang Palace seemed like a different species.

Palace servants usually fell into several categories—either harboring inner ambitions, their eyes full of calculating opportunism, inevitably bringing a fawning attitude to their actions.

Or they were either dull or frivolous by nature. The latter became arrogant from favor, while the former were like wandering ghosts in the deep palace, disappearing before long.

Only the palace servants of Rui Xiang Palace lived most like themselves.

“Have you thought about why?”

“Because His Highness is gentle and benevolent, treating palace dependents generously.”

Tie Yan smiled, nodded, then shook his head.

“Consort Jing,” he said, “Ci’er has it difficult. But she always does her best for everyone within her capabilities. What she does for you is also the best for you—you must understand this.”

Consort Jing nodded, saying softly: “Your Majesty… is the Crown Princess well while away?”

Tie Yan was silent, then said after a while: “She told me everything is fine. Magnificently powerful, brilliantly clever—as soon as she arrived she defeated the local tyrants, and even cracked a major case of officials colluding with foreign princes’ sons to secretly forge weapons. Soon the criminals will be escorted to the capital, and the court and countryside will inevitably drop their jaws in shock, bodies trembling in awe.”

Consort Jing said happily: “How wonderful. The Crown Princess has always been brilliantly clever.”

Tie Yan said flatly: “But she didn’t tell me she was injured several times, that the other side was audaciously desperate, using every vicious means—catapults, fire bombs… they dared use anything, nearly putting her to death.”

Consort Jing raised her hand to cover a gasp at her lips.

“How is that possible… she is the Crown Princess!”

“She traveled incognito for training, bringing only two maidservants, one of whom doesn’t even know martial arts. Using the identity of a third-rank Stud Farm Minister’s son to work as a minor inspector and coroner—those people were committing capital crimes punishable by execution and property confiscation. Why would they care about attacking someone with such an identity?”

Tie Yan thought bitterly that even if the Crown Princess’s identity were revealed, those people might not hesitate to act. They might even act faster.

Consort Jing said in a daze: “A person worth a thousand gold doesn’t sit under a dangerous wall. That Ci’er goes out for training is already very rare—why, why must she fight so desperately!”

“What do you understand!” Tie Yan said sternly. “If she doesn’t fight desperately, how can she inherit this vast realm in the future, and how can she protect useless parents like you and me!”

Consort Jing paled, looking up at him.

“We are incompetent, trapped under the Empress Dowager’s heavy pressure, powerless to rally, so selfishly transferred this tremendous burden to Ci’er.” Tie Yan said in a low voice. “Have you ever thought—if Ci’er cannot inherit this throne, what will become of us all?”

Consort Jing was frightened.

Regarding Tie Ci’s circumstances, she actually wasn’t ignorant, but in the past she had never directly faced the difficulties, and no one had dared openly discuss this matter with her. She had always muddled through, unwilling to endure the needle-sharp pain of reality.

After a while, she stammered: “Why must the Empress Dowager change dynasties… If Ci’er inherits the throne and rules like Your Majesty does now… wouldn’t… wouldn’t that work?”

Tie Yan felt as if stabbed, his face convulsing.

Consort Jing also realized she had spoken wrongly again, lowering her head as tears began to fall.

Seeing her tears, Tie Yan felt a headache. Scolding almost rushed from his lips, but he finally held back.

“Controlling people is never as satisfying and reassuring as controlling things yourself,” he said coldly. “Besides, Ci’er’s natural talents far exceed mine—how could the Empress Dowager let that be?”

He remembered what Tie Ci had hinted at in the secret letter, feeling a surge of satisfaction and joy in his chest, along with even deeper worry.

Consort Jing didn’t dare speak, thinking of what had happened before, her tears falling more fiercely.

Tie Yan felt powerless. After waiting for a while without seeing her stop crying, he couldn’t help saying: “She has it so difficult, and all you can do is cry?”

Consort Jing hastily tried to stop crying but couldn’t manage it immediately. She hiccupped loudly, hurriedly covered her mouth, and said through tears: “I… I just… I just thought of the whip marks on her that day…”

Tie Yan turned sharply.

“What whip marks?!”

Consort Jing was frightened by his expression. After a long while, she said hesitantly: “You… didn’t you know? That day, the reason I went to see the Empress Dowager… was because I saw on her back… so many whip marks… from the Empress Dowager’s beatings…”

Tie Yan stepped back.

He said: “Ci’er told me you were just instigated by palace maids, wishfully thinking to curry favor in her place.”

“I… I did have that thought… but the original reason was because I heard her tell Dan Shuang that the Empress Dowager always used the disciplinary whip to punish her… I thought… I thought…”

She didn’t dare continue.

Because she saw Tie Yan’s fists clench tight, his fists and entire body slowly trembling, the bright yellow sleeves rippling like water waves, dazzling her eyes.

She instinctively felt she shouldn’t look at the emperor’s face now, lowering her head even more.

After a while, Tie Yan finally calmed down. When he spoke again, his voice was already hoarse.

He said: “Good, I understand.”

Footsteps sounded behind them. Tie Yan pulled Consort Jing into the shadows.

Consort Jing didn’t understand why—thinking with our status, whom do we need to avoid? But looking up, she vaguely saw His Majesty the Emperor turning his face away, a faint gleam flashing on his cheek.

She was stunned, then felt a deep sourness rise from her heart to her nose, wetting her eyes as well.

The approaching person was the young eunuch looking for cats, walking while petting a cat, saying affectionately: “Xue Tuan’er, you miss your master too, don’t you? Don’t worry, don’t worry—master is out there buying you dried fish. Master said she’d buy you cheese-flavored, chocolate-flavored, durian-flavored ones…”

Little Bug came out from inside, not looking at the people standing in the shadows, grabbing the chattering young eunuch and roughly pulling him back: “Keep babbling and I’ll arrange banana-peel-flavored ones for you first!”

The gate closed.

A faint cat meow could be heard.

And the young eunuch’s laughter: “Big Brother, Big Brother, look—Xue Tuan’er says it misses the Crown Princess…”

The voices gradually faded. The royal couple in the shadows remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, Tie Yan said softly: “Look, Rui Xiang Palace is so peaceful, the imperial palace is so tranquil, you and I are so comfortable. Our only daughter is struggling and fighting for her life outside.”

Consort Jing raised her head, looking up at his face.

Her face streamed with tears as she said softly: “Your Majesty, whatever you wish to do, can this subject help you?”

The next day, when the Empress Dowager held her routine council meeting with important ministers in the warm chamber, Chief Minister Rong reported on the Crown Princess’s successful cracking of the major case involving Haiyou officials colluding with the Prince of Liaodong to secretly forge weapons.

The case files Chief Minister Rong presented contained detailed evidence and dramatic twists. Hearing it, the ministers all showed changing expressions, unable to help but worry for the Crown Princess. Finally hearing that the weapons were recovered and the criminals subdued, after cheering they also fell silent.

Afterward, the ministers’ gazes frequently drifted toward Second Minister Xiao.

For no other reason—such grand planning, such ambition, and the enormous influence capable of mobilizing officials throughout Haiyou to provide protection along the way—except for the Xiao family, no one else came to mind.

Empress Dowager Xiao’s expression was unpleasant, but Second Minister Xiao was unhurried, producing memorials and documents submitted by Xiao Xueya, pointing out that this case could be successfully cracked largely thanks to Three Borders Governor-General Xiao Xueya passing through and providing strong assistance.

The implication was: we helped crack the case—what are you all suspecting?

The Emperor had remained silent throughout, only finally speaking when the Empress Dowager was about to shelve the matter lightly. He produced a recommendation memorial from the Haiyou Provincial Administration Commissioner, proposing to promote the former Ziyang County magistrate to Laizhou Prefecture magistrate.

Second Minister Xiao frowned but didn’t say much. The Empress Dowager was somewhat unwilling: “That county magistrate was previously controlled by Li Yao’s faction at the yamen. Such a treasonous case occurring in his jurisdiction—not pursuing his responsibility would be merciful enough. How can he still be promoted?”

The Emperor said: “I heard the Crown Princess privately found some additional clues…”

Second Minister Xiao immediately said: “Empress Dowager, this county magistrate also tried hard to resist Li Yao initially. When the Crown Princess exposed Li Yao, he also courageously took responsibility, acknowledging his own faults. From this perspective, he can also be considered brave and resourceful. As for his previous inaction, it was merely due to circumstances…”

The Empress Dowager met Second Minister Xiao’s gaze. After a while, she said flatly: “So be it.”

She was about to dismiss everyone when suddenly there was some commotion outside. Li Gui came in to report: “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Consort Jing is kowtowing outside.”

The Empress Dowager’s face immediately turned iron-blue: “What is she here for! We’re currently in session—how can a harem woman barge in!”

As soon as she said this, everyone raised their eyelids to look at her. Even Second Minister Xiao glanced at her.

Aren’t you yourself a harem woman?

The Empress Dowager immediately realized her slip of tongue, blushing slightly, suppressing her anger as she asked: “What’s the matter?”

Today was different from before. That previous time, Consort Jing’s disruption was needed, but today it wasn’t.

Li Gui hesitated, then bowed and said: “Replying to Your Majesty. Consort Jing has not requested to enter the hall, only kneels outside beseeching Your Majesty. She heard that the Crown Princess, during her training, has been repeatedly hunted by local officials and powerful forces because she exposed major cases for the court, narrowly escaping death several times. Consort Jing fears the Crown Princess might suffer mishap and requests the Empress Dowager… to release the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards from the capital.”

The Empress Dowager’s face twitched heavily.

As if she had been slapped across the face.

When the Crown Princess left the capital, her Nine Guards should have accompanied her, but because it was incognito training, the Empress Dowager had detained them, and everyone couldn’t say much.

But now that the Crown Princess had achieved such great merit and suffered pursuit because of it, to still not provide her with protective forces would be unreasonable.

This time Consort Jing wasn’t interfering in government—she was only petitioning as a mother for her daughter, adopting the full posture of a weak person.

More commotion came from outside. Li Gui went out, and moments later returned, bowing even lower: “Your Majesty. Consort Jing says that as a harem woman, she cannot interfere in government affairs, and it’s inappropriate for her to stay long before this warm chamber. She’ll now kneel in the square before Cheng Qian Palace, and whenever Your Majesty’s anger subsides… she’ll get up then.”

The Empress Dowager’s face twitched again.

Like another slap. A double-sided one at that.

That line about not being able to interfere in government both blocked her mouth and scolded her.

Kneeling in the square before Cheng Qian Palace, where officials came and went for court sessions—this kneeling would quickly make all of the capital know that the Empress Dowager was mistreating the Crown Princess who had achieved great merit!

Whether spreading the Crown Princess’s virtuous reputation or her own harshness, both were unbearable for the face-conscious Empress Dowager.

From Consort Jing’s meaning, if she didn’t agree, she would keep kneeling.

This was simply using last time’s methods against her this time, and upgraded.

The Empress Dowager was so angry her head spun. Last time, being bumped head-to-head by Tie Ci had left her with chronic migraine aftereffects. She supported her forehead with her hand, thinking furiously who had taught that jellyfish Consort Jing to suddenly pull such a move!

Her gaze turned toward the Emperor, but before she could look over, the Emperor had already descended from his seat, swept his robe aside, and knelt down.

The Empress Dowager immediately felt her headache worsen.

The Emperor knelt before her, saying softly: “Your son is unfilial. Your son knows the Empress Dowager plans for the realm of Da Qian, wishing to train the heir. But Ci’er has repeatedly faced mortal danger, hanging by a thread. The state cannot be without an heir—please, Empress Dowager, order the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards to leave the capital.”

He knocked his head to the ground with a thud.

With His Majesty kneeling, the ministers naturally couldn’t remain seated. Everyone immediately stood and knelt in a row on the floor.

Second Minister Xiao also had to kneel, giving his sister a meaningful look before kneeling.

Even the Empress Dowager couldn’t remain seated. According to Da Qian palace law, the Emperor’s position was actually senior to the Empress Dowager’s. Only during New Year holidays, the Empress Dowager’s birthday, and such occasions would he kowtow to the Empress Dowager.

She stood up, restraining her anger: “What is the Emperor doing! Isn’t Ci’er also my granddaughter! You’re all making such a fuss, giving me a headache!”

After speaking, she covered her head and hurriedly left. The Emperor called after her: “Empress Dowager, Consort Jing is still kneeling in the square!”

The Empress Dowager stumbled and hurriedly departed.

Second Minister Xiao was the first to rise, coming to help the Emperor. When the Emperor turned and saw it was him, anger flashed through his eyes. His body swayed and he collapsed against Second Minister Xiao.

Second Minister Xiao was only making a show of it, not expecting the Emperor to actually lean on him. The Emperor was tall and much more solid than the thin Second Minister—with this pressure, Second Minister Xiao couldn’t stand steady and fell with an “ouch” quite far away.

The Emperor swept his sleeve and angrily said: “Minister Xiao, what is your dissatisfaction? Do you wish to secretly harm Us?”

Second Minister Xiao: “…”

The thief crying ‘catch the thief!’

Damn, my leg really hurts!

Over there, the Empress Dowager hurried back to her palace. Li Gui hurriedly followed, but suddenly felt stomach pain, thinking he might have drunk some iced beverage offered by underlings that upset his stomach. He had to visit the privy first and ordered a Ci Ren Palace deputy managing eunuch who was nearby to attend to her.

When the Empress Dowager returned to her palace chambers, she wanted to remove her hairpins and ornaments to rest. The deputy managing eunuch personally came to serve her. Usually this person rarely entered the Empress Dowager’s inner chambers, but unexpectedly he had excellent hair-arranging skills. His hands were light and gentle—after removing the hairpins, he arranged her hair in a style convenient for sleeping that wouldn’t get messy and still looked attractive. When his fingers moved through her hair, he used some skillful pressure that greatly relieved the Empress Dowager’s migraine.

When people are comfortable, their anger also dissipates somewhat. The Empress Dowager sat before the mirror, thinking about what had just happened, understanding that this time she couldn’t keep the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards from leaving the capital, but also fearing that giving Tie Ci military strength might lead to major problems when she was far from the emperor.

As she pondered there, she casually asked: “I haven’t seen much of you before—where were you promoted from?”

The eunuch smiled cheerfully: “Your servant was originally from the Imperial Ceremonial Directorate, just promoted to deputy manager of Your Majesty’s palace last year, in charge of outer courtyard cleaning and miscellaneous duties. Normally I don’t have the fortune to serve you personally in the chambers.”

“From the Imperial Ceremonial Directorate—no wonder you arrange hair so well. People from the Imperial Ceremonial Directorate, I hear, mostly come from decent backgrounds?”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise. My family had some modest means in earlier years, but later fell on hard times. Of two brothers, one entered the Nine Guards, one entered the palace.”

Hearing “Nine Guards,” the Empress Dowager’s heart stirred: “The Nine Guards’ personnel are quite mixed.”

She remembered there were quite a few people from the Xiao family faction in the Nine Guards. She asked about the eunuch’s background. Sure enough, the eunuch came from a minor official family that, through various connections, could also be considered under the Xiao family’s patronage.

Otherwise he couldn’t have entered her Ci Ren Palace.

The eunuch bent over, carefully weaving her white hair into braids, saying softly: “The Nine Guards is a comfortable position, all our own people. The Crown Princess doesn’t usually deploy them either. My brother always complains about wanting to transfer elsewhere. When I learned of this, I scolded him—being able to enter the Nine Guards is already the Empress Dowager’s grace. How can he be so greedy for more…”

He spoke gently and persuasively. The Empress Dowager listened comfortably, gradually understanding the situation.

The Nine Guards’ composition was quite mixed. Tie Ci didn’t dare deploy them even in the capital normally—how would she dare use them now that they were sent to her side?

Sending the Nine Guards over could also monitor or control her movements. At least there wouldn’t be any more incidents like Ziyang, where she gained such great fame. Today, seeing the ministers’ shocked and admiring looks made her feel blocked up inside.

If she still didn’t behave, the Nine Guards also had…

Remembering her previous arrangements within the Nine Guards, the Empress Dowager’s expression gradually relaxed.

With that person there, even if the Emperor and Crown Princess had some ambition in insisting on deploying the Nine Guards, they couldn’t accomplish anything.

Instead, they might easily lose more than they gained.

The eunuch behind her smiled as he gathered her hair. The Empress Dowager suddenly said: “Summon the Second Minister to Ci Ren Palace.”

The eunuch smiled and acknowledged.

…

An hour later, the order for the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards to leave the capital and station in Haiyou’s Ziyang was issued from the palace gates.

Consort Jing in the square before the great hall was slowly helped to her feet.

At the peak of the great hall stood a figure in bright yellow robes. Seeing her rise, he smiled from afar.

Consort Jing suddenly remembered that day when she had also knelt before the Empress Dowager, and upon leaving saw His Majesty’s anxious, defeated expression and the Crown Princess’s slightly disappointed gaze.

Her heart felt confused and blank. She didn’t understand what was right and what was wrong, but couldn’t help smiling through her red-rimmed eyes.

…

Tie Ci stood with a small bundle on her back before the tall memorial archway of Yue Li Academy.

Academy sites were mostly chosen to be near mountains and water, following the principle of learning from nature. Looking through this tall white marble archway, one could see the entire academy arranged in series, with the central axis facing the highest peak of Qing Yang Mountain. Behind the archway’s plaza stood the academy’s most important lecture hall, with black background and gold characters reading “Ming Lun” (Clarifying Ethics). To the left of the lecture hall was the library building with its vast collection of books, to the right was the ancestral hall for worshipping ancient sages. The flying eaves and bracket sets caught the particularly clear daylight among the mountain ranges. Further back were the dormitories, dining hall, martial arts ground, and other places. If viewed from above, one could see the vast building complex with white walls and gray tiles symmetrically arranged left and right, embraced by surrounding mountains, like wings soaring among clouds.

Chi Xue, Dan Shuang, and Shen Mi all stood behind her, looking up at the archway like country bumpkins together.

After losing track of Tie Ci in the fire that day, the three had searched along the way, following the traces Tie Ci left as they entered the mountains. However, because mountain rains washed away Tie Ci’s markers, they lost their way in the mountains. After searching for many days, they happened to encounter Tie Ci coming out of the valley.

Strangely, though they had wandered in the mountains for so many days, they had somehow never managed to walk into Ling Quan Village.

The joyful reunion need not be described. Tie Ci naturally brought them along to the academy. She had received a task from He Zi—to complete a term of study at the academy and investigate the cause of his wife’s death.

According to He Zi, back then he was busy with academy affairs when he was suddenly urgently summoned to the capital. Not long after entering the capital, the “Three Princes’ Rebellion” occurred—the late emperor’s brothers Prince Tang and Prince Lu allied in revolt, while the late emperor’s eldest son Prince Ping muddied the waters. The capital was in continuous turmoil for three months. Though He Zi didn’t participate, because he was courted by several factions, he was also controlled and monitored. When he finally broke free and planned to return to Haiyou, he received news that his wife had long since committed suicide.

At the time, it was said his wife had heard he was involved in the rebellion and killed herself in fear of punishment. Moreover, she left a suicide note before death, saying she had repeatedly advised He Zi to maintain integrity and not get involved in imperial power struggles, but He Zi insisted on his stubborn ways, becoming entangled in the whirlpool of power struggles, harming others and himself. Now that rumors said he was suspected of treason and had been imprisoned, the Gu family was daily harassed by officials, their reputation completely ruined. She too couldn’t bear the harassment and, to preserve her honor, killed herself in his place.

The suicide note’s final words were: “No grave, no bones, no regard—in life and death, through the yellow springs, never to meet through all ages.”

When Tie Ci heard He Zi tell this, she felt a chill run from head to toe.

“Killing herself in his place” was already chilling to the heart, but these final dozen or so words would permanently nail He Zi to a monument of pain and regret, unable to escape through all lives and ages.

Even mortal enemies wouldn’t be so vicious—was this really the legendary loving couple?

She asked He Zi if the suicide note was in his wife’s handwriting. After a long silence, He Zi nodded.

Tie Ci was speechless with depression, but He Zi continued, saying that when he returned, his wife’s family had already come to collect her remains, preparing to take them back for burial. It was only his desperate intervention that made his father-in-law relent, but with the condition that he follow the suicide note’s words and never meet Mei Niang again in life or death. Having no choice, He Zi could only agree. He personally built this cemetery and had been guarding the grave here ever since, never stepping foot outside Qing Yang Mountain.

Originally he had already given up hope, planning to fast to death while guarding this cemetery. But on his wife’s memorial day, after the crowd dispersed, he discovered someone sneaking around the grave. From this, he set up mechanisms at Nai He Bridge, planted water lilies in the river, and raised glass fish. The vague doubts in his heart had also begun to arise.

His wife came from the jianghu, from a family that had once been a major power in the martial world. In her youth, dissatisfied with her family’s arranged marriage, she had left home, occupied a mountain, and became a female bandit leader. She had taken a fancy to He Zi passing by and abducted him to the mountain as a husband. After marrying him, she had remained strong-willed and bold in her actions for many years—never one of those delicate beauties who couldn’t handle adversity. How could she commit suicide by hanging over some baseless rumors and a few instances of official harassment and intimidation?

But the person was already dead, and she had left such final words. He hadn’t even seen her remains, yet always feared someone might desecrate them, not daring to leave the valley for even a step. How could he investigate the truth of what happened back then?

As for why He Zi suddenly wanted to investigate the hidden truth behind his wife’s suicide, he didn’t explain in detail, and Tie Ci didn’t ask. In the end, He Zi only said to her: “I’ve observed you carefully for several days and feel you’re someone who can shoulder responsibility. But the capital was my place of heartbreak—for me to willingly go there, only accomplishing this one thing would suffice. When I left Haiyou back then, I had entrusted the academy friends to look after my wife. Most of those people are still at the academy now. To investigate the truth of what happened back then, one must first investigate them. You go to the academy—I’ll give you a letter of recommendation. You can enter as an ordinary auditing student, and what happens after that depends on you.”

He gave Tie Ci a name list. Flipping through it, Tie Ci could only smile bitterly.

Those who could befriend He Zi back then and be entrusted with family matters naturally wouldn’t be weak. After managing affairs for so many years, their positions were certainly extraordinary. With just a casual glance, she saw the name of the academy’s current Mountain Dean Zhu Yi, and beside it was none other than the current Chief Minister Rong Luchuan.

Never mind that she could now only enter as a recommended student—even with her Crown Princess status, she probably couldn’t easily move against these two.

Yet she agreed without hesitation.

Because…

Before leaving the valley, she went to offer incense at the cemetery. He Zi stood silently beside her, returning the courtesy.

As she walked out of the cemetery, she looked back and saw He Zi standing silently on Nai He Bridge, facing that expanse of white stone ground.

Willows swayed gracefully, flowers bloomed fragrantly. Yet he had made his entire life permanently into this single color of snow-white and night-black.

She stopped and finally decided to tell him what she had witnessed.

“Sir.”

“Hmm?”

“Your suspicions are correct,” she said. “In that brief moment of teleportation, I looked down and saw your wife’s… skeletal remains. I saw that in her abdomen, there was still a small… bundle.”

…

In the mountain valley, He Zi pushed open his window, gazing through the misty vapors toward the academy’s direction.

That girl should have reached the academy by now.

This journey would probably not be too smooth. The academy had been infiltrated by the Xiao family over the years and harbored heavy hostility toward the imperial family.

Young people who considered themselves passionate were always particularly easy to incite.

But he hoped she could break through thorns and brambles, reaching through to the other side of the mist.

Some things seemed fated. The doubts settled in his heart had gradually quieted with the passage of years, yet in recent years, past events frequently entered his dreams.

Just not long ago one night, he dreamed of his wife in red robes, stepping lightly into the inner hall, pinching his cheeks and asking with raised eyebrows and a smile: “Does this scoundrel truly refuse to see me again?”

In their youth as husband and wife, under red candles and flowers, she had a playful nature while he was youthfully spirited. They had their share of arguments, and he had always been eloquent, while his wife was tongue-tied. Each time she couldn’t out-argue him, in extreme anger she would pinch his cheeks and scold him as a “scoundrel.”

He woke to a room of cold moonlight and hoarfrost, hot tears streaming down his face.

An old endearment, separated for so long.

At the time he thought perhaps she was lonely in the netherworld and had finally forgiven him, coming to call for him.

Perhaps his mortal days were numbered.

Only now did he understand—she was urging him, reproaching him.

How could her husband, who had been rebellious and disobedient all his life, finally listen just that once, truly following that suicide note’s words, forgetting without seeing each other again!

How could he indulge in suffering, unable to struggle free, letting her grievances remain buried, never seeing her loved ones again!

How could he, knowing her strong character, believe she would angrily commit suicide and decisively sever life and death!

When he left Haiyou back then, she had indeed been eating poorly and sleeping excessively. At the time he thought it was some minor illness, and he had worried constantly about her while in the capital. But it turned out she was already pregnant then.

During those months when the capital was in turmoil with the city sealed, communication was cut off, and he was even briefly imprisoned. That letter announcing the joyful news probably never reached him.

After years of marriage without children, finally pregnant—how could she commit suicide!

How could she commit suicide!

The mist gradually drifted over, lightly touching his face, gradually wetting his eyelashes.

He Zi sat in silence, slowly lowering the window frame. Finally his fingers seemed to lose strength, loosening slightly, and the window closed with a click.

Inside and outside the room fell silent, with only the wind sounding like weeping.

After a long while, extremely low, suppressed crying, as if buried in his chest for a thousand years and finally bursting forth intermittently, drifted like wind from the gaps in that window, faintly spreading out.

…

Author’s Note: Just one update today.