The arrival was Yan Li.
Yan Li wore all black, covered in a black cloak. Whether for concealment or some other purpose, tonight he seemed to want to merge with the ink-dark night. As he rode forward, the howling wind and snow lifted his cloak behind him, making him appear like a fledgling eagle about to spread its wings and take flight.
Yan Chi’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Yan Li approach.
“Seventh Brother—” Yan Li rode closer, glancing at the carriage and other black-clad riders. His eyes held hesitation and worry. After pressing his lips together, he finally asked, “Seventh Brother is going to Shuoxi? Will you ever return?”
Yan Chi urged his horse forward a step and spoke in a low voice, “Why did you come?”
Yan Li gave a bitter smile at these words. “Seventh Brother only visited Mother Consort, and as soon as you left, she entered the palace. I knew something must have happened.”
Yan Chi gazed deeply at Yan Li, who unconsciously averted his gaze under such scrutiny. Yan Chi frowned, a glimmer flashing through the darkness in his eyes, then said, “Something did happen. His Majesty will not tolerate the Rui Prince Manor. I had no choice but to take this measure.”
Yan Li nodded, pain seeping into his eyes. “I… I guessed it. Since Seventh Brother must leave, I had to come see you off. After today’s parting, who knows when we’ll meet again.”
Yan Chi sighed, “I’ve already made arrangements with the Princess. After today, take good care of yourself and the Princess. Grandmother’s health is poor—be filial to her.”
Yan Li’s eyes held complex emotions, both reluctance and full of apology. “I know, I know. I just worry about Seventh Brother’s journey not going smoothly. Shuoxi is a bitter cold place…” Yan Li glanced at the carriage. “You will all surely suffer great hardships.”
Inside the carriage, Qin Wan heard Yan Li’s voice and lifted the curtain. Seeing Qin Wan, Yan Li forced a slight smile and continued, “I can’t help Seventh Brother much, I just feared that by our next meeting, years would have passed. That’s why I rushed here.”
Yan Chi pressed his lips together. “Though I’m leaving the capital and will be seen as a rebel in His Majesty’s eyes, our brotherhood remains unchanged. We will meet again.”
Yan Li nodded heavily, his eyes reddening. “Yes, we will surely meet again.”
Yan Li instinctively looked back toward the city gate, as if fearing imperial guards might pursue them, and hurriedly said, “It’s enough to see Seventh Brother once. You should go now.”
Time was pressing for Yan Chi, and with words said, he didn’t delay further. Yan Li looked toward the carriage again and said to Qin Wan, “Take care of yourselves.”
Qin Wan’s heart was full of sorrow. At this point, even if Yan Li didn’t know the details, he must have sensed something was amiss. But under these circumstances, what could be said?
Qin Wan managed a smile. “Take care too, Eighth Brother.”
This address of “Eighth Brother” made Yan Li’s smile broaden. He cupped his hands. “Seventh Brother, Seventh Sister-in-law, have a safe journey.”
Yan Chi waved his hand, and General Mu led the black-clad riders south first. Yan Li stood motionless as Yan Chi and Qin Wan’s carriage slowly moved forward. After about a hundred paces, Yan Chi looked back to see Yan Li still standing motionless in the wind and snow. Though his time in Shuoxi had brought countless tribulations, and he had endured the pain of losing his father, leaving his heart rarely stirred anymore, seeing Yan Li’s solitary figure now still brought a trace of melancholy to his chest.
Looking away, Yan Chi raised his whip, and his horse immediately reared up and galloped away. The wind and snow were fierce, quickly covering the hoofprints and wheel tracks on the official road until it seemed no one had passed. Yan Li stood at the city gate until his whole body felt frozen before finally turning his horse back toward the city. The soldiers who had opened the gate remained silent. Yan Li glanced at the troops below the gate tower, then raised his whip and headed for the palace gates.
The palace gates were still in chaos. Yan Li stood alone with his horse outside, his gaze falling lightly on the ground before the gates.
After waiting nearly an hour, Yan Li finally saw Old Mama holding an umbrella, escorting Prince Gong’s Consort Fu out.
Yan Li dismounted and went to meet them, only to see Consort Fu’s particularly vacant eyes. His heart trembled at the sight. “Mother Consort…”
The Prince Gong’s Consort paused, looked back at the high palace gate tower, gave a dull smile, then asked, “Has he left?”
Yan Li nodded and grabbed Prince Gong’s Consort’s hand. Only then did he realize her hands were ice cold and trembling slightly. Worried, he supported her as she leaned most of her weight against him. She walked step by step toward the carriage, her knees seeming somewhat weak. Yan Li’s lips moved several times, but each time he swallowed his words before they could emerge. “Mother Consort, your visit to the palace…”
Having helped Prince Gong’s Consort into the carriage, Yan Li finally couldn’t hold back.
Prince Gong’s Consort paused at the carriage door, and after a long moment said, “Just discussing past grudges and favors. The affairs of the previous generation have nothing to do with the younger ones.”
Yan Li’s expression changed slightly. Prince Gong’s Consort stooped to enter the carriage, Old Mama following and closing the door.
Yan Li remained silent for a moment before mounting his horse again. With a fall of the whip, man and horse and carriage headed toward Prince Gong’s Manor.
The snow was too heavy—in just one night, a thick layer had accumulated on the Imperial Road. The sky seemed to have grown even darker, with less than an hour until dawn.
When the carriage stopped at the manor gates, Prince Gong’s Consort had recovered her usual demeanor. After entering the gates, she suddenly halted and instructed Yan Li behind her, “Close the doors and gates. Before the New Year, you are not to leave the manor.”
Yan Li stood in place as Prince Gong’s Consort walked toward the Buddhist temple courtyard without looking back.