The spring of the 373rd year of the Great Qin calendar was no different from any other spring. Like those spring blossoms just beginning to bloom, holding their buds on the branches, dreaming each day in the silence of the spring breeze of their moment of world-shocking bloom that would amaze all under heaven. Or like those flowing waters carrying the fragrance of fallen flowers, leisurely flowing from the mountains to the city streets, then rushing toward rivers and seas, until they gathered into the ocean, bringing to those distant coastal nations beyond the mountains the even softer Huainan flower fragrance belonging to the Great Qin Empire.

And a certain little person, fully prepared and ready to depart, would roughly follow the direction of this water flow to fulfill the promise he had once made to that person.

After three years of recuperation, Xiao Jue finally showed improvement this spring and personally came to Wanyang Pavilion to see off his son.

The former Emperor of Xiliang, like a nagging old woman, fussily rummaged through his son’s luggage, examining those miscellaneous items while frowning. What kind of things were in this child’s bundle? Even stranger than those Chang Ge used to play with – short sticks with horns, small slingshots with hollow centers, steel whips growing hooks, chains that could be threaded into hammers, and a soft tube that would roll around by itself. When Xiao Jue tentatively reached out to touch it, Baozi immediately pounced over like a squealing pig to pull his hand away – clearly not anything good.

But in his memory, nothing the little rascal pulled out of his pockets had ever been normal.

Xiao Jue pressed his lips together and helped his son pack the bundle properly again. His movements were slow, as if he felt that the slower he packed, the longer he could delay the parting.

This journey would be a long and arduous one, far from the protective umbrella of the Great Qin’s Twin Saints, and the task involved the treasonous business of usurping kingdoms and losing one’s head. Though Xiao Jue believed his son could handle himself, he was still just a nine-year-old child going to a foreign country. For a long time, Guantang Palace would no longer have that little master who rolled around and threw tantrums. By the time he had struggled through hardships to achieve his heart’s desire and returned with a firm foundation in that foreign country, that mischievous, playful, shameless rascal of the past, that plump, short little meatball, would probably be gone forever.

Sigh, when children grow up, they always have to fly away. It’s just a matter of sooner or later, though this rascal was a bit too early…

Xiao Jue silently stroked the soft surface of the bundle, melancholically thinking of that person – a life brief yet profoundly influential, who would forever hold an unshakeable important place in the hearts of this mother and son. She had wept for him for three days, forgetting the world in her grief. He would travel to foreign lands and risk his life scheming for a kingdom because of her. They never spoke of him, yet never truly forgot him for a single day.

But… what did it matter? Speaking of sacrifice, he was worthy of such remembrance. If he hadn’t known his days were numbered and chosen to let go, Chang Ge might not have finally given her heart to himself.

Xiao Jue raised his gaze, sweeping over the leisurely floating clouds in the sky, remembering that New Year’s Eve afternoon years ago, when that man in blue robes had brushed past him in front of the warm pavilion of the Grand Tutor’s residence, gently raising his cup toward him and saying, “Your Majesty, today is a good day. Please cherish it well.”

…Now every year is a good day, and every day I cherish deeply… You can rest assured.

Baozi didn’t care about his father’s melancholy and memories. He rustled through crisp new banknotes, counting them out for his father with smug pride. “Brand new! Stiff and crisp! Use them to cut throats – slice!”

Xiao Jue immediately slapped his plump bottom. “A traveler shouldn’t speak with such ill omens!”

Baozi chuckled as he tucked the banknotes into his chest, saying, “I fear nothing, all evils retreat. Anyone who dares take me hasn’t been born yet!” He grinned mischievously at his mother and said, “If they were to be born, you’d have to give birth to them, but I heard you refuse to have a third child?”

Qin Chang Ge had grown slightly plumper these past few years. She personally held her young daughter Xue Xi while standing in the pavilion, glancing at her son with a stern expression. “One son, one daughter makes a perfect family. I’m in charge of family planning here. If I gave you another little brother, you’d have something to cry about when it comes to succession struggles between two dragons.”

“Let them struggle.” Baozi waved his hand. “Those who usurp will be usurped in turn. I want to do the work of usurping kingdoms, so it’s perfectly normal for others to come usurp from me too… If not, you could just train little sister instead, and have another empress.”

He cheerfully stepped forward to pinch Xue Xi’s tender, snow-white little cheeks. “Xiao Xi… now I won’t be here to play with you anymore. You’ll definitely be lonely. What a tragic life…”

Qin Chang Ge slapped away his paws. “What do you mean play with her? You’re the one playing with her! Having a brother like you is what’s truly tragic for her.”

Baozi ignored her and continued pinching. “Xiao Xi, when you grow up, remember that the boyfriend you find can’t be uglier than your brother, or else brother will beat him up every time I see him. Remember that puppy love isn’t good for development – I think ten years old is fine for dating. Remember to write reports about your relationships – I don’t mind if you write them like third-rate romance novels. Remember not to visit Longzhang Palace for no reason – seeing certain things too much will give you styes, and seeing them too early will cause premature sexual awakening… Ow! Stinky mother!”

Qin Chang Ge ominously grabbed the ear of her son who had even mentioned “highest-level palace secrets” to his sister, saying darkly, “Student Xiao Rong, the farewell banquet has been eaten, the farewell meeting has been held, the money and horses you wanted are all ready. May I ask what you’re still doing here?”

“I’m building emotional connections.” Baozi, with his ear pulled sideways, glanced sideways at the noble Empress Her Majesty. “I want to deepen my one-year-old sister’s memory and awaken the deep filial affection for her elder brother in her heart, so that when I’m away from the palace for a long time in the future, we won’t end up with a Princess Taiping of the Great Qin dynasty…”

“Your language and history studies are becoming increasingly sophisticated.” Qin Chang Ge smiled as she continued pulling his ear. “If you’re afraid your sister will usurp the throne, then hurry up and get things done and come back early.”

Baozi smiled obsequiously, snuggling against his mother’s waist, pushing his sister aside a bit, and rubbing his face against Qin Chang Ge’s face. “That godforsaken place Liguo where birds don’t even lay eggs – once I finish my dirty work, I’ll naturally run away immediately. Don’t worry.”

Qin Chang Ge blinked, looking at him with surprise. “Really? But how do I remember a certain someone saying after returning from Liguo last time that the young ladies there were fresh, spicy, and had a unique flavor?”

“Your Majesty, if you can’t bear to let me go, just say so directly. Why use such roundabout methods?” Baozi affectionately stroked his mother, gesturing at her cup size while secretly and resentfully glaring at his sister who had the fortune to grow up drinking their mother’s milk, constantly nuzzling against her. “I know you have a strong possessive desire toward me, but mother, don’t worry. I’m absolutely not the kind of scoundrel who forgets his mother when he gets a wife. I won’t forget my mother even with a wife, I won’t forget my mother even with a bunch of wives! I’ll even make my bunch of wives forget their own mothers!”

“Bah at you.” Qin Chang Ge pushed her son away. “Go meet your bunch of imaginary wives! You nine-year-old underdeveloped stallion!”

“You’re insulting me, you’re seriously insulting me…” Baozi gave his sister’s face one last caress and said tearfully, “Xiao Xi, poor Xiao Xi, I’m leaving. Who will protect you from mother’s discipline in the future? Do you still remember the Snow White story I told you? That queen who always asked the magic mirror ‘Mirror, mirror, who is the most beautiful woman in the world?’ – her prototype was actually your mother…”

“Smack!” This time it was Xiao Jue who couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed his son away. “You chatterbox!”

Baozi looked back in shock, then after a moment flew into a rage. “Damn! Stinky mother! Bedtime stories are my specialty! Why did you tell him!”

Qin Chang Ge said leisurely without any shame, “Bedtime stories are bedtime stories – now you don’t sleep with me anymore.”

Boom!

Poor Emperor Xiao’s handsome face turned into a big red cloth.

The rambling Prince Xiao’s silhouette, along with his magnificent convoy of carriages, disappeared on the horizon. He would pass through the former Nanmin territory, change to ships to cross the sea, and go to that land of blue seas and warm seasons year-round.

Actually, this mother and son had traveled this route once before, when they sent Chu Feihuan’s ice coffin back to Liguo. Qin Chang Ge hadn’t actually delivered Chu Feihuan to Liguo – she had stopped at the coastal border and, following local customs, sank the ice coffin into the sea.

On the giant ship, gold-threaded double ropes were tied to the head and tail of the crystal coffin – a meticulously carved dragon-shaped crystal coffin with soaring, leaping dragon forms of incomparably precious material.

To the unique sea melodies of Liguo, the crystal ice coffin carried that person and sank permanently into the deep blue seawater. Qin Chang Ge quietly watched that patch of snow-white gradually grow distant in the shimmering waves until it disappeared completely, thinking that the son of the sea had finally fallen into eternal sleep in the deep ocean valleys, where the sand and stones were white as snow, coral red as plum blossoms, and dark green seaweed swayed and brushed across his face, while schools of silver-glittering fish covered the ice coffin like flowing silk.

Quiet, pure, and forever free from pain and disturbance – a world suitable for eternal slumber.

The perfect resting place worthy of him.

Now Baozi was going to Liguo again because of him, but she would no longer be by his side. This child who had always been forced to grow up quickly was finally about to undertake the most daring sprint of his life. He wasn’t afraid, but felt somewhat melancholy, so he became particularly talkative and unbearable.

Xue Xi in her arms babbled incomprehensibly in what language, suddenly pulling out the snow-white little hand she’d been constantly gnawing on and waving it in the air as if also bidding farewell to her brother. Qin Chang Ge looked down and smiled at her young daughter, seeing in her clear, clean eyes without any impurities a reflection of the faint melancholy in her own eyes.

Little rascal, he’s flown away…

Actually, this highest ruling family of Great Qin had never been afraid of partings. They’d done things like leaving a five or six-year-old son at home to manage a country more than once. If their son wanted to go out, then let him go.

It’s just that this parting would be for a very long time…

Watching her son’s retreating figure, Qin Chang Ge waved her hand. In the distance where grass and trees bowed low, human shadows could be glimpsed darting swiftly past.

These were Huang Meng’s hidden guards. For this trip to Liguo, Qin Chang Ge had already dispatched all of Huang Meng’s forces in Great Qin to Liguo in batches. After all, now that she was wealthy enough to own a country, Huang Meng’s existence was meaningless, and Baozi’s Fengman Building had long ago established branches in Liguo. After several years of preparation and foundation-laying, once Baozi arrived, he could at least secure the position of a great tycoon.

But Baozi had his own plans, and those plans were rather audacious. When Qin Chang Ge first heard them, she also thought this little fellow was quite shameless.

However, one must take responsibility for their own affairs. Play however you want, and if you mess up, mother will clean up after you.

The shadows that just caught up were the most elite force of Huang Meng, specially responsible for protecting Baozi’s safety on this journey. However, Qin Chang Ge had instructed them not to protect him too fiercely – they needed to cultivate the young prince’s combat abilities.

Esteemed Chu royal family, hurry up and get a good night’s sleep, build up your energy, and prepare to receive a certain demon king’s arrival.

Her son’s carriage was no longer visible. Qin Chang Ge carried Xue Xi onto the imperial carriage and chatted face-to-face with her daughter. “Hey, Xiao Xi, your brother could supposedly talk when he was one year old. You’re already over one, so why is there still no movement? They say a mother’s intelligence gets evenly distributed among her children – if the first one uses too much, the later ones get less. You’re not mentally deficient, are you?”

Xue Xi very agreeably showed her mother a perfect smile with her six teeth – she only had those six teeth.

Xiao Jue on the side glared darkly at that woman who spoke such outrageous things – what nonsense are you talking about? My daughter is exquisitely beautiful and beloved by all who see her. Her eyes are so clear and transparent – how could she be an idiot? With you and me as parents, how could we produce an idiot?

He was completely thinking to himself, but Qin Chang Ge suddenly turned around as if reading his mind, patted his shoulder, and gave him a look that said, “I couldn’t produce one, but adding your genes makes it really hard to say.”

…

“Gently I leave, just as I gently came. I shake my sleeves and take not a single cabbage with me.”

Never mind cabbages – the Prince Xiao who practically wanted to move all the toys from Guantang Palace had been traveling for several days and had already reached the former Nanmin territory, which now belonged to Great Qin and was renamed Min Prefecture.

The mountain ahead was called Jianfeng Mountain, named for its sharp, cutting shape that could slice even the wind that passed over it.

Below the mountain was a narrow passage – cross through and there would be plains.

Today was beautiful weather with gentle winds and bright sun. The lush mountain ranges were emerald green and dripping with vitality. Baozi leaned lazily against the side of his carriage, utterly bored as he drowsily squinted his eyes and sang little songs, from “Two Tigers” all the way to “Don’t Pick the Wildflowers by the Roadside.” When he ran out of songs, he started making up his own. Youtiao’er, who was following him, looked completely tormented – why do tone-deaf people all love to sing?

But this thought absolutely couldn’t be shared with his master, who would smile reassuringly at you and then sing even more fiercely.

With no other choice, he had to take it out on the twins. Youtiao’er put on the airs of the future top steward of Liguo’s wealthy Chu Rong, glaring at the increasingly beautiful twins in the carriage who were becoming devastatingly gorgeous. “Miss Wan’er, Miss Miao’er, it’s fine that you two insisted on coming out to serve the master, but why won’t you change your appearance? Traveling in such splendid beauty all the way – are you trying to bring trouble to our master?”

The twin little white rabbits were startled and timidly looked at each other. Wan’er began searching in her bundle for an eyebrow pencil. Youtiao’er scolded again, “Eyebrow pencil? Is an eyebrow pencil useful? Use this instead.” He reached down and grabbed a handful of black mud from the ground.

The two little girls looked at the black mud with tragic expressions – no way, put that on… it stinks.

“Youtiao’er, what are you doing? Why make them smear their faces?” Baozi leisurely turned his head, his big eyes sweeping over the twins’ faces that were about to burst into tears, then turned to glare at Youtiao’er. “You’re really looking down on my existence, aren’t you? You’re really not giving me any face, are you? I, a magnificent, jade-tree-facing-wind, beloved-by-all, blooming-at-sight Prince Xiao who makes pear blossoms outshine crabapples, can’t protect two girls?”

After a pause, he added cheerfully, “Well, if I really can’t protect them, I could always give them to the mountain bandits in exchange for our lives.”

Youtiao’er looked at his master with a face full of black lines, hissing air through his teeth. Really, after all these years with him, the biggest truth he’d discovered was: there’s no limit to shamelessness, only more shamelessness.

Just as he was about to despise his master, a series of sharp whistles arose from ahead, the sound piercing and brutally cutting through the silent air.

Immediately, several ropes dropped down from the iron-green mountain cliffs, and several black-clothed, masked men slid down the ropes with swift, agile movements and rapid steps – clearly skilled fighters.

At the same time, human figures kept appearing from the dense grass on all sides, surrounding them front, back, left, and right, with bright flashing steel blades in their hands, dazzling to the eyes.

Youtiao’er sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes bulging like abacus beads. “Ban-ban-ban-ban-bandits!”

“Ban-ban-ban-ban-bandits!” Baozi shrieked, immediately pouncing onto Youtiao’er and weeping. “Youtiao’er, we really encountered highway robbers, and they look pretty formidable too – they even have formations! What do we do, oh what do we do?”

Youtiao’er suspiciously stared at his master – are you afraid? Are you really afraid? How come I feel like you’re really happy?

But the opponents really didn’t look like ordinary bandits. Their bearing was steady, their posture composed, and they hadn’t said a word since appearing, as if waiting for further orders. Youtiao’er worried as he calculated – could they not be bandits? Could they be an assassination squad masquerading as bandits?

“Hey.” But Baozi wasn’t patient enough to wait for them to sing “This mountain is mine to open.” Since they couldn’t wait, he cupped his hands and began shouting. “Great bandit grandfathers, are you here to rob? To kill? Do you want men or women? For men, there’s a ready-made androgynous youth; for women, there are the most adorable twin lolis; for money, there’s a chest of gold leaves; for…”

“We want you.”