“How could he go to Youzhou?”
Suddenly jumping up, all desire vanishing, Xiao Jue was greatly shocked and immediately rushed toward Guantang Palace. Qin Chang Ge said: “No need to go—I already checked.” She stood up, frowning: “Rong’er wants to go to Youzhou to open a shop. I checked, and he’s probably been gone for more than a day. We do need to pursue, but given Rong’er’s cunning, I doubt ordinary people could catch up. Both you and I bear responsibility for this matter, so I’ll go myself—it’s perfect timing to deal with Li Han too.”
Xiao Jue’s long eyebrows furrowed as he instinctively refused: “No, I’ll go.”
“You’ll go?” Qin Chang Ge smiled, pointing at the mountain of memorials piled on the dragon desk. “Please tell me—who will give orders for troop deployments, grain transport, and general assignments? Me? Hmm… I might as well usurp the throne and become emperor.”
This was originally meant as a joke, but unexpectedly Xiao Jue answered seriously: “If you want to do it, I’ll let you. After all, this kingdom—whether you sit on the throne or I do—it’s the same.”
Qin Chang Ge was speechless, thinking that such jokes really couldn’t be made carelessly. Xiao Jue wasn’t the type of emperor from history books who put power above all else. He was sincere and forthright—to him, being emperor was just a responsibility that needed to be fulfilled properly. In his heart, there were many things more important than imperial dominion.
Especially Qin Chang Ge—Xiao Jue had never forgotten that half of those military achievements belonged to her.
Never liking the nature of holding favors over others for gratitude, Qin Chang Ge secretly regretted inadvertently bringing up this awkward topic and quickly spoke of serious matters: “In terms of emotion, reason, public duty, and private affairs, I’m definitely making this trip. Rest assured, I promise you—within three months, I’ll return with Rong’er.”
Xiao Jue remained silent. He stood by the gate of Longzhang Palace with its glazed tiles and flying dragon pillars, in a half-turned posture, watching Qin Chang Ge in the deep shadows with her carefree expression, bathed in the moonlight that poured like silver scales through the hall and across the grounds. Her face in the moonlight was serene, fearless, wise, subtle yet infinitely broad—this was a woman who could embrace the entire world with the breadth of her heart. Yet he always worried that precisely because her heart already contained everything, there might be no small space left to hold the love he offered with full hands.
When they first married, one smile and two hearts understood each other. Now meeting again, though people are distant, the horizon feels near.
Which melody of fate was played wrong, marking an unwilling rest? Whose delicate fingers pressed the strings, gently yet quietly stopping that soaring music about to burst forth?
The kingdom ultimately became but a soft song, yet the lingering notes of that lovesick melody scattered in the air of Longzhang Palace and Changle Palace, the palace halls where the founding emperor and empress overlooked the world—wanting to pursue them, but unable to find them.
Xiao Jue clenched his fingers tightly—just now, when she was beneath him, a strand of black hair had wound around his fingertip, and he couldn’t bear to brush it away.
That fine, smooth hair strand lingered restlessly at his fingertip. He unconsciously wound it layer by layer, wrapping it tight. In his heart, countless words like silk threads densely surrounded him, boldly meeting those surging thoughts, then becoming desperately entangled.
He stood silently as bright moonlight soaked in, dampening the night hibiscus under the palace corridor, dampening the golden dragon and auspicious cloud embroidery on his imperial robe’s hem. He looked sideways toward Youzhou—distant, dark, clouded and stormy.
However, after a long while, he said softly: “Alright, take care.”
Qin Chang Ge smiled and nodded.
She stepped forward to leave.
Passing by his side, she heard him say hoarsely: “Three months. If you can’t return after three months, I’ll come find you.”
After a pause, Qin Chang Ge stopped at shoulder height with Xiao Jue, standing back-to-back, and turned her head to smile at him.
Her smile, soaked in moonlight, was like a perfectly blooming night hibiscus.
She said: “Good.”
The fourth year of Qianyuan, August, Youzhou under the blazing summer sun.
A completely black carriage drove unobtrusively through the gates of Youzhou city. Though the carriage was ordinary in style, it was well-crafted and sturdy, with a golden flying fish pattern on the body—the fish leaping with dragon-like vigor.
Currently in Xiliang, probably only the Longbei region didn’t recognize this mark. Throughout all other provinces and regions, who didn’t know this was the famous logo of Windfall Tower?
As for why it was this logo, the inspiration naturally came from Chu Feihuan—this mark was the innate birthmark of Liguo’s royal family on his body.
The carriage stopped in front of “Ju’an Wine House” on Shifang Street, Youzhou’s most prosperous thoroughfare. The curtain lifted and a dark, thin, clever-looking boy of about ten jumped down. He said to the approaching waiter: “Two of your finest upper rooms, and open a table with your best dishes in a private booth—my young master needs to dine.”
“Sorry about that,” the waiter bowed with a grin, “there’s only one upper room left, and no private booths available. Please bear with us.”
“How can this be?” The dark, thin boy was naturally Youtiao’er. He frowned and casually pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket, tossing it over: “Please make an effort to arrange something.”
The waiter caught the silver, his face blooming with smiles, and bowed: “There truly are no upper rooms left, but we can manage to find a private booth for you two. Today General Cao’s third young master is hosting guests at our establishment—it was supposed to be cleared out, but since it’s like this, please sit in the adjacent room. Just please don’t make any noise.”
“Naturally we won’t,” came a crisp voice as a pair of young maids emerged from behind the curtain. They had bright black eyes, snow-white skin, cherry lips, and clear, refined bearing—remarkably beautiful twin servants.
The waiter’s eyes lit up and he stood frozen for a moment. Such beautiful twin maids were unseen in the northern regions. What wealthy noble family could afford to use such beautiful girls?
The two young ladies jumped down, one on each side, silk scarves in hand, ready to help the person in the carriage.
“Go away!” A pair of small paws suddenly shot out, waving with world-conquering momentum, directly swatting the silk scarves far away. “I’m not a woman—don’t use those tricks you used to serve people before!”
The twins looked at the silk scarves on the ground, sniffled without picking them up, and stepped back.
The curtain opened and a handsome big head poked out, even smaller than the previous children, with a pair of dark, lively eyes bright as stars.
Naturally, this was Xiao Rong, Prince Xiao, Manager Xiao.
The waiter stared at Baozi in bewilderment, then peered into the carriage—where were this family’s adults?
Baozi unceremoniously pushed his face away and lifted his leg to walk inside: “Don’t look improperly, don’t you understand improper looking?”
Seeing him bound upstairs in a few steps, the waiter quickly went ahead to guide him. He had expected this unruly child to definitely insist on sitting at the grand table Young Master Cao had already reserved, but unexpectedly the child looked at the table setting, then sat down as arranged.
The waiter relaxed and continuously brought up dishes. Seeing the children eating obediently, he soon forgot about them.
“Master,” Youtiao’er whispered, “Yingdu Windfall Tower’s Second Manager Guo is waiting for you in Youzhou. Why don’t you go see him directly?”
“See him?” Baozi’s voice was even lower. “The consequence of seeing him would be my immediate return to Yingdu. Do you think Father wouldn’t order Youzhou’s prefect to find me? I came to do great things—I don’t want to go back so quickly.”
“Also,” Baozi frowned, “didn’t you notice it was very difficult to enter Youzhou city? If we weren’t young and had bribed them with silver, we’d almost have been blocked outside the city gates. The inspections at the gate seemed very strict—I always feel something’s not right.”
“Master, we should still contact Manager Guo,” Youtiao’er, feeling the heavy responsibility of protecting the Crown Prince’s safety like a thousand-pound weight on his shoulders, said worriedly: “What if something happens…”
“What if? I’m afraid of what ifs? I’m the future Ten Thousand Year Emperor!” Baozi waved his hand. “People of Youzhou, your Crown Prince has come to liberate you…”
He turned to see the twins standing timidly behind him to serve, frowned, pointed at stools, and said: “You two, eat!”
“We servants are lowly…”
“Bah, what high and low people? Not listening to me makes you stupid people!” Baozi was impatient. “I don’t lack maids and don’t like people following me around. If you keep chattering, I won’t take you along anymore.”
The twins shivered and quickly sat obediently by the edge of stools. They were servant girls from the great household of Liu Million in Huazhou. Because of their beauty, they were driven out by the jealous head wife. When they were helpless and wandering, they were taken in by Baozi who was passing through Huazhou. Since then they regarded the five-year-old little master as their benefactor and served him devotedly. But this master was very strange, very flamboyant—everything he wanted to do was different from ordinary people. The twin beauties weren’t used to it but could only obediently learn.
Just as they sat down, they heard footsteps on the stairs. A group of people came up chatting, surrounding a youth like stars around the moon, and sat at the front table. Someone peered toward Baozi’s side and frowned: “How is there still another table? Drive them away!”
“They’re all children?” The youth looked over and smiled: “Probably like me—fathers too strict, sneaking out for a good meal. Forget it.”
“Third Young Master is most virtuous!” Someone immediately flattered: “With your status and position, still being so considerate of common people—truly a blessing for us people of Youzhou!” Turning to shout at Baozi: “You! Come kowtow and thank the young master for his grace.”
“Bah!” Youtiao’er was furious and quietly spat: “What kind of thing is that? Master, let me teach him a lesson!”
“Teach him with what? Your flower fists and embroidered legs?” Baozi rolled his eyes and said slowly: “Thank him? You want me to thank him? Then I’ll thank him.”
He leisurely stood up, picked up a wine pot and cup, grinning as he went over, with the twins following step by step.
Two young ladies, identically dressed and featured, delicate as flowers reflected in water, crystal clear, like a pair of beauties molded from snow and powder, immediately brightened the eyes of everyone at the table.
That young man couldn’t help but look over too: “These maids are good!” After thinking, he sighed: “Too bad Father wants me to train in the military—even if I took them, I couldn’t use them.”
“How could the general bear to let Third Young Master go to the military?” someone chimed in with a laugh. “It’s just going through the motions.”
“You’re wrong,” the youth shook his head, frowning: “I’m afraid it’s going to be…”
He stopped mid-sentence, turning to look at the approaching Baozi: “Will you sell these maids?”
“Sell them!” Baozi answered without hesitation, completely ignoring the twins’ immediately pouting lips and tearful eyes. “Ten thousand taels, no haggling!”
“Third Young Master wanting your people shows he thinks highly of you—how dare you ask for money?” someone immediately scolded.
“If I don’t take his money, that would be looking down on him,” Baozi grinned. “The distinguished Third Young Master can’t afford to buy a pair of maids?”
“Well said,” the youth said proudly. “My Cao family is wealthy and prestigious, dominating Youzhou—how could we not afford your servant girls? Someone, get ten thousand taels for him!”
“Third Young Master!” Having received the silver notes, Baozi suddenly rushed forward a step under everyone’s gaze, tears streaming as he grabbed the Third Young Master’s hand: “You’re truly a good person! I’ve traveled everywhere and never met such a noble person who’s wealthy but not arrogant! Please be kind and take me in too!”
…
Among the stunned crowd, Baozi gripped the Third Young Master who was staring at him woodenly, snot and tears flowing: “Woo woo woo… my family is ruined, parents are gone… if I don’t sell these maids to you, I’ll have to sell them to someone else… this is my last meal, after eating I have no money to pay the bill… haven’t eaten meat for three days, it’s driving me crazy…”
While performing this sob story, he secretly pinched the wide-mouthed Youtiao’er who was standing there stunned. Youtiao’er gasped in pain and smoothly started crying too.
“Young master… please be kind… let us serve your household together, just asking that my master not wander anymore… to have a place to stay…”
The dutiful Youtiao’er cried with deep emotion and excellent acting, making the entire table nearly weep. This child was so tragic, so pitiful, fallen to such a state…
Baozi had long since tired of crying and smoothly stopped, leisurely observing while calculating in his heart—Mother dear, I had no choice but to cry for you—don’t come after me for revenge…
The fourth year of Qianyuan, September, when winds and clouds suddenly rose, the nine provinces stirred, eagles struck the long sky, and swords howled in the west wind.
Duke Wuwei Li Han, together with Youzhou Military Governor Cao Guangshi, raised troops in Youzhou under the banner “The emperor is without virtue, we righteously save the world,” pointing their fluttering military banners and blazing sharp swords toward Xiliang’s heartland, toward the supremely wealthy and prosperous imperial capital, toward the Xiao imperial dynasty that ruled over all under heaven from its lofty nine-tiered throne.
On the day of the oath ceremony, they killed Youzhou Prefect Tang Wu, Chief Clerk Wu Yuanqi, and Administrative Advisor Fu Ziying as sacrifices to the flag. When the cannons fired, three bloody heads of court local officials fell to the ground, demonstrating Li Han’s fearless determination to stake everything on a life-or-death struggle with Xiao Jue, showing his infinite killing intent and bold resolution.
Eagle banners rolled like clouds, covering the long-peaceful northern skies.
On the enormous yellow silk map in Longzhang Palace, hundreds of thousands of rebel troops from Youzhou formed a thick black serpentine arrow, ferociously coiled at the border stronghold, entangled with two streams of red military forces around them. That dark arrowhead like a viper’s eye pointed toward: the heart of the imperial capital.
Long winds swept but couldn’t extinguish the ever-burning lamps of Longzhang Palace. Behind heavy curtains, the young emperor’s face was weary but his eyes blazed as he stared intently at the arrow-crossed map. After a long while, he murmured: “Chang Ge, may you be safe.”