September 19th, fourth year of Qianyuan, Dingyang Pass.

The ninth month in the north already carried winter’s chill. Frost flowers drifted in the wind with their refreshingly cool breath. Before Dingyang Pass, under the blazing sun, Xiao Jue in golden crown and armor, radiant and spirited, said to Qin Chang Ge beside him with high enthusiasm: “Years ago I nearly lost my life here—it was you who saved me… do you still remember?”

Qin Chang Ge smiled and nodded, her gaze distant, piercing through layers of clouds to see at the end of the mist those scenes of shared blood and fire. That elegant young woman was turning back from memory with a light laugh, giving her a brilliant smile.

In that smile, the past bloomed like tea roses, rising in boundless time then gently falling. That gesture of blooming and withering was mature and graceful, like this path of rebirth.

Xiao Jue gazed deeply at her, his eyes full of endless emotion. Back then, was that life-saving ancient tree still there? Could the bloodstains in that blood-stained tree hollow still be found? When wind passed through those lonely holes pierced by countless arrows in the tree trunk, would it sing with sighing lament?

He too wanted to draw his sword and rise, composing with heroic spirit amid this foreign land’s great wind and frost flowers, transforming all his boundless ambition and infinite affection into a desolate, profound song to share with the beloved woman beside him.

His song was written in his eyes—those eyes bright as snow, their soul’s profound radiance unwashable by ten thousand li of fierce wind and sand. Certain blazing emotions, like fire, would never be extinguished.

He smiled, drew his sword, the blade’s gleam rising like a rainbow, pointing straight to heaven.

“Tonight, we take Dingyang!”

Shouts rose like tide. The dust-raising army, with fierce determination and unstoppable momentum, attacked Dingyang Pass’s already weakly defended walls. Without even using large destructive weapons like catapults, by the time dusk had not yet ended and evening clouds first appeared, Xiliang’s black imperial banner with golden dragon was already flying atop Dingyang’s walls.

Under the imperial banner, the heroic man gently caressed the mottled city wall, saying wistfully: “Once there was also a city wall where you and I leaned together. Below the wall you pushed away that bowl of millet rice… Chang Ge, in this lifetime, I have never again tasted such delicious rice.”

Hand pressed against the city wall, Qin Chang Ge gazed toward the blood-red sunset at the distant mountains’ end. Thin mist rose among the mountains, growing ever more blue-green. She smiled slightly, not without nostalgia: “Things that have passed, because they cannot return, always seem better than the present.”

Her gaze fell far below the tower to an ancient tree where a man in red robes stood smiling, gently stroking that tree which had long lost its crown.

His posture was gentle, as if afraid to disturb some eternal memory frozen in time, touching one by one those arrow holes that seemed to have fossilized.

Was he also reminiscing about that bloody battle of years past?

Under Qin Chang Ge’s watchful gaze, he suddenly made a throwing gesture, just like many years ago when he had bitten his black hair between his teeth, raised his snow-bright long blade, and charged forth before a blood moon, hurling the fake Wei king’s head like thunder and lightning.

Qin Chang Ge’s gaze flickered like water ripples. She then saw that seductive man turn back gracefully and suddenly smile at her on the tower.

Her heart shook, but her expression didn’t change at all. Qin Chang Ge returned a gentle smile—polite but distant.

Withdrawing her gaze and leaving the battlements, Qin Chang Ge said leisurely: “The road ahead is unfinished, human hearts are hard to fathom…”

…

September 21st, fourth year of Qianyuan, beneath Yu city.

September 23rd, fourth year of Qianyuan, beneath Wei city.

September 27th, fourth year of Qianyuan, beneath Lian city.

In just ten days, Xiliang’s forces successively conquered Northern Wei’s border cities of Yu, Wei, Lian, and Chang. Their aggression was like fire, their stillness like mountains. With blazing military might, they drove straight into Northern Wei’s heartland. Those Northern Wei generals with different intentions, hoping to preserve their strength, all held their troops back, ignoring the repeated conscription orders from Northern Wei’s court to resist the invaders. They watched as the young Xiliang war god, his imperial years not diminishing his heroic spirit and killing aura, dragged his blood-dripping bright blade behind him, slowly advancing across Northern Wei territory. Wherever he passed, mountains and rivers changed color, plants and trees bowed low.

Until that day when the black-robed emperor, red-robed prince, and gracefully elegant young general looked up amid the bloody wind and rain, they discovered they had attacked the largest city between Northern Wei’s border and prosperous heartland.

Northern Wei’s major city—Du city.

City gates higher and broader than ordinary cities, and the mass of archers black as clouds on the tower battlements, demonstrated the enemy’s long preparation and full battle readiness.

On Northern Wei soil, there was finally a city crouching like a tiger that opened its fierce maw with a hard stance toward Xiliang’s army.

Xiliang’s forces, which had been breaking through passes and defeating enemies with complete success, finally met some resistance at Du city—Yu Zixi’s most valiant general Shen Shao had attacked Du city twice consecutively without success.

Long before Xiliang’s army approached Du city, the defending general Li Denglong had implemented a scorched earth strategy, abandoning outer cities and concentrating surrounding garrison troops and grain to fully defend Du city.

They abandoned all nearby towns that didn’t require necessary defense, taking everything they could carry and burning everything they couldn’t, also blocking all wells along the way.

This created some difficulties for Xiliang’s army—as they gradually penetrated deep into Northern Wei territory, their supply lines stretched too long. Feeding eight hundred thousand troops was a staggering number, so Yu Zixi ordered forcible harvest of half the local residents’ rice wherever they went. His original intention was to take everything, but both Xiao Jue and Qin Chang Ge opposed this. Xiao Jue believed this would provoke hatred from Northern Wei’s people, disadvantageous to the army’s advance. Qin Chang Ge always had a broad heart with no concept of single family or nation—in her view, this entire world would sooner or later all belong to Xiliang, so Northern Wei’s people would sooner or later also be their people. Bullying Northern Wei’s people too harshly would be troublesome to pacify later, so both agreed on taking half and leaving half.

Now Du city had pulled this move. Food supplies were somewhat threatened, but more critically was water. Eight hundred thousand troops without water—that was truly terrifying.

Du city’s defending general Li Denglong was the cousin of the unlucky Min Randao who died at the foot of Emerald Field Mountain. His uncompromising stance was meant to avenge his cousin.

Those green shoots, not yet fully ripe, were all harvested. Even the shriveled grain on the ground was picked clean. Under the high autumn sun, within a hundred li there were no people, no water sources. Even all fruit trees were chopped down. Those that couldn’t be felled had all their fruit picked clean—too much to carry away, all trampled into the muddy ground.

The once most prosperous and fertile autumn land had become the most barren and silent wasteland.

“Within a hundred li, all wells are blocked, all rivers filled with dead pigs,” Qin Chang Ge licked her cracked, peeling lips, resentfully glaring at the particularly clear sky of recent days, then looking at the irritable patrolling soldiers, frowning: “Attacked twice without success. Now eight hundred thousand people without water—this is truly terrible.”

Xiao Jue looked at her with pity, saying gently: “You haven’t had water for a day… very thirsty, aren’t you?”

With a gratified expression, he carefully produced a pear from his sleeve pouch like magic, smiling with some pride: “I specially saved this, couldn’t bear to eat it. This is best for quenching thirst.”

Qin Chang Ge’s eyes lit up as she asked: “Where did this come from?”

“Yu Zixi sent it—from a village tree that was too high, they didn’t have time to pick the last pear.” Xiao Jue carefully wiped it clean with his gold dragon brocade sleeve and offered it to Qin Chang Ge’s lips.

Qin Chang Ge took it, thought for a moment, then handed it to Chu Feihuan, who was silently reading military reports nearby.

Chu Feihuan immediately shook his head in refusal, wordlessly turning his wheelchair to leave. Qin Chang Ge grabbed him: “Feihuan, when you insisted on joining the campaign, you promised me you’d take good care of yourself. Your body isn’t what it used to be, nor like ours. You can’t not eat.”

Xiao Jue looked pitifully at Qin Chang Ge’s peeling lips but also urged: “Master Chu, please eat. We’re ultimately better off…”

Knowing Chu Feihuan’s proud nature, there were some words he didn’t want to mention. Chu Feihuan stopped without turning back, only saying flatly: “I don’t need it.”

He spoke decisively. Xiao Jue could only smile bitterly. Qin Chang Ge looked at the pear in her hand, then handed it back to Xiao Jue: “Your voice is already hoarse—why give it to me? You talk more than me, have more duties than me, and still need to inspect the camp and boost the soldiers’ morale later. How can you do that with a hoarse throat?”

Xiao Jue immediately stepped back, trying hard to clear his throat, laughing: “Who says my voice is hoarse? I’m clearly full of vigor.”

Though he tried to make his voice clearer, there was still a raspy quality—his throat was probably already inflamed.

Qin Chang Ge remained silent, looking at the round, plump pear in her hand that couldn’t be given away, showing a bitter smile as she murmured: “Is this a pear or a bomb?”

Taking a small knife, Qin Chang Ge simply cut the pear into three pieces and handed them to the two men. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jue refused again: “No good, won’t eat.”

“What are you doing?” Qin Chang Ge raised an eyebrow, somewhat angry. Xiao Jue’s expression was strange. After hesitating for a long while, he said slowly: “Dividing pears means separation—I think it’s unlucky… better forget it.”

Stunned, Qin Chang Ge looked at Chu Feihuan. His long eyelashes lowered, avoiding eye contact with her, but clearly also unwilling.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Chang Ge murmured: “If Rong’er were here, it would naturally be his, and we wouldn’t need to push it back and forth…”

Baozi had returned to the capital when Xiao Jue made his vow. A nation cannot be without a ruler for a day, and the crown prince was also a ruler. Even a five-year-old crown prince supervising the nation was tantamount to giving Xiliang’s people peace of mind.

Xiao Jue had naturally arranged for civil and military important ministers to carefully handle state affairs. Crown Prince Xiao need only sit in the imperial study daily.

Now without the “eating god” Baozi, on this foreign battlefield far from home, an ordinary pear actually stumped Qin Chang Ge, who had always handled weighty matters with ease.

Finally, Qin Chang Ge smiled helplessly, simply finding a bowl and small wooden pestle to carefully mash that precious pear into juice, carefully dividing it into three portions: “There, now it’s not a pear—now it’s fruit juice. If you don’t drink it, I’m going to get angry.”

Xiao Jue took his portion, carefully comparing it with Qin Chang Ge’s portion. Qin Chang Ge couldn’t help but laugh: “What are you looking at? I didn’t give you less.”

“I wish you had given me less.” Xiao Jue slowly smiled. Qin Chang Ge was stunned, understanding his meaning, her heart involuntarily warming. Turning to see Chu Feihuan trying to put that pitiful bit of pear juice in a corner of the tent, she immediately shouted: “Whoever doesn’t drink, I’ll immediately pour out this pear juice and we can all die of thirst together!”

Xiao Jue immediately drank the pear juice like wine in one gulp, licking his lips and smiling: “Drink, why not drink? Don’t look at me—I won’t give you mine.”

Chu Feihuan’s hand paused, slowly withdrawing as he lowered his head and drank the pear juice sip by sip.

Qin Chang Ge stared absently at the small amount of clear liquid swirling at the bottom of her bowl—really very little, just one mouthful. Those two men, one an emperor, one of princely birth, had enjoyed all earthly honor and wealth, seen countless precious things, yet at this moment they pushed this ordinary fruit juice back and forth as if it were some life-and-death treasure that could resurrect the dead. For a moment it was amusing, but within the amusement grew slight bitterness—adversity reveals true feelings, just the most common saying, but without personally experiencing hardship, one cannot truly feel that moment’s heartwarming silent warmth.

After finishing the pear juice, Xiao Jue set down his bowl. Qin Chang Ge clapped her hands. Chu Feihuan looked up. Xiao Jue and Qin Chang Ge said simultaneously: “Tonight we must take Du city!”

Though Chu Feihuan didn’t speak, his expression conveyed the same meaning.

“We can’t continue thirsting like this. You know one can survive seven days without food but only three days without water. Li Denglong turtles up and won’t come out, steadfastly avoiding battle. Du city has sufficient troops and can’t be taken quickly. He desperately fills gaps with human lives just to delay time, waiting for half of Xiliang’s forces to die of thirst.” Xiao Jue gazed at Du city’s gray-blue walls, thickened by civilian workers, his expression grave.

Chu Feihuan also looked up at Du city. When their eyes met as he turned back, he frowned. Before he could speak, Qin Chang Ge said: “I have a plan.”

She clapped her hands: “As Northern Wei’s major city, the Phoenix Alliance has operatives lurking inside, though they haven’t infiltrated the real power structure. I’ll contact them to create some chaos from within—with internal and external coordination, we can break through in one day.”

“No.” Both Xiao Jue and Chu Feihuan opposed simultaneously. Qin Chang Ge laughed: “Don’t be so decisive. Feihuan, you were studying the terrain map just now—where did your gaze fall? Xiao Jue, you summoned Shen Shao earlier and assigned him some task—wasn’t it to dig tunnels?”

“Even so, I’ll go, not you,” Xiao Jue didn’t deny it. “Master Chu probably noticed too—there’s a small grove at Du city’s southeast wall corner. Because of the terrain it looks far from the city, but the straight-line distance isn’t long. I’ve already arranged for Shen Shao to send troops to dig tunnels. With eight hundred thousand people, how hard is it to dig a tunnel several li long? But the person going is in extreme danger. Chang Ge, with us men here, we won’t let you take risks. Absolutely not.”

“Mm, then you go.” Qin Chang Ge’s answer made Xiao Jue’s eyes widen in complete amazement that this woman was being so reasonable this time. But he heard her say leisurely: “It’s just, Your Majesty, Feihuan—don’t you both feel a little sleepy?”

“Ah… you put something in the pear juice… you woman…” This was Xiao Jue’s last sentence before being drugged unconscious.

Chu Feihuan supported his head with his hand, his gaze meeting Qin Chang Ge’s, then lightly sighing—a sigh full of helpless resignation.

Qin Chang Ge watched both close their eyes, standing in the tent’s center with a leisurely smile, saying lightly: “Didn’t expect that, did you? Didn’t expect me to be so heartless? Even in such a warm, touching moment I could calculate against you. But I’m not sorry. A’Jue, Feihuan—who told us to understand each other so well…”

She gently arranged both of them, even thoughtfully covering each with blankets. Patting Xiao Jue’s face, she said: “Good A’Jue, you’ve been tired enough lately. Sleep well and wait for me to return.”

Tucking in Chu Feihuan’s blanket, Qin Chang Ge was silent for a long while, saying softly: “Feihuan, I know what you’re thinking… in any case, trust me—everything will be fine.”

In tight-fitting clothes, securing various weapons and tools she might need, Qin Chang Ge walked briskly out of the imperial tent, giving coded signals all the way as she unhurriedly left the camp toward the small grove.

Not far along, under a poplar tree, a gracefully figured man suddenly appeared, leaning against the tree with a grass root in his mouth. His flowing eyes seemed to smile but not smile as he glanced sideways at Qin Chang Ge with watery eyes, greeting: “Morning, General Zhao.”

“It’s not morning,” Qin Chang Ge smiled sincerely, honestly answering: “It’s nearly evening. Is Your Highness here to admire the magnificent sunset over Du city’s countryside?”

“I came to admire a little thief preparing to do bad things,” Yu Zixi smiled happily, “to see if his crawling posture is graceful.”

“Speaking of graceful crawling postures,” Qin Chang Ge said solemnly, “surely no one can match Prince Jing’an. Just thinking of Your Highness crawling in front of me, swaying gracefully with subtle fragrance drifting, with seductive charm surpassing the capital’s first courtesan house Zuichun Pavilion’s top male prostitute’s soft singing, with peerless elegance worthy of the Chrysanthemum Sect leader’s position, giving me such a feast for the eyes—my blood boils with excitement beyond control…”

Yu Zixi blinked and suddenly burst into laughter: “Good, good, you indeed guessed I’d come with you. Talking with smart people is interesting. But what’s the Chrysanthemum Sect?”

“That’s a complex question involving plagiarism, transvestite romance, tragic self-love, beautiful boys, delicate little chrysanthemums, and other fashionable passionate elements. If I were to explain it all to you, tomorrow morning’s sun would probably rise.” Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Let’s crawl through holes first.”

“Oh,” Yu Zixi turned to look at the concealed tunnel entrance, thinking before saying: “You first.”

Qin Chang Ge secretly smiled as she squeezed into the tunnel. Behind her, the beauty followed. The tunnel was actually dug quite wide, allowing them to proceed bent over. Qin Chang Ge heard Yu Zixi say leisurely behind her: “Moyan, you walk very quickly.”

“I’m a thief—crawling around becomes a habit.”

“Moyan, where are you from? Why can’t I understand anything you say?”

“Your Highness is too innocent. Innocent people need protection—better not to understand.”

“Moyan, Moyan—’speak not of events’—your name has deep mystery.”

“Your Highness, Zixi, Zixi—’self-teasing’—your name has even deeper mystery.”

“…Moyan… why is Chu Feihuan in the camp? I remember he’s someone the empress trusted. Do you know him?”

Qin Chang Ge half-turned her head back. In the darkness, someone’s fox-like eyes glowed brilliantly, bright as clear jade.

Smiling silently, Qin Chang Ge’s voice was calm: “Naturally I know Brother Chu. I once met the empress and received her guidance and teaching. She specifically mentioned that if I encountered Brother Chu, I might befriend him. Brother Chu and I hit it off immediately. Though unfortunately physically disabled, his integrity hasn’t fallen. I greatly admire him.”

“Rare to hear you speak seriously,” Yu Zixi laughed. “I also know him. After the empress’s incident, he disappeared for three years. When he reappeared, even I didn’t recognize him at first. Ah… I remember when I saw him again after three years—he had stolen something from me and my people beat him up.”

He tilted his head, smiling at Qin Chang Ge. Qin Chang Ge wouldn’t fall for his trap, saying in amazement: “Really? That can’t be right? I heard Brother Chu was falsely accused and suffered for a while, but with his character, how could he commit theft? Your Highness must remember wrong.”

Smiling silently, Yu Zixi suddenly said: “Mm… perhaps I remembered wrong. In this world, true and false, right and wrong—how can one sort it all out?”

“Your Highness is a perceptive person who can always sort things out—it just depends on whether you want to,” Qin Chang Ge pointed to a faint light above, smiling: “We’re here.”

Her hand pressed against the floating board covering the tunnel, smiling at Yu Zixi: “Your Highness, guess where our exit is?”

Yu Zixi immediately answered: “Somewhere crowded and noisy.”

“Why?”

“The tunnel is closest to the city’s west side, which is where all sorts of people live together—no quiet places there.”

“Hiding in the marketplace,” Qin Chang Ge smiled, gesturing invitingly: “Prince Jing’an, please allow this humble official to personally escort you to inspect a foreign brothel.”

She smiled politely but cunningly: “After you.”

Even in a world filled with suffering, war, killing, and danger, there would still be places of nightly music and golden extravagance, gentle lands of wine and pleasure.

Especially during wartime—the more tense the atmosphere, the more terrible the environment, the more people pressed beyond endurance by deadly pressure would run to girls’ snow-white arms and cherry lips, seeking the best channels for relief.

“Guests Welcome” sounded like a tavern’s name. The house madams were all handsome, and when necessary could personally take the field as male prostitutes.

At midnight, colorful wind lanterns hung under the brothel’s wooden corridors everywhere. The gorgeous red light projected several zhang in all directions, illuminating the large trees in the courtyard that required two people to embrace.

With a crash, a row of paper sliding doors opened. The clamorous voices immediately rushed out like waves. A customer, drunk on wine, laughed loudly as he stumbled out the door.

Behind him someone joked: “Old An, I heard there are beautiful female ghosts in this courtyard. When you relieve yourself, remember to bring one back for us brothers to taste something fresh!”

“Sure thing, sure thing!” Old An replied with drool flowing from his mouth as he turned back waving: “I’ll definitely bring one, definitely bring one!”

Amid roaring laughter, he swayed unsteadily to the tree and began unbuttoning his pants.

The tree suddenly moved.

Then a large piece of bark fell down.

Then a head of beautiful features emerged.

A female ghost…

There really was a female ghost…

Really a beautiful female ghost…

Old An’s eyes widened. The urge to urinate that was about to come out suddenly got held back with a whoosh.

The excessive drinking had caused uncontrollable drooling from his mouth corners. Under shock it flowed even more, dripping to the ground with a “pat.”

That “female ghost” slowly looked up with flowing spring colors and brilliant, rippling eyes, first glancing at the drop of saliva on the ground.

Then slowly looking up, glancing at Old An’s hand gripping his pants.

Finally glancing at the object directly facing her face, frowning with a disgusted expression.

…

Midnight, deep courtyard, distant human voices, a beauty’s head emerging from a tree hole.

Old An gripped his pants, frozen in the cold night wind, feeling his “important parts” ice cold, involuntarily beginning to shiver all over, but his legs were soft as noodles and he couldn’t move his feet at all.

Opening his mouth, Old An wanted to shout but couldn’t make any sound. His whole person seemed deeply trapped in nightmare—able to see figures and hear sounds, feeling crisis approaching, but unable to struggle or move.

He watched helplessly as that female ghost lazily crawled out.

Saw the female ghost casually approach him.

Saw the female ghost, with a seemingly mocking smile, use a handkerchief to protect her hand as she pinched his “important parts.”

Saw the female ghost flick gracefully with fingers like orchid petals.

With a face full of disdain she said: “Too small!!!”