“Tell me, why is it that in the same season, when you change countries, things become so different?” Qin Chang Ge, dressed as a traveling merchant, loosened a tightly fastened collar button for the second time today, fanning herself with her hand. Through the dense foliage that remained deep green despite the winter season, she sighed mournfully at those rays of sunlight that, though only filtering through in fragments, still seemed scorching.

Xiao Jue, dressed plainly and also in merchant attire, poked his head out from the carriage. He first carefully stared at that unfastened button, incidentally recalling last year at Fengyi Palace’s broken bridge in the snow – the maiden’s crystalline jade body lying horizontally, that spot of bright red like plum blossoms in snow on her chest… His throat couldn’t help but tighten slightly. His gaze extended downward as he thought: This sun might as well be even stronger… But he said seriously: “Northern Wei is located in the far north, while Nanmin lies southward, so naturally it gets hotter and hotter.”

Qin Chang Ge glanced at him, using her gaze to force him to turn away red-faced before smiling nonchalantly: “Northern Wei already had snow flurries in November, yet Nanmin still requires lined clothing. What a pity about those newly acquired fur coats and mink scarves – imported from Dongyan, sleek and lustrous with especially luxurious pelts. I had wanted to wear fur to feel like a noble lady, but that’s ruined now.” She turned to call into the carriage behind: “Feihuan, if you’re hot, don’t undress. I’ll prop up the curtain for you.”

Chu Feihuan’s faint “mm” came from inside the carriage with no further movement. Xiao Jue jealously glanced over but personally went to prop up the curtain, smiling at Qin Chang Ge: “What noble lady? Grand Preceptor Qin, you’re already one of the highest-ranking figures in the realm. What noble lady could match even one of your fingers?”

“There is one,” Qin Chang Ge raised her riding whip, smiling sweetly. “Wanyan Chunzhen, Pure Consort – she can still match my finger.”

“What is she?” Xiao Jue immediately shook his head. “Base character, treating human lives like grass. How could the common people choose someone who so disregards their lives?”

“When heroes rise together, the highest branches draw the white deer,” Qin Chang Ge smiled, looking up at the floating clouds rolling across the sky. “Speaking of noble ladies, I’m reminded of women in various nations’ political arenas… Feihuan, what about Princess Jianxi Chu Fengyao, your precious sister?”

“She’s not my precious sister.” After a pause, Chu Feihuan answered calmly from inside the carriage: “Fengyao has a strong, harsh personality with lofty vision. If she truly intended to compete for the realm, she might not be inferior to you as an opponent. But I feel she may not be willing to participate in the wars between nations.”

“Oh?”

“Let me tell you something,” Chu Feihuan’s voice was serene. “When Father reached his fiftieth birthday, all sons presented gifts. Fengyao was youngest then, only eight years old, ranked last. Second Brother presented first – a jade carving of the realm’s territorial map. That map used crystal for seas, yellow jade for land, tourmaline for mountains, extremely exquisite, with Li Nation’s territory particularly beautiful and grand. Father was extremely pleased, praising that among all sons, only Second Brother possessed dragon-like appearance and phoenix bearing, deeply resembling the imperial person. Ministers also repeatedly flattered, saying Li Nation’s territory was vast with powerful naval forces and especially robust men – when commanding armies across the realm in the future, mere mountains and seas wouldn’t withstand our brave men’s single step. But I could see then that Second Brother had deliberately made the Li Sea and Li Mountains separating Li Nation from other countries much smaller. It appeared that we Li Nation weren’t remotely isolated in a corner of the sea territory, nor blocked by mountains too high for birds to cross, but rather as if warships could set sail and command troops westward to participate in the competition as soon as they launched.”

His tone was light but couldn’t hide the sarcasm. Xiliang’s emperor and grand preceptor listened with great interest to the royal secrets of this maritime nation. Qin Chang Ge laughed and asked: “What did Fengyao do?”

“When her turn came to present gifts, she stepped forward and pulled an embroidered handkerchief from her bosom. The handkerchief was embroidered with golden dragons dancing. She stood in the hall and proudly said to Father: ‘Your Majesty, this embroidered handkerchief took Fengyao an entire month to complete, learning embroidery from the finest seamstresses from Central River. I pricked my fingers many times before finishing it.'”

“Father was very pleased then – he’d always doted on this youngest daughter and reached out to receive it. But Fengyao suddenly turned and covered the embroidered handkerchief over Second Brother’s eyes, who was still standing aside smugly.”

Both listeners were stunned, exchanging glances. Qin Chang Ge thought for a moment, her eyes showing admiration.

“Everyone in the hall was frozen. Father angrily asked: ‘Yue’er, what are you doing?’ Fengyao calmly replied: ‘Daughter feels this gift is now more suitable for Second Brother.'”

Xiao Jue made a sound of surprise.

Chu Feihuan sneered, his tone leisurely: “As the entire hall sat in astonishment, Fengyao smiled and said: ‘Daughter feels that Second Brother has been blinded by this thing called the imperial throne, closing his eyes and ears, thinking himself wise, unable and unwilling to see Li Nation’s true situation. Everyone in the nation knows the Li Sea is vast and boundless for thousands of qing, the Li Mountains towering ten thousand ren high. When it comes to him, the Li Sea becomes a pond and the Li Mountains become dirt mounds. He only sees the throne but not reality. What use are his eyes? Better that little sister give him this flying golden dragon eye-covering cloth directly!'”

“Excellent!” Xiao Jue laughed heartily. “I’ve long heard Princess Fengyao is a heroine among women, both wise and brave. Hearing this now, it’s truly not false praise!”

“After Fengyao finished speaking, ignoring the hall’s deathly silence, she smiled again: ‘Though Second Brother has taken Father’s birthday gift, not presenting a gift would be daughter’s irreverence. Daughter will now offer what daughter considers the best, most suitable, most precious gift!'”

“She suddenly drew the short sword from her waist and shattered the jade territorial map with one strike!”

Xiao Jue exclaimed in surprise. Qin Chang Ge briefly offered praise:

“Truly an extraordinary daughter!”

“…Everyone in the hall was stunned. Fengyao’s mother, Consort Hua, nearly fainted from shock and was about to plead for forgiveness when they heard the eight-year-old girl declare loudly: ‘Father, today daughter has shattered this maliciously intended, completely false map for you, to prevent our Li Nation from becoming arrogantly complacent, self-aggrandizing and self-intoxicated. Staring at this false map, we would forget the treacherous difficulties of crossing the Li Sea and Li Mountains, allowing expansion ambitions to swell meaninglessly, ultimately leading our small nation isolated in maritime territory with merely 600,000 troops to abandon our strengths for weaknesses, rashly taking up arms, foolishly attempting to use naval forces to cross overland mountains for land warfare, finally bringing the disaster of national destruction!'”

“‘This is daughter’s gift to You!'”

“…She stepped forward over the scattered jade fragments, staring at Father and asking: ‘This gift – saving our 600,000 troops, saving our 30 million people, saving our Li Nation’s 20,000 li of territory – Father, is it good? Is it precious? Do you like it?'”

“‘Father, is it good? Is it precious? Do you like it?'”

Under the vast sky, in the blazing sun, in Nanmin’s humid and sticky wind, those strongest figures who had never known fear, while discussing the world’s extraordinary women, hazily heard from many years ago, in that nation of ten thousand qing of azure seas, atop the great hall with golden tiles and pearl walls, an eight-year-old girl standing with her small, straight body, gaze like swords and voice clear as bells. Those few words continued echoing through the lofty golden hall like wind and thunder, and one fearlessly stern question silenced those many older brothers, silenced the hall full of civil and military officials, silenced Li Nation’s old king who ruled over an entire country.

The maiden’s heroic bearing commanded respect throughout the realm, her heroic spirit and bold excellence inspiring admiration.

“What a pity we’re separated by high mountains and great seas – otherwise, fighting freely on the battlefield with such a woman might not be anything but life’s greatest pleasure!” Xiao Jue couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning warfare, his gaze blazing bright as stars.

“You probably won’t have the chance. Perhaps you can hope for your son,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Rong’er is very interested in Li Nation.”

Xiao Jue’s face darkened. He naturally knew why Xiao Rong was interested in Li Nation, which truly depressed him somewhat. It was so unfair – just because he had appeared slightly later in Xiao Rong’s life, that greatest position of “father” had been claimed by someone else. In Xiao Rong’s heart, his godfather was probably more important than his real father, wasn’t he?

Being a godfather was naturally easy – godfathers only needed to spoil him. Real fathers had to force him to study history, martial arts, and governance. Real fathers had to blow their beards and spank him when he did wrong. Being a real father was a thankless job that had thoroughly offended the Crown Prince.

Moreover, this time leaving the Crown Prince in the imperial study to serve as regent while he followed Chang Ge to Nanmin – if Rong’er wasn’t cursing heaven and earth, smashing things and trampling memorials in the imperial study, his surname wasn’t Xiao!

Let him trample – he’d known this would happen and should have reminded them to use sturdier cowhide paper for memorials when submitting them, not afraid of trampling.

Since the Northern Wei campaign concluded, the secret escape trio had left the army at Chang City. Chang City bordered Nanmin, and Qin Chang Ge had long planned to take this route through Nanmin to seek “Fragrant Sandalwood” for Chu Feihuan. Reportedly, Nanmin’s High Priest treasured one plant. Last time, due to the Youzhou rebellion incident, she’d been too preoccupied to pursue it. Unfortunately, Yinli had broken through the siege and escaped. This time Qin Chang Ge had to come personally.

Actually, the secret escape trio hadn’t left the military camp simultaneously. Feihuan had run away first. When passing through Chang City, he said he was going out for fresh air, and while getting air, he disappeared. Unfortunately, what kind of person was Qin Chang Ge? She’d long known Feihuan’s unwillingness to burden her. Never mind Chu Feihuan going for air – even if he said he was going to relieve himself, she’d shamelessly follow absolutely. As for Xiao Jue, he kept Qin Chang Ge constantly in his thoughts and written in his eyes. He discovered Qin Chang Ge’s disappearance within just a quarter hour. He had more conscience than Grand Preceptor Qin – Grand Preceptor Qin had run off without even a greeting, while he remembered to leave one. However, he’d only scrawled “I’m leaving too” on military reports in the command tent before also abandoning 600,000 troops and a pile of post-war affairs to slip away.

After he left, the seductive man in red robes listened to soldiers’ panicked reports about both the emperor and deputy commander disappearing. Looking at those barely recognizable three characters, he seductively picked his fingernails, crumpled the paper into a ball, and gently stuffed it into the reporting soldier’s mouth, smiling charmingly: “Remember, absolutely remember – no one is missing. Everyone is at the main camp returning triumphantly to court. If you remember wrong, next time what I stuff in your mouth won’t be a paper ball, but hot coals and arsenic.”

Thus the matter of Xiliang’s emperor and grand preceptor disappearing was forcibly suppressed. After conquering one-third of Northern Wei’s territory, the trio casually waved their sleeves and went touring in Nanmin.

Seeing Xiao Jue catch up, Qin Chang Ge was quite helpless for a while, asking him: “What are you here for?”

“I’ve come for revenge,” Xiao Jue answered without blushing or panting. “Have you forgotten last year’s Shi Family Village incident? I’ve never suffered such a great loss in my life – I must get it back.”

“You could deploy 800,000 troops to flatten Nanmin,” Qin Chang Ge spread her hands. “Haven’t you heard that sons of wealthy families shouldn’t sit beneath collapsing halls?”

Xiao Jue shook his head, his tone resolute: “A great man’s revenge must be taken personally!”

Qin Chang Ge was too lazy to deal with Emperor Xiao’s excuse. Revenge? What revenge? The real reason was that going to Yinli’s Xuanjing Palace would first pass through Nanmin’s Qilan Valley. Xiao Jue was presumably worried about her safety.

This area had already entered Nanmin’s heartland. Thirty li ahead lay Qilan Valley’s sphere of influence.

Previously, during that rainy night at Shi Family Village, Chu Feihuan’s prophecy to the middle-aged man had made him rush back to the palace urgently. During this time, however, there had been no news of unusual movements from the “Shangshan Family,” apart from Yinli’s somewhat strange appearance at Xiliang’s borders recently. Nanmin’s political situation seemed calm and peaceful.

Qin Chang Ge didn’t believe Chu Feihuan’s words that day were nonsense to save her, because after that day, Chu Feihuan had fallen seriously ill again. Moreover, if it hadn’t been well-founded, how could that middle-aged man have been driven away by mere words?

The gentle as pear blossoms Third Young Master Shui, elegant as orchids Third Young Master Shui, the most good-natured Third Young Master Shui in the realm, the glory of the Shangshan clan, the flawless white jade and brilliant pearl universally admired and revered throughout the world – Third Young Master Shui.

Which one was the real Third Young Master Shui?

What role had he played in this entire incident, even in that fog-like murder case three years ago?

An extraordinary figure from a foreign great clan, someone who had only met Qin Chang Ge once in her previous life without any grudges, someone whose saintly reputation spread throughout the realm and who treasured his reputation like protecting his own feathers.

Why would he choose, three years later, to step into this muddy water, using lethal methods to stir the already tangled situation into even greater chaos?

Perhaps this was destined to be a mystery that would entangle them for a long time. Perhaps this Nanmin journey would soon reveal the answer.

Qin Chang Ge squinted at the mist slowly rising between Nanmin’s mountains and fields in the evening. Those already oily green leaves became even deeper emerald, their tips carrying hints of mysteriously dark red, like pairs of eerie eyes continuously watching passing travelers in the gradually chaotic night.

“Fortunately, this season probably has no miasma,” Qin Chang Ge examined it and confirmed the mist was only mountain vapor. “But reportedly, further south where Xuanjing Palace is located, there’s miasma year-round, especially severe in winter and spring. There are no lush green trees there, only large areas of chaotic rocks piled into ridges. After long exposure to rain and scorching sun, the humid heat steams heavily. Combined with countless venomous snakes and poisonous creatures’ saliva and excrement scattered throughout, it breeds toxic gases. Even the stream water is said to have wrong colors – either thick green or deep red, reeking and foul. The Caigu Sect’s demonic arts are refined there.”

“We must see it anyway,” Xiao Jue said indifferently. “Yinli’s martial arts – I think I can still handle them…”

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Simultaneously, Qin Chang Ge raised her palm in a silencing gesture, and the surrounding environment immediately quieted.

Once quiet, they felt the flowing air around them was sticky, with the wind seeming to carry hissing sounds. A wheel of dim yellow setting sun hung on the wings of strangely shaped birds flapping about. Each time those wings beat, they produced faint and distant bell sounds.

The bell sounds were delicate but carried the lofty, ethereal rhythm of Buddhist chanting. They vibrated continuously with the birds’ high flight, ringing throughout the clouds and treetops everywhere. Those birds moved with graceful postures, dancing constantly in midair, dancing ever closer with increasingly clear sounds that seemed like pure, black-haired women bathed in Buddhist light, opening their lips to chant in unison.

“Bell birds.”

Qin Chang Ge and Xiao Jue exchanged glances. At the same moment, the carriage curtain lifted as Chu Feihuan’s pale face quietly emerged, glancing at the sky covered by black masses of birds before saying softly: “Inadvisable to proceed further. This is Nanmin great clans’ etiquette for preventing idle people from advancing when major changes occur.”

“When flocks dance, travelers must halt. Those who violate this face the gods’ curse.”

Xiao Jue sneered coldly: “What arrogance! What gods? What kind of gods are they?”

Chu Feihuan only quietly observed the birds’ numbers, frowning: “Releasing so many birds to block guests thirty li away – it must be a major matter. From this appearance, in the short term, you must either detour or they won’t permit advancing another step.”

“Aren’t they the Shangshan clan? So domineering?” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “More like highway robbers: ‘These birds I released, these trees I planted. To pass this way, leave road money.'”

Xiao Jue couldn’t help laughing heartily. Chu Feihuan looked at Qin Chang Ge helplessly: “You’re pretending to be stupid again. You know the Shui family’s position in people’s hearts throughout the realm. Anyone else would only feel awe and honor, never disobeying.”

“This is quite like Third Young Master’s style of conduct – using such elegant methods to refuse guests and provide warnings, not bloodily saying ‘violators will die’ but ‘the gods will curse.’ Mm, very good. If you die, it’s divine punishment, nothing to do with the Shui family. How noble,” Qin Chang Ge smiled cheerfully at those birds. “Shall we have roasted birds tonight?”

Xiao Jue immediately said: “I’ll roast them, not you. Ten years ago you roasted fish once – since then I don’t dare eat fish.”

Qin Chang Ge glared at him. Xiao Jue maintained his position unflinchingly. Chu Feihuan remained silent for a long while before saying softly: “Actually it’s not that urgent… we should detour, or wait…”

“Detour? That means detouring through Central River!” Qin Chang Ge immediately rejected this. “As for waiting, Feihuan, who knows what’s happened with the Shui family? What if we wait three months? We can’t wait like that.”

She looked at those birds, constantly circling ten zhang ahead, clearly meaning: stop here – proceeding further is dangerous.

Narrowing her eyes, Qin Chang Ge was truly preparing to take action when beside her, Xiao Jue suddenly swept his long robe, laughed loudly, and strode forward with great steps, walking directly to the ten-zhang mark within the birds’ circling range, then sat against a tree.

With a “whoosh,” the sky full of birds immediately dove down shrieking!

“A flock of ghost birds dares bully me!” In his great shout, Xiao Jue suddenly leaped up from his sitting position, his form shooting like a sword. In a flash he had darted into the black mass of birds. His extended hands created countless palm shadows, flying flowers chasing leaves, moving so fast their trajectory was impossible to capture. They could only see a sudden rain of five-colored feathers falling from the sky. Among the fluttering wing feathers, birds shrieked harshly, struggling to escape those terrifyingly swift hands, quickly rushing toward the sky. Not daring to approach again but also not daring to leave, they circled continuously with mournful cries.

Xiao Jue landed laughing heartily, each hand grasping several strange birds that had been completely plucked of feathers.

Qin Chang Ge shook her head, laughing: “Your action capability is truly extraordinary.”

Turning to see worry on Chu Feihuan’s face, she smiled: “Feihuan, don’t worry. With us three, where in the realm can’t we go?”

She pointed at those unfortunate birds, saying cheerfully: “We’ve had enough of dried rations – tonight we feast!”

While casually discussing food, she meticulously arranged her sleeves, hair, and entire person from head to toe.

Chu Feihuan said nothing more, returning to the carriage to fiddle with unknown things.

Over there, holding the bald birds ready for roasting, Xiao Jue enthusiastically kicked the tree beside him, immediately bringing down many broken branches. He lit a fire starter with a snap, instantly creating leaping flames. Skillfully threading birds on branches, seasoning with salt and constantly turning them over the fire, Xiao Jue looked up smiling: “How’s this? After all these years, I haven’t lost my battlefield cooking skills.”

He seemed to roast birds carelessly, but intentionally or not chose the best position for the fire. Trees surrounded him front and back, with fallen tree stumps ahead. The branches he’d piled for the fire were strangely arranged in a suspended pyramid shape – pulling out any single branch could transform it into a fire net!

These three people had all emerged from hundred battles in seas of blood, absolute pinnacle figures who could stand atop the world looking down on all living beings. They were never simple or dull – they would absolutely never commit the error of underestimating enemies.

Daring to look down on everything while acting, they would also respond cautiously and carefully. Despise tactically, value strategically – Chairman Mao’s maxim was skillfully employed by another founding emperor in another space-time.

Seemingly chatting and laughing while roasting birds for a feast, in reality they had long been poised and ready. Through the long night, this bird roast would test the patience and responses of both warners and challengers.

Firelight reflected on the three people’s faces as they smiled and waited, making them ruddy red. Even Chu Feihuan seemed to show slight color. However, none of the three showed restlessness or looked toward the distance – all watched the chef roast birds. Above the fire, birds threaded on branches sizzled as they cooked, gradually releasing oil with a clear fragrance of tree leaves and grass seeds dispersing in misty clouds. In that aroma, Qin Chang Ge leaned against a tree, exaggeratedly sniffing and laughing lightly: “Good! These birds don’t eat meat – their flesh must be especially fragrant!”

“But you all eat meat, even roasting sacred birds to eat. I fear it’s too fragrant – what if you forget how to return?”

Before the voice from midair finished, there was suddenly a chaotic clattering as countless small black objects crashed down from the sky, directly hitting the fire pile and immediately scattering and extinguishing Xiao Jue’s carefully arranged fire!

Then, those bell sounds, wing-beating sounds, shrieking sounds, distant wind sounds, rustling sounds of swaying leaves, chirping sounds of insects deep in grass and tree roots, and all sounds possessed by the natural environment suddenly disappeared mysteriously.

As if severed by a giant blade with one swift cut, all spirits fell silent.

Heaven and earth seemed to thunderously slam into a giant bronze bell that was completely airtight and soundless.

All around was immediately immersed in darkness so thick you couldn’t see your hand before your face!