Shi Ting put her down and gave her face a gentle poke. “I’ll go heat some water for Madam’s bath.”

Yan Qing did indeed want to have a proper bath. These past few days, she had felt grubby and travel-worn.

Shi Ting heated the water and filled the bathtub, then scattered the flower petals Yan Qing had gathered across the surface of the water. He tested it with his hand, and when the temperature felt right, he beckoned to her. “Come here.”

Yan Qing asked, “Aren’t you bathing?”

“Together?” A certain someone’s eyes lit up.

Yan Qing pushed him to the headboard. “I want to bathe — close your eyes.”

Shi Ting let her push him back, then sat down on the edge of the bed with a thump. He caught her wrist, narrowing his long, slender eyes. “Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Yan Qing grabbed a pillow and threw it squarely at his handsome face, answering him with a resolute turn of her back.

The bathtub was scattered with flower petals, and a faint floral fragrance drifted through the air. Yan Qing tested the temperature — just right.

She pulled the curtain across and sank into the water. Warmth closed in from all sides, and the fragrance of flowers surrounded her. All the weariness of these recent days of rushing about seemed to dissolve in that moment.

By the time Yan Qing finished bathing and changed into clean clothes, she was just about to call Shi Ting over for his turn when she saw him lying fully clothed on the bed. His long legs dangled over the edge of the bed, and he had fallen asleep.

He had been traveling between Shuanghe Town and Mount Dagu for days, and had gone without sleep the night before — exhausted in both mind and body, his strength spent. Yan Qing removed his shoes, arranged his legs properly on the bed, and seeing sweat on his face, picked up a round fan from the side and gently fanned him.

Gazing at the side of his face as he slept, Yan Qing’s lips curved in a quiet, lingering smile.

The perils of this trip went without saying. To think that he had come alone, intending to accomplish a task that seemed, in others’ eyes, well-nigh impossible — it was the stuff of fantasy.

Yet he had done it. He had not only succeeded in winning over that band of hardened outlaws, but had also brought Liu Qingnian willingly under his command. Liu Qingnian would surely become his right-hand man in days to come.

In the eyes of others, he might have only the Military Police Department, but that one department had earned him a great deal of renown. Everyone who spoke of him could not help but admire him.

He had gained admiration and captured the hearts of the people. The Military Police Department had built a solid foundation for his next step upward.

This man — whatever he did, nothing was without purpose. Like playing chess, every move was long premeditated, every piece placed with deep deliberation.

She knew his ambition, and she wanted to help him realize it, no matter the cost.

~

After the Liu father and son returned, sleep was far from them both.

Liu Qingnian was in good spirits, and ordered food and drink to be brought in.

The father and son each poured a cup of wine and leisurely drank over a couple of small side dishes.

“Junyuan, you haven’t misjudged this one.” Liu Qingnian patted his son on the shoulder. “I used to ask you whether the eldest or the second young master was better — thinking back on it now, my own judgment wasn’t as keen as yours.”

Liu Junyuan was a little embarrassed by the praise. “Father, I think we won’t go wrong following the Seventh Young Master.”

Liu Qingnian nodded, though his expression turned somewhat solemn. “Meng Xiangyang has touched the Marshal’s sore spot this time. The Marshal is going to come down on him.”

“Deputy Minister Meng is too arrogant — he doesn’t regard the Marshal at all. People who don’t know better might think he is the lord of Bei Di.”

“Just wait. The Marshal will have his next move soon. The Meng family’s days of glory won’t last much longer.”

Liu Qingnian had pledged allegiance to Shi Ting partly because he was genuinely in awe of his abilities, and partly because he had already seen where the Meng family was headed. If he continued following Meng Xiangyang, sooner or later he would be brought down with him.

“Junyuan, which of the Marshal’s three sons do you think will end up in the position of Young Marshal?”

“Hard to say.” Liu Junyuan shook his head. “In my view, any of them could. It all depends on what the Marshal intends.”

“If the Marshal had intended to pass the position to the eldest or second young master, he would have done so long ago. Why wait until now? On top of that, Meng Xiangyang is the backer of those two young masters — if the Marshal moves against Meng Xiangyang, isn’t he pulling the rug out from under the eldest and second young masters? Looking at it this way, the Marshal probably hasn’t given the matter much thought yet — at least in his heart, the question of who will be Young Marshal has not yet been decided.”

“Since it hasn’t been decided, Director Shi has a chance.”

Liu Qingnian nodded. “Director Shi’s current power is indeed a little lacking compared to those two, but only a little. Once Meng Xiangyang falls, who can say for certain which way the position of Young Marshal will go.”

“Father, we’ve already set our sights on Director Shi. We have to think of every way possible to push him into that position — rise together or fall together.” Liu Junyuan said. “Director Shi has a deep sense of righteousness. Even at a time like this, he still has us keep close to Meng Xiangyang — he’s afraid that if he stumbles, it will drag us down with him. For that loyalty alone, I’ll stay faithful to him.”

“You’re right.” Liu Qingnian looked at his son with satisfaction. “Do well up on Mount Dagu. Train up an elite force. After a few more years of tempering, this position of mine will be yours sooner or later.”

“Father, set your mind at ease. I’ll perform well and won’t let you or Director Shi down.”

The father and son drank for a while longer, feeling unusually satisfied. Liu Qingnian had not been in such high spirits for a long time — for a moment he felt as though he had grown several years younger. This feeling — having a goal to strive for — was quite wonderful. He’d last felt this way when he had just secured a modest post in the military, back when he first had something to work toward.

In the days that followed, both sides went through several more bouts of fighting, large and small. Liu Qingnian was routed and utterly crushed. The forces he had brought were whittled down until only two platoons remained.

It was not until the Marshal ordered Liu Qingnian to withdraw from Mount Dagu that this battle finally came to a close.

The outside world only knew of Liu Qingnian’s defeat; no one knew that Liu Junyuan had already led his elite troops up onto Mount Dagu. On one hand, he and Qiao Yishan were drilling their men in earnest; on the other, preparations had already begun to intercept the Dian Kingdom’s merchant convoys.

Liu Qingnian announced to the outside world that his son had died in battle, and from then on he shut his doors to visitors — reportedly bedridden with illness.

Not long after Shi Ting and Yan Qing reached their agreement with Liu Qingnian and Qiao Yishan, they set off to return to Shun Cheng.

From Shuanghe Town to Qianguan City there was a stretch of waterway, a tributary of the Red River. The current here ran swift, and apart from passing passenger boats, there were almost no fishing vessels.

These passenger boats were quite worn — at the bow was a small pilothouse, and along the hull were fixed about twenty or so seats. Above them was a rough awning that barely shielded against the blazing sun overhead.

The boat did not move fast. Winds came from all directions, carrying with them the moisture of the river, which made for a refreshing coolness despite the heat.

Yan Qing and Shi Ting boarded the boat at the dock and took seats toward the back.

“Once the boat reaches the shore, we’ll be at Qianguan City.” Shi Ting looked out over the broad river surface, one hand holding Yan Qing’s. “We’ll be home soon.”

Yan Qing smiled at him. “You’ve been longing for home — but by the time we reach Qianguan City, it will already be evening. There won’t be a train until tomorrow. We’ll have to wait another day.”

“I don’t miss home.” Shi Ting let out a long sigh. “I just can’t bear to see you wearing yourself out running around with me. Besides, wherever you are is home — it’s the same anywhere.”

“Director Shi is coaxing me again.” Though she said this lightly, warmth rose in her heart. “I don’t feel tired at all.”

She placed one hand over the back of his. “As you said — wherever you are, I am content, no matter where that may be.”

Before Shi Ting could reply, Yan Qing smiled with eyes crinkling at the corners. “Director Shi’s way with sweet words — I’ve been studying it very diligently.”

Shi Ting also laughed. “Good. Keep at it. It never does any harm.”

The two watched the ripples rolling across the river surface together as the passenger boat pulled away from the dock with the rumble and clank of machinery.

In the diagonal row behind Shi Ting sat a lone figure. This man had not made a sound since boarding the boat, and the hat he wore was pulled very low over his face.

“Shi Ting, look — there’s a bird over there. What kind of bird is it?” Yan Qing looked curiously out at the water.

“Looks like a shore bird.” Shi Ting was not entirely certain. “But shore birds have red heads — this one’s head is green.”

“Does that mean we’ve discovered a new species? After all, even Director Shi doesn’t recognize it.”

Shi Ting smiled. “I don’t know everything.”

“In my eyes, you do.” Yan Qing was completely unabashed — that was simply what she thought. Her beloved was capable of anything and knew everything.

She was his devoted little admirer.

“It flew away.” Yan Qing pointed at the sky. “Our new species flew away.”

Shi Ting ruffled her hair helplessly. Sometimes his little wife was like a mischievous child.

“I just wasn’t sure.” Director Shi decided he could not let his wife’s expectations down. “This type of bird should be called a bald bird. They hover above the water surface and feed exclusively on carrion floating up from below — anything edible that floats up, they flock and crowd around to peck at. If the thing is not yet dead, they wait patiently.”

“That still doesn’t count as not knowing.”

“I just wasn’t certain.”

Yan Qing flashed him a bright smile. “Husband is truly learned and well-read.”

“Madam flatters me.”

As Shi Ting said this, something suddenly bumped against his leg.

He looked down and saw a dirty rubber ball rolling against his foot.

A small boy was standing not far away watching him — seemingly a little frightened, not daring to come retrieve the ball.

Shi Ting, despite his striking appearance, had a habit of keeping his expression cool and unreadable. Not only did adults hesitate to approach him, even children tended to feel a measure of wariness around him.

Seeing the child staring at him pitifully, clearly wanting to come over but not daring to, Shi Ting bent down to pick up the ball.

But his movement of picking up the ball paused for a fraction of a second — he had apparently seen something — and a flash of deep, dark intent gleamed in his eyes before it was gone.

He picked up the ball and tossed it to the little boy, who received it and returned obediently to his seat.

“Qing Qing.” Yan Qing, who had been watching the bird, suddenly heard Shi Ting’s voice close by her ear. His tone was pitched very low, very quiet.

The understanding between the two of them had long since been deeply rooted. Though he had only said two words, her spine immediately straightened, her instincts telling her: there was danger.