Seeing that Wei Qishan also seemed to greatly appreciate Xiao Li, Yuan Fang felt happy for him in his heart and replied, “That’s correct.”

Even among the military generals, Xiao Li’s height was particularly outstanding. Today, for attending the banquet, he wasn’t wearing armor—just ordinary brocade robes, yet he wore them with a distinctive heroic and noble bearing. Combined with that stern face that never smiled carelessly, he was truly eye-catching.

He clasped his fists. “The Marquis praises me too highly. The Marquis has countless military achievements, and his mighty reputation still deters petty criminals beyond the passes. This humble one’s small skirmishes dare not show off before an expert.”

Wei Qishan pointed at Xiao Li and laughed to Yuan Fang. “Rare indeed—both martial prowess and this humble disposition. Given time, this young man will surely achieve great things.”

Any discerning person could see that Xiao Li had truly entered Wei Qishan’s favor.

After Wei Qishan told them to take their seats, attendants led everyone to their places. Xiao Li’s seat was also arranged at the second position on the left, just after Yuan Fang. Whether Wei generals or volunteer army leaders, everyone’s expressions showed slight changes for a moment.

After everyone was seated, the sound of strings and bamboo instruments played again in the hall. The maidservants standing behind, dressed elegantly and neatly, came forward holding wine vessels, curtseying slightly to pour wine for everyone with graceful bearing, as if they had walked out of a wall painting.

Those volunteer army leaders who came from poor mountains and vicious lands had naturally also watched many dancing girls perform when they gained power. But compared to these servants in the Wei marquis residence, pure and clean as porcelain, when they recalled those bare arms and slender waists swaying in the center of dance floors, they suddenly felt the latter vulgar and unbearable. Their respect for this Wei marquis residence also increased several degrees.

After the merit rewards were completed and they had drunk three rounds of wine, Wei Qishan suddenly said to Xiao Li, “This old man is over two cycles older than young friend Xiao. Relying on my age to take advantage of you, may I call you worthy nephew?”

Xiao Li said, “It would be this humble one’s fortune.”

Wei Qishan’s attitude became even more amiable. “I observe that worthy nephew is a decisive person, so I’ll speak directly. Worthy nephew is young and accomplished—have you married yet?”

The direction of this question was far too obvious. All the generals at the banquet unconsciously stopped their chopsticks. Song Qin and Zheng Hu exchanged a glance, both seeing subtle alarm in each other’s eyes.

Xiao Li still had half a piece of roasted lamb on the dagger in his hand. He rubbed the pattern on the dagger’s handle and replied, “Not yet.”

Wei Qishan was greatly pleased and said, “I have a daughter under my knee, just seventeen years old. In earlier years I couldn’t bear to marry her off, wanting to keep her by my side a few more years. Who would have thought I’d raise that girl into a willful temperament? Now I’m worried about finding her a suitable husband’s family. Today seeing worthy nephew’s distinguished appearance—though young in years, your temperament is extremely steady. This old man wishes to be this matchmaker. What does worthy nephew think?”

After their initial surprise, the Wei generals weren’t particularly shocked.

Xiao Li became famous in one battle at Youzhou, achieving first merit. The various volunteer armies that came to pledge allegiance now all followed him. By recruiting Xiao Li, they would be recruiting the tens of thousands of volunteer troops under his command.

If they only promised him fame and fortune, there was no guarantee this young man wouldn’t become overbearing with his troops in the future.

By becoming relatives through marriage, everything could be resolved smoothly.

The volunteer army leaders at the banquet obviously also understood this point. This proposal was something that would make everyone happy.

Just when everyone thought Xiao Li would directly accept, he instead set down his dagger. “I’m grateful for the Marquis’s favor, but Xiao has no plans to marry for now.”

The warm smile on Wei Qishan’s kindly face diminished somewhat, his gaze becoming scrutinizing. “Why?”

Xiao Li said, “My mother’s vengeance is unavenged—I dare not marry.”

Song Qin feared Wei Qishan would think his words were an excuse. He rose and clasped his fists to help explain. “The State Lord’s beloved mother was brutally killed by Pei Song’s hand several months ago. The State Lord brought us north to pledge allegiance to the Marquis precisely to personally cut down that traitor Pei and avenge this blood debt. Currently he has no heart for romantic matters. Please, Marquis, do not blame him.”

Wei Qishan looked at Xiao Li for a long while, his expression showing neither joy nor anger, only saying, “It was I who was presumptuous, not knowing of your honored mother’s tragic fate.”

Since it was for maternal mourning, Xiao Li’s refusal of this marriage proposal was still acceptable. The atmosphere at the banquet wasn’t too tense.

Yuan Fang smoothed things over, having everyone continue the feast. Song Qin had just breathed a sigh of relief and sat back at the table when he saw another group of people walking in at the entrance screen.

“Your son came late from the administrative office and missed Father’s opening of the banquet.”

The leading young man wore brocade robes with a jade belt, his hair bound with a golden crown. His face looked quite young, faintly revealing arrogance. Hearing him speak, everyone understood his identity.

But the several scholars dressed as literati behind him didn’t look like attendants. Their behavior was somewhat timid and fearful. After entering, they hastily glanced around before burying their heads and following closely behind.

Wei Qishan glanced coldly at his son. Out of consideration for the generals present, he didn’t embarrass him, saying, “Take your seat.”

Wei Pingjin didn’t move. His gaze seemingly casually swept over Xiao Li sitting in the second left position, his face smiling. “The great victory at Youzhou, and Father has gained heroes from all quarters coming to follow—your son is very happy for Father. However, today at the administrative office I met several guest officials who defected from the Liang camp. Learning they have history with Chief Xiao from Tongzhou, your son thought since they’ve all come to our Wei camp, that’s also a joyous matter. So I brought these guest officials to reminisce with Chief Xiao.”

The banquet hall suddenly quieted. Everyone could hear the implications in Wei Pingjin’s words.

Wei Qishan looked toward Xiao Li. “Worthy nephew knows these people?”

Xiao Li swept his gaze over the several Liang camp guest officials behind Wei Pingjin. “No particular impression.”

Song Qin and Zheng Hu broke out in cold sweat. They knew Xiao Li had worked in Pingzhou before, but now Northern Wei, because of the Ma Family Ridge tragedy, had already fallen out with the Liang camp. For this Wei family young master to find several guest officials who defected from the Liang camp to identify Xiao Li at this time—he clearly came with ill intent.

Hearing Xiao Li say this, Wei Pingjin’s smile became even more unbridled. He turned to those guest officials. “Chief Xiao says he doesn’t know you all. What do you all say?”

Before these guest officials were brought up, they had already secretly observed Xiao Li from behind the screen with Wei Pingjin, confirming he was undoubtedly that former Liang general before entering the front hall together with Wei Pingjin.

Now called upon by Wei Pingjin, the leading guest official looked again at Xiao Li sitting at the banquet, then hastily lowered his head. “General Xiao enjoyed unlimited glory in the Liang camp in the past—naturally he wouldn’t recognize us minor officials.”

With these words, the entire hall was shocked.

Wei Qishan’s face also suddenly darkened, looking toward Xiao Li. “You are from the Liang camp?”

Yuan Fang was also somewhat stunned by this sudden news, but seeing many Wei generals already staring at Xiao Li’s group of Tongzhou leaders with considerable hostility, he still instinctively spoke for Xiao Li. “There must be some misunderstanding in this…”

Xiao Li seemed not to have noticed the undercurrents surging at the banquet. The wine cup turned a circle in his palm as he replied calmly, “Xiao did work for the Liang camp, but cannot bear the title ‘Liang camp member.'”

Hearing this, Wei Qishan’s expression eased somewhat. But Wei Pingjin said sharply, “Father! Don’t believe this person’s honeyed words! How could there be such coincidences in the world? When Pei Song and Dou Jianliang ambushed our Wei army at Ma Family Ridge, he just happened to appear there and rescued General Yuan from tens of thousands of Pei’s troops? When Youzhou was in crisis and even General Liao couldn’t think of a way to break the situation, he led just a few dozen riders deep into the enemy camp to burn the barbarians’ granary? These two extraordinary achievements—I ask all the generals present, who dares say they could accomplish them?”

The assembled generals all remained silent.

Zheng Hu listened with a belly full of fire. Unable to suppress his temper, he cursed, “This truly opens my eyes! My second brother led the brothers through life and death battles, helping your Northern Wei to this extent, and you say these words—what do you mean?”

Wei Pingjin sneered coldly. “Still putting on an act? You concealed your identity as Liang generals, deliberately orchestrated the Ma Family Ridge situation, used the debt of saving lives to deceive General Yuan’s trust, then pretended to bring troops to aid our Youzhou—wasn’t it all to recreate that Ma Family Ridge battle, gain my father’s trust, then stab our Wei army in the back?”

Zheng Hu was so angry he directly kicked over the low table in front of him laden with dishes and wine, spitting harshly. “Bah! Even a dog biting Lü Dongbin doesn’t bite like this! How many soldiers from my Tongzhou died to rescue your Wei generals? Traveling thousands of li to jointly resist external enemies, winning the battle only to have this pot of shit dumped on us!”

He looked around the entire hall, shouting coldly, “We ragtag armies can’t aspire to your Northern Wei’s heights!”

After speaking, he addressed Xiao Li and Song Qin still seated at the table. “Elder brother, second brother—there’s no need to suffer this humiliation. Let’s go!”

His words had barely fallen when a group of armored soldiers wielding sharp weapons had already surged in beyond the hall’s screen, their swords and halberds all pointing uniformly at them.

Wei Pingjin smiled with a look of certain victory. “Want to leave after your scheme is exposed? What do you take my Wei residence for?”

Seeing the situation becoming increasingly uncontrollable, Yuan Fang hurriedly clasped his fists toward Wei Qishan to explain. “Marquis, this subordinate dares stake his life that the battle at Ma Family Ridge that day absolutely was not planned by Chief Xiao and the Liang camp…”

Wei Pingjin interrupted him. “General Yuan, don’t let a momentary debt of saving your life blind you. That day at Ma Family Ridge when our Wei army was annihilated, besides the traitor Dou’s Chen army, Pei’s forces alone numbered a full forty thousand. How could a ragtag Tongzhou army have the ability to kill through such an encirclement to rescue you?”

Yuan Fang said angrily, “That day, traitor Dou led twenty thousand Chen troops to watch from the walls. Chief Xiao had people set fire to the mountain, startling traitor Dou’s troops and making them charge down the mountain to mix with Pei’s army in chaotic night battle. He also took clothing from Pei’s dead soldiers to wear, disguised as Pei soldiers, and killed through the encirclement to rescue us dozens of soldiers! At the Youzhou battle, Chief Xiao also secretly observed for many days, figured out the barbarians’ guard rotation schedule, then led people disguised as barbarian troops to infiltrate and burn the granary…”

Wei Pingjin shouted sternly, “Then why did he conceal his identity as a Liang general from the General?”

Yuan Fang was momentarily silenced by the question. Wei Pingjin pointed at Xiao Li again. “This person is so brave—why wouldn’t the Liang camp use him? So many suspicious points are laid before us, and the General still says his disguising himself as a Tongzhou volunteer army to enter our Wei camp isn’t a conspiracy?”

Yuan Fang still wanted to argue for Xiao Li, but being clumsy with words, could only clasp his fists toward Wei Qishan again. “Marquis, this subordinate believes in Chief Xiao’s character.”

“General Yuan! Are the lives of our Wei camp’s tens of thousands of soldiers to be entrusted to your one word of belief?”

Wei Pingjin again confronted him sharply.

Xiao Li sat in his seat, seemingly not affected in the slightest by the tense atmosphere around him. Listening to their argument, he only gave a slightly mocking curl of his lips.

This scene was so familiar.

The arrow wound on his left shoulder began to throb with hidden pain again.

Yet he still had the leisure to pick up the wine cup from the low table, raise it distantly toward Wei Qishan, and smile. “The Marquis’s celebratory banquet—Xiao has learned well today.”

After tilting his head back to drain that cup of wine, he placed the cup inverted on the table and rose, saying to Song Qin and Zheng Hu, “This place does not welcome guests. We need not seek humiliation for ourselves.”

With his words, Song Qin also immediately rose supporting himself on the table.

The surrounding Wei army soldiers holding swords and halberds, when they first encircled them still had some imposing manner, but now seeing Xiao Li and Song Qin rise, clear fear showed in their eyes.

Even though Wei Pingjin insisted those two extraordinary achievements at Jinzhou and Youzhou were false, before everything was proven, they were surrounding someone who had killed his way out from tens of thousands of Pei troops and dared to penetrate deep into the barbarian camp with just a few dozen riders—several fierce generals.

Zheng Hu had long been holding back a belly full of fire. When he glared with tiger eyes at the surrounding Wei army soldiers holding swords and halberds with a low roar of intimidation, he actually scared back a circle of people. He couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Wei Pingjin, feeling humiliated, said with a cold face, “Quickly apprehend them for me!”

The Wei army soldiers who had retreated had no choice but to surround them again. Wei Pingjin shouted outward, “Crossbowmen!”

In an instant, another batch of soldiers holding crossbows surged into the hall, the arrows on the wooden crossbows all uniformly aimed at the three of them—Xiao Li, Song Qin, and Zheng Hu.

Clearly Wei Pingjin also had self-awareness and didn’t plan to capture Xiao Li’s group relying only on a group of elite armored soldiers. Song Qin looked around, his expression becoming somewhat ugly.

Yuan Fang was anxious as fire, clasping his fists toward Wei Qishan in entreaty. “Marquis!”

Wei Qishan finally spoke. “All of you, stand down!”

The elite armored soldiers and crossbowmen hesitated for a moment, then withdrew their weapons and retreated to both sides.

Wei Pingjin was both angry and confused. “Father, why…”

Wei Qishan said coldly, “I still stand here. In this Wei camp from top to bottom, it’s not your turn to speak.”

These words were no different from a slap fiercely striking Wei Pingjin’s face. His face instantly alternated between green and red, his eyes full of humiliation and embarrassment as he craned his neck and turned his face aside.

Wei Qishan walked down from the main seat, his deep voice echoing throughout the hall like a great bell. “Southern Liang invited my Northern Wei to ally with the rebel Chen as allied forces to jointly attack Pei Song, yet caused my twenty thousand sons from the southern border to be schemed against and die tragically at Ma Family Ridge. My Northern Wei and his Southern Liang—from now on we are clearly divided like Chu and Han!”

The hot-blooded Wei generals present, hearing this, all showed furious expressions. When looking at Xiao Li’s group, their gazes also couldn’t be called friendly.

Wei Qishan looked toward Xiao Li. “Worthy nephew rescued my important general and also resolved my Youzhou crisis. These two great favors—I, Wei Qishan, keep them in my heart. I have only one question: why did worthy nephew leave the Liang camp?”

Xiao Li gave a somewhat self-mocking laugh before answering with a few words. “Different ways—thus we cannot work together.”

This could hardly count as a proper answer. Wei Pingjin saw his father had given an opportunity, yet the other side still didn’t know what was good for him, and was about to lose his temper when he heard Wei Qishan say boldly, “Good!”

“No matter whom worthy nephew once served, as long as worthy nephew is willing, henceforth you are my Wei general!” After Wei Qishan spoke, he actually turned toward Xiao Li with a bow. “If my unworthy son was rude, I apologize on his behalf.”

The entire assembly was shocked. Xiao Li also hadn’t expected Wei Qishan would do this. For a moment he couldn’t avoid it and fully received Wei Qishan’s bow. He could only quickly step forward to help him up. “Marquis need not do this—please rise quickly.”

But Wei Qishan didn’t move. Instead he asked, “Is worthy nephew willing to enter my Wei camp?”

This put Xiao Li in a difficult position. The arrow wound on his left shoulder still throbbed with hidden pain, but looking at Wei Qishan’s bowing form, the shadow of that arrow at his feet seemed to fork into another path at this moment.

He looked toward Song Qin and Zheng Hu.

Song Qin nodded at him. Although Zheng Hu had been greatly angered by Wei Pingjin earlier, since Wei Qishan had already personally apologized to this extent—which could be called treating worthy men with courtesy—the bit of anger in his heart also dissipated. He said, “I’ll listen to second brother.”

After two breaths of silence, Xiao Li clasped his fists toward Wei Qishan. “Tongzhou’s twenty thousand volunteer troops—henceforth are willing to be deployed by the Marquis.”

Yuan Fang turned from shock to joy, immediately offering congratulations. “Congratulations to the Marquis! Felicitations to the Marquis for gaining this peerless fierce general!”

Those volunteer army leaders, who had been holding their hearts in suspense not knowing how this matter would conclude today, seeing the two turn hostility into friendship, naturally also breathed sighs of relief and hurriedly clasped their hands in congratulations.

Wei Qishan was also greatly pleased, looking at Xiao Li with infinite emotion. “From the first glance I saw worthy nephew, I felt you looked familiar. My eldest son also once had the courage to lead several dozen cavalry guards deep into barbarian territory. When he died on the battlefield, he was only sixteen years old. If he were still alive, he would now probably have worthy nephew’s stature.”

Speaking to this point, the regret on his face grew stronger, even becoming somewhat sorrowful. “Looking at worthy nephew, I seem to see my deceased eldest son. Therefore, after conversing with worthy nephew earlier, I wanted to matchmake, to have worthy nephew and my daughter become relatives through marriage. But your honored mother passed away not long ago, so this matter won’t be mentioned again. I wish to take worthy nephew as my adopted son. Would worthy nephew be willing?”

Wei Qishan’s words were earnest. Xiao Li had already refused his matchmaking in front of everyone earlier. At this moment, if he refused when he said he wished to take him as an adopted son, he would certainly make Wei Qishan unable to save face.

Under the gaze of all the generals present, Xiao Li again clasped his fists and called to Wei Qishan, “Adoptive Father.”

This time Wei Qishan truly stroked his beard and laughed heartily, personally helping Xiao Li up. “My son, quickly rise!”

All the generals also voiced congratulations.

Wei Pingjin hadn’t expected the situation would develop in this direction. Today he had thoroughly lost both face and dignity. Angry enough to want to turn around and leave on the spot, he was held back by a loyal advisor beside him who lightly shook his head at him.

Wei Pingjin watched Wei Qishan take Xiao Li back to the banquet, greeting all the generals to sit again. From start to finish his eyes held no place for him, his actual son. As he turned his face away again in resentment, murderous intent had uncontrollably risen in his eyes. Finally, he shook off that advisor’s hand with one motion and headed toward the hall exit without looking back.

That advisor also knew Wei Pingjin had lost composure. After bowing toward Wei Qishan, he hurriedly chased after him.

Those Liang camp guest officials who had come with Wei Pingjin to identify Xiao Li naturally didn’t dare remain. They hurriedly followed and withdrew.

The atmosphere at the banquet, which had finally become lively with difficulty, because of this incident fell into deadlock again.

But Wei Qishan seemed extremely displeased with this son, saying with a cold face, “No need to mind him. This son was raised in a woman’s hands in his early years and developed an arrogant temperament. He should have been tempered long ago.”

—

That advisor chased out not far before seeing Wei Pingjin using a whip to lash a winter plum tree at the long corridor to vent his hatred.

He looked back at the several Liang camp guest officials who had followed and the advisor just promoted by Wei Pingjin. After several people very sensibly clasped their hands and withdrew, only then did he approach to advise Wei Pingjin. “The Young Lord shouldn’t act so impulsively, losing decorum in front of all the generals.”

Wei Pingjin was at the height of his anger. The whip in his hand swung forcefully, directly breaking off a whole branch of plum blossoms. He pointed toward the direction of the banquet hall and said with hatred, “I’m acting impulsively? Shanbo, didn’t you see? When has Father ever had me, his son, in his eyes?”

Those words were apparently his heart’s pain. He awkwardly wiped his eyes. “Mother was right—once it involves that short-lived mother and son pair, Father is like he’s lost his mind! A Liang camp military man with some resemblance to his beloved eldest son can gain such favor from him, and he even wants to marry Minmin to him! If the other party truly is a Liang camp spy, where does he place Minmin and the lives of our Wei camp’s tens of thousands of soldiers?”

“Young Lord, watch your words!” Shanbo’s voice suddenly deepened. After looking around to confirm no one was present, he sighed. “How does the Young Lord not understand the Marquis’s painstaking efforts? How many volunteer army leaders attended the banquet today? Even if the Young Lord exposed that fellow as having been a Liang general, without concrete evidence, how can you prove the Jinzhou battle and Youzhou battle were him colluding with the Liang camp?”

“Moreover, the Liang camp and Pei Song are irreconcilable enemies. How could he, a Liang general, possibly orchestrate things in Pei’s army and the barbarian army to achieve two extraordinary accomplishments? If the Young Lord moved against them at the banquet, you would be chilling the hearts of all the volunteer armies!”

Being persuaded thus, Wei Pingjin felt somewhat better in his heart, yet still unconvinced. “Then Father will just keep such a huge hidden danger by his side?”

Shanbo said, “Even if the other party is a Liang general, could what the Liang camp promised him compare to what the Marquis offers?”

Wei Pingjin was stunned.

Shanbo looked at him. “A good bird chooses a tall tree to roost in. The Marquis truly values this person’s capabilities and the volunteer army behind him. Whether wanting to marry County Princess Jiamin to this person or taking him as an adopted son, it’s all to maximally win over this person.”

To become relatives through marriage with their Wei clan, or to become adopted father and son—both represented that their Wei camp could offer greater benefits than the Liang camp.

What the Liang camp could promise amounted at most to high official positions and generous salaries.

But these, their Wei camp could equally give, and could also make him truly one of their own.

As long as the other party wasn’t stupid, he would know how to choose.

Wei Pingjin had already understood Wei Qishan’s intention at the banquet, yet still said with offended disdain, “For him, a mere brute, to want to marry Minmin? Even a rough servant maid who sweeps our Wei residence would be more than adequate for him!”

Shanbo looked at the person before him with truly disappointed expression. “Young Lord, mountains and rivers have toppled. Who knows how many more years of chaos the Central Plains heartland will endure? Today’s commoners might well be tomorrow’s regional overlords. How can all noble children’s marriages still be like in times of peace and prosperity?”

At the end, he added one more sentence: “The Young Lord is the same.”

Wei Pingjin turned his head sharply to glare at Shanbo.

—

At the celebratory banquet in the front hall, all the generals raised cups to feast again. Only this time, not only were strings and bamboo instruments playing, women holding lutes also sang folk songs. The singing accent was quite rich in local flavor. Xiao Li couldn’t make out what was being sung, but saw many Wei generals’ expressions grow solemn.

Song Qin had traveled widely in his earlier years and was more knowledgeable. He lowered his voice to Xiao Li and Zheng Hu. “This is Jin melody.”

Xiao Li’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

As a general who surrendered from the previous dynasty, Wei Qishan’s subordinate generals were also mostly former dynasty subjects. During these thirty-plus years of surrendering to Great Liang, just to avoid suspicion, they absolutely couldn’t listen to Jin melodies and songs at such banquets.

But today Wei Qishan made such arrangements—the reasons behind this invited deep thought.

When the lute-playing woman sang to a mournful part, many Wei generals at the banquet were already unable to stop their tears.

Wei Qishan looked around at all the assembled ministers and generals. “Thirty-five years ago, when heroes rose together in the Central Plains and mountains and rivers fragmented, the Rongque barbarians also drove south just like this. But when Jin fell, we Jin subjects did not all die! One hundred twenty thousand Wei family troops guarded the Yanle Mountain defensive line. We died down to only thirty thousand, but we didn’t let a single barbarian enter the passes!”

Many veteran Wei camp generals present had personally experienced that brutal battle back then. Just hearing Wei Qishan bring up old events, their eyes had already reddened, blood surging throughout their bodies.

Xiao Li drank a mouthful of wine without speaking.

After Former Jin drove the Chen kingdom’s rulers and subjects out of the Hundred Blades Pass, there was great governance for over ten years before the realm became chaotic again. But the entire Central Plains heartland, during those decades when Jin and Chen waged war, had already exhausted its national strength. State prefectures everywhere suffered population decline, with nine out of ten households empty among the common people. Former fertile fields also had no one to cultivate them, growing wild with grass.

Therefore, in the following decades, although regional lords everywhere held military power and completely ignored the Jin imperial household’s commands, and although there were often wars between state prefectures, everyone tacitly didn’t launch devastating great wars. More often they were recuperating and recovering strength.

The Jin imperial household was even once so incompetent that literati mocked and reviled them in wine shops, satirically saying that as long as various regional lords didn’t kill their way into the palace, they could continue self-deceptively feasting and making merry.

The licentiousness and absurdity of Jin dynasty emperors could indeed be called outstanding among all dynasties’ foolish rulers.

The last Jin emperor, Emperor Jin Ling, though not like his elder brother who enjoyed seizing ministers’ wives and took pleasure in publicly violating ministers’ wives before their faces at state banquets—during his reign the court also didn’t popularize the practice of offering one’s wife to gain office—he was extremely fond of the way of immortality.

Any minister who dared remonstrate was subjected by Emperor Jin Ling to the punishment of being torn apart by chariots. Finally he even went mad enough to imitate his elder brother’s absurd act of commanding ministers to copulate with him at state banquets—at a state banquet he prepared five hundred boys and girls, had executioners crack their skulls on the spot, then poured boiling oil to cook the brain marrow, inviting all ministers to eat together, declaring they would ascend to immortality together as lord and subjects.

The day when people’s volunteer armies and heroes from all quarters trampled the Jin capital, common people throughout the realm all cheered.

Only after Jin’s fall, various regional lords disputed endlessly. It was still chaotic for several decades before Great Liang’s founding emperor Wen Shi’an unified the internal chaos and truly settled the Central Plains.

Wei Qishan had always been called a surrendered general of the previous dynasty by people, but when the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun came into his hands, Great Jin had already been destroyed for several decades. It was just that his ancestors had once received noble titles from the Jin dynasty.

Whether there were reasons of court internal struggles in pressing this title on him was unknown.

After all, there were also folk rumors saying Wei Qishan back then also had intentions to contend for the realm. His first wife was a daughter of Former Jin’s meritorious nobility. Only later, when Wen Shi’an and Weichi Ba had already gained the realm’s general momentum, and beyond Youzhou there were also barbarian tribes beyond the passes biting relentlessly, did Wei Qishan finally bow his head in submission. To clearly separate from Former Jin, he even ruthlessly killed his own first wife, claiming externally that she hanged herself.

Great Liang, to completely cut off his path to contending for position, pressed the title of surrendered general of the previous dynasty firmly on him.

Whether this title was true or not, after time passed and circumstances changed, common people had long taken it as truth. For Wei Qishan now to want to shed this title of serving two surnames was no easy matter.

Many volunteer army leaders at the banquet who knew this past history all had somewhat subtle expressions.

Wei Qishan continued impassionedly, “I know people to this day still curse me, Wei Qishan, as spineless for surrendering to the Liang dynasty before Wen Shi’an and Weichi Ba fought their way into the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.”

He looked toward the Wei generals present. “I, Wei Qishan, truly am ashamed before Great Jin’s various former emperors, ashamed before my former comrades in arms, but can also straighten my spine and say one sentence: I am without shame before the common people of the northern border’s sixteen prefectures!”

A veteran general hastily wiped his eyes. “We have never blamed the Marquis.”

The young Wei generals also voiced agreement one after another.

Wei Qishan’s posture was straight as a cliff rising from the ground, imposing and stern. Since surrendering to Liang, this cliff had indeed endured thirty-five years of wind and rain. Only today did he display his strong muscles and hard bones to others. “The Liang court collapsed, petty rebels run rampant, the great beautiful rivers and mountains were again stirred into chaos. My Wei clan sent troops—externally to resist barbarian rebels, internally to attack petty rebels—to act in heaven’s stead and restore peace to the common people of one region! That Wen clan woman of Great Liang invited my Northern Wei to ally and jointly attack the petty rebels. I also agreed, yet what we received in return was twenty thousand sons dying violently in the wilderness!”

Wei Qishan glared with rage, the bloodshot vessels in his eyes clearly distinct as he shouted, “I, Wei Qishan, in former years surrendered to his Great Liang to spare the common people of the sixteen prefectures under my governance from the ravages of war. During thirty-five years as a Liang subject, I also deterred barbarian rebels beyond the passes and never lost a single city or territory—I was worthy of the salary his Liang court paid! But from today forth, my Wei clan is no longer a Liang subject!”

The Wei generals all emotionally shouted along that they would no longer be Liang subjects. Only the various volunteer army leaders at the banquet—not one made a sound.

Although there had long been speculation in the marketplace that after Wei Qishan finished attacking Pei Song, he would probably also contend for that dragon throne.

But although Great Liang’s national fortune was short, it truly was a new dynasty that ended over a hundred years of internal chaos. Though founded only thirty-five years ago, before winning this foundation, who knew how many years the subjects under his command had already followed the Wen clan?

Moreover, when the great edifice was about to topple, the imperial clan had already produced the father-son pair of Prince Changlian—both benevolent rulers with extremely high reputations both in court and among the people.

Great Liang’s collapse was not due to widespread popular resentment, but was single-handedly orchestrated by the treacherous rebel Pei Song.

When Wei Qishan attacked Pei Song, he could still only fly the banner of avenging Prince Changlian and his son. Great Liang still had surviving descendants of Prince Changlian’s line. Though a woman, her methods and courage were in no way inferior to men. Not only supported by many former Great Liang ministers, she also had Southern Chen’s full assistance. Now just because of the Ma Family Ridge Wei army massacre tragedy that tarnished her reputation, she had temporarily lost some popular support.

But if Wei Qishan wanted to rely on the popular support drawn from that tragedy to ascend to the imperial throne, the hat of usurping the kingdom could instantly be transferred onto his head.

With Wei Qishan’s deep scheming, since he chose to establish his own faction at this time, he shouldn’t lack such consideration.

The volunteer army leaders all waited for his following words.

Sure enough, Wei Qishan immediately continued, “Heaven has mercy! My Great Jin’s imperial household still has bloodline scattered among the common people. This is heaven wanting to restore my Great Jin!”

Many present discussed in low voices about Former Jin actually still having imperial bloodline scattered among the common people. When there was movement at the entrance and a gorgeously dressed woman was escorted in by maidservants, those with active minds immediately understood what was happening.

Wei Qishan wanted to contend for this realm, but couldn’t do so with his identity as a subject serving two surnames. So he imitated the Liang camp and Chen kingdom’s alliance, pushing forward a Former Jin princess of unknown authenticity as a front.

The banquet suddenly became exceptionally lively. Wei Qishan produced a bright yellow swaddling cloth and a vermilion pi seal impression bearing Former Jin’s transmitted jade seal as physical evidence. In addition, there was an aged, one-eyed former imperial shadow guard of Jin to testify as a witness. Based on the woman’s account of her grandfather’s birth and death years, they proved that her grandfather was indeed Emperor Jin Ling’s father—Emperor Jin De—a bloodline left among the common people during his early years of traveling incognito.

That woman, observed by all the Wei generals present, displayed not the slightest hint of timidity. Her speech was clear and well-ordered, her answers calm and composed. She related that her grandfather had only one son—her father—who was overworked, chronically ill, and likewise had only a single child: herself. Though their family lived in poverty, they still allowed her to study and learn propriety. Before her father succumbed to illness, just as war once more erupted in Liang territory, he finally revealed the truth on his deathbed. He entrusted her with the bright yellow swaddling cloth and the vermilion pi, instructing her to carry these two items to the northern border to seek out Wei Qishan, and thereby secure a place of refuge amid the chaos of the times.

After confirming the woman’s identity as a Former Dynasty princess, the Wei generals again began crying for the deceased Former Jin and Emperor Jin De, after whose death the entire Jin dynasty walked toward decline.

To outsiders this actually seemed somewhat ridiculous. It was hard to say the Wei generals present hadn’t coordinated beforehand.

After observing for a while, the various volunteer army leaders actually began clasping hands in congratulations or speaking words of comfort.

Xiao Li felt it was somewhat noisy.

He lowered his eyes to look at the wine cup beside his hand. Candle shadows reflected in the cup, tinting the clear wine into an intoxicating warm amber color.

In his ears were the Wei generals’ repeated calls of “Princess” this and “Princess” that. In that patch of amber, in a trance a slender, cool figure gradually surfaced—wearing golden-orange palace robes with arms draped in silver gauze, black hair piled like clouds.

Only when wind blew and the candle flame flickered, the wine in the cup also lightly rippled, and everything again dissipated without trace.

—

The news that Wei Qishan had found a Former Jin princess, changed his title to Jin subject, and wanted to restore Great Jin reached Wen Yu’s ears two days later.

At that time she had already reached outside Dingzhou city. Outside the carriage heavy snow fell like cotton wadding. She sat silently in the carriage looking at that report sent from the northern territories by scouts, not saying a word.

Zhao Bai frowned. “You sent so many letters to the Wei camp clarifying the reasons. Wei Qishan couldn’t possibly still think we and Southern Chen deliberately orchestrated the massacre of his twenty thousand troops in the southern border!”

Inside the carriage was a small clay stove with warm tea. Wen Yu’s jade-carved fingers held the letter paper suspended over the stove. The charcoal fire instantly ignited the paper’s edge.

She said, “Whether clarified or not no longer matters.”

The carriage window was half-raised. Half her eyes reflected the firelight from the clay stove, half reflected the snow color outside the carriage—an indescribable cold desolation. “What Wei Qishan wanted was this opportunity to become a Jin subject again.”

Zhao Bai’s face was iron-blue. “The one he found—is it really a Former Jin princess?”

The letter paper had already burned out. A bit of ash was blown by wind onto Wen Yu’s skirt hem. She raised her hand to brush it away, her tone still revealing neither joy nor anger. “If he truly wanted to restore Jin, the one found should have been an imperial prince.”

Even simple-minded Bronze Sparrow understood at this moment. Wei Qishan’s move was probably only to have a proper and justified pretext to rebel.

She thought of another piece of news transmitted back from the northern territories, looking at Wen Yu hesitantly. “I heard General Xiao…”

“Return.” Wen Yu’s voice was like ice and snow. The large sleeves trimmed with fox fur fell down, half-covering the warming pouch in her hand and a section of slender white fingertips frozen slightly red. She leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes, seeming already weary.

Bronze Sparrow could only swallow back the rest of her words and lower the half-raised carriage curtain.

The carriage wheel marks on the snowy ground turned around from Dingzhou. In the vast sky an eagle passed, leaving only one clear cry.