When Wei Jiamin entered Wei Qishan’s study, she was practically wringing the corners of her clothing into flowers.

She kept her head lowered, not daring to look at Wei Qishan, who sat behind his desk wearing a thick cloak. She feigned ignorance about why she’d been summoned: “Father, you were looking for me?”

No response came from above. Wei Jiamin stood for a while, clutching the tassel at her waist, unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere. When she looked up, she discovered Wei Qishan was staring at her coldly, which truly startled her.

Father had always doted on her, granting her every wish. He had never looked at her with such eyes before.

Fear filled Wei Jiamin’s heart. She tried to act coquettish to muddle through, complaining in a delicate voice: “Father, why are you looking at Minmin like this…”

“Don’t you know what you did in the righteousness army camp?” Wei Qishan’s face, with features made more rugged and profound by recent weight loss, was particularly cold and severe.

This was Wei Jiamin’s first time seeing Wei Qishan like this. Half aggrieved, half frightened, tears immediately fell: “I… I…”

“Don’t cry.” Wei Qishan showed no sign of softening his expression.

Wei Jiamin forcibly held back her sobs, her body trembling slightly. She only stared stubbornly at Wei Qishan with tear-blurred eyes.

Seeing her like this, a trace of reluctance still flickered through Wei Qishan’s eyes. But if he didn’t discipline her now, in the future when her arrogant nature grew worse and she caused even greater trouble, that would truly harm her.

Wei Qishan kept his face cold: “I blame myself for indulging you too much in daily life, spoiling you to the point where you have no sense of propriety, actually riding your horse to injure people in someone else’s military camp! And daring to have that scoundrel stand up for you!”

Wei Jiamin immediately cried even more sorrowfully, the stubbornness and grievance in her eyes growing thicker.

The nanny who cared for her said that when she cried like this, she looked exactly like the First Madam. She also said that Wei Jiamin didn’t seem like her mother’s child, but rather more like one born to the First Madam.

Later, Wei Jiamin discovered that as long as she cried with this grieved yet stubborn expression, Wei Qishan would soften and basically comply with her every wish.

Wei Jiamin had never met her father’s original wife who had taken her own life thirty-five years ago. She had once curiously asked the nanny what the First Madam looked like. The nanny said her mother’s appearance was nine-tenths similar to the First Madam, but lacked the First Madam’s spirit, so she only seemed seven-tenths alike.

Though her own appearance couldn’t be considered particularly similar to the First Madam, her fearless temperament was exactly like the First Madam in her youth.

Wei Jiamin didn’t like the story between her father and that First Madam, but she still learned intermittently from the nanny that her father and that First Madam had been childhood sweethearts with deep affection.

She also learned that although the First Madam was a noble lady from the end of the Jin Dynasty, her temperament was particularly strong-willed. She liked wearing foreign clothing, riding spirited horses, and collecting all kinds of daggers.

Mother didn’t like that First Madam, yet she often had Wei Jiamin dress in foreign attire.

Wei Jiamin discovered that Wei Qishan doted on her more and paid her more attention this way. Gradually, she grew accustomed to molding herself into that vague shadow the nanny described.

At this moment, she cried as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice, choking out the story she and her brother had coordinated on the road back to Weizhou: “It’s not that Minmin deliberately rode her horse in the camp. Rather, that day in the camp, Minmin saw a woman wearing a cloud brocade cloak. The cloak’s pattern was exactly the same as the two bolts of cloud brocade Father rewarded to Xiao Li.”

“When he, Xiao Li, refused the serving girls you bestowed, he still spoke righteously about observing mourning for his deceased mother, and said he’d established military regulations forbidding bringing women into camp—that he needed to lead by example to command respect. Minmin found it strange and wanted to catch up to see. Who would have thought that a young officer in his army would suddenly charge out fiercely with men to block Minmin? In my urgency, I couldn’t control my horse and it injured someone. But they were utterly domineering—they actually shot and killed the date-red horse you gave Minmin…”

Mentioning the date-red horse, Wei Jiamin was truly saddened, crying heartbrokenly.

Wei Ang hadn’t known about Wei Jiamin encountering Wen Yu, so when reporting to Wei Qishan, he hadn’t mentioned it.

Hearing Wei Jiamin’s words now, Wei Qishan only raised his eyelids: “Even if Xiao Li truly did privately hide a woman in the camp, trespassing into the military camp’s重地 was still your fault first.”

Wei Jiamin hastily argued: “That woman isn’t just anyone—she’s Jiang Yu’s concubine! Father, don’t be deceived by that cunning warrior’s pretense of loyalty! He took the cloud brocade you rewarded him and made it into a cloak for that woman. The soldiers below blocked me from seeing her—there must be something between them that they feared I’d discover!”

Hearing that the woman was Jiang Yu’s concubine, Wei Qishan’s expression finally grew somewhat grave, yet he still asked inscrutable: “You’ve never met Jiang Yu’s concubine. How did you recognize her?”

Wei Jiamin explained: “After my date-red horse was shot to death, when I went in grief to strike that blocking officer, I forced the information from his mouth.”

She paused here, wiping tears while choking up: “Brother was outraged and rushed to the camp to seek justice for Minmin also because when they shot the date-red horse, it caused Minmin to fall from the horse, injuring myself all over. I lay in bed for several days before I could get up.”

The more she spoke, the more pained she became: “That Xiao Li, relying on having achieved two great merits and being valued by Father, and being on good terms with Uncle Yuan, Uncle Liao, and Uncle Ang, acts lawlessly in the camp, completely disregarding my brother and me. Father, you’re so fierce toward Brother in daily life—do you even know that in the camp he’s been squeezed out by that surname Xiao to the point where he has no tent of his own and can only make do with his personal guards in a nearby desolate village?”

Wei Pingzin couldn’t endure the hardships of military life and had arranged a residence with his personal guards in a nearby town—this wasn’t a major matter. If Wei Qishan didn’t ask, Wei Ang naturally couldn’t voluntarily report such unflattering information about his own young lord.

So Wei Qishan truly didn’t know Wei Pingzin didn’t usually stay in the camp.

But he still understood his disappointing son to some degree—it absolutely couldn’t be as Wei Jiamin described.

He leaned back against the chair, his expression darkening as he looked at his daughter and asked: “Are you saying that your Uncle Yuan, Uncle Liao, and the others are all helping Xiao Li bully you and your second brother? Wei Ang is in Xiao Li’s army—seeing Xiao Li squeeze out your second brother like this, has he never tried to stop it?”

Wei Jiamin’s crying faltered. She had wanted to say that Xiao Li was arrogant in his achievements and secretly forming factions to squeeze out her brother—after all, those in power were most wary of such things.

But with Wei Qishan’s question, she suddenly realized her words also implied that Yuan Fang, Liao Jiang, and Wei Ang were all disloyal to Wei Qishan.

Wei Jiamin truly hadn’t thought this through when she spoke. She was struck speechless for a moment, eyes brimming with tears. After stammering “I” for a long time, she ultimately couldn’t produce a follow-up.

Looking again at Wei Qishan’s cold, severe expression, Wei Jiamin was truly frightened this time. Her knees went soft and she knelt down, tears rolling like beans: “Minmin knows she was wrong. Minmin didn’t mean to lie deliberately. Minmin… Minmin just really hates that surname Xiao. He’s a despicable and cunning warrior who pretends to be an upright gentleman before you, using his mother’s mourning to refuse your marriage arrangement, refusing the serving girls you sent, pretending to be so filial, but in reality he’s dissolute in nature, having unclear relations with a pregnant woman! Minmin… Minmin is angry that surname Xiao is deceiving Father like this!”

She sobbed: “Now the entire army is spreading word that you want to recruit that surname Xiao as Minmin’s husband. With him doing such things, Father, where does that leave Minmin’s face?”

Wei Qishan finally understood the real crux of his daughter’s grievance.

Seeing his daughter cry as if her heart would break, his heart softened a few degrees. After all, she was the child he’d raised in the palm of his hand all these years.

He asked: “How many people know about this matter?”

Wei Jiamin had cried too hard and hadn’t yet recovered. Breathing through her nose, she said: “Minmin was afraid others would know and laugh, so I only told Brother.”

Wei Qishan glanced at his daughter and said: “So you siblings, just because of the grudge over the killed horse, and without verification believing that Xiao Li had secret dealings with Jiang Yu’s concubine that made you lose face, ordered someone to trample that captain to death?”

Kneeling on the ground, Wei Jiamin’s fingers were almost wringing a hole in the corner of fabric she clutched tightly. Through tear-blurred eyes she said: “I… I felt that Xiao Li was disrespectful to Father, so I went crying to Brother once. I don’t know anything about what happened after…”

Wei Qishan observed his daughter for some time, finally speaking: “Fine, you may go.”

Wei Jiamin could hardly believe Wei Qishan wasn’t continuing to question her and was just letting her leave like this.

But fearing she’d give herself away, she didn’t dare linger longer. In the end, she still wiped her eyes and, maintaining an appearance of grievance, left the study with small sobs.

After she departed, Wei Qishan gave orders to his constant attendant: “Wei Xian, from today onward, the County Princess is not to leave her courtyard. Have her copy and memorize starting from the ‘Three Character Classic.’ Since she’s forgotten all the books she was taught to read before and all the principles she learned, she’ll start over from the beginning.”

Wei Xian knew that all these years, the Marquis had been raising the County Princess as if she were his own child with the First Madam. However much he’d doted on her in daily life, that’s how disappointed he was now after learning the County Princess’s true nature through this calamity.

The County Princess was born after the eldest young master had already passed.

If the second young master still felt resentful because Wei Qishan had focused all his attention on the eldest young master in early years, then the County Princess had truly grown up with the Marquis’s complete adoration.

Not daring to comment too much, Wei Xian acknowledged with “yes” and left to relay the message. When he returned, he saw Wei Qishan sitting behind the desk with closed eyes, like a desolate barren mountain, saying: “These past days I keep dreaming of Chuan’er and his mother.”

Wei Xian said: “Perhaps because the anniversary dates of the eldest young master and Madam are approaching, what you think of during the day becomes your dreams at night.”

That mother and son had both passed during heavy snow.

When Wei Qishan opened his eyes, they were bloodshot. Covering his mouth, he coughed lightly and said: “Once I restore Jin, I can go see that mother and son.”

Wei Xian was frightened into kneeling, hastily saying: “The Marquis is in good health. The physicians also say the Marquis’s complexion has improved greatly recently. Marquis, please don’t think of Madam and the eldest young master and generate such sorrowful thoughts! Perhaps they have awareness in the underworld and that’s why they frequently enter the Marquis’s dreams!”

Wei Qishan smiled faintly: “Only after restoring Jin will I have face to see Chuan’er’s mother. Right now this realm is still divided in three. After destroying Pei Song, I still need to compete with that girl from the Prince Changlian’s Wang family to determine victory—the road is long. What are you afraid of?”

Only then did Wei Xian’s expression ease somewhat. He placed his hands crossed against his forehead touching the ground: “The Marquis will surely restore Great Jin and be renowned through the ages.”

Wei Qishan didn’t respond to Wei Xian’s words. After coughing twice more, he gave orders: “Summon Wei Ang to see me, and call that rebellious son as well.”

Before long, Wei Ang was found and brought over. Wei Qishan asked whether he had seen Wen Yu that day. Wei Ang looked completely confused: “That day, this humble general followed Zhou Jun Xiao at the training grounds watching the soldiers below spar. When I received the news and rushed over, I didn’t see Jiang Yu’s concubine. The County Princess didn’t mention a single word about it the entire time—she only made a scene saying that young officer had killed the horse you gave her and wanted that young officer and all the soldiers who blocked the way to pay with their lives.”

He said with some difficulty: “At the time, with so many righteousness army soldiers watching, this humble general feared the County Princess’s words would break the soldiers’ hearts, so I tried hard to dissuade her. I just never anticipated that after the County Princess saw the young lord, the young lord would act so impulsively…”

Wei Qishan asked: “That rebellious son isn’t staying in the camp?”

Wei Ang immediately knelt down: “It’s this humble general’s failure in not being able to dissuade the young lord. I request the Marquis’s punishment.”

Wei Qishan asked: “Where is he staying?”

Wei Ang lowered his head and hesitated: “A separate residence in Jingshui Lane of Tong County. Madam even sent the young lord’s wet nurse to care for the young lord’s meals and daily life.”

Wei Qishan rarely managed inner household matters in daily life. Before being injured, he’d always been on the front lines campaigning, so he truly didn’t know the whereabouts of a wet nurse from the household. Hearing this, he heavily slapped the armrest of his chair, angrily saying: “This son has truly been ruined by a woman’s hand!”

Just then, Wei Xian entered from outside to relay a message: “Marquis, Madam’s side has sent word that since returning last night, the young lord caught a cold and developed a high fever. He’s now so ill he can’t get out of bed.”

Wei Qishan’s anger attacked his heart. Enraged, he covered his mouth and coughed for quite a while before saying: “Fetch the discipline whip. I’ll personally go invite that scoundrel!”

—

Wei Pingzin lay on the heated kang. After eating two mouthfuls of the bird’s nest porridge Madam Wei personally fed him, he turned his face away.

Madam Wei stirred the bird’s nest in the bowl with a spoon, saying with heartache: “My son, you’ve grown thin. Eat some more.”

Wei Pingzin said: “I have no appetite.”

Resting on a soft pillow, his tone was not without complaint: “Father has always valued those subordinate generals under him far more than me. This time that surname Xiao is so arrogantly unbridled, his people bullied Minmin like that. I only had someone injure one of his captains, yet he dared cut off my man’s leg right in front of me, making me lose all face before all the soldiers, and even declared he’d leave my Wei camp.”

He said resentfully: “Father not suppressing this man is one thing, but just now after summoning Minmin, he actually confined Minmin to her quarters. I claimed illness, but I probably can’t escape Father’s punishment either.”

Madam Wei heavily set the bird’s nest bowl on the low table beside them and declared: “He wouldn’t dare! Today I’ll sit right here. If he punishes you again without distinguishing right from wrong, I’ll fight him to the death!”

Her words had barely fallen when a matron rushed in from outside to report: “Madam! The Marquis has taken the discipline whip and is heading this way!”

Hearing those two words, Wei Pingzin recalled past experiences of punishment. His entire body seemed to ache with phantom pain. He quickly jumped up from the bed.

Madam Wei was also frantic with anxiety, hastily saying: “Quickly, quickly—why don’t you avoid him first!”

Wei Pingzin jumped down from the bed, getting dressed while heading outside. But just as he reached the courtyard, he ran straight into Wei Qishan. Wei Qishan swung the whip to strike him: “Scoundrel! I sent you to the army to gain experience, yet you hid away in a separate residence to enjoy yourself and caused me such enormous trouble!”

Madam Wei rushed to shield her son, protecting him tightly while crying: “Strike then! Strike me dead along with him! After all these years, you’ve only had your deceased wife and your eldest son in your heart anyway. Before your eldest son died, did you ever look at my Jin’er properly even once?”

Wei Qishan coldly ordered those around him: “Pull this foolish woman away from me!”

The servant women moved forward to pull Madam Wei away, but she clutched her son and wouldn’t let go. Not caring that her hair bun had come loose, she said hysterically: “Don’t touch me! If you touch me again, I’ll dash my head against this decorative rock and die!”

The servant women then didn’t dare pull at her anymore.

Wei Pingzin called out with extreme sorrow: “Mother.”

Madam Wei shielded her son while staring fixedly at Wei Qishan: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Mother is here.”

Wei Qishan’s face twitched. He curved the whip and pointed it directly at Wei Pingzin, asking Madam Wei: “You still spoil this rebellious son. Do you know what trouble he’s caused?”

Madam Wei spoke with sarcasm: “Nothing more than offending another of your beloved generals. You trust those under your command so much—but do you know whether they regard your children as their masters behind your back?”

Wei Ang, who had followed along, was very embarrassed and kept his head lowered the entire time, not daring to speak.

Wei Qishan said angrily: “His own character is flawed, without the slightest capacity to tolerate others. Where is there any semblance of a young lord?”

Holding back tears, Madam Wei scolded: “Yes, yes, yes. My Jin’er is just so utterly worthless, can’t compare even slightly to your eldest son, can’t even compare to an adopted son you picked up halfway. Why don’t you just revoke his position as young lord and give it all to your adopted son? I don’t want him marrying a daughter-in-law from an actress background into the family either. Let your precious generals and adopted son inherit your great enterprise!”

Wei Qishan suddenly swung the whip fiercely at the decorative rocks. The stacked decorative rock landscape collapsed with a thunderous crash, frightening everyone present into trembling.

Wei Qishan looked coldly at his son: “If he continues like this, I truly might as well adopt more sons and select a suitable person from among them to inherit my enterprise.”

After speaking, he turned to leave. Madam Wei had dared say those words precisely because Wei Qishan had no other heirs, but seeing Wei Qishan seemed truly ready to abandon Wei Pingzin, she was driven to tears of rage for a moment, making a scene about dashing her head to death. Several servant women kept pulling and persuading her.

Wei Pingzin’s heart was also uncertain. He knelt and crawled forward on his knees, grasping Wei Qishan’s robe hem: “Father! Father! Your son knows he was wrong.”

But Wei Qishan didn’t say another word. After glancing coldly at his son, he pulled his robe from his grasp.

Watching Wei Qishan walk away, Wei Ang didn’t dare linger long either. As he bowed and left the courtyard, he reminded Wei Pingzin: “Young Master, the Marquis is at the height of his anger. You should properly admit your fault to the Marquis and wait for his anger to subside.”

—

When Yuan Fang received word and came to the Wei residence to see Wei Qishan, he saw Wei Pingzin kneeling below the study steps.

He had already heard some of what happened on the way over. Passing by Wei Pingzin’s side, he didn’t pause.

Wei Pingzin felt people coming and going from the study passing by, along with occasional scrutinizing glances from household servants. He clenched his ten fingers into fists at his sides, lowering his head in humiliation without saying a word.

Yuan Fang entered the study and saw Wei Ang and Wei Xian were also present.

He clasped his fists toward Wei Qishan seated above: “Marquis, you sought this humble general?”

Wei Qishan asked: “Minmin says she saw Jiang Yu’s concubine wearing the cloud brocade I bestowed upon Xiao Li in his camp. What are your thoughts?”

This differed somewhat from what Yuan Fang had heard. His heart jumped in alarm as he asked: “Does the Marquis believe that Zhou Jun Xiao’s sudden request for resignation is to protect that woman?”

Wei Qishan didn’t speak. Yuan Fang could only look toward Wei Ang, with whom he was on good terms. Wei Ang also wore a worried expression, clearly unaware of this matter.

After thinking briefly, Yuan Fang quickly clasped his fists: “This humble general feels there may be some misunderstanding about this matter. First, only the County Princess saw Jiang Yu’s concubine at that time—no one else can corroborate it. Second, even if this matter is true, you rewarded Xiao Li with thousands of gold, which he distributed entirely to the soldiers below. Those silk fabrics could also have been distributed along with everything else.”

He bowed even lower: “Xiao Li values affection and righteousness, is utterly sincere and true in nature. You’ve met him, Marquis—you should know this person’s character. That all the righteousness armies trust him so much isn’t only because he’s skilled in martial arts and has courage and strategy, but even more because this person’s character is precious. That he would feel the desire to leave because his subordinate soldiers were treated this way—this humble general believes it.”

Wei Qishan had Wei Xian take Xiao Li’s resignation letter and show it to Yuan Fang, saying: “In the letter he states that Pei Song’s main army has completely withdrawn from the northern border. Of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, only the barbarian tribes outside the pass remain a threat. His Tongzhou army has no more use here, so he requests to return to Tongzhou to attack Pei Song in the southern border.”

After reading the letter, Yuan Fang stood for a while with some embarrassment, feeling that he had advised his benefactor to come to the northern border but then failed to look after him properly.

He said: “Marquis, can’t you see that Zhou Jun Xiao’s heart has grown cold?”

Wei Qishan said: “If I couldn’t see it, would that rebellious son be kneeling outside right now?”

Yuan Fang couldn’t quite guess Wei Qishan’s thoughts for a moment and asked: “Then why has the Marquis summoned this humble general here?”

Wei Qishan said: “I’ll personally write a letter of apology. You’ll take that rebellious son to apologize to Xiao Li. From now on, that rebellious son need no longer serve as military supervisor with the army. But the Southern Chen envoy has already arrived in my Weizhou. On this trip, bring back Jiang Yu’s concubine as well.”

Having followed Wei Qishan for many years, Yuan Fang instantly understood the meaning in his words.

Appeasing Xiao Li was certainly necessary. By withdrawing Wei Pingzin, Wei Ang wouldn’t need to stay with Xiao Li’s army afterward either—equivalent to giving him absolute trust from now on. Xiao Li would then have absolute freedom in commanding those tens of thousands of righteousness army troops.

Wei Qishan might still have doubts about that woman’s identity, but taking advantage of the Southern Chen envoy’s arrival to retrieve that woman wouldn’t count as suspecting Xiao Li.

Before handing that woman over to the Southern Chen envoy, he could also have the minor officials who had seen Princess Hanyang see that woman to identify her and dispel his last remaining doubts.

This was indeed the most prudent solution.

Yuan Fang clasped his fists: “This humble general receives your command.”

—

Ever since he wasn’t allowed to see Wen Yu, Tao Kui had been feeling stifled for many days.

He’d always wanted to intercept Xiao Li, but Xiao Li was busy with military affairs and often away. He couldn’t easily catch him, and Doctor Tao, fearing he’d cause trouble, had been keeping him close by.

Today, Tao Kui finally found an opportunity to intercept Xiao Li. After entering the tent, he looked somewhat aggrieved like a stuffed bun: “A’niu wants to deliver medicine to Big Sister.”

For once, Xiao Li wasn’t busy with military affairs but was sitting behind a low table, concentrating on carving something with a carving knife.

Tao Kui walked closer to look and discovered he was carving wood sculptures again. A pile of wood shavings had already fallen on the low table. After he finished the last cut and blew away the excess dust, Xiao Li finally said: “Go deliver it then.”

Tao Kui said in a muffled voice: “They block me.”

Xiao Li said: “They won’t block you today.”

He pulled open the drawer of a low cabinet beside him and placed the just-carved fox wood sculpture inside.

Tao Kui’s sharp eyes caught sight of many completed wood sculptures already placed in that drawer—there were chubby little cats, little birds, little rabbits, and at the very edge, a plump little tiger.

This couldn’t have been carved in just a day or two—it must have taken quite some time to accumulate.

Tao Kui froze for a moment, then suddenly held up the wooden puppy sculpture hanging at his waist. Pointing at that little tiger sculpture, he made an accusation with some urgency: “Zhou Jun… liar! You said you couldn’t carve tigers!”

Xiao Li had just been about to close the drawer. Hearing this, he recalled that back in Tao Family Village, this silly boy had asked him to carve a tiger. He’d refused, saying he couldn’t, and carved a puppy instead.

He said: “I just learned recently.”

Tao Kui was actually fooled by this explanation. He stroked the wooden puppy in his hand for a while, then asked expectantly: “Then… can that tiger wood sculpture be given to A’niu?”

Xiao Li was using a file to gradually smooth those wooden toy figurines. Hearing this, he said slowly: “This one is spoken for. If you want one, I’ll carve you a new one later.”

Tao Kui asked in a muffled voice: “Who did Big Brother carve them all for?”

Xiao Li made a light stroke on the little cat sculpture with the file, using his thumb to wipe away the dust produced. His expression was very focused, with something Tao Kui couldn’t understand—like sadness, yet very peaceful. He said: “For the unborn child in your Big Sister’s belly.”

After hearing this, Tao Kui froze. The slight unhappiness on his face dissipated. Looking again at the wooden puppy in his hand, he hesitated for a while, then untied it from his waist and placed it on the table, saying: “Then A’niu doesn’t want it anymore. A’niu’s puppy will also be given to Big Sister’s little baby.”

—

Seeing Tao Kui come to deliver anti-miscarriage medicine again, Wen Yu felt quite puzzled.

Xiao Li had confined her like this for so long—why was he suddenly allowing Tao Kui to come find her? She couldn’t quite guess Xiao Li’s thoughts for the moment.

Tao Kui was very happy to see her, obediently sitting by the brazier. Whatever she asked, he answered.

Only then did Wen Yu learn that when Xiao Li wasn’t in camp, Tao Kui basically spent his time preparing medicine at Doctor Tao’s place. She also heard him mention the death of a captain in the camp some time ago.

Learning it was the captain who had blocked Wei Jiamin that day, Wen Yu’s eyes darkened as she asked: “Why did the Wei family’s second young master want his life?”

Mentioning this matter, Tao Kui’s emotions were particularly low: “Tiger Brother said it was because he killed a horse…”

After thinking, he pulled at the dried grass in his hand, adding in fragments: “The Wei family County Princess’s.”

Though Wen Yu had been far away that day, she had clearly seen the County Princess trespassing near the central command tent and being blocked by that captain who shot her horse.

She had originally worried that the young officer had met his deadly fate because of her. Learning it was for this reason instead, infinite complexity surged in her heart.

Seeing her silent for a long time, Tao Kui waved his hand in front of her eyes: “What’s wrong, Big Sister?”

Wen Yu shook her head gently and said: “Nothing.”

But Tao Kui suddenly said: “Is Big Sister sad for Captain Lin?”

Wen Yu paused and said: “Yes, and also no.”

Tao Kui asked: “Then what is Big Sister thinking about?”

Wen Yu gazed at the flame leaping up from the charcoal basin burning too vigorously: “I’m thinking that in this world, if a battle isn’t absolutely necessary, then it shouldn’t be fought. All the generals and soldiers should either be able to return home in glory or die honorably on the battlefield, rather than in conspiracies, intrigues, and tyranny.”

This was too profound for Tao Kui to understand. He scratched his head.

Wen Yu smiled and changed to a more comprehensible explanation: “I wish for peace in this realm.”

Now Tao Kui could understand. He said happily: “A’niu wishes for that too.”

Out of habit, he reached to touch the wooden puppy sculpture hanging at his waist, but didn’t find it. Only then did he remember he’d already given the wooden puppy to Xiao Li.

Tao Kui glanced at Wen Yu’s abdomen and became even happier, as if wanting to tell her something. Remembering Xiao Li’s instructions, he stopped himself in time.

However, glancing at Wen Yu’s waist and not seeing that carp wood sculpture, he became puzzled: “Where is Big Sister’s little fish wood sculpture?”