When the group returned to the capital without major incident, it was already night.

The Jiang residence had long dispatched people to meet them at the city gate.

It was actually Jiang Boyou who came in person.

His own daughter had inexplicably become embroiled in such a dispute yet returned safely and unharmed. Upon seeing Xie Wei, he couldn’t help repeating again those words of gratitude from his letter before having the residence’s servants hurriedly take Jiang Xuening back.

The capital had long since passed the New Year festival. On the auspicious day of the first day of the new year, there was even a lively lantern festival in the evening.

The prosperous long streets, rows upon rows of buildings.

Everything was familiar, yet sitting in the carriage looking out, Jiang Xuening found it somewhat strange—far less real than those desolate mountains and wild waters she’d seen outside.

That brief dream-like adventure had already ended.

The high gate walls of the Jiang residence were embedded among the surrounding wealthy mansions, not particularly conspicuous, emanating a kind of rigid, conservative dogmatism. Festive lanterns still hung at the entrance. If one weren’t a participant oneself, looking from the outside, one would have no idea this family had lost their birth daughter these past few days.

Jiang Xuening had just turned into the rear courtyard when she heard Meng-shi’s crying.

Jiang Xuehui was at her side trying to console her.

“Has she ever truly regarded me as her real mother? Since bringing her back to the capital, haven’t I tried to repair our relationship? Otherwise why force her to learn the zither and study? But what about her? With that temperament that can’t tolerate anyone, wanting to abuse the residence’s servants and abuse you too. The palm and back of the hand are both flesh—if you two were equally good, how would I not want to treat you both fairly?”

That crying clearly carried bitterness.

“But she was deliberately taught this way by that slut Wanniang to anger me, to disgust me, to take revenge on me! Single-mindedly perverse, not a bit fit for proper society. They say I don’t bring her to socialize with the capital’s refined ladies and noblewomen, but she should look at herself—bringing out such an ill-bred country girl, wouldn’t it ruin our residence’s reputation? Even if my face were thicker, I couldn’t withstand others’ gossip!”

Jiang Xuehui seemed to have heard such words many times. She sighed deeply and said to her: “Mother, younger sister was raised by, by Wanniang from childhood, only brought back to the residence at fourteen. Even if you disapprove, changing some habits inevitably takes time. Only four years have passed. Moreover, after younger sister entered the palace, I’ve seen she’s improved considerably. She must have suffered many grievances outside this time. After all, she’s your own flesh and blood from your belly—blood is thicker than water. If you reproach her again, won’t you push younger sister back onto her old path?”

Meng-shi said: “How is she like my own birth daughter?”

Jiang Xuehui was silent for a moment, then sighed: “In any case, it’s the New Year festival, and things didn’t blow up. Surely younger sister will be much quieter upon returning this time. Why must you scold her? If you instead make younger sister resentful, she doesn’t have an ordinary temperament.”

After listening, Meng-shi didn’t speak for a while.

Jiang Xuening stood under the wall outside the courtyard listening, thinking that Jiang Xuehui was indeed formidable—she’d managed to persuade Meng-shi.

She lifted her foot, about to enter to pay respects.

But just then, from inside suddenly came a laugh that sounded neither sad nor happy: “Sometimes I’d rather never know she was my birth daughter…”

Outside the long corridor, the wisteria flower frame in winter had only some stark cold outlines remaining.

A few patches of残 snow piled on top.

Jiang Xuening raised her head to look, only feeling all sounds by her ears grow distant. Jiang Xuehui seemed to say something more, but she didn’t hear it clearly.

Before long, footsteps came.

Jiang Xuehui, thinking Father had already gone to fetch Jiang Xuening back and she would return to the residence before long, guessed that with her temperament she wouldn’t want to see herself at Mother’s place. So she found an opportunity to take leave from Meng-shi.

But she didn’t expect that upon leaving the courtyard, she would see Jiang Xuening standing under the wall.

In that instant of facing each other, Jiang Xuehui actually felt that pretty face half-concealed in darkness had an indescribable pallor, like a frost flower beneath the bright moon.

Yet the fact was, Jiang Xuening actually smiled at her.

She saw her turn to leave.

Not knowing why, she felt a surge of unease and couldn’t help calling out hesitantly to stop her: “Younger sister.”

Jiang Xuening stopped and looked back at her: “Is something the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing really…”

Jiang Xuehui, usually socially adept and skilled at dealing with all sides, at this moment actually felt at a loss for words, not knowing what to say. After a long while, she slowly said: “His Highness has been missing you too, asked about you several times. During the New Year he also bestowed many things. I had people put them all in your room.”

Jiang Xuening blinked, thinking of Shen Zhiyi. She smiled soundlessly and replied faintly: “I know.”

*

Deep in the night, when all was quiet, the entire capital was gradually sinking into slumber.

However, with the return of Xie Wei’s party, countless people awoke startled from nightmares.

News quickly reached the palace.

Empress Dowager Xiao was getting on in years and beginning to sleep less. She was just discussing Grand Princess’s marriage alliance with Xiao Shu, who knelt beside her copying scriptures: “How would Zhiyi know what’s important? Looking at this, she clearly wants to create a rift with me. Though she doesn’t say it, she won’t even acknowledge the imperial brother she’s always been close to. But how can matters of state and family allow a young girl to throw tantrums?”

The Yan clan had fallen, and the military was unstable.

Those barbarian Xiongnu who ate raw meat and drank blood naturally eyed them covetously.

However, in such a vast Great Qian dynasty, besides the Yan clan, how could they not find even half a general talent to replace Yan Mu? It would just take some time.

Agreeing to their marriage alliance request first was an expedient measure.

Once the Yan clan’s vacancy was filled by new general talent, naturally they could push the Xiongnu back beyond Yanmen Pass again, making these barbarians bow in submission to Great Qian once more.

Xiao Shu, always among great clans, was influenced by matters of state and family, and understood some of their weight.

But hearing Empress Dowager Xiao say this, she couldn’t help feeling sympathetic.

She stopped the brush copying scriptures, hesitated, then said: “But Her Highness is after all your own flesh and blood. Once she goes, the great desert is desolate and remote, the barbarians fierce. Who knows when she’ll return.”

Empress Dowager Xiao actually laughed once. Laugh lines appeared at the corners of her eyes—rarely a kind and gentle expression.

But the more gentle, the clearer the cruelty in her eyes.

Leaning on that noble consort’s couch, she said with perfect composure: “There’s a saying: ‘The imperial family has no father-son bonds.’ Shu’er, you will also enter the imperial family in the future. You should remember this clearly.”

Xiao Shu’s heart first chilled, but then she heard the implication in Empress Dowager Xiao’s words. Rarely, she also became somewhat nervous.

But thinking it over, she couldn’t help being covered by some gloom.

She said: “Looking at Prince Linzi’s manner, he seems more fond of that Jiang Xuehui.”

Empress Dowager Xiao waved her hand, full of confidence, only saying: “Rest assured, the Dowager is here.”

With the Empress Dowager’s guarantee, logically it was foolproof.

But Xiao Shu wasn’t someone who would rejoice prematurely. Before matters were settled, anything could happen. So she didn’t show much joy, only thanked her aunt with a smile.

The attending palace servants saw the hour was late and wanted to help the Empress Dowager retire for the night.

But just then, from outside suddenly came a rush of hurried footsteps.

It was the head eunuch, face full of joy, running toward the sleeping chamber: “Make way, make way, good news, tremendous good news!”

Empress Dowager Xiao couldn’t help stopping. Rather surprised, she raised an eyebrow and looked toward the entrance, asking: “What good news?”

Xiao Shu was also very curious.

That eunuch ran until sweat appeared on his forehead. He kowtowed to the ground, his face blooming with smiles: “Reporting to Empress Dowager, Duke returned to the capital safely half a shichen ago, completely victorious! Just now he specially had someone send word to report tremendous good news to you! He says that Heir Dingfei, who disappeared twenty years ago, has returned! Still alive! Perfectly fine!”

Ding… fei…

Empress Dowager Xiao’s entire head “boomed” with an explosion. Standing in the hall, her body swayed several times, nearly failing to stay upright. In a daze, she asked: “What did you say?”

The eunuch thought she was too overjoyed and used an even louder, clearer voice: “He’s returned! Duke’s legitimate bloodline, His Majesty’s savior from years past, Heir Dingfei has returned whole and complete! Aiyou, I heard he not only looks very much like Duke when he was young, but also very much like Lady Yan back then! Refined and elegant, talented and handsome, extremely good-looking!”

Empress Dowager Xiao’s eyelids jumped wildly. She actually felt her vision darkening.

Her feet went weak beneath her. She retreated several steps backward.

Her hand lifted—she’d just wanted to say something, but her face was deathly pale. With a “thud,” she pitched forward headfirst!

Everyone in the entire palace was frightened. After a stunned moment, they began shouting in alarm: “Empress Dowager! Empress Dowager!”

Xiao Shu’s mind was also in complete chaos. She’d watched the Empress Dowager beside her topple over with her own eyes, yet somehow forgot to reach out to support her. Watching everyone scrambling in panic, she stood to the side, her expression somewhat dazed with disbelief.

Alive…

That child bearing both Xiao and Yan bloodlines—how could he still be alive?

If it really was, if it really was…

Xiao Shu shuddered inwardly. In the noisy and panicked Cining Palace, she raised her head to look toward the sky outside. She actually saw complete darkness, not half a star visible. The cold night wind blew, making one tremble uncontrollably!

*

Adjacent to the former Marquis Yongyi’s residence that had already been sealed with official strips by the authorities was Xie Wei’s residence.

In Zhuoqin Hall, lights blazed brightly.

Lu Xian in a scholar’s long robe, hands clasped behind his back, paced back and forth in the hall—from left to right, then right to left—occasionally glancing outside. Clearly he’d been waiting long.

Not until close to midnight did sounds finally come from outside.

Xie Wei had finally returned.

Lu Xian saw the figure finally coming from the covered corridor. Rarely unable to contain himself, he stepped outside and asked urgently: “How did things go?”

Xie Wei glanced at him and furrowed his brow slightly: “More or less.”

Ever since learning Zhang Zhe was mixed up in this affair and that Xie Wei had no intention of immediately eliminating this stumbling block, Lu Xian had fallen into agitation. This agitation wasn’t directed at the matter itself, but more because of the increasingly wrong Xie Wei.

Hearing those three words “more or less,” he nearly exploded.

Lu Xian was very direct: “Did you kill Zhang Zhe?”

Xie Wei said: “No.”

Lu Xian’s eyelid twitched: “Why not?”

Xie Wei entered the door and pulled open a hidden compartment on the bookshelf against the wall. Taking that seal pouch from his sleeve, along with that small book seal, he placed them both inside, replying blandly: “In full view of everyone—feared it would give others leverage.”

“Bullshit!”

Lu Xian couldn’t help cursing upon hearing this.

“If you’d made up your mind to eliminate this person, there are a thousand, ten thousand proper methods to prevent others from knowing! Moreover, accompanying you this time was that fool Xiao Yuan—perfect for taking the blame! How could you miss such a good opportunity? Is this still you, Xie Ju’an—”

When he spoke to here, he suddenly stopped.

Lu Xian looked at that hidden compartment Xie Wei had closed again. An ominous premonition suddenly surged in his heart: “What important thing is that?”

Xie Wei said: “Just a little trinket from a student honoring her teacher.”

Lu Xian stared at him: “Jiang Xuening?”

Xie Wei hummed in acknowledgment.

Lu Xian didn’t speak for a long while. He also looked at Xie Wei this long while, vaguely perceiving an unprecedented danger. So he spoke with hidden meaning: “Do you really know what you’re do—”

“I know.”

Xie Wei rarely interrupted him, then looked back at Lu Xian, not avoiding his grave and serious gaze. Even very calmly, he repeated it once to make him know he understood the implication—

“Lu Zhaoyin, I know.”