The former Marquis of Zhenbei, Pei Zifang, sat before a chess table. Despite being middle-aged, his eyebrows were still well-defined, and his eyes remained sharp. His posture was as straight as an arrow, and he wore a simple cyan robe with only a yellow jade pendant hanging at his waist. He looked up with a smile and said in a gentle voice, “Yan’er, stand up and let your uncle have a good look at you.”
Pei Yan stood up, approached with his hands clasped, and said, “Uncle, why have you suddenly returned? Has something happened in Youzhou? Did you receive my secret letter?”
Pei Zifang’s expression remained calm, but his gaze towards Pei Yan carried a hint of kindness. “Nothing major has happened in Youzhou. I set out after receiving your letter, mainly to retrieve something.”
Pei Yan lowered his head. As a posthumous child, all his martial arts skills were taught by this uncle. Although his skills had surpassed his teacher’s due to his mother’s efforts in strengthening his body and bones during his childhood, he still felt an inexplicable reverence towards his uncle.
For years, the Pei clan had been planning on a grand scale. Pei Yan’s establishment of the Changfeng Cavalry and his entry into the imperial court were inseparable from his uncle’s efforts. Although his uncle had been demoted to Youzhou, he had always been in control of the overall situation. At this crucial moment, his secret return to the Changfeng Mountain Manor just to retrieve something must be of great importance.
Pei Zifang chuckled, “Let’s not worry about that item for now. We’ll retrieve it after nightfall. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other. Come, play a game of chess with your uncle, and let’s catch up.”
Pei Yan smiled in agreement and sat down opposite Pei Zifang.
The kettle on the charcoal stove bubbled. Pei Yan quickly poured the brewed tea into cups, strained it twice, and served it to Pei Zifang.
Pei Zifang took the cup with a smile and said, “Not bad. Your chess skills have improved, and your ability to control the overall situation has progressed significantly.”
“It’s all thanks to Uncle’s guidance,” Pei Yan respectfully replied.
Pei Zifang placed a piece on the board. “Given that your opponent is not weak and the situation is complex, you’ve played quite well. However, your moves are still a bit risky.”
“Yan’er humbly listens to uncle’s teachings.”
“Your strategy of luring the pieces in the northeast corner into a deadly trap, using the western pieces to hold back the opponent’s main force, and then occupying the central area is indeed a good plan. However, you must remember that your opponent is no ordinary adversary.”
Pei Yan carefully observed the board. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he hesitated over where to place his next piece. Finally, he softly asked, “Is this the spot uncle is referring to?”
Pei Zifang took a sip of tea and chuckled, “Correct. This is the opponent’s vital area. But even if you know where it is, you have no way to place a piece there!”
Pei Yan concentrated and placed a piece in the southwest corner. Pei Zifang showed a slight smile of approval and responded with his move. Their game quickened, and finally, Pei Zifang pushed away the board and stood up, saying, “Come, it’s almost dark. I’ll take you to see something.”
As they walked along the mountain path, night had fallen. An Cheng had already withdrawn all the hidden guards. Along the way, Pei Yan quietly reported the details he couldn’t include in his secret letter. Pei Zifang listened silently. When Pei Yan finished, he smiled and said, “Yan’er, you’re quick-witted. I hadn’t anticipated that Jiang Haitian would set up such a long-term plan before his death and plant such a deep chess piece.”
“It was thanks to uncle’s description of the Star Moon Sect Leader’s unique lightness skill that I was able to confirm that the person who committed suicide at Changfeng Mountain Manor wasn’t the real Star Moon Sect Leader when I saw Wei Sanlang’s escape technique.”
Pei Zifang sighed lightly, “Wei Sanlang has endured for so many years. Now that he’s starting his overall plan, he must have made thorough arrangements regarding the Emperor. Although the Emperor is exceptionally astute, he’s likely to stumble over the person he trusts the most.”
At Baoqing Spring, steam rose thickly. Pei Zifang stood by the spring, gazing into the mist with a profound look. He slowly removed his outer robe and leaped in. Shortly after, he emerged from the water, his figure carrying large clouds of mist, spinning several times in the air before landing lightly on the ground. He handed Pei Yan a wooden box wrapped in thick oilcloth.
Pei Yan received it with both hands. After Pei Zifang had changed out of his wet undergarments and put on his outer robe, sitting by the fire, Pei Yan knelt on one knee beside him. He unwrapped the oilcloth, took out the wooden box, and presented it to Pei Zifang.
Pei Zifang’s thumbs pressed on certain hidden patterns on both sides of the box. With a click, the lid sprang open. He looked down at the contents, sighed softly, and took out a scroll wrapped in yellow silk, handing it to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan’s expression became solemn. He glanced at Pei Zifang, then slowly opened the yellow scroll. As he read, his expression changed several times before returning to calmness. He knelt before Pei Zifang and bowed his head to the ground.
The night wind was bitterly cold, blowing the mist from the pond’s surface towards them. Pei Zifang pulled Pei Yan up, patting his hand gently, and sighed, “It was for this very thing that your father died from an assassination, and I was demoted to Youzhou for over twenty years. But it’s also because of this that he didn’t dare to harm me, and your mother was able to give birth to you safely.”
Pei Yan stood as still as a stone statue, silent for a long time. Suddenly, he raised his head, his eyes flashing like sword light. Pei Zifang seemed to see a blade unsheathed, a long sword singing, and heard his clear voice: “Yan’er will follow uncle’s teachings in everything.”
Pei Zifang smiled faintly, his gaze turning to the pitch-black night sky. “The time is slowly ripening, and you’ve done very well. But I always feel that the most crucial moment hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll entrust this to you for now. When the most critical time comes, use it to deliver the most fatal blow.”
In the afternoon, the winter sun shone into the corridor of the Snow Plum Courtyard.
Jiang Ci had just washed her hair and was leaning against the bamboo railing in the corridor, her ink-wash-like black hair falling to her waist. She was combing it leisurely when she noticed the embroidered skirt in Danxue’s hands. She smiled and said, “Axue, your ‘Phoenix Through Peonies’ is progressing faster than Sister Aying’s ‘Water Grass and Carp’.”
Danxue smiled gently, “I need to finish this ‘Phoenix Through Peonies’ before the New Year. It’ll be perfect to wear at the Luofeng Beach gathering.”
Jiang Ci had learned from the two that the Yueluo tribe’s New Year was different from the Hua Dynasty’s, falling on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month. By then, the winter snow would begin to melt, and the first spring breeze would reach the Yueluo mountain range. The tribe would hold a grand gathering at Luofeng Beach, with singing and dancing to celebrate the return of spring and the beginning of a new year of farming.
Meiying said in a low voice, “Axue, this year’s Luofeng Beach gathering might not happen.”
“Why not?”
“I heard yesterday when I went to collect fruits that the imperial court is about to launch a military attack on us, possibly within the next few days. The elite troops from all the garrison towns are being moved to our Shanhai Valley. The Sect Leader has been so busy that he hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in days, constantly reinforcing Liuxia Peak and Feihe Gorge. If war breaks out, how can we hold the Luofeng Beach gathering?”
Jiang Ci was startled, “Is it going to come to war?”
“Yes, judging by the troop movements in and out of the garrison towns these past few days, this fierce battle seems unavoidable.” Meiying spoke with some excitement, “The Hua Dynasty’s imperial troops have oppressed us for so many years. Now that our Holy Sect Leader is the Moon God incarnate, he will surely lead us to victory and defeat them.”
Jiang Ci felt a pang of sadness. She had never witnessed war firsthand, only heard her martial uncle speak of the tragic scenes of blood flowing like rivers and corpses strewn for thousands of miles. Thinking of this weak nation finally having to face a powerful enemy, sacrificing countless lives to fight for a measure of freedom and dignity, she couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Danxue, assuming Jiang Ci was missing her family in the Hua Dynasty, as today was their New Year, quickly said, “Miss Jiang, today is your New Year. Sister Meiying has brought some fish and meat. Why don’t we make the ‘Hezhenrou’ and ‘Qingyunian’ you mentioned? You can celebrate the New Year here.”
Jiang Ci pushed her worries about the war to the back of her mind, as it was beyond her ability to influence or change such grand events. She smiled and said, “That sounds great. I’ve never spent New Year in another place before. Having Sister Aying and Axue as a company today, it seems we were destined to meet.”
The courtyard gate opened, and Wei Zhao entered with his hands behind his back. Danxue and Meiying cast admiring glances at him before reluctantly leaving.
Jiang Ci knew he had come to pressure her about writing that poem again. She glanced at him sideways and said sarcastically, “The Holy Sect Leader sure has a lot of patience and free time.”
Wei Zhao had been busy for days, but he looked even more energetic, his eyes shining brightly. He smiled and said, “I told you, I have all the time in the world to wait for you. As long as you don’t write it, I won’t let you leave this courtyard.”
Jiang Ci smoothed her long hair, feeling it was dry. She bit down on a bamboo hairpin, twisted her hair into a bun, and gently secured it with the pin. As she did so, she said, “I eat well and sleep soundly here. I don’t want to leave.”
Wei Zhao stood in front of Jiang Ci. As she pinned up her hair, a waft of fresh fragrance reached his nose. He frowned slightly and lowered his head, catching sight of a glimpse of delicate white skin on her neck, as smooth as jade and as fine as porcelain.
His eyes narrowed, and an inexplicable irritation and unease welled up in his chest. He was about to turn away when he suddenly remembered the night at Baoqing Spring when he had wrapped this girl in a brocade blanket and carried her out. His gaze slowly moved downward.
Jiang Ci finished pinning her hair and looked up to see Wei Zhao standing as still as a statue, his eyes fixed on her with an alarming intensity. Fearing he might bully her again, she jumped up and retreated several steps.
Wei Zhao snapped out of his trance, let out a cold snort, and swept out of the courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, the white snow was dazzling. He stood motionless at the gate, his mind in a fog. That pure white glimpse, like the bright moon over Lan Mountain, had embedded itself deep in his heart, impossible to erase.
Jiang Ci found Wei Zhao’s behavior strange today and was about to ponder it further when Danxue and Meiying came in, laughing and pushing each other.
Jiang Ci smiled and asked, “What’s got you two so happy?”
Danxue pushed Meiying forward, laughing, “Sister Aying suddenly remembered that the ‘Red Plum Wine’ she buried last year can be unearthed today. Sister Aying can get married next year!”
Jiang Ci had heard them mention before that when girls of the Yueluo tribe turn sixteen, they bury a jar of wine under a plum tree on a certain day. A year later, they unearth it, and after drinking the “Red Plum Wine,” they can officially discuss marriage.
She clapped her hands and said, “What a coincidence! So Sister Aying can open her ‘Red Plum Wine’ today. I’ll cook, make ‘Hezhenrou’ and ‘Qingyunian,’ and we’ll have a proper celebration.”
Meiying made a shushing gesture, smiling. Jiang Ci lowered her voice, “Don’t worry, the three of us will drink secretly. We won’t let anyone else know. Besides, the guards outside the courtyard wouldn’t dare come in anyway.”
The three exchanged knowing glances, then went to the winter plum tree in the courtyard to dig out a small earthenware jar, which they carried into the room.
Jiang Ci brought the steaming dishes into the stone house. Danxue and Meiying laughed as they closed the doors and windows tightly. Meiying, claiming to be hungry, picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the Hezhenrou. Jiang Ci poured a cup of wine, which Meiying took and drank in one gulp. Danxue clapped her hands and said, “One drink of Red Plum Wine, may heaven and earth be long-lasting, and may we grow old together.”
Meiying put down her bamboo chopsticks and came to pinch Danxue’s face, who laughed and dodged. Jiang Ci took a sip of wine, remembering how she used to laugh and play with her senior martial sister during New Year’s celebrations in the past, feeling a bit melancholic. But she quickly cheered up, picked up some fish with her chopsticks, and chewed vigorously, thinking to herself: Senior Sister, wait for me. Little Ci will come back!
Although the three knew that Wei Zhao wouldn’t come in the evening and no one else would enter the courtyard, they were still mindful of the guards outside. They didn’t dare to laugh and make noise loudly, only talking, drinking, and eating in low voices. When they were slightly tipsy, Jiang Ci taught Danxue and Meiying how to play finger-guessing games. The two were new to it and somewhat clumsy, each being penalized with several cups of wine, their faces soon flushed and their speech becoming a bit slurred.
Jiang Ci, watching their condition, laughed softly and slumped against the edge of the bed. Suddenly, she felt a warmth in her dantian, and her inner power, which had been absent for over ten days, showed signs of recovery. Her heart skipped a beat, and she drank a few more sips of wine. Sure enough, her inner power recovered a bit more. She was secretly delighted, knowing that the ten-day period had passed, and the Red Plum Wine had a blood-activating effect. It seemed she could now use her lightness skill.
With this thought, she controlled her drinking. When she felt her inner power had fully recovered and she could use about 80-90% of her lightness skill, she lay down on the stone bed and closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
At the fourth watch of the night, Jiang Ci quietly sat up. She saw that the candles in the room were almost burnt out. Danxue’s head was resting on the edge of the bed, her feet on top of Meiying, who was sprawled on the bed, snoring lightly. Both their cheeks were as red as if they had applied rouge, looking exceptionally charming.
Jiang Ci got out of bed and gently opened the latch, stepping into the courtyard. The biting cold wind helped clear her mind. She knew that there were guards outside, escaping a challenging task. However, with Dansnow and Mei Ying always around, she hadn’t had a chance to scout the surroundings. Now that the two were drunk, she needed to familiarize herself with the courtyard’s layout to plan her next steps.
After inspecting the perimeter of the courtyard, Jiang Ci felt disheartened. The Snow Plum Courtyard was bordered on two sides by cliffs, and the side with the stone house was backed by a steep wall. The only way out was through the courtyard gate, which was constantly guarded by members of the Starry Moon Sect. Escaping would indeed be difficult.
Feeling despondent, Jiang Ci returned to the stone house, and, relying on Dansnow and Mei Ying’s heavy sleep, she fell into a deep slumber.
The following day brought good news. Due to the imminent battle and a shortage of manpower, Dansnow and Mei Ying were assigned to prepare winter clothing for the soldiers. They were out from dawn until dusk, leaving Jiang Ci alone in the Snow Plum Courtyard. From that day on, Wei Zhao also stopped coming.
Jiang Ci felt a surge of hope. According to Dansnow, the Holy Sect Leader was set to lead the main forces to Liuxia Peak in three days. She knew that whether she could successfully escape depended on Wei Zhao’s departure.
With a plan forming in her mind, Jiang Ci obtained a bamboo sieve and began trapping sparrows in the courtyard every day. She kept them hidden near the stone house.
Finally, the day came when Wei Zhao led his troops out. Dansnow and Mei Ying went to the preparation area to see the army off. As night fell, Jiang Ci heard the sounds of commotion from the direction of the preparation area, as if thousands of troops were marching. She knew the opportunity had come. She donned Dansnow’s Moonfall Clan attire, packed her belongings, and placed the sparrows she had caught into a bamboo cage. Using her lightness skill, she approached the courtyard gate and peered outside, where she saw two guards from the Starry Moon Sect standing by the large tree.
One of the guards, looking anxious, glared toward the preparation area and muttered irritably, “Damn it, who are these people living in this courtyard? They’ve made us miss the chance to fight and left us stuck here!”
The other guard grumbled, “Master Hong assigned us here to guard this place, clearly to prevent us from earning any military merit. We’re from Dreamwater Valley, we’ll never compare to those from Shanhai Valley!”
The first guard stomped his foot. “Well, there’s no chance of seeing battle now. Might as well head back to the room and drink.”
The other guard replied, “All you think about is your drink! No matter how hard it is, we have to wait for Old Sixth and the others to relieve us. With just the two of us here, we can’t just leave.”
The first guard shrugged and fell silent.
Jiang Ci moved stealthily across the snow in the courtyard and stood by the edge of the wintersweet bushes. She picked up a stone and threw it from a distance.
The guards outside the gate were startled and ran to investigate the sound. Jiang Ci quietly released one of the sparrows, and the guard, seeing it was just a bird, laughed and returned to his post.
After a while, Jiang Ci threw another stone. As the guards came to check again, she released another sparrow. This continued several times until the two guards finally shouted, “Where are these wild birds coming from, causing such disturbance!”
Jiang Ci knew the time was right. She threw her last stone and, hearing no one approaching her hiding spot, used her internal energy to scale the wall. Noticing that the guards were not facing her direction, she quickly climbed over the wall and lightly touched down on the ground. She then slipped into the small forest to the west of the courtyard.