Wei Zhao carried a cloth bag through two main streets in the darkness, then boarded a carriage. Yi Wu gave a soft command and drove the carriage towards the Wei residence.
Inside the carriage, the lantern swayed gently. Wei Zhao removed his wide-brimmed hat with green gauze, tossed the cloth bag aside, and took off his black outer robe. After a moment, he glanced at the bag again. His right hand hesitated in the air before finally picking it up.
He carefully examined each item from the bag, his fine eyebrows slightly furrowed. After putting everything back, a look of confusion crossed his face.
Wei Zhao closed his eyes, intending to rest briefly, but an inexplicable restlessness arose in his chest. Fearing it might be the effect of the medicine he had taken earlier, he quickly sat up straight to circulate his Yuan Power. However, he couldn’t dispel the feeling of heat. He loosened his collar but still felt a fine sweat forming on his neck.
That day, Jiang Ci had a bountiful harvest. The stream was teeming with fish and shrimp, and she effortlessly caught half a bucket. After spending the day tending to the garden, she enthusiastically prepared dinner. Just as she was about to start eating, Wei Zhao walked in.
Remembering her request from that morning, Jiang Ci felt a bit embarrassed. As she ate, she mumbled, “Has Third Young Master eaten?”
Wei Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the food on the table, and gave a cold snort.
Having spent many days with him, Jiang Ci had gradually learned to interpret his snorts and smiles. She brought over a bowl and chopsticks, saying, “There’s not enough rice, but plenty of dishes. Third Young Master, please make do with what’s here.”
Wei Zhao was never a big eater. Even though he found the meal particularly fragrant that night, he put down his chopsticks after just one bowl. Jiang Ci quickly poured him a cup of tea.
As Wei Zhao slowly sipped his tea, watching Jiang Ci eat contentedly, he suddenly felt a bit dazed. His thoughts drifted as if returning to the Yujia Manor from over a decade ago.
After Jiang Ci finished cleaning the dishes and washed her hands, she saw Wei Zhao still sitting at the table, lost in thought. She couldn’t help but smile and say, “Third Young Master, has your injury improved greatly? You should rest early.”
Wei Zhao remained silent. Jiang Ci waved her right hand in front of his face. Wei Zhao suddenly snapped back to reality and tightly grasped her right hand, causing tears to spring from Jiang Ci’s eyes in pain.
Wei Zhao released her hand and said coldly, “Learn your lesson.”
Jiang Ci rubbed her aching wrist but dared not contradict him. Wei Zhao noticed the tears in her eyes and hesitated for a moment, but his face remained cold as he tossed the cloth bag onto the table. “The things you asked for!”
Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment before she understood. Her face flushed red as she reached for the bag, but Wei Zhao’s hand pressed down on it.
Instinctively, Jiang Ci looked up at Wei Zhao, and he gazed back at her. They stared at each other silently, both seeing a hint of confusion in the other’s eyes. Jiang Ci’s cheeks reddened even more, and she quickly let go of the bag. Wei Zhao slowly opened it and began taking out the contents one by one. Jiang Ci, feeling embarrassed, let out an “Ah!” and turned away.
Wei Zhao examined the items again, still unsure of the purpose of some of them. Seeing Jiang Ci’s ears turn red, he grew more curious. He stepped to her side and whispered near her ear, “If you explain what these are for, I’ll grant you one request.”
Jiang Ci looked up to see him holding small clothes and long cloth strips. She cried out and ran back to her room, shutting the door tightly.
Wei Zhao stood staring at the closed door for a moment, then placed the items on the table and left the wooden cabin.
In the moonlight, the peach orchard appeared misty and ethereal. Wei Zhao walked slowly through the grove with his hands behind his back. The night breeze carried flower petals that clung to his robes. He picked up a crimson petal, unable to distinguish whether what he saw before him was the moonlit mountain or that delicate, pure whiteness; whether what he held was a peach blossom or those alluring, red lips—
Several days passed, and Wei Zhao’s condition gradually improved. The Emperor issued an edict reappointing him as the Commander of the Guangming Division and ordering Jiang Yuan to hand over the palace security duties to Wei Zhao once more. However, considering Wei Zhao’s recent recovery from serious injuries, the Emperor commanded him to rest at home, with Yi Wu managing the security affairs and reporting back to Wei Zhao at the Wei residence for final decisions.
Wei Zhao had visited the palace several times, but the urgent situation at the front lines kept everyone busy. Ning Jianyu, Gao Cheng, and Wang Lang’s combined forces were suffering continuous defeats at Lou Mountain. If not for the natural defenses of Niubi Mountain, Bo Yunshan would have nearly broken through Lou Mountain. Military reports poured in like snowflakes, and supplies were running short. The Emperor and his cabinet were overwhelmed with work. Whenever Wei Zhao entered the palace, he always left feeling dejected. Eventually, the Emperor simply issued an edict allowing Wei Zhao to recuperate at home without the need to enter the palace for regular audiences.
Seeing Wei Zhao come every night to eat, Jiang Ci lamented her fate as a cook, first serving the great crab and now this shameless cat. In frustration, she would intentionally leave salt out of the dishes or burn them, but Wei Zhao seemed not to notice. He would calmly finish his meal, drink a cup of tea, and then take a walk in the peach orchard before leaving.
After a few days of this, Jiang Ci gave up and returned to preparing good meals. Wei Zhao continued to eat quietly, rarely speaking.
One night, after finishing his tea, Wei Zhao stood at the cabin door for a moment before saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”
Jiang Ci, unsure of his meaning, saw him heading towards the peach orchard and hesitantly followed.
The spring breeze billowed Wei Zhao’s wide sleeves as he walked through the peach grove, resembling a white cloud drifting by. Jiang Ci followed behind him, listening to the soft footsteps and feeling the tranquility and fragrance of the spring night. It was as if she had returned to the Deng Family Village. Her heart, which had been adrift for over half a year, slowly began to settle in this moment.
As she gazed at the peach blossoms in the night, she suddenly realized that this was the most peaceful and relaxed she had felt since being caught in the whirlwind at Changfeng Manor last year. There was a time when she had desperately wanted to leave Deng Family Village and explore the world of martial arts, but after experiencing these tumultuous events, she discovered that what her heart truly desired was this very tranquility—
Wei Zhao stopped and turned to see Jiang Ci lost in thought, her expression serene and beautiful. He smiled and asked, “Thinking of home again?”
“Mm,” Jiang Ci nodded, slowly walking and gently touching the peach blossoms beside her. She said softly, “The peach blossoms on the mountain behind my home are just as beautiful as these in spring. My senior apprentice sister and I would collect the fallen petals and brew ‘peach blossom wine.'”
“You know how to brew wine?”
“It’s not difficult. It’s similar to your ‘red plum wine’ from Yueluo, but we add some dried peach blossoms. It’s less spicy and has a more delicate fragrance.”
Wei Zhao turned to gaze at the northwestern sky. The night was dark, with thick clouds obscuring the crescent moon. A shadow seemed to cross his features, but it disappeared in an instant, returning to calmness.
The night wind suddenly picked up, and they stood silently in the peach grove, no longer speaking.
The wind grew cooler, carrying a few peach petals onto Wei Zhao’s shoulders. Jiang Ci noticed and couldn’t help but reach out to gently brush them away.
Wei Zhao watched quietly as Jiang Ci placed the petals into a cloth bag at her side. A light rain began to fall with the wind. Jiang Ci looked up and met Wei Zhao’s bright gaze, as dazzling as a river of stars.
Startled by his intense look, Jiang Ci smiled at him.
The dim, yellow light from the nearby wooden cabin, the rain-kissed peach blossoms around them, and the clear, beautiful smile before him—Wei Zhao slowly reached out his hand and tucked a few strands of Jiang Ci’s rain-dampened hair behind her ear.
The coolness of his fingers reminded Jiang Ci of his cold body that night, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart again. Unable to meet his complex gaze, she lowered her head and, after a moment’s hesitation, said softly, “Third Young Master, you’ve only just recovered. You shouldn’t stay out in the rain. It’s better if you go back to rest early.”
Wei Zhao’s fingers froze. Deep in his heart, something seemed to be forcefully pushing outward, yet it felt as if a massive stone was pressing down on it, making it hard for him to breathe.
Hearing his breathing grow heavier, Jiang Ci feared his condition might worsen. She quickly stepped forward to support his right arm. “Third Young Master, are you alright?”
Wei Zhao let out a pained groan, suddenly closing his eyes. He pushed Jiang Ci away forcefully and disappeared into the night with a few leaps.
The rain intensified, soaking Wei Zhao’s long hair as he raced through the wind.
Why hadn’t he returned her to Pei Yan that day? Was it truly just because he didn’t want to reveal his true identity too soon?
And why had he been coming to this peach garden every day recently? Was it just to see these peach blossoms?
That night, amidst the misty spring rain, the sound of bells shattered the tranquility of the capital. Several riders on swift horses galloped from the city gates straight to the imperial palace. The purple staffs in their hands resembled streams of dark red blood, seeping through the massive, gold-plated copper-nail doors of the palace.
Wei Zhao stood for a long time in the shadow of a stone pillar on the east side of the imperial avenue, watching that stream of blood silently spread with the spring rain.
The Emperor awoke with a start from his sleep. Putting on his outer robe, he faced the situation he had been worried about for days, yet his expression showed no trace of joy or anger.
The high officials gathered in the Yanhui Palace, all with heavy hearts. Seeing the Emperor enter, they prostrated themselves, their cries of “Long live the Emperor” tinged with anxiety.
The Emperor spoke coldly, “Enough formalities. From where should we deploy troops, how should we deploy them, and who will lead them? Give me a plan immediately.”
The Minister of War, Shao Zihe, hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in days. His face was pale and dark with exhaustion, but he mustered his energy and said, “Your Majesty, to guard against a Huan Kingdom attack, we had originally stationed heavy troops along the northern line. But when the Huan Kingdom showed no movement, we diverted some forces to Lou Mountain to support General Ning. Now that the Huan Kingdom has broken through Cheng County and advanced 500 li south, the forces in Yunzhou, Yuzhou, and Gong’an are insufficient. Even if we deploy all the garrison troops from Donglai and Hexi, it may not be enough. If we don’t mobilize troops from the capital, we’ll have to withdraw forces from Lou Mountain.”
Prince Jing’s face was grave. “We can’t move the troops from Lou Mountain. Gao Cheng has just suffered a defeat, and Ning Jianyu is barely holding on. If we withdraw more forces, I fear the rebel Bo might break through Lou Mountain.”
Prince Zhuang, helpless, lowered his head without speaking.
Scholar Dong pondered for a moment before saying, “The forces retreating from Cheng County, combined with the garrison troops from Yunzhou and other areas, amount to less than 80,000. I fear they can’t withstand Huan Kingdom’s 150,000 cavalry. This time, their Second Prince is leading the army personally, and even Yi Han has taken to the battlefield. It seems they are determined to succeed. We must withdraw troops from Lou Mountain.”
The Crown Prince glanced at the Emperor’s expression and cautiously said, “Father, the question of who should lead the army is also quite thorny.”
The Emperor laughed angrily, “If there’s no one else, I’ll send you.”
The Crown Prince shuddered. Prince Jing inwardly laughed but kept a solemn face, pondering, “I wonder how Young Lord Shao’s injuries are. If he were here, Gao Cheng wouldn’t have been defeated so badly, and Huan wouldn’t have been able to break through Cheng Prefecture.”
Scholar Dong looked up, making eye contact with the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I suggest that Ning Jianyu and Gao Cheng continue to guard Lou Mountain. We should move Wang Lang’s troops to Yunzhou and put him in charge of the 80,000 troops in that area. He’s been in Changle for many years and is familiar with the Huan army’s battle tactics. He should be able to stop Huan’s southward advance. As for Lou Mountain, let Ning Jianyu transfer some troops from the southern line of Xiaojing River, and send one battalion from the capital region to reinforce Xiaojing River.”
The Emperor nodded slightly, “Wang Lang is more experienced than Gao Cheng. We can only do this.”
He turned to Minister of Revenue Xu Duan, “How’s the grain levy going?”
Xu Duan hurriedly took out a memorial from his sleeve and reported the grain numbers from various regions. The Emperor listened quietly, his mood improving slightly.
As Xu Duan reached the end, he hesitated slightly and said softly, “Yujian Prefecture has only completed 30% of its grain levy.”
The Emperor smiled, “Yujian Prefecture is known as the land of fish and rice, yet they’ve only submitted 30%. It seems the young Prince Qingde has been too indulgent in his pleasures and forgotten his duties.”
Scholar Dong understood the implication and smiled, “The young Prince Qingde isn’t so young anymore. Always indulging like this isn’t right. Why not officially grant him a princess consort to settle him down? It would surely ease Your Majesty’s worries.”
“Does Scholar Dong have a suitable candidate?”
As the Emperor and Scholar Dong carried on this exchange, everyone present understood the situation. With the Yue clan in the southwest declaring independence and the young Prince Qingde of Yujian Prefecture showing an ambiguous attitude, delaying military orders and government decrees, the Emperor couldn’t directly deal with him. The only option was to arrange a marriage, which could both placate him and serve as a warning, at least preventing him from joining forces with the Yue clan to cause trouble.
However, choosing the right bride was a delicate matter. To truly settle the young Prince Qingde, an ordinary noble family’s daughter wouldn’t suffice. Yet, as Prince Qingde was a member of the Xie imperial clan, it wouldn’t be appropriate to marry a princess to him.
Tao Xingde had a sudden inspiration and stepped forward, “Your Majesty, I think I have a suitable candidate.”
“Speak.”
“The niece of the late Empress Xiaomingzhi, the eldest daughter of Hanlin Academy scholar Tan Xuan. She’s intelligent, dignified, and quite renowned for her talents. She should be able to win over the young Prince Qingde’s heart.”
The Crown Prince’s face flashed with reluctance. The ministers saw this clearly, knowing he pitied his cousin. But with the country facing difficulties, Bo’s rebellion, and Huan’s southern invasion, if the young Prince Qingde were to make any moves, they would be fighting on three fronts, which would be extremely dangerous. They had to pacify the young Prince Qingde first and deal with the southwestern issue after settling the northern front.
Tan Xuan was the Crown Prince’s uncle and a renowned scholar who oversaw the compilation of history in the Hanlin Academy. He had disciples all over the world and was highly respected by the common people, as well as being revered by the “pure stream” faction. If his daughter were to marry the young Prince Qingde, it would make it difficult for the prince to rebel without risking losing public support.
However, once the northern war was settled, it was clear that the Emperor intended to deal with the young Prince Qingde. At that time, the fate of this young lady from the Tan family would become precarious.
The Emperor pondered for a moment and said, “There are no other suitable candidates. Let’s do this. Scholar Dong, draft the edict.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As all matters were discussed, it was already dawn.
The Crown Prince left Yanhuai Hall with slightly red eyes. Prince Jing walked behind him and said softly, “Elder Brother, don’t be sad. We’ll find a way to bring the young Prince Qingde to the capital as an idle prince in the future.”
The Crown Prince sighed, “Aunt only has this one biological daughter. I’ve truly failed the Empress Dowager.”
Prince Jing said, “Let’s hope the northern war can be settled quickly, and the young Prince Qingde will be sensible.”
The Crown Prince squinted at the pale horizon and shook his head, “Huan’s southern invasion is very dangerous.”
Prince Jing also sighed, “Indeed, it’s perilous.”
Both of them stood with their hands behind their backs, gazing absent-mindedly at the northern sky, no longer speaking.
Wei Zhao, with his hands clasped, silently walked past the two from behind and entered Yanhuai Hall.
Seeing An Chen hurrying in, Pei Yan stopped his sword practice and tossed the long sword to his maid Yingtao. An Chen said, “My Lord, Master Jin has arrived.”
Pei Yan smiled, “It’s about time.”
Jin Ming, Prince Jing’s strategist, saw An Chen coming out with an unusual expression and hurriedly asked, “Is the Prime Minister—”
An Chen said, “The Prime Minister’s injuries haven’t fully healed, and he caught a chill last night. I’ll have to ask Master Jin to move to another room.”
Jin Ming quickly said, “Thank you for your trouble, Master An.”
Jin Ming followed An Chen through the front hall and across the courtyard. Soon, he smelled strong herbal medicines, and after careful identification, he realized they were mostly used for treating external injuries. His mood became heavy, knowing that Prime Minister Pei’s injuries probably hadn’t healed yet, and he might not be able to complete the task assigned by the Prince.
The room was dimly lit, and Jin Ming took a while to adjust. He finally saw Pei Yan’s pale face as he reclined on the couch. Jin Ming hurried forward and said, “Jin Ming pays his respects to the Prime Minister.”
Pei Yan covered his mouth and coughed lightly a few times, “I’ve been negligent in receiving you, Master Jin.”
“The Prime Minister is too kind. Jin Ming feels honored.” Jin Ming’s face showed concern, “Before I left the capital, the Prince repeatedly instructed me to ask the Prime Minister to take care of his health. He also asked me to bring some specially made medicine from the palace.” He took out a small wooden box from his sleeve and handed it to An Chen.
A maid came in, and Pei Yan drank the medicine she brought, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said softly, “Please thank the Prince for his concern. Please report back to him that Pei Yan dares not forget the Prince’s kindness and will recover as soon as possible. I’ve had people find a few rare books, hoping to enjoy them with the Prince when I return to the capital.”
Jin Ming hesitated. Pei Yan waved his hand, and An Chen and the maid withdrew. Jin Ming stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Prime Minister, the Prince said that if your injuries have greatly improved, perhaps you could find a way to return to the capital. The current situation is somewhat unfavorable.”
Pei Yan slowly sat up, “How so?”
“Huan has broken the peace treaty. An army of 150,000 has invaded southward, attacking the area around Yunzhou. His Majesty has already handed over the 80,000 troops in that area to Wang Lang.”
Pei Yan frowned, “That’s to the Crown Prince’s advantage.”
“Yes, and His Majesty has also decreed to marry the Crown Prince’s cousin to the young Prince Qingde as his principal wife. If the young Prince Qingde can remain stable as a prince in the future, he will be a strong supporter of the Crown Prince. If anything happens, His Majesty will surely—out of guilt towards the late Empress—treat the Crown Prince—”
Pei Yan pondered, “There’s no rush for that. I’ll have ways to deal with it in the future.”
Jin Ming was delighted, “Of course. The Prince said that if you were in the capital, there would be no problem that couldn’t be solved.”
Pei Yan slowly lay back on the couch and sighed, “I only regret that my body doesn’t cooperate with my wishes. Now, I want to help the Prince with all my heart, but I’m willing in spirit yet weak in flesh.”
Jin Ming sighed, “There’s nothing we can do about it. We can only wait until you recover, Prime Minister, before we can discuss further plans.”
“Mm.” Pei Yan coughed lightly and said, “Please report back to the Prince that as soon as my injuries improve a bit more, I will return to the capital. At that time, I’ll need the Prince’s assistance.”
Jin Ming nodded quickly, “Of course. The Prince is just waiting for your word.”
Pei Yan stood by the window, watching Jin Ming leave the garden. He turned around with a smile, walked to his desk, and wrote down a line of poetry with ease. Looking at the ink characters on the paper, he felt quite satisfied and smiled. However, An Chen hurriedly walked in and whispered a few words close to him.
Pei Yan’s brush paused, his brows furrowed slightly, then smoothed out. He said calmly, “How did she escape?”
An Chen lowered his head, “It was An Chen’s failure to judge people. Please punish me, my Lord.”
Pei Yan put down his brush, pondered for a moment, and said, “Was Ming Fei taken away just for her beauty? It doesn’t seem so. Investigate him more thoroughly.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Pei Yan thought for another moment and called out, “Yingtao.”
The maid Yingtao entered, and Pei Yan said, “Bring me that silver snow pearl fox fur coat.”
Looking at the two scorched holes in the hem of the fox fur coat, Pei Yan was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly and said to An Chen, “Send someone to deliver this fox fur coat to the Third Young Master.”