In the grand capital, the majestic Nine-Story Imperial Palace stood tall. Inside the Yan Hui Hall, the debate over the “Tan Ding Law” had been ongoing for most of the day. The back of Prince Zhuang was already soaked with sweat, feeling like a mouse caught in a bellow—suffering from both sides.
Since the implementation of the “Tan Ding Law,” it has faced fierce resistance from prominent families and noble clans. Although the nation was in peril, these aristocratic families were unwilling to openly oppose it, yet they were equally reluctant to comply. The statistics on landholdings and the number of people and servants were still not compiled, and the silver that was supposed to be submitted was nowhere to be seen. As the responsible prince, he was anxious and overwhelmed, his thoughts also lingering on his maternal family in Hexi, which was facing the threat of war. After a month, he had lost a significant amount of weight.
The hall was still filled with disputes and arguments, and the emperor’s expression had darkened like the twilight outside. The palace attendants trembled slightly as they lit the large candles.
The Crown Prince glanced up at the emperor’s face, filled with concern, while Prince Jing stood calmly to the side, saying little. Scholar Dong and the recently returned Duke Pei Zifang from the cabinet also remained silent.
This court meeting was a grand assembly, necessitated by the enforcement of the “Tan Ding Law.” All officials of the fifth rank and above, as well as noble lords, were required to attend, including many idle aristocrats. Each person was racking their brains to evade taxes, and in the end, many unsavory matters were dragged out in mutual accusations. The emperor sat on the throne, his hands trembling slightly.
Suddenly, three urgent clangs of a bronze bell echoed from the Nine-Story Palace Gate. Everyone in the hall looked up in shock, their unfinished words caught in their throats. Moments later, the ringing grew closer, soon reaching the white jade steps outside the hall.
Jiang Yuan rushed into the hall with two others, who immediately fell to the ground. Attendant Tao had already rushed down the steps, taking an urgent military report from one person and quickly returning to the throne to present it to the emperor.
The emperor had been mentally prepared since the bell rang, but as he opened the military report and looked down, the black characters still made him dizzy. His internal energy surged uncontrollably, a wave of metallic sweetness rising in his throat. He trembled as he tried to suppress it, but ultimately, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and he slumped weakly onto the throne.
The military report in his hand fell with a “thud” onto the brocade mat embroidered with a “Nine Dragons” design.
The hall erupted into chaos. It was Scholar Dong and Pei Zifang who reacted quickly, simultaneously pushing the Crown Prince and Prince Jing forward. The Crown Prince and Prince Jing stumbled up to the throne, supporting the emperor. “Father!” they cried.
Scholars Dong, Pei Zifang, and Tao Xingde followed closely behind. The Crown Prince anxiously shouted, “Summon the Imperial Physician!”
Prince Zhuang’s face had already turned pale. Amid the chaos, he slowly walked up to the throne, picked up the military report, and scanned it. The color drained from his face, and his legs gave way as he collapsed onto the brocade mat.
Since the emperor was a martial artist, the ministers feared he had “lost control of his energy” and did not dare to move him. It was not until the Imperial Physician arrived and stabilized his heart pulse with acupuncture that they carefully lifted the emperor’s body to the cabinet.
At this point, the emperor’s eyes were tightly closed, his face shrouded in a layer of black mist, his breath faint and barely discernible. Scholar Dong and Pei Zifang ordered the Imperial Physician to continue administering acupuncture and medicine while instructing Jiang Yuan to quickly close the palace doors. All civil and military officials were to remain in the main hall, forbidden to move about or converse freely.
Chief Physician Zhang led a large group of physicians surrounding the emperor, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. The Crown Prince, anxious, shouted at the side, prompting Scholar Dong to escort him out.
Before long, the two returned. The Crown Prince had regained some composure, and Chief Physician Zhang approached him. “Crown Prince,” he said.
Seeing him hesitate, the Crown Prince urged, “Speak quickly!”
Tao Xingde also helped Prince Zhuang over. Chief Physician Zhang glanced around the hall, and Scholar Dong ordered the other physicians to step outside, leaving only the Crown Prince, Prince Zhuang, Prince Jing, Scholar Dong, Pei Zifang, and Tao Xingde inside.
Scholar Dong calmly said, “Chief Physician Zhang, please speak plainly.”
“Yes,” Chief Physician Zhang wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “The emperor’s anger has disrupted his true energy, which is why he fainted. But the most critical issue is—”
Prince Zhuang kicked him, demanding, “What is it?! Speak!”
“It is, it is—” Chief Physician Zhang finally said, “It is that the pills the emperor has been taking have too much fire and cold poison mixed, accumulating over time. I fear—”
“I fear what?!” Prince Jing asked sharply.
Chief Physician Zhang knelt before the Crown Prince, repeatedly bowing his head. Scholar Dong sighed and said, “Chief Physician Zhang, please rise.”
Once Chief Physician Zhang stood, Scholar Dong asked gently, “Is there a way to treat him?”
Chief Physician Zhang fell silent. Scholar Dong and Pei Zifang exchanged knowing glances and turned to the Crown Prince. After a long moment, the Crown Prince finally understood and looked at Prince Jing and Prince Zhuang. Their eyes met, and they all exchanged a fleeting glance. The Crown Prince turned to see Scholar Dong slightly nodding and finally said, “Chief Physician Zhang, you may proceed with the treatment. I grant you immunity from blame.”
Chief Physician Zhang sighed in relief and added, “The emperor’s meridians are currently blocked, making it difficult for medicine to enter. I will need the assistance of a master of internal martial arts.”
Everyone turned their gaze to Pei Zifang, who bowed to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince stepped forward, grasping his hands, his voice choked with emotion. “Uncle Pei, I rely on you for everything.”
On the first day of the fifth month in the fifth year of the Hua Dynasty, news of the loss of Hexi reached the capital. The emperor, furious and distressed, fainted in Yan Hui Hall. The Imperial Physicians used medicine for days but could not awaken him, and he remained gravely ill.
After the news of the loss of Hexi and the death of the High Minister Guo reached the imperial harem, the Noble Consort fainted on the spot and refused to eat upon waking.
Following an emergency discussion in the cabinet, during the emperor’s illness, the Crown Prince was temporarily appointed to oversee the state, while the harem was managed by the birth mother of Prince Jing, Noble Consort Wen.
To pray for blessings from the heavens for the emperor’s swift recovery and to hope for the frontline soldiers to turn the tide and repel the Huan army from the Hexi plains, the Crown Prince issued an edict granting amnesty to the entire nation.
With the loss of Hexi and the capital in danger, the cabinet discussed and the Crown Prince issued an edict to urgently summon thirty thousand troops from Cangping Prefecture to advance along the Xiaoshui River to protect the capital. Meanwhile, thirty thousand troops south of the Jing River were to retreat north of the capital, and additional troops were to be urgently recruited from Wengzhou, Luowu Prefecture, and Hongzhou to support the Changfeng Cavalry.
The loss of Hexi shook the Hua Dynasty, and a large number of civilians fleeing the battlefield from the Hexi plains poured into the capital, causing rice prices to soar and food shortages to arise. The noble families of the twelve prefectures in the Xiaoshui plains quietly retreated south. After discussions with the Crown Prince, the cabinet appointed the highly respected Scholar Tan Xuan as the Minister of the Three Departments to manage the relief of refugees. The “First Imperial Merchant,” the Rong family, stepped forward during the national crisis, opening their granaries to stabilize rice prices and leading donations of money and goods for military supplies. Inspired by the Rong family, wealthy families in the capital began donating money and supplies, continuously sending military rations to the front lines, gradually stabilizing public sentiment.
In the night breeze, the sound of hooves transitioned from hurried to slow, eventually turning into a gentle “clip-clop.”
Jiang Ci no longer urged her horse forward, allowing it to stroll ahead. The crisp sound of hooves, accompanied by the croaking of frogs in the fields, made her heart restless.
The horse seemed to sense her deep sigh, stopping by a patch of grass.
Jiang Ci stood in a daze for a moment, stroking the horse’s mane, and softly said, “You don’t want to leave either, do you?”
The horse snorted in response, lowering its head to graze. Jiang Ci couldn’t help but look back at the northern night sky, momentarily seeing the wounded soldiers in the camp, then the figure standing on a stone, gazing longingly at home.
The wind swept across the fields, and she seemed to hear a faint sound of a flute. The night mist gently rolled across the fields, like a thin veil over her heart, wanting to lift it but also feeling a bit afraid to face it.
Inside the tent, the candlelight gradually burned down, yet Pei Yan remained silent.
Outside the tent, the sound of crickets mixed with increasingly close and soft footsteps.
Pei Yan suddenly turned around, and Jiang Ci lifted the curtain to enter. Upon seeing Pei Yan, she took a small step back, then stopped, remaining silent for a moment before calmly saying, “Lord Xiang, what are you doing here?”
Pei Yan stared at her, standing still. After a long while, he said lightly, “Did you not leave? Why are you back?”
Jiang Ci fell silent again, slowly walking to the corner of the tent to remove the military coat she had previously put on over her clothes. She adjusted her military attire without turning back. “I’m not leaving anymore.”
“Why not?” Pei Yan gazed at her back.
Jiang Ci turned around and met Pei Yan’s gaze. Her clear, water-like eyes made him squint slightly, and he heard her calm voice: “I’ve come to understand some things, so I’ve decided to return and not leave.”
Pei Yan silently watched Jiang Ci, who smiled and said, “Lord Xiang, you are injured. You should rest early. I need to go to the medical tent; Doctor Ling and the others are overwhelmed.”
As she spoke, she turned to leave.
Pei Yan suddenly coughed violently. Jiang Ci paused, hearing his cough grow increasingly severe, and finally turned back to support him.
After Pei Yan finished coughing, he looked at her and slowly said, “Do you want to be a military physician?”
“—Yes.”
Pei Yan’s lips curled slightly. “If you want to be a military physician, why hasn’t the medicine for your commander been prepared yet?”
Jiang Ci exclaimed, “Xiao Tian and the others haven’t—”
Pei Yan coldly interrupted, “If you want to stay with my Changfeng Cavalry as a military physician, you must follow the commander’s orders. Go, bring the medicine stove here and prepare the medicine. Once it’s ready, I will take it here.”
Jiang Ci had no choice but to fetch the small medicine stove from the medical tent. Doctor Ling, knowing her special status, merely glanced at her without asking further.
Jiang Ci poured the medicine into the pot and placed it on the stove. Pei Yan sat cross-legged on the grass mat, quietly watching her profile. He suddenly patted the ground beside him. Jiang Ci lowered her head and sat down next to him.
The fragrance of the medicine gradually filled the tent.
After a long silence, Pei Yan suddenly spoke, seemingly with a bitter smile, “An—Cheng, the first time I met you, I was drinking medicine.”
Upon hearing “An Cheng,” Jiang Ci recalled the day Pei Yan held An Cheng’s lifeless body, crying to the heavens. She sighed softly and said, “Lord Xiang, please accept my condolences.”
Pei Yan seemed lost in thought, gazing at the rising mist from the medicine pot, his eyes somewhat hazy. “Since I was two years old, I have been practicing martial arts, often soaking in the Baoping Spring and various medicinal liquids, and I had to drink a lot of extremely bitter medicine every day. It wasn’t until I was seven when my true energy reached a small level of success, that I stopped drinking medicine.”
Jiang Ci remembered the night of the banquet at the Xiang residence and the night of healing in the Baoping Spring, recalling his words, silently advising her.
“An Cheng was the same age as me, just a few months older. I remember clearly that Steward Pei brought him to the Baoping Spring while I was drinking medicine. That kid thought I was a sickly child and, relying on his experience fighting with a group of orphans in Nan’an Prefecture, looked down on me.” Pei Yan seemed to recall something amusing, smiling slightly.
Jiang Ci had long known he was a formidable character in his youth and couldn’t help but smile. “Lord Xiang, what did you do? Brother An must have suffered greatly.”
Pei Yan recalled that boy he had once dealt with harshly at the Baoping Spring, and his smile gradually faded, his tone turning somewhat bitter. “It was nothing. I just made him acknowledge me as the boss and follow my orders.”
Since entering the Xiang residence, Jiang Ci had often seen An Cheng. She had always thought of him as a crab claw, wishing to sever it in anger. But witnessing his tragic death on the battlefield, knowing he had sacrificed himself to protect the lives of thirty thousand Changfeng Cavalry soldiers and to halt the Huan army’s advance southward, her impression of him changed significantly. She deeply respected him and couldn’t help but sigh, “Brother An must have endured a lot of hardships.”
“Yes.” Pei Yan tilted his head slightly. Over the past few days, he had been burdened with pent-up emotions, pain, and guilt that he could not dispel. At this moment, it felt as if he needed to vent: “For the past eighteen years, he has followed me without ever disobeying my orders. Sometimes, when I was frustrated during training, I would hit him a few times, and he would just grit his teeth and endure it. When Yu De and I occasionally snuck down the mountain to wander and indulge in the pleasures of Nan’an Prefecture, he and Xu Jun would disguise themselves as us and stay at the Biwu Grass Hall. Once, when my mother discovered them, she locked them in the ice cellar, nearly freezing them to death. Yu De and I fainted from kneeling before we were finally let out.”
The image and laughter of the person buried today seemed to be right before his eyes, but alongside it flashed the sight of blood-soaked clothes riddled with arrow holes. The pain in Pei Yan’s brow deepened, and he spoke as if to himself, recalling fragmented memories—sometimes mentioning An Cheng fighting bravely in battle, and at other times jumping back to their youthful days at thirteen or fourteen.
Jiang Ci understood his pent-up emotions and listened silently, not interrupting.
The scent of medicine grew stronger. Jiang Ci stood up and added more fire to the stove. Pei Yan stared at the flames, lost in thought for a long time, before suddenly calling out, “Xiao Ci.”
Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment and softly replied, “Hmm.”
Pei Yan reached down to untie the bandage on his right leg. Seeing that his left arm was somewhat inconvenient, Jiang Ci knelt in front of him and gently unfastened the bindings. Pei Yan rolled up his pant leg, and Jiang Ci saw a scar about the size of a bowl on the lower part of his right knee as if a chunk had been gouged out, a shocking sight.
Pei Yan lightly caressed the scar, his throat tight with emotion. “That year, during the bloody battle at Qilin Mountain against the Huan army, I led twenty thousand men to hold back fifty thousand enemy troops at the pass. The commander of the Huan army at that time was Bu Daoyuan. I was young and impulsive, relying on my lightness of foot to leap down from the pass and slay Bu Daoyuan. With An Cheng’s assistance, I climbed back up the pass, but I was shot in the leg by Bu Daoyuan’s deputy with an arrow.
“I was careless and busy commanding the battle, I didn’t notice that the arrowhead was poisoned. After two days of fierce fighting, when we annihilated those fifty thousand troops at Qilin Mountain, I discovered that the poison was spreading, and I fell into a coma.
“At that time, there were no herbs to be found on the battlefield. An Cheng cut away the necrotic flesh and sucked the poison from my wound with his mouth, which saved my life. However, he remained unconscious for three months until I found good medicine to wake him.”
His voice grew softer, and Jiang Ci could see that his once-bright eyes were now clouded with a thin mist.
Silently, Jiang Ci helped him lower his pant leg and re-tied the bandage, returning to her place. She spoke softly, “Lord Xiang, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Brother An died on the battlefield, saving so many lives. Wrapped in horsehide, he died with honor. If he has a spirit in heaven, seeing you like this would only trouble him.”
Pei Yan felt increasingly distressed and coughed a few times. After coughing, he said quietly, “He could have left differently; it’s all my fault.”
Hearing the deep regret in his words, Jiang Ci turned to look at him. Pei Yan stared blankly at the flickering flames in the stove and said softly, “If, I hadn’t insisted on using others to weaken the Gao family’s power, they wouldn’t have been forced back to Qingmaogu; if I hadn’t been overconfident and underestimated Yu Wen Jinglun and the person beside him; if I hadn’t been so arrogant and wasted time at Niubi Mountain, he wouldn’t have—”
Since Jiang Ci had known Pei Yan, apart from the time he lost control at the birthday banquet, she had always seen him as confident, ruthless, and composed. She had never witnessed him in such a state of self-reproach and regret, and she found it difficult to offer comfort. After a long pause, she finally said, “Lord Xiang, don’t blame me for being blunt. If you could go back to a month ago, you would still do the same.”
Pei Yan was taken aback, remaining silent for a long time before nodding slightly. “Yes, if I could go back to a month ago, I would still rush to Niubi Mountain first, still use others to eliminate the Gao family of Hexi. I just wouldn’t be so reckless; I would make proper arrangements.”
“But, Lord, there is no road back in this world, nor is there any medicine for regret. Some things, once done wrong, can never be undone.”
Pei Yan sighed, “Yes, regretting now is useless. I truly didn’t expect Yu Wen Jinglun to be so formidable, and the Huan army is certainly not just a bunch of brave men.”
Jiang Ci said softly, “Lord, not everything and everyone in this world is under your control.”
Pei Yan looked at her with a bitter smile. “Are you mocking me or comforting me?”
Jiang Ci lowered her head, her voice barely audible. “I’m just speaking the truth. If you don’t want to hear it, then don’t.”
Pei Yan suddenly laughed heartily. “Yes, you speak the truth. Including Zi Ming, including San Lang, even you, are not under my control.”
Jiang Ci did not respond. She stood up to check the medicine, seeing it was just right, and reached to take the pot off the stove but burned herself slightly, quickly retracting her hand.
Pei Yan approached, frowning. “Still so careless!” He reached out to grasp her hands.
Jiang Ci hurriedly stepped back two paces, and Pei Yan’s hand froze in mid-air.
Pei Yan felt a bit awkward and sat back down. Jiang Ci wrapped her hands in her military coat, lifted the pot, and slowly poured the medicine into a bowl. Once the medicine was no longer scalding, she offered it to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan glanced at her and drank it all in one go. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, “You still need to change my dressing and do acupuncture.”
Jiang Ci quickly replied, “You should let Brother Cui help you—”
“Zi Ming is the strategist and needs to oversee the frontline defenses. What? After learning for so long, you still can’t do acupuncture? My Changfeng Cavalry doesn’t accept such military physicians.” Pei Yan said coldly.
Jiang Ci had no choice but to return to the medical tent to prepare the herbs again, bringing back the medicine box.
Pei Yan sat still, and Jiang Ci stepped forward to help him remove his upper garment. Pei Yan’s right arm moved slightly, causing Jiang Ci to flinch back.
Pei Yan’s eyes flashed with sharpness as he stared at her, slowly saying, “Are you—afraid—of—me?”
Jiang Ci did not answer, skillfully changing his dressing and applying the medicine. She then took out the silver needles, found the right acupoints, and inserted them one by one. After finishing, she looked up and met Pei Yan’s gaze, her tone very calm. “Lord, you and San Ye are both people who will accomplish great things. I, Jiang Ci, have no great abilities, but I also have things I believe are worth doing. If you think the Changfeng Cavalry can use another medicine boy or military physician, then keep me here. You don’t need to send someone to watch over me. The older brothers of the Changfeng Guard should be on the battlefield fighting enemies, not monitoring someone useless like me.”
Pei Yan’s face flashed with anger, and his breathing grew heavier. He stared at Jiang Ci for a long time, suddenly realizing that this calm and composed version of her was vastly different from the playful girl he had known. After a while, he coldly said, “Starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for treating my injuries and must not be negligent.”
Jiang Ci lowered her head and softly replied, “Yes.”
“Also.” Pei Yan paused and said, “You will be responsible for treating only me. You don’t need to care for the other injured soldiers.”
Jiang Ci thought for a moment and shook her head. “That’s not acceptable.”
Pei Yan was annoyed. “Are you refusing to follow the commander’s orders?”
Jiang Ci smiled slightly. “I’ve heard that you treat your soldiers like your own children. Right now, the medical tent is understaffed. If I only treat you, not only will I not fulfill my ambition to learn medicine, but it will also ruin your good intentions of treating your soldiers as your own.”
Pei Yan’s gaze flickered, and after a long time, he said, “Fine. You do your thing, but if there’s a message from my command tent, you must receive it.”
Jiang Ci replied calmly, “Thank you, Lord.”
After a quarter of an hour, she removed the silver needles one by one. Pei Yan still sat motionless, and she gently helped him put on his clothes. Seeing that he remained still, she knelt in front of him to tie his clothing.
As she lowered her head, her expression was serene as water. Pei Yan suddenly recalled last winter when she sat under the big tree at Biwu Grass Hall, tilting her head to catch sunflower seeds. His right hand moved slightly but ultimately did not reach out.
Jiang Ci finished tying the knot and softly said, “Lord, you should rest early. If you recover soon, the Changfeng Cavalry can drive the Huan army back.”
Pei Yan looked at her for a moment in silence, then stood up. As he walked to the tent entrance, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but call out, “Lord.”
Pei Yan paused but did not turn back.
Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment and said, “Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to stay.”
Pei Yan turned his head and smiled slightly. “My Changfeng Cavalry doesn’t mind having one more female military physician; it just depends on whether you have the ability.”
He paused and added, “Looking at your complexion, you haven’t slept well for several days. You should rest early today.” He glanced at her again before exiting the tent.
Once Pei Yan had left, Jiang Ci hurried to the medical tent.
It was nearly midnight, and the tent was still bustling with activity. Jiang Ci placed the medicine pot on the stove and went to help the injured soldiers change their dressings. Seeing a few people in pain, and with Doctor Ling and the others overwhelmed, she tried using the acupuncture techniques that Cui Liang had taught her, successfully finding the relevant acupoints.
Once the medicine was ready, she ground the herbs into a paste, prepared everything, and walked toward Wei Zhao’s tent.
Seeing her approach, Zong Sheng lifted the tent flap and smiled. “Why are you so late today?” Jiang Ci smiled back, entering the tent and noticing Wei Zhao meditating with his eyes closed, so she stood quietly to the side.
Wei Zhao exhaled a long breath, opened his eyes, and looked Jiang Ci up and down before nodding. Jiang Ci presented the medicine, and Wei Zhao drank it all, casually saying, “You still remember to bring me medicine.”
Jiang Ci’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she replied softly, “I won’t be this late again.”
She opened the medicine box, and Wei Zhao lay down on the bench, his gaze slightly askew as he watched Jiang Ci for a long time before suddenly asking, “Why did you come back?”
Jiang Ci’s hand trembled, causing the needle to go slightly off target. Wei Zhao inhaled sharply, and Jiang Ci quickly pulled out the silver needle, noticing blood seeping out. She turned back to the medicine box to find some gauze. Wei Zhao teased, “You still need to learn more from Brother Cui.”
Jiang Ci pressed down on the needle site, seeing Wei Zhao’s teasing smile, and turned her face away. After a moment, she said softly, “San Ye, you don’t need to send anyone to protect me anymore.”
“Alright.” Wei Zhao replied decisively, then impatiently added, “Enough.”
Jiang Ci hurriedly released her grip, calming herself, and found the right acupoint to insert the silver needle. After finishing, she sat down beside Wei Zhao, unable to suppress her fatigue, and yawned.
Wei Zhao glanced at her pale face and suddenly reached out, a surge of true energy flowing from Jiang Ci’s meridians into him. Jiang Ci flinched, but Wei Zhao tightened his grip.
She smiled gratefully at Wei Zhao, allowing him to hold her wrist, feeling his true energy gradually entering her body, driving away the fatigue and exhaustion of the past few days.