When Gu Tianxiang walked into the courtyard, his eyes lit up. Lanterns hung throughout the courtyard, several large braziers blazed, and the crabapple trees, warmed by the heat, looked all the more vibrant—their deep red blossoms burning brilliantly amid the hazy lantern light. Liu Jue lounged lazily in a chair, drinking wine.

He strode over and sat down beneath the flowering trees as well, pouring himself a cup. The moment the wine touched his lips, he frowned. He couldn’t help but say, “Departing Souls’ Intoxication?”

Liu Jue raised his eyebrows in mock astonishment. “How rare! This is the first time Young Master Gu has spoken up on his own initiative when visiting me!”

Gu Tianxiang shot him a cold glance. “You think I don’t know? I assumed it was that Cheng Qing’s doing, turns out it was yours.”

Liu Jue smiled faintly. “Knew I couldn’t hide it from you. These subordinates of mine are useless too—should’ve kept their distance once they spotted you.”

Gu Tianxiang said nothing, his mind turning. Why had Liu Jue sent someone to follow that Cheng Qing?

“Following closely does have its benefits though—they reported that this afternoon, General Tianxiang laughed a total of six times. Six times!” Liu Jue suddenly sat up straight, exaggeratedly widening his eyes, wagging a finger in front of Gu Tianxiang’s face. “Tianxiang, you won’t be allowed to laugh again this whole year—you used up an entire year’s worth in one afternoon. How could I not go buy some Departing Souls’ Intoxication to try, after that? Tsk tsk, six times, and you actually laughed six times.”

Gu Tianxiang kept a stern face, though a flicker of amusement crossed his cold eyes. This was just how Liu Jue was—his expressions exaggerated like a child’s at times. He didn’t respond, downing the wine in his cup in one gulp. The wine really was excellent—warmed, its mellow fragrance bloomed richly—and he couldn’t help but envy Liu Jue a little, that even in the dead of winter he could arrange his garden this beautifully.

“Forcing these flowers to bloom in the depths of winter took real effort. Good thing it worked—managed to force them open after all,” Liu Jue murmured, gazing entranced at the tree full of red blossoms.

Gu Tianxiang said nothing more, drinking his Departing Souls’ Intoxication cup by cup. In his childhood, he and Liu Jue had spent two years as study companions alongside the imperial princes. Liu Jue had been mischievous and lively, he introspective and quiet. Different in status, he’d kept his father’s admonitions firmly in mind, yet in his heart he deeply admired Liu Jue’s free-spirited nature, doing whatever he pleased. And with Liu Jue’s warmth, he’d been willing to follow him, and the two had become close. Now, both stationed in Linnan City, they gathered from time to time to drink and chat, living a carefree, contented existence. He’d always been a man of few words, while Liu Jue, cheerful and playful, could entertain himself even without company. The two had grown accustomed over time to one talking to himself while the other stayed silent.

“Ah! This Departing Souls’ Intoxication really is excellent, and what a name! I think I’m getting a bit drunk. Tianxiang, why did you laugh six times seeing that person today?” Liu Jue finally couldn’t hold back and asked.

Liu Ying, standing attentively to the side, sighed inwardly. His lord lost all composure the moment the Third Young Miss came up—looked calm on the surface, but inside he was surely anxious as anything. Sure enough, Gu Tianxiang said nothing, sipping his wine unhurriedly, and only after a long pause did he ask slowly, “Do you have a taste for men?”

Liu Jue choked on his wine, coughing until his handsome face flushed red. He adjusted his breathing, working his internal energy to settle himself, then looked down his nose at Gu Tianxiang. “That’s right—those eyes look just like A’Luo’s.”

Gu Tianxiang frowned. Three years ago, it was said that Liu Jue’s intended bride, the Chancellor’s Third Young Miss, had been abducted to the south, and Liu Jue had furiously razed the bandits along the way. He’d then remained despondent in the military, refusing to return to Feng City, the scene of his heartbreak. Now it seemed to have gotten worse—even a man with similar eyes hadn’t escaped his notice. No wonder Cheng Qing had seemed familiar—his eyes resembled those in the portrait. He was silent for a moment, then finally said, “That Cheng Qing isn’t an enemy spy—he seems to come from a distinguished family, speaks with unusual refinement. I’m afraid he wouldn’t agree to what you’re thinking.”

“Right, I followed him around for a while and still haven’t decided whether to make a move,” Liu Jue said, gazing at a crabapple blossom trembling slightly in the cold wind, a faint smile on his lips.

Gu Tianxiang, thinking of Cheng Qing, felt a pang of regret. Such a remarkable person, unlucky enough to have eyes so similar to hers. He couldn’t help but sigh softly.

“You sigh too? Willing to smile for him, sigh for him, and you’ve only just met—you’re not going to compete with your brother for him, are you?” Liu Jue teased.

He actually cares this much?! Gu Tianxiang could hardly believe his own ears. Since he’d already laughed and already sighed, why not startle him once more? Gu Tianxiang said, expression cold: “Competing wouldn’t bother me. It’s been a while since we’ve fought, anyway.”

Liu Jue froze. His grip tightened. The wine in his cup swayed. He downed it in one gulp. Gu Tianxiang felt a mixture of amusement and tenderness—though he was a year older than Liu Jue, it had always been him looking after Liu Jue since childhood more than the reverse. “That Cheng Qing truly has features carved as if from jade, composed and natural in bearing—no one without a distinguished upbringing carries himself with such grace. Our conversation flowed so naturally. He seems to know many novel things I don’t. Quite remarkable.”

“That’s the most I’ve ever heard you praise anyone. And such unrelenting praise too,” Liu Jue said, a bit sullen. He wasn’t sure why, but he’d desperately wanted to hear news of A’Luo from Gu Tianxiang’s mouth. Now that he had, it left him unsettled.

“I was thinking of paying him a visit, sharing wine and conversation with him again,” Gu Tianxiang added evenly, fanning the flames further.

Liu Jue snorted inwardly, a wicked little smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Oh, in that case, I’ll tell you now—he lives at Changle Tavern in the West District.”

Gu Tianxiang sensed something was off—Liu Jue should be angry, yet here he was almost encouraging him to go find Cheng Qing. He silently finished his wine and stood. “It’s getting late. I’ll head back to camp.”

Just as he turned to leave, Liu Jue chuckled softly. “The lovely lady who brewed the Departing Souls’ Intoxication should be playing her zither about now. Ah, it’s started snowing. Liu Ying, remember to give General Tianxiang an oil-paper umbrella to take with him.”

Liu Ying suppressed a laugh. “General, this way please.” Gu Tianxiang’s back stiffened. A wave of killing intent flashed instantly.

Liu Jue laughed softly again. “My cold-faced, warm-hearted general—if you like someone, just like them, what’s there to be embarrassed about.”

Gu Tianxiang stamped his foot, shooting Liu Jue a resentful glare, and stormed off with a stern expression from the Liu residence.

Liu Jue laughed heartily. He finally felt a bit better. The fine snowflakes fell thicker and thicker. He sat quietly for a while, murmuring to himself, “Tomorrow will be cold. I wonder if Changle Tavern will have good warmed wine as well.”

None of the Five Young Masters of Feng City had expected to run into this Gu Tianxiang, the one who’d escaped their group, all the way out in Linnan. This Gu Tianxiang, with his outwardly pleasant but guarded demeanor, had kept probing into her background throughout their friendly conversation—wary, though it was woven naturally into the chat, not someone easy to deal with. And Liu Jue, now titled Pingnan General, was also here in Linnan City. These two now commanded, respectively, the army and the navy. When would she run into Liu Jue? What had he become over these three years? Walking home after parting with Gu Tianxiang, A’Luo remained lost in thought the whole way.

Not long after leaving Feng City, she’d started hearing rumors about Liu Jue along the road. The common folk spoke of him with both respect and fear—saying he’d wiped out bandits to protect the people, and also that he was ruthless, killing without blinking. Overall, more people spoke well of him than ill, since he’d governed the Southern Army with such strict discipline. A’Luo, hearing these descriptions, thought of the Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention. She didn’t understand military management; in the modern world, from childhood on, this was her only impression of a good army serving the people.

Seventh Madam and Xiao Yu had once worried aloud whether, if they ran into Liu Jue, he’d have them captured and taken back. A’Luo had laughed. “Wouldn’t the Chancellor’s household have people searching too? Zili’s probably looking as well. Liu Jue is proud and strong-willed—if he wanted to bring us back and I promised to be obedient and compliant, he’d find it meaningless, and given his temperament, he wouldn’t be satisfied with a reluctant, unwilling bride either. Let’s just take our time, enjoying the scenery on our way to Linnan City. If we’re found sooner, that’s just our luck; if later, we’ll have had our fill of fun first. What comes after, we’ll deal with when it comes—we can’t spend our whole lives hiding, can we? And if we fled to another kingdom and caused trouble there too? Eventually we have to face it.”

Seventh Madam sighed. “Third child, you’ve grown so much stronger than before. But sometimes things can’t be forced.”

“We’ll figure something out. Let’s just keep heading south—once we have enough silver, we’ll go see Chen Guo, see if that gentle land of rivers and lakes has anywhere good to settle. Mother’s right too, it can’t be forced—what do we really have? No power, no money. All I’m betting on is Liu Jue’s temperament. Once we get past this obstacle with him, the Chancellor’s household will be manageable too. Besides, it’s been three years already—who stays that devoted for so long? It’s probably just wounded pride at this point.”

Having said this, A’Luo paused, remembering how Liu Jue had once earnestly promised to protect her for a lifetime. She sighed, then broke into a bright smile. “Anyway, we’ve still got silver for now, let’s enjoy ourselves and not worry. Mother, A’Luo will take care of you—Xiao Yu, your husband here will provide for you!”

Holding onto this attitude, they’d traveled more than two years to reach Linnan City. In these three years, Liu Jue hadn’t found her, and Zili and the people from the Chancellor’s household hadn’t found her either—whether from good luck or some other reason, she didn’t know. Still, it had been a wonderfully carefree stretch of time.

A’Luo frowned and sighed. Thinking things through was one thing; actually facing them would likely be another matter entirely. What if Liu Jue flew into a rage when the moment came? What if he held a grudge? What if he insisted on taking her and Seventh Madam back regardless?

Though from the time she’d known him until now, it was always she who’d angered Liu Jue—she’d never seen him actually seek revenge. But fleeing the marriage had cost him considerable face, and how he’d react, A’Luo couldn’t be certain. She began to wonder whether she’d been too confident.

Just then, Nanny Zhang came to say she’d found a courtyard house, as A’Luo had requested, located near the western city cliffs. Seventh Madam asked curiously, “Why choose somewhere near the cliffs?”

A’Luo didn’t want to worry Seventh Madam—after finally leaving the Chancellor’s residence, her mother’s spirits had opened up considerably these past few years. Casting another shadow of tension over her now would be hard on her emotionally. So A’Luo simply smiled and said, “It’s quiet and secluded there.”

A’Luo decided not to dwell on whether she’d run into Liu Jue. Since she’d already arrived and hadn’t encountered him yet, she’d proceed as planned and deal with it if and when it happened. She planned to move out of Nanny Zhang’s Changle Tavern the very next day.