The height of summer had arrived in the sixth month. Outside the suburban estate lay a large natural lake, and this was the season of dense green shade and gentle breezes rippling the water. In the deep willow shade, Yuanxi sat motionlessly facing the lake, frowning as she stared intently at the fishing float before her, afraid to miss any movement of the bobber.
Xiao Du emerged from the deep forest, parting the drooping willows in front of him to see Yuanxi’s concentrated and tense appearance. He couldn’t help but lower his head and laugh. Then he tiptoed to her side and placed a freshly made flower crown on her head. Yuanxi was startled, feeling something suddenly appear on her head. Before she could reach up to touch it, Xiao Du leaned over from behind and kissed her.
Yuanxi was afraid he would scare away the fish that was about to take the bait. She became extremely anxious but didn’t dare speak, only blushing furiously and using her eyes to signal him not to disturb her. But Xiao Du mischievously bit her lips and wouldn’t let go, deliberately preventing her from watching the float. Yuanxi angrily reached behind to pat him randomly, but instead let the fishing rod slip into the lake.
Seeing Yuanxi about to truly lose her temper, Xiao Du quickly laughed and stopped his teasing, running to the lakeside to retrieve the fishing rod for her. Then he sat behind her, teaching her to fish hand over hand. Yuanxi had never experienced such rustic leisure before. Whenever a fish took the bait, she would excitedly light up and clap while shouting. Xiao Du hadn’t seen her so happy in a long time and increasingly felt it was right to bring her to the estate to escape the summer heat.
The two played for the entire day until sunset clouds filled the sky and the setting sun cast slanted reflections on the shimmering water, dyeing the surface half peach-pink and half golden yellow. Feeling somewhat tired, Yuanxi leaned back against Xiao Du’s embrace. The gentle breeze caressing her face made her lazily close her eyes. She could hear the rustling sound of birds skimming the water surface mixed with cicadas chirping in the bushes, as if in an earthly paradise that made one forget all worries.
Yuanxi remained intoxicated for a long time before reluctantly opening her eyes. “That matter—have you still not thought it through?”
Xiao Du’s arms holding her tightened slightly before he said, “I’ve thought about it for a long time. This matter shouldn’t be decided by me alone. That person is, after all, your father. If the crime of the empress dowager murdering the late emperor is confirmed, not only the empress dowager and your father, but the entire Xia family will likely suffer great calamity.”
Yuanxi was silent for a while, then gently exhaled. “I’ve said before that I no longer have any relationship with Xia Mingyuan and the Xia family. He never treated me as a daughter, so why should I still consider him family?”
Xiao Du turned his head to stare at her. “Can you truly not care at all?”
Yuanxi nodded. “You are my husband. You, Xuan’er, father-in-law, and second brother are the ones who truly care for me and treat me as family. So whatever you decide to do, I will accompany you. Even if it means giving up everything we have now, even living rough and sleeping outdoors, I would have no regrets.”
A warm current surged through Xiao Du’s heart. His gaze slowly swept over the scenery before them. “If someday you must go with me to a place that lacks such beautiful lakes and mountains, and isn’t as prosperous and bustling as the capital—a place with only desert and sandstorms—would you be willing?”
Yuanxi had already guessed something of his intentions in her heart. She turned back with a gentle smile. “You once said you’d take me to see the sunset at the frontier. I’ve been waiting for that day for a very long time.”
Xiao Du was still somewhat worried. “But you’ve never left the capital, and you’ve always been afraid of cold. Living there is very harsh, with no heated floors for warmth. Especially in winter, the wind is fierce and the water is cold. I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear it.”
Yuanxi sighed and grasped his hand, her gaze firm. “A’Du, wherever you go, I’ll follow. No matter how cold the place, you’ll be there to warm me. With you there, what is there to fear?”
Xiao Du’s eyes grew moist, and he held her tightly in his arms, unable to speak a single word. With her promise, his greatest worry was finally resolved. Some things, even knowing the outcome, he had no choice but to do.
The next day, in a small courtyard in Fengle Ward in the western part of the city, Uncle Feng had finished tending to the flowers throughout the courtyard and was preparing to go to the kitchen to prepare some food when he suddenly felt something amiss behind him. He quickly turned and looked up to see Xiao Du in white robes and black boots sitting on the courtyard wall against the light, holding a wine pot and smiling at him.
Uncle Feng rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things, then quickly called out, “If my lord wanted to come, why didn’t you use the front gate? Oh my, come down quickly! Be careful not to fall.”
Xiao Du laughed heartily and leaped down from the wall, tossing the wine pot into Uncle Feng’s arms. “This little height won’t hurt me. I just wanted to surprise Uncle Feng. Today I specially bought good wine newly arrived at Zuixiang Tower. We two should have a good drink.”
Uncle Feng didn’t understand why Xiao Du was so happy but still cheerfully went to wash wine cups and quickly stir-fried several small dishes. The two sat under the tree shade, drinking among the flourishing flowers and plants.
After Uncle Feng drank several cups with Xiao Du, the alcohol went to his head, but he felt he hadn’t been this carefree in a long time. At this moment, Xiao Du laughed and praised, “Good wine, good wine! This is truly satisfying to drink!”
Uncle Feng finally couldn’t contain his curiosity and carefully asked, “What exactly has happened to make my lord so happy?”
Xiao Du slowly set down the cup in his hand, his expression becoming somewhat complex as he looked down and spoke word by word, “Uncle Feng, what if I told you I could soon avenge Xiao Ji and Xiao Qi? Would you be happy?”
Uncle Feng’s hands trembled, and the wine cup suddenly slipped to the ground. Then his lips began to tremble violently, followed by his entire body shaking. He looked up at Xiao Du, confirming there wasn’t the slightest hint of jest, and tears burst forth. He laughed madly through his tears, then his body swayed and he knelt before Xiao Du, shouting hoarsely, “My lord, they died so miserably! Their bones couldn’t even return to their homeland or keep this old man company! If my lord can truly avenge them, I would willingly give up this old life!”
Xiao Du’s eyes also grew moist. He quickly crouched down to help Uncle Feng up, his voice trembling. “Rest assured, I have never forgotten their revenge! Those murderers who killed them and tens of thousands of Xiao family army soldiers—I remember them daily, carved into my mind! I once swore that someday I would make those people pay blood for blood and let the wronged souls of the soldiers rest in peace! Rest assured, before long, I will be able to avenge them!”
Uncle Feng hunched over and covered his face, weeping bitterly. He had waited too long for this moment, once thinking he could only spend his remaining years in hatred and unwillingness. Now he could finally wait for the day when heavenly justice would prevail. If he could meet those two children in the afterlife, he wouldn’t be too ashamed to face them!
Xiao Du leaned against the stone table, silently watching him cry and vent, his vision somewhat blurred as if returning to that year at Pingdu Pass. He hadn’t eaten for several days and was so weak that even holding a sword made him tremble. Outside his command tent were countless soldiers also weakened by hunger, their eyes filled with despair.
At this moment, a deputy general beside him entered the tent, glanced at him guiltily, then opened the bundle in his hands. A rich meaty aroma immediately filled the entire tent. Xiao Du’s eyes suddenly brightened, but when he saw the painful, twisted expression on the deputy general’s face, he immediately understood everything and angrily knocked that piece of meat to the ground, yet didn’t even have the strength to say a word of reproach.
The deputy general cried as he picked up the meat from the ground and knelt beside him. “My lord, please eat just one piece! If even you collapse, the Xiao family army will be completely destroyed! Then all our fallen brothers will have died in vain! We must live to get out and avenge them!”
Xiao Du tremblingly closed his eyes, desperately holding back the hot tears. After what felt like a lifetime, he tremblingly took that piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Then he ate while vomiting, finally swallowing that piece of meat. The deputy general beside him had long since broken down in sobs. Watching this iron-willed man who could laugh and curse enemies even when pierced by arrows on the battlefield weep before him for the first time, it felt as if countless sharp blades pierced his heart. In that moment, he silently swore, “Everything I owe you now, I will repay sooner or later! All the wronged souls who died unjustly here—I will use the enemies’ blood to honor you!”
A cold wind blew, making Xiao Du aware of the chill on his face. He reached up to wipe his cheeks and seemed to see those brothers who had once lived and died together, defending the frontier, standing before him with relieved and grateful smiles on their faces.
Yes, this is what I owe you! So even knowing that if the Xia family falls, the marquis mansion would be in grave danger; even knowing that only by continuing to tolerate the Xia family’s power to balance imperial authority could he buy himself a few more years of breathing room, he was determined to use this opportunity to completely crush the Xia family. Because he could wait no longer—this was his responsibility, for past promises, for the souls of thousands of loyal and righteous men!
On another day when willow catkins filled the air, atop Mount Zhong, Zhao Yan stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the distant mountain scenery. Hearing footsteps behind him, he slowly turned with a smile. “You’ve finally come after all. I knew you would come eventually.”
Xiao Du walked to his side. “What makes you so certain I would come? I could very well sit and watch tigers fight. What benefit is there for me to help you?”
Zhao Yan brushed fallen leaves from his clothes, his face suddenly showing arrogant pride. “Because you and I are the same kind of people, with the same aspirations for enlightened rule. Years ago, you and I swore an oath here to restore Great Mu to an era of peace and prosperity, so you would never sit idly by regarding the Xia family.” He sighed again, his eyes tinged with sadness. “It’s just a pity that you and I never had the chance to be true good brothers!”
Xiao Du’s face showed mockery, as if too lazy to respond. He only took out the paper in his hand and displayed it before Zhao Yan. “This is the secret the late emperor painstakingly left hidden in that bow!” Zhao Yan quickly focused to look carefully. When he saw it was actually a prescription, his eyes showed confusion.
Xiao Du said, “In this prescription, two medicines combined are poisonous—taken in quantity, they’re lethal. And this is the prescription the empress dowager personally fed the late emperor when she attended to him closely that year.”
Zhao Yan immediately showed shock. He hadn’t expected this item would directly implicate the empress dowager and be so deadly. Just as he looked uncertain and hesitant, Xiao Du had already put away the prescription and said slowly, “This is the opportunity that could destroy the entire Xia clan. Now it’s Your Majesty’s turn to choose—to see if Your Majesty can be ruthless enough to help your father against your mother.”
Zhao Yan’s face showed painful expression. After a long time, he let out a long breath. “The arrow is on the string and must be released.”
Xiao Du seemed to have expected this response and curled his lips. “Then let’s see what Your Majesty is prepared to exchange with this subject for this prescription.”