To the north of Dantat lay the frigid lands, and to the south was the Great Mu. Dantat itself was a sparsely populated grassland with few cities, forming a territory that stretched east to west while being narrow from north to south.

Although the Great Mu’s Water Classic Annotated Maps didn’t describe it in great detail, there was a meticulously drawn topographical map.

Gu Yi had gone over it dozens of times and knew it by heart.

Her current location should be on the grasslands between Di City and the capital. By heading southeast across the grasslands, she could reach a Dantat border city called Guo City.

Although Guo City wasn’t as populous as Di City had been with its tea and horse markets, it wasn’t far from Yan City, a Great Mu city, separated only by a natural barrier called Tiger Hill.

Yan City was one of the cities she had marked in the Great Mu’s Water Classic Annotated Map she had given to Gu Zhao.

Though small, Yan City had year-round horse traders from both Dantat and Great Mu, making it a complete and well-rounded small city.

An ancient tomb outside the city was recorded in the Great Mu’s Water Classic Annotated Map because legend had it that a hundred years ago, someone buried there had come back to life. After being buried for several months, they had allegedly crawled out of the tomb and miraculously survived. It was unclear whether this was true or a later fabrication.

Gu Yi had specifically noted this passage in Gu Zhao’s copied version. Besides Yan City, she had also carefully circled two other cities to the south, each with similar peculiar tales of people either “returning from the dead” or “faking death.”

She had made her plans. If she successfully survived past the storyline’s endpoint—the Empress’s investiture ceremony on the fifteenth day of the tenth month—she would travel from Guo City across Tiger Hill, through Yan City, and head south to return to the capital to find Xiaoyan.

If she didn’t survive past the storyline’s endpoint, she would be reset on the fifteenth day of the tenth month.

Even if everyone thought she had died in Dantat, at least she had left clues for the studious Gu Zhao. Perhaps with these clues, she could also leave Xiaoyan with the hope that she was still alive—that she had merely run away rather than truly died.

Gu Yi didn’t want to die in front of Xiaoyan again.

If what Hamu’er said was true, that Xiaoyan had indeed abandoned her that day and chosen to save Zhao Jie’s daughter, Zhao Wan, ultimately following the original storyline by making Zhao Wan his Empress…

Then, even if she was still alive, she wouldn’t go back!

Xiao Gouzi, if that’s how it is, you’ve lost me forever!

Gu Yi spent the night alternating between joy and sorrow, lost in these wandering thoughts. She didn’t dare stop and rode the black horse from dusk till dawn.

The morning sun blazed like fire, instantly illuminating the grassland with golden light.

She looked around and saw a few scattered tea-white tents standing in the distance.

Gu Yi reined in her horse and observed for a while. When the golden sun had risen above the horizon, she slowly rode toward one of the tents, which belonged to a woman with two half-grown boys.

The woman walked out of the tent and, seeing Gu Yi leading a horse, paused for a moment. She had a round face, skin darkened by the sun, and walked with agile steps. Dressed like a shepherdess, she wore a moon-white robe with a blue-green belt.

Gu Yi quickly pointed to the blue-green robe hanging outside and pressed a few copper coins into her hand.

The woman understood and took the clothes to give to her.

Gu Yi accepted them and said, “Thank you.”

The woman looked at her more closely and asked, “Where are you going?”

Gu Yi replied, “To Guo City,” and added, “to find relatives.”

Seeing that she was young, beautiful, and traveling alone, the woman thought for a moment and said, “There’s a horse caravan heading to Guo City to sell horses. If you’re willing, you can add some silver and travel with them.”

“That’s wonderful! Of course I’m willing!”

Gu Yi hadn’t planned to travel alone anyway. The grasslands had many wild animals in unpopulated areas, and though she had studied the map, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t get lost. She had intended to find companions for parts of the journey to Guo City, and now finding a caravan going directly there was perfect.

The woman nodded and called behind her, “Tuoye!”

A half-grown boy emerged from the tent.

“This is my eldest son, Ba Tuoye. He’ll also be going with the horse caravan to Guo City. Afternoon, you can go with him. My name is Wu Namu.” She looked at Gu Yi’s disheveled hair and, not knowing whether to call her madam or miss, simply asked, “What’s your name?”

Gu Yi naturally couldn’t give her real name. She wanted to come up with an exotic, distinctive pseudonym with Dantat characteristics. After a moment of thought, seeing Wu Namu’s puzzled expression, she blurted out, “My name is Pikachu.”

Wu Namu took it in stride, repeating, “Pikachu.”

Gu Yi nodded solemnly.

Wu Namu stepped aside and decided to address her as “Miss Pi, there’s still some time before departure. Why not come into the tent to change your clothes?”

Gu Yi had been wanting to bathe but felt too embarrassed to ask. Hearing this, she immediately said gratefully, “Thank you! I trouble you, Madam Wu!” She tied her horse to the post outside the tent and went inside.

Wu Namu helped her fill a large wooden tub with hot water, then left with her two sons, one big and one small.

Gu Yi didn’t know where her husband was, possibly gone to war, she thought, so she didn’t ask.

She enjoyed a comfortable bath, washed her hair, and, after drying off, put back on her undergarments and golden armor, then donned the blue-green outer robe. With a belt tied around her waist, she looked just like a Dantat woman.

Before leaving, Wu Namu asked her to look after Ba Tuoye, saying it was his first time traveling far to sell horses.

Ba Tuoye, who was only a head shorter than she was, followed his mother’s instructions and softly called her, “Sister Pi.”

Gu Yi acknowledged him and joined the horse caravan heading to Guo City with Ba Tuoye.

The caravan moved quickly, covering half the distance in two weeks. On the way, they encountered a small group of horse traders who had been stationed near the capital but were now fleeing south in the night. Gu Yi learned that the Great Mu troops had reached the outskirts of the Dantat capital five days earlier.

The conquest of the Dantat capital seemed to be progressing even faster than in the book.

By mid-September, the grasslands had already lost their summer heat, and the temperature dropped significantly at night.

Hearing this news, the caravan accelerated its journey toward Guo City in the south.

Ba Tuoye’s young face showed concern. “If the capital truly loses this battle, the deserters on the grasslands will become bandits and raid caravans…”

Being wartime, the caravan had few adult men; most were boys Ba Tuoye’s age and women.

Gu Yi comforted him, “We’ll move faster and reach Guo City early, avoiding them.”

*

The Dantat troops defending the capital were indeed close to defeat.

They hadn’t expected Great Mu’s army to arrive so quickly, sweeping through like an unstoppable force directly to their heartland.

The Dantat army, having suffered a defeat at Di City, had retreated with severely damaged morale.

In the capital, though the sovereign held command, his sons, even in this critical moment, continued their scheming, trying to preserve their forces so that after the war, when the sovereign died, they could vie for the throne.

Little did they know that the Great Mu army included Yu Dai, who was familiar with the capital’s layout, as well as 100,000 soldiers whose ranks had been replenished after their recent victory. Now thirsty for another win, they had been attacking the city day and night with giant arrows and fire stones.

Dantat excelled at mounted combat but was not skilled at defending cities, so the capital was in a precarious situation.

Amid this chaos, the sovereign’s eldest son, Na Huer, suddenly died, throwing the capital into even greater turmoil.

*

“Have you found Hamu’er’s whereabouts?” Xiaoyan, clad in silver armor and seated on his horse, asked Yu Dai at his side.

Yu Dai gazed at the black eagle circling above the city gate and shook his head slightly. “Not yet.” He hesitated, then added, “Even Na Huer’s death didn’t draw him out… Does Your Majesty believe Hamu’er is truly in the capital?”

They had traveled through dense forests, heading north across the grasslands. Though they had seen several burnt-out fire pits, they had never caught up with Hamu’er. Yu Dai couldn’t be certain that those traces were left by Hamu’er.

The eagles he had sent out in recent days hadn’t sighted any other falconers’ birds either.

Xiaoyan glanced once more at the city tower, swaying under the fire attack. “Whether he’s here or not, we’ll know when the city falls.”

Several loud crashes came from ahead as giant stones shattered the stone gates, sending fragments and dust flying.

Amid the whinnying of horses and the clash of weapons, Great Mu’s armored cavalry charged in first, breaking through the city.

Xiaoyan’s face, illuminated by the fire, showed a hint of color. He suddenly spurred his horse toward the city tower. Yu Dai immediately followed, watching as Xiaoyan crossed the ruins of the city gate and headed east. Yu Dai was startled and hurried after him.

Turning down a deserted street, they could see the old Ha clan emblem in the distance—an eagle’s head carved on a stone gate, though years of weathering had left only half of it visible. The old residence had long been abandoned, with wild grass covering the ground behind the stone gate.

“Uncle, do you remember where the cellar of this house is?” Xiaoyan dismounted and asked Yu Dai.

Yu Dai remembered that the house had a cellar for storing wine. As a child, he and Hamu’er had stolen wine from there.

The dust-covered memories suddenly became clear. Every blade of grass, every piece of wood, even every stone in this house, Yu Dai remembered.

Once he recalled it, he secretly hoped that Hamu’er wouldn’t be hiding in this house as Xiaoyan had guessed.

With this thought, though his feet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, he could only walk step by step toward the entrance to the cellar.

The square stone slabs were covered with moss, several short, bluish-green clumps, but at the edge was half a palm print in the dust.

Yu Dai paused, noticing from the corner of his eye that Xiaoyan was standing behind him.

He bent down to move the stone block, then stood up and gazed at him. “Ah Yan…”

Xiaoyan’s dark brown glass-like eyes blinked slightly. “Uncle, do you have something to say?”

Seeing his extremely cold expression, Yu Dai was suddenly speechless.

He had observed Xiaoyan’s anxiety and impatience throughout the journey.

If Hamu’er had truly captured Concubine Rou…

If Concubine Rou had truly died…

He knew there would be no room for reconciliation.

Xiaoyan brushed past him and descended the stone steps.

A candle was lit in the cellar, and in the dim light, Hamu’er sat half-leaning against the stone wall.

His face, even half-illuminated by the lamplight, was pale. Seeing Xiaoyan come down the steps, he laughed once: “Your Majesty, you’ve found this place.” Looking up, he saw Yu Dai also following down and mocked, “So you came with an insider.”

After this taunt, Yu Dai’s face grew hot.

Hamu’er truly didn’t look well.

Xiaoyan walked up to him and asked calmly, “Where is Concubine Rou?”

Hamu’er looked up and sneered, “Dead.”

The cellar was silent, the word echoing.

Yu Dai was shocked and stepped forward, but Xiaoyan’s sword moved even faster, instantly hovering at Hamu’er’s throat.

“I’ll ask you one more time. Where is Concubine Rou?”

Yu Dai urgently interjected, “The capital has fallen. What are you still holding onto? Where is Concubine Rou? Have you sent her somewhere to hide?”

Hamu’er said coldly, “That poisonous woman poisoned me. I killed her with one stroke and abandoned her body in the wilderness. By now, she’s probably fed eagles and wolves.”

Xiaoyan’s eyes suddenly brightened, and the tip of his sword lightly swept across Hamu’er’s neck. “She poisoned you? Is that why you’re in such a sorry state?”

Hamu’er’s eyes widened as Xiaoyan asked, “What poison did you consume?”

Hamu’er would not answer.

Xiaoyan looked at his rigid expression and slowly asked again, “When did she poison you? Was it in the city?” He paused briefly. “Or before entering the city?”

Hamu’er clenched his teeth, saying nothing.

Xiaoyan laughed softly twice. “No need to say more.”

As he withdrew his sword, Yu Dai barely had time to secretly sigh in relief before the sword pierced Hamu’er’s left shoulder.

Xiaoyan immediately pulled out the sword, and fresh blood gushed out, staining Hamu’er’s gray robe sleeve red.

“Today, for my uncle’s sake, I won’t kill you. But this sword stroke is for Ta Zhu. No matter how much you owe her, today’s stroke repays it.”

Hamu’er’s eyes bulged with rage as he shouted, “No! It’s what you owe her, it’s you! Ta Zhu died in the Great Mu because of you!”

Xiaoyan lowered his eyes and sheathed his sword, then turned and left without looking at Hamu’er again.

Yu Dai gave Hamu’er one last look, sighed, and ascended the steps, leaving the cellar.

Three days later, the Dantat sovereign died suddenly in his palace. The second son, Na Tuo, had proclaimed himself sovereign for only half a day before being beheaded on the battlefield, further damaging Dantat’s resilience.

On the twentieth day of the ninth month, the capital’s army surrendered, laying down their weapons, and Dantat became a vassal state.

*

The caravan was finally approaching Guo City.

After half a month of hard riding, Gu Yi’s body was feeling the strain. Worse still, she felt a heaviness in her lower abdomen and had an ominous feeling—her monthly visitor was coming.

As Guo City came into view, the caravan slightly reduced its pace to allow the horses to rest, hoping to fetch a good price for them.

After midday, while the caravan was letting the horses graze on the plains, a chaotic sound of hoofbeats grew increasingly louder in the distance, approaching rapidly and thunderously.

An experienced horse trader in the caravan shouted, “Quick, head to Guo City! It’s bandits!”

Gu Yi hurriedly mounted her horse, seeing Ba Tuoye beside her also getting on his horse with a panicked expression.

The caravan began racing toward Guo City.

They were less than an hour’s journey from Guo City.

But the bandits were faster, beginning to shoot arrows at them from behind. As they drew closer, they threw ropes to catch the horses.

Ba Tuoye pulled his reins, wanting to turn back for his family’s horses, but Gu Yi stopped him, shouting, “We can only go forward now! We can’t go back! Do you want your life or the horses?”

Ba Tuoye’s eyes reddened, but he did stop his action.

Looking back, they saw that several people who had turned to retrieve their horses had been shot by the bandits.

Gu Yi and Ba Tuoye cracked their whips in the air and galloped forward.

The bandits wanted more than just the masterless horses.

As the gates of Guo City came into view, the bandits behind showed no sign of turning back.

The violent jolting on horseback intensified the pain in Gu Yi’s stomach. She was in so much pain that beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her head began to spin. Her body swayed precariously, nearly failing to stay upright.

Ba Tuoye called out anxiously, “Sister Pi!”

Gu Yi instantly came to her senses, forcing herself to grip the reins tightly and straighten her posture.

In the distance, the gates of Guo City were slowly opening. A group of armed guards rode out, but they were wearing Great Mu official uniforms. Behind them, a four-horse carriage slowly emerged, with a “Tea” character flag slanted on top, bearing an official insignia.

The bandits behind them seemed to slow their pursuit. Gu Yi’s heart leaped with joy as she galloped toward the city gate.

As they reached the gate, guards stopped her and Ba Tuoye. “Who goes there?”

The carriage came to a halt.

Gu Yi pulled on the reins and tumbled from her horse. As soon as she hit the ground, she felt her legs give way and collapsed, fainting from exhaustion.

Ba Tuoye cried out, “Sister Pi!” and also slid down from his horse, rushing over to half-lift her up.

The person sitting in the carriage heard this commotion and lifted the black curtain. He first looked at the frightened young man, then turned to the figure on the ground and was immediately shocked.

Gu Yi?

Ba Tuoye looked up to see a handsome man descending from the carriage. He wore a black robe with wide sleeves, embroidered on the chest with a pair of yellow birds—some kind of official uniform—and was walking quickly toward them.

He dared not move, only watching warily.

Zhou Tinghe stopped in front of them and carefully examined her face.

He stood in stunned silence. This was indeed Gu Yi. Why was Gu Yi here?