“Trust you?” In the silence, Kumor let out a soft sneer, as if too lazy to even argue. He took something wrapped in brocade from his saddle and opened it. The golden Imperial Seal with carved kui dragons gleamed dimly in the firelight. This was the royal seal that had been sent to Jianzhou along with the edict conferring the title of Great Jin King. That year, Kumor had personally received the seal from the envoy’s hands, promising years of peaceful border trade, which led to today’s alliance between the two nations against a common enemy.

With a toss of his hand, the pure gold seal fell into the dust below, rolling twice before coming to rest.

“Emperor Deyou,” he raised the corner of his lips in a chilling smile, his dove-gray eyes frosting over, “From this day forward, our soldiers shall meet in blood on the battlefield!”

All around remained deathly quiet. Only today did I learn that silence could be the most oppressive of all postures. It was formless anger and power, soundless yet omnipresent.

In the silence, Xiao Huan lowered his head and covered his mouth, coughing twice before falling silent.

Kumor’s gaze swept coldly over Xiao Huan. When he turned to look at me, there was a momentary flicker in his eyes, but it lasted only an instant before he withdrew his gaze, turned his horse, and rode away without looking back.

As Kumor’s figure disappeared behind the weapons and torches, scattered movements arose from the resting Jurchen people. The Jurchen cavalry, renowned for their swift mobility, took mere moments to mobilize. Soon, only abandoned items and still-burning campfires remained on the ground.

Shi Yan and Ban Fangyuan from the Guxing Camp had already arrived with their men. Disregarding the current situation, they rode over, dismounted before Xiao Huan, and clasped their hands in salute, asking, “Is Your Majesty well?”

Since Kumor’s departure, Xiao Huan’s gaze had been fixed on the vast darkness in the distance. Without lowering his head, he spoke quietly, “Fangyuan, what news do you have?”

Ban Fangyuan immediately lifted his robe and knelt: “Your Majesty, news just arrived from Shanhaiguan. Last night at midnight, suspected Jurchen forces attempted to attack the city but failed, retreating toward Jianzhou. The Shanhaiguan commander did not pursue this and sent a memorial to the capital about this matter. However, at dawn this morning, the Jurchen attacked again. The Shanhaiguan commander repelled them once more and pursued them for thirty li before returning to the city.”

He paused briefly before continuing: “But word from Jianzhou reports that between midnight and dawn last night, Great Wu forces approached their borders. Though they didn’t attack the city, they slaughtered common herdsmen outside… destroying seven pastoral settlements… killing over five thousand herders. In three of the settlements, men, women, old, and young… none were spared.”

One side deliberately provoked the Shanhaiguan garrison, causing troops to leave the city, while the other side disguised themselves as Great Wu soldiers and massacred indiscriminately.

Great Wu could neither righteously claim they never deployed troops, nor prove the provocateurs were Jurchen; the Jurchen couldn’t understand why their former allies would suddenly turn their blades against them without warning. Five thousand civilians, women, children, and the elderly, were brutally murdered in their homes.

No wonder Kumor threw down the golden seal and left without a word. Betrayal by allies, the slaughter of his people – the grievance was now too deep for an explanation.

I was still struggling to recover from the shock of this news when Xiao Huan spoke again quietly: “News delayed, duties neglected – you know what punishment you deserve.”

Kneeling with clasped hands and bowed head, Ban Fangyuan replied without hesitation: “Yes, I await Your Majesty’s judgment.”

“I’ll spare you the arm amputation, but take thirty strokes instead,” Xiao Huan said expressionlessly. “After that, you’ll no longer serve in the two camps. Go guard the tombs at Changling.”

I was startled. Though such a major incident had occurred and the Guxing Camp, as the emperor’s eyes and ears, had been slow with their intelligence, Xiao Huan’s punishment of demotion to tomb guardian seemed unexpectedly harsh.

Even Hong Qing beside us seemed to feel the punishment was too severe and spoke up: “Your Majesty…”

Xiao Huan bent over, his previously straight posture on horseback suddenly folding. He covered his mouth and began to cough.

Though barely making a sound, he bent deeply, his body trembling slightly.

“Brother Xiao!” I awakened as if from a trance, jumping down from my horse and rushing over without hesitation.

He could no longer stay mounted; his body slid from the saddle. I stood frozen before the horse, but Hong Qing reacted quickest, leaping up to help him dismount.

His body leaned lightly against the saddle as he held Hong Qing’s shoulder, coughing softly as he spoke: “Prepare the carriage… to Shanhaiguan…”

The coughing continued unabated, his hand still covering his mouth as he bent slightly.

I hurried forward to pull his hand away, finding his palm stained dark red.

Holding his arm, I was so anxious my voice choked: “How can you go anywhere in this state?”

“Cangcang,” he smiled gently at me, still coughing, “Don’t worry…”

Seeing him suddenly unable to speak, I wrapped my arms around him, supporting his body, burying my head in his shoulder.

Though the coughing hadn’t stopped, Xiao Huan still boarded the prepared carriage.

Night had deepened, and a bitter wind was blowing outside Datong City. After helping him into the carriage, he lay back on the prepared couch, eyes closed, coughing softly. I sat down and held his ice-cold hand, turning up the charcoal fire in the hand warmer. His body temperature had always been cooler than most people’s, but since earlier it had become alarmingly cold.

The carriage sped through the winter grasslands at night. Hong Qing and Shi Yan stood guard outside, and aside from several dozen guards from the accompanying camp and three hundred elite cavalry from the Shen Ji Camp, there was no one else.

Kumor had long disappeared with his Jurchen cavalry. As we hurried toward Shanhaiguan, after half a night of the cold wind blowing outside the carriage, it finally turned to scattered snow, with the chill slowly seeping through the thick leather-covered windows.

The light coughing hadn’t stopped since boarding the carriage. The Guxing Camp continued to investigate the situation in Jianzhou and Shanhaiguan, with intelligence reports being delivered to the carriage one after another. Xiao Huan would read them by lamplight whenever he felt slightly better.

The snow grew heavier in the latter half of the night, making it unsuitable to continue traveling, so the carriage stopped by the roadside, and the others made camp.

Seeing his pale face in the lamplight, I couldn’t bear to see him exhaust himself further and force him to lie down. He didn’t resist, allowing me to press him down in the carriage and hold him as he slept, though even after lying down he couldn’t stop coughing, his forehead breaking out in cold sweat repeatedly.

After resting half the night, the heavy snow lessened slightly the next morning, and the group continued their journey. The ice and snow-covered road was difficult to traverse, and though the snow was light, it continued intermittently, further slowing their progress. Moving in starts and stops like this, it took four full days before they finally glimpsed Shanhaiguan’s walls through the wind and snow.

Lifting the carriage’s leather curtain and stepping down, I saw the black fortress walls swallowed by heavy snow, the Greatest Pass Under Heaven standing solemn and oppressive beneath the gloomy sky.

The moment I stepped down from the carriage, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Ten years ago, it was here that I first met Kumor, and that same year, I passed through Shanhaiguan alone to reach Jianzhou.

Back then, Xiao Huan had disappeared, Empress Dowager Liu had installed the Prince of Yu as emperor, and I had promised Xiao Qianqing I would bring reinforcements back to the capital. I came to Shanhaiguan carrying Xiao Huan’s posthumous edict, then continued to Jianzhou. After riding through the night without rest, seeing Jianzhou’s unfamiliar walls brought an inexplicable comfort, as if any exhaustion was irrelevant.

Because I knew then that behind those walls was Kumor – the Kumor who had once shown me his vulnerability like a lone wolf, the Kumor who had gently embraced me in the military camp. If there was still one person I could trust then, it had to be him.

Trust with some people doesn’t necessarily need to be built over long periods, yet it remains as fresh and solid as ever. That year, Kumor didn’t disappoint me, and this year, in sending troops to jointly resist the Tatars, he likewise didn’t disappoint Xiao Huan.

But how would the situation develop from here? Given the current circumstances, perhaps no one could say for certain.

The door curtain rustled softly as Xiao Huan, wearing a pure black cloak, also emerged from the carriage. I turned back to grasp his still-cold hand and smiled at him.

He lowered his head and smiled back at me, gently squeezing my hand.

Upon learning of Xiao Huan’s arrival, Cao Xi, the Liaodong Commander guarding Shanhaiguan, hurriedly came with his officers to welcome them and then led them into the city to rest.

After arriving at their quarters and dismounting, Xiao Huan changed into lighter clothes in the inner room before sitting down in the outer chamber, summoning Cao Xi and the other garrison commanders and officials before him.

I tucked a hand warmer into his embrace and prepared a cup of hot ginseng tea beside him. His fingers traced over the intelligence reports read during the journey as he questioned Cao Xi about the details of troops and military resources within the pass.

When peace was negotiated with the Jurchen years ago, Great Wu had already lost Fushun and Guangning, nearly all of Liaodong. In these years, aside from Ningyuan and Jinzhou which formed a strategic corner with Shanhaiguan and still maintained garrisons, Great Wu had no cities left to rely on beyond Shanhaiguan. If Kumor led his troops south from Jianzhou, once the Jurchen army crossed the Liao River and pressed against the city walls, it would become as dire a situation as in the eighth year of Deyou’s reign.

After hearing the reports, the room fell silent for a while until suddenly, a young official behind Cao Xi stepped forward: “This humble official believes that merely fortifying defenses is not enough to resolve our troubles!”

The statement was abrupt, but Xiao Huan didn’t get angry, merely smiling: “Then what does the official suggest?”

The young official spoke gravely: “Liaodong has thousands of li of fertile land and strong military forces. Only defending without attacking is like a hundred-tributary river – damming without drainage. With too much indulgence, there will eventually come a day when the banks break.”

Speaking out of turn before the emperor was already disrespectful, and these words criticized Xiao Huan for not pursuing victory years ago, instead signing a treaty with the Jurchen, leading to the current crisis.

While others remained composed, Cao Xi’s forehead instantly broke out in sweat, his hands trembling within his sleeves.

Xiao Huan smiled and asked, “What is your name?”

Though surely speaking at the risk of his life, the young official raised his head without a trace of fear, his eyes sharp and bright: “Your humble official is Liu Shi’an, Director of the Bureau of Operations in the Ministry of War.”

“Lord Cao, dispatch ten thousand cavalry, thirty thousand infantry, and twenty Western cannons to arrive at Ningyuan before dawn tomorrow. Liu Shi’an is hereby promoted to Director-General of the Bureau of Operations, Ministry of War, and will oversee Shanhaiguan’s military affairs,” Xiao Huan said, lowering his hand from the table and smiling at Liu Shi’an. “A jinshi of the eleventh year of Deyou – I remember Commander Cao recommended your transfer to Shanhaiguan. Come with me to Ningyuan.”

From sixth-rank Director to fifth-rank Director-General – with these words, Xiao Huan had promoted Liu Shi’an to two ranks at once.

After a moment’s shock, Liu Shi’an lifted his robe and knelt, his voice steady and deep: “Your official accepts the imperial command.”

Smiling and nodding at him, Xiao Huan began coughing lightly before he could speak again: “…Rise.”

Standing beside him, I quickly handed him the ginseng tea and bent to gently rub his chest. How could his body withstand several days of difficult travel? Yet upon reaching Shanhaiguan, he still insisted on working without rest. I couldn’t help but complain: “You wouldn’t even listen when I told you to rest.”

He looked up at me with a gentle smile, holding my hand apologetically: “Sorry to worry you.”

I glared at him, glancing at the officials and commanders who had all awkwardly lowered their heads. Since everyone in court knew of the emperor and empress’s deep affection, I had nothing to hide. I simply sat beside him and brought the teacup to his lips, letting him drink from my hand to ease his cough.

Having given all necessary instructions and truly exhausted, Xiao Huan spoke briefly about other arrangements before dismissing the officials to their duties.

In the now-quiet room, he seemed utterly weary, closing his eyes and supporting his head with his hand as he coughed lightly, his brows showing faint fatigue. During the battles with Esen, he had already been pushing himself beyond his limits. Just when he could finally relax a little, this situation with the Jurchen arose. Since that day outside Datong when Kumor’s words had provoked him to cough blood, his light coughing had never truly stopped. Though medication had somewhat suppressed it during these urgent days of travel, there was no significant improvement.

My fingers gently traced his elegant brows as I held him, placing a soft kiss on his pale lips. My heart ached so much I wished I could take some of his illness upon myself, though I could only grumble with slight discontent: “You cause such worry.”

He chuckled softly and opened his eyes to look at me, placing his arm around my waist and patting it gently: “It’s nothing.”

I’d heard this phrase so often it had worn calluses in my ears. I could only glare at him again before asking: “Brother Xiao, how do you plan to explain things to Kumor?”

He seemed somewhat surprised by my question, looking at me and smiling without immediately answering.

I knew perfectly well why he had this attitude and rolled my eyes: “Are you thinking it’s strange that instead of questioning whether you intend to go to war with Kumor – after you just deployed troops to Jinzhou in front of me and promoted the hawkish Liu Shi’an – I’m asking how you plan to explain things?”

He laughed softly, neither confirming nor denying, simply remaining silent.

I loosened my hold on his waist slightly to see his face more clearly: “Don’t think I’m still as blind to your thoughts as I was ten years ago!”

Still smiling, light dancing in his deep dark eyes, he waited a moment before responding with amusement: “So you never understood my thoughts ten years ago?”

I hadn’t expected him to casually redirect the conversation so far, and so obviously mischievously at that. I never thought Xiao Huan would use such a tactic, and finally couldn’t help but laugh, poking his shoulder: “I said sometimes! Don’t make false accusations!”

He had only said that to make me laugh, and now chuckled softly, tilting his head slightly.

The atmosphere immediately lightened. As I smiled, my eyes fell on the black jade landscape screen in the room – this was still the same pavilion where Xiao Huan had stayed in Shanhaiguan in the eighth year of Deyou. After he stayed that year, this building must have been sealed off, only hurriedly reopened now to receive the imperial visit, with just the rooms and furnishings cleaned, the decorations hardly changed.

I remembered that time in the eighth year of Deyou when Xiao Huan and I returned from beyond the Great Wall, there was still incense burning in the inner chamber that Du Tingxin had placed. Happiness had come so suddenly after brushing with death that I was still dazed, unable to believe the Xiao Huan before me was real. I had just sat down to embrace him when my brother rushed in to take me back to the capital.

My gaze returned to Xiao Huan’s face as I quietly studied him. His features remained unchanged from those years ago, yet something seemed to have silently transformed over time. Almost inch by inch, I carefully traced the lines of his face: his elegant long brows extending to his temples, the gentle smile that never left the corners of his lips. He gazed back at me just as quietly.

In those pure black double pupils, today’s lamplight sparkled brilliantly, even more radiant than in those years past, yet with an added depth of tranquility. It was as if all the dazzling starry sky had sunk into a boundless sea, that light now shining up from the deep ocean floor – profound and restrained. Looking into them, I saw only the sea and sky as one, vast and limitless.

I suddenly realized it had been a long time since I’d studied him so carefully. When we were younger, we were always rushing about, only afraid of not trying hard enough, of days passing too peacefully. In recent years, caught up in affairs of family and state, mundane matters consuming us, we had been too eager to press forward, forgetting what truly needed to be cherished.

Taking a deep breath, I leaned in to softly kiss his eyelids before standing and smiling as I took his hand, leading him toward the inner chamber.

He never questioned my sudden whims, only smiling and allowing me to lead him along.

Rising on tiptoe to kiss his thin lips again, I stopped before the bed with its lightly hanging curtains, wrapping my arms around his neck and playfully nibbling his earlobe: “Brother Xiao, shall we make up for what we couldn’t finish in the eighth year of Deyou?”

Understanding my intentions, he lowered his head with a smile but didn’t immediately answer, falling silent in thought.

Worried about his condition, I quickly gripped his hand: “Brother Xiao, are you well enough?”

“Well enough.” As if having finished considering something, he smiled. “Today is fine.”

Before I could understand the meaning of this cryptic response, his kiss suddenly fell on my neck.

His lips carried a faint warmth as his voice came close to my ear: “Cangcang, the door isn’t closed.”

The subtle fragrance of herbs and woods from his body reached my nose. I was already burning with desire – who cared about doors? I lifted my leg without looking and kicked that unfortunate door, hearing only a “bang” without checking if it had closed, then wrapped my arms around Xiao Huan’s waist and pulled him toward the bed.

Mindful of his illness, I still asked while undoing his belt: “Will you be uncomfortable?”

He seemed truly helpless now, catching my hand and sighing softly by my ear: “Cangcang, you don’t need to confirm so many times.”

Before he could finish, my other free hand was already restless, quickly pulling open his clothes. My fingers gently traced the two scars on his chest, followed immediately by my kisses.

Kissing every inch of his chest, I raised my head to press my lips against his cool thin ones once more.

His mouth carried the faintly bitter fragrance of medicinal herbs. I pried open his teeth, gently bit his lip, and then pulled back to admire the red mark I’d left.

His cheeks had gained a faint flush. He had always been helpless against my habit of biting him and now gave me an amused look.

Having carelessly pulled off his clothes, I eagerly tried to undo my own gauze robe but got tangled in a small tie, tugging several times without success, completely flustered.

He seemed unable to hold back his laughter, and when I raised my head to glare at him in exasperation, he caught my hands in his.

His fair, slender fingers moved almost leisurely, slowly helping me undo the satin ties on my clothes. He gave a soft laugh, fragments of light dancing in his pure black eyes: “Don’t rush…”

A sense of defeat washed over me. I had planned to pounce on him in one swift move but had already made such a mess of things. Determined to try again, I threw myself forward to embrace him, but before I could kiss him, a cool breath carrying a sweet, pure fragrance fell upon my cheek.

He bent to kiss me lightly, then his kiss moved to my lips. His cool thin lips lingered only briefly before moving on, stopping by my ear as his voice, carrying a hint of hoarseness and amusement, whispered: “Cangcang…”

An intoxicating numbness spread from my ear throughout my body. My mind must have gone blank as I laughed meaninglessly and rolled with him deeper into the bed.

Still mindful of Xiao Huan’s health, we remained somewhat restrained, the intimacy gentle.

Afterward, lying together within the bed curtains, both of us had broken into a sweat, but quietly nestling together like this felt like floating among clouds.

Brushing aside the loose strands of hair on Xiao Huan’s forehead, I turned to look at him, lowering my head to kiss his slightly pink thin lips, murmuring: “Brother Xiao, I love you.”

Smiling as he allowed my kiss, he stretched out his arm to hold my shoulders, still smiling as he gently drew me into his embrace.