“Your Majesty?” The other three in the tent were stunned.

Mao Zuofeng was confused: “What does Your Majesty mean by returning to the capital?”

Zuo Qian said: “Your Majesty, the reason Lord Su went to such great lengths to have Zhaolin come to Qingzhou was precisely to inform Your Majesty of the dangerous situation in the capital. You yourself just said that the Ministry of War has been controlled by the Fourth Prince, Vice Minister He Xian was killed, Qi Wujiu is absent, the Commandery is of no great use, and the tiger tally of the Northern Camp is now in Chen Jinsheng’s hands. If you return to the capital now, even if all twelve Imperial Guard units obey your orders, with the enemy in darkness and us in light, at most there’s only a sixty percent chance of success. The best approach is to turn south—”

“Yes, turn south,” Mao Zuofeng said. “This general is willing to lead troops to Qiongzhou to hold back the Muyan Three Guards. Your Majesty and General Zuo can lead fifty thousand men immediately to Nanchang Prefecture and assemble forces from garrisons in Anqing and other locations.”

“No,” Zhu Nanxian said.

His gaze still rested on the jade pendant carved with the character for rain on the desk: “We cannot afford the gamble.”

“What can’t you afford?” Mao Zuofeng seemed agitated. “This realm belongs to Your Majesty to begin with. Wherever there’s rebellion, quell it. Whoever rebels, execute them! You are Emperor Jin’an, the undisputed monarch of this realm, the supreme Emper—”

“We never wanted to be this Emperor!” Zhu Nanxian said.

If he had known early on that even after climbing to the peak of these nine palace towers, soaring to the heavens, he still couldn’t protect her, he should have taken her away then—not even bothering with enfeoffment in Nanchang. They could have sailed from the East Sea across the vast ocean, or crossed through the towering mountains of Lingnan to wander in foreign lands. As long as they could be an ordinary married couple in the mortal world, even if life was hard, without glory or power, he would have willingly cared for her for life.

“I…” Zhu Nanxian’s voice was hoarse. “Since ascending the throne, I campaigned in the Northwest and defended our territory. I can be said to have lived up to my ancestors, lived up to the people, and had no shame before my own heart. But I once made a promise to someone. Now, I cannot abandon her.”

“Cannot abandon who?” Mao Zuofeng asked, taking another step forward. “Su Jin? He’s merely a minist—”

“Our mind is made up,” Zhu Nanxian didn’t let him finish, his tone brooking no argument. “Zuo Qian, We will issue an edict today appointing you as First Rank General Who Conquers the West. Together with Mao Zuofeng, temporarily remain to garrison Qiongzhou. After the Muyan Three Guards withdraw, personally lead fifty thousand men to return to Liangzhou. From now on, We entrust the Northwestern frontier to you.

“Mao Zuofeng, We appoint you as Second Rank General Who Stabilizes the Nation. From now on, remain garrisoned in Qiongzhou until the North is at peace.”

Both were Emperor Jin’an’s most trusted generals. This edict sending them far from the capital—one needn’t think to know it was to preserve their lives.

“No,” Zuo Qian said. “Whether returning to the capital or turning south, whatever decision Your Majesty makes, your subject will obey. But your subject has followed Your Majesty for so many years. Into dragon pools and tiger dens, your subject is willing to venture with Your Majesty. Even if it means death, even if it costs my life, as a military officer, your subject—”

“Since you are a military officer, you should not speak lightly of life and death!” Zhu Nanxian rebuked. “Back when you entered the military camp with Us and stood holding your blade before Canglong Mountain in the North, swearing an oath—have you forgotten what you said?!”

“As a military officer, one’s duty is to guard, to protect, to fight, to live. If death is necessary, it should be meaningful—otherwise one is a coward!”

“Then let this general—” Mao Zuofeng stepped forward.

“The same goes for you!” Zhu Nanxian cut him off. “What, We are still Emperor, and you’re already defying Our edict?!”

His tone softened: “Actually, We don’t necessarily want to stop you both, but Chili has only temporarily retreated. The Northwest is not yet fully pacified, and you two still have duties. If you follow Us back to the capital, how would that differ from deserting in battle? Just think of it as helping Us guard this territory, so We can have lasting peace of mind.”

“Your Majesty, then let me go with you,” Tan Zhaolin said urgently. “I came here for my Lord. I should go back to the capital with Your Majesty. I’m strong—if they really dare to draw their blades, I can shield Your Majesty.”

Zhu Nanxian laughed once: “If you return with Us, who will protect Shiyu in the future?”

His mind was made up and he didn’t wish to delay further. He ordered: “Immediately have someone prepare Our traveling pack. After We leave, assemble one thousand young soldiers who recently entered the camp to escort the ‘dragon carriage’ back to the capital. As for the ‘dragon carriage,’ We recall there are two old soldiers in the camp suffering from cold illness that cannot be cured. For this final journey, We’ll trouble those two to drive the ‘dragon carriage’ and ‘attend to’ Our illness along the way.”

With an ink-colored cloak draped over his shoulders and a hood covering half his face, before leaving the military tent, Zhu Nanxian handed the Nine Dragons dagger and the jade pendant carved with the character for rain to Tan Zhaolin, saying: “This jade pendant is the only thing her family left her. When you see her someday, return it to her.”

A’Fu, resting on the weapon rack, had been wrapped in the warmth of the tent and was originally drowsy, but suddenly awakened at the moment Zhu Nanxian left.

Qingzhou was desolate and cold. At some point, snow had begun to fall. The icy snow-laden air rushed in through the lifted tent flap. A’Fu flapped his wings, as if realizing something, and flew out the instant the tent flap fell.

The traveling pack and swift horse were already prepared. Zhu Nanxian mounted, and heard a fluttering sound behind him.

When he turned back, he smiled. He raised his right arm, and A’Fu flew up to perch there.

It seemed to feel cold and shivered all over, shaking off several snowflakes, but looked up at him and called out ingratiatingly: “Thirteenth Prince, Thirteenth Prince—”

Zhu Nanxian’s smile finally took on a trace of sorrow.

He finally realized that from the day he became Emperor Jin’an, he could no longer be her Thirteenth Prince.

But what was Emperor Jin’an anyway?

The title of Emperor was too ethereal for him.

Jin’an was who he was.

If he couldn’t be her Thirteenth Prince, he’d rather not be this Emperor.

Jin’an—in this lifetime, this was his only wish.

Tan Zhaolin and Zuo Qian chased out carrying the cage. Zhu Nanxian bent down, returned A’Fu to them, and said softly: “Take good care of it.”

Raising his whip and grasping the reins, he galloped a thousand miles.

The snow fell heavily, and Qingzhou instantly became a vast white expanse.

A’Fu was no longer the little bird it once was. Confined in the cage, watching the figure gradually receding into the boundless distance, bright as stars and sun, it kept flapping its wings, mimicking the words: “Your Highness, Thirteenth Prince!”

Thirteenth Prince.

Faintly, the words reached his ears. He supposed it had learned them from A’Yu—even the intonation was similar.

“The Thirteenth Prince doesn’t remember—this humble minister once had an encounter with Your Highness.”

“Your Highness also likes this jade pendant? If Your Highness likes it, then please accept it.”

“When that time comes, with the realm prosperous and the seas calm, if Your Highness becomes a prince, A’Yu will become a censor. If Your Highness leads troops, A’Yu will seek a position in the military. And if Your Highness wishes to tour mountains and waters, A’Yu will also stay by Your Highness’s side, whether as escort or attendant…”

The fierce wind swept frost and snow across his cheeks.

Zhu Nanxian suddenly found it amusing.

At seventeen, he had stormed the Ministry of Personnel with his blade to eliminate Zeng Youliang for her.

At twenty-one, when Zhu Zhaowei set a trap at the horse grounds, he had rushed there alone for her, narrowly escaping assassination.

Time truly passed quickly—in the blink of an eye, he was already twenty-six or twenty-seven. No longer young, yet whenever it concerned her, he was still this reckless.

But what of recklessness?

Perhaps in this lifetime, he could never be like Liu Yun—weighing advantages and disadvantages, controlling emotions and restraining impulses, decisive in killing. He could never be like Zhu Yushen—deeply calculating and far-seeing. He valued loyalty and affection too much. He could sacrifice himself, but couldn’t sacrifice small righteousness for great righteousness. But his mother had passed early, his father the Emperor had died, and even his elder brother the Crown Prince and sister-in-law had passed away. In his life, only A’Yu remained.

As for Shiqi, as a man of the Zhu family, he should stand on his own.

In the third year of Jin’an, the snow in the capital didn’t fall until the twelfth month.

On the day Zhu Nanxian returned to Yingtian Prefecture, the mass of clouds that had accumulated over the capital for the entire winter seemed to split open. Cotton-like snow poured down wildly, connecting heaven and earth in a vast whiteness. The old familiar places looked like clouds and marshes.

Someone seemed to be waiting outside the city gate.

Zhu Nanxian had barely reined in his horse when several guards came out to greet him, led by none other than Vice Censor-in-Chief Yan Xiu.

“The carriage has been prepared. Your subject has come to escort Your Majesty back to the palace.”

The fierce wind whipped Zhu Nanxian’s cloak backward.

He didn’t move, only saying: “Where is Liu Yun? Have him come see Us.”

Yan Xiu seemed somewhat troubled: “The Chief Grand Secretary doesn’t know Your Majesty returned to the capital today. He’s still in the palace handling government affairs. If Your Majesty wishes to see him, why not first follow your subject—”

“Then have him leave the palace immediately to see Us. We will wait here,” Zhu Nanxian coldly interrupted.

His tone brooked no argument. Yan Xiu bowed with clasped hands and whispered a few words to a guard nearby. The guard acknowledged the order and hurried off.

The snow fell heavier and heavier. By nightfall, it was so overwhelming one could barely see the person beside them. There were no more pedestrians outside Zhengyang Gate. Several officials waiting alongside Zhu Nanxian had begun to shiver.

Before long, someone alighted from a sedan outside Zhengyang Gate and walked step by step through the snow toward Zhu Nanxian.

Wearing a crane insignia robe covered by an ink velvet cloak, with features cold and clear as the pouring snow—it was Liu Chaoming.

“Your subject Liu Yun pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Zhu Nanxian asked: “Where is A’Yu? We wish to see her.”