◎If Your Highness Uses Me, I Am Your Highness’s Blade. If Your Highness Does Not Use Me, I Remain a Blade—My Own Blade.◎

On the other side, Old Madam Shou entered the palace and was chatting idly with the Emperor about family matters.

After people pass sixty years of age, with fewer and fewer people around them, they increasingly cherish those who have walked alongside them.

When the Emperor was young, he had suffered much hardship and shared trials and tribulations with many people. He had forgotten the feelings of others—they had mostly all died, and those who hadn’t died had all been killed.

Only Old Madam Shou remained alive, so her kindness had never been forgotten.

He sighed, “Elder Sister hasn’t come in so long. I’ve been worried in my heart.”

Old Madam Shou smiled and said, “Don’t worry about me—I’m doing well. But I always worry you won’t take care of yourself.”

She sat on a stool and carefully asked about the Emperor’s health, asking like she would a child, even asking how many bites of food he ate in a day. She asked until the Emperor laughed directly, “Elder Sister, in all the world, only you would ask me like this.”

Old Madam Shou said seriously, “Even if one is the True Dragon Son of Heaven, one is still made of flesh and blood. How can one not be asked about such things?”

The Emperor felt comforted in his heart and said, “I knew it—with Elder Sister here, I can still be cared for.”

The Emperor felt quite aggrieved. He sighed, “Everyone else wants me to care for them. The children are also always disobedient.”

Old Madam Shou: “You are the Son of Heaven. Since you were young, you’ve worried about this and that. I have no way to advise you. But I must also advise about the latter—regarding the children’s matters, apart from marriage arrangements, let them handle everything else themselves.”

The Emperor laughed, “After all these years, Elder Sister still says the same thing.”

Old Madam Shou then brought up her purpose for coming, “I’m here to ask you to grant a marriage and add some respectability to two children in the family.”

The Emperor became interested, “Elder Sister hasn’t matchmade in how many years.”

He asked, “Whose children are they?”

Old Madam Shou: “It’s Qingwu who lives at my place and the sixth young lady of Duke Zhenguo’s estate.”

The Emperor knew of Yu Qingwu and also knew of his relationship with the Imperial Grandson. He frowned slightly, “Elder Sister is quite concerned about him.”

Old Madam Shou: “How could I not be concerned? Qingshan and I have no children of our own. Qingchuan won’t marry and won’t have children either. Finally, Qingwu came and we’ve been raising him as if he were our own son, but somehow, I hear they’ve had a falling out.”

Her eyes reddened, “I don’t even know how to counsel them.”

So she truly regarded Yu Qingwu as a nephew. The Emperor’s brow relaxed, “At this moment I must counsel Elder Sister—the children’s matters, just let them busy themselves with them. We won’t interfere.”

Old Madam Shou: “I don’t want to interfere either! Every single one of them is disobedient. I heard that boy Qingwu even wants to move out of the residence Qingchuan bought? If he moves like this, what about discussing marriage? If a man has no residence, no shop, no estate, can he match with a good young lady?”

The Emperor didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “So you’ve come to ask me to grant a marriage?”

Old Madam Shou wiped her tears, “I chose early on. That girl is not of high birth, so her heart is upright. She has no haughty airs, but she’s also a young lady of Duke Zhenguo’s estate with status—perfectly suitable.”

Her wholehearted planning for Yu Qingwu reminded the Emperor of how she had previously planned for him in the same way, arranging his marriage to Empress Duan. He couldn’t help feeling sorrowful, “Now the Empress is unwilling to see me.”

Old Madam Shou: “She’s unwilling to see me either. But there are benefits to staying by oneself. One day she’ll come around. Look at me—I’ve aged several more years, haven’t I also become willing to see the children? If I were even a few years younger, I wouldn’t bother with any child’s affairs.”

The Emperor sighed, “It can only be like this.”

He said, “Since Elder Sister has spoken, I naturally must handle this matter well.”

Old Madam Shou: “When the time comes, I’ll bring them to give you the matchmaker’s fee.”

The Emperor laughed heartily, “That won’t be necessary.”

He said, “However, that child Yu Qingwu… he’s been close with the Grand Grandson lately.”

Old Madam Shou’s expression didn’t change: “The Grand Grandson has a discerning eye. Our Qingwu is extremely good, helping me farm and chop wood—what doesn’t he do? It’s just that his fate is unfortunate, alas…”

The Emperor also knew what she meant, and he was also annoyed that Marquis Boyuan had gone too far, “No matter what, he shouldn’t cause trouble at your residence.”

Old Madam Shou waved her hand, “Nothing is easy. I only learned later that he had lost a son.”

The Emperor sighed again, “Who says otherwise? But it truly shouldn’t be so. I am mindful of them—who is mindful of me?”

Thus the matter was settled.

After leaving the palace, Old Madam Shou’s expression slowly faded. She raised her head to look at the immortals and beasts on the roof eaves, then after a long while lowered her head and walked. Just as she reached the Zhihua Gate, she saw the Imperial Grandson smile and call out, “Old Madam.”

Old Madam Shou looked up and smiled, “It’s the Grand Grandson.”

The Imperial Grandson walked over with a smile, “I was just about to go to your residence.”

Old Madam Shou narrowed her eyes slightly: “To see Qingwu?”

The Imperial Grandson supported her, “And to visit you.”

Old Madam Shou nodded, “Perfect, let’s go together then.”

They didn’t speak along the way. The Imperial Grandson was also accustomed to this. Over these years, the two hadn’t spoken more than a few sentences.

When he looked at Old Madam Shou, there was ultimately some resentment.

All these years, the reason Old Madam Shou had received favor from the Emperor was because no matter what happened outside, she didn’t interfere and only stood on the Emperor’s side. As people around died one after another, she only minded her own business behind closed doors.

The Imperial Grandson remembered that when he was small, she had also held him. But after Father and Great-Uncle passed away, she never again stepped through the Eastern Palace gates.

Old Madam Shou just glanced at him, then smiled and said, “Does the Grand Grandson have something to say?”

The Imperial Grandson: “Why must you be so distant?”

He smiled and said, “I still remember when I was small, you said you would have Nanny Qian make plum wine for me to drink.”

Old Madam Shou was silent for a moment, then said gently, “Nanny Qian did make it, but I didn’t let her bring it over.”

The Imperial Grandson was genuinely curious: “Why?”

Old Madam Shou: “Who doesn’t want to protect those close to them? Who wants to become involved in disputes?”

With these words, it was the Imperial Grandson’s turn to fall silent. He nodded and said, “That’s reasonable.”

Then he asked, “But I don’t understand—if that’s the case, why do you want to help Yu Qingwu?”

Old Madam Shou sighed, “I’ve grown old.”

She said, “From my father’s generation to your father’s generation, I’ve seen too much life and death. Originally I was indifferent, but watching Qingwu, he’s like my father’s generation, like your father’s generation, stepping into the court with such passionate devotion—”

“A’Hu…”

She suddenly murmured softly, “Is it merely because you want him to be a blade? Among so many people, why did you choose him?”

The Imperial Grandson remained silent for a long while, then finally smiled, “Yes, too similar.”

Too similar, so there was no way to watch him be used by others. Might as well use him himself. Even dying in his own hands would be better than dying in someone else’s.

He sighed, “I also don’t know whether in the end he’ll still walk toward a dead end. I certainly won’t walk that path with him.”

Old Madam Shou: “Who knows about him?”

But since the person had already come to Luoyang, she smiled gently and said, “Just let him walk his path.”

“Plant melons and reap melons, plant beans and reap beans. All fortune and misfortune are of one’s own making.”

——

When they returned to Shou Residence, Yu Qingwu hadn’t come back yet. However, Lan Shanjun was there.

She had also just arrived.

Zhu Shi had urged her to come ask for details, to see whether Old Madam Shou had actually spoken to His Majesty, so she could have some certainty in her heart—she was now hoping this marriage matter had been made official before His Majesty.

Lan Shanjun had smiled and agreed to come. Upon arriving, however, she encountered the Imperial Grandson.

Old Madam Shou didn’t conceal anything and had Lan Shanjun perform the kowtow ritual, “This is the Imperial Grandson.”

Lan Shanjun quickly performed the ritual. The Imperial Grandson hadn’t expected to encounter her here. These past few days he had been busy with Marquis Boyuan’s estate matters and had actually forgotten about her.

But since Old Madam Shou favored her, he had also investigated and confirmed that Old Madam Shou didn’t know her background.

He then withdrew his gaze and said as usual, “Rise. No need for excessive courtesy.”

Lan Shanjun nodded, then hesitantly said to Old Madam Shou, “Old Madam, Duke Songguo’s estate…”

She only mentioned four words, but the Imperial Grandson knew it should be that the Song family had come to propose marriage.

This was a connection he had made. He knew about it. He smiled and asked, “What about Duke Songguo’s estate?”

Lan Shanjun looked at Old Madam Shou. Old Madam Shou patted her hand, “Speak. Don’t be afraid. The Grand Grandson has a good heart.”

Lan Shanjun then nodded and said, “Duke Songguo’s estate is acting very strangely. Two days ago, Young Master Song went to drink with my third brother. He only saw me once, merely passing by each other, yet today his family sent someone to my home to propose marriage.”

Her voice grew weaker and weaker: “Don’t you think that’s strange? That day when he saw me, his whole face showed he was weighing my worth. I was quite frightened by that look, but unexpectedly the matchmaker said he had, he had fallen in love with me at first sight.”

She muttered, “I’ve never seen this kind of love at first sight. I’m frightened in my heart, so I hurried to find you.”

The Imperial Grandson’s expression changed. He felt the Song family’s handling of this matter was far too careless. He had hinted at a layer of meaning, but how could they be so casual about it?

Old Madam Shou also frowned, “Indeed, this is not right.”

She said, “However, it doesn’t matter. I’ve already asked His Majesty for your marriage with Qingwu.”

The Imperial Grandson’s steps halted—Yu Qingwu?

For a moment, he actually misspoke.

His original intention had been to marry her into a high-ranking family, but in just these few days when he hadn’t had time to manage this matter, Old Madam Shou had already matchmade her with Yu Qingwu?

The Imperial Grandson sighed.

Yu Qingwu was actually not good husband material.

When a woman marries, she seeks stability. Song Zhiwei was actually a good choice—born to a high-ranking family, with no messy concubines in his household, and no illegitimate sons or daughters. If Shanjun married over there and behaved well, there wouldn’t be any major problems.

Now this was good—married to Yu Qingwu.

He was dissatisfied in his heart but couldn’t say anything.

Having already spoken before Imperial Grandfather, what else could he say? It could only be like this.

At worst, she could remarry later.

But when he saw Yu Qingwu again and the two sat in the courtyard, looking at him, he couldn’t help sighing again.

Once a blade has been sharpened and stained with fresh blood, it cannot stop.

He looked at Yu Qingwu’s wound that hadn’t fully healed and asked, “Do you regret it?”

Yu Qingwu had already gone to work today. Today someone else had also asked him whether he regretted it.

He smiled and said, “Elder Statesman Wu asked me the same question as Your Highness.”

The Imperial Grandson: “So do you regret it?”

Yu Qingwu shook his head, “No regrets.”

He smiled and spoke a line he had read in Duan Boyan’s essay, saying, “In this world, people are merely rulers, officials, commoners, and subjects. But these four words are further divided into distinctions of superior and inferior. Those among us who become officials—this official rank, great or small, also has differences in status, high or low.”

He said, “—Superior and inferior, high and low, everyone has a scale in their heart. This subject also has one in his heart.”

“As long as this scale doesn’t tip, then whatever is done, there are no regrets.”

The Imperial Grandson stared at him intently. Faintly, he seemed to see shadows of other people from his form, then laughed mockingly, “You are a commoner, a subject, inferior, low—human hearts easily change. Even Wu Qingchuan has regrets. Mountains and rivers are difficult to traverse—Wu Qingchuan didn’t cross them—”

Yu Qingwu didn’t interrupt him or refute him. Only after he finished speaking did he laugh lightly and say, “Your Highness, you are wrong.”

Then after a moment of silence, he sighed and said word by word, “Your Highness, I understand that human hearts easily change, but I do not change. I understand the world’s difficulties, but I do not fear hardship.”

“I know that in Luoyang, with my lowly status, in everyone’s eyes I am unworthy of speaking those four words ‘the common people of the realm.’ But fortunately, the realm is not just Luoyang’s realm, and my teachers are not solely Elder Statesman Wu alone.”

He shook his head, “The world looks down on me, but there are still the common people. Elder Statesman Wu abandons me, but I still have the books of sages through the ages to accompany me—”

Speaking to this point, he suddenly remembered Shanjun holding a Shu blade and telling him to draw it out.

She had said, “Yu Qingwu, do you want to try drawing the blade yourself—do you want to try drawing yourself out, rather than letting a ruler draw you from your sheath?”

He hadn’t understood then, but now he did.

He smiled with relief and said softly, “I know what Your Highness came to ask today. I can tell Your Highness—if Your Highness uses me, I am Your Highness’s blade. If Your Highness does not use me, I remain a blade—my own blade.”

“Wherever my heart directs, I proceed plainly, not for others, only for myself.”