The sky had only just begun to pale. In this early spring with its lingering chill, the study windows had all been propped open, and the cold, crisp air swept in, carrying with it a bracing freshness that quickened the mind.

The *Atlas of the Nine Provinces*, normally kept in a camphorwood chest, had been taken out and spread across the large yellow pear-wood writing desk. Xu Lingyi, wearing a half-worn raven-blue Hangzhou silk unlined robe with a plain pattern, stood before the desk with his hands clasped behind him. His head was slightly bowed, and he stared at the map without blinking, his expression extremely grave.

Shiyiniang saw him and her steps faltered.

Xu Lingyi, having heard the sound, had already raised his head: “You’re here.”

He had been summoned to the palace without warning — Shiyiniang would certainly be worried, and knowing he had returned, she would naturally come to see him at the earliest moment.

Why was he looking at the *Atlas of the Nine Provinces*?

Shiyiniang had an ominous feeling…

“What has happened?” she asked, walking to Xu Lingyi’s side.

Mountains, rivers, and waterways — all spread before her eyes.

Xu Lingyi hesitated for a moment, then pointed to the location of Xuantong Prefecture on the map: “The Tartars have mustered the forces of thirteen tribes. Bypassing Jiayuguan Pass, they have already reached the outskirts of Xuantong Prefecture’s city walls.”

Shiyiniang’s heart lurched. Her expression changed dramatically, and she exclaimed in a broken voice: “How could this have happened?”

Xuantong Prefecture was the shield of Yanjing. Once that shield was removed, Yanjing would be in peril!

“Last winter was bitterly cold, and this spring has come late as well. There are no more grass roots or tree bark to eat — they have no choice but to come through the pass and plunder!” Xu Lingyi’s voice was very calm. “The way things look, I’m afraid the Five Military Commands will be mobilized!”

“Then will there be any danger to Jin Ge’er?” This was what concerned Shiyiniang most.

“He will be fine!” Xu Lingyi looked at her steadily. “Shiyang is very remote — far from Xuantong. Even if those Tartars were to take a wrong turn, they would never end up there. The situation is urgent now. When the Five Military Commands deploy troops, speed is paramount. They would not leave the Rear Military Command’s forces — which are closest to Xuantong — unused and instead go far out of their way to mobilize the Right Military Command’s forces. Rest easy; he is safer than we are.” As he spoke, a gentle, reassuring smile touched the corners of his mouth.

Sichuan fell under the jurisdiction of the Right Military Command, and Shanxi under the Rear Military Command.

Shiyiniang breathed a sigh of relief, then said: “What did the Emperor summon the Marquis to the palace for?”

“The court has not deployed troops in the northwest for over ten years. The Emperor had no foundation, so he summoned me to question me.” As Xu Lingyi spoke, his tone was mild, yet the corners of his eyes and the lines of his brow radiated a powerful confidence, causing him to suddenly stand taller, imbued with a dignified gravity and composure.

This must be what he looks like in the military camp!

Shiyiniang suddenly felt as though she had unwittingly glimpsed another side of Xu Lingyi — one he had kept hidden.

“The Emperor only questioned you about matters in the northwest. Surely he said nothing else?” she asked hesitantly.

Xu Lingyi was silent for a long while before murmuring in a low voice: “The Emperor also asked whether I had any intention of going to the northwest to quell the unrest…” His speech paused slightly. “I…declined, in a roundabout way.” His voice was very even — like a river stopped up by silt.

If not for political considerations, he would have very much wanted to campaign in the northwest again, would he not?

Shiyiniang thought of the powerful confidence that had flashed across him just moments ago, and her heart suddenly felt a little constricted. She placed her hand gently over his clenched fist where it rested on the writing desk: “Jin Ge’er is in Sichuan. If you were to go to the northwest again, this place would be empty and hollow…it is better to stay home.” The gaze she turned on him was as gentle as spring water, rippling all the way to the bottom of his heart, leaving him with a trace of disappointment.

She was saying these things only to comfort him, wasn’t she?

If only it were not under these circumstances…

Xu Lingyi shook his head lightly.

A young couple in their prime, growing old together as companions — he had been thinking too much.

He smiled, patted Shiyiniang’s hand: “This early, and you haven’t had morning meal yet, have you?” He then turned his head and called for Denghua: “Close all the windows. Tell the servants to set out the morning meal.” He changed the subject.

A faint coolness settled between the two of them.

Shiyiniang was slightly taken aback.

Xu Lingyi had already moved to the large heated platform by the window. He picked up the teapot warming on the low table and poured a cup: “Come, sit and have some hot tea.”

His smile was as warm as ever, yet it had lost some of its former warmth.

Shiyiniang walked over quietly and sat down, took the teacup, and spoke of domestic trivialities, hoping to dispel the chill between them: “Yesterday on the way back, Ying Niang and I discussed it at length — we thought of planting some water chestnuts on the far side of Liufang Cove, but we’re afraid the water chestnut seedlings might grow too densely, leaving no room to row boats…”

Something this minor would never be too much for Shiyiniang.

Xu Lingyi caught the flash of unease in the depths of her eyes and laughed, despite himself.

He was being too petty-minded.

Shiyiniang had a steady temperament and came from a distinguished family — restraint was ingrained in her. To expect tender sentiments and sweet words from her was, truly, wishful thinking on his part.

Thinking this, he draped an arm around her shoulder and pressed an affectionate kiss to her cheek: “If the water chestnut seedlings grow too dense, just ask the estate manager to invite the women from the farm to come and clear some out. I recall water chestnuts are only ready in the fifth or sixth month. By the fifth or sixth month, the weather would be too hot for anyone to want to go boating anyway — so it wouldn’t get in the way…”

Feeling the warmth of his breath, hearing the richness of his voice, Shiyiniang let out a long, quiet exhale. It was as though a great stone that had been pressing on her heart had been suddenly lifted away, and she felt deeply at ease.

Hearing that soft breath from within his embrace, the smile on Xu Lingyi’s face deepened.

Shiyiniang — it seemed she had become very attached to him.

Since when did this begin… Scenes from their life together — warm and tender, lingering and romantic, exasperating and reproachful — spun through his mind like a revolving lantern, yet he could never find the starting point…

Denghua came in, saw the two of them sitting close and fondly together, and immediately lowered her eyes, saying softly: “My lord, where shall morning meal be served?”

Shiyiniang tried to sit up, but Xu Lingyi tightened his arm and she had no choice but to lean against his shoulder again. Her face was a little flushed, yet she made no further attempt to move away.

Xu Lingyi gave a faint smile and instructed Denghua: “Serve it right here!”

Denghua responded and withdrew.

Xu Lingyi kissed her forehead, then finally released her.

Shiyiniang sat upright.

The servants, having received their instructions, entered with bowed heads, moving quietly and carefully. They took away the low table and replaced it with one bearing the morning meal.

The husband and wife sat facing each other for the meal.

The room was filled from time to time with the crisp sound of porcelain, the soft sound of soup being sipped, the sounds of chewing.

When she was young, her mother was always very busy. On those rare occasions when they managed to eat a meal together, she would chatter away, recounting everything that had happened around her — as though by doing so, she could make up for all the days spent apart from her mother. Yet there was still a hollow place inside her, and no matter how much noise she made, it could not be filled; if anything, it only made the longing feel sharper. Later, in Yuhang, the rule was “no talking during meals or sleep” — at the time, she had found it only distressing… At some point, she had grown accustomed to eating in this quiet silence, and yet her heart felt calm and grounded.

Shiyiniang could not help but look up at Xu Lingyi across the table.

He was in the middle of picking up a dish, his expression composed, his movements steady and assured… just as on that night when the late Emperor had summoned him to the palace… He had held her lightly in his arms — that embrace, steady and unhurried — and calmly arranged for her to take the children and leave… She still remembered the feel of his arms around her…

She fell into a slight reverie.

When she saw him again later, why had she never asked him why he had, of all people, arranged for her to be the one to take the children and leave… She was the Marchioness of Yongping… Had the Xu Manor been raided, she would have been the first to bear the brunt within the inner household… Unlike the Second Madam — Second Elder Brother had been gone for over twenty years. She had lived as a widow, long withdrawn from the world, residing in a secluded courtyard… If anyone were to leave, the Second Madam would have found it easier… And besides, the Second Madam had lived through the Xu Family’s own vicissitudes, and in terms of loyalty, strength of will, and ability to adapt — she was far more reassuring compared to her… Xu Lingyi was a man who acted with meticulous care, all the more so when facing a moment of the family’s survival or downfall…

It seemed to be only after that, that she had truly come to understand the burden Xu Lingyi had been carrying alone all along. And it was only after that, that whenever he was unhappy, her own heart would tighten, and she would want to say something, do something — to ease his mind, to bring back his happiness…

“What is it?” Xu Lingyi saw her across the table eating her porridge as though counting each grain of rice, and smiled. “Is the morning meal not to your taste?”

He ate simply; she ate elaborately… more often than not, a full table of dishes, with hers taking up two-thirds of the spread. It was clear that the kitchen had rearranged the morning meal upon her unexpected arrival, but the time had been too short — most of it was noodle soup, steamed buns, a few stir-fried vegetable dishes, and a bowl of millet congee.

“No!” Shiyiniang smiled. “It’s very good!”

Xu Lingyi nodded.

A page boy came running in: “My lord, Commander Ma from the Five Military Commands requests an audience!”

Commander Ma held command of the Central Army of the Five Military Commands.

Xu Lingyi showed no sign of surprise, and after a long moment of contemplation instructed the page boy: “Show him to the flower hall.”

Shiyiniang quickly rose to help Xu Lingyi change his clothes.

“Wait for me a moment — let us go together to pay our respects to Mother.” Xu Lingyi said, then turned and walked out the door.

He said “a moment,” yet nearly an hour passed before Xu Lingyi returned.

“Let us go,” he said mildly. “We must not keep Mother waiting.”

The Grand Madam, these days, could only be at ease once she had seen Xu Lingyi each morning and evening.

Shiyiniang followed him out the door.

Halfway there, she hesitated: “Commander Ma came to see you — could it be something urgent?”

Xu Lingyi said nothing, and not until they had entered the Grand Madam’s courtyard did he murmur quietly: “The Emperor has summoned the men of the Five Military Commands to the palace. He came to ask me — if the Emperor were to ask him to recommend a commanding general, whom should he recommend?”

Shiyiniang was astonished.

Xu Lingyi had left the military camp for over a decade, yet a commanding officer of the Central Army of the Five Military Commands still came to ask Xu Lingyi whom to recommend as the commanding general… When one lived side by side, with no distance between them, perhaps some things were inevitably overlooked?

She very much wanted to ask him — what had happened during the campaign to pacify the northwest? Why was it that after so many years, people still regarded him with such reverence and trust?

But thinking of the offhand tone he had used just moments ago, Shiyiniang swallowed the words that had risen to her lips.

The Grand Madam took Xu Lingyi’s hand and asked with warm concern where he had eaten the day before, whether he had drunk any wine, what Zhou Shizheng had called him away to do… Xu Lingyi answered with a smile, and read a passage from the *Heart Sutra* for the Grand Madam. Only then did the Grand Madam smilingly let him go.

The Second Madam saw them to the door on the Grand Madam’s behalf.

“Fourth Uncle,” she said with a meaningful look, “if you are agreeable, I would like to take Mother to stay at the West Mountain Villa for a while. That way, when Fourth Uncle has guests, you need not bring them to pay respects to Mother, and Mother will not have to exert herself to receive these visitors. What do you think?”

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