Su Yuji was not strong, and her fist technique was still quite unsteady. The next morning she rose deliberately early, hoping to practice her forms on the training ground while no one was around. But when she arrived at the training ground, she was surprised to find someone already there.

Even more surprisingly, that person was Ming Huashang — yesterday’s notorious good-for-nothing.

She wore a white training outfit, her hair tied high, with fine wisps of hair damp at her temples, her cheeks flushed a rosy white beneath their fair surface. She looked full of vitality and vigorous energy. When she saw Su Yuji, she too paused briefly, then smiled: “Good morning.”

Su Yuji and Ming Huashang were not close. She was not a warm person by nature, and their first meeting had not exactly been pleasant, which left Su Yuji with an inexplicable sense of awkwardness whenever she saw Ming Huashang.

Su Yuji gave a faint nod in return. She went to a far corner to practice her forms, while Ming Huashang stood quietly beneath a tree to rest. Neither had any inclination to speak to the other.

Though they were both here training, they did not even know each other’s real names, let alone have any bond between them. Everyone maintained the distance of a nodding acquaintance who did not interfere with one another. Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling with their loud, joking banter were the odd ones out.

Ming Huashang thought of how this young woman was the true daughter of the Duke Zhenguo household and felt genuinely too embarrassed to approach her. She stood idly in the shade of a tree, waiting for Ming Huazhang to return.

Behind her, someone called out “Younger Sister,” and Ming Huashang instinctively turned around. Their eyes met, and both froze for a moment. Su Xingzhi quickly said: “Forgive me — I mistook you for someone else.”

Ming Huashang shook her head with a smile: “Not at all. Young Master Qianshan, are you looking for Miss Ruoshui?”

Su Xingzhi nodded: “Indeed. Did you see which way she went?”

Ming Huashang pointed in the direction Su Yuji had gone. Su Xingzhi looked up and sure enough made out a slender white figure in the distance. He clasped his hands and bowed, his manner formal and reserved: “My thanks. I mistook you just now for my younger sister — I truly apologize. May I ask your name?”

Ming Huashang naturally could not say she was the false Ming Huashang, the one who was perhaps Su Xingzhi’s sister. When she had first heard Nanny Su had switched the children, she had not dared to hope such a family could have raised anyone of worth — but Su Xingzhi had proven her wrong, upright and principled, poor in background but not in character, and with every appearance of great promise ahead of him.

Ming Huashang had a good impression of Su Xingzhi. She very much wanted to get on well with her future brother and was therefore particularly warm: “Young Master Qianshan, please don’t be so formal. My name is Shuang Bi. These training uniforms are all exactly alike — from behind, everyone looks the same. It really is easy to mix people up. I’ve called the wrong person several times myself. Please don’t give it another thought.”

The last two sentences came out with the natural, faintly complaining and half-playful tone of a girl used to speaking freely. Su Xingzhi gave a slight smile, inwardly a little surprised.

Partly surprised by Ming Huashang’s easy familiarity, but more surprised that he had made the mistake in the first place.

The sun had not yet risen. The light beneath the trees was dim and cool, and when he had seen the figure in white — slender and graceful — he had instinctively assumed it was Su Yuji. But it had been Ming Huashang.

He had grown up alongside Su Yuji. By rights, he shouldn’t have made such a mistake.

Ming Huashang could tell Su Xingzhi had no interest in any deeper acquaintance. Understanding that too much was as bad as too little, she said with a smile: “I won’t keep you, Young Master Qianshan — see you around.”

She knew from the dream that Su Xingzhi was her blood brother, but in Su Xingzhi’s eyes, she was simply a stranger he had met twice. Being too warm would only arouse suspicion. Better to proceed gradually — after all, there was still a year.

One does not strike a smiling face, and faced with a gentle, sweet-tempered young woman, Su Xingzhi could hardly maintain a cold expression. He exchanged a few more pleasantries before heading to the other side of the training ground to find Su Yuji. Ming Huashang kept her smile all the while, watching him walk away.

Su Xingzhi was eighteen this year, only a year older than Jiang Ling, yet he seemed far more mature. If Jiang Ling was a pure and steadfast evergreen in a sheltered garden, then Su Xingzhi was a pine or cypress weathered by wind and rain in the open hills — that quality of rugged resilience was not something a pampered young lord like Jiang Ling could imitate.

Ming Huashang was so absorbed in watching that she didn’t notice someone had come to stand behind her. Ming Huazhang had been following the direction of her gaze for quite some time before suddenly asking: “What are you looking at?”

Ming Huashang startled and turned to see Ming Huazhang. Her eyes immediately brightened: “Second Elder Brother, you gave me a fright! When did you get here? Why do you walk without making any sound?”

Ming Huazhang watched Ming Huashang’s face and said: “Just now. Who are you looking at? You were so absorbed — if this were a mission, you would already be dead.”

Ming Huashang pressed her lips together inwardly and lowered her head: “I was wrong. Second Elder Brother, from now on I’ll focus completely and never let my mind wander. Oh — did you know, besides us, there’s someone else who comes to the training ground for extra practice!”

Ming Huashang was eager to share the news with Ming Huazhang, but he only gave a mild hum, showing no particular interest. Ming Huashang didn’t dare push it further and closed her mouth reluctantly, turning back to her idle thoughts.

Ming Huazhang felt increasingly unsettled.

That morning Ming Huashang had come to the training ground half an hour early, and Ming Huazhang had been working with her on stamina and endurance. Unfortunately, her foundation was so poor she was drenched in sweat before they were halfway through.

Afraid she would exhaust herself before the ten laps to come, he had ended the session early and let her rest under the tree to recover her strength.

He had only been gone a moment, and on his return he had found her talking and laughing with Su Xingzhi. Ming Huashang was perceptive and sociable, but she wasn’t someone who particularly relished socializing. In the years before, she had barely set foot outside the Duke Zhenguo household, not even attending the banquets young ladies were so fond of.

And yet here she was extending goodwill to someone she’d only just met — a young man of modest origins, no less. Why?

Ming Huazhang still wore that cool, composed expression, yet Ming Huashang felt a chill for no reason she could identify. She pulled her arms closer around herself, utterly at a loss.

Had she said something wrong again? Why did Ming Huazhang look displeased?

Fortunately, people began arriving shortly afterward and broke the awkward silence between them. Ming Huashang quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and moved over beside Xie Jichuan, Jiang Ling, and the others to begin the day’s suffering.

Unsurprisingly, Ming Huashang finished last again, though considerably faster than the day before. By the time she crossed the line, she had at least made it in time for the latter half of the boxing lesson.

Jiang Ling was being thoroughly pummeled by Ren Yao. Ren Yao’s approach to martial training was simple — she didn’t need to prepare; she just learned by doing.

When Jiang Ling saw Ming Huashang arrive, he looked nearly moved to tears: “You’re finally here! I want to switch training partners — I absolutely refuse to pair with the tomboy!”

“As if I’d want you,” Ren Yao said coldly. “I’ll pair with her, you go punch the wooden post by yourself!”

Ming Huashang had no wish to get drawn into their quarrel, but before she could even refuse, Ming Huazhang cut in coolly: “Come here — I’ll practice with you.”

Xie Jichuan made a quiet sound of mild complaint, smiling faintly: “So it seems I’m the one who’s truly superfluous here.”

Three people competing to look after one — Ming Huashang took it in stride. Whoever she trained with, she’d be on the receiving end regardless. She might as well partner with the strongest. She pressed her palms together toward Xie Jichuan with her most pitiful expression: “Elder Brother Weiyue, I’m not trying to take you away from anyone — please just wait a little. The moment I’ve learned something useful I’ll be out of your way.”

“It’s fine.” Xie Jichuan waved a hand, rolled his shoulders, and said with every appearance of relief: “I’d been hoping to rest anyway. You’ve done me a favor.”

Having said this, Xie Jichuan promptly went to stand to one side and didn’t waste another moment. He leaned against the railing, watching Jiang Ling get thoroughly thrashed by Ren Yao. By the time Ren Yao finally paused to regulate her breathing, Jiang Ling had a brief chance to catch his.

Xie Jichuan leaned against the railing with his arms folded, looking at Jiang Ling with some sympathy: “Want to come rest?”

Jiang Ling walked over, climbed up to sit on the railing, and let out a long sigh: “She’s terrifying. That woman is more ferocious than a flood or a wild beast.”

Xie Jichuan nodded with feeling: “Good enough is good enough — there’s no one watching, so why work yourself this hard?”

Jiang Ling rarely found someone who understood, and immediately opened up, launching into a lengthy grievance: “You have no idea how seriously she takes everything. She came and pounded on my door at a quarter past the first watch this morning. I overslept by just a little and she threatened to dump cold water on me! Heavens, what did I ever do to deserve this? Why is fate so determined to torment me?”

Jiang Ling was only just getting started on Ren Yao’s many outrages, when from behind them came a sudden heavy thud. He and Xie Jichuan turned around, and stared at the sight of Ming Huashang being thrown hard to the ground.

Ming Huazhang had held back his strength, but the fall still kicked up a layer of dust. Ming Huashang lay face-down on the ground, covered in dirt, in a state of complete despair.

Jiang Ling: “…”

He suddenly felt that the tomboy had been treating him quite well, actually.

It was painful to watch a perfectly fine young woman put through this, and even Xie Jichuan felt a pang seeing it — yet Ming Huazhang seemed entirely unacquainted with the concept of treating anyone gently. Without a hint of mercy, he ordered Ming Huashang back to her feet to be thrown again.

Xie Jichuan said quietly: “Are they really from the same family? What grudge could possibly be this deep?”

Jiang Ling nodded with complete sympathy. He suddenly felt that Ren Yao was actually a decent person and a solid companion. He jumped down from the railing and tried to clap Xie Jichuan on the shoulder, only to have Xie Jichuan sidestep him effortlessly.

“Don’t touch me.” Xie Jichuan looked at the dirt on Jiang Ling’s palms with disdain. “Your hands are filthy.”

Jiang Ling looked at his dirt-covered palms and gave up: “Fine, sit here yourself. I’m heading back.”

Ming Huashang felt like a lump of dough being thrown and kneaded over and over until even her bones felt half-dissolved. Ming Huazhang kept a cold expression, completely unlike the gentle brother who had brought her warm congee the night before. He asked sternly: “Do you have it?”

Ming Huashang nodded weakly, like someone thoroughly beaten down: “I have it.”

When Ming Huazhang saw how pitiful she looked, he was not unmoved. But he knew perfectly well that going easy on her would only harm her, so he kept his face cold and said with iron composure: “Then go practice. Every form, one hundred times. Don’t stop until you’re done.”

Ming Huashang obediently went to an open patch of ground and began going through the forms. Xie Jichuan leaned against the railing, watched for a moment, then patted the space beside him: “Younger Sister, are you tired? Come rest a while.”

“Weiyue.” Ming Huazhang’s gaze fell on him, dark and cold as ice. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Xie Jichuan clicked his tongue softly, and straightened up at a leisurely pace, but still turned to call back to Ming Huashang: “Be careful, Younger Sister — I’ll come check on you in a moment.”

Xie Jichuan trudged back to the practice area with obvious reluctance. Ming Huazhang lowered his head and flexed his fingers, then flicked a cold sideways glance at Xie Jichuan: “When did you become so fond of sticking your nose into other people’s business?”

“Other people’s business I naturally don’t involve myself in,” Xie Jichuan said. “But an adorable young lady like Younger Sister is different — I’m very glad to spare a charming beauty some trouble.”

Ming Huazhang gave a single nod. He knew that some lessons were best taught with fists rather than words. Xie Jichuan caught the readiness in Ming Huazhang’s stance and felt a flicker of unease, raising an eyebrow: “I’m warning you — Younger Sister might let things go, but if you throw me around like that, I will be angry.”

Ming Huazhang responded only with a quiet, dismissive sound.

Xie Jichuan eventually went back to change, looking thoroughly put out. Ming Huashang finally finished her hundred repetitions, all four limbs feeling as though they no longer belonged to her. She went back to her room at midday and fell straight asleep. By the time afternoon class began she was still drowsy and disoriented.

Most of the other trainees were in much the same state. They sat through the stifling afternoon sun while the tutor recited coded language in a voice as flat as boiled water.

The first day had indeed been considerate of newcomers — today’s codes were harder, but also considerably more sleep-inducing.

Ming Huashang stifled a yawn quietly and tried to suppress her drowsiness, when a glance to the side showed her that Xie Jichuan had already put his head down on the desk and fallen asleep.

Ming Huashang: “?”

Was he not a young lord of noble birth? That was the venerable Xie family — the “Xie” of the old saying about the swallows at the Wangs’ and Xies’ gates — and he was sleeping through class?

The tutor clearly found Xie Jichuan’s brazenness a bit much. He kept a cold expression: “This trainee — what was the meaning of the code I just gave?”

At the sudden question, several drowsy trainees jolted awake. They all quietly looked back in Xie Jichuan’s direction.

Xie Jichuan lay with his head on the desk without stirring. Ming Huazhang set down his brush, and with his sleeve for cover, flicked something quickly across the room at Xie Jichuan. Only then did Xie Jichuan wake up.

He braced himself on his forehead. Even with the look of someone just dragged from sleep, he lost nothing of his elegant manner — in fact it only added to the air of an eccentric of the Wei-Jin period. His voice was slightly rough as he asked: “What happened?”

The tutor repeated the question. Xie Jichuan glanced down, idly turned a couple of pages, and without a pause translated the full meaning of the long string of code the tutor had given.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for what would come next — but to no one’s expectation, the tutor paused and said nothing. After that, when Xie Jichuan put his head back down and went to sleep, the tutor did not say another word.

Ming Huashang stared wide-eyed. He had actually gotten it right?

She had listened through most of the lesson and was still muddled, while Xie Jichuan hadn’t listened at all — just glanced through a couple of pages — and learned everything?

Where was the fairness in that?

Beside her, Jiang Ling and Ren Yao were equally incredulous: “Is this real? He couldn’t have just guessed correctly, could he?”

Would the tutor play along with a guess? Ming Huashang sighed inwardly. She had heard that Xie Jichuan had been known as a prodigy from a young age — said to have a perfect memory and effortless fluency — and she had assumed it was an exaggeration. Seeing it now, she knew it was true.

When heaven favors someone, there’s simply nothing to be done.

Ming Huashang indulged in a brief moment of sighing before going dutifully back to her own notes. This was the assignment Ming Huazhang had given her the day before. If Xie Jichuan represented natural genius, then Ming Huazhang represented something else — a formidable reasoning ability built over years of sustained self-discipline and reflection.

One man was fed by heaven’s favor. The other, even if heaven turned its back, could still build a fortress from scattered sand with his own hands.

She would rather become like Ming Huazhang.

The interminable coded language class finally ended, and Ming Huashang had scarcely enjoyed a quarter of an incense stick’s worth of rest before a new tutor arrived.

To everyone’s surprise, this time it was Han Jie. He looked out at their listless faces and didn’t push them to appear alert. Instead, he tossed a scroll casually onto the desk and said: “The weather is getting hotter. I’m too lazy to recite all these characters — let’s try something different today.”

The trainees tensed: “What does the General have in mind?”

Han Jie stroked his beard and smiled: “The Xuan Xiaowei must know not only how to kill, but how to save. I have an interesting little story for you — let’s see who can figure out who the killer is.”