“Five years.”

“How could she use someone from…” Yu Haizhen rarely needed to choose her words so carefully.

“A humble family?” Chen Dachang finished for her. “Back then, she wasn’t yet a queen, nor was she from the privileged class.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed you’re one of New Xia’s founding members.” Yu Haizhen turned her head to look at him. “How old are you?”

Chen Dachang pursed his lips, pausing before answering: “Twenty-two.”

She let out a light snort: “Still just a child, then.”

Chen Dachang frowned slightly, recalling how Feng Miaojun had just offered to arrange a marriage for him. People commonly married at fourteen or fifteen years of age, and he was already considered late for marriage. How had he become a child in her eyes?

Nevertheless, he remained characteristically silent, offering no rebuttal.

Yu Haizhen brushed her temple hair behind her ear and pointed to a nearby mountain peak: “Aren’t New Xia and Wei Kingdom enemies? How is it that your Queen and the Wei State Preceptor are so close?”

To say they were “close” was already understated. Anyone with eyes could see the intimate relationship between those two.

Chen Dachang, aware that the Queen wanted to recruit her as State Preceptor, didn’t conceal the truth: “They were already acquainted in the Wei Kingdom. After several separations and reunions, and finding no interest in others, they’ve become what you see now.”

He spoke plainly, making Yu Haizhen laugh: “I fear neither the people of New Xia nor Wei would accept this, especially now that she has annexed a piece of Yao territory.” Didn’t the Yao people, the New Xia people, and the Wei Kingdom all harbor deep blood feuds? She continued languidly, “The path the New Xia Queen has chosen is certainly not an easy one.”

“The court officials and citizens still don’t know.” Otherwise, a storm of outrage would have already erupted. “Please don’t spread this.”

At this point, the two fell silent.

Yu Haizhen sat for a while longer, growing increasingly uncomfortable, and suddenly realized: “What am I doing? Why am I talking about these strange matters with him!”

She pressed her knees, about to stand up, while making a concluding remark: “Thank you these past days…”

Unexpectedly, Chen Dachang spoke at the same time: “Are you alright?”

The remaining words caught in her throat. Yu Haizhen tightly closed her rosy lips, and after a long while, nodded.

Chen Dachang’s question came abruptly, but she understood his meaning.

Having experienced the destruction of her country, the shattering of mountains and rivers, and survival after disaster, was she all alright?

She didn’t know.

Past loves and hatreds, along with responsibilities, had all been buried at the foot of the cliff in Yinggong City. She didn’t know whether she should weep loudly or laugh aloud.

After much hesitation, Chen Dachang asked his second question: “Why not become the Queen of Wei Kingdom?”

This time, Yu Haizhen answered lightly, clearly having thought it through: “I don’t wish to be entangled with royalty again.”

Chen Dachang immediately recalled her background and history, remembering the hardships she had endured. Although he had known these details for a long time, having her sitting before him in person inevitably stirred compassion within him.

He said softly: “A phoenix only perches on the wutong tree. The Changle Queen is a wise ruler with great talent and vision. The King of Xi wasn’t worthy to even tie her shoes. Please seriously consider her proposal.”

“I will,” Yu Haizhen nodded. “I’ve long heard of her achievements.” Though previously busy with war, she hadn’t been completely ignorant of outside affairs. Stories about the newly risen New Xia country in the Northern Continent and its legendary queen had long been circulating throughout the Southern Continent. The people of Xi, aware of their nation’s impending twilight, particularly envied the resurgence of other countries.

Just then, there was a rustling sound from the forest. Both were immediately alert, but turning their heads, they saw a huge and familiar figure bounding out from the woods.

The giant ape Hu Tian had returned.

Though fierce in its approach, it landed lightly just behind Yu Haizhen, without even disturbing the snow.

Facing Chen Dachang, Hu Tian bared its teeth threateningly, revealing even its blood-red gums. Yu Haizhen raised her hand and lightly patted its lowered head: “Don’t be rude!”

Hu Tian snorted in defiance but obeying Yu Haizhen, it could only challenge the man before it with its gaze.

Yu Haizhen asked: “Did you notify everyone?” When being hunted, she had resigned herself to death, unwilling to implicate her subordinates. Now she felt similarly responsible to inform them.

Hu Tian nodded: “I’ve notified over thirty people of your decision. Seven have explicitly stated they will follow in your footsteps.” With the Xi Kingdom gone, these cultivators could decide their future paths.

“Very good.” Yu Haizhen praised it, lightly patting its arm ring twice. The giant ape transformed back into a small monkey and climbed onto her shoulder. Yu Haizhen stood up. “It’s freezing. Let’s go back to warm ourselves by the fire.”

This place became a howling wind tunnel at night, like a frozen hell. Recalling that she had just recovered from her injuries and was most vulnerable to cold air entering her body, Chen Dachang stood up and walked back with her.

Inside the cave, a fire was indeed burning, creating a warm atmosphere. Everyone sat on the ground, engrossed in lively conversation.

Above the fire, good wine was being warmed.

Tomorrow they would all go their separate ways. For many here, they might never meet again in this lifetime. In such a situation, how could there be no wine?

Someone had produced several plates of salt-boiled peanuts, a perfect accompaniment to the wine.

Seeing the two enter, Feng Miaojun raised her hand in greeting. The dancing firelight illuminated the smile on her face. Besides her captivating beauty, Yu Haizhen also noticed that she was actually quite young.

This widely renowned queen was only twenty-nine years old.

Beside her, Yun Ya didn’t even glance at others, his arrogance as consistent as ever. But he was busy peeling peanuts for Feng Miaojun, and his gentle and attentive manner slightly surprised Yu Haizhen.

This demon-like State Preceptor of Wei, even he had such a day?

Yu Haizhen walked over and sat down beside Feng Miaojun, who passed her a cup of warm wine.

She politely declined: “I don’t drink.”

Feng Miaojun blinked, roughly recalling the reason for her refusal. Not insisting, she raised the wine cup and offered it to Hu Tian on Yu Haizhen’s shoulder.

The small monkey, smelling the wine’s fragrance, had licked its lips upon entering the cave, and she had noticed.

The wine was good, and it was tempting. But feeling that its “old grievance” with Feng Miaojun remained unresolved, and fearing that drinking might loosen its tongue, it hesitated.

Yu Haizhen found this amusing and took the cup to hand to it: “Go ahead and drink, but don’t get drunk or cause trouble!”

Having received its master’s permission, Hu Tian was delighted. It took the cup and drained it in one gulp, then eagerly looked around, hoping for several more cups.

Feng Miaojun simply took out a small jar of aged wine from her storage ring and pushed it in front of it: “Here.”

Having already had one cup, another jar wouldn’t make much difference. Hu Tian snatched the jar, hugging it and pouring the contents into its mouth. Though small in form, its drinking manner had some of the giant ape’s boldness.

Chen Dachang entered and sat down at the cave entrance, the lookout position. Feng Miaojun glanced at him before smiling and asking Yu Haizhen: “Has Hu Tian ever been drunk?”

“More than just drunk,” Yu Haizhen peeled a peanut for herself. “It once stole all the good wine from the cellar, couldn’t run more than a few miles before becoming drunk and belligerent, and buried two small towns. Since then, I haven’t allowed it to drink much.”