As soon as those words were spoken, everyone froze as if struck by a paralyzing spell, standing still in place. They couldn’t make out what the token in her hand was, but seeing her commanding presence, they all felt this was a serious matter and could only look at each other in bewilderment, then stare back uncertainly at Fan Yuanlong.

Fan Yuanlong was momentarily stunned by Huang Zixia’s declaration. He trotted over to her, reaching out to take the token for a closer look. Huang Zixia flipped her hand and lightly tapped the token against his face, smiling as she said, “Come now, please ask General Fan to come out. The Prince of Kui has arrived – would it be appropriate for him not to come out and welcome him?”

Fan Yuanlong immediately deflated. Though he didn’t recognize Li Shubai, seeing him standing there with hands behind his back, exuding an air of noble arrogance, and remembering that the Prince of Kui had indeed recently gone missing in the area, he was frightened and at a loss. While still pondering how to verify their identity, he heard someone behind him laugh: “Oh my, Eunuch Yang, haven’t seen you in days – quite imposing now, aren’t you?”

Huang Zixia looked up to see the person walking out of the side door with a smile. Though his complexion was somewhat pale, his calm and gentle demeanor, like the spring breeze and morning sun, made people yearn to be near him—

Huang Zixia couldn’t help but call out softly: “Wang Yun…”

Wang Yun nodded to her, then walked to Li Shubai and raised his hands in greeting: “Greetings, Your Highness. We heard Your Highness encountered danger on the mountain road and were all very concerned. Now, thankfully with Heaven’s protection, Your Highness has arrived safely in Chengdu Prefecture – truly a blessing for the state and the people!”

Li Shubai smiled slightly and said: “The Emperor’s well-being is what truly blesses the state. How is it that in just a few days, Yunzhi has changed so much – could physical pain affect one’s tongue as well?”

Wang Yun’s expression froze slightly, and he unconsciously glanced sideways at Huang Zixia but saw her showing the token to Fan Yuanlong, her expression unchanged.

He smiled again and said: “Your Highness truly has heaven’s sight, how did you know I was slightly injured while searching the mountains with the Western Sichuan army the other day? To be honest, it was all out of sincere loyalty to Your Highness.”

Huang Zixia glanced back at him, seeing his very pale complexion, and couldn’t help but ask: “May I ask where Commander Wang was injured? Is it serious?”

“It’s nothing serious, just like a rose’s thorn that pricked my heart ever so slightly,” Wang Yun smiled.

Huang Zixia gave a slight smile, saying nothing but: “The Prince of Kui and I are both in disguise, yet Commander Wang recognized us at a glance – what excellent eyesight.”

“Not excellent eyesight – I actually heard your voice first, then hurried out,” he admitted with a smile, his gaze deep and lingering as he looked at her. “When I was traveling toward Shu Prefecture, I thought countless times that perhaps I might happen to meet you here… When I just heard your voice, I could hardly believe my ears.”

Huang Zixia lowered her head in silence, while Li Shubai had already walked past her. She quickly followed, brushing past Wang Yun who was smiling at her, keeping close to Li Shubai’s steps.

Zhou Ziqin was very frustrated.

The lanterns were just being lit, and General Fan was about to arrive at the Prefecture Governor’s mansion, but at this crucial moment, he couldn’t find Huang Zixia and the other two.

“Could something have happened? Could they be having too much fun somewhere and forget about me? Could they be…” Before he could figure out a reason, someone reported from outside: “Young Master! General Fan has arrived, his personal guard unit is at the gate.”

“Alright, alright, quickly follow Father to welcome them.” Zhou Ziqin straightened his rose-purple Shu brocade robe and followed Zhou Xiang to the gate. They saw Fan Yingxi dismounting from his horse. Upon seeing Zhou Xiang, he barely had time to cup his hands in greeting before hurrying to another horse behind him, bowing respectfully: “Please dismount, Your Highness.”

When Zhou Ziqin saw who was dismounting, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground.

Huang Zixia followed behind Li Shubai, quickly walking toward Zhou Xiang, and while bowing, winked at Zhou Ziqin.

Zhou Ziqin’s mouth twitched, glaring at her fiercely, mouthing the words: “What’s going on?”

She gave him a “guess what” look.

While Zhou Ziqin was speechless, he heard Fan Yingxi say to Zhou Xiang: “I deserve death! I was so focused on searching for His Highness in the mountains, never thinking His Highness had Heaven’s protection and was naturally safe and sound long ago. My worthless son was presumptuous and offended His Highness, I truly deserve ten thousand deaths for this fault…”

“Not at all. It was I who wished to avoid attention and thus concealed my movements – how could your son have known my identity?” Li Shubai lied with perfect dignity, his expression unchanged. “It was just that his guards deceived their master, and I have already given them a slight punishment. I believe your son will surely stay away from villains and achieve greatness in the future.”

“This official deserves death, this official will go home later and beat that little beast to death!”

Fan Yingxi spoke as if he meant it, while his son Fan Yuanlong trembled behind him. But everyone knew this was just how the father and son were, so they casually offered a few words of persuasion as they filed into the mansion.

Huang Zixia followed behind Li Shubai, entering through the main gate straight into the main hall. Past the rear hall was the Prefecture Governor’s residence, and behind three courtyards was the garden.

The courtyard paved with blue stones had a shallow groove worn in the middle where people walked most often. This was where she had once skipped, run, and strolled – it seemed her footprints were still there, along with her forever-lost girlhood.

Ahead were two banana trees and a bed of hostas. Beyond the flower bed, on the blue bricks, had once rested the bodies of her loved ones. She could still clearly see in her mind the white cloth covering the bodies of those dearest to her, while now the place was decorated with lanterns and streamers, with the sound of strings and bamboo instruments laying out a grand feast.

Her home, her girlhood, her forever-departed happy life.

The grand scene remained, but everything else had changed. Those who had once smiled at her had forever vanished into the past.

Looking at the scene before her, identical to her memories, her nose unconsciously stung and her eyes gradually reddened.

At this moment, her trembling hand was suddenly grasped by someone.

It was Li Shubai. As they passed through the corner corridor, when everyone’s gaze was blocked, he gently held her hand.

His long, strong palm enveloped her hand in warmth.

This moment seemed frozen, yet also seemed to pass in an instant. She looked up to see his face, to see his concerned eyes gazing deeply at her.

The people behind had caught up, and his hand released hers. Huang Zixia and he returned to their silent following state, she following his footsteps, slowly walking forward.

But in her heart, there was no more sorrow or fear. She knew she hadn’t lost her final support. At this moment when she seemed abandoned by the whole world, there was still someone who would forever stand by her side, unhesitatingly taking her hand when she needed it, giving her the strongest strength.

The main hall was set with twelve seats, Li Shubai at the head, with Fan Yingxi and Zhou Xiang accompanying him on the left and right. Huang Zixia and Zhang Xingying sat at the lower end, and when she looked up at those beside her, she was stunned.

On the left was Zhou Ziqin’s future brother-in-law, Qi Teng.

On the right, sitting silently, was Yu Xuan.

Zhang Xingying immediately became excited, quickly whispering to Yu Xuan: “Benefactor, how are you here?”

Yu Xuan’s expression was somber, but when he looked up at him, he was slightly surprised: “You are… Bao’er’s uncle?”

“That’s right! Bao’er still remembers you fondly, Benefactor!”

Yu Xuan smiled silently, but he was heavily preoccupied and didn’t continue the conversation. Zhang Xingying had no choice but to stop talking as well.

Zhou Xiang, as the host, led everyone in raising their cups first to toast the Prince of Kui; Fan Yingxi, as the Military Commissioner of Western Sichuan, first toasted the Prince and punished himself with an extra cup; Zhou Xiang was the host and others were guests, so everyone raised their cups to him; Fan Yingxi was the Military Commissioner and Zhou Xiang had just taken office, so they drained another cup…

The feast had barely begun, but the bustling atmosphere was already overwhelming. Zhou Ziqin caught Huang Zixia’s eye, and the two secretly left the main hall, running to a side hall to drink yogurt.

“Chonggu, tell me the truth! What’s going on, how did you suddenly end up with General Fan?”

Huang Zixia ate some snacks while saying: “Don’t worry, we don’t owe Fan Yingxi any favors, instead we’ve caught him in a compromising position. We should thank that notorious son of his – back then I watched him for so long, I know him like the back of my hand.”

“Who did you watch?” Zhou Ziqin asked.

Huang Zixia quickly deflected: “Don’t you know? Fan Yuanlong, the little tyrant of Chengdu Prefecture – his name is infamous even in the capital.”

“Is that so? I didn’t know.” As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something and quickly pulled her up, saying: “Come on, let’s go see how Madam Gong Sun’s sword dance preparations are coming along.”

Gong Sun Yuan and Yin Luyi were in the flower hall. On the waterside pavilion, chairs had already been arranged at the small boat dock in front. The water pavilion had been cleared out, and now had large embroidered gauze curtains hung as a backdrop. Light shining from behind made the brocade colors brilliant, hazily enveloping Gong Sun Yuan who stood before the curtain, making her whole body shimmer with divine light, like the flowing radiance of fine jade, almost too bright to look at directly.

Yin Luyi was eating maltose candy nearby, and when she saw them come, she got up and wrapped two pieces of candy in cotton paper for them.

Huang Zixia looked down at the maltose candy in her hand and saw it was indeed carved into the shape of a swallow, with scissor-like tail feathers and spread wings, every detail perfect, lifelike, and vivid. She couldn’t help but marvel, then looked at the one in Zhou Ziqin’s hand – it was a napping cat, still maintaining that lazy expression, though unfortunately, Zhou Ziqin had already bitten off half its head.

Zhou Ziqin felt quite embarrassed and opened his mouth to say: “This… can I spit it out?”

Gong Sun Yuan smiled and said: “It’s meant to be eaten, and besides, she carved many this afternoon, you can just take another one.”

Zhou Ziqin happily picked a little tiger, saying: “I’ll take one for my sister, that tigress… Oh, the rice paper is still on it?”

He peeled off the rice paper that was wrapped around the candy to prevent sticking and ate it, saying: “I especially like eating this.”

Huang Zixia was speechless: “Were you not full just now?”

“Obviously not, could you eat properly in that kind of situation?” As he spoke, he took his cat-shaped candy and swallowed it in one bite.

Gong Sun Yuan smiled slightly and said: “Since Young Constable has time, please help me hang these lanterns – these cowhide lanterns are so heavy, it’s not convenient for me to lift them.”

“Oh, alright.” Zhou Ziqin wrapped the candy tiger in cotton paper, tucked it into his chest, and quickly helped them hang the cowhide lanterns.

These lanterns had an advantage – they were covered with thick cowhide. The cowhide was adjustable and could be used to block all, half, or part of the light, controlling where the light shone.

Gong Sun Yuan had him position the lanterns, blocking the light facing the viewers so that four beams of light only illuminated the stage.

There was no moon tonight, and the surrounding area was dark, with all other lanterns extinguished, leaving only light shining on the water pavilion, before the gauze curtain, upon Gong Sun Yuan.

She held two swords, one long and one short, standing in the center of the water pavilion, turning in a circle to familiarize herself with the stage.

She usually dressed simply, but tonight she was performing the Sword Spirit Dance, so naturally, she wore dance attire. This was a densely woven brocade robe with golden cloud patterns, countless gold threads embroidered on the thick, bright Shu brocade shimmering with brilliance, dazzlingly beautiful. Her hair was coiled in a high bun, with three pairs of golden hairpins and countless ornamental flowers. Yet all these bright and eye-catching decorations seemed to exist only to complement her – her radiance made all who saw her forget her attire, able only to marvel at her beauty.

Huang Zixia couldn’t help but recall Empress Wang whom she had once looked up to in the Penglai Hall of the Great Ming Palace. She found herself lost in thought, imagining what an enchanting sight these six women must have been in their prime, amid the prosperity of Yangzhou over a decade ago—

Alas, that beauty had faded, scattered like fireflies.

Looking at Gong Sun Yuan, she wondered why she had never married. Who was the person who had built the Yunshao Court for her? Why hadn’t they ended up together?