As the party left the city along the main street, news spread that yesterday’s Deer Hunt Champion’s younger brother was departing today. Countless women flocked to the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of Qiao Ci’s handsome figure. Out of the city, Qiao Ci’s popularity even overshadowed that of his brother-in-law, the Marquis.

Outside the city gates, Wei Shao halted. After Yang Feng, the envoy from Yanzhou finished expressing his gratitude for the hospitality shown during their stay, Qiao Ci also thanked Wei Shao. However, he never felt close to this brother-in-law, and observing Wei Shao’s cool demeanor towards him, there seemed to be a barrier between them. After expressing his thanks, there was nothing more to say. His thoughts turned to Wei Yan, realizing he hadn’t seen him since yesterday’s Deer Hunt gathering. He couldn’t help but glance towards the inner part of the city gate a few times.

Wei Shao guessed he was looking for Wei Yan but showed no sign of it, merely wishing them a safe journey. Qiao Ci had no choice but to mount his horse and turn around. The group left Yuyang, embarking on their southward journey back to Yanzhou.

……

After Wei Shao left, Madam Xu sent someone to summon Zhu Quan, inquiring about Wei Yan’s whereabouts. Hearing that he hadn’t seen Wei Yan since yesterday, she asked, “As his close attendant, have you noticed anything unusual about him recently?”

Zhu Quan replied, “Madam, I’ve been meaning to report this. The Duke has indeed been different these past few days.”

“How so? Tell me everything, don’t omit anything.”

“Recently, the Duke hasn’t been intimate with his concubines. He seems deeply troubled. Before going to Dai Commandery a few days ago, he even sent away all three women in his household. He also locked his bedroom door and strictly ordered that no one should enter without permission.”

“Do you know why he’s behaving so strangely?”

“I truly don’t know,” Zhu Quan shook his head. “Coincidentally, a few days later, there was a fire in the house.”

Madam Xu pondered for a moment, “Besides this, is there anything else unusual? For instance, any abnormal interactions with others?”

“The Duke has been keeping to himself lately. I haven’t noticed anything unusual. When he returns at night, he drinks alone.”

“Where does he usually go? Have you asked around if anyone has seen him?”

Zhu Quan said, “Madam when I saw the Duke hadn’t returned for a night, I went to Luozhong Fang where he often goes. I did hear something…”

He hesitated, trailing off.

“What is it?” Madam Xu’s single eye fixed on him.

“I heard from the doorman that last night, after dark, the Marquis went there looking for the Duke. According to the doorman, the Marquis seemed drunk and barged in, even kicking open the door. There seemed to be a conflict with the Duke. Then the Marquis and the Duke left one after another. What happened after that, I don’t know.”

Madam Xu’s brow furrowed slightly. Zhu Quan held his breath. After a moment, Madam Xu said, “I understand. You may go now.”

After Zhu Quan left, Madam Xu sat lost in thought for a while, then had someone summon Madam Zhu.

Madam Zhu, having impulsively told her son about the matter last night, initially felt relieved. But upon reflection, she still felt some trepidation. She hadn’t slept well all night. Early in the morning, she had already been summoned once by Madam Xu for questioning. She had barely settled back when word came again calling her over. Suspecting that Madam Xu might have learned about last night’s events, she was greatly alarmed. After much hesitation, knowing she couldn’t avoid it, she reluctantly went over and bowed, asking, “Mother-in-law, why have you summoned me?”

Madam Xu said, “Last night when you went to the west room to see Shao, how did he explain the wound on his face?”

Hearing it was about this, Madam Zhu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly repeated Wei Shao’s words, angrily adding, “I don’t believe it. Looking at the wound on his face, it’s clearly from being hit by someone! I asked him, but he denied it, insisting he was injured while riding. I don’t know who would dare to hurt my son, but if I find out, I won’t let them off easily!”

Madam Xu seemed not to hear, only asking, “Later, when Shao escorted you back to your room, did you talk about anything else?”

Madam Zhu’s heart skipped a beat. Meeting Madam Xu’s single eye looking at her, she tried to maintain composure and said, “No. After he escorted me back, he left.” Though she said this, her gaze involuntarily betrayed a hint of guilt. She didn’t dare to look Madam Xu in the eye and lowered her gaze after speaking.

Only the two of them were in the room, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Madam Zhu knew Madam Xu was watching her, and she held her breath, not daring to breathe deeply. After a while, she heard Madam Xu’s cold voice, “You were the last person to see Shao last night. This morning, I heard from my granddaughter-in-law that he was fine before you called him out. How is it that after escorting you once, he disappeared for the whole night? Let me be frank, I already know everything! You told him about Yan’s matter, didn’t you?”

Madam Zhu’s shoulders trembled slightly. Looking up, she saw Madam Xu’s single eye staring at her coldly. She immediately thought that her son must have told Madam Xu about the incident when he returned to the north room this morning, ignoring her warning from last night. Her heart began to race, and she looked panicked, stammering, unable to speak.

Madam Xu had only harbored this suspicion initially. When she first summoned Madam Zhu this morning, she noticed her shifty gaze. After decades of living together, she could tell at a glance that she was hiding something. That’s why she summoned her again just now. Seeing her reaction, her suspicion was confirmed. She became furious, slamming the table and shouting, “How dare you! You dared to spout nonsense to Shao behind my back, trying to drive a wedge between brothers!”

In all these decades, although Madam Xu didn’t think highly of Madam Zhu, she had never scolded her so harshly as she did now. As for in front of others, she always gave her the respect she was due. Madam Zhu was so shocked that her face turned sallow, almost unable to keep kneeling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she prostrated herself on the ground, pleading, “Mother-in-law, please calm down and let me explain. I had no intention of causing a rift between the brothers.

It’s been almost thirty years; if I had evil intentions, I wouldn’t have waited until now to speak up. My Mother-in-law doesn’t know, I’m truly worried. Shao is honest and never suspicious of others. If it were any other matter, it would be fine, but Wei Yan’s background is complicated. Our Wei family has raised a Hun child for thirty years; sooner or later, it will bring disaster. If Shao remains completely unaware, I fear he’ll suffer greatly in the future…”

With a loud crash, Madam Xu, unable to contain her anger, suddenly overturned the heavy sandalwood table beside her. All the items on the table smashed to the ground, dishes and vases shattering and scattering. The noise startled Maid Zhong outside, who hurriedly entered. Seeing Madam Zhu prostrate on the ground and Madam Xu on the other side, face pale, pointing at Madam Zhu on the ground, seemingly unable to catch her breath, Maid Zhong was greatly alarmed. She rushed over to support Madam Xu, continuously rubbing her chest and back. After a while, Madam Xu let out a long, gasping “Ah” from her throat, finally catching her breath. She said tremblingly, “Tell her to get out!”

Maid Zhong glanced at Madam Zhu, seeing her already shaking with fear, and quickly asked her to withdraw first. Madam Zhu, weak in both hands and feet, managed to struggle to her feet and left in shame and panic. Maid Zhong and another servant helped Madam Xu to the bed and laid her down. She ordered the other servant to leave and stayed by Madam Xu’s side. After a long while, seeing that Madam Xu’s deathly pale face had gradually regained some color, she felt slightly relieved. Just as she was about to ask about her dietary needs, she saw Madam Xu slowly open her eyes and say, “Prepare the carriage. I want to go out.”

Though her voice still carried some fatigue, it had returned to its usual calm.

Maid Zhong acknowledged the order.

……

After seeing Qiao Ci off at the city gate, Wei Shao returned past noon and went straight to Luozhong Fang.

Luozhong Fang was quiet and empty during the day. He entered through the back door, passed through a corridor shaded by green trees, and stopped at the door of a secluded dwelling. He pushed open the half-closed door and stepped in.

Wei Yan had been here since last night. The room had large windows open on both sides, allowing the wind to pass through from south to north. He sat cross-legged on a couch in the middle, his hair uncombed, wearing only a loose white undergarment with the collar wide open.

His eyes were closed, and a layer of short, messy stubble had grown on his cheeks, looking extremely disheveled, completely lacking his usual dashing and romantic air of “riding a horse, leaning against a bridge, with red sleeves beckoning from every floor.” Hearing the door open and Wei Shao’s footsteps approaching, he slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing Wei Shao standing opposite him in full marquis attire, his originally tall and handsome figure looking even more dignified and imposing in the formal dress, he stared at him for a moment, then suddenly said, “You already know I’ve been secretly communicating with the Huns. Leaving me here like this, aren’t you afraid I’ll escape?”

Wei Shao sat down across from him and said, “If you truly intend to escape like this, I’ll consider that I’ve lost a brother of twenty years.”

Wei Yan remained silent.

Wei Shao said, “I only need one word from you, to cut off all ties with the Huns from now on. Then, the past will be the past, and the future will remain as it was.”

“The past as it was, the future as it will be…” Wei Yan murmured, repeating the words. He looked up, his gaze lingering on Wei Shao’s face, lost in thought. Suddenly, a strange expression crossed his face.

“Even the crime of lusting after and dishonoring your wife behind your back, you’ll no longer hold against me?” he asked slowly, staring at Wei Shao.

A fleeting shadow of darkness crossed Wei Shao’s eyes, but his expression remained impassive.

“How can one kill all those who have offended him in the world?” he said calmly.

Wei Yan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into wild laughter, nearly doubling over: “Second Brother, though I’ve always addressed you as Marquis, deep down I never truly submitted to you. Only now do I realize, just for being able to say those words, that the position of the Wei family head truly belongs to none other than you!”

He kept laughing, his manner unrestrained, laughing until tears seemed to come to his eyes.

Wei Shao watched him steadily. When Wei Yan stopped, he asked, “Well? Have you made up your mind?”

The wild laughter gradually faded from Wei Yan’s face. He turned to gaze at the dappled shadows cast through the south window, lost in thought for a moment. Then he turned back and said slowly, “Second Brother, you may not hold my offense against your wife against me, you may not hold my innately base Hun bloodline against me, but I can only tell you that I can’t go back to the past. I can no longer be that elder brother who saw it as his heavenly mandate to assist you! Unless you kill me, otherwise I am…”

“Otherwise you are what?”

Suddenly, an aged voice sounded from outside the door, followed by the door opening.

Wei Shao and Wei Yan both looked over to see Madam Xu standing at the doorway, leaning on a cane. They were both stunned.

Wei Shao quickly recovered and rose to greet her, looking slightly nervous.

“Grandmother, how did you come here…”

But Madam Xu didn’t look at him. She strode into the study, walking past Wei Shao, her single eye fixed on Wei Yan who was still sitting rigidly on the couch. She approached him, finally stopping in front of him.

“Otherwise you are what?”

Madam Xu suddenly thumped her cane, demanding an answer again. Her eye flashed coldly, making it hard to meet her gaze.

Wei Yan finally stood up slowly. Suddenly, he knelt again, performing a deep bow with his forehead touching the ground, and remained prostrate.

“Your unfilial grandson Yan boldly begs Grandmother to grant my wish and let me go,” he said, enunciating each word.

Anger flashed across Wei Shao’s face, a vein visibly throbbing at his temple.

Madam Xu stared at Wei Yan kneeling before her, her expression initially turning to anger, the hand gripping her cane trembling slightly.

After a long while, the anger gradually faded from her face.

“Well said,” she said. “You ask me to grant your wish. If I grant your wish, who will grant mine?”

Her voice carried fatigue, betraying a hint of helpless sorrow.

Wei Yan slowly raised his head, meeting Madam Xu’s gaze.

“The biggest mistake of my life, Yan’er, was you. My mistake wasn’t in raising you, but in misguiding you!”

Wei Yan remained silent.

Madam Xu seemed lost in memories of the past. After a moment, she continued, “Yan’er, your mother was my only daughter. I loved her like the pearl of my palm. Yet she was unfortunately abducted by the Hun king. When she returned three years later, she was already carrying you in her womb, and she passed away giving birth to you. Though I knew your father was our enemy, though I knew your background might become a hidden danger in the future, I still kept you and raised you. This wasn’t a mistake. If I could go back to the moment your mother gave birth to you, I would make the same decision. You are the only flesh and blood your mother left in this world. No matter who your father is, you are my grandson, and I would never abandon you. My mistake was in how I raised you!”

She heaved a long sigh.

“The Han and the Huns have long been at odds, with constant attacks and counterattacks. Countless Han souls have perished under Hun hooves, and just as many Hun herdsmen have been slaughtered by the Han. I always worried that if you knew about your background, it would leave you at a loss, even filled with doubt. So when you were young, I kept this secret tightly. I thought I would tell you in detail when you were older.

When you grew older, I saw you full of vigor and carefree, and I couldn’t bear to speak up and trouble you. When you were even older, around fourteen or fifteen, you had already started following your uncle to kill Huns. By then, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you that you and those Huns whose heads you cut off were of the same clan! Day after day, year after year, your grandmother harbored hesitation and wishful thinking, while you grew up, until today!”

“Yan’er! I shouldn’t have misguided you, letting you mistakenly believe you were Han. I should have let you know early on that although half your blood comes from a foreign race, you are, for all eternity, a member of the Wei family! All that has happened until today is entirely my fault! You want to leave now, is it to punish your grandmother for her mistake in raising you?”

Moved by emotion, Madam Xu’s tears fell in two streams.

Wei Yan’s eyes also glistened with unshed tears.

“Grandmother! Not only are you blameless in raising me, but I owe you a debt of gratitude for nurturing me! I also know that it was out of love that you became flustered and delayed telling me! I am deeply grateful, how could there be any talk of punishment? Today’s mistake is entirely my fault! It has nothing to do with you, Grandmother!”

Madam Xu said, “If you don’t blame me, why must you insist on going your own way?”

Wei Yan closed his eyes briefly. Opening them, he said, “The fault lies entirely with me, with the innate evil and crooked nature in my blood! Grandmother, you never knew, from the time I became aware, I always wondered why I shared the Wei surname, why I was older than Second Brother, why my talents were also recognized by others, yet Second Brother was destined to be the family head from birth, while I could only be a side courtier? This thought has been with me like a shadow for over a decade, slithering into my heart like a snake. Even though I hated it, I couldn’t drive it away! In the past, I could still control it. Three years ago, when I learned of my background from the Huns I found, this evil thought grew day by day, and I could no longer shake it off!”

Madam Xu looked shocked. Beside her, Wei Shao also stared fixedly at Wei Yan, his expression slightly stiff.

“I envied Second Brother, and I also hated the unfairness of fate! The second Brother was born to be the family head, talented and outstanding, married to a beautiful wife. What did I have?”

Wei Yan’s expression was strange, half-smiling, “Grandmother since I was young, you hired scholars from the Imperial Academy in Luoyang to earnestly teach me. But I only remember one saying: better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Grandmother, it’s your grandson who has failed you.

The evil in my paternal bloodline destined me to never be content with the position of a Wei family courtier! I’m also not a gentleman! My nature has never allowed me to become a so-called gentleman! Now that things have come to this, even if Grandmother and Second Brother don’t hold my past faults against me, I have no face to stay.

If I force myself to stay, I can never go back to being the Wei Yan of before! I will also suffer torment and pain day and night. Grandmother, your grandson begs you, please let me leave, allow me to be free.”

“Elder Brother!” Wei Shao suddenly shouted, “How dare you speak such nonsense in front of Grandmother!”

Wei Yan turned his head, looking at Wei Shao with a bitter smile: “Second Brother, I’m different from you. You have the air of a great family. If I was born to be a villain, I can’t walk the path of a gentleman.”

He turned to Madam Xu, kowtowing heavily: “I beg Grandmother to grant my wish!”

Tears now filled Madam Xu’s cataract-clouded eye as she looked at Wei Yan kowtowing before her: “You think that by going to the foreign tribe, you can truly do as you wish, become a king and dominate as you desire?”

“If I succeed, it’s my fortune. If I fail, it’s my fate. I’ll have no regrets even in death,” Wei Yan said.

Wei Shao suddenly drew his long sword, pointing the tip at Wei Yan’s throat. With bloodshot eyes, he said word by word: “You think I would let you go to the Huns alive?”

Wei Yan closed his eyes as if welcoming death.

Wei Shao’s breathing quickened, the sword tip inching closer to Wei Yan’s throat, trembling slightly.

Madam Xu stared fixedly at Wei Yan, then suddenly said, “Enough. Each man has his ambitions. He is determined to leave, we can’t force him to stay.”

Wei Shao turned abruptly, looking at Madam Xu.

Tears still lingered in Madam Xu’s eyes, but her expression gradually turned cold. Staring at Wei Yan, she said slowly, “You want to leave, I won’t stop you. A life unfulfilled is worse than death. In the future, if you still wish to acknowledge me, I will still be your grandmother. But I have one thing to make clear to you. If one day you turn your weapons against us and help the Huns brutalize the Han people, even if I become a ghost, I will never forgive you!”

Wei Yan placed his left hand flat on the table, fingers spread. With his right hand, he drew a short dagger from his boot. A flash of cold light, and he severed his little finger at the root.

His face paled slightly, blood gushing from the severed finger, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, “Yan swears with this severed finger that during Grandmother’s lifetime, Yan will never harm a single Han person! After Grandmother passes away in the future, if I am fortunate enough to succeed, as long as the Han don’t offend me, I will not offend them first!”

Madam Xu stood silently for a moment, then slowly turned and walked towards the door.

Her steps were slow, her silhouette in this instant seeming to have become infinitely hunched.

Wei Shao stared fixedly at Wei Yan, then suddenly let out a roar of anger, swinging his sword down towards Wei Yan’s head.

Wei Yan remained motionless.

The blade swept past the top of his head at an angle, cleaving off a corner of the table in front of Wei Yan. A lock of hair slowly drifted to the ground.

With a clang, Wei Shao threw his sword to the ground and strode away quickly.