While the court officials focused their attention on Liu Wenji, someone escaped under the cover of night.

This person was Zhao Gong, the Minister of War who had been confined to his mansion awaiting trial.

Having been an accomplice to tyranny for years, Zhao Gong knew that if the truth came to light, he would likely face death. He lived in constant fear and worry. A servant boy quietly informed him that Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao had returned to the capital, and everyone had gone to the imperial palace.

Zhao Gong realized this might be his only chance to escape.

He had his loyal guards ready outside, drugged his watchmen with wine, and exchanged clothes with an external servant. For the first time in his life, he wore such coarse clothing and a bamboo hat, but with his life at stake, he fled towards the outskirts of Chang’an with only three or four guards.

The Central Plains were no longer safe; perhaps he could evade Great Wei’s pursuit in the chaotic Western Regions.

The war between Great Wei and the Southern Barbarians had just ended, and the outskirts of Chang’an were peaceful.

Zhao Gong fled through the night in panic. After traveling several li beyond Chang’an’s walls, seeing no pursuers, he had just begun to relax when one of his mounted guards behind him suddenly turned pale, his eyes widening in shock as he cried out, “Lord Zhao!”

They looked terrified as if they had seen something horrifying.

Following their gaze, Zhao Gong saw several mounted figures waiting by a stream near a grove, bathed in the dim morning light as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Meeting Zhao Gong’s gaze, the group spurred their horses forward. Watching their horses splash through the stream with deadly speed and precision, Zhao Gong’s heart filled with terror, his face turning blue as he struggled to breathe.

But as the riders drew closer, Zhao Gong’s eyes widened, and he relaxed.

He recognized the leader as his daughter, Consort Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling led several guards to block her father’s escape route. Zhao Gong hadn’t seen his daughter in a very long time; in fact, they had rarely met in the past decade, with far too many separations between them.

Seeing his daughter again, she was still beautiful, but the girlish charm had completely vanished from her features. Her cheeks were sharp, her long hair bound beneath a jade crown. Like any male warrior on the battlefield, the young woman’s gaze was determined and cold as she sat astride her horse with heroic grace.

Zhao Gong’s face brightened with joy as he hurriedly said, “Ling’er, quickly help your father! Yan Er has entered Chang’an and the Princess… no, now the Grand Princess has also entered Chang’an. They will surely kill me, please help me quickly.”

Zhao Ling gazed at Zhao Gong.

Her eyes were like clear rivers, like stars. As starlight and jade waters flowed within them, when she looked at him, it was as if she saw herself unable to save her cousin, crouching on the ground sobbing uncontrollably, yet unable to bring him back.

Her heart filled with shame, hatred, pain, and guilt. Did her father understand why she was here?

Zhao Gong watched the shimmer in his daughter’s eyes and suddenly understood. His smile faded slightly, wanting to berate her but also feeling afraid. Gripping his reins, he said hoarsely, “Ling’er, if you won’t save me, then step aside and let your father pass. I raised you for over a decade, and though you’ve been gone for nearly ten years, surely there must still be some feeling between father and daughter?”

“I am your birth father!”

Tears welled in Zhao Ling’s eyes.

But not a single drop fell.

In the morning breeze, strands of hair brushed across her cold, hard face. Though the pain was unbearable, she still spoke word by word: “You cannot leave.”

Zhao Gong’s expression changed drastically. “What did you say?!”

Zhao Ling raised her spear, and the soldiers behind her followed suit, raising their swords to face those before them.

Zhao Gong understood.

He said, “You would kill your father?”

Zhao Ling’s voice trembled: “I didn’t want it to come to this. I followed Brother Yan Er’s orders and waited here all night. I hoped so much that he had judged wrong, that I wouldn’t encounter Father here. I thought if I saw Father, I wouldn’t be able to help letting him go, letting him flee far away and never return to Great Wei…”

Zhao Gong’s eyes lit with hope.

But Zhao Ling’s expression grew increasingly desperate.

She cried out harshly: “But I cannot do it!

“When I see Father, all I can think of is cousin’s death! You gave me life and raised me, but you were wrong! I am unfilial, I will be scorned by all under heaven. How heartless must one be to refuse to spare even their birth father… Everyone seeks great justice, but in private they always seek personal vengeance.

“I would have been the same. But I truly cannot do it! If I let Father go, how can I face the tens of thousands of soldiers who died? How can I face my cousin’s death? How can I face Prime Minister Liu who served two dynasties? So many common people died because of your selfish desires! I cannot face it, cannot confront it…

“Letting Father go, I cannot find peace! Keeping Father here, I am an unfilial daughter! Both choices are wrong, but I would rather be an unfilial daughter from this day forward!”

She shouted, agitated and angry, wanting to pour out all the grievances in her heart. But they were endless, countless. She had grown from a young girl into a young woman, and she understood completely what she wanted… but the dead could never return to life.

The soldiers behind her thought of the battlefield and felt grief in their hearts, their expressions growing more hateful as they looked at Zhao Gong.

Zhao Gong trembled in fear.

Seeing Zhao Ling’s tears fall, he heard her final words: “Daughter has come to send Father on his final journey!”

Zhao Gong was escorted back to Chang’an by Zhao Ling at daybreak.

By dawn, the new young Emperor had been on the throne for two months but was attending his first-morning court. The Empress Dowager sat behind a screen in the rear, her heart filled with fear. While thinking about how her family would rise because of her son, she also recalled Liu Wenji’s tragic death the previous night and felt afraid of these court officials.

These court officials were each formidable, perhaps frighteningly so.

As a widow with a young son, they must be extremely careful.

The young Emperor was too young and needed care; in the urgency of the moment, the Grand Steward of the Inner Palace was changed back to Cheng An. Cheng An kowtowed to the couple Mu Wanyao and wept profusely, swearing to serve the young Emperor until death and never allowing Liu Wenji’s situation to repeat.

The young Emperor’s first court session went exceptionally smoothly.

He had been particularly clever, being the first to call out “Minister Yan” before anyone could react the previous night.

And at today’s morning court, through Cheng An’s hands, the young Emperor produced the imperial edict his grandfather had left in the ancestral temple. His father had been inconsistent with Yan Shang, alternating between trust and suspicion; though the old Emperor had left an edict, his father had deliberately found loopholes, only giving Yan Shang the position of “Joint Manager of Affairs.”

Now, using his grandfather’s edict, the young Emperor elevated Yan Shang to the position of Prime Minister.

This was what his mother had taught him.

Currently, the court followed Yan Shang’s lead; if they didn’t appoint Yan Shang as Prime Minister, how could the young Emperor command these powerful figures? He still couldn’t understand what these officials were discussing.

Wei Shu was promoted to Right Vice Minister of Rites.

Then the officials began discussing how to announce Liu Wenji’s matter to the world, giving an explanation to the common people. The power of the palace servants depended on imperial authority; once the Emperor truly wanted to rein them in, the palace servant faction was the easiest to control. The central government passed judgment on the palace servants, deciding life and death case by case.

Next, as the war had ended, Great Wei would execute the Ale King to appease the fallen soldiers; at the same time, they would select someone from among the living Southern Barbarian captives to be the new Southern King and negotiate with Great Wei.

The peace talks would naturally be handled by the Prime Minister, with officials from the Ministry of Rites also participating.

Additionally, to prevent the Southern Barbarians from being forced into warfare due to poverty and desperation, Great Wei decided to take control of their economy. Great Wei had long decided to implement loose rein policies towards the Southern Barbarians, controlling them through various aspects including culture, economy, religion, and military.

Great Wei had such ideas before, but they were not fully developed and then came the throne crisis and imperial suspicion. Now with Yan Shang as Prime Minister, he could naturally implement the policies he had contemplated countless times over many years.

The young Emperor stretched his neck on the rigid throne, trying hard to listen to the officials’ discussion below. He could see those elderly uncles all gathered around Yan Shang, who was young, eloquent, and exceptionally graceful. The young Emperor understood only half of what was said but thought his uncle-in-law was amazing.

So articulate.

So elegant.

This must be what books called the bearing of a gentleman.

The Empress Dowager, behind the bamboo screen, saw the young Emperor nearly jumping out of his throne and gently coughed to remind him.

Yan Shang turned back, seeing the young Emperor staring at the officials below with wide eyes. When the young Emperor met his gaze, he quickly leaned back to sit properly, trying hard to appear like a mature ruler. But he was only six or seven years old, and no matter how mature he tried to act, he was still just a child.

Yan Shang smiled gently.

After some thought, he said, “It’s time to find a tutor for Your Majesty to study properly.”

The young Emperor, afraid his uncle-in-law would think him unteachable, immediately said, “I… We began studying at age four and have always studied diligently!”

Yan Shang spoke softly, “Not that kind of study. The kind that teaches Your Majesty how to be a good emperor.”

He paused, then continued: “Moreover, from today forward, Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager must live in separate palaces. Your Majesty can no longer return to the Empress Dowager’s chambers to sleep. Today, this minister will discuss Your Majesty’s education with several ministers, and tomorrow we will arrange new study companions for Your Majesty. What does Your Majesty think of this?”

The young Emperor was still confused; hearing he could no longer sleep with his mother made him somewhat dejected, but learning that Yan Shang would find him new friends made him excited again. He hesitated before asking, “Can I have Brother A’Yue study with me?”

Yan Shang smiled, “Your Majesty’s deep affection for your brother is admirable; why not?”

The young Emperor liked his good temperament and continued asking many questions about his future life. He gradually became satisfied, easily won over by his uncle-in-law’s grace. After the court dismissed them, in private he began calling Yan Shang “Uncle,” despite Yan Shang’s attempts to stop him.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat unhappy.

Yan Shang’s actions were meant to prevent the inner palace from interfering in politics. Taking the young Emperor away from her so early was blocking the path of imperial relatives’ influence. Yan Shang also wouldn’t let the young Emperor grow up under the care of palace women, wanting to begin educating him from the outer court. As things stood, when the young Emperor grew up, he might not be very close to the Empress Dowager.

Moreover, Yan Shang was such a remarkable person that the Empress Dowager vaguely felt the young Emperor had been completely won over by him, particularly fond of him, which made her feel even more threatened.

She unconsciously made frequent small attempts to bring her son back to her side. But this was not successful, because Mu Wanyao, now the Grand Princess, entered the palace and had a long discussion with the Empress Dowager throughout the night.

The next day, the Empress Dowager began to close herself off in the palace, eating vegetarian meals and chanting Buddhist sutras, no longer interfering in the young Emperor’s education.

Everyone looked forward to seeing what kind of emperor would emerge – one who didn’t grow up under the influence of palace women and servants, but was educated together by the outer court officials.

Afterward, Great Wei began peace negotiations with the Southern Barbarians.

Zhao Gong was publicly executed at the end of the eighth month.

Zhao Ling watched her father’s death amidst the chaotic cursing of the crowd. After watching, she quietly left. When Wei Shu received news and tried to find her, she had already left Chang’an with no fixed destination, leaving no words for others, only telling Wei Shu she was going to the Western Regions.

She had figured out what she wanted to do with her life, and what kind of person she wanted to become.

Yang Si’s death had matured her overnight, and Zhao Gong’s death had left her disillusioned overnight. She wanted to become a wandering knight, wanted to help all who needed her. She couldn’t face old acquaintances anymore, couldn’t face living a normal life. So she could only leave Chang’an and travel far into the desert.

In her letter, she apologized to Wei Shu… telling him not to wait for her anymore.

She spoke softly: “I hope Brother Juyuan will marry, have children, live peacefully, and find happiness. Though I cannot be with Brother Juyuan, we are both in Great Wei. Even if we never meet again, just knowing the other is alive is good enough.”

In September, Great Wei selected a new Southern Barbarian King to their satisfaction.

Yan Sanlang, in the Western Regions, wrote to his second brother saying he was returning to Lingnan to see his family and sent Yan Shang many exotic goods from the Western Regions. Amidst his busy schedule, Yan Shang wrote to Jiannan and Lingnan, asking about Yan Xiaozhou. If his sister still hadn’t moved past her grief, Yan Shang wanted to invite Yan Xiaozhou to Chang’an to live with him and Mu Wanyao for a few years.

The letter from Lingnan said Yan Xiaozhou had returned once, and after a night of conversation with their father, she went to Liaodong under Han Shuxing’s protection.

When Yan Shang read this in the letter, his heart immediately ached.

Liaodong was where Yang Si’s family had been exiled.

His little sister appeared calm, seemingly without shedding a tear, but Yan Xiaozhou could not let go of Yang Si. She always remembered, always thought of him.

So Yan Shang wrote to Han Shuxing, who had learned some characters by now, telling him not to interfere with what his sister did, just to protect her safety well. Yan Shang couldn’t worry more about Yan Xiaozhou because he was stretched thin. Mu Wanyao had been unwell lately, constantly resting; Yan Shang had to handle Great Wei’s peace negotiations with the Southern Barbarians at court while being forced by Mu Wanyao to drink medicine daily.

His concern for his family could only extend this far.

On the Double Ninth Festival, under Mu Wanyao’s insistence, Yan Shang finally managed to take a day off. On this day, he had agreed to go with Mu Wanyao to pay respects to the fallen heroes and his teacher, Minister Liu.

The Liu family had erected a cenotaph for Minister Liu at the foot of the Southern Mountain outside the city, and Yan Shang had to go pay his respects.

However, though Mu Wanyao had agreed to go with Yan Shang when morning came, she felt unwell again and decided not to go, letting Yan Shang go alone.

Yan Shang sat by the couch looking at her weak and pale appearance, feeling distressed, and said: “You keep saying I’m the one in poor health, but I haven’t been sick since returning to Chang’an, while you’ve been constantly lacking energy. Let’s have the Imperial Physician come for a visit.”

Mu Wanyao put her hand on her forehead and groaned: “No need! It’s just my old problem, probably not adapting to the environment. I’ll be fine after some sleep.”

Yan Shang was puzzled: “You grew up in Chang’an since childhood, how could you not be adapted to it?”

Mu Wanyao saw him sitting by the couch speaking softly, clearly intending to continue talking with her indefinitely. She was well accustomed to his ways by now and found him annoying, so she mumbled while pushing at his waist, urging him to leave—

“Yes, yes, I know! You just keep talking and talking endlessly, so annoying. Go quickly to pay respects to your teacher, I’ll be better by the time you return. Don’t I know my own body?”

Yan Shang was helpless. He knew she didn’t want to see a doctor simply because she was sick of taking medicine after years of it, and didn’t want to take medicine for minor ailments.

He thought to himself that he would check on Mu Wanyao when he returned, and if she was still lying in bed all day, he would force her to see the Imperial Physician even if she resisted. After instructing the maids like Qiusi how to care for the Princess, Yan Shang finally left reluctantly.

The autumn rain fell continuously.

Yan Shang stood before Minister Liu’s tombstone. He paid respects to his teacher with utmost propriety, in silent contemplation. After offering three incense sticks to his teacher, he spoke softly about what had happened at court these past few months, about how his senior fellow disciples had looked after him at court.

When he came to painful matters, he forced himself to hold back, only speaking of happy things, sharing joy but not sorrow.

A woman’s voice came from behind: “Second Brother Yan.”

Yan Shang turned around, his hair ribbon brushing against his green robe, dewdrops from the mountain rain clinging to his eyelashes. His clear, pure temperament made Liu Ruozhu and her husband Lin Dao, who had climbed the mountain, pause slightly.

Liu Ruozhu saw his appearance and froze for a moment, feeling dazed, briefly recalling how Yan Shang looked when she first met him.

Liu Ruozhu’s eyes grew warm as she smiled: “No matter how many years pass, I can still see Second Brother Yan before Grandfather.”

Yan Shang exchanged greetings with Lin Dao and asked the couple: “Did you just return to Chang’an?”

Lin Dao said: “My wife and I only returned yesterday, just to pay respects to Grandfather. After resting for two days, we’ll return to the Western Regions.”

Yan Shang: “Would you like to return to serve in Chang’an?”

A slight smile appeared on Lin Dao’s cold face as he said: “No need for Minister Yan to worry. It’s good out there… I can collect more ancient books with Ruozhu, protect more ancient artifacts…”

Yan Shang fell silent.

After a while, he said softly: “I learned about you and Ruozhu burning the books… Were they all burned, not a single one preserved? You two went through such trouble.”

Lin Dao shook his head. He said: “Years of work gone up in flames may seem difficult, but it was to save the common people, and both Ruozhu and I are happy about it. No matter how good or precious something is, it’s not as important as human lives.”

Liu Ruozhu had been quietly listening to her husband and Yan Shang’s conversation, gazing at the tombstone, her mind filled with memories of her grandfather’s appearance and manner.

Her eyes began to sting again, but she didn’t want to cry. Liu Ruozhu turned her head, using a smile to hide the tears in her eyes, and said to Yan Shang with a smile: “Second Brother Yan, do you know? Back then, my grandfather and the other ministers made a bet about you. Looking at it now, they all lost. You should go down the mountain and claim your reward!”

Yan Shang followed Liu Ruozhu’s words: “What was it?”

Liu Ruozhu smiled brightly: “Minister Zhang and the others bet you would become a Secretariat Drafter by age thirty, while my grandfather bet you would become Prime Minister by thirty. But you’re only twenty-seven this year, and you’re already Prime Minister.

“Now, haven’t they all lost, and you’re the only winner?”

Yan Shang froze, turning to look at the silent tombstone.

The tombstone stood steady in the wind and rain, quiet and peaceful, just like Minister Liu’s stern demeanor.

Yan Shang said softly: “What’s the point of winning such a bet?”

Liu Ruozhu’s smile faded, and she too fell silent.

After a while, she spoke softly again: “Winning does mean something. Great Wei needs Second Brother Yan, we all need Second Brother Yan… Grandfather’s spirit in heaven would be happy for Second Brother Yan. His student is so remarkable, in the underworld, Grandfather must be drinking joyfully with the other ministers, proud of the excellent student he taught.”

Her eyes twinkled with tears as she smiled: “Though Grandfather seemed rigid, he was quite lively in private.”

As she spoke about many stories of her grandfather, Lin Dao held an umbrella beside her, while servants held umbrellas behind Yan Shang. Half of their bodies were soaked by the rain, but no one interrupted Liu Ruozhu.

The green mountains endure forever, the departed never return, and new talents emerge.

Perhaps this was the meaning—

That evening, after Mu Wanyao woke up, she learned that the Prince Consort had returned. The maid said Yan Shang had come to check on her and left, making Mu Wanyao’s expression darkened slightly. She had slept all day and wasn’t feeling as unwell anymore, so she got up to wash and planned to go see Yan Shang.

He had seen his teacher today and met Liu Ruozhu and her husband at his teacher’s grave. He must not be feeling well.

Mu Wanyao found Yan Shang in an empty pavilion behind a long corridor in the mansion’s back garden. He still wore the same bamboo-green robe from when he went out, but his hair had become somewhat disheveled, falling from his hair ribbon and scattered over his shoulders. He sat alone at a square table, eyes half-closed, pouring himself one cup of wine after another.

The wind blew red maple leaves, freely flowing. A feast for the eyes.

As Yan Shang was drinking, the wine cup was snatched from his hand. He turned his head to see Mu Wanyao had already sat down beside him, scolding him in a delicate voice: “You’ve learned bad habits, now drinking alone like other men. You smell terrible, don’t come to bed tonight!”

The corners of Yan Shang’s eyes were slightly red from drinking, and his fair skin and slightly parted lips exceptionally red.

Yan Shang was good-tempered, allowing Mu Wanyao to snatch his wine cup away unhappily. He propped up his forehead and chuckled softly: “I haven’t drunk much, and I’m not drinking to drown my sorrows. I’m just having a little bit, I won’t let myself get drunk.”

Mu Wanyao: “Listen to you lie to me!”

Yan Shang laughed: “Why would I lie to you? Come smell, is the wine smell strong on me? I really am just having a little bit, I’ll stop after five cups.”

Mu Wanyao froze, then sniffed at his neck like a little cat. He tilted his head back slightly, watching her nuzzle forward, and couldn’t help but smile, pulling her into his arms. Mu Wanyao immediately smelled the strong scent of wine and felt nauseous, quickly holding her breath to suppress it.

After that uncomfortable feeling passed, Mu Wanyao pushed Yan Shang: “You stink, don’t hug me! How many cups have you had?”

Yan Shang was obedient: “Only three cups.”

Mu Wanyao thought for a moment, then magnanimously let him pour more wine. She said: “Then I’ll drink with you. For men, sometimes drinking isn’t so bad, it’s good to let things out. You saw your teacher’s granddaughter today, thought of your teacher, thought of too many people, that’s why you’re not feeling well, right?”

Yan Shang gave a low murmur of agreement.

Seeing him like this, Mu Wanyao stopped trying to prevent him from drinking.

But Yan Shang’s alcohol tolerance hadn’t improved much over the years.

After just one more cup, his body swayed, and he rested his head on Mu Wanyao’s shoulder. Mu Wanyao laughed, about to push him up when she felt Yan Shang’s arms wrap around her waist, his face buried in her neck, remaining still for a long time.

Mu Wanyao quieted down, becoming gentle, allowing him to hold her without pushing him away.

Yan Shang lifted his face from her neck, his eyes bright as if filled with mist. He said softly: “Actually… actually, sometimes, I really had thoughts, really had some bad thoughts.”

Mu Wanyao: “Second Brother Yan couldn’t have bad thoughts. What did you think about?”

He fell silent.

Mu Wanyao thought he wouldn’t say more, but then he pressed against her ear, his voice very low, mixed with pain. He said: “Sometimes, I really thought, what did it matter if everyone died. I just wanted you to live, just wanted my teacher to live, just wanted Yang Si to live. I only wanted you all to live, other people could die for all I cared, what did it matter to me?”

Mu Wanyao was stunned.

She wanted to look down at him.

But he remained buried against her neck behind her ear, refusing to lift his head.

He held her waist tightly, murmuring: “I can’t say these things, I can’t have these bad thoughts when I’m clearheaded… I can only tell you secretly while I’m drinking, and when I’m sober, I’ll act like I never said anything.

“Yao Yao, I just want you to live. In my heart, you’re the most important, more important than anyone else, more important than the realm, the country, the people…

“When I’m sober… I won’t admit it.”

Tears shimmered in Mu Wanyao’s eyes.

Her heart stirred like a storm as she let him hold her. This was the first time she’d heard him say such things, and perhaps it would be the only time. Tomorrow he wouldn’t admit it, tomorrow he would still tilt the scales toward country, realm, and common people.

But in the deepest part of his heart, he said she ranked first.

Mu Wanyao held back tears in her eyes.

She suddenly smiled: “It was worth it.”

Yan Shang’s eyelashes trembled slightly against her ear, tickling her.

Mu Wanyao spoke dreamily, intently: “I got the love I wanted, and became the person I wanted to be. All my life, I’ll be grateful that I held onto you and didn’t let go. You are heaven’s best gift to me.”

She poured herself wine, and Yan Shang turned his face to look up at her from her neck.

Mu Wanyao was full of spirit: “To heaven and earth!”

Yan Shang propped his chin on his hand, watching her with a smile. Seeing his bold wife raise the wine cup without any of his careful manners, she drained it in one gulp, truly a heroine among women. Yan Shang watched her admiringly, thinking when he would be able to drink as freely as she did.

Just as he was admiring her, he saw Mu Wanyao’s expression suddenly change as she turned her head and began to vomit.

Yan Shang panicked, his expression changing as he hurried to check on her—

That night, the Imperial Physicians were urgently summoned to the Princess’s mansion, with three waves of physicians coming to take the Grand Princess’s pulse.

After consulting with each other, the physicians looked at the Prince Consort sitting on the bed, and the Princess in his arms, pale-faced and spiritless.

Mu Wanyao said weakly: “Have I contracted some serious illness again?”

She was quite dejected, truly hating her own body.

After so many years of care, she could be lively normally, but whenever something happened, she would still collapse immediately.

The physician smiled: “What serious illness? Congratulations to Your Highness and the Prince Consort, this is a pregnancy pulse!”

The physicians waited for rewards from the Princess and Prince Consort.

The room fell into a strange silence.

The physicians looked up in confusion to see both Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang wearing very peculiar expressions.

Mu Wanyao suspected they were incompetent physicians: “You must have diagnosed wrong. How could it be possible? I must just have some illness again.”

Yan Shang also said: “Perhaps the physicians could check again?”

The physicians: “…”

They became angry: “Such a simple pulse reading, could we old men not recognize it? Are Your Highness and Minister Yan doubting our medical skills? If you distrust us so much, why summon us at all!”

Mu Wanyao insisted they had diagnosed wrong, while Yan Shang gently coaxed them to check again.

The result was still a pregnancy pulse.

The couple looked at each other, both completely dazed. Qiusi was quick to react, happily leading the maids to ask for rewards: “Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations, Minister! Your Highness, for such joyous news, you should give the physicians red envelopes!”

Yan Shang came to his senses and hurriedly agreed.

Suppressing his bewilderment, Yan Shang wondered how Mu Wanyao could be pregnant. After escorting the physicians out, he unconsciously pulled them aside to ask once more if they were certain. Only after receiving their repeated assurances did he ask about precautions to take.

The physicians saw how dazed the young couple was and sighed inwardly. Having taken the Princess’s pulse for years, they naturally knew about her health condition, not to mention how Minister Yan had been given that medicine by the old Emperor…

The physician stroked his beard and smiled: “Minister Yan need not doubt. Perhaps that medicine was partially expelled, perhaps Her Highness’s health has improved over these years… in any case, Her Highness is truly pregnant. However, given Her Highness’s previous… well, this pregnancy may be difficult, with a risk of miscarriage. You both must be extremely careful.”

Yan Shang froze: “It will be very difficult?”

The physician nodded.

Yan Shang thought for a moment, bowed to thank the physician, and then had the maids follow him to get prescriptions. Returning to the room, he worriedly told Mu Wanyao what the physician had said.

Mu Wanyao’s earlier skepticism had vanished; now that she had processed the news, she had become excited. Hearing that she was at risk of miscarriage, she immediately clutched her still-flat belly anxiously.

Yan Shang hesitated: “If that’s the case, perhaps we shouldn’t…”

Mu Wanyao: “No!”

Yan Shang laughed helplessly: “I haven’t even said what I was going to say, how do you know?”

Mu Wanyao: “You must have been about to say we should give up since we’ve already accepted our situation, and since the pregnancy is unstable, better to spare me the suffering. But I won’t give up, I want this child.”

She was focused and stubborn, afraid Yan Shang would still try to persuade her. She moved closer to face him, kneeling on the bed.

Mu Wanyao held his face, making him look into her eyes: “I absolutely must bear Second Brother Yan a child. I must have a child that belongs to us. I will be very, very careful… and Second Brother Yan will take good care of me, won’t you?

“We haven’t even tried yet, why should we give up? I feel I can endure this hardship, what are you afraid of?”

Yan Shang looked at her quietly.

He said: “Do you want it this much?”

Mu Wanyao: “I want it desperately, extraordinarily much, I want it so much I’m going crazy! I could accept not having one, but now that we have this chance, I absolutely won’t let it go! Second Brother Yan and I are so good together, Second Brother Yan is so excellent, and I’m so amazing too, why shouldn’t we be able to have a child?

“This is heaven’s compensation to me. No matter how difficult, I want it!”

Yan Shang said no more, bending down to hold her in his arms.

Mu Wanyao mumbled in his embrace: “But Father Emperor gave you medicine… how can we still have a child?”

Yan Shang replied distractedly: “Perhaps some of the medicine was expelled.”

He frowned: “I don’t know if it will affect the child.”

Mu Wanyao also began to worry: “Then I won’t drink alcohol anymore.”

The couple began to rejoice, discussing these matters. They both avoided one possible answer—perhaps as Liu Wenji had said, he had helped them without their knowledge.

But that was all in the past—

Thus, another half year passed.

Great Wei’s peace negotiations with the Southern Barbarians succeeded, and the court officials originally expected Wei Shu to be promoted because of this. Wei Shu was young and capable, worthy of occupying a Prime Minister position.

Moreover, Wei Shu represented the noble families’ interests.

The noble families secretly hoped one of their own would rise to stand as an equal to Minister Yan. But Wei Shu submitted a memorial to the young Emperor requesting another diplomatic mission. Wei Shu didn’t care about the noble families’ expectations and calculations; he only did what he wanted to do.

The young man stated his ideals, declaring clearly in court: “…Though the Southern Barbarians are pacified, other nations are unsettled because of this. Moreover, Great Wei has only negotiated terms with the Southern Barbarians, but they are poor, and the specific situations still need Great Wei’s citizens to go personally see and care for them. I am willing to be this person.”

His elder brother became anxious and immediately spoke up in court: “This could take several years, with no return to court! Your prospects are excellent, why do this?”

Why not stay stable in the central government for a few years, waiting to become Prime Minister? Why not marry and have children, become a husband and father?

Why was Wei Juyuan always like this?

Wei Shu clasped his sleeves, faced Yan Shang, and bowed to him: “I request Minister Yan approve my memorial. I choose this for Great Wei’s millions of common people, for Great Wei’s path forward. Court disputes are not what I desire; my wish is simply—to do good deeds, without asking about future prospects.”

Yan Shang studied Wei Shu, slowly helped him up, and said gently: “How could we not accept Vice Minister Wei’s heart for country and family?”

The young Emperor on the throne watched the back-and-forth between his officials, his blood stirring as he silently cheered. He couldn’t wait to grow up, couldn’t wait to participate in these officials’ governance—with Great Wei having so many capable officials, how could it not prosper?—

At the start of the new year, Yan Shang presided over the imperial examinations, while Wei Shu, holding his credentials, departed on his mission with the young Emperor sending him off for ten li.

Unlike last time, Wei Shu was now the chief envoy. Going away for several years, ten years, decades… even if it took a lifetime of hardship, he was prepared.

Spring rain fell continuously in Chang’an.

Yan Shang and the heavily pregnant Mu Wanyao visited Princess Yuyang’s family, then took a carriage back to their mansion. The couple sat in the carriage discussing state affairs when outside, a young scholar suddenly ran out from an alley, holding a scroll, chasing after the Princess’s carriage.

This scholar called out loudly: “Minister Yan, Minister Yan! This humble scholar seeks to present his writings! This humble one met you once at the Beili banquet, you praised me then, do you remember?

“Your Highness, Your Highness! Please look at my poetry! I’ve heard Your Highness is a famous talented lady, please help this humble scholar!”

People on the street stopped to watch this scholar, drenched like a drowned rat, chasing the Princess’s carriage. The onlookers looked sympathetic, thinking he must have had no way to reach the Princess’s mansion gates and could only try to stop the carriage on the road.

But how could someone of Minister Yan’s status, of the Grand Princess’s status, stop for an ordinary scholar?

Only this scholar persisted obstinately, desperately chasing the carriage, calling out both desperately and hopefully:

“This humble one has happened upon an excellent verse! Last night in a dream I saw an immortal, who bestowed this verse, brilliant in composition! This is a ci poem written by the immortal, not by me, truly by the immortal! Minister Yan, Your Highness, please listen…”

He couldn’t catch up to the carriage and began to slow down, heartbroken. He stared blankly as the carriage moved away, and just when he had lost all hope, the carriage stopped.

He saw Yan Shang holding an umbrella, helping Mu Wanyao down from the carriage.

The couple turned to look back at this poor scholar.

Yan Shang smiled: “Didn’t you say you happened upon an excellent verse, bestowed by an immortal? Since you called out so loudly, why not let us hear it?”

Since becoming pregnant, Mu Wanyao’s temperament had softened considerably, her temper improving, as if she truly had developed some maternal love. She also smiled along with Yan Shang at the poor scholar: “Go ahead and recite it.”

Rain flew sideways, the alley entrance was wet, and the scholar was greatly encouraged—

Yan Xiaozhou was in Liaodong, and after seeing Yang Si’s parents, she settled down there.

During the day she went out to gather herbs, following doctors to treat patients, and at night she returned to keep the two elderly people company. Yang Si’s parents urged her not to do this, but she smiled and said she was very happy and very content.

The mountains were majestic, covered in lush greenery.

Yan Xiaozhou stood in a mountain valley, carrying a bamboo basket, with Han Shuxing following behind her. She used a walking stick on the mountain path, moving with difficulty, when something suddenly fell. She didn’t notice, but Han Shuxing picked it up for her.

Han Shuxing: “My lady, you dropped something.”

Yan Xiaozhou turned back puzzled, her eyes suddenly growing still. She saw in Han Shuxing’s hand a golden bell with its golden bead removed.

This bell, with its bead removed, would never ring again. It would never make its clear sound, never again affect soldiers on the battlefield, or startle the enemy.

Yan Xiaozhou looked down at this bell, then slowly reached out to grasp it in her palm. She gently brushed her cheek against the bell, closing her eyes.

Clouds and sunset glow encircled the mountains everywhere.

She thought of that person, thought of how that person said he loved her voice most. He loved her voice the most, so she gave him the bell.

In one lifetime, what is love?

Is it something that can be ground away, or something that can be forgotten? Is it something that can fade, or something that can be carved into bone?

Is it like a flood arriving with tremendous force, carved into bone and heart, or like spring water flowing endlessly, continuing forever without end?

Han Shuxing looked uncomprehendingly at his lady, seeing Yan Xiaozhou suddenly cup her hands around her mouth, calling loudly toward the mountains: “Sanlang—

“Sanlang! Sanlang—!”

Her voice was hoarse with emotion, feelings flowing like spring water!

The whole mountain shook, and birds took flight calling.

The forest all responded, and clouds flew over. Yan Xiaozhou clutched the bell, staring blankly at it all. Tears suddenly fell from her eyes, then she suddenly smiled. She called out loudly to heaven and earth again:

“Sanlang—”

She would wait for him forever and ever… forever and ever!—

Zhao Lingfei rode through the great desert.

A veil covered her face, wearing light armor. Several horses followed behind her, their riders all like her, carrying hearts of chivalrous justice through the Western Regions. Zhao Lingfei led her followers, gradually making a name for herself in the Western Regions, and in such a chaotic place as the Western Regions, where the court could not maintain complete order, people like her wandering knights were needed.

Rolling yellow sand swept over them, the journey lonely and desolate. A young follower behind pointed in one direction: “My lady, look, isn’t that Great Wei’s diplomatic mission?!”

Zhao Lingfei suddenly turned her head.

She turned in the yellow sand, turned in the sunset.

She saw endless yellow sand, saw the broad road, saw Wei Shu leading a group of people, walking this path in silence. He also saw her, looking toward her, sunlight falling on him, rustling like flying snow.

He looked at her quietly, slowly breaking into a smile.

Through him, Zhao Lingfei saw the shadows of many old acquaintances. She saw Minister Liu’s death on the battlefield, saw her cousin’s tragic death, saw her father’s public execution… She sat on her horse, meeting Wei Shu’s gaze.

Years passed between them.

From the Great Wei diplomatic mission, someone came over: “Lady, our lord wishes to hire you, to assist us on our diplomatic mission, would that be possible?”

Zhao Lingfei looked long at the young man standing like pure snow in the desert, light flashing in her eyes as she gazed at him unmoving—

In Chang’an’s heavy rain, that scholar took out his silk scroll from his bundle and facing the noble Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang, he recited loudly—

“Man and ape bid farewell. Just a few stones worn smooth, from childhood days. In bronze and iron furnaces flames turn over, when will we guess the answer? Just a few thousand cold and hot seasons. The world rarely meets an open smile, on battlefields, we draw our bows like moons at each other. Flowing everywhere, blood on the wilderness.

One piece read through, head turning to snow, only remembering scattered, dotted traces, a few lines of old tracks. The divine matters of the Five Emperors and Three Sovereigns deceived endless passing guests. How many romantic figures were there? After Dao Zhi and Zhuang Qiao’s flowing fame, even more, Chen Wang rose wielding the yellow battle-axe. Song unfinished, the east grows white!”

Thousands of years flow by, thousands walk together. Time drifts gently, and heroes compete.

All is in this moment!