The man said urgently, “It should be the Second Young Master’s men who have surrounded the Shi Mansion — there is reportedly a spy in the mansion.”

Shi Ting’s brow furrowed. “Is there any other news?”

At this moment, the horizon had already begun to grow pale with the approach of dawn. The golden-yellow light fell upon the snowdrifts, the first rays of morning sunlight gently kissing the earth.

But across this vast, boundless expanse, there was nothing but desolation. Beneath the white snow, not a sign of life.

“The Second Young Master has already rallied several generals. He has publicly declared that the Young Commander murdered the Commander — that this is an act of treason and grave filial impiety — and has called for troops to be raised to punish him and avenge the Commander.” The man glanced cautiously at Shi Ting’s expression. “The news is traveling slowly, but Shun Cheng is already in chaos.”

Shi Ting gazed at the mountain ridges in the distance and was silent for a time.

The current situation could be described as wolves in front and tigers behind — pressed in on every side — and he was caught between, unable to advance or retreat.

Shi Guang had surrounded the Shi Mansion in order to ensure he had something to worry about in the rear, while Xi Nan was taking advantage of the chaos to try to end his life right here at Chang Sheng Bridge.

“The Second Young Master is truly foolish,” the adjutant said anxiously. “He would actually collude with Xi Nan in order to seize power. Xi Nan has long been eyeing us covetously, just waiting for a chance and an excuse to invade in force. Now the Second Young Master has actually opened Bei Di’s gates to this wolf himself, and allows them to rampage here freely — what’s easy is to invite a god in; it’s far harder to send one away.”

Shi Ting naturally knew that Shi Guang would use every means available to seize power. He could ally with the Dian nation — of course he could also ally with Xi Nan. Perhaps he had reached some kind of agreement with those in Xi Nan long ago.

“Who is commanding the Xi Nan forces?” Shi Ting asked with a grave expression.

“It is Xi Nan’s Young Commander, Lei Li.”

Shi Ting said, “Lei Li is a resourceful and capable man. Though he holds only the title of Young Commander, he has already taken full command of all power in Xi Nan. The fact that he has come in person with troops means he intends to put me in my grave — to make sure I never have any chance of recovery.”

“Young Commander, what do we do now?” the adjutant said urgently. “With only our men here, we cannot hold back Xi Nan’s assault. Not to mention the Shi Mansion is still under the Second Young Master’s control — Shun Cheng is likely to be swept up in a storm of blood and carnage.”

Xi Nan’s army was advancing northward at a rapid pace. If they retreated now, they would be overtaken quickly. What was more, if they fled, Xi Nan’s army would advance unobstructed, and the area around Chang Sheng Bridge would soon fall.

“I anticipated that Xi Nan would stir, but I did not expect Lei Li to come in person.” Shi Ting’s manner showed little panic. “Don’t forget — this is Hai Cheng. And just over there is Tai Shan.”

The adjutant was somewhat puzzled. “What does the Young Commander mean?”

“We cannot head toward Shun Cheng now. Immediately pass on my command — the unit is to advance toward Tai Shan.”

“Yes, sir.” The adjutant stood to attention, saluted, and ran off at a trot.

Shi Ting gazed once more at the mountain ridges in the distance. Across those layers of overlapping peaks lay the direction of Shun Cheng, and far away in Shun Cheng was the person he held dear.

“Qing Qing, trust me.” Shi Ting murmured softly. “And equally — I trust you.”

Shi Ting stood there a while longer, before someone behind him called out, “Young Commander, it’s time to move.”

Lei Li’s troops were advancing so swiftly precisely because they intended to pursue him — so they had to leave at once.

At the same time, Lei Li received a report from his scout.

“Shi Ting has gone toward Tai Shan.”

Lei Li was studying a map. Upon hearing this, he gave a slight smile. “It seems what Shi Guang said was not entirely accurate. He said the thing Shi Ting valued most was his wife — so Shi Guang created trouble in Shun Cheng and also took control of the Shi family home. He said that once Shi Ting received this news, he would immediately return to Shun Cheng.”

The adjutant beside him said, “And we had already made arrangements along his return route. As long as he turned back, he would certainly fall into our encirclement. With the forces he has with him, he would have no way to break through and resist — he could only surrender.”

Lei Li raised an eyebrow. “Shi Ting is far more difficult to deal with than we imagined. He has seen through Shi Guang’s ploy — which is why he has suddenly turned toward Tai Shan.”

“But what good does going to Tai Shan do him? We have already pressed our great army to his doorstep.”

“Don’t forget — at Tai Shan there is a man named Li Yongqi. Li Yongqi’s troops are known as the Li Family Army — invincible in battle, unassailable in attack, a name that is no idle boast.”

“But Li Yongqi may not necessarily be Shi Ting’s man. They say he has maintained a position of neutrality throughout this three-way power struggle among the sons. Now that it is Shi Ting and Shi Guang who are fighting — he may very well stand aside and watch.”

“Whether he stands aside and watches no longer matters.” Lei Li’s finger came to rest on a certain point on the map. “What matters is — we have already entered Bei Di’s territory, exactly as planned.”

Lei Li’s gaze carried the ambition of one who stands above all others. “These years have been a time of peace throughout the land, and we have also been nurturing our strength and biding our time. One must say — under Shi Kai’s rule, Bei Di’s economy has grown rapidly, its people living in peace and prosperity. If they are allowed to continue developing like this, sooner or later they will pull far ahead of us in distance. So we cannot wait any longer. We must suppress them at the height of their momentum, and this moment is the best opportunity.”

The adjutant said, “That Shi Guang too — willing to open Bei Di’s gates to us for the sake of a Young Commander’s seat. If it weren’t for him arranging things from the inside, how could we have crossed the border so smoothly, with Li Yongqi still there?”

“Now that we are here — and they want us to leave…” Lei Li smiled faintly. “It’s easy to invite a god in, but hard to send one away.”

He made a mark on the map. “Continue tracking Shi Ting. Find an opportunity to strike. If there is truly no opportunity, we may have no choice but to let it go for now — after all, he is not our primary objective.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lei Li walked to the window and looked out at the scenery of white snow stretching across all he could see, a confident smile of certainty in his eyes.

~~~

It snowed in Hai Cheng, but in Shun Cheng the weather was clear and bright.

The day of the Spring Festival happened to fall on the Start of Spring, yet the weather showed no signs of warming.

Yan Qing woke early in the morning to the sound of footsteps coming from outside.

She had barely slept that entire night, drifting off only as dawn was nearly breaking.

“Miss, you’re awake.” Jing Zhi had been keeping watch by the bedside the whole time. Seeing her wake, she went over to help her sit up. “I’ll go prepare breakfast.”

“What’s going on outside?” Yan Qing asked.

“It’s the Second Young Master’s men — making a ruckus out there since early morning.” Jing Zhi said with some disgust. “Nobody knows what’s happening. I tried to go outside and find out, but was sent back. We’re now restricted to this tiny courtyard with no news from outside whatsoever.”

Yan Qing sighed softly. “There’s no telling what’s become of Shi Ting’s situation over there either. Shi Guang is now openly opposing him under the banner of righteousness, and Shi Guang has spent years carefully building up his network — who knows how many forces he has secretly accumulated. Add to that the fact that many people in Shun Cheng simply go wherever the wind blows, siding with whoever appears stronger. Now that they see the Commander is dead and the situation favors Shi Guang, they will naturally flock to his side.”

“The Young Commander is now beset by threats from within and without, and we can’t even help.” Jing Zhi was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. “Who knows where Jin Shan and the others are right now.”

Yan Qing patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry. For now, Shi Guang won’t touch Jin Shan and the others. His main target is not them.”

“The Second Young Master is ruthless and cruel — who knows what he’ll do. Isn’t Zuo Liang one of his right-hand men? And yet he doesn’t even go to rescue him.”

When Jing Zhi mentioned Zuo Liang, Yan Qing had nearly forgotten about him.

Shi Ting had once given Zuo Liang one day to consider whether to hand over the map. Shortly after, the train derailment incident had occurred, and Shi Ting had traveled far to Chang Sheng Bridge — far too occupied to deal with Zuo Liang.

Now that Shi Guang was preparing to launch his coup, what would become of Zuo Liang was uncertain. And what worried her most was Qiao Xinran.

The final piece of the map was with the Qiao family. If Shi Guang came to power, he would certainly track it down at the Qiao family home. What he would then do to the Qiao family was an unknown quantity.

“I wonder if Qiao Yiran has already foreseen all of this.” Yan Qing said worriedly. “I hope the Qiao family can escape Shi Guang’s clutches.”

Trapped here as she was, she could neither go anywhere nor send or receive information. That, more than anything, was what made her most restless.

“Second Young Master.” Murong’s anxious voice suddenly came from outside. “Second Young Master, it’s not appropriate for you to just walk in like this.”

Murong stepped sideways to block Shi Guang, looking at him with firm, unwavering eyes. “This is our Miss’s courtyard. And she is the Second Young Master’s sister-in-law. To avoid any impropriety, should the Second Young Master not refrain from entering?”

Shi Guang cast her a cold glance. “I’ve only come to check on your Young Mistress.”

“The Young Mistress is perfectly well. There is no need for the Second Young Master to trouble himself.”

Murong did not yield in the slightest, planting herself in Shi Guang’s path with the bearing of one who faced death unflinchingly.

Shi Guang said, “What audacity for a maid — do you not see the situation clearly?”

“The Second Young Master is right — I am just a maid, and I don’t know what the current situation is. I only know that the Second Young Master should avoid impropriety, and should not enter his sister-in-law’s courtyard so openly.”

Shi Guang was blocked at the courtyard gate by Murong, his expression growing decidedly unpleasant.

“Do you have a death wish?” The squad leader who had been posted to guard the courtyard drew the gun from his waist, leveling the muzzle at Murong’s head. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

Murong remained unyielding, refusing to move an inch.

“Hmph, just a lowly maid — do you really think I wouldn’t dare do anything to you?” The squad leader pulled back the slide to chamber a round.

“Stop.” A clear, crisp voice rang out. Immediately after, a slender figure appeared in Shi Guang’s line of sight.

She was wrapped in a moonlight-white cloak, her hair arranged in a simple style. Her brows were delicate and clear, her bearing gentle and graceful. Even without adequate rest, not a trace of fatigue showed on her face.

To him, she was like moonlight — bright and pure, yet never harsh on the eyes.

When Shi Guang saw her, he waved his hand at his men. The squad leader then withdrew his gun and holstered it.

“Were you looking for me?” Yan Qing looked at him, her eyes devoid of warmth.