Su Luoyun was eating the pine nuts Han Linfeng had shelled for her when she heard this, and could not help but furrow her brow, saying with some hesitation: “Why is that Miss Cao still so set on this? Is she not Cao Sheng’s only daughter? And he has never stinted on her. To see her father in such a state — surely even the deepest feelings of the heart should give way a little!”

Though Luoyun had little of a father’s love herself, she knew well enough that not every father in the world was as unreliable as Su Hongmeng.

Han Linfeng gave a sardonic laugh upon hearing this: “From what I hear, Qiu Zhen is reasonably fine-looking — clear features, a sturdy man who can charge into battle — quite the dazzling sort. When he was around Miss Cao, he surely said no shortage of honeyed words. Miss Cao is young, and her experience of the world is shallow. To be bewitched by such a heroic young man and find herself unable to shake free of it — to be deaf to all advice — is quite understandable.”

Luoyun found herself thinking of someone, and burst out laughing: “Compared to that Miss Cao — who is more thoroughly bewitched, her or Second Miss Fang?”

Han Linfeng, hearing her dig up his old misfortune, actually fell into a wistful mood: “What a pity to have been born with this face that turns the world on its head, and yet be unable to bewitch my own wife into a state where she cannot be driven away — that would save me so much trouble…”

Su Luoyun had never seen such shamelessness — he was actually lamenting that his own “matchless beauty” had failed to captivate his own wife!

She reached out and felt his face: “All right then — even without being able to see, I know perfectly well you are the most handsome man under heaven!”

Han Linfeng closed his hand over hers, touching her eyes: “After all this time treating them — is there truly no improvement at all? I will find you a different physician tomorrow.”

Luoyun felt a pang in her heart and did not wish to continue the subject.

She simply picked up where they had left off: “You should still have someone keep a closer watch on Miss Cao. If she continues to think this way, I am afraid she will not be able to stop herself from trying to slip away in secret. She is Cao Sheng’s daughter — if she truly ran back to Qiu Zhen on her own, it would hand him a golden pardon. As long as Cao Pei’er stepped forward to testify that the letters now circulating in the world were not written in her father’s own hand, every proclamation Commander Cao has prepared would become worthless paper. At that point, Qiu Zhen could still flaunt Commander Cao’s son-in-law title to deceive and defraud people, recruiting soldiers and horses as before.”

Han Linfeng’s hands slowed gradually in their shelling of pine nuts, for he felt that every word Su Luoyun had just said was precisely right.

The way men and women approached a problem was different after all. He had not previously given too much thought to the girlish feelings of a fifteen-year-old.

Now that he considered it carefully, if Qiu Zhen wished to turn around an unfavorable climate of opinion, Cao Pei’er was indeed an excellent point of entry.

With that in mind, he rose, went to the door, and called for Qingyang, instructing him to ride quickly to the temple and relay a word to the guards there, and also to send two more capable matrons to keep watch over Miss Cao.

Qingyang received his orders and at once set off with a party in a carriage toward the temple.

After the pine nuts were finished, Luoyun had Nanny Tian bring over the osmanthus and chestnut congee simmering on the stove.

Though they had already eaten a meal at the camp, riding took considerable strength, and a bowl of sweet, glutinous chestnut congee between meals was very warming to the stomach.

Luoyun had noticed that the moment Han Linfeng entered the military camp, he changed entirely — gone was the pampered manner of his days in the capital, when he drank nourishing broths and took ginseng. When military affairs kept him busy, he would sometimes go through all three meals hardly eating properly at all.

How could this continue? So she had Nanny Tian steam a canister of chestnut powder for Han Linfeng’s personal attendant, so that a bowl of congee could be prepared with nothing more than hot water — at least his stomach would not be left to suffer in the camp.

Just as Luoyun had barely taken two sips, a vigorous knocking came from the courtyard gate. The small maidservant at the entrance called out to ask who was there. From outside came the rough, loud voice of Nanny Song from the Prince Beizhen manor.

On the previous several occasions when the consort had sent people to rebuke Luoyun, it had always been this Nanny Song who led the way.

She was originally a coarse serving woman in the consort’s courtyard, elevated to her current position because she was Nanny Xi’s cousin by marriage.

At first, Nanny Song had also understood that Luoyun had a sharp tongue, and had simply delivered the consort’s words dutifully with a group of others in tow.

But after making the trip several times, she found that this Shizi’s consort seemed to have lost her fighting spirit, and had not offered a single word of rebuttal. Nanny Song’s boldness grew accordingly, and with Nanny Xi egging her on from behind, her speech had grown increasingly unrestrained.

Today she had come again on assignment — this time to reprove Su Luoyun for leading her sister-in-law Han Yao astray.

It turned out that with Han Yao gone for several days and not returning, the consort was fretful on top of being angry. As she listened to Nanny Xi describe how Luoyun had used fine clothing and cloth to curry favor with her daughter back in the capital, she grew angrier with each word she heard.

Although word had come earlier that Han Linfeng had successfully delivered the provisions, the consort and the other women of the inner household had no knowledge of the details behind it.

In the consort’s view, the new daughter-in-law — beyond her extravagant and dissolute Su Daji airs — had now added the crime of corrupting the manor’s young mistress.

She did not know that Han Yao had already been sent back to the manor by Han Linfeng, and simply fumed at her daughter’s continued absence, so she sent Nanny Song to hurry the girl along.

Nanny Song was already thoroughly familiar with the small courtyard at Fengwei Village. She also knew that military camp personnel generally had a day of rest every ten days, and beyond that, Shizi typically did not return until the evening.

The moment she stepped through the gate, she put on a fierce face and glared: “The consort has sent this old servant to pass on a message, and to bring the little county princess back to the manor.”

Xiangcao the moment she saw this wretched old woman had come again, felt her temper flare.

On all the previous occasions, it had been because her young mistress had given instructions — she had said nothing could be allowed to interfere with Shizi’s military affairs, so no matter how those who came might berate her, she was to treat it as nothing more than a crow cawing in the trees.

But now Shizi’s military affairs had been brought to a triumphant conclusion. If her young mistress was to go on wearing the fox-skin label of a Su Daji, the servants beneath her would all be failing her. So no one paid the old woman the slightest attention.

Yet Nanny Song assumed things were as they had been before — that when she came to deliver the consort’s words, everyone in the entire courtyard had no choice but to simply absorb it. So she puffed herself up with self-importance and continued with embellishments: “Some people were raised from childhood in back alleys and side streets, and naturally were born with shallow eyes that see nothing but gold and jade. But our little county princess was raised at the consort’s side, steeped in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting from a young age — she cannot be tainted by the vulgar stench of money from the marketplace. If certain people had any self-awareness, they would stop putting on all these little shows that lead young girls astray. Who does she think she is — a common pheasant with a few borrowed feathers, trying to pass herself off as a phoenix!”

She could not even be bothered to step into the house, nor did she intend to pay her respects to Shizi’s consort. She simply intended to stand in the courtyard and wait for the little county princess to come out, collect the person, and go.

As for whether Shizi’s consort took offense — she did not care in the slightest. She belonged to the consort’s own courtyard and had Nanny Xi backing her up. Even shouting abuse at the manor’s new daughter-in-law through a paper window, Nanny Song had all the confidence in the world.

On all the previous occasions she had delivered her rebukes in this shameless fashion, the Shizi’s consort had not made a sound — and so Nanny Song’s confidence had been absolute.

But who could have anticipated that today, before she had even properly warmed up her voice, the window of the main room swung open first, and a scalding clay pot came flying directly out of it, smashing squarely into Nanny Song’s face!

The scorching liquid burned half her face, and the rest of it crashed down onto her feet, scalding her so badly that she let out howl after howl.

But before she could even gasp out her fury, Shizi’s ice-cold, handsome face appeared at the window, and his voice came down like a crack of cold thunder: “Since when does my mother’s courtyard keep such a crude, ill-mannered old woman as you? Who gave you the right to come to my courtyard and holler at everyone? You had better explain yourself clearly — who exactly is the pheasant with borrowed feathers?”

Nanny Song was so startled she nearly leapt out of her skin. She had never expected Shizi would be back so early today.

She forgot entirely about the half of her face that had been scalded red, and fell to her knees in frantic supplication: “This old servant spoke out of turn and did not realize the noise would disturb Shizi. Today the consort was truly vexed — seeing the little county princess away playing and refusing to come home — so she sent this old servant to deliver a message…”

Han Linfeng by now had already shuffled out in his casual shoes, his face cold as he said: “Stop using my mother as a shield. She is the daughter of the Prefect of Taizhou — when did she ever learn such crude, vulgar language? Since you claim to be carrying my mother’s words, I intend to have this confirmed — I will drag you along with me right now to see my mother, and find out whether what you said is truly what she asked you to say!”

Su Luoyun had by now come out as well, feeling along Han Linfeng’s arm and saying quietly: “A good scolding of her is enough — there is no need to take this back to the manor.”

She said this not as a tactical retreat, but out of genuine reluctance to see Han Linfeng come into conflict with his stepmother.

His mind was full of serious matters at present — why drag him into the petty squabbles of the inner household? This had been the fundamental reason she had endured all along.

Rebukes and mockery of this kind — so long as she did not take them to heart, they did not cost her flesh or blood. Why should she trouble herself with these sharp-tongued women?

But what Han Linfeng was thinking of was what Qingyang had told him. Even Qingyang had happened to witness it — so just how often, while he was away, had his mother been sending these coarse women to humiliate Ah Yun?

If he let it go lightly again today, would not every servant in the entire manor think nothing of treating Luoyun however they pleased?

So he had the old woman trussed up securely and flung across a horse’s back, then changed his clothes, took three or four men, mounted up, and rode straight for the manor.

Luoyun could not stop him, and could only quickly order a carriage to be prepared and set off after him toward the Liangzhou manor.

But how could a carriage outpace a horse?

By the time she finally arrived at the manor gates, the case of a servant berating her mistress had already been settled and done.

Luoyun did not encounter her mother-in-law, but ran into her sister-in-law Han Yao, whose face was a picture of awkwardness.

Han Yao took her sister-in-law by the hand and led her back to her own room, where she clutched her chest and recounted what had just happened.

She had never in her life seen her brother so furious — he had the old woman dragged in all the way and thrown down in the front hall, then summoned the Lord and the consort, repeated word for word what he had heard from the old woman’s own lips, and asked the consort directly: “Mother — were these the words you sent someone to say to Ah Yun?”

The consort had the words flung straight at her face before she could even gather herself, and could barely maintain her composure.

In private, of course, she had complained and spoken mockingly with Nanny Xi and the others. But what she had instructed Nanny Song to convey had been the proper words of a senior family member. How had it turned into Nanny Song using such coarse and vulgar mockery?

This Nanny Song had spoken far too crudely and bluntly! Yet the consort, feeling herself to be in the right, glared back indignantly and demanded — what had she asked Nanny Song to say that was wrong? That blind woman hauling load after load of household goods and bolts of cloth — was that not precisely the behavior of someone with shallow eyes and a vulgar reek of money? What kind of world was it where a mother-in-law could not reprimand her daughter-in-law, and then had to face her own son sitting in judgment over his parents?

It was at this point that the Lord at last spoke, slowly, laying out the full account of how Luoyun had exerted herself to the utmost to help Han Linfeng deliver the provisions.

At the end, the Prince of Beizhen said to his son, with unhurried indifference: “It is fortunate you are a man of perception, who married a capable woman — not one of those women raised in the depths of a grand household, who spend their days thinking of nothing but how to bicker and score points with words. This time it is Luoyun who has suffered considerable grievance. I will have someone increase her monthly allowance — consider it an apology to her on your mother’s behalf… Someone come — drag this foul-mouthed old woman away, give her forty strokes of the board, and drive her out of the manor!”

The consort had never imagined things could have taken such a turn. But what infuriated her beyond measure was that even the Lord had known all along — it turned out the entire household had been in on it, and she alone had been kept in the dark!

And all these past days, she had apparently been making a spectacle of herself for the entire household’s quiet entertainment.

The anguish of being deceived by husband, son, and daughter-in-law working together exploded in the consort’s chest.

Added to that, the Prince of Beizhen’s words had carried too pointed a mockery, and he had punished Nanny Song from her own courtyard right over her head.

This humiliation — being slapped so openly in the face — overwhelmed the consort, and she could not contain her distress. Right there in front of her son and daughter, tears suddenly streamed down her face, and casting aside all dignity as the mistress of the household, she ran back to her own room in a choked and sobbing rush.

Han Yao in truth felt a measure of pity for her mother, and also harbored the thought that perhaps her sister-in-law had been stirring things up behind the scenes, prompting her brother to come back and challenge their mother.

As she spoke, she watched Luoyun’s expression, watching to see whether her sister-in-law might look satisfied.

But Luoyun felt nothing but a headache, and sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples: “Your brother is someone who does not listen to counsel — how did he just happen to hear it today! There was nothing I could do to hold him back. Stop lingering here — go quickly and see to your mother. Offer her some comfort.”

Han Yao found it hard to believe Luoyun’s reaction, and asked carefully: “Sister-in-law — you don’t feel the least bit gratified?”

Luoyun said with an expression of helplessness: “The manor has only so few people in it. How could I feel gratified when mother and son are at odds?”

“But mother… truly did go too far…”

Luoyun gave a faint and rueful smile, and said quietly: “In truth, mother’s circumstances bear a three-part resemblance to my own mother who passed away young. If I may say something that shows no disrespect — the Lord has no affection for mother as a husband ought to have for a wife. A woman starved of love — there are few who would not grow bitter. And did the Lord not say it himself — the inner chambers are too deep; to be confined within them for too long will cause even the heart to narrow without one realizing it. I am a new daughter-in-law who has only just married into the household — the family still needs time to slowly adjust. If I were to set my whole heart on retaliating over every family misunderstanding… would you not be frightened to have such a sister-in-law marry in?”

Han Yao’s face flushed upon hearing this, knowing she had once again thought too narrowly of her sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law was a remarkable woman who had seen the world, who had done business alongside men and could earn a fortune in a single day — utterly different from herself and her mother.

Sometimes Han Yao truly wished she could be like her sister-in-law and open her eyes a little wider. Perhaps then she would not spend each day and each night fretting over her marriage engagement.

Setting aside Han Yao going to comfort and reason with the consort after hearing Luoyun’s words —

On the return journey, Luoyun had words for Shizi as well: “When it comes to battles, your mind is sharp and careful. How is it that when it comes to your own mother, you charged in so recklessly?”

Han Linfeng, however, showed not the faintest trace of remorse, and simply said evenly: “From now on I will frequently not be at your side. If any random cat or dog in the manor thinks they can climb over your head and do as they please, how can I have any peace of mind? Today I have simply made a clean and thorough enemy of my mother, and let the matter air itself out. In the future, if any servant thinks they can treat you however they like because they carry my mother’s authority as their shield — the half-beaten Nanny Song is the example they will have to look at!”

Luoyun could only smile helplessly. This man’s methods were truly all about swift and decisive action, an iron-fisted approach.

She leaned against him and said quietly: “Go and do your own affairs. I am no soft persimmon. What I do not care about is of no consequence to me, and if something truly matters, I will find my own way to fight back. Do you truly think me so fragile and helpless that you need to spar with your mother on my behalf?”

Han Linfeng’s heart softened, and he pulled her close: “When I watched you from behind that wall, your father had you in tears quite often — truly a delicate flower dripping with dew. Let me feel and see whether you’ve grown thorns yet.”

Before long, the two of them were at each other again in playful tussling.

But in this world, flowers with thorns are certainly not few.

When the second day came, Qingyang — who had gone to Han Shuang Temple — returned as well.

He reported to Shizi with a face full of helplessness: “That Miss Cao, upon seeing me arrive with the matrons, unleashed a torrent of abuse — demanding to know what scoundrel had sent two more jailers to guard her… Shizi, please forgive me, but the words she used to curse people were too foul for me to repeat.”

Because Cao Sheng had been away from home for much of her early years, Cao Pei’er and her mother had lived a life of poverty and hardship in the countryside, and she had not learned so much as a single character.

Later, when Cao Sheng brought them to live at his side, Cao Pei’er transformed overnight from a poor girl into the daughter of the rebel army’s commander, receiving the treatment of one around whom stars revolve. Although her father found her a tutor and she finally had the chance to read and learn some characters, Cao Pei’er’s nature was bold and fearless — and when she cursed, her vocabulary of foul language never repeated itself!

The two old matrons who had been sent were being berated to the point that their faces and necks were red — there was no telling how many days they could hold out.

Han Linfeng once again felt that Su Luoyun’s concern had been entirely justified. He considered finding a free moment to discuss with Elder Brother Cao transferring them to the south to recuperate and eliminate this potential trouble at its root.

On the rebel army’s side, Qiu Zhen’s thinking had in fact aligned perfectly with Su Luoyun’s.

What infuriated him was that Cao Sheng, with no regard for the larger situation, had pulled out his platform at the most critical moment.

Qiu Zhen was not in a hurry to press his attacks on cities and expand his territory now — instead, he wanted to find Cao Sheng’s whereabouts as quickly as possible to break out of his current predicament.

Having made his own way in the world from childhood, he was versed in all manner of methods far beyond the ordinary person. When it came to tracking someone down, it was one of the skills in which this man of the forests and roads excelled above all others.

Cao Sheng had been gravely poisoned and was physically weakened — he could not have gone far for the time being. And among the medicines he needed, several were quite distinctive.

So Qiu Zhen scattered his men to investigate pharmacies in the neighboring prefectures and counties. Within a few days they had pinpointed a regular buyer of those particular medicines.

The men he sent proceeded without any outward sign of purpose, waiting at the pharmacy for the buyer to appear and then trailing them silently — until at last they traced the trail all the way to Han Shuang Temple.

Hearing that the small mountain temple was guarded by a substantial force of troops, Qiu Zhen immediately had his answer.

Cao Sheng had spent his life building connections — he knew countless wealthy and influential patrons. That someone would provide financial support to shelter him was not particularly surprising.

But Qiu Zhen held his grudges close. He was very curious as to who had assisted Cao Sheng, and had also helped distribute the proclamation, disrupting his assault on the city.

If he had not miscalculated, it should be the work of that young General Zhao.

Qiu Zhen was eager to verify this, wanting to see whether any military camp personnel could be drawn out.

Unfortunately, after maintaining watch for several days, no one of note surfaced. Only a carriage arrived, bringing two matrons who appeared to be there to care for the women in the party.

Qiu Zhen could not afford to wait any longer. He issued the order cleanly: “Strike the mountain temple by night — Cao Pei’er must be brought out completely unharmed… As for Cao Sheng — look for an opportunity to see whether you can finish him off. Remember — do not do it in front of Cao Pei’er. Keep it out of her sight.”

The assassins he dispatched understood perfectly, and departed with their orders.

Qiu Zhen reasoned that even if Zhao Guibei had men protecting Cao Sheng, those sent would be common soldiers from the camp. The assassins he had dispatched were specialists in night raids, every one of them with formidable martial skill. Even if they painted the mountain temple red with blood, they could bring Cao Pei’er out.

Yet after three days, only a handful of those he had sent returned…

The leader appeared to have sustained serious injuries, and said with a face of shame: “Reporting to the Commander — the temple is guarded by a great many people, and we do not know their origins, but they all seem to be top-tier practitioners of martial arts. Our night assault on the temple was repelled, and we suffered losses…”

The temple — what temple? It was practically a damned fortress, with crossbows mounted on the walls. By the looks of it, not even a fly could get in.

Qiu Zhen frowned and listened, eyes narrowed — this was truly beyond his expectation, but it also confirmed beyond doubt that Cao Sheng was inside that temple.

That Zhao Guibei really was capable — he had protected Cao Sheng with an iron grip.

Qiu Zhen leaned back in his chair, narrowing his eyes in thought for a moment, then said: “Right now the younger one of the Zhao family is making trouble for me, and the older one is on his way as well. Zhao Dong — how much more capable could he be than someone like Wang Yun?”

Still, now that a new force was coming, provisions would surely go ahead first. He intended to personally scout the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp!

Despite the great victory at Jia Yong Prefecture, the humiliation of having been forced to hide in a rock crevice to escape with his life in Demon’s Grove had still not been wiped clean.

The Qian Bei Camp now had half of Wang Yun’s former troops, along with the forces assembled from the neighboring prefectures and counties — they could not be provoked at present.

But the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp was different. They had just completed a grain transport, and the camp should be largely empty with no heavy troop presence.

Since he could not get Cao Pei’er out at the moment, Qiu Zhen decided to assess the grain transport camp’s movements. If fresh provisions were being shipped, he could lead men on a surprise raid along the mountain paths and set the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp ablaze.

At the very least, he could cut off Han Linfeng’s head — that good-for-nothing — and use it to intimidate Zhao Guibei, venting some of the fury in his heart.

Work this satisfying was something Qiu Zhen never delegated to another’s hands.

He changed his clothing, handpicked a small group of trusted personal attendants, and prepared to go and reconnoiter the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp.

His subordinates said quietly: “Is it not too dangerous for you to go yourself?”

Qiu Zhen laughed it off without concern: “The Qianxi Grain Transport Camp is hardly the Qian Bei Camp — what risk is there? We have nothing else to do anyway. Come — I’ll take you along for a change of scenery, and see whether we can take that fellow Han’s dog-head while we are at it!”

Naturally, his purpose in going also included scouting Han Shuang Temple along the way — to see whether he could extract Cao Pei’er from within.

If she saw that he had come personally to bring her out, she would surely be deeply moved.

Qiu Zhen generally did not spend very much time and attention on that country girl Cao Pei’er — but whenever he graced her with a glance, she was utterly devoted!

Knowing the woman as he did: even if Cao Sheng and his wife had said things to malign him, Cao Pei’er would not take them to heart — she would only feel that the whole world had misunderstood her Qiu Lang, and that she alone was his true confidante.

Though Cao Pei’er was not yet in his hands, Qiu Zhen was not the slightest bit anxious.

He had spent his whole life licking blood from the knife’s edge, and it had been a long time since he had encountered an opponent like Zhao Guibei who was a worthy match for himself.

What could be more exhilarating than defeating a rival of equal strength?

When the time came — burn down the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp, claim Han Linfeng’s head, and it would serve as the letter of challenge he was sending to the Zhao family, father and son!

With these thoughts settled, Qiu Zhen changed his appearance at once, and under cover of night, led his men in the direction of Liangzhou.

Qiu Zhen had been in this region for nearly two years now, and because the rebel forces frequently dodged pursuit by the Great Wei soldiers, he was familiar with every large and small route in the area — particularly the mountain paths that circumvented the main roads, which he had committed to memory.

Skirting along the remote mountain paths, traveling day and night without rest, one day later he arrived with his men at the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp.

This time his attendants had also brought a large quantity of saltpeter tubes used to breach walls.

To raid a grain transport camp by stealth, too many men were unnecessary — only an opportunity needed to be found, and then the whole place could be blown into a shower of scattered rice.

Moving along the mountain face, when Qiu Zhen and his party once again arrived at the earthen mound overlooking the Qianxi Grain Transport Camp, the morning mist had just dispersed.

The camp was the same camp he had surveyed before — yet Qiu Zhen felt there was somehow… something different about it.