Just as when they arrived, the black-armored, white-plumed army departed like the tide, orderly.

At the same time, the Cheng household members busied themselves piling firewood and pouring oil beneath their own dead, intending to cremate them collectively then pack them separately to take back. The bandit corpses were casually thrown down the mountain ravine to await being gnawed by crows and beasts. Shaoshang stood at the head of everyone, playing the flute to send off these innocent souls about to enter the Yellow Springs.

The melodious flute music carried to the black-armored army that had just set out. The originally cheerful “Bamboo Branch Melody” had been lowered in key by the girl and the rhythm slowed, like wind passing through a bamboo forest under the cold winter sun—desolate and melancholy.

Ling Buyi smiled as he listened with tilted ear, but not knowing what he thought of, his expression suddenly became extremely cold and self-loathing, like a handsome and proud rock carving in shadow. Then he raised his riding crop high and spurred his horse to lead the army galloping away.

After finishing the piece, Shaoshang lowered the transverse flute, tears already streaming down her face. Many young men and girls who had been laughing cheerfully just yesterday—their family and friends would never be able to await their return again. When it came down to it, she realized there were still many things beyond her power.

The two surviving maidservants had identified a total of eleven bandits from among the captives who had violated them. Shaoshang sat in the lodge listening to the crowd of spectators outside watching the dismemberment by five horses with seething excitement. Then that evening’s dinner was unsurprisingly left with much remaining, especially those servant women and maidservants who had lived peacefully in inner chambers for years—they were so nauseated by the bloody scene they could eat almost nothing.

After the execution was completed, Ling Buyi immediately led his troops to depart and capture the bandit chief, leaving behind two hundred black-armored soldiers to escort the Cheng family convoy to Hua County. The leader was precisely that older guard with the arrow wound piercing his arm.

Only then did Shaoshang learn his surname was Zhang and given name Shan. He already held an official rank of several hundred measures of grain and served as a deputy general under Ling Buyi’s command. That amiable-looking scar-faced guard was named Liangqiu Qi and was blood brothers with that young man Liangqiu Fei who loved to interject.

The next morning, Shaoshang again donned men’s clothing and mounted her beloved milk-spotted little flower horse.

The Cheng household members—from the retainers and guards with bandaged wounds to the maidservants and servant women supporting the carriages—all raised their heads in the faint morning light, waiting for this young and delicate young lady to order departure. Shaoshang forcefully swung down her right arm, cracking the whip in the air. The carriage wheels slowly began rolling—she looked back from horseback. Finally they could leave this valley of slaughter and bloodshed alive.

The convoy continued eastward. This time there were no further attacks along the way. Shaoshang felt that even if small-time thieves wanted to come take advantage, seeing such a silent and solemn black-armored army riding beside the convoy, they were frightened back.

After drinking medicinal soup, Yun Shi’s fever broke and she gradually regained consciousness. She looked apologetically at Shaoshang who came to visit: “I originally wanted to take you to relax and travel everywhere for fun, but instead I caused you to suffer such great hardship. It would have been better to stay in the capital…”

Shaoshang quickly stopped her: “Aunt, you absolutely must not say that! With my trouble-causing nature, restless everywhere, if I’d stayed in the capital wouldn’t Mother have squeezed me to death? I say Aunt bringing me out this time was right. I met so many remarkable renowned scholars, passed through so many interesting places, and now I’ve even witnessed bandit rebellion. When I return to the capital and attend banquets in the future, won’t I be able to boast freely? I’ll say my archery is invincible, every shot hits its mark, one arrow can pierce two people, the bandits simply fled at the mere sight of me…” She also made threatening gestures toward the servant women and maidservants in the carriage. “You all mustn’t expose me!”

All the women were amused beyond measure. Even Yun Shi’s pale sickly complexion showed a layer of rosy color.

Shaoshang didn’t linger long inside the carriage, constantly riding back and forth between the front and rear of the convoy—she had to check whether the wounded were developing fevers or festering, inquire about road conditions ahead, and also watch over Cheng Wei and the twin boys… After just half a day she was exhausted with stiffness and soreness throughout her body. Fortunately Zhang Shan was accompanied by the Li father and son in idle conversation, so she didn’t need to labor over entertaining him.

When they were only half a day’s journey from Hua County, they saw the pig-trotter uncle they’d been separated from for several days leading a very long line of soldiers madly riding over from the side. Drawing near and seeing it was Shaoshang’s party, Cheng Zhi was like a hedgehog stepping on a pressure plate—with a howl he pounced over, anxiously shouting “Where’s your aunt where’s your aunt where’s the Madam where’s the Madam…”

Shaoshang sneered repeatedly. She had originally wanted to mock him on the spot, but seeing his stubbled beard, disheveled clothing, sallow and emaciated face, and even his hair knot tied crookedly—Young Master Cheng, who had always been elegant as a jade person with flowing sleeves, had in just two days become a Kong Yiji.

Before Shaoshang could open her mouth, the retainer beside her had already pointed out Yun Shi’s carriage. Cheng Zhi rolled and crawled over, then from the carriage came Uncle’s wailing cries and Yun Shi’s tears of extreme joy.

Shaoshang immediately felt very superfluous.

Questioning Cheng Zhi’s accompanying guards, she learned that upon entering Qing County that day, Cheng Zhi had felt something was very strange. The county seat was somewhat desolate in population but otherwise everything was fine. Entering the county yamen, he discovered his senior brother the magistrate wasn’t there. The assistant magistrate knew nothing when questioned, only saying Magistrate Gongsun had hastily led troops away from the county three days ago, and had only recently sent someone to report he would definitely return this afternoon.

The dull-witted Young Master Cheng sat for over an hour finally waiting for his senior brother to return. Upon questioning, he was nearly scared out of his wits. Even with his not-very-bright head, he immediately realized that now it was actually his wife and niece’s party wandering outside who were in greater danger.

To avoid giving scattered bandits an opening, the Emperor had already ordered officials everywhere to guard their cities and not leave casually. Senior Brother Gongsun could only lend troops to his stupid junior brother to find people. However, by this time the Cheng household party had already fled to the hunting lodge to take shelter.

Cheng Zhi led a large force of men and horses like a headless fly, circling around several times. As the sky darkened, he finally thought to go directly to Elder Li’s village to find people. But when he reached the village, filial son Li Wulang had already led village militia off through the night to rescue his father.

Cheng Zhi was burning with anxiety. He only knew his wife’s party had indeed encountered bandits, but other villagers couldn’t explain clearly where their elder had hidden. He couldn’t wait even a moment and wanted to find people. In the pitch-black chaos, the large force of men and horses plunged headlong into a mountain valley, instead injuring thirty percent of the guard soldiers. Only at dawn the next day were the men and horses finally sorted out. This time Cheng Zhi was clever—he found a local person as guide and groped through each place where hunting lodges might be built. By this morning he finally found the right place.

As a result, when reaching the hunting lodge, Shaoshang’s party had already departed, leaving only piles of scattered limbs and bodies from fierce battle and slaughter, blood stains covering the ground, plus a large cremation site that had already been extinguished. After Cheng Zhi visualized this himself, he directly fainted dead away. After guards poured water to wake him, they persuaded him that perhaps the Cheng household members had already been rescued and left, so he chased along the route again…

Having listened to this whole rambling mess, Shaoshang was truly furious beyond measure. These days, the worse your brain, the better your luck. Most grating to the teeth was that this pig-trotter uncle had run wildly through mountains and fields for several days and nights yet stubbornly hadn’t encountered even one bandit!

Speaking of which, Third Uncle Cheng Zhi was truly an exemplary figure who had enjoyed good fortune from the womb until now.

Born jade-snow adorable, closely resembling the great beauty Great-Grandfather Cheng, all his brothers and sisters’ looks added together couldn’t compare to half of his. Mother Cheng loved him to death—no matter how difficult the family finances, she never made him suffer even a little hardship. Then before he was ten years old, his eldest brother rose in power. Everyone in the village praised Young Master Cheng as absolutely wonderful and excellent. After a few more years, the long-sleeved and skilled Madam Xiao connected with several renowned scholars and aristocratic families, smoothly sending Cheng Zhi to White Deer Mountain to study and be gilded.

Originally with thin academic foundation and poor family background, Cheng Zhi would inevitably face cold looks and mockery from mountain classmates. Who knew he would meet an appearance-obsessed senior brother who pitied him for being young, handsome, and innocently naive, protecting him all the way until his own graduation and entry into office (Shaoshang finally discovered this was an era that seriously judged by appearance). Outside was chaotic times with flames of war reaching the sky, but Cheng Zhi happily and cheerfully read and studied in the mountain removed from worldly strife.

Before leaving the mountain, he even obtained the mountain master’s daughter in marriage. From then on, his father-in-law and brother-in-law who doted on Yun Shi also protected him so thoroughly from wind and rain, ensuring smooth sailing in his official career, saving Old Master Cheng much effort.

Shaoshang finally knew why she had always found her uncle inexplicably unpleasant to look at. As a child whose luck had been poor since childhood, seeing someone like Cheng Zhi, how could she not burn with jealousy?!

After chattering with Yun Shi for half an hour, Cheng Zhi finally came out to thank Zhang Shan and the Li father and son profusely. Zhang Shan was fine—he simply said “we were only following orders.” So Cheng Zhi poured all his terrified panic transformed into gratitude onto the Li father and son, immediately wanting to arrange a marriage alliance between their children.

Cheng Zhi expressed: His father-in-law’s side already had plans for his eldest daughter Cheng Wei, but the twin sons were still bachelors! Their appearance was good, bones and sinews strong—how about picking one?

Elder Li thought that though the Cheng family was newly risen, it clearly showed signs of prosperity, so he very readily agreed. To show sincerity, Elder Li laid out all his family assets, expressing: Although I currently only have grandsons and no granddaughters, and the two newly pregnant daughters-in-law’s pregnancies also look like male fetuses, but see my Wulang there? Recently he’s been secretly holding hands and kissing with a young lady from an old family friend—I’m pretending not to know. I’ll go propose marriage right away. If they work hard these two years, there’ll be one soon!

Li Wulang: Father… please don’t…

Cheng Zhi was also very considerate, thinking the Li family members were also worried. He enthusiastically urged the father and son to hurry back to the village on fast horses. After all, now with the Cheng household retainers plus the guard soldiers his senior brother lent, self-protection to Hua County was sufficient. The father and son happily agreed.

However, when persuading the black-armored army to leave, Cheng Zhi kicked an iron plate. Zhang Shan expressed “military orders cannot be violated”—he had to personally see them enter Hua County to complete the mission.

Thus, for the next half day, Cheng Zhi didn’t leave Yun Shi’s carriage. Even A’Zhu and the others were driven out. Everything from serving tea and feeding meals to changing medicine and bandaging—he single-handedly handled it all.

Shaoshang kept a stern face with glaring eyes, not saying a word, inwardly cursing MMP a hundred times. Seeing that though pig-trotter uncle’s brain wasn’t good, his feelings for Yun Shi were truly genuine, she honestly continued temporarily assuming the household head role to command the convoy.

As they approached Hua County’s city gate, Zhang Shan stepped forward meticulously to cup his hands in farewell, and resolutely declined the two boxes of gold ingots Shaoshang had searched out from Uncle’s trunks, also saying: “If the young lady wishes to express gratitude, why not personally thank my Young Master in the future?”

Shaoshang smiled with a stiff face: “Precisely, precisely…” There were two problems here. First, holding two boxes of gold to reward Ling Buyi—she didn’t even dare think of such a horrifying action. Second, she very much hoped never to see Ling Buyi again.

Cheng Zhi had been stationed in Hua County for many years. The soldiers guarding the city gate recognized the familiar Cheng household guards and servant women at a glance and immediately opened the gate to welcome them.

As the city gate slowly opened wide, what met their eyes was white mourning clothing everywhere. Pedestrians on the road also mostly wore hemp and mourning. A young soldier opening the gate on the side still wiped tears, hanging his head and murmuring: “Young Master Cheng, you’ve finally returned…”

However dull, Shaoshang also sensed something wrong. She quickly pulled the uncle who was still being lovey-dovey inside the carriage out.

Cheng Zhi stood at the city gate, staring blankly at the streets full of common people wearing mourning clothes. There were even coffin-makers along the street. He was bewildered for a moment. Coming to his senses, he instructed his wife to proceed slowly, then quickly turned over onto his horse and rushed toward the county yamen. Shaoshang quickly spurred her horse to follow.

Turning past two street corners, the tall and plain four-courtyard county yamen stood before the uncle and niece. The newly laid bluestone steps were as clean as ever, but before the gate and on the roof hung many white soul-summoning banners, fluttering in the wind like heavy snowfall.

Both uncle and niece were stunned.

Cheng Zhi thought: This is bad—because I left in such a hurry to find people, I didn’t even ask Senior Brother what happened in Hua County.

Shaoshang thought: Didn’t Ling Buyi say Hua County was unharmed? Could he also be a liar?!

When a yamen official came out and saw Cheng Zhi, he immediately threw himself down kneeling and crying bitterly, repeating over and over that same phrase: “Young Master Cheng, you’ve finally come, finally come…” Plus one more sentence: “Old Master Cheng has passed away…!”

Cheng Zhi’s vision turned black. His body swayed—he looked about to faint. Shaoshang quickly went to support this not-very-reliable uncle. Who knew Cheng Zhi refused to be supported by her, prostrating himself on the yamen steps refusing to rise, crying out loud.

The Hua County Magistrate was also surnamed Cheng, but different from Shaoshang’s family—he came from a prominent clan in Henan. Magistrate Cheng was nearly sixty years old, gentle and refined as a person. Rather than saying he was an official, he was more like a kindly teacher who couldn’t bear to punish students.

Colleagues for several years, Old Master Cheng ordinarily treated this subordinate who shared his surname like his own son, teaching him official duties hand-by-hand. Actually Old Magistrate Cheng’s health had never been good. If not for the Cheng family losing too many descendants during the chaotic times, leaving the clan now with a gap in official circles, he wouldn’t need to be summoned to office at such an advanced age.

The old man loved to mutter after drinking: In two more years I’ll retire—finally I can go home to savor wine and read books, indulge in refined leisure…

At such times Cheng Zhi would laugh beside him: You’ve said this eighteen times already. At least persevere a few more years. If a formidable magistrate comes later, I won’t be able to take it!

Three days ago, rebel traitors suddenly struck. The place where the Emperor lodged naturally had early preparations and wasn’t affected, but unexpectedly the desperate remnant soldiers not only didn’t resign themselves to surrender, but under the incitement of those with ulterior motives scattered to plunder. One exceptionally fierce bandit group pounced toward the neighboring and prosperous Hua County.

After several years of peaceful times, the populace had mostly let down their guard. Fortunately Old Magistrate Cheng reacted quickly, hurriedly closing the city gates tight, ordering soldiers and able-bodied men and wealthy households in the city to come assist in battle and defend the city. Though Hua County didn’t have many defending troops, fortunately these past years the city defenses had been very solidly maintained. The bandits couldn’t break through for a time. The common people inside the city had thick city walls protecting them, but the common people in the countryside outside didn’t. Caught unprepared, two townships around the county seat suffered heavy casualties.

Thus, the most common and most tragic scene in ancient military history appeared in N-times reduced form.

The bandits drove the old, weak, women and children they’d captured from the townships to below the city gate, threatening Old Magistrate Cheng to open the city gate—otherwise they would start killing. Speaking thus, they picked out a still-crying infant and displayed it on a spear point for everyone on the city gate to see.

Inside the city were common people under Old Master Cheng’s governance; the several townships outside were as well. In ordinary times when collecting taxes and assigning corvée labor, he hadn’t forgotten them—how could he abandon them now? Old Magistrate Cheng immediately bid farewell to his elderly wife and young grandson (his son had died early), leading retainers and half the soldiers, plus willing able-bodied men from the city, to leave the city and engage in battle.

Before leaving, the white-haired old man sternly ordered the city gate officials to lower the gate bolts after they left and weld them shut with molten copper—not to open the city until the bandits were completely annihilated!

Actually, everyone knew the disparity between enemy and ally. How could this few men and horses kill fierce bandits? The old magistrate also knew. He just thought to kill and disrupt the bandit army so those captured common people could escape. After fighting for half a day, the held hostages indeed scattered and fled, but the force that came out from the city to battle also suffered over half casualties. Just as they were about to be completely annihilated, rescue troops arrived.

The Tiger Guards under the Emperor’s command divided into several teams to go out and suppress bandits. Two of them heard the news and rushed to Hua County, killing over half of this fierce bandit group. The remaining bandits scattered and fled. Everyone on the city gate seeing this, crying as they smashed open the welded city gate bolts—but how could they not find the old magistrate’s figure? Afterward checking the battlefield, they discovered the old man’s corpse missing one arm.

Yun Shi heard the news and regardless of her leg injury, hobbled to the county yamen, kneeling before Old Master Cheng’s spirit crying endlessly. Cheng Zhi had already changed into plain clothes. Tears froze on his face in the cold wind. He insisted on keeping vigil for this elder who had treated him like family. Shaoshang’s tears swirled in her eye sockets. Very consciously she went outside to find a strip of white cloth to wrap around her waist and also knelt together before the spirit.

Amidst the hoarse crying filling the residence, Old Madam Cheng in full mourning white smiled slightly and said to Cheng Zhi: “Being able to avoid the chaotic times and live to this age, we also haven’t been wronged. My son died early. The master long ago regarded you as his own son. You stay before the spirit to accompany him for three days. After three days, you must not continue with such childish behavior. The county still has many matters for you to handle.”

Cheng Zhi cried himself hoarse, already unable to make sound. After a very long while, he numbly nodded.

The old madam also turned to Yun Shi, saying gently: “He and I both had white hair—that can be considered growing old together with white heads. I hope you and Zirong in the future also have luck like ours—loving each other for life, steadfast and unchanging. You have injuries on your body. Don’t torment yourself like this.” Speaking thus, she had the servant women beside her forcibly help Yun Shi away to recover from her injuries.

That night lodging in the rear residence of the county yamen, Shaoshang crouched beside the bed changing medicine and bandaging for Yun Shi, unable to help saying: “The old magistrate was already so advanced in age—why did he still need to leave the city and take risks? Couldn’t he have the retainers and city gate soldiers go? Wouldn’t that also be dutifully fulfilling his responsibilities? At such an advanced age, I think His Majesty wouldn’t blame him.”

“This wasn’t for the Emperor.” Yun Shi had cried until both eyes were red. After a long while she said solemnly: “His Majesty wouldn’t blame him, but all the families and clans are watching. With all eyes bright and clear, without this spirit, how could the descendants of the Henan Cheng clan have the face to enter court and compete for office?”

Seeing Shaoshang frightened into silence, Yun Shi felt her tone was too severe. Stroking the girl’s hair, she said gently: “Those of us born to aristocratic families and prominent clans should originally be stronger than common people. When encountering enemies, go to battle first; when meeting danger, naturally go first. Otherwise how can we occupy high positions and receive support from common people? If we only seek to preserve ourselves completely, how can we face our ancestral graves?”

Shaoshang mumbled a few times: “…Our Cheng family isn’t yet an aristocratic family or prominent clan.”

Yun Shi smiled sardonically: “Perhaps in the future it will be. Starting from your father and uncle’s generation, if every generation of descendants is bravely foremost and diligently unremitting. After we die, tall memorial tablets will be erected in the ancestral hall for descendants to respect, extending continuously through generations. Old Master Cheng died to save common people—sacrificing his life for righteousness. A great sage. This is dying where one should die.”

Shaoshang could say no more.

In her era, there were many works criticizing how aristocratic families and prominent clans were muddle-headed and pedantic, how they dragged back the times, how they compromised and appeased in their corners. How many emperors had among their achievements destroying aristocratic power and crushing prominent clan influence.

But the aristocratic family descendants of this era still had hot blood, with swords at their sides, going alone to ocean frontiers and snowy lands.

At the same time, she also recognized for the first time what family meant. If she received the Cheng family’s protection and enjoyed this peaceful clothing and food, then even if she couldn’t bring glory and luster to the Cheng family, she absolutely could not smear the family gate. For instance, wanton indulgence, betraying the country to the enemy, and such.

She sighed faintly. Living well in this era really wasn’t easy.