That the Marquis of Dingbei had been in a foul mood these past few days was something everyone in the army could see.
By rights, His Lordship had just slain Qi Kedan, eliminating a longtime enemy and accomplishing a great feat. Most likely before they even returned to Lingzhou, the imperial rewards would come down again—truly something worth celebrating. Yet these past two days, not a trace of joy could be seen on his face. What was even stranger was that having just experienced such an ordeal, by all logic they should rest and recuperate on the road for two days to catch their breath. But Gao Yue and the others had only just reunited with them when they received orders to depart immediately the next day. Even Gao Yang and the others couldn’t help but exchange bewildered glances, truly unable to fathom Xia Xiuyan’s thoughts.
He Zhong felt even more strongly that his lord had been looking at him very strangely lately, as if always carrying a few degrees of frustration at his failure to meet expectations. It made him unable to help repeatedly reflecting on whether he had said something wrong.
So each day he dared even less to hover around Xia Xiuyan, spending all his time with Qiu Xinran and the others’ carriage.
Qiu Xinran’s mood also didn’t seem high these past two days, though as long as she sat in the carriage, her mood was never high. He Zhong was long accustomed to this and didn’t connect her abnormal behavior with his lord’s abnormal behavior.
Inside the carriage, Qiu Xinran was listening to Gao Yue talking with Zhang Hui: “Sister Hui, when we reach Lingzhou, where do you plan to stay?”
A few days ago, Qiu Xinran had inadvertently interrupted the two’s conversation in the courtyard. She didn’t know what had happened afterward, so hearing Gao Yue ask this now, she couldn’t help but look over curiously. Zhang Hui met her gaze and apparently also recalled that day’s events. Looking somewhat embarrassed, she only said, “Brother says he has a courtyard in the city. Once I arrive, I can move right in.”
Gao Yue recalled: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten—Brother Rong did buy a two-courtyard compound. Back then we all teased him, asking if he was planning to use it for when he takes a wife in the future. But after he bought it, he never moved in. It seems he was waiting for you to return so siblings could reunite.”
Hearing her say this, Zhang Hui thought of how the siblings had been separated for many years and had finally waited for this day. Her heart warmed slightly. Seeing her eyes redden, Gao Yue couldn’t help but panic: “Look at my loose tongue, saying things that make you sad. Now that you siblings are reunited, all the good days are ahead.”
“How am I sad? I’m clearly happy.” Zhang Hui hastily wiped the corner of her eye, saying with a smile, “You’re right. Everything will be better ahead.” Not wanting Gao Yue to feel at a loss, she turned to ask Qiu Xinran, who sat to the side: “Miss Qiu, what are your plans once you reach Lingzhou?”
The past two days, Qiu Xinran had spoken in anger to Xia Xiuyan about not going to Lingzhou, but actually hadn’t thought at all about where to settle if she didn’t go to Lingzhou. However, these past two days, Xia Xiuyan had been traveling day and night. Those who knew thought he was eager to return home; those who didn’t would think they were conducting a military campaign. Qiu Xinran boarded the carriage before dawn and by the time they reached their lodging, it was already dark—she’d had absolutely no chance to consider where to stay. So now she could only say, “I should find an inn to stay at for a couple days first.”
“Then I’ll take you,” Gao Yue perked up upon hearing this. “I know Lingzhou City better than anyone. Otherwise, they’ll bully you as an outsider and deliberately inflate prices.”
“No rush,” Qiu Xinran said. “Let’s see when the time comes.”
“Still not urgent?” Gao Yue looked at her puzzled. “We’re entering the city this afternoon. You still haven’t decided?”
“What? We’re reaching Lingzhou this afternoon?” Qiu Xinran was shocked. She lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. Sure enough, at some point, the scenery on both sides had become very different from when they left Chang’an. The wilderness stretched open, with rolling hills in the distance. Gusts of sandy wind blew past, the wind seeming to carry yellow sand. The vast frontier passes—in the blink of an eye, they had already emerged from Ten Thousand Peaks Mountain.
These past two days they had traveled day and night, actually compressing what should have taken over a month into less than a month. Qiu Xinran lowered the curtain, grinding her teeth inwardly: How was this any different from kidnapping? She had said she wouldn’t come to Lingzhou with him, so he had just forcibly brought her here like this?
By afternoon, when Xia Xiuyan led his troops into the city, the common people along the streets had heard early on that the Marquis of Dingbei was returning. They had been waiting outside the city gates to welcome him. Sitting in the carriage, Qiu Xinran couldn’t help but feel somewhat dazed. Several months ago, when she had first returned to Chang’an, she had happened to encounter the Marquis of Dingbei returning to the capital. She had watched from the second floor window of He’s Restaurant as he sat on his horse. Several months later, she was instead following behind him in a carriage, hearing along with him these continuous cheers.
Having been away from home for so long, quite a few soldiers in the column were especially excited to return to the city. Xia Xiuyan allowed them to disband on the spot after entering the city—they could first go home to visit relatives, then report back to camp.
When Zhang Rong rode over to fetch Zhang Hui, he made a point of bending down to greet Qiu Xinran: “Does Miss Qiu remember that in Chang’an, I said I owed Miss a meal?”
That matter had been so long ago that Qiu Xinran actually had to think for a moment before recalling the day they had visited the official residence. However, she vaguely remembered that back then he had said something about a steamed bun—when had it become a meal?
Zhang Rong seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled: “Having owed it for all these days, there should be some interest.”
Qiu Xinran joked deliberately: “Then aren’t I taking great advantage?”
But Zhang Rong said, “Being able to treat Miss to a meal—that’s me taking advantage.” Qiu Xinran was startled, truly feeling these words didn’t quite sound like something Zhang Rong would say. But before she could think more, he added, “In a few days, once things are settled, I’ll come find Miss to repay this meal.”
Still somewhat unable to come to her senses, Qiu Xinran sat in the carriage watching him ride forward to take his leave from Xia Xiuyan. The two exchanged some words, then she saw the man in white robes at the very front also turn his head to look this way. Their gazes met. Remembering she was currently angry, she let out a light huff and lowered the curtain.
She thought to herself: So bringing her to Lingzhou was enough? The legs were on her body—if she wanted to leave, could Xia Xiuyan truly detain her?
Before long, the carriage moved again. When it stopped, before her eyes was already the resplendent Marquis of Dingbei’s mansion.
Qiu Xinran hadn’t expected Xia Xiuyan to bring her back here. At this moment, she saw an old man of about fifty emerge from the main gate, directing the servants going in and out carrying things. Seeing him, Qiu Xinran’s eyes lit up and she said with surprise and delight, “Uncle Liu?”
Seeing this tall, graceful woman before him, Uncle Liu couldn’t help but be slightly stunned, unable to recognize her for a moment. When the woman performed a Daoist bow to him and said, “Uncle Liu doesn’t remember me?” only then did he suddenly understand: “Oh my, this is… this is Qiu Sichen?”
Qiu Xinran smiled with narrowed eyes, bearing a seventy-percent resemblance to the amiable little Daoist in his memory. Only then was he certain it was her. Seeming somewhat excited, he rubbed his hands together saying, “Good, good, good. Qiu Sichen has also come to Lingzhou. No wonder some days ago His Lordship sent advance word to prepare a room in the inner courtyard. Zhang Auntie and I wondered for quite a while about who could be coming that was important enough for him to make a point of sending a letter. So it turns out Qiu Sichen came along.”
“I left the palace long ago. I’m no longer a Sichen.” Qiu Xinran was somewhat embarrassed, then asked, “Has Zhang Auntie also been brought to Lingzhou?”
“Indeed she has,” Uncle Liu said cheerfully. “Hearing you were all returning today, she was in the kitchen since early morning and just finished preparing a whole table of dishes. Who knew His Lordship would return and not even come back to the mansion, going straight to the military camp. When she finds out, she’s bound to complain.”
“His Lordship didn’t come back?” Qiu Xinran was startled and looked around. Indeed, she didn’t see any trace of Xia Xiuyan.
Uncle Liu said, “These past two years, His Lordship has spent more time at the camp than at the mansion. Not staying at the mansion at night is quite common. However, he sent word early on instructing that Miss Qiu should stay at the mansion first. If there’s anything urgent, just say the word and I’ll send someone to the camp to relay a message to His Lordship. He just returned, so matters big and small in the military should have piled up quite a bit. These next two days, he probably won’t be coming back.”
Hearing that Xia Xiuyan wouldn’t be back for the next two days, her expression showed slight hesitation. Then she heard Uncle Liu say, “No point standing here either. It’s almost mealtime anyway. Now that you’ve arrived, Zhang Auntie’s table full of dishes won’t have been prepared in vain!”
Qiu Xinran had been very hesitant before, but hearing these words, her feet involuntarily followed him inside. She thought: Having already reached Lingzhou, there’s no rush to leave. Why not wait for Xia Xiuyan to return and make things clear with him then?
That night, lights still burned in the Changwu Army barracks. By the time Xia Xiuyan finished processing the mountain of military affairs piled on his desk, the night had grown deep. He sank into his chair, wearily reaching up to pinch the corner of his eye. Thinking how today he hadn’t even returned to the mansion but had come straight to camp, it carried a few degrees of the meaning of fleeing in defeat.
Ever since that day when Qiu Xinran told him she no longer wanted to go to Lingzhou, he hadn’t gone to see her again. She must be quite angry by now, he imagined. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly—for the first time feeling a few degrees of helpless frustration.
At this moment, someone outside sought an audience. Xia Xiuyan sat up straight and saw Zhang Rong enter from outside the door: “Your Lordship summoned me about something?”
Only then did Xia Xiuyan recall that during dinner he had ordered someone to invite him over. He reached out to extract an opened letter from the desk and handed it to him. Zhang Rong accepted it, puzzled, and looked it over. For a long while, he said nothing. The letter stated that news of their capturing Qi Kedan en route had already reached the capital. The Emperor was overjoyed and ordered great rewards. Besides Xia Xiuyan, his subordinates all received corresponding commendations. He Zhong and Gao Yang were both promoted. Zhang Rong was even elevated to Commander of Qingzhou—once the appointment documents came down, he was to depart immediately for Qingzhou.
“The imperial edict should arrive any day now. You should make some preparations in advance.”
Zhang Rong returned the letter to him, but his face showed no joy: “What is His Majesty’s intention with this?”
“The Zhang family was wronged for many years. This is all what you deserve.” Xia Xiuyan said flatly. “With your past achievements, if not for concealing your identity, you should have been promoted long ago. This time you captured the remnants of Qi Kedan with merit. His Majesty commands you to serve as Commander of Qingzhou—isn’t that a good thing?”
Zhang Rong’s face showed hesitation: “But I worry I’m still unable to bear such great responsibility.”
“When fighting, will the enemy wait for you to make complete preparations?” Xia Xiuyan glanced at him. “Seven years ago when you first came to my camp, did you think of today?”
Seeing Zhang Rong’s expression waver, he added, “One city of Lingzhou cannot hold the Northwest. One Changwu Army cannot defend the frontier. Your going to Qingzhou also aids me.”
The young man standing before the desk was slightly stunned. Looking at the stern-faced man in the candlelight, his spirit stirred. Clasping his fists, he said, “This subordinate accepts the command.”
Seeing he had taken in these words, Xia Xiuyan lowered his eyes and said flatly, “Go then. Prepare well.”
But Zhang Rong suddenly called out to stop him: “My Lord, I have one more matter…”
Xia Xiuyan raised his head and saw his face show hesitation. After a moment, he finally said, “I know Miss Qiu came to Lingzhou at Your Lordship’s invitation, but I… may I ask Miss Qiu’s intentions? If she’s willing to go with me to Qingzhou, I would like to…” His face flushed slightly, but the meaning in his words was quite clear. Because of this bashfulness, he never dared raise his eyes, thus missing the expression on the face of the man before him.
The room was quiet for a long while before finally hearing a cold “No.”
Zhang Rong was startled and raised his head, asking reflexively, “Why?”
“Because…” Xia Xiuyan paused slightly, then said in his normal tone, “I have also admired her for many years.”
Zhang Rong was dazed for a spell, unable to speak for a long time. But once he came to his senses, he felt it made perfect sense and couldn’t help but laugh softly. Though the man behind the desk feigned composure after speaking these words, under the red candlelight his ears had warmed by three degrees. Who would have thought this sentence wasn’t spoken for that person to hear, but was instead spoken to another.
“But His Lordship’s feelings—Miss Qiu probably doesn’t know about them, does she?” Zhang Rong suppressed his laughter. “When we parted today, I saw her expression seemed to still carry a few degrees of anger at you.”
Xia Xiuyan looked over coldly, then heard him say, “In that case, you and I have no priority over each other. I’ll go ask Miss Qiu’s intentions. If she’s willing to leave with me, Your Lordship should also be unable to obstruct it, correct?”
“How do you know I won’t obstruct it?”
Zhang Rong said mildly, “If Your Lordship were the type to use forceful means to confine her here, tonight you wouldn’t be here alone fretting over it.”
Xia Xiuyan pressed his lips together without speaking, like a sulking youth. Zhang Rong couldn’t help but lower his head and smile again, then clasped his fists and withdrew from the room.