The imperial reinforcements were about to arrive. Xiao Zheng led the soldiers in an orderly cleanup of the provisions, storing them in cellars or secretly sealing away a portion to erase any traces of Lu Chao and his men's presence.
Lao Shu, chewing on a dogtail grass, nudged Tie Tou beside him and gossiped, "Don't you think Xiao Zheng and Hu Zi have been acting strange these past few days?"
Tie Tou shook his head. "Strange? They're running and jumping around like usual. What's strange about that?"
Lao Shu stroked his chin with a knowing look. "Haven’t you noticed? Xiao Zheng keeps grinning at his right hand for no reason, and Hu Zi makes a point to stop by that tavern every day after drills. Something’s off—really off."
"Probably just craving a drink!"
"Craving my foot! You blockhead!"
The moment Xiao Zheng left with a rabbit leg, Hu Zi had followed right after. Those two were definitely hiding something from the rest.
Youth’s first taste of melancholy—seeds of longing were sown in the soil of the northwest, taking root and sprouting.
Lao Shu didn’t realize that for people like them, having the luxury to brood was already a rare blessing. Because soon, the skies over Shuozhou would darken.
Half a month later, just as Lu Chao and his party crossed into Chuzhou, they received a letter from Prince Kang, urgently summoning them for discussion.
Lu Chao’s heart sank. They had just returned from the northwest—could something else have happened? A sense of unease gripped him, and he urged the group to pick up speed. His already frail body, jostled by the rough ride, grew faint and dizzy until he lost consciousness.
When the carriage arrived at Guanfu Academy, the others noticed Lu Chao hadn’t stepped out. Peering inside, they found him pale and unconscious.
Liu Yao, furious, shoved Zhou Qingyuan aside. "You knew he was prone to motion sickness and still recovering! Why did you push the pace so hard?"
Zhou Qingyuan floundered. "It wasn’t me! Lu Chao insisted we hurry back—said it was urgent!"
Teacher Shang, steadying his breath, checked Lu Chao’s pulse before applying acupuncture needles.
"Exhaustion, cold invading his system, damage to his organs. I’ll expel the chill with these needles, then supplement with herbal medicine. He must rest properly during this time, or his lifespan may be shortened."
Murong Yun gazed at Lu Chao on the bed, his voice tinged with reproach. "Your Highness, have some pity for your junior brother. Now that the Crown Prince’s trusted aides have arrived, you can’t keep working Lu Chao like this. No matter how capable he is, this is too much!"
Xiao Youcheng rubbed his nose sheepishly. "Master, I didn’t realize he was this ill. He’s just returned from Shuozhou and knows the situation best—I only wanted his advice. Of course, he’ll rest properly now."
With the northwest in turmoil, even after consulting his advisors, Prince Kang had wanted Lu Chao’s input. Yet once again, Lu Chao had collapsed.
"In that case, keep the news from Shuozhou away from him. If he hears it now, fresh from his return, the shock might worsen his condition."
Even they were furious—how much worse would it be for Lu Chao, who had witnessed it firsthand?
"Agreed."
"Everyone, leave now. No one is to mention these matters in his presence. Let him recover in peace."
Zhou Qingyuan pulled Chen Ning'an aside and whispered, "What’s happened?"
Chen Ning'an exhaled heavily. "The court issued a decree—the Northwest Marquis failed in defending the border, leading to the fall of Yangcheng and Jiaohe counties, with thousands of civilian casualties. Commander Luo has been appointed as a first-rank general to lead troops against the invaders in Shuozhou."
The thought of the silver-haired Northwest Marquis still fighting on the front lines filled him with rage.
"The forces are mismatched! The court sent neither reinforcements nor supplies—how are they supposed to win? If we hadn’t arrived, Shuozhou would already be trampled under enemy hooves!"
Chen Ning'an clamped a hand over his mouth. "Quiet. That’s not even the worst of it."
He gave a bitter smile.
"After you left, the Tartars launched a desperate attack on Shuozhou. That newly appointed Commander Luo was a coward and a fool. While the Xiao army clashed with the enemy at Yanmen Pass, he used an imperial edict to order the gates of Shuozhou opened—claiming to reinforce Yanmen Pass, but really fleeing to Yingzhou. On the sixth day of the twelfth month, Shuozhou fell."
Zhou Qingyuan thought of the lively faces they’d left behind, of the weathered city gates. His legs gave way beneath him.
"Shuozhou… has fallen?"
"The Northwest Marquis fought the Tartars for a full day and night before falling in battle."
Two words echoed in Zhou Qingyuan’s mind:
It’s over.
The court is finished—incapable of distinguishing loyalty from treachery, right from wrong.
Chen Ning'an looked at him with pity.
"There’s one more thing. His Highness wishes to speak with you personally."
With a pat on Zhou Qingyuan’s shoulder, he left, giving him time to process the news.
An incense stick’s time later, Er Yao knocked on the door.
"Master Zhou, His Highness requests your presence."
Remembering Chen Ning'an’s words, Zhou Qingyuan braced himself.
"Your Highness!"
Xiao Youcheng helped him up, sighing. Since learning of his background, Zhou Qingyuan had grown more reserved around him.
"Cousin, no need for formalities. I was raised under the Zhou family’s care—to me, your father remains my uncle, and you remain my cousin. Let’s not grow distant."
Zhou Qingyuan smiled faintly. "Your Highness is gracious, but we dare not presume upon your kindness."
"Shortly after you and Lu Chao departed, I received word from the capital. Your father has been demoted to the post of Sima in Chuzhou. By now, he should have arrived."
After the earlier shocking news, hearing his father had merely been demoted almost came as a relief.
Alive was enough. A demotion could be borne—the capital was no longer a place he recognized.
"Imperial favor, whether as thunder or rain, is still favor. Chuzhou is close to Yingchuan, at least. It’ll be easier for me to visit home."
Seeing Zhou Qingyuan’s resilience, Xiao Youcheng managed a rare smile.
"Tell me about Shuozhou."
Zhou Qingyuan recounted their journey and the situation in Shuozhou in meticulous detail.
The stark contrast left Xiao Youcheng silent.
He could picture their triumph after driving back the enemy, the civilians’ relief at survival. With the Tartars’ supplies depleted, holding Yanmen Pass and Shuozhou for just two more days would have forced their retreat. Yet a traitor had handed victory straight to the enemy.
"At their farewell feast, the Northwest Marquis joked that once the war ended, he’d retire to a peaceful life. Lu Chao and Xiao Zheng, the Marquis’ nephew, became fast friends—Lu Chao even invited him to visit Yingchuan."
At this, Zhou Qingyuan’s eyes grew wet.
Xiao Youcheng’s hands clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. What was Xiao You'an doing? What were Murong You and his faction scheming? That common lives had become their bargaining chips—
The night was still.
When Lu Chao awoke, the familiar sight of Liu Yao’s coiled hair greeted him.
He coughed weakly, covering his mouth with a fist.
Liu Yao startled, then brought over the warming medicine.
"You’re awake? This is Teacher Shang’s herbal brew. Drink it to soothe your throat."
The tea was slightly bitter with a lingering sweetness. Warmth spread down his throat, clearing his senses.
"Liu Yao, without you by my side, this journey has been so miserable. I’ve missed you terribly."
Liu Yao helped Lu Chao up, only to feel nothing but bones under his touch. Frowning, he sighed.
"Fine, you just want me to wait on you for the rest of your life, don’t you?"
Lu Chao whined pitifully, "How can you say that? We take care of each other, it’s mutual."
Liu Yao muttered under his breath,
"All those pounds I painstakingly put on you—gone just like that."
Lu Chao stretched lazily, content.
"How long have I been asleep? Didn’t Prince Kang say there was urgent business? Someone should inform him."
"They’ve brought in a few scholarly old men to handle things in the courtyard. It should all be settled by now. Prince Kang said you should focus on recovering and not worry about anything. As for me, my job is to fatten you up. Your only responsibility is to eat, sleep, and laze around."
Lu Chao teased, "Isn’t this the life I’ve always dreamed of? If every day could be like this, I’d wake up laughing in my sleep."
