Shuo Zhou.
The drums sounded, and the grand army began its march.
The people of Shuo Zhou watched from afar the frail figure at the center of the crowd, their eyes reddening.
Had it not been for the old soldier’s tale in the teahouse the day before, they would never have known how much their general had sacrificed for Shuo Zhou. The veteran had choked up with emotion, unable to continue, and the men and women present had all covered their faces, weeping.
Today, as they bid farewell to the general, they could only pray for her safe journey ahead.
"General! The people of Shuo Zhou will never forget your kindness! Come home when you can!"
"Child, look closely—this is the savior of our family. If not for the general, we would have perished at the hands of the Tatars long ago!"
"Father!! I want to be a female general when I grow up!!"
"What ambition!"
"My dear, you’ve suffered so much. May you be safe and well from now on."
An elderly woman with silver hair stepped forward and handed over a woven knot of blessings.
Xiao Zheng accepted it, her face briefly flickering with surprise and confusion. From the moment she had chosen to sacrifice her own reputation, the judgmental gazes of others had coiled around her like thorns in the shadows, suffocating her. Now, faced with such kindness, she found herself at a loss.
Zhang Hu watched from a distance as Xiao Zheng was surrounded by the townsfolk. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and feigned a yawn, muttering,
"Getting old… Two sleepless nights in a row, and I’m done for. I need to sleep for three days straight!"
Xiao Youcheng sat astride his horse, observing the scene below. Thinking of his dark-eyed junior brother, he smiled meaningfully.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao lay weakly in a carriage, a piece of candied fruit in his mouth as he stared blankly ahead. His tightly furrowed brows betrayed the turmoil of his dreams—visions of someone applying poisoned rouge before a mirror, dressing with solemn resolve, and walking away to certain death.
Shangjing.
News of the army’s triumphant return had reached the capital, and Lu Yuanyi waited eagerly at the city gates, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"Young Master, it’ll still be some time. Why not return to the estate first? I’ll keep watch here and send word when the army approaches."
Lu Yuanyi shook his head firmly. No, he wouldn’t go back. What was there to return to? Endless rounds of dealing with his uncle and aunt. This rare chance to breathe freely—he wasn’t about to waste it.
Just as his uncle and aunt had begun to recover from their illnesses, his cousin had fallen prey to a heart ailment. His uncle, grim-faced, drowned his sorrows in wine and dragged Lu Yuanyi along. He’d had enough of that bitter brew.
And then there was his aunt. After recovering, she seemed a changed woman—her every thought and action now revolved around his elder brother. She took particular joy in cooking soups, delivering them daily to his doorstep with gentle expectation. Yet every time Lu Yuanyi lifted the lid, he was met with the sight of pig brain soup—something his brother would never touch.
Before leaving, his mother had explained everything, urging him to look after his brother. With the imperial examinations less than a month away, Lu Yuanyi couldn’t afford to take risks. Each time he tried to politely decline the soup, Madam Song would dissolve into tears. Helpless, he would force a smile, accept the tureen, and promptly pass it to the servants.
After days of failing to catch even a glimpse of Lu Yuanzhao, Madam Song turned her attention to Lu Yuanyi, weeping over her longing for her sister-in-law, Lady Lu. Her words carefully probed for news of the Lu family. Had Lu Yuanyi not honed his wits through years of dealings outside, he might have slipped.
The mere thought of that household gave him a headache. But now, with Lu Chao nearing Shangjing, Lu Yuanyi finally had something to look forward to. How could he sit still?
Lu Chao, still weak, reclined in the carriage, lost in thought.
The grand procession marched toward the capital, yet their enemies lurked everywhere. The Fourth Prince, bound in an iron cage at the center of the formation, had already survived multiple assassination attempts—poison, hidden blades. Each assailant, well-trained, bit down on concealed toxins the moment they were captured, dying without a word. It was impossible to guard against them all.
Now, past the Jialing Mountains and nearing Shangjing, their pursuers had fallen silent. The eerie calm around the Fourth Prince’s convoy only made Lu Chao’s rest more uneasy.
"What’s on your mind?"
Zhou Qingyuan lifted the carriage curtain, stepping inside with a bowl of medicine.
"Why are you delivering this? Where’s Liu Yao?"
Lu Chao sat up weakly.
Zhou Qingyuan settled cross-legged and shrugged.
"A soldier came looking for him, so I volunteered to bring this instead."
Lu Chao raised a brow.
"I’m serious!" Zhou Qingyuan nearly raised his hand in oath.
"Too many eyes are watching now. His Highness can’t visit you openly, so he sent me to check on your recovery. Also, once we reach Shangjing tomorrow, we’ll split up and enter the city separately—same as before. You’re with me."
Lu Chao nodded indifferently.
This had been part of the plan all along.
Every move of the procession was under scrutiny by factions in the capital, especially regarding the Fourth Prince’s transport. The negotiations had barely concluded before both sides began scheming—using this journey to lure out the mastermind behind the attacks.
Xiao Zheng had discreetly arranged for the real Fourth Prince to be disguised and smuggled into the capital, hidden away. The disheveled figure in the cage was merely a decoy to mislead their enemies.
Today’s unnatural silence suggested their adversaries had caught on. By entering the city separately tomorrow, they could divert some attention from those guarding the prince in secret.
Zhou Qingyuan had barely left when Liu Yao stepped in, suspicion written across his face.
"What’s wrong? Still half-asleep?"
Liu Yao frowned at his master’s frail state and handed over a cloth pouch.
"What’s this?"
Lu Chao opened it, and a few wild fruits tumbled out.
"Damn—good man, Liu Yao! Winter pears? These aren’t easy to find this season."
Liu Yao crossed his arms.
"One-armed Brother Hu from Shuo Zhou gave them to me. Said to steam them for you."
Lu Chao grinned, already guessing who’d sent them.
Liu Yao’s shoulders slumped. This was bad. With his master’s current state, he’d be easily overpowered. How could he ever establish authority as a husband in the future?
Lu Yuanyi was still craning his neck for a glimpse of the army when a family servant rushed over.
"Young Master! The eldest young master demands your immediate return!"
His face paled. Assuming the worst, he raced back to the estate.
The Lu residence appeared peaceful, showing no signs of crisis. Pushing the gate open, he spotted Liu Yao carrying luggage into the inner courtyard.
Lu Yuanyi’s eyes lit up as he hurried inside.
"My dear Chao!! You’re finally here!! I’ve missed you so much!!"
