In the late winter of the fifth year of the Yuanhe Era, a major earthquake struck Qing Province, with tremors felt in Luo Province and Bai Province. The Wei, Chu, and Song families jointly issued a Grain Requisition Order to the realm, calling for grain to aid disaster relief. They dispatched General of the Northern Phoenix, Chu Yu, to lead a force against those who refused to comply. Within half a month, Chu Yu annihilated three families: Marquis Hou Yi of Huaiyang, Jiang Yong of Bincheng, and Chen Huai of Luo River, shocking the entire realm. After that, no one dared to refuse grain contributions. During this time, Wei Yun mobilized troops to Qing Province, capturing Qingnan and Qingbei; Chu Linyang took the Xie Family's Linyi, while Song Shilan secured three cities from the Wang Clan.
That winter was bitterly cold, with both the earthquake and the severe cold compounding the disaster in Qing Province. Fortunately, there was no severe shortage of grain, and Qing Province eventually stabilized.
On the day the report of Qing Province's stabilization was sent to Hua Jing, Zhao Yue sat in the imperial study, having physicians examine him.
Lately, he had been feeling unusually fatigued. Being a cautious man, he summoned multiple imperial physicians for consultations.
Beside him, Zhang Hui read aloud the report from Qing Province and finally said, "Now that they're aiding Qing Province's disaster relief, Wei Yun and his allies are gaining increasing prestige among the people. They demanded grain from the realm but contributed little themselves. Your Majesty, should we make a statement—that anyone who dares to give them grain will face our retaliation?"
Wei Yun, Song Shilan, and Chu Linyang were tough opponents, but targeting smaller families would be no trouble.
Zhao Yue massaged his temples, eyes closed, and asked, "Does Gu Chusheng plan to return?"
"General Yao didn't mention it."
Zhao Yue gave a low hum of acknowledgment before continuing, "After all, Qing Province is Yao Yong's territory. If we completely destabilize it, Yao Yong will be the one facing the consequences. We mustn’t push things to extremes—let them handle the relief if they wish. However, issue a proclamation stating that Wei Yun seized our disaster relief grain supplies and denounce him."
Hearing this, Zhang Hui was momentarily stunned before realizing Zhao Yue's intent.
As the imperial court, Zhao Yue's government should have been the first to provide disaster relief for Qing Province. Yet now, the court had failed to allocate grain, forcing Wei Yun to step in. If this truth were widely accepted, the court's reputation among the people would be ruined.
By turning the tables and accusing Wei Yun of stealing relief grain, they could achieve two goals: first, they could show the people that the court was also aiding disaster relief to regain public trust; second, they could frame Wei Yun's relief efforts as mere theatrics.
Understanding Zhao Yue's scheme, Zhang Hui smiled. "Your Majesty is truly brilliant."
Zhao Yue said nothing. His head ached too much, so he changed the subject. "Earlier, didn’t you mention a plague in some village in Bai Province?"
"Yes, a village called Dongjia near Qing Province. The infection is severe, and neighboring villages in Qing Province are also affected. General Yao is handling it."
"Bring me the map."
Zhao Yue opened his eyes, exhaustion evident. Zhang Hui fetched the map and pointed. "Your Majesty, look—it's here."
Zhao Yue stared at Dongjia Village for a long time before murmuring, "It seems to border the South River."
The South River was a major waterway that ran through Bai Province and Hua Province, originating in Bai Province and emptying into the sea in Hua Province—a vital river for the region.
Zhang Hui didn’t grasp Zhao Yue's meaning and simply replied, "Yes, Jiang Bai City lies right beside it."
Zhao Yue fell silent.
His gaze lingered on Jiang Bai City. After a long pause, he suddenly ordered, "Immediately deploy reinforcements to Yao Yong. Spare no cost—take Jiang Bai at all costs!"
"Your Majesty?"
Zhang Hui was baffled. Jiang Bai was not a strategic location, nor did it hold any special resources. He couldn’t fathom why Zhao Yue would commit heavy forces to seize it."Additionally, dispatch two hundred thousand troops from Yanzhou," Zhao Yue tapped the armrest as he continued giving orders. "Bypass Niu City and head straight for Bai Ridge."
"Your Majesty," Zhang Hui frowned. "If you don't attack Niu City and go directly to Bai Ridge, when Wei Yun leads his troops back and joins forces with the garrison at Niu City to flank Bai Ridge, it might be unfavorable."
"Don't linger after capturing Bai Ridge," Zhao Yue massaged his temples. "Take Wei Yun's family with you."
Hearing this, Zhang Hui finally understood.
This emperor wasn't a man of military talent, but excelled in ruthless political maneuvers. Contesting a city was never because of its strategic importance or resources, but simply because it held people the opposing commander cared about.
Back then, he had let the Northern Di win against the Wei family at White Emperor Valley by exploiting Yao Yong's cowardice and the Wei family's integrity. What he intended to do now was exactly the same.
Zhang Hui accepted the order and made arrangements.
After Zhang Hui left, Zhao Yue opened his eyes and looked at the imperial physician kneeling beside him taking his pulse. "Physician Gao, any results?"
"Your Majesty..." Physician Gao hesitated. "You may be worrying too much..."
"I've been feeling exhausted lately."
"You are indeed overly fatigued."
Zhao Yue was silent for a moment before finally standing up and heading towards the Eldest Princess's palace.
When he arrived, the Eldest Princess was directing people to dig under a plum tree.
Most plum blossoms had already fallen, leaving only a few scattered blooms in the grove. From a distance, he watched as the Eldest Princess calmly instructed the digging of earth before burying several jars of wine.
Zhao Yue remained silent until the wine was buried, when a servant reminded the Eldest Princess: "Your Highness, His Majesty is here."
The Eldest Princess looked up to see Zhao Yue standing by the tree. Only when she noticed him did Zhao Yue approach, straightening her clothes as he asked gently, "What are you doing?"
"Burying some wine," the Eldest Princess smiled. "We can dig it up and drink it next winter."
Zhao Yue took her hands in his—icy from the winter cold—and enveloped them warmly. "Our child will be born by next year. I'll drink with you then."
The Eldest Princess smiled without replying. Zhao Yue led her back into the palace, sighing wearily, "The whole realm is in chaos now—Wei Yun, Song Shilan, Chu Linyang... not a single one gives me peace."
He seated her inside and called for hot water, personally wiping her hands with a towel as he murmured, "But don't worry too much. I'll handle everything. When our child grows up," he looked up at her and smiled, "I'll place a stable throne right into their hands."
"You'll be empress, and later empress dowager," Zhao Yue raised a hand to brush her hair, his expression tender yet solemn. "For your entire life, you'll remain the most honored woman in the world, never suffering the slightest grievance."
Hearing this, the Eldest Princess's heart trembled faintly. She lowered her gaze to her hands and after a long pause, finally responded softly, "Mm."
"Your Highness," he leaned lightly against her shoulder as he used to in her princess residence, relying on her. "Everything I do is for you and our child. Don't blame me."
The Eldest Princess stayed silent, feeling the warmth against her shoulder. His spirits had been declining lately, sometimes even experiencing dizzy spells and blurred vision.She knew why. Feeling his weakness and acutely aware of the fading vitality within him, she held his hand with rare tenderness and said slowly, "A-Yue, a person's lifetime is governed by fortune. For me and our child, please accumulate some virtue."
Zhao Yue leaned against her. After a long silence, he murmured, "Don't worry."
Holding her close, he chuckled softly, "I'll descend into hell. You and our child will be safe."
"A-Yue..." The Eldest Princess tightened her grip on his hand. "Why must it be this way..."
"Chunhua," sensing her unease, Zhao Yue lifted his head to meet her gaze, his eyes filled with bitterness. "Some paths, once taken, cannot be turned back from. Wei Yun will never let me go. Do you understand?"
The Eldest Princess stared at him blankly. Suppressing his emotions, Zhao Yue spoke with difficulty, "From the moment I forced the Wei family to their deaths for revenge, there was no turning back."
"Between Wei Yun and me," Zhao Yue gradually steadied his voice, "one of us must die. But rest assured," he squeezed her hand firmly, "it won't be me."
By the time Zhao Yue's orders were relayed, Wei Yun had just captured Qingnan. He first returned to Bailing to arrange some matters before contacting Shen You again, planning to join forces and attack Yu River from both sides. Once Yu River was taken, conquering Qing Province would be within reach.
At this time, Chu Yu had just arrived in Yuancheng. News of Wei Yun's capture of Qingnan had only just reached the city. Sun Yi had been appointed as the garrison commander of Yuancheng, so Chu Yu asked him to send a letter back, inquiring about Wei Yun's current activities.
Sun Yi found this odd and asked, "General, why don't you ask him yourself?"
Chu Yu, somewhat embarrassed, waved her hand. "Just do as I say. Why so many questions?"
As Sun Yi wrote the letter according to her request, he remarked, "This is really strange. Logically speaking, whether as the commander of this campaign or as his lover, it's perfectly natural for you to write to His Highness. What are you so shy about?"
"Who's shy?" Chu Yu finally admitted. "I'm just thinking of him."
"Thinking of him?" Sun Yi was puzzled. Chu Yu sighed, sitting cross-legged on the table and propping her chin on her hand. "If I write, he'll know I miss him. And if he knows I miss him, he'll miss me too. Won't he be distracted, longing to see me? If his heart is set on seeing me, how can he focus on the battle?"
Such blunt words stunned Sun Yi, leaving him speechless for a long while. Just then, Wanyue's voice came from outside: "Miss, someone is here to see you, claiming to be looking for Lord Gu."
Chu Yu was taken aback. Gu Chusheng had been away from Yuancheng for many days. Who could be looking for him now?
Without dwelling on it, Chu Yu stood up and said, "Alright, I'll go see."
Leading her attendants out, Chu Yu saw a woman standing at the gate. The woman appeared quite young, dressed in tattered clothes and holding a child. After giving her a once-over, Chu Yu approached respectfully and asked, "You're looking for Lord Gu?"
The woman immediately tried to kneel upon seeing Chu Yu, who quickly stopped her. After exchanging pleasantries, the woman said, "To be honest, it's not me who seeks Lord Gu, but someone told me that Lord Gu is searching for me."
"And you are...?"
Chu Yu frowned. The woman sighed. "I am the wife of the Li family. I heard Lord Gu is looking for my father-in-law, Li Le, so I came."Chu Yu wasn't quite sure why Gu Chusheng was looking for Li Le. After some thought, realizing she hadn't seen Wei Qingping or Gu Chusheng for a long time and didn't know the disaster situation in their location, she decided to inform Sun Yi. Then she personally escorted the woman into Qing Province, where food supplies were currently being transported from Yuancheng.
At this moment, Gu Chusheng and Wei Qingping were providing disaster relief in a small town called Quanyong.
It took Chu Yu and the woman five days to reach Quanyong.
During their journey, Chu Yu learned through conversation that the woman was named Chen Jiuer. The Li Le that Gu Chusheng was searching for turned out to be her father-in-law—she was the wife of Li Le's third son.
Li Le's family originally had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son had been conscripted into the army earlier and never returned. Later, when taxes became too heavy, Chen Jiuer's husband couldn't pay the required amount due to poor harvest that year. After being beaten by officials, he died in his sickbed. The youngest daughter had been sold into servitude to a wealthy merchant's household due to poverty, and her current whereabouts were unknown. This left Chen Jiuer to care for the remaining three children.
Amidst the chaos of war and an earthquake, two of the three children fell ill and passed away, leaving only her newborn son whose survival remained uncertain.
When Chu Yu found Chen Jiuer, the woman had already lost her breastmilk, and the infant had been surviving only on thin rice porridge from relief supplies. It wasn't until their journey to Quanyong, when Chen Jiuer finally ate meat again, that her milk returned.
Quanyong was now the last city receiving disaster relief.
In truth, Quanyong had suffered extremely severe damage, but local officials had failed to report it. By the time Gu Chusheng learned of the situation, it was already too late.
Upon arriving in Quanyong, Chu Yu saw collapsed walls and beams everywhere. Corpses were being carted away to be cremated en masse under Wei Qingping's orders. Unlike other cities, Quanyong was eerily quiet, blanketed by a wordless gloom that weighed heavily on people's hearts.
Chen Jiuer followed timidly behind Chu Yu, holding her child, and whispered, "My lord..."
"It's alright," Chu Yu replied calmly. "Just stay with me."
Chu Yu then had soldiers lead the way as they transported the grain supplies.
Quanyong had very few people left. When Chu Yu reached the grain storage area, there weren't even enough hands to help unload. She had to personally oversee the unloading before asking directions to Gu Chusheng's location.
According to passersby, most people were currently at the Medical Hermitage. As Chu Yu and Chen Jiuer approached, they could already hear the sounds of wailing, crying, and panicked voices from inside.
Entering the Medical Hermitage, Chu Yu saw rows of patients lined up, with many people moving among them—bandaging wounds and administering medicine.
From a distance, Chu Yu spotted a figure in red. His hair was tied simply with a cloth headband, his fine robes stained with mud. Wearing a white medical apron, he hurried between patients with medicine bowls in hand. At first, he patiently fed an elderly man, but then something went wrong—the man began coughing violently, blood streaming from his mouth. Gu Chusheng panicked and started shouting frantically, "Wei Qingping! Wei Qingping!"
But with so many patients, Wei Qingping was still on the other side administering acupuncture to someone else.
With practiced yet trembling hands, Gu Chusheng took out needles and inserted them into the acupoints Wei Qingping had taught him. Simultaneously, he grabbed medicine brought by a medical assistant and forced it into the patient's mouth."Hold on..." he said with a trembling voice, "Sir, hold on. Your son will be back soon. You must hold on!"
He seemed utterly distraught. Chu Yu walked over slowly, watching as he desperately tried to save the old man who was coughing up blood.
Yet in the end, the man gradually lost his breath. Despite Gu Chusheng's utmost efforts, the old man's eyes eventually closed forever.
Gu Chusheng remained kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at the lifeless body.
After a long while, Chu Yu reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Magistrate Gu," she said softly, "he's gone."
Gu Chusheng slowly turned his head, looking up at the woman beside him.
She was dressed in a fitted black martial outfit, a leather whip hanging at her waist, her hair tied high in a practical yet bold style. Yet her smile carried the gentle tolerance unique to those tempered by time, and her expression held a trace of comfort as she said, "Magistrate Gu, you should rest for a while."
It took Gu Chusheng a long moment to process her words.
Finally, he smiled faintly and called her name: "A Yu."
As he spoke, he reached out and allowed a young medical assistant to help him stand. Others had already come forward to attend to the old man's body. Without looking back at the corpse, Gu Chusheng turned to Chu Yu and said, "It's been a long time."
"Yes."
Chu Yu studied him for a moment before stepping aside. "I heard you were looking for Li Le. This is Li Le's daughter-in-law. I brought her to see you."
Gu Chusheng's gaze shifted to the woman holding a child behind Chu Yu. The woman kept her head bowed, not daring to meet his eyes.
With just one glance, Gu Chusheng already understood roughly what had happened.
He clenched his fists tightly. After a long pause, he took a deep breath and asked with difficulty, "Are there... any others left in the family?"
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