Love Beyond the Grave

At his first morning court session upon returning to the Southern Capital, Duan Xu encountered Fang Xianye in the waiting hall before the assembly began.

The officials who had been chatting amiably with Duan Xu immediately observed the atmosphere between the two men and subdued their smiles upon Fang Xianye's arrival.

Both men wore crimson official robes—Fang Xianye's adorned with the cloud-and-wild-goose pattern of civil officials, a silver fish pouch hanging at his waist, while Duan Xu's bore the tiger motif of military officers. Their youth stood out conspicuously among the middle-aged officials clad in similar crimson attire.

They were the top two scholars of the same imperial examination—the most promising young talents in the court. Unfortunately, belonging to opposing factions, they were locked in a life-and-death struggle. Had they reconciled, they would have become the twin jewels of Great Liang's future.

Minister Lu from the Ministry of Justice, who had just been conversing with Duan Xu, sighed inwardly. The conflict between these two factions had persisted for years with unrelenting ferocity—reconciliation seemed an impossible dream.

Duan Xu courteously saluted and said with a smile, "Minister Fang, it's been a while. I heard you've risen swiftly to become Vice Minister of Revenue, a fourth-rank official. My congratulations."

Fang Xianye returned the gesture modestly. "General Duan flatters me. Your heroic efforts in turning the tide of battle and leading troops across the Guan River first have reached even the Southern Capital. His Majesty has summoned you back for debriefing—doubtless with rewards in mind. Allow me to offer my early congratulations."

After this exchange of polite compliments, they seated themselves, adhering to the principle of "out of sight, out of mind"—one on the far left, the other on the far right. The left side was predominantly occupied by civil officials from Duke Du's faction, now joined by Fang Xianye, while the right side was mainly military officers from Duke Pei's camp, with Duan Xu among them.

The atmosphere in the waiting hall grew palpably tense. The protocol officer from the Court of State Ceremonial watching this scene broke into a cold sweat.

During the morning court, the Emperor first lavished praise on the generals returning from north of the Guan River, bestowing countless treasures of gold, silver, and fine silks, along with promotions for all. Qin Huanda was ennobled as Duke Wei, while Duan Xu received the title of Loyal and Martial General. The Emperor then commended the Ministry of Revenue for its success in raising funds and supplies, distributing rewards with impartial balance. By the session's end, both Duke Du's and Duke Pei's factions had their faces saved.

With the borders temporarily stabilized, the Emperor hinted he had no immediate plans to redeploy Qin Huanda or Duan Xu to frontier posts. Duan Xu surmised this was likely arranged by Duan Chengzhang and Duke Du—keeping him in the Southern Capital, the heart of power, where this experience might eventually secure him a position in the Bureau of Military Affairs to oversee military governance.

What many would consider a dream career path elicited only a sigh from Duan Xu. His half-year absence from the Southern Capital had left him unfamiliar with current court dynamics, so after court adjourned, he headed straight for Yù Zǎo Tower.

The most opulent and refined among the Southern Capital's seventy-two renowned establishments, Yù Zǎo Tower was famed for its "three perfections"—fine wine, exquisite cuisine, and beautiful women—attracting the capital's elite for entertainment. Even the Emperor had visited for leisure. Young nobles of the Southern Capital were regular patrons, and Duan Xu had been no exception before his departure.

Upon entering, he was warmly greeted by attendants. Waving them off, he asked, "Where is Miss Luo Xian?"

Though not the tower's most beautiful courtesan, Luo Xian was renowned throughout the Southern Capital as a talented woman—her poetry and literary skills rivaling men's, accomplished in all refined arts, and selling her talents but not her body. Before leaving, Duan Xu had been particularly close to her, once spending a fortune to monopolize her company for an entire month.The attendant was still smiling apologetically when someone suddenly spoke up: "Isn't this the Third Young Master Duan? It's been so long! While you were away, the beauty you fancied has been stolen by that top scholar!"

Duan Xu turned to look and saw it was the fourth son of Minister Wang from the Ministry of Revenue, who happened to be drinking at Yù Zǎo Tower. The man was handsome in appearance but rotten at core—a notorious playboy in the Southern Capital. Duan Xu had maintained superficial friendships with these young masters before, so he smiled and asked, "Young Master Wang, are you referring to Fang Xianye?"

Being uneducated himself, Wang took every opportunity to mock scholars who had passed the imperial examinations. He always referred to Fang Xianye sourly as "that top scholar," and after Duan Xu placed second in the exams, Wang began disliking him too, as if wondering how Duan Xu had managed to excel academically while carousing with them.

But at least Duan Xu was noble-born like himself, unlike that commoner Fang Xianye. Wang snorted contemptuously: "That top scholar is truly provincial. Now that he's gained some status and money, he's been ogling Miss Luo Xian nonstop, pestering her daily. But no amount of silver can wash away his poor stench! I think Miss Luo has been suffering in silence, waiting for your return! I just saw that scholar enter—probably going to bother Luo Xian again!"

Playing along, Duan Xu feigned anger: "Opposing me in court is one thing, but stealing Luo Xian from me? This is beyond endurance!"

With a dramatic sleeve flourish, he called Luo Xian's name and marched upstairs. Wang watched with gleeful anticipation while the flustered attendant failed to stop him.

Reaching the upper floor, Duan Xu pushed open Luo Xian's door to find Fang Xianye indeed sitting inside behind the beaded curtains. Both occupants looked startled at the intrusion. The attendant smiled nervously: "Young Master Duan! You see, Lord Fang arrived first this time... Yù Zǎo Tower has its rules..."

Duan Xu tossed him a gold ingot: "Isn't money Yù Zǎo Tower's only rule? I'll see Miss Luo Xian right now—Lord Fang won't mind, will he?"

Fang Xianye's surprise faded into an inscrutable smile: "The newly promoted General Duan is quite overbearing, isn't he?"

"Were it not for Lord Fang, I might not have this overbearing nature to begin with."

As they faced off, Luo Xian's gentle voice came from behind the curtains. The elegant beauty softly mediated: "Why must you gentlemen quarrel? Shared appreciation of music is joyful. Luo Xian would gladly perform for both of you."

Neither man would yield, so they both sat down for the performance. The attendant, both pleased with the gold and worried about potential conflict, gave Luo Xian careful instructions before leaving. She smiled in agreement and closed the door.

Standing briefly at the door to ensure the attendant had left, Luo Xian then composed herself and quietly returned behind the beaded curtains. Picking up her pipa, she began playing a tempestuous melody—loud and rapid enough to mask most conversation.

Vice Minister Fang sat straight as a pine, lightly tapping his teacup lid before turning to Duan Xu: "Duan Shunxi."

"Lord Fang."The two men locked eyes for a moment as the pipa music played around them like pearls falling onto a jade plate. Fang Xianye frowned and said, "It's nothing short of a miracle that you're still alive after acting so recklessly."

His tone was full of disapproval, but Duan Xu just laughed brightly. "It's not that bad. My fate is to turn calamity into fortune—how can I do that without encountering calamity first?"

"You'll get yourself killed one of these days. If you're so eager to die, don't bother dragging me into it."

Everyone said the unfortunate third son of the Duan family had it rough—first being transferred from his comfortable position as a palace secretary to a military post, then being sent to the border camps before he could even settle into his new role, and finally being thrown across the Guan River as bait after taking command of the Snow-Treading Army.

But only Duan Xu and Fang Xianye across from him knew that aside from Danzhi's surprise attack, every other hardship had been carefully orchestrated by Duan Xu himself.

The military transfer came after his brilliant discourse on strategy during the Mid-Autumn banquet. The banishment to border camps resulted from his street brawl with the Minister of War's son while protecting Xia Qingsheng's sister—an incident Fang Xianye "impeached" him for.

It was all a perfectly rehearsed performance from start to finish.

When Duan Xu was stationed in Liangzhou and secretly wrote to Fang Xianye, asking him to arrange his deployment to attack the Northern Territory along with battle plans, Fang Xianye's reply contained just three words: "You're insane." Not long after, Duan Xu received Commander Qin's orders to assault Danzhi territory and cut off reinforcement routes in the Northern Territory.

Fang Xianye might scold him, but he rarely refused Duan Xu's requests, no matter how outrageous.

Later, after Duan Xu successfully lifted the siege, Fang Xianye exposed the Horse Administration corruption case in the Southern Capital through proxies. Duan Xu timed his memorial perfectly, and their coordinated efforts convinced the emperor to shift focus to attacking Yun and Luo provinces.

"Qin Huanda told Duke Pei that you've been deliberately hiding your talents, but your cunning maneuvers in the military—your bravery and ability to win hearts—make you a future threat both in the army and at court," Fang Xianye said.

"I've never received a single word of praise from Commander Qin. So this is how he compliments me behind my back? Compliments should be given face-to-face—how would I know otherwise?"

Fang Xianye still couldn't get used to Duan Xu's flippant manner. "Be serious," he said coldly.

Duan Xu's playful expression faded. "The Minister of Revenue recently gave you tax records with hidden traps—several discrepancies. If you miss them, he'll use your oversight against you. If you investigate, it'll implicate Duke Pei's son in land encroachment cases. Be careful."

"I recently uncovered some significant financial discrepancies and used them to threaten him. Naturally, he resents me."

"You threatened him?"

Fang Xianye shot Duan Xu a look that seemed to say words failed him, then pointed toward the military camp. "Do you have any idea how much money and provisions this campaign has consumed? With the Ministry of Revenue under Duke Du's control, they've been shouting about empty coffers and shortages. If I hadn't blackmailed the Minister into forcing those wealthy Jiangnan merchants under his protection to donate grain, you'd be starving up north."

This normally composed and elegant Fang Xianye, who could make insults sound like compliments, became a completely different person around Duan Xu—always cold and sharp-tongued. Duan Xu often wondered whether Fang Xianye's brilliant opposition to him at court was just acting or truly heartfelt.Duan Xu clinked his tea bowl with his and said, "You've had a tough time at the Ministry of Revenue. I appreciate your hard work."

"Write me fewer letters, and maybe I'll have less to suffer," Fang Xianye retorted, unmoved.

Every move Duan Xu made was a risky gamble—one misstep and it would be a fatal plunge into the abyss. Even if it was all an act of feigned confrontation, there was no need to make it so convincing. Fang Xianye was almost certain Duan Xu simply reveled in dancing on the edge of a blade.

Sure enough, Duan Xu laughed. "This is just how I wage war. As long as we win, what's the problem? You'll get used to it."

His unrepentant attitude left Fang Xianye speechless.

The two exchanged updates on military and court affairs, laying out their plans. Somehow, Duan Xu found himself thinking of He Simu, and for a fleeting moment, his mind wandered as if viewing everything from an outsider's perspective.

From the vantage of a being like He Simu, who had lived for centuries, the meticulous scheming of mortals with their mere decades of life might seem laughable—no different from watching crickets leap about in a jar.

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with his life’s calculations, but neither could he stop He Simu from believing that such a life held no meaning.

Fang Xianye immediately noticed Duan Xu’s distraction and rapped his knuckles on the table. "You're spacing out?"

"I was just thinking... Did you meet Jing Yuan the other day?"

"Yes, we ran into each other while taking shelter from the rain at Jin'an Temple."

"Do you like her?"

Fang Xianye choked on his tea, coughing uncontrollably.