They then headed towards Prince Xian's Residence. The Prince rode in a sedan chair, while Dingyi, unqualified to escort it directly, followed at a slight distance. Ahead, official lanterns with black backgrounds and golden characters lit the way, their faint glow illuminating half of Prince Chun's face. She stole a glance—such a man, so near yet so far. Despite exerting all her efforts to cling to him, she still felt out of reach. Xiazhi's matter was settled, but now her thoughts turned to what she had overheard earlier. Hadn’t Guan Zhaojing mentioned that Prince Chun was going to Ningguta? Her decision to pledge herself to him wasn’t impulsive; she had calculated her moves. Yet, things weren’t unfolding as she wished. It seemed that being too agreeable could sometimes be quite troublesome!
She looked up at the sky, where a hazy crescent moon hung upside down. She wanted to inquire further, but the Prince was beyond her reach, and Eunuch Guan wouldn’t even glance her way. It seemed she’d have to wait for another opportunity.
Fortunately, the Seventh Prince wasn’t one to retire early. By the time they arrived at Prince Xian's Residence, the opera performance of The Phoenix Returns to Its Nest had just ended. The steward ushered the Twelfth Master into the reception hall, and before long, the Seventh Prince arrived. He was dressed in a plain Hangzhou silk robe of Buddha-head blue, the fine fabric shimmering as he fanned himself, the light rippling across his form with every slight movement.
“What brings you here at this hour?” Hongtao asked, then raised an eyebrow as he glanced to the side. “Ah, it’s you again!”
Dingyi stepped forward solemnly and performed a salute. “Mu Xiaoshu pays her respects to Your Highness.”
Without needing to hear another word, he understood—Hongce had a soft heart and had been persuaded to plead on her behalf. The thought of the dog pained him deeply. A fine purebred, ruined in just a few strokes. Badger dogs had their standards, and his had been top-tier, kept purely for their elegance.
Agitated, Hongtao waved a hand before Hongce could speak. “Don’t. The more you say, the angrier I’ll get. I’ve half a mind to strangle that little wretch. You don’t deal with dogs, so you don’t know the nuances of selecting badger dogs. There’s a saying: ‘Black dogs are precise, blue dogs fierce, fox-colored dogs clever, and yellow dogs steady.’ My ‘slippery one’ was a fox-colored dog—white, no less. A white fox-dog is a rarity once in a decade, understand? Ever seen a white dog hunt badgers in pitch darkness? These country bumpkins, clueless as they are, went and ruined it for me.” He paused, chest heaving, then gestured outside. “Go on, bring the dogs in. Let your Twelfth Master see for himself.”
The eunuch in charge of the dogs obeyed, the chains clinking as he led two dogs in, one after the other. The one in front had its ear tips clipped, leaving stubs that stood rigidly upright. Its tail, originally coiled in segments, had been straightened and docked by several inches, now resembling a spear thrust skyward from a halberd stand—truly incomparable to the one behind it.Hongtao was obsessed with dogs, treating them better than women. Now, brimming with resentment, beating someone up wasn’t enough to vent his anger. Pointing at the dog, he said, “See this? A pair of twins, both with squirrel tails and jade-like eyes—top of the line. One’s still perfect, the other ruined like this! I went through great lengths to get this dog from Prince of the Commandery Zhi, and raising it has been more demanding than raising a child. The dog loves to play, and that day Hongshao insisted on taking it out. Fine, let it out—but ask anyone in the capital, who doesn’t know this dog is mine? It’s been roaming outside for ages, and no one dared lay a finger on it. Then it ran into that blind fool who ruined it like this. You’re here to plead for mercy—it’s not that I won’t give you face, but I’m just too furious.” He glared at Dingyi, “Why’d you go to the Twelfth Master? Got addicted to being saved last time? Think he’s easy to push around, so you pick the soft target?”
Dingyi felt ashamed looking at the dog and stammered, “Please don’t be angry, getting worked up in summer harms the liver… We truly didn’t know this dog was yours. Had we known, like you said, we wouldn’t have dared even glance at it, let alone touch it. Now that this has happened, it’s too late for regrets. My shixiong is young and reckless, but he must be remorseful now. Please show mercy, take pity on us lowly folk, and give him a chance to make amends… How about this? Whatever you paid for the dog, we’ll scrape together the money to repay you. Would that work?”
“You think you can afford it? You’re not even worth the dog’s price if I sold you!” Hongtao shoved him away. “Last time, you refused to pass me medicine, claiming you didn’t know it was my order. Now you mess with my dog and say you didn’t know it was mine?” He jabbed Dingyi’s forehead. “Is this thing just for decoration? Didn’t you bother to ask around? Do I look like someone you can fool?”
Dingyi shielded his head, dodging, but couldn’t avoid the sharp pain on his crown. What could he do? Spotting an opening, he ducked behind the Twelfth Master.
Hongce, after all, was here to mediate and had to step in. “Seventh Brother, if you’re truly unwilling to let this go, I’ll find you another dog. Governor Fei Xin of Shandong is a bondservant under my banner. I’ll write to him—whether you want a fanzi or a slippery one, I’ll have him pick the best in all of Shandong and send it to the capital by fast horse. It’s not worth making a fuss over a dog. Do this for me, Seventh Brother.”
Pleading for mercy had its hierarchies—a few vague words were a gesture, but taking full responsibility meant making the matter your own, and any further action would depend on the pleader’s face. Hongtao clicked his tongue. “Slippery ones are too heartbreaking to raise. Let’s try something else—I’ve heard Shaanxi greyhounds are good too.”
Hongce nodded. “I’ll arrange it. If I can’t find a phoenix, a dog should be easy enough.”
Hongtao smirked. “You’d scour the world for a dog for me—aren’t you afraid the higher-ups will accuse you of neglecting your duties for trivial pursuits? For some insignificant nobody, you’re the one who’s truly not worth it! I’m curious—what’s your connection? How’d he manage to bring this to your doorstep?”
Before Hongce could reply, Dingyi cut in, “I’m going to serve the Twelfth Master from now on. I’ll be his guard, his vanguard.”Hongtao sneered in utter disdain, "With that physique of yours? To serve as Twelfth Master's guard and then have him constantly clean up your mess? Let me tell you, don’t think this dog incident is over—I’m not done with you yet! I might spare your senior brother’s life, but someone has to answer for this. Since you’re so good at running around begging for help, you’ll pay with your leg." He raised his voice and called to the guards outside, "Come, hold him down and chop off one of his legs at the root."
The guards responded, and two burly men entered, dragging and pinning her leg across the threshold. With a swift motion, they drew their swords, ready to strike. Dingyi screamed in terror, "No, no—" She turned her head to look at Hongce, pleading pitifully, "Twelfth Master, please save me..."
Though usually gentle, Hongce was a trained fighter. Back when he was a Beile, he could easily take down seven or eight men in Manchu Wrestling. He hadn’t expected Hongtao to be so relentless—once a leg was severed, it could never be reattached, ruining a person’s life forever. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and kicked the sword out of the guard’s hand. The blade spun several times before embedding itself into the leg of a huanghuali table, the hilt still vibrating. Clearly angered, he said coldly, "Seventh Brother, you truly show no regard for me. If you must chop his leg off, don’t do it in front of me—the sight of blood makes me uncomfortable." With that, he flicked his sleeve and strode out.
Seeing his displeasure, Hongtao realized he had gone too far, putting Hongce in an awkward position, and his bravado instantly deflated. Among the brothers, factions existed—Third and Fifth Masters were allies, while Sixth, Thirteenth, and the Emperor formed another group. Since Hongtao wasn’t part of the military council, he relied on Twelfth Master for crucial information and couldn’t afford to alienate him. After all, it was wise to leave room for reconciliation in the future.
He hurried to stop Hongce, forcing a smile. "I was just teasing him—did you really think I’d chop his leg off? I might ignore others’ pleas, but how could I disregard yours?" He turned to the eunuch steward and jerked his chin. "Release that Xia fellow." Then he pointed at the person on the ground. "And this ‘righteous warrior’—let him go too."
Now elevated to the status of a "righteous warrior," Dingyi scrambled up dizzily and bowed. "Thank you, Prince, for your magnanimity. You are a good man, and good deeds bring good rewards."
Hongtao wasn’t truly appeased but couldn’t press further, though his expression remained sour. "Don’t let me catch you next time. If I do, I’ll drag you to the training field and raise you on a flagpole!"
Threats like "next time" had already been issued before, yet they’d proven utterly ineffective. Repeating them now made him feel like he was all bark and no bite, further undermining his dignity.
With the matter resolved, it was time for everyone to head home. Hongtao, still in a foul mood, yawned repeatedly to signal his guests to leave. Hongce, ever tactful, smiled and said, "Seventh Brother’s generosity will surely be praised far and wide. Give me half a month—I’ll deliver the dog to your estate by then. It’s late now, so rest well. Tomorrow, I invite you to visit my newly acquired garden. I’ve set up a menagerie there with some interesting novelties."
For princes in the capital, acquiring land and properties was a hobby—money emboldened people, after all. Hongtao scratched his scalp with his fan handle. "That sounds fine. What I’m concerned about is that after September, the road to Shengjing becomes increasingly difficult to traverse. What then?"Hongce had spent over a decade in Khalkha, enduring harsh climates unimaginable to the pampered nobility of the capital. No matter how cold Beijing winters got, commoners could survive wearing padded jackets, but in Khalkha, it snowed daily throughout winter - without fur-lined robes, one would freeze to death. Having experienced true cold, even Ningguta's fearsome reputation held no terror for him. He remained indifferent. "The court has its plans. Changing the schedule seems unlikely. At least we brothers can look after each other on the road. What do men of our stature fear from wind and snow?"
Hongtao listened to his casual tone, tilting his head in thought for a long while without reaching any conclusion. Finally, he simply instructed the steward, "Najin, escort the Twelfth Master out," before clasping his hands behind his back and retreating to the rear courtyard.
Dingyi exited with Prince Chun, her worries about Xiazhi finally easing after the Seventh Prince promised not to make things difficult. Yet hearing them discuss the northern journey still set her heart fluttering. She kept stealing glances at the Twelfth Master, edging closer until finally mustering the courage to tug at his sleeve. Noticing, he looked down with that peculiarly intent gaze of the hard-of-hearing. Meeting those eyes, her carefully prepared words stuck in her throat, emerging only as a muddled: "Thank you so much today. You're like a second parent to us apprentices."
Having completed this favor on a sweltering day when he should have been resting under the Sunshade, Hongce felt exhausted and disinclined to conversation. "Just don't let there be a next time," he replied. Such dubious favors were best avoided - sneaky dealings ill-suited to a prince who must maintain dignity.
Dingyi responded awkwardly before tentatively probing: "I heard Your Highness is going to Ningguta - that frozen wasteland for exiled criminals. Do take care... Actually, my wish to serve you wasn't empty talk but sincere. You saved both me and my senior apprentice - the only way to repay is by serving you. Please take me along. I'll tend your horses, even be your mounting block - anything."
Hongce studied him. "All Prince's Residence staff must be Banner members. You're Han, aren't you? Han enrollment is troublesome, and I lack no attendants. Your sentiment is noted."
Guan Zhaojing seized the chance to mock: "The Seventh Prince was right - you're too scrawny even for firewood. As a mounting block, one step might crush you. Go home and honor your master properly. If I were him, your antics would've killed me by now. His Highness did good deeds expecting no repayment - just don't make it 'third time unlucky.'"
The teasing left Dingyi flushed. The Twelfth Master's slight smile at her discomfort held kindness and warmth. She bowed deeply as they departed Prince Xian's Residence, watching wistfully as the palanquin curtain dropped behind the prince, marking the end of today's adventure. Any plans for Changbai Mountain would require new arrangements.
A nightwatchman in blue approached, his small gong echoing through empty streets. Through bamboo slats, Hongce observed the dejected figure with hands hanging limp. As bearers lifted the palanquin, the boy hastily bowed - that narrow frame resembling a newly released bream in a blue-and-white fish tank.
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