"Still not coming out?" He looked at the shoe tip peeking from beneath the haystack, feeling a pang in his heart. After waiting a moment with no movement, he guessed she hadn't figured out how to face him yet. Truthfully, human interactions didn't always require hitting every sore spot—though deaf, his perceptions were sharper than most. From their first meeting till now, she'd never been completely honest with him, and his suspicions weren't unfounded. Just from her words, actions, or a glance, he could piece together the gist.
Only genuine care would make him so considerate of her feelings. He'd been angry before, upset that she'd hidden something so important. But now, even the mere sight of her shoe erased all resentment. Her hardships tugged at his heart—so many struggles endured alone with gritted teeth. That crushing disappointment when hopes were dashed? He understood it well.
With a sigh, he crouched before her, separated only by the dry grass. "I entered Khalkha at thirteen. At first, I couldn't adjust and prayed daily for Great Britain to recall me. My imperial father said youthful travels temper character, and one's aptitude decides how long they're stationed abroad. I always believed I was no worse than my brothers—I served Khalkha diligently. Yet in ten years, though the court sent six Imperial Envoys to inspect, none brought my recall. Hope after hope shattered, until even my deafness went unnoticed. Eventually, I realized survival depended on myself. I needed no one's pity—compassion is fleeting, not lifelong. I had to prove myself, make them see me anew. So I never considered idleness. Some gain reputations for rejecting fame and wealth by staying idle, but not me. My constant travels weren't for promotions. As Seventh Lord said, having reached this rank, no merit could make me Emperor. I strive so hard... just to avoid being called a good-for-nothing behind my back." A bitter smile crossed his lips as he brushed snow from her foot. "Life rarely goes as planned—unexpected hardships arise. But if everyone hid like you, avoiding people when troubled, would that solve anything? No obstacle is insurmountable. With enough willpower, you leap over it, then look back and realize... it was never that big a deal."
He mimicked her tone, keeping it light, hoping to ease her mind. Yet she remained unchanged, the hay quivering around her. Deaf to whether she wept, his uncertainty grew. Frantic, he tugged at the grass. "Your background means nothing to me—even if you're from the Wen family. In life, we choose what to eat or drink, but not our birth families. Will hiding help? How long will you avoid me? Without family, you still have me..." Hesitating, he added gently, "Think of me as an elder brother. From now on, I'll protect you. You're not alone."
Still no response. Stubborn as ever—left to herself, she'd likely spend the night in the mountains. Snow fell steadily as he pulled the hay bundle away. She resisted slightly before relenting.
By lamplight, her lips were purpled from cold. Between sobs, she whispered, "Twelfth Master... I've wronged you..."He didn’t say anything, pulling her to her feet and brushing off some of the clinging snowflakes before removing his cape to wrap around her. “Be good now, listen to me.”
His voice hovered above her head. In such a dire situation, having him by her side could still ease her suffering. After crying for so long, her head felt dizzy, and she swayed slightly before he pulled her into his embrace. He patted her back gently and said, “It’s all over now, things will get better. If you could survive before, you’ll surely make it through this too.”
The Twelfth Master’s embrace was warm. Leaning against him, she didn’t spare a thought for propriety between men and women. His presence enveloped her, as if it had always existed in the deepest recesses of her memory—unfamiliar yet familiar. She nuzzled closer, burying her face in his chest. Never had she been this close to him, yet it felt like that was where she belonged. It was inexplicable, something like fate. She had her own hopes, but someone as good as the Twelfth Master—getting too close to him might only bring him trouble. A prince, stooping to accommodate her—wasn’t that already her greatest fortune? What more could she dare to ask for?
She longed for it, yet she knew she must be content. The moment of clinging was brief before she pushed him away, stepping back and kneeling deeply. “This servant has deceived you and the Seventh Lord for so long, all due to selfishness. Earlier, the Clerk checked the records and said my brothers are all gone… I don’t know if it’s true…” Her voice choked, and she could hardly continue. After composing herself, she added, “I’ll go confess to the Seventh Lord later. Whether he decides to punish or beat me, even if he demands my life in atonement, I’ll accept it—it’s my own fault for being so useless. But before that, I beg the Twelfth Master to grant me some time. Let me go to the Aha Camp and find my comrades myself. I must ask the people who were with them—what if there’s more to it? What if my brothers escaped in the chaos? Maybe Eunuch Tao just made up an excuse to close the case, and they’re actually alive somewhere…”
Of course, he would help her fulfill this wish. Having come this far, if the matter remained unresolved, it would forever weigh on her heart, making it impossible for her to move forward. He pulled her up and tightened the cape around her. “The Seventh Lord is still in the dark. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t tell him. The fewer who know, the better. Even if your family is gone, you still have your own life to live. Continuing under the name Mu Xiaoshu will only bring inconvenience later. Let me think of a way to stabilize things first. I’ll transfer your household registration to my Merchant Banner. That way, you’ll have security, and matters like marriage in the future will be easier to handle without unexpected complications.”
The mention of marriage made Dingyi slightly awkward. She had never considered such things, but thinking of her master, she felt guilty for her reckless disregard for life. She had promised to take care of him in the future—dying on Changbai Mountain would only betray his hopes and efforts. Wouldn’t that make her an ungrateful wretch?
“Thank you, Twelfth Master.” She bowed slightly. “Someone like me doesn’t dare to think about the future. I’ll just muddle along, taking each day as it comes. I owe you a debt, and no matter how well I plan, I might never repay it. But I’ll always remember what I owe you. That you sought me out today… I don’t know how to say it, but thank you for still remembering me. Look at this frozen wasteland—I’ve only brought you more trouble.”
She never forgot her place. Though she had panicked earlier, once her mind cleared, she knew exactly how to navigate the situation with courtesy and tact.After months on the road together, Hongce had come to understand her character. He pitied her and wanted to share his thoughts and plans with her, but the words stuck in his throat. She was grieving now—this didn’t seem like the right time. Given her circumstances, no matter how much he insisted he was the Prince of the First Rank, if she was unwilling in her heart, it would only come across as bullying. That would be pointless. He would treat her with all his sincerity; she wasn’t dull-witted and would surely recognize his kindness.
He could only laugh at himself. Back during the family banquet at Changchun Garden, he had already braced for this day—and now it had indeed arrived. He had always assumed he would follow the same path as all the other Imperial Clansmen, never expecting such a serendipitous encounter. The obstacles ahead were almost predictable, but he was prepared. Once he set his mind to something, he would spare no cost. Even if the path was winding, his original intent would remain unchanged. In matters of the heart, he was someone she could rely on. No matter how much she had suffered before, with him by her side, she ought to taste sweetness after bitterness.
He took her hand and said, "I’ll accompany you to search. Once we get to the truth, whether they’re still there or not, you’ll have peace of mind. Try to let go. Living isn’t for others—it’s for yourself. If we can’t find them, you’ll no longer be Wen Lu’s daughter. I’ll arrange a new identity for you. You can marry and have children, and treat everything from the past as a previous life’s experience. Forget what should be forgotten."
Dingyi looked up at him. Under the lamplight, his features were calm, carrying an expression she could read but didn’t dare confirm. Flustered, she quickly averted her gaze, only tightening her grip on his hand. Physical contact between them had never felt inappropriate—it was as natural as spring rain or water flowing to its course. Placing her hand in his palm gave her a sense of security.
He led the way with the lantern, glancing back at her every few steps to ensure she was alright. Each time their eyes met, his heart stirred. The fox-fur cloak framed her delicate, clever face. Now certain she was a woman, he felt as though everything had settled into place. He kept worrying she might have something to say to him, afraid he might miss it, so he asked repeatedly, "Did you call me?"
Dingyi shook her head, growing increasingly shy with each inquiry. In these wild mountains, during the hardest of times, his companionship would surely leave her grateful to tears, even years later.
She cupped his hands in hers. "Are you cold? You gave me your cloak—I’m afraid you’ll catch a chill."
He said he wasn’t. "A man like me won’t freeze. As long as you’re alright, that’s enough."
Unsure how to thank him, she hesitated before saying, "Twelfth Master, the name Mu Xiaoshu was given to me by my wet nurse. She said it’s inconvenient for a girl to move about freely, so I had to be raised as a boy. I’m from the Han Banners, and my original name is Wen Dingyi. My mother bore no children after me—I’m the youngest in the family."
Having reviewed Wen Lu’s case, he was already familiar with the details of his children. Her honesty pleased him. The corner of his lips lifted slightly. "I know. ‘To settle according to the times, each following what suits them’—it’s a fine name, worthy of being recorded."
"Recorded" was a modest way of putting it. What he truly meant was the Imperial Genealogy—that was his ultimate wish. He harbored a little secret, his heart swelling with quiet joy, though she remained unaware.Two equally reserved individuals found subtle hints and attempts sufficient. The absence of overwhelming passion was merely a matter of timing—planting seeds in their hearts now, waiting for them to flourish come spring. Under the lamplight, she no longer appeared stubborn; her red lips slightly pursed, her face relaxed. He asked softly, "Following the sequence, this shouldn’t be your name, right?"
"Indeed," she tilted her head with a bitter smile. "I was my parents’ miscalculation. Had I been a boy, following the virtues of gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and yielding, I’d have been named Wen Rurang. But when they saw a girl, the sequence broke, so they settled on Dingyi—quite a compromise."
He replied indifferently, "An unintended stroke of luck isn’t bad. Being a girl is what preserved the Wen family line. Had you been a son, you wouldn’t have survived till now."
A brood of sons, only to be exiled to barren lands, their lives and deaths beyond their control. Fortunately, a daughter remained, resilient and alive, allowing him to meet her—like the saying goes, heaven won’t starve a blind sparrow. Yet sometimes he doubted himself; his hearing impairment, despite his high status, was still a disability. He feared she might disdain him.
Pausing, he hesitantly asked, "Do you find it exhausting to talk to me every time?"
She looked at him, catching the flickering light in his eyes and something that tugged at her heart. She squeezed his hand and said, "Not at all. If anything, I worry about tiring you . I fear I speak too fast, making it hard for you to follow, and you’re too polite to correct me, leaving you strained. Twelfth Master, if I ever fall short, please tell me—whether in speech or action, if anything displeases you, I’ll adjust. Back when I disguised myself as a man, I mingled solely with men. If anyone were to scrutinize it, it’d be a stain on my reputation as a woman. But you’ve never looked down on me; instead, you’ve helped me through hardships..."
He almost sounded like he was pledging loyalty as he quickly added, "Circumstances forced your hand—it’s no stain. If anyone dares gossip behind your back, I’ll cut them down."
Few things moved a woman more than such words from a man, especially an extraordinary one. With age, one’s heart changes, and meeting the right person stirs emotions—it’s human nature. Even now, she held no grudges over her three lost brothers, accepting the vicissitudes of officialdom as fate. How could she resent him ?
A slow smile spread across her lips. "You’re a noble gentleman, not one for violence. With your words, I... feel my life hasn’t been in vain."
Hongce reflected with some embarrassment—he’d never been so impulsive before. His words might’ve been crude, but he didn’t regret them. As they walked and talked, he had to watch her lips, slowing their pace. Out in the wilderness at this late hour, with his impaired hearing, he feared he couldn’t protect her, so he cut the conversation short. "Let’s hurry. We might arrive by dawn."
The torchlight flickered behind the trees like distant stars, vanishing as they moved farther away.
Another group approached from a side path, with Seventh Lord wrapped in his cape, cursing loudly. "Damn ghost walls! Not even a footprint—did we take the wrong path? Useless lot! Six months’ pay docked for this! A bunch of freeloaders, embarrassing me in front of Prince Chun’s Residence! No wonder they say the wife is better at bearing sons than the concubine —our Prince Xian’s Residence is just a nest of concubines, raising good-for-nothings!"Seventh Lord's voice echoed through the forest, his "ah" carrying far into the distance. Then came his shout: "Shu'er, run if you must, but don't meet any wolves. That little frame of yours wouldn't make a decent meal—the wolves would cry at the sight of you..."
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