Ever since the candid conversation with Seventh Lord, a peculiar situation had arisen—Seventh Lord and his inner circle had begun to encircle and pursue her, adhering to one principle: she could remain there for everyone to gaze at, but no one was allowed to make advances or secretly cozy up to her. What Seventh Lord called "fairness" meant that in an open and just environment, he was allowed to occasionally act spoiled or throw tantrums, but Twelfth Master was forbidden from showing her tender affection or sending covert glances.
Of course, there was no written rule about this. Dingyi had discerned the underlying message from his every move. On several occasions when Twelfth Master came to see her, the two lovers naturally wanted to share intimate words. But just as they were about to speak, they would catch sight of Seventh Lord's gloomy face drifting past from some obscure corner, startling them into silence. If they hesitated and tried again, he would pretend to casually stroll by, loudly singing, "Zhuge Liang waits atop the enemy tower, awaiting your arrival for a heart-to-heart talk," swaying with each step and glancing back—utterly unbearable.
Twelfth Master was furious. Frowning, he said, "Sha Tong acted on his own, so I punished him by making him kneel in the snow for two hours. Had I known earlier, I would never have let you go. Look at us now—even speaking requires watching his expression. It’s suffocating."
Despite his words, they both understood things hadn’t yet reached the point of open hostility. Dingyi smiled and said, "We still have a long road ahead. Don’t dwell on temporary setbacks. And don’t blame Sha Tong—a clear-headed person like him is rare. He acted for your good. Seventh Lord can’t watch me all twenty-four hours. There’ll be free moments, and I can visit you too."
And so, the two of them carried on their secret exchanges right under Seventh Lord’s nose, finding the situation both infuriating and amusing.
Yet Seventh Lord remained displeased. The mere sight of Twelfth Master made his hackles rise, and he couldn’t resist needling him at every opportunity. During shared meals, he would stir trouble over wine. Hongce ignored him, but after eating and drinking his fill, Seventh Lord would still provoke him, sucking his teeth and saying, "Yesterday, I strained my muscles, and neither acupuncture nor cupping helped. Then Xiaoshu said, 'My lord, let me ease your muscles.' The moment her hands touched my shoulders—presto! The pain vanished. Turns out, she’s my miracle cure!"
Twelfth Master’s expression darkened, but he was too well-mannered to stoop to his level. Undeterred, Seventh Lord kept pressing until Twelfth Master casually retorted, "Seventh Brother, why do you always wake up with a stiff neck? Be careful! There was a man named Shi Tao in the Ministry of Works who once missed his footing while dismounting and landed his neck on a two-bench dog—ended up paralyzed. You keep twisting yours, and too many times won’t be good. Shi Tao was in his sixties or seventies, so it didn’t matter much, but you’re in your prime. Take care of yourself—you’ve got a long road ahead."
With that, he left, leaving Seventh Lord fuming. That little brat had cursed him in a roundabout way! To turn against his own brother over a woman—had he no shame?
Thus, the two brothers continued to eye each other with mutual disdain, all the way from Changbai Mountain to Ningguta.
The climate of Ningguta was indeed as the records described—in December, visibility was near zero. Yet beyond the bitter cold, they discovered a dizzying array of local customs: the glint of spears and armor amid swirling snow, the timeless sorrow woven into the sunset over the long river.The reality here was not as isolated as one might imagine. Before arriving, one might assume the exiles wore animal hides and the armored soldiers were barbarians who ate raw meat and drank blood, but that was far from the truth. The days of endless wilderness without a single dwelling were long gone. Ningguta was rich in ginseng and sable fur, and from August onward, it engaged in trade with Hoeryong in Korea, boasting a well-established commercial route. Walking through the streets, one could frequently hear merchants from various regions haggling at the top of their lungs—the bustling atmosphere was no less lively than the capital.
Yet beneath this surface prosperity, turbulent undercurrents swirled, and those sent here on official business were well aware. The court had previously dispatched Lu Yuan from the Ministry of War as the vanguard, but five months had passed since then, and the local officials had surely covered their tracks well. To uncover any clues, marching openly into the military governor’s office would be tantamount to announcing their intentions to the world. They had to split into two groups—one taking the official route, the other conducting covert investigations. Ningguta encouraged the bannermen to farm and trade, but once they prospered, who among them would willingly toil as laborers? With the allocated fields left untilled, the solution was simple: buy people. Government slaves from the Imperial Manors were driven to the human markets, where a strong laborer might cost only a few taels of silver or strings of coins. They worked harder than livestock yet were worth less than half the price of a mule or horse.
These were unwritten rules, of course. The military governor’s explanation for the sharp decline in the number of Aha was that the old, weak, and sick had died—on paper, there were no discrepancies. But this time, they were here to dig to the bottom of it. If ten thousand people were said to have died, how could it be proven without evidence? There was only one crude method: exhume the corpses. The Aha were usually buried in the same place. Even after flesh rotted away, bones remained. A dozen coroners were assigned to examine teeth and bone age—no one would be able to deceive them.
Dingyi followed the group to a desolate plain, gazing at the undulating graves in the distance. Sighing, she murmured, "How many Aha are buried here? Far from their homeland, all dead in this place."
"Each has their own fate," Seventh Lord adjusted his rabbit-fur ear muffs. "If they hadn’t committed crimes, would they have ended up like this? In truth, death might be a release. If sold to the Tatars, they’d be forced to bite bridles with their teeth, dragging sleds across the ice. Men tormenting men—they wouldn’t stop until you were dead."
Her heart chilled at the words. She glanced back at Twelfth Master. He stood on the embankment, wearing a red velvet winter cap embroidered with "Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity," his sable-lined overcoat neatly cuffed with arrow sleeves. The pale sunlight cast his face in a cold, distant detachment. Raising his riding crop, he pointed into the distance and said icily, "Surround this area. Has Lu Yuan established himself here yet? Tomorrow, summon him and gather men to dig through every grave. Cross-check with the records—let’s see exactly how many are missing. I know there’s a human market in Suifenhe. Who’s to say some Aha from the manors haven’t ended up there? We can’t let this slide. The moment we loosen our grip, the truth slips away. Investigate thoroughly. Now that we’re here, even if we have to tear the sky open, we’ll get to the bottom of this."
The subordinates responded with a resounding "Yes, sir!" Seventh Lord sneered at his domineering demeanor, turning his face away in disdain.
Without entering the garrison, they had to find lodging at an ordinary inn. The group wore traveling attire, and since Ningguta was heavily garrisoned, their comings and goings went unnoticed. After enduring the freezing wind and snow on the road, they settled in, seeking hot water and charcoal to warm themselves. Dingyi had developed chilblains from gripping the reins, and the heat made them itch unbearably. After hanging up the birdcage, she slipped outside and found a sheltered corner where the sunlight was strong—perfect for soaking in the warmth. Quietly settling there, she took out the chili peppers she had begged for, intending to rub them on her frostbitten hands.The door beside them opened, and a hand reached out, pulling her inside in one swift motion. She looked up and asked, "You live here?"
He gave a noncommittal hum, took the chili pepper from her hand, pushed open the window, and tossed it outside. "Who taught you that trick? The skin there is thin—if you scratch it with something that harsh, it’ll break and fester later."
She replied lazily, "It itched too much."
He glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, then took her hand and began massaging it patiently. "We’ll be staying in Ningguta for a while this time. No more riding—keep warm, and when you have time, move around to improve circulation. It’ll get better soon."
She let him fuss over her, watching quietly, warmth blooming in her chest. In the past, when her monthly pains came, she had to grit her teeth and endure the agony. But now, even a minor case of chilblains was tended to with care—it felt like her life was complete.
He pulled her down to sit beside him. The south-facing room allowed light to stream through the window lattice, pooling on a patch of the blue brick floor. With childlike delight, she shifted slightly to place her feet in that patch of light, happy even if she couldn’t feel its warmth. Turning to look at him, she softly called his name. Though he couldn’t hear her, he always seemed to sense it—the moment she spoke, he noticed. She said, "Are you going to Suifenhe? I’ve seen the slave markets—a big wooden platform where people are herded like livestock for buyers to pick through. Surrounding it are thugs built like black towers, ready to beat anyone who causes trouble. I won’t feel at ease if you go."
He chuckled. "I’ve seen plenty of that sort of thing—I know what to expect. Besides, imperial princes train in Manchu Wrestling from childhood. I won’t just stand there like a log and take a beating."
The day he had rescued her, he had taken down more than a dozen of Seventh Lord’s guards—his skills were clearly formidable. But women were born worriers. Even if she was useless in a fight, just being there to watch over him would ease her mind.
"Let me go with you," she said, gripping his hand. "Seventh Lord won’t know—just take me along!"
He refused. "Too many eyes around. What if something goes wrong?" He understood her thoughts. They saw each other daily, but Seventh Lord loomed between them like an impassable mountain, forcing them to meet in secret. If they could slip away, even for just a day, and be together without restraint, she’d be content. He gazed at her tenderly—wasn’t that what he wanted too? But he feared putting her in harm’s way. "Be good. I’ll finish my business quickly, and once we’re back in the capital, we can be together every day."
She pursed her lips helplessly. "Can you make it back by tomorrow? The day after is New Year’s Eve—it’s time for the celebrations."
Her words reminded him—the year was ending. He had been traveling for so long he’d lost track of time. In Great Britain, there was a tradition of reunion dinners at year’s end, a good omen for staying together year after year. He did the math: traveling from Ningguta to Suifenhe and back in such a short time would be a rush, and he still had business to attend to. If he left her behind, would Seventh Lord arrange to celebrate the New Year with her? The thought rankled him. Lately, Seventh Master had been nothing but a nuisance, his shadow everywhere. He acted domineering and shameless, and no one could do anything about it. If things came to blows, it would be ugly—yet he clung to that gentleman’s agreement. How could he pick a fight without cause? Better to take her along—at least then Seventh Master wouldn’t get the upper hand. If he left her here, she might be in even greater danger than if she went to Suifenhe.
He exhaled deeply. "We’ll leave at the fifth watch tomorrow. Don’t tell anyone—no need to let Seventh Master catch wind of it and sneak after us again."She was overjoyed and quickly stood up, lowering her voice to say, "Then I'll go back and pack right away. Wait for me."
As she turned to leave, he pulled her back. "Packing might draw attention. It's not a long stay—just two or three days. Bringing silver will be enough." He looked her over and added, "Check if there are any women's clothes there. The market by the river is said to be even bigger than Ningguta's... I want to see you in a dress."
Dingyi blushed slightly. When she glanced at him again, his eyes darted away, likely feeling just as awkward. She grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "I've always dressed like a man. Did you also start doubting yourself like Seventh Lord, wondering if you had a thing for men?"
He considered it seriously before nodding. "Our brothers probably share that foolish streak. Back then, I was also thinking about how to explain this to the Emperor Emeritus and the Noble Consort. When I found out the truth, I was so happy I couldn't sleep all night. It felt like heaven had been kind to me—I could still have descendants after all."
His words were painfully blunt. Though it was a natural sentiment, it still made her uncomfortable. She quickly changed the subject with a laugh. "I still don’t understand where I slipped up. I’ve been blending into the streets for over a decade, living side by side with my shixiong, and he never had a clue."
He coughed lightly. "Your shixiong is oblivious... Remember when Seventh Lord’s bird was poisoned, and we went to the bird market? On the way back, I said I wanted to hear your voice, so you pressed my hand against your neck... A normal man would have an Adam’s apple by that age. A smooth neck means either a woman or a eunuch."
It dawned on her. "Ah, so you were scheming too. Sigh, really... My shixiong is just clueless. After all these years, he still thinks I’m a man."
Hongce looked smug, shrugging nonchalantly. "Fate is decided by heaven. If people had known you were a girl earlier, chances are I wouldn’t have had a shot."
They shared a laugh, and the cold morning suddenly didn’t feel so unbearable. Still, they worried about arousing Seventh Lord’s suspicion if they lingered too long, so after a while, they got up and left. Coincidentally, they ran into Seventh Lord the moment they reached the hallway. Dingyi sighed in relief, thinking, Good thing we left quickly—any later and he’d have come chasing after us. She mustered her energy and greeted him. "Where are you headed, my lord?"
Seventh Lord said, "I was looking for you." He pulled a hairpin from his sleeve—a gold-inlaid jade buyao —and handed it to her for inspection before plucking off her warm hat and fixing it into her bun. After admiring it from all angles, he nodded approvingly. "My tree is naturally lovely. All dressed up, you’re quite the sight! Look at those bright, clear eyes—what woman has such a dignified air?" He studied her again, though the combination of a Guard’s uniform and a buyao was rather mismatched. After the trial, he removed it and placed the pin in her hand. "Keep it safe. Use it when you change into women’s clothes. I’ll find you a wotu to go with it—once this pin’s in place, you’ll look every bit the noble lady."
She refused, pushing it back. "This servant doesn’t care for jewelry. Thank you for your kindness.""No, you must accept it, or else you're looking down on me." Seventh Lord asked her cheerfully, "So, did Twelfth Master give you any jewelry? No, right? I knew it. He'd rather stay up all night than spend money—what a miser! Not only is he stingy, but he also loves to show off. Did you see how he was flaunting himself today? We're both Imperial Envoys, so who gave him the right to give orders alone without consulting me? Let him show off if he wants—digging up dead people's bones, no regard for karma! I'm a kind-hearted man; once someone's buried, they should rest in peace. I don't like disturbing them. As for Twelfth Master, he’s really like the God of Tai Sui—no taboos at all..." After listing all the faults of others, he began to muse happily, "The New Year is coming, and we’ll all be a year older. The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I’ll host a banquet in my quarters, just for you. You must come. When you do, we’ll have a good talk. Do you want to live in the prince’s residence, or would you prefer a separate courtyard? Ah, I’ve been thinking about this for days—I can’t wait until we return to the capital. I have to propose before Twelfth Master gets the chance. Leaving things hanging like this won’t do. You’re my bondservant, after all. A servant marrying her master is only natural. Why don’t we just hold the wedding here in Ningguta? Isn’t that a brilliant idea?" Pleased with himself, he burst into laughter.
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