It felt like dying and coming back to life, yet even in retrospect, the lingering thrill still made his heart tremble. In his twenty-four years, he had never experienced such overwhelming joy that could shake one's very soul. His chest spasmed, every breath tugging at his sinews. Because he knew it was her—a satisfaction rooted in certainty—he no longer had to worry about anyone interfering. If Seventh Master came babbling again, he’d loudly declare that Dingyi was his and tell him to get lost.
Like a child clutching a treasure, he couldn’t bear to let go for even a moment. Holding her waist, their noses touching, he whispered softly, "Asleep?"
She kept her eyes shut, refusing to speak, only letting out a faint hum after a long pause. He studied her closely—her face slightly pale, but her lips a bold, defiant red. He brushed her cheek with his thumb. "What’s wrong? Does it still hurt?"
Embarrassed, she shrank down, burrowing deeper under the covers. He didn’t press her, instead chuckling in delight, murmuring, "I’m so happy… Once we return to the capital, we’ll start planning the wedding. I won’t bother with anything else—let the Censorate and the Grand Council handle their own affairs. I’ll settle this most important matter of my life first, and whatever comes after can wait." He reached down to pull her up, tucking her into his arms and shaking her gently. "Princess Consort, when we get back, take a look around the house and tell Guan Zhaojing what needs adding. The palace will send gifts—bedding and furnishings are all ready, so no need to worry. Think about where you’d like to leave from. The Wen Family Compound in Shanlao Alley is now under the Minister of Rites. I’ll ask Fourth Brother—Kangtai is his bondservant, so he can put in a word. We’ll take over that estate, leave you something to remember, alright?"
He was thinking so far ahead that Dingyi couldn’t answer him—anything she said would sound perfunctory. He was devoted to her wholeheartedly, yet at this moment, she was plotting how to leave. She truly didn’t deserve him.
Truthfully, there wasn’t much to explain. She hadn’t left much of a mark to begin with—coming and going would hardly matter. It was just that she couldn’t bear to leave him, imagining him lonely and abandoned. Playing with his heart like this meant he wouldn’t be happy for a long time. She had nothing to repay him with, so she gave herself to him—a conclusion to their half-year of affection, and for her, a perfect fulfillment. As for the future, she hadn’t thought about it. Maybe she’d never marry. One unforgettable love in a lifetime was enough—no one could ever replace him.
She traced his forearm languidly, half-lidded eyes exuding a drowsy allure. "I’m sleepy. Do you ever stop talking? How am I supposed to rest?"
He quickly relented. "Alright, we’ll talk later after you wake."
Her bare body was smooth as satin under the covers, slowly winding around him until his breath grew ragged. Youth meant boundless energy, and his rapid panting echoed loudly in her ears. She stroked his broad shoulders as he ignited sparks across her skin, flames trailing downward. Tipping her head back, she gasped his name, half in pain, half in relief. At least in this moment, she could bring him joy. That was enough.
The sun climbed higher, nearing noon. It was the first day of the new year, and occasional firecrackers still crackled in the distance. Sha Tong stood with his hands tucked in his sleeves at the corridor’s bend, waiting to report. His legs grew weak from standing too long, so he turned to sit on a stone stool. The moment he settled, a figure draped in a crane-feather cloak appeared on the veranda—as if materializing out of thin air—moving swiftly before vanishing into the side passage with a turn of the foot.He was puzzled and about to chase after her when someone called out from behind, "Lord Lu has sent this humble officer to report. Please inform Prince Chun that all one hundred Aha in the barracks have been captured. Soluntu was apprehended alive on a prostitute’s embroidered bed in the brothel, but Yue Kundu escaped. When we went to his residence to arrest him, it was already empty. Should we continue the investigation or submit a memorial to the court for a wanted notice? Please await the Prince’s instructions."
Sha Tong asked him to wait and, bowing slightly, pushed open the door to enter the room. It was quiet inside, with diamond-shaped patches of light cast on the blue bricks by the window. Using the light, he approached and knelt by the footrest, gently shaking the Twelfth Master as he whispered, "Master, wake up. There’s news from Lu Yuan."
Dazed between sleep and wakefulness, he recognized the figure by the bed and grew furious, hastily reaching out to block the view—only to grasp at empty air. Startled, he turned to look, but the bedding lay perfectly smooth, as if no one had ever been there. His mind went blank, unable to distinguish reality from dream, and his expression abruptly darkened as he asked Sha Tong, "Where is she? Where did she go?"
Sha Tong was utterly confused. "Master, what’s wrong? Are you referring to Miss Wen? She’s still missing and hasn’t been found yet. Lu Yuan’s men just reported that the Aha and Soluntu have been captured, but Yue Kundu slipped away. They’re still searching everywhere. Master, given the circumstances, Miss Wen’s disappearance must be closely tied to that Yue fellow. You should be wary—he might use her as a bargaining chip to save himself..."
Hongce sat there, unable to snap out of it. Was it another dream? But it had felt so vivid—it couldn’t have been! He ignored everything else and flung the quilt aside. A dark, dried bloodstain marred the bedsheet. The sight struck him like lightning, leaving him trembling as he braced himself in panic.
Sha Tong was dumbfounded by his master’s state. "My lord, cover yourself—you’ll catch cold..." Following his gaze, he too froze in shock. What was this? Frantically, he checked the Twelfth Master’s body, but he was unharmed—not a scratch. So where had the blood come from? Then he recalled his master lying there without a stitch of clothing. Had some demon harmed him, or had Xiaoshu truly been here?
Only Hongce knew—her earlier words had carried hidden meaning. She had come to say goodbye, perhaps never to return. What had happened? His heart felt as though it had been crushed beneath countless wheels, shattered between gain and loss. If she had to leave, why leave him with such memories? How was he supposed to live the next few decades like this?
He grabbed his clothes, fumbling with the buttons, his fingers clumsy as they missed the loops again and again. Agitated beyond measure, he felt as though he were burning on a pyre. Overcome with bitterness, tears welled up. So his feelings meant so little to her? Why hadn’t she confided in him when she faced trouble? She had already entrusted herself to him—what else was there to hide?
Staggering out of bed, his legs nearly gave way, but Sha Tong caught him in time. He paid no heed to the reassurances, pointing unsteadily toward the door. "Arrest the innkeeper of Ke Sui Yun Lai! This inn has secret passages—make him confess the truth, or I’ll have him sliced to death immediately! Dispatch more troops to capture Yue Kundu. There’ll be a heavy reward for his capture, but if he escapes, the entire army will be punished—no leniency!"
Sha Tong acknowledged the order and dashed out. Still struggling with his clothes, Hongce grew more frustrated, his entire being aflame with anguish. The pain was unbearable, and tears spilled over. So this was how little his love meant to her. Why hadn’t she told him about her troubles? After giving herself to him, what reason was left to hide?His mind was tangled with countless thoughts, unable to sort out the beginning or the end. After a moment of confusion, when he calmed down, he vaguely sensed something was wrong. What possible hardship in this world could force her to leave without a word? He drew a sharp breath—could it be that the Wen Brothers were still alive? Torn between familial love and romantic love, had she given her body to him before silently slipping away? If that were truly the case, he might feel resentment and sorrow, but what about her? She must be suffering a hundred times more than him.
The days in Ningguta afterward were already blurred in his memory, spent in an endless search. In the end, he never found her, but one thing was certain: the border defenses were impenetrable—not even a fly could slip through. She must still be within the territory of Great Britain. He dispatched a team specifically to investigate Yue Kundu’s background. After all, walls have ears, and they eventually uncovered that Yue Kundu was none other than Wen Rugong. Of the three brothers, only he remained alive. Consumed by hatred for the imperial court and the Yuwen family, he had sought out his sister and taken her away, effortlessly shattering half of his soul.
The case of the Imperial Manor’s slave trafficking, once dug into through Soluntu, was swiftly resolved without much effort. Deputy Commander Daoqin, guilty of corruption and abuse of power, was stripped of his rank and sent to the capital to await trial. Originally scheduled to depart in early March, he delayed his return, fearing that leaving would mean missing her—though she might have long since vanished from this place. Seventh Master wanted to issue a warrant for her arrest, but he adamantly refused. Hongtao only knew he wanted his Shu'er back, unaware of the storm that would erupt if the Wen family resurfaced under such circumstances. By then, it wouldn’t just be the imperial forces searching for them—others might join the hunt. He couldn’t let her fall into danger.
There were times when the burden felt unbearable. Day after day of hope, day after day of disappointment—she had vanished like a drop of dew, evaporating without a trace. What was never obtained could never be lost, yet she had taught him how to love someone, only to disappear herself. To him, this wound was unprecedented, far deeper than the pain of his exile to Khalkha as a child.
He had originally intended to stay in Ningguta, but as the Imperial Envoy, he had duties to fulfill. No matter how much his heart ached, his public obligations came first. Only by concluding the case could he honor the trust placed in him by the court and the Emperor.
The journey back was smooth, and the further south they traveled, the milder the climate became. It was the season of spring blossoms, and even when they couldn’t reach an inn, camping by the lakeside wasn’t unbearable.
Seventh Master had lost his Bird Keeper, and now a hwamei and a red bird became his objects of longing. He tended to them himself, often sighing deeply as he spoke to them, “How is it that you two survived such bitter cold and made it back? But your sister—she’s gone, flown away…”
Hongce couldn’t bear to listen. His heart sank further, and he turned away, walking into the distance.
He had always held a premonition—as long as she was alive, she would return someday. Just wait a little longer. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after… Now, he had only one thought: to clear Wen Lu’s name as quickly as possible. Wen Rujian distrusted the imperial court, so he would prove him wrong. If he performed well—better and better—then Dingyi would come back to him.Seventh Master's attitude had changed at some point. Seeing him looking miserable, he scolded, "Shame on you for being a Prince, even outranking me! Can't you show some backbone? Look at you, turned into such a weakling—it's embarrassing just to watch! A real man never worries about lacking a wife. Once we're back in the capital, we'll marry both primary and secondary wives in one go, filling the house to the brim. Then, you won't remember a thing!" He also berated Xiaoshu, "That ungrateful wretch! Two Princes, brothers, both devoted to her, offering her the moon if she asked for the stars. And still, she wasn't satisfied—just left without a word. Must have a better suitor waiting outside, huh?"
He frowned and cut him off, "Don't speak of her like that. She had her reasons."
Seventh Master glared, finally summing it up after a long pause, "Foolish little brother, not only did the explosion in Khalkha deafen you, it must've blown away your wits too." Truthfully, he wasn't feeling well either—most of those harsh words were directed at himself. Hands behind his back, he slowly wandered to a secluded spot, sitting there all night where no one could find him.
Another four or five months passed before they reached Beijing on the day of Cold Dew. The scorching heat of July had faded, and the ninth month brought the distribution of winter clothes. At the fifth watch, he checked in at the Court Office, the stone-blue court robe chilling against his skin. Sitting by the window, he idly toyed with his court beads as a corner of the window frame gradually turned red, leaving him momentarily dazed. Court officials, noticing his return, came forward to pay respects. He stood and returned their greetings with a bow, maintaining his usual polite yet distant demeanor.
No sooner had he sat down than another figure entered, all smiles, respectfully dropping to one knee and grinning as he called out, "Greetings, Twelfth Uncle."
He smiled faintly, "Is the Sixth Prince well?"
The Sixth Prince was the Empress's darling, now thirteen. Though he had a formal title, everyone had grown accustomed to calling him Tiger Prince. At this awkward age, neither child nor adult, he should have been strictly disciplined according to the Imperial Study's rules. But favored by the Emperor, he was far more spirited than his elder brothers.
The boy sidled up shamelessly, "Thank you for your concern, Twelfth Uncle. I'm doing well, though I've had some troubles lately and wanted a chance to talk with you. You've been away from the capital for over a year. It's a pity my father wouldn't let me go—I should've been learning official duties under you."
Hongce looked at him fondly, "You're not ready—too young. That's a harsh, bitter land. Going would only mean suffering."
"My father went to northern Shaanxi at twelve, living in caves. You went to Khalkha at twelve. The older generation endured hardships—why can't I?"
The Sixth Prince was a fearless young calf, brimming with energy, unable to grasp his father's deep paternal love. Hongce chuckled, "Circumstances were different back then. If you want to learn official duties, take it slow. Start in the south, progress from easy to hard—it's less taxing." Changing the subject, he added, "The north is no good, nothing fun there. I brought each of you brothers a bone bow. I'll have them sent to you later."The Sixth Prince hummed in acknowledgment, then lowered his voice to avoid being overheard, "Twelfth Uncle, my father has granted me a noble title, and I'm not even fifteen yet. My mother thinks I'm too unruly and wants to kick me out of the palace to establish my own household. That’s fine, but once I’m on my own, I’ll have to take a Princess Consort—they say it’s to keep me in line. I don’t want that. What if I meet the woman I truly love later? Did you see? This year’s selection of palace ladies kept twenty in the palace. Not just mine, but even your and Thirteenth Uncle’s future Princess Consorts are among those assigned. I asked Thirteenth Uncle, but he played dumb, saying whoever wants to marry can go ahead—I don’t have the guts for that. You’re of the same generation as my father, so maybe there’s room for negotiation. If none of you agree, I’ll just ride the wind and follow suit."
He was somewhat surprised, "Where did you hear this?"
The Sixth Prince replied, "The whole palace knows—don’t ask where I heard it. The point is, it’s happening. You’re all of age, so an arranged marriage isn’t a big deal, but I’m only thirteen. What’s the point of bringing her in just for show? My mother keeps stirring up trouble, and somehow my father still listens to her… Twelfth Uncle, what’s your plan? Are you going along with it or resisting? Give me a straight answer."
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