Two days after Qu Lingjun's departure, the Second Imperial Concubine finally returned from her visit to the sick. At the same time, the campaign against the rebels in Shouchun was officially put on the agenda. Supplies, provisions, weapons, and troops had been prepared months in advance. With the Emperor's order, the well-prepared war machine began operating in an orderly manner as if it had a life of its own.
The Second Prince watched with envy, craning his neck to get involved in the military camp, but the Emperor caught him on a minor mistake and severely reprimanded him. The next day, the Second Imperial Concubine requested leave from the Empress, stating that she and her husband wished to temporarily leave the Capital City to attend their friend Qu Lingjun's wedding. The Empress agreed. Upon hearing this, Ling Buyi remarked that the Second Prince had married well.
Shao Shang immediately guessed, "You mean the Second Imperial Concubine had already heard about Madam Qu's situation but deliberately stayed away from the Capital City?"
"She considers herself Qu Lingjun's close friend. If her friend is accused of murdering her husband, should she intervene or not? If she doesn't, she would appear cold-hearted. If she does, she might not even be sure whether Qu Lingjun committed the crime. To avoid unnecessary suspicion, it's better to stay out of it."
Shao Shang sighed with melancholy. "No one in this palace is simple. The Second Imperial Concubine seemed so straightforward, yet she turns out to be so calculating."
Ling Buyi said, "In terms of cunning, the Crown Princess isn't even fit to carry the Second Imperial Concubine's shoes. Over the years, if not for the Empress and my repeated protection, the Crown Princess would have had many weaknesses exposed by her."
"With the Second Imperial Concubine acting like this, doesn’t Her Majesty reprimand her?"
"Reprimand her for what? She didn’t frame anyone. It was indeed the Crown Princess's subordinates who acted improperly. The Second Imperial Concubine merely investigated discreetly and then exposed it."
Shao Shang sighed, then suddenly remembered something and nervously tugged at Ling Buyi's sleeve. "Then, then—what about the other day when you sneaked out of Panqing Military Camp to go play with me at Mount Tu Gao? The eunuch at the Hot Spring Villa must have reported it to His Majesty! Now the entire court is busy preparing for the Shouchun campaign, and you're one of the generals leading the expedition, yet you actually... What are we going to do?!"
Ling Buyi laughed brightly and pinched the girl's cheek. "You’re only thinking of this now?" After she swatted his hand away, he added, "Early this morning, I was already reprimanded by His Majesty."
Shao Shang exhaled in relief and patted her chest. "If His Majesty reprimanded you, then it won’t be a big deal."
Ling Buyi remained utterly unperturbed. "This campaign isn’t a big deal to begin with."
Indeed. The Shouchun campaign was merely a minor military operation—a nation's overwhelming force crushing a local rebellion, like a thousand-pound hammer smashing a biscuit. Every minister knew the rebel Peng Zhen would be pulverized—and thus, the scheming began.
The veteran generals and ministers who had once fought alongside the Emperor were all remarkably gracious this time, either declining participation or recommending others, showing no desire to compete for merit or power. Instead, they unanimously declared that they were too old and should leave the opportunity for glory to the younger generation.
So who were these younger candidates? The ministers smiled outwardly, but in their hearts, they knew perfectly well—of course, it would be the scions of their own families!Thus, even the famously blunt and tough General Wu stayed holed up at home, unwilling to take command of the entire army. Because he understood—this time the trouble wasn’t the battle itself, but how to control this herd of wild young nobles! Not only did they need to be managed strictly, but they also had to be given opportunities to shine and earn merits while ensuring the battle’s success. At the same time, the limits had to be carefully observed—minor injuries and whining were acceptable, but broken limbs or lost heads were not.
The Emperor was well aware of this situation, but he couldn’t very well reprimand anyone—because he himself was the first to do exactly this.
There was no helping it. His adopted son fought with reckless bravery, utterly disregarding his own safety, charging into any dangerous place if left unattended. The Emperor had been frightened many times before, and the wrinkles on his imperial face had multiplied. He couldn’t bear to throw Ling Buyi into truly bloody and brutal battles, so a minor campaign like Shouchun was perfect.
He figured his old comrades had the same idea. The Emperor couldn’t very well say, "I’m the True Dragon, so I can do this, but you little shrimps can’t," could he? He couldn’t help but miss the shameless, roguish temperament of his ancestor Emperor Gao—why hadn’t such an excellent quality been passed down to his descendants at all?
No matter how reasonable he was, the Emperor was, after all, a founding monarch who had built his empire from scratch. He deeply understood that warfare was not to be taken lightly, and preparations had to be made. Noble youths could join the army, but their numbers couldn’t exceed thirty percent, and they had to be strictly supervised. After layers of deliberation, Cui You—who had originally only been meant to support Ling Buyi—was directly promoted to commander of the entire army.
Once this Imperial Edict was issued, the ministers (especially those with sons or nephews in the army) immediately praised the Emperor’s brilliance and martial prowess, offering all manner of flattery. Cui You, meanwhile, stood to the side, his face ashen and his head spinning—since the Emperor had once entrusted his fifteen-year-old adopted son to him, naturally the ministers were also happy to toss their sons and nephews to this golden-standard "nanny." Everyone’s thoughts were exactly the same.
Among the high-ranking officials, Cui You had one of the best reputations.
The ministers liked him because he neither sought power nor coveted influence, often laughing off disputes.
The Emperor liked him too, often asking with a smile what reward he wanted for his merits. Cui You would always respond with a meaningful, bright-eyed gaze that sent shivers down the Emperor’s spine—the Emperor could guess with his toes what Cui You wanted. It was always something like arranging a marriage for him and Huo Junhua once she recovered from her illness.
Though Cui You wasn’t particularly handsome, his old comrades of decades all knew he was resourceful and prudent. If not for his decades-long obsession with Huo Junhua, families eager to arrange a second marriage for him would have worn out the threshold of the Cui household. Thus, even the hesitant Ban family brought out their sole heir, Xiao Hou Ban, and the morally upright Yuhou shyly slipped in three of his sons… and so on.
As the departure date drew closer, everyone grew busier—Shao Shang was no exception.
During these days, she worked through the night to make Ling Buyi a set of undergarments and a pair of thick woolen socks. She even deliberately took the final stitches to the Everlasting Autumn Palace, sealing the seams in front of the Royal Uncle. Seeing Shao Shang’s fingers pricked full of holes like a starry sky, even though the finished product wasn’t particularly impressive, the Emperor snorted twice through his nose to show he was at least somewhat satisfied.Ling Buyi pulled Shao Shang out with a grim face, repeatedly examining her small hands before saying unhappily, "If it ends up like this, you might as well not have done it at all."
Shao Shang giggled and poked his cheek. "You’re so ungrateful! Who did I hurt my fingers for?"
"Obviously, to avoid being scolded by Your Majesty," Ling Buyi swiftly exposed her.
Blushing slightly, Shao Shang admitted sheepishly, "You’re right... But Mother Fu says I should still learn a bit of needlework—to make intimate garments for my future husband and children."
"Last time your sleeve tore, I was the one who mended it. When have I ever relied on your needlework?"
Shao Shang sighed helplessly. "Do you have to bring that up? When Mother Fu asked me who sewed my sleeve that day, I told her it was you. She scolded me for two full hours—two hours! She said if word got out, it would be an unprecedented scandal, and no woman from the Cheng family would ever dare show her face outside again!"
Ling Buyi burst into laughter. Watching the girl’s small, upturned nose redden slightly in the cold, he couldn’t resist leaning down to give it a playful nip.
Shao Shang covered her nose, her face burning, and stumbled back several steps, pointing a trembling finger at him. "Y-you—you...!"
Ling Buyi closed the distance, his tall frame leaning toward her like a jade mountain tilting. He whispered by her ear, "Don’t be angry. I’ll let you bite me back."
Her gaze drifted to his shifting Adam’s apple and his noble, high-bridged nose. For some reason, her blush deepened.
On the final day before departure, Ling Yi quietly visited Ling Buyi’s residence, where Shao Shang happened to be present. Seeing her, he smiled warmly. "His Majesty dislikes me coming to see Zisheng. Don’t mention this to anyone."
Shao Shang bowed respectfully but remained silent.
Ling Yi presented his son with a precious set of Gilded Soft Armor, repeatedly urging, "You must return unharmed—your safety matters more than anything. Don’t recklessly charge into danger on impulse. Don’t... don’t end up like your uncle... Staying alive is what’s most important. Only then can you accomplish what you desire!"
Ling Buyi listened with his head lowered, murmuring assent. Father and son stood in silence until, after a long pause, Ling Buyi finally said, "Once I return this time, I’ll visit the Chengyang Marquis Estate. I might miss New Year’s Day, but perhaps by the Lantern Festival..."
Overjoyed, Ling Yi repeatedly voiced his approval before turning to Shao Shang. "You must come too!" He hesitated briefly. "Chunyu Shi won’t be present. If anyone treats you disrespectfully, speak your mind—don’t hold back!"
As Ling Yi prepared to leave, Ouyang Fuzi suddenly arrived with urgent dispatches. Shao Shang rose to escort Ling Yi out on Ling Buyi’s behalf. In the front courtyard, Ling Yi sighed unexpectedly. "Zisheng is stubborn. Advise him well—don’t let him disregard everything just because others praise him as a peerless hero. You never met his uncle, but he was truly a godlike figure. Yet in the end, dust returned to dust, ashes to ashes—vanished without a trace."
Shao Shang abruptly halted. "Everyone returns to dust and ashes! Everyone vanishes without a trace! But the deeds they’ve done won’t vanish, nor will the legacy they leave behind!"
Ling Yi looked startled, then chuckled. "Then... is this what you wish for Zisheng as well?"
Shao Shang fell silent.Watching Ling Yi depart, she slowly strolled to the rear garden and stood blankly beneath an old plum tree. After a long while, Ling Buyi came looking for her and asked with a smile what was wrong. Shao Shang gazed at his handsome face for a very long time before sighing, "Why don't you resign from your post? I'll take care of you."
Ling Buyi was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Don't listen to my father. Life and death are fated, and I'm not done living yet."
Shao Shang nodded and sighed sincerely, "Right, life and death are fated—so I'll definitely remarry."
Ling Buyi's face darkened. "...Rest assured, I'll definitely come back alive."
On the day the army set out, Old Man Cheng wore the displeased expression of someone owed an unpaid debt. This time, the Emperor had assigned him to the area south of central Yangzhou, where he would join General Han in guarding several key routes south of Shouchun to prevent fleeing rebels.
Days earlier, he had seen his daughter laboring over needlework, nearly causing a bloody incident despite A Zhu's watchful eyes. At first, Cheng Shi thought the garments were for him, but after his wife gently reminded him their daughter was already betrothed, he resigned himself to the thought that even if the clothes were for Ling Buyi, at least the woolen socks might be his. To his dismay, there was nothing for him at all.
Even as departure loomed, his daughter, standing beside the Empress, kept stealing glances at Ling Buyi below the command platform without sparing her father a single look. Old Man Cheng couldn't help but shed bitter tears.
The army moved slowly, passing beneath the command platform and through the city gates. At high noon, Ling Buyi, astride a magnificent horse at the forefront, rode with his black armor bathed in the warm golden winter sunlight, his vigorous frame exuding the bloody aura of the battlefield.
Shao Shang watched him intently. Sensing her gaze, Ling Buyi suddenly turned his horse around and galloped back, swiftly arriving at the elevated platform where the Empress's retinue stood beside the command platform. Before Shao Shang could react, Ling Buyi extended his arm and, in full view of everyone, lightly tossed a small object into the air. It traced a smooth arc before landing squarely in Shao Shang's arms.
Even the Emperor, who was leaving the command platform, witnessed this. His expression stern, he fought the urge to both laugh and scold. Yuan Shen, standing behind him, struggled not to roll his eyes, though others lacked such restraint. Cheers erupted around them as the soldiers passing by in the latter half of the procession burst into laughter—"Who knew the young General Ling had it in him?" "Next March, no need to rush." "Such a beauty, envy us all..."
Shao Shang's face burned crimson, while the Empress shook her head with an amused smile. Even the eunuchs and palace maids nearby chuckled softly. Clutching the small velvet pouch, Shao Shang ignored her embarrassment and strained to look up—beneath the Black Steel Qilin Helmet, only the lower half of the young man's pale face was visible, seemingly smiling faintly at her before he spurred his horse and galloped away.
Amid the lingering teasing, Shao Shang lowered her head, feigning shyness as she hastily unwrapped the velvet pouch. Inside was a small golden pendant the size of her palm—a solemn, fierce little tiger crouched on a square base, its body bound with a crimson silk cord.
"...What is this?" she asked, puzzled.
The Empress smiled. "That is Zisheng's Personal Seal. Well, it seems he's entrusting you with his fortune."At this, Shao Shang's neck flushed crimson. Under the teasing and amused gazes of the crowd, she gazed into the distance, as if even the grand city gate through which he had departed was now radiant, glowing with a heart-stirring brilliance.
...
After the army set off on their campaign, the Capital City returned to tranquility. With idle days and little to occupy her, Shao Shang visited the Apricot Blossom Secluded Residence the very next day to see Madam Huo, only to encounter the Cui brothers once again.
Though Cui Hou was a man of few words, his two sons seemed to have undergone a genetic mutation, employing every trick in the book to amuse Huo Junhua. One moment they were vividly acting out the comical scene of a country wife beating her husband, the next they were climbing a short tree to demonstrate their family's secret technique, the 'Returning Swallow Whirl'—watching Cui Da nimbly spin and leap between the branches, Shao Shang cheered loudly.
A'ao laughed in surprise and remarked casually, "Cui Hou is truly bold. If it were our Female lord, the heavens and earth would have been overturned. When the young master was a child, forget climbing trees, she wouldn’t even let him go to high places."
Shao Shang felt a pang of sorrow, thinking that Ling Buyi, too, must have had a happy childhood once.
After Cui Da finished showing off, Cui Er eagerly sought praise from the pretty elder sister: "Impressive, right? That was something our Grandfather learned from a Wandering swordsman for two thousand coins!"
Shao Shang: ...
When Huo Junhua retired for her afternoon nap, Cui Da wiped his sweat and offered Shao Shang a harebrained idea: "Elder Sister Shao Shang, listen to this plan of mine... Ahem, alright, alright, it was our idea together. Stop jabbing me, get off!"
Pushing his younger brother away forcefully, Cui Da continued, "Elder Sister Shao Shang, we brothers have an idea for you. Look, our father and Madam Huo aren’t getting any younger—what a waste to let things drag on like this. We’ve thought it over: if Madam Huo recovers, that’s the best outcome. If not, it doesn’t matter. Let’s just pretend she’s still the young Lady Huo, have Father court her properly, and with our help, who knows? Sincerity might move even metal and stone—maybe ‘Lady Huo’ will agree to marry the neighbor’s ‘Ape’!"
Shao Shang found the idea unexpectedly reasonable: "I’d never considered that. It... doesn’t seem impossible. But what about you two? Where would the neighbor’s Ape get sons from?!"
Cui Da blurted out, "No problem, Younger Brother and I can just play the nephews!"
Shao Shang: Uh...
Cui Er was especially delighted: "If Father isn’t Father anymore, maybe he can’t force us to study!"
Cui Da rolled his eyes at his brother: "Stop dreaming. An Uncle can still discipline nephews!"
Watching this pair of clever, endearing rascals, Shao Shang nearly laughed herself sore. After a moment, she couldn’t help but ask why they didn’t mind their father being so attentive to another woman—weren’t they truly afraid of gaining a stepmother?
Cui Da was momentarily taken aback, then laughed without a care, adopting an entirely grown-up demeanor.
He said, "Actually, we’ve had scoundrels ask us that for years... They meant no good. Elder Sister Shao Shang, forgive the unfilial words, but Younger Brother and I barely remember our Mother’s face. For as long as we’ve understood anything, it’s just been the three of us—father and sons—depending on each other.""When I fell and hurt my arm, Father would rather give up his own merits to take me to see a miracle-working doctor to set the bone. When my younger brother was weak and young, burning with fever and delirious, Father held him day and night without rest. Our family had Mother Fu and servants, but Father insisted on keeping us by his side, caring for us personally. Among noble families, how many fathers would go to such lengths? Most would consider remembering their children's birthdays as good enough."
"While Mother was alive, Father never wronged her. After her passing, we brothers should prioritize Father's wishes."
Shao Shang lowered her head, a few teardrops dampening her dress, her heart bathed in warm sunlight.
"And also..." The petite Cui Er eagerly chimed in, his face alight with excitement, "If Father and Jun Hua... I mean, Madam Huo... if they really got together, wouldn't that make Zisheng our real brother?!"
Cui Da slapped his thigh: "Exactly! Once Zisheng becomes our real brother... heh, those scoundrels will be green with envy! They'll have to bow to me as their leader and offer drinks respectfully!"
Shao Shang burst into laughter through her tears.
After returning to the palace, Shao Shang recounted the Cui brothers' words to the Emperor and Empress. The Empress was deeply moved: "Cui Hou and his two sons are truly sincere and genuine people. Having such family is a blessing beyond compare."
The Emperor gazed out the window, lost in thought. After a long while, he murmured, "...That year when A Yuan was stuck on the cliff face and couldn't get down, we had to lower ropes to rescue him. On the way back, A Yuan clung to Huo Chong's back, crying so hard he hiccuped—it all feels like yesterday. Yet decades have passed in the blink of an eye, with everything changed. A Yuan has become an excellent father."
After the Emperor left, the Empress sat quietly for a long time, melancholy. She said to Shao Shang, "I met General Huo Chong several times. He and Madam Huo actually looked quite alike—handsome, brave, gentle yet dignified. That year when he came to bid farewell to His Majesty, I remember every word he said."
"He said, 'The world now is like a sea of blood, with all people suffering. Your Majesty must charge forward without hesitation. One day, the skies will clear, and peace will reign across the land. I will hold that city for Your Majesty. As long as I live, Your Majesty will never face enemies on both fronts.'"
"...And then, he never returned."
Author's Note:
Rest assured, there won't be any plot where Ling Buyi dies in battle or fakes his death—such tropes have been done many times by Wang Baochuan and Yang Silang, and I've written similar scenarios before. To avoid misunderstandings, I'm spoiling this in advance even though I usually dislike spoilers.
If new chapters don't load, try manually changing the chapter number.
Every time I start writing new developments, I hesitate, worrying about poor setup. Would you agree if I finished this entire arc before posting? Well, I know—you wouldn't agree.
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