Love Like the Galaxy

Shaogong was powerless to resist his younger sister's decision, so the group quickly left the main road before it was completely dark and while no one was around. Leading their horses and carrying their carts, they trudged across the rugged, uneven terrain and found a hidden spot to set up camp before nightfall. That night, they dared not light a fire and had to make do with spring water and dry rations. Fortunately, the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, and even without a bonfire, the chill was bearable—a woolen blanket was enough to get through the night.

Shao Shang then ordered the guards and household troops to take turns standing watch and instructed the martial maids to burn incense to repel mosquitoes, insects, and rodents until dawn. Watching his sister calmly issue these commands in the darkness, Shaogong suddenly asked, "Did Huo Bu Yi teach you all this?"—Madam Xiao certainly hadn’t, and Old Man Cheng hadn’t had the time, so that left only him.

Shao Shang stiffened slightly but didn’t turn around. "...Couldn’t I have learned it from books myself?"

The night wind whistled softly across the open plains, cold and silent. Apart from the guards on duty, everyone else had settled down for the night. Shao Shang, wide awake, sat alone outside the tent with her knees drawn to her chest. The sky was veiled in a hazy mist, obscuring the stars and moon, and the deep chill of the night crept silently around her—suddenly, she thought of him .

During his military campaigns, in the quiet of the night, had he ever sat outside his tent like this, gazing up at the sky?

The freezing nights of the northern deserts turned water to ice. How had he endured them? Had he brought enough warm clothing? When he left in such a hurry, she wondered if he had taken the gloves and knee pads she’d made for him. Most likely not—otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten frostbite on the back of his hands...

Shao Shang didn’t sleep a wink that night. As soon as the first hint of pale blue appeared on the horizon, she sent two light cavalrymen, both former scouts, to gather information. At the same time, she had the campfires lit to prepare a hot meal for everyone. By the time the food was ready and the soup steaming, Shaogong emerged from his tent, stretching lazily, only to find his sister too absorbed in studying a map to eat properly.

Soon, the two cavalrymen returned, and Shao Shang eagerly asked for their report.

The younger of the two was still catching his breath, while the older one answered solemnly, "Reporting to the Young Lady, that gorge is indeed suspicious. We first went to a tavern to inquire, and the old proprietor said there had been no merchants heading south yesterday. But after we left, a group of families claiming to be visiting relatives in the south arrived. We immediately rode after them. For the first few miles of the gorge, there were still wheel tracks, hoofprints, and footprints, but halfway through, all traces vanished."

The younger knight, now steadier, added, "The old tavern keeper clearly said that family had over twenty people, including children, and four or five carts, and they passed through the gorge at dusk. How could they just disappear halfway? So we went back to search and found faint traces of blood in one section of the gorge, covered with yellow sand. We pressed further and noticed freshly dug earth at the foot of the mountain. When we dug it up—Young Lady, we found... bodies!"

Shaogong nearly dropped his bowl of porridge. "Such a thing really happened?!"

"Could it have been for robbery?" Shao Shang asked.

The older knight replied, "It doesn’t seem so, my lady. Though we only glimpsed briefly, we saw silver bracelets still on some of the women’s wrists, and... a gold anklet on an infant in swaddling clothes." His voice grew heavy as he spoke the last words.Shao Shang's expression turned cold. Shaogong, trembling as he held his chopsticks, pressed on, "Could it be revenge?"

"Unlikely. All the heads were still intact," the young knight replied.

Shao Shang nodded—standard procedure for revenge in these times usually involved severing heads to honor someone or something. He Zhaojun had done exactly that back then. If they had the time to bury the bodies and cover their tracks, surely they would have had time to take the heads.

"If it's not for wealth or revenge, then they must have some other scheme," she said coldly.

Shaogong set down his bowl and chopsticks, urgency in his voice. "Niao Niao, it seems there really is a group of outlaws outside, though we don’t know who they’re after. We should hurry back to Madam Qu’s place."

Shao Shang pondered for a moment before asking the two knights, "In your estimation, how many are in this group?"

Shaogong’s heart skipped a beat—his infallible intuition told him his little sister was about to stir up trouble again.

Estimating enemy numbers was a scout’s specialty. The older knight replied, "Judging by the covered-up signs of struggle, there are likely around two hundred. At most, four or five hundred." Typically, a third of the force would be held in reserve, or at most half.

Shao Shang agreed. "Right. I’d say no more than five or six hundred. Any more than that would be impossible. The counties under the Governor of Liangzhou wouldn’t be so negligent as to let nearly a thousand bandits slip through unnoticed." Especially in these tense times—the magistrates were probably doubling down on controlling weapons and armed groups to avoid incidents in their jurisdictions.

Shaogong listened in bewilderment, watching helplessly as his sister summoned the four guard captains and two other Cheng Residence attendants with spy backgrounds into the tent, giving them detailed instructions.

"...I just hope this plan isn’t too reckless," she murmured, pressing her hands against the map with a heavy sigh.

One of the captains clasped his fists. "Young Lady, you needn’t worry. Those who slaughter innocent civilians deserve death. Even without your orders, we brothers would step in if we saw such a thing!"

The others echoed his sentiment before departing to carry out their tasks.

Once everyone had left, Shaogong sprang to his feet and growled, "What exactly are you planning?!"

Shao Shang didn’t look up from the map. "I’m going to deliver heaven’s justice."

"Stop fooling around!"

She finally met her brother’s gaze. "I’ve arranged for people to pretend they’re going to that crossroads tavern to buy supplies and spread the word—that we’ve learned about last night’s ambush in the gorge. Fortunately, I wasn’t feeling well yesterday afternoon and camped in the nearby wilderness, which saved us. Now, out of fear, we’ve decided to turn back and seek refuge with the nearest magistrate in Anguo County. On the way back, aside from that valley with lush flowers and grass we passed earlier, there’s nowhere else to rest. Since I’m unwell, we’ll be moving slowly and have to stock up on supplies."

"You’re trying to lure them out? Are you insane? These people are plotting something sinister—we should be running from them, not charging toward them! If Father and Mother hear about this audacity of yours, they’ll tan your hide!" Shaogong’s temples throbbed. "You’re falling back into your old habits! Hesitant when you should be bold, reckless when you should be cautious—fighting, burning bridges, doing as you please. I don’t know what kind of karma you’ve brought from your past lives!"

After his outburst, he softened his tone. "Why must you do this? Maybe they’re not even after you."Shao Shang's gaze was calm. "If they weren't coming for me, they wouldn't react to the rumors I spread. But if they truly are targeting me... hmph, once I return to the governor's seat or even Madam Qu's residence, they wouldn't dare pursue me. So they must intercept me before I can return."

"Isn't that perfect! Once we're back, we can take our time capturing those scoundrels!"

"If we wait until we return, they won't be able to catch me—but I also won't be able to catch them. I still don't know who these people are—how can I capture them?!" Shao Shang's voice was sharp as steel. "Those innocent people died because of me. Their deaths cannot be in vain!"

Shaogong fell silent.

Shao Shang retrieved a small wooden box from her luggage and presented it to Shaogong with both hands. "Inside is the official dispatch Mother gave me before departure, as well as the Wan family seal gifted to me by Sister Qiqi. Third Brother, please take a few guards and ride swiftly to Anguo Commandery's seat—the governor there is Uncle Wan's longtime friend. He's visited our home for banquets and is a bold, straightforward man. If you ask him to send troops for support, he'll surely agree."

Seeing her brother's clear disapproval, she smiled. "With the current unstable situation, if ordinary guards were sent to request aid, the commandery governor might hesitate, fearing a diversionary tactic. That's why you must go personally. From here to the commandery seat, even at full gallop, it will take three hours. For the governor to mobilize troops and reach the valley will require at least two more hours."

"Third Brother knows my temperament—stubborn and impossible since childhood. My mind is made up now; no words from you will change it. It's better for you to hurry and bring reinforcements. Perhaps you can arrive before I confront our enemies."

Shaogong gazed at the delicate face so similar to his own. After a long pause, a sense of helplessness welled up in his heart. With a deep sigh, he said, "You must wait for me to return!"

Watching the four fast horses kick up dust as Cheng Shao Gong and three guards galloped away, Shao Shang immediately sprang into action.

First, she sent a group to excavate the bodies in the gorge. Meanwhile, the baggage train and non-combatant maids and servants were left behind. The rest, armed with weapons and items Shao Shang had prepared in advance, traveled light and fast. Along the way, they purchased straw and wooden planks from local farmers. By midday, the group finally reached the lush, flower-filled valley.

Though called a valley, it was flanked only by gentle slopes to the east and west, with roads wide enough for three or four carriages side by side running north and south. Thin streams trickled down the surrounding cliffs, flowing through shallow, man-made ditches into the farmland beyond.

Shao Shang quickly divided her forces: one group set up cooking pots, another worked on the modifications she had specified, and a third built a "special" simple thatched pavilion at the valley's center. Once everything was arranged, everyone sat down for a hearty lunch. Finally, someone asked, "Young Lady, who exactly are we fighting?"

The ethos of the time emphasized that a warrior should die for those who understood him. Even if changing employers, one should part amicably and with courtesy—never abandoning duty at the last moment upon seeing the enemy's superior strength.

This time, Shao Shang's forces were either seasoned members of Cheng Shi's private army or elite troops she had meticulously trained—all loyal "insiders." Strictly speaking, they would follow her orders without question, even if it meant losing their heads.However, it would be good to boost morale a bit... At this moment, the men sent earlier to exhume the bodies returned, bringing back the remains of the wrongfully deceased commoners on four or five flat carts.

Shao Shang gathered everyone together, standing on higher ground, and raised her voice loudly: "When we set out on this journey, I thought it would be smooth sailing—good food and drink, and after fulfilling Empress Dowager Xuan's wishes, we could even visit the maidens of the watery lands of Jing and Yang..."

The crowd burst into laughter.

"But now it seems this pleasant trip may be delayed," Shao Shang emphasized her words. "Someone wants to kill me! Should I just bare my neck and let them?"

"Of course not!" the crowd shouted.

"Earlier, someone asked me, 'If someone wants to kill you, why not just avoid them? Why insist on confronting them?'" Shao Shang pointed to the corpses on the ground nearby. "Let me tell you all—it's not for myself that I do this, but for them!"

All eyes turned to the bodies.

Shao Shang took out a bamboo scroll and said solemnly, "This is a letter found on one of the bodies. They were originally from Jing Province, but later some of them settled in Yu Province. This time, the family patriarch in Jing was celebrating his eightieth birthday, and a cousin's daughter was getting married. Missing their relatives, they decided to make the trip together to attend both celebrations. Who knew heaven would turn a blind eye, and the entire family would meet such a cruel fate? Look..."

The bodies on the flat carts were bloodstained—men, women, the elderly, and children alike. The veterans from Cheng Residence remained composed, but the guards entrusted by Empress Dowager Xuan, who had rarely left the Capital City, had never seen such a scene. Their eyes instantly welled up, and the younger ones, seeing the bodies of little girls and toddlers on the carts, couldn't hold back their tears.

"They were all someone's children, someone's flesh and blood. Because of a pack of beasts who deserve to be struck by lightning, a joyous occasion has turned into mourning. Imagine the grief their families will feel when the news reaches them..."

Even the hardened veterans grew grim-faced, while others wept or clenched their teeth, shouting:

"Wipe out these beasts!"

"Slaughter these vile creatures!"

"We won't let them get away with this!"...

Fu Deng stood behind Shao Shang, wiping his tears while thinking: Mother truly had good judgment. Even back in that humble village cottage, she could see at a glance that the Young Lady was truly extraordinary.

With the abbreviated pre-battle pep talk concluded, Shao Shang sat alone in a thatched pavilion while the others waited quietly in their assigned positions.

At the third hour of the afternoon, as the sun cast long shadows westward, the sound of rapid, urgent hoofbeats echoed from the southern passage of the valley. The heavy vibrations carried through the air and soil, striking the eardrums of all present. The four guard captains immediately issued silent commands.

As they neared the valley entrance, the hoofbeats slowed. Then, a large group of masked riders wielding blades and spears flooded into view—just those visible already numbered over four hundred, and with those holding the rear at the valley mouth, there were likely five to six hundred in total.

Mounted on her horse, Shao Shang called out loudly, "An old friend awaits. Won't you show yourself?"

The masked riders parted down the middle, and a young woman in a riding suit, accompanied by four martial maids, rode slowly forward from the crowd. Seeing the small number of people around Shao Shang, she smirked disdainfully, gracefully removing her veil hat and handing it to a maid beside her. "I heard your message and came to meet you. Why doesn't Shao Shang step forward to greet me?"

Recognizing the familiar face, Shao Shang smiled faintly. "I had a feeling it might be you, but I didn't dare assume."

Luo Jitong leisurely stroked the whip in her hand. "Why didn't you dare assume?""I have too many enemies to identify them all."

Luo Jitong gave a charming smile. "How could a young girl like you have so many enemies? Could it be that your usual conduct is truly deplorable?"

"There's no helping it. The number of women secretly coveting Huo Bu Yi could fill mountains and seas."

Luo Jitong's expression darkened. "Even now, you dare to flaunt your sharp tongue! Once I skin you and carve out your heart, I’ll see what expression Huo Bu Yi wears then!"

"Speaking of tongues..." Shao Shang suddenly shifted her tone, sighing wistfully. "We’ve known each other for so many years. Six years ago, you acted like the perfect virtuous woman straight out of a book, and now, six years later, you’re practically itching to devour me. Truth be told, we’ve never had a proper conversation."

She gestured behind her with her horsewhip. "I wonder if Jitong A-jie would be willing to share a drink and a chat with me."

The martial maid beside Luo Jitong immediately warned, "Young Lady, beware of treachery. It’s best to settle this quickly." But Luo Jitong dismissed the concern with a laugh. "Cheng Shaoshang, don’t think I don’t know you’ve already sent someone to Anguo County for reinforcements. But they won’t arrive until evening at the earliest. With the few men you have here, I can wipe you all out within half an hour."

Shao Shang remained unfazed. "Since you’re so certain of victory, why not indulge in a conversation?"

Luo Jitong nodded in agreement and waved for her retinue to follow, while Shao Shang signaled her own to retreat. Thus, the two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the valley, one to the south and the other to the north.

Dismounting, Shao Shang extended a welcoming gesture. "This is a pavilion I just built. Luo Niangzi, please don’t disdain it." Then, adhering to the etiquette of host and guest, she seated herself directly on the northern side.

Luo Jitong observed the thatched pavilion—open on all sides, leaving no room for ambush—and gracefully stepped inside, sitting across from Shao Shang at the low table.

On the table stood a small earthen stove with gentle charcoal flames, the aroma of rice wine wafting from the pot.

Shao Shang ladled wine into two double-handled cups and slid them toward Luo Jitong, inviting her to choose first. Luo Jitong glanced at her, hesitated, then reached for the cup on the right before switching to the one on the left.

After downing her cup, Luo Jitong remarked, "This is your own brew, isn’t it? Even more fragrant than the rice wine from the imperial workshops. In truth, Your Majesty greatly enjoys the wine you make, though he refrains from praising you."

"I know. Because brewing requires a lot of fine rice, and His Majesty fears it might encourage extravagance. But not long after you left, I learned to make good wine with coarse rice and millet." Shao Shang took a small sip.

Luo Jitong glanced around. Though simple, the pavilion was ingeniously constructed. The floor was made of smooth wooden planks covered with thick, dry straw. From the four upright pillars hung strands of grass-woven wind chimes, and overhead stretched a thin, translucent silk cloth that diffused the sunlight, keeping the interior bright yet shaded.

Though early autumn had arrived, the fast-paced ride had left Luo Jitong somewhat overheated. Sitting in this breezy pavilion, feeling the gusts from the valley opposite and breathing in the scent of rice wine, she couldn’t help but sigh. "You’ve always been like this—utterly lacking in proper decorum, yet full of clever little ideas, especially when it comes to comfort. No one is more ingenious than you."

Shao Shang, aiming to stall for time, feigned indifference. "Do tell me what I should and shouldn’t learn. Her Majesty says I’ve made progress every day."Luo Jitong glanced around the thatched pavilion. The gentle slopes on either side were unsuitable for setting up ambushes with rolling stones or the like. Then she looked at the mere sixty or seventy men ahead and said coolly, "Don't think of delaying. At most, I'll speak with you for a short while. Today, you won't escape death."

Shao Shang remained composed. "If I hadn't deliberately waited for you, you might not be sitting here saying these words. I waited only to ask you—have you lost your mind, daring to commit such a reckless act that implicates your family? Those behind you are the servants of the Luo Family and mercenaries hired at great expense, aren't they? To kill me, you've slaughtered innocent civilians without restraint and even attempted to destroy the evidence. Whether I die or not, my third brother will surely spread the word. Do you no longer care for your father, brothers, and family...?"

"Stop bluffing. First, your third brother may not know it was me. Second, he has no proof." Luo Jitong was sharp-minded and no ordinary person. "After I kill you, I'll head south to Jingzhou. The heartland of Jingzhou is vast. Once I've cleaned up my tracks, I'll claim I was traveling for leisure in the south. Who could then prove it was me who killed you?!"

Shao Shang fell silent for a moment. "It seems I underestimated you... Does Huo Bu Yi know your capabilities?"

Luo Jitong's expression shifted, her eyes misting over. "...He is five years older than me. The year I entered the palace was the year he left to establish his own residence. To avoid the women of the inner court, he only visited the Everlasting Autumn Palace to pay respects to Her Majesty once or twice a month. During those times, I would hide behind the curtains and steal glances at him. Over all those years, I saw him so many times, yet we barely exchanged two words."

"You could have approached him yourself. Waiting for Huo Bu Yi to speak to you would take an eternity." Shao Shang rarely spoke so fairly.

Luo Jitong said, "He was indifferent to all women, not just me. So I've always wondered—how did you and he come to know each other? Why you, and not me?"

Shao Shang opened her mouth, then said, "...You might not believe it, but between him and me, aside from the broken engagement six years ago, most things were never up to me to decide."

Luo Jitong's tone turned brittle. "Yes, that's just how he is. He appears gentle and amiable, but in truth, he's stubbornly set in his ways. No one's affection matters unless it's his own. I knew I had no hope, so I resolved not to pay him any attention. But... but it's easier said than done..."

"He was so dignified and exquisite, his actions and speech unhurried. When he looked at you, it was with undivided attention; when he spoke, it was with utmost courtesy. He stood alone, coming and going by himself, never once jesting with a palace maid." So tender, yet so aloof.

These words had lingered in Luo Jitong's heart for over a decade, with no one to confide in. Today, before her doomed rival, she could finally pour them out. And so she spiraled further, murmuring dreamily of the melancholic infatuation from her girlhood.

"He was a dream I've carried since childhood—distant as the dawn atop a mountain, a jade terrace upon the sea, breathtaking yet unreachable. I couldn't wait hopelessly forever; I had to plan for myself. But who knew..."She glanced at Shao Shang with a sorrowful expression. "Who would have thought the dream would end one day? I still remember that morning when Zhai Nanny cheerfully told me, 'Eleventh Master is getting married—to someone he chose himself. Thank heavens!'—I don’t even know how I got through that day. I was like a walking corpse, my spirit adrift. I even knocked over the inkstone while grinding ink for Her Highness and had to beg leave to go home."

At this point, Luo Jitong’s eyes suddenly burned with fierce resentment. "If the dream had remained just a dream, untouched by anyone, I might have let it go. But it was then that I realized—dreams can come true! Eleventh Master can fall in love with a woman! But why you? Why not me?!"

Rao Shaoshang was bold, but even she couldn't help leaning back slightly when meeting Luo Jitong's frenzied, burning gaze.

Luo Jitong stared fixedly at Shao Shang: "The first time I saw you, His Majesty had already decided your marriage with Zisheng. The second time I saw you, he was pulling you to sit at His Majesty's family banquet. I entered the palace earlier than you, came from a higher background, was more intelligent and virtuous than you, yet I could only serve beside the Empress, carrying dishes and pouring wine, never qualified to sit as equals with the princes and princesses!"

Sensing her opponent's heightened emotions, Shao Shang slowly shifted her seat further back.

"At that time, the Prince of the East Sea already had a consort, the Prince of Huai'an was deeply devoted to his wife, the Third and Fourth Princes were on Consort Yue's side, the Fifth Prince... hmph, not worth mentioning... the remaining princes were all too young. During that palace banquet, I kept stealing glances at you, wondering how I could rightfully sit at His Majesty's banquet instead of bowing and scraping like a palace maid—then I saw Lord Huo. Well, things came full circle—the solution still lay with him." A peculiar light shone in Luo Jitong's eyes, greedy and cruel.

"So you conspired with the Fifth Princess to frame me?" Shao Shang said coldly.

Luo Jitong glanced at her: "The Fifth Princess was determined to marry into the Yue family, while I still held some hope."

"No wonder you hastily married off to the northwest back then—you were fleeing to avoid exposure. How laughable that I genuinely considered you a friend and was reluctant to part with you," Shao Shang said bitterly.

"My fate wasn't as good as yours. Your marriage was paved with gold and jade, while mine was meant to bolster my family's prestige," Luo Jitong remained unmoved. "Later, I met Lord Huo in the northwest. I thought, perhaps Heaven took pity on me and finally gave me a way out!"

"Ah, Heaven pitied you, so you turned around and killed your husband?" Shao Shang mocked.

Luo Jitong's gaze turned icy: "He was going to die anyway. That sickly man had been like a living corpse for over a decade. I gave him a few months of happiness before his death—he died without regrets."

"Without regrets? Did Jia Qilang say that himself?" Shao Shang found this unbelievable. "Not only do you feel no remorse, but you're even self-righteous about it?! I heard Jia Qilang's parents treated you like their own daughter and personally proposed marriage to Huo Buyi on your behalf. Did that not move you at all?"

"They treated me well, first because I served them comfortably, and second for the Jia family's reputation. Now everyone in the northwestern cities praises the Jia family's noble character—their elders as kind and benevolent, with young women clamoring to marry into the family."

"You truly are a genius of our times!" Shao Shang laughed in anger. "To describe such evil deeds without batting an eye!"

"I don't deserve such praise. No matter how renowned my virtue is, it can't compare to your skill in seducing men—one after another, never satisfied." The elegant and virtuous woman revealed a venomous expression.

"I didn't seduce anyone!" Shao Shang flared up, slamming the table as she stood.

"Hmph, of course you'd deny it. But tell me yourself—why would those men take a fancy to someone as crude and shallow as you?"

Shao Shang nearly spat blood—if only she knew!

"Have you said enough?!" She barely contained her rage. "If you're done, it's my turn to speak!"

Luo Jitong snorted coldly.Shao Shang took a deep breath: "You speak so convincingly, as if you know Huo Bu Yi better than anyone in the world! Fine, let me ask you this—if Huo Bu Yi found out about your wanton killing of innocents yesterday, what would he say?"

Luo Jitong's face twitched, and she replied stubbornly, "Those who achieve great things do not fuss over trivialities."

"Killing me counts as a great thing?!"

Shao Shang slammed both hands on the table. "You only described the surface of what kind of man Huo Bu Yi is—let me tell you the truth! He once rode hundreds of miles with a pierced shoulder to kill bandits just so he wouldn’t delay the farming season! He insisted on taking detours during marches, even when exhausted to the point of nearly falling off his horse, just to avoid trampling the people’s crops! All those honors, riches, and imperial banquets you obsess over—he never cared for them! Once peace reigns and the court is stable, he’d gladly sheathe his sword, retire to the mountains, and roam the world freely! A greedy, murderous wretch like you—how dare you even speak his name?!"

She finished in one breath—to hell with stalling for time. If it’s a fight they want, then bring it on!

Luo Jitong’s face darkened with rage, and she pointed at her sharply. "You—how dare you—!"

Shao Shang stood tall, glaring coldly. "Let me tell you two more things."

"First, no matter how many more troops you have than your enemy, never fight on ground they’ve prepared in advance."

"Second, everything you’re about to experience next—was taught to me by Huo Bu Yi!"

Before Luo Jitong could order her Martial Maids to draw their swords, Shao Shang shouted, "Now!"

In an instant, whatever Fu Deng threw from outside the pavilion set the thatched roof ablaze, engulfing the entire structure in roaring flames.

Author’s Note: The terrain in this chapter was a bit complicated, so the update was delayed. Did everyone understand it? If not, I can draw a few diagrams. If you got it, then I won’t bother.