Love Like the Galaxy

In the guest chamber, Huo Lou and the two Cheng siblings stood around the bed, gazing at the injured man lying upon it, each with a different expression.

"...This is Di Wu Cheng, isn't it?" Cheng Shao Gong asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with doubt. "I'm not mistaken, am I?"

Shao Shang replied, "You're not wrong, Brother. It's definitely Di Wu Cheng." Though his face was swollen like cured pork, it was unmistakably him.

—And that was precisely the problem! Cheng Shao Gong felt his head throb. "If I recall correctly, Di Wu Cheng left the Capital City with..." He glanced at Huo Bu Yi, "...with Yuan Shen."

Huo Bu Yi pondered for a moment before asking, "A Yao, tell us what happened."

Lou Yao, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly explained, "Five or six days ago, I was making my usual rounds inspecting the surrounding countryside. When passing by a small hill to the east, my attendants found this man at the foot of the mountain. His attire was refined, and his hands bore the calluses of someone who had wielded swords for years. Suspecting something amiss, I brought him back to the manor to treat his injuries. But his wounds were severe—his body was battered and bloody, and he remained unconscious. I called upon several physicians skilled in treating external injuries, even a renowned doctor from a neighboring county, yet he showed no improvement. Occasionally, he would mumble things like 'send word quickly.' Beyond that, we know nothing of his background."

"East hill? Do you mean Jiming Mountain?" Huo Bu Yi inquired.

Lou Yao confirmed it was so.

Cheng Shao Gong sighed dramatically, "Who would have thought a peerless martial artist like Di Wu Cheng would fall from a cliff there!"

"If you'd gone to inspect it yourself, Brother, you wouldn't be saying such things," Shao Shang retorted irritably. "That hill is barely taller than the slope in our backyard. Even A Zhu and Ou Er couldn't fall from it, let alone Di Wu Cheng!"

Cheng Shao Gong rubbed his forehead. "Ah, right. Doesn't Marquis Huo have experts who can deduce clues from the slightest traces? Perhaps Magistrate Lou could provide the clothes Di Wu Cheng was wearing that day and let Marquis Huo's scouts examine them."

Shao Shang smirked sarcastically, "How brilliant of you, Brother."

Huo Bu Yi chuckled—Lou Yao had always been hospitable and eager to please since childhood.

Before Cheng Shao Gong could bask in his own cleverness, Lou Yao awkwardly admitted, "Well... about that... On the day this gentleman arrived, the servants already washed, mended, and starched his tattered and soiled garments."

Cheng Shao Gong was speechless.

Huo Bu Yi shook his head, then rolled up his sleeves and leaned over to examine Di Wu Cheng's injuries. From his neck to his chest, down to his arms—especially his iron-like palms, which were covered in scars—his pale fingertips traced the dark red wounds and the battered hands riddled with fine cuts. The more he inspected, the graver his expression became.

"Well? What is it?" Shao Shang, held back by her rigid elder brother two steps from the bed, craned her neck to ask impatiently.

Huo Bu Yi lowered his sleeves and said solemnly, "Di Wu Cheng's injuries appear to be from a fall, but they were actually sustained while tumbling down jagged rocks. Beneath these wounds, there are also marks from curved, sharp blades..." He pointed to a faint, twisted scar hidden beneath a large bloodstain, his brow furrowing. "I fear we must pay a visit to those two Manor Fortresses."

"Did Di Wu Cheng escape from those two Manor Fortresses? How can you tell?" Lou Yao blurted out before quickly adding, "Elder Brother, I didn't mean to question you."

Cheng Shao Gong remarked snidely, "Even if you claim not to question him, doubting in your heart is just the same."Lou Yao was far from being so quick-witted and immediately flushed red with embarrassment.

Shao Shang was furious. "Third Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? A Yao merely made an offhand remark—why must you twist it into some grave accusation?"

Shaogong smiled without a word. Shao Shang noticed Huo Bu Yi swiftly glance her way and took a deep breath. "What I mean is, isn't it obvious? First, given the severity of Di Wu Cheng's injuries, he couldn’t have fled far, meaning his assailant must be nearby. Second, the terrain here is flat, and within a hundred li, only those two Manor Fortresses are surrounded by sharp, rugged rocks for defense. Third, Di Wu Cheng is highly skilled in martial arts. With his abilities, he could wound a high-ranking general even amidst heavy elite guards. If it were just an ordinary place, how could it have trapped him?"

Lou Yao let out an understanding "Oh." "So that’s it. Then those two Manor Fortresses are indeed the most suspicious... What should we do next?" He hesitated. "After all, I am the county magistrate. It wouldn’t hurt to just go and ask."

Shao Shang instinctively objected. "These are powerful local clans with private armies. You can’t just barge in and demand a search. Besides, one of them is likely completely uninvolved. A Yao, if you rashly offend them, how will you manage local affairs afterward? In my opinion, it’s better to send someone to the commandery governor for an official warrant."

Cheng Shao Gong burst into laughter. "Shao Shang, think carefully. Saving a life brooks no delay. Going to the An Commandery headquarters and back would take at least four or five days. By then, Yuan Shen might already be dead."

Shao Shang turned back. "A Yao, you should go immediately. Saving a life is more important."

Lou Yao: "..."

Huo Bu Yi smiled faintly, the tension in his brow easing slightly. "There’s no need for such a dilemma. A Yao, later, have someone carry Di Wu Cheng to those two Manor Fortresses. Tell them that Yuan Shen, the heir of the Jiaodong Yuan Clan, has been missing for days. Given his noble status and the emperor’s favor, this matter cannot be taken lightly. Ask the two clan leaders to assist in the search."

Lou Yao was puzzled. "But if those two families really send people to search everywhere, how do we enter the Manor Fortresses?"

"Just say that Di Wu Cheng woke up this morning and claimed Yuan Shen is trapped in their home."

"But Di Wu Cheng never said that. Besides, he hasn’t woken up." Lou Yao grew even more confused.

"Not that he hasn’t woken up—he fell unconscious again on the way to the Manor Fortresses." Huo Bu Yi was exceedingly patient.

The Cheng siblings gasped. Shaogong’s lips twitched. "Brilliant idea. Since Di Wu Cheng won’t wake up, it’s a dead man’s testimony. County Magistrate Lou can insist Di Wu Cheng identified their Manor Fortresses as holding Yuan Shen, and no one can refute it."

Shao Shang worried, "But what if they stubbornly deny it? Could it alert the enemy and endanger A... Young Master Yuan’s life?"

Huo Bu Yi slowly lowered his wide sleeves. "A Yao has been openly searching for renowned physicians these past few days. If they were going to be alerted, it would’ve happened already. If they didn’t kill Yuan Shen then, there must be a reason they couldn’t. They won’t kill him now either."

Shao Shang felt slightly reassured.

Lou Yao wasted no time and immediately set out to arrange for Di Wu Cheng to be carried. Shao Shang wanted to go along, but Huo Bu Yi said, "Shaogong, you go with A Yao. A Yao, just confidently demand Yuan Shen from them. Shaogong, stay in the background and carefully observe the reactions of the two families. Both of you, go quickly and return swiftly. Whatever their response, come back and report to me immediately."

Shao Shang wasn’t pleased but never contradicted Huo Bu Yi in front of others.Cheng Shaogong mourned his leisurely days that had vanished like the wind, reluctantly following Lou Yao out the door. Shao Shang trailed behind, chattering incessantly, "Third Brother, observe carefully. Use your face-reading skills to their fullest..."

Shaogong retorted irritably, "Enough nonsense! This is all your fault, making me run around everywhere!"

"How is this my fault?" Shao Shang protested.

"Now I have to take orders from your ex-fiancé's ex-fiancé, following your ex-ex-fiancé to find your former fiancé. Tell me, isn't this your fault?!"

Cheng Shaogong stormed off—thankfully, he only had one sister. If there were more, he'd surely have renounced the world to become a monk.

...

The two manor fortresses were situated at the border between Yu and Xu provinces, each about seventy or eighty li from Yao County's town center. The distance between them, however, was no more than five or six li. Viewed from above, the three locations formed a narrow isosceles triangle.

Legend had it that these two manor fortresses were built during the pre-Qin era—by a pair of brothers who had somehow amassed wealth and settled here. When the First Emperor unified the realm and rigorously enforced Shang Yang's legalist policies, requiring all adult males to establish separate households, the brothers constructed these two nearby fortresses.

Over time, as wars raged and dynasties changed hands, the fortresses fell into ruin multiple times and changed ownership repeatedly. The two families now occupying and expanding them were the Lis, who unabashedly claimed descent from Laozi, the founder of Daoism, and the Tians, who followed suit by declaring themselves descendants of the former Qi royal house—such embellished ancestry being a traditional necessity for anyone claiming success.

County Magistrate Lou set off nervously with his injured entourage and the mystic to confront these families. Shao Shang watched them leave with deep concern, then hurried to the study to find Huo Bu Yi. To her surprise, she found him summoning his subordinates and issuing stern orders.

"...Zhang Shan, take my command and borrow troops from the western garrisons—as many as you can get. Return within two days. Liang Qiuqi, ride swiftly to Yanzhou's main camp and find Teacher Ouyang. Have him order all prefectures and counties to intercept any news of the Crown Prince's party and prevent them from entering Yu Province! Li Si, go to the Governor of Liangzhou and tell him to leave the western front for now and bring his troops here as soon as possible. A Fei, ride along the eastern route and warn these prefects or magistrates to beware of anyone plotting against the Crown Prince."

The four men accepted their orders without hesitation and departed. Shao Shang's heart pounded as she listened. Huo Bu Yi noticed her and said, "You're just in time. Take stock of the remaining firearms you have and prepare all of them. If there are materials stored in the convoy, use them to make more in the next two days. I recall you have several skilled craftsmen in your convoy—lend them to me."

Shao Shang swallowed the words on her tongue and said nothing, turning instead to relay the orders. She made a mental note to remind Lou Yao later—as officials, they needed to read their superiors' moods. In urgent situations, questions could wait; action came first.

Returning to the courtyard where their convoy was stationed, she first had the wounded moved out and entrusted them to the Lou family's stewards. Then she ordered the idle family generals and guards to prepare their bows, blades, and horses for potential combat. Next, she inventoried the remaining firearms and retrieved the flammable oilpeter, gunpowder, and other materials hidden beneath several ammunition wagons, personally overseeing the assembly of the secret weapons.This commotion naturally alarmed He Zhaojun. Despite her postpartum weakness, she had her maids carry her to find Shao Shang. Shao Shang quickly ushered her into the inner chamber and briefly explained the situation before reassuring her:

"...That's how it is. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what's happening either, but Lord Huo must have his reasons for acting this way. Rest assured, no matter what, I won’t let anything happen to you or A Yao."

He Zhaojun felt slightly calmer but then asked, "I brought two hundred of Father’s private army with me. Though they’ve seen little combat in recent years, they’re still better than ordinary militiamen. You don’t need to borrow troops elsewhere—just take them!"

A surge of intellectual superiority immediately rose in Shao Shang’s heart. Smugly, she said, "You two really need to sharpen your wits. Didn’t you catch the hint in what I just said? Lord Huo sent his men to borrow troops from the western garrison but refused to mobilize forces from the nearby eastern counties. Why do you think that is? There are four or five counties bordering Yu and Xu Provinces—do you know where the trouble might actually occur? The principle is simple: don’t act unless the enemy moves. Once something happens, forces can quickly converge. Do you understand or not?"

He Zhaojun, having been lectured, retorted, "I don’t understand this principle, but didn’t you only figure it out after hearing Marquis Huo’s orders?"

Shao Shang was left speechless—well, you’ve got nerve. In the end, she could only say, "Alright, go back and rest. I’ve left behind the maids, cooks, and wounded who came with us. Take care of them."

The bustle continued until nightfall when Huo Bu Yi finally found time to seek her out.

A gentle evening breeze stirred as the tall, striking young man approached in a moon-white robe embroidered with silver threads, his lapels fluttering in the wind, his posture upright and poised like a towering pine. Meanwhile, Shao Shang had just emerged from the ingredient storeroom—her hair disheveled, her forehead glistening with sweat, her sleeves rolled high, and her body wrapped in a pitch-black apron.

Huo Bu Yi chuckled softly. Shao Shang scowled. "Are you laughing at how disheveled I look? Fine, then you won’t get any of the newly prepared firearms!"

Unfazed, Huo Bu Yi pulled her to sit in the pavilion. "I’m not laughing at your disheveled state. I was just reminded of that year in the hunting lodge outside Hua County—you looked just like this then too, with your sleeves tied up, wrapped in an apron, all messy."

Shao Shang recalled the memory and sighed. "Looking back now, apart from our time in the palace, most of our meetings have been rather ungraceful. Either we were up to no good under a bridge, or I was stuck on a horse and couldn’t get down, or else I was wailing for someone to come save me."

Huo Bu Yi looked slightly surprised before smiling. "You may think it was ungraceful, but I found those moments quite endearing."

Shao Shang sighed. "Your Majesty really should hear you say that. All those marriage proposals he arranged for you back then were clearly mistaken."

Huo Bu Yi laughed heartily and pulled the girl into his arms, the two leaning against each other.

Shao Shang grimaced. "Maybe I should just stop going out. Trouble follows me every time I step outside."

Huo Bu Yi gently tousled her hair. "That won’t happen. After extreme adversity comes prosperity. You’ve already exhausted all the chaos you were meant to endure in your first twenty years. From now on, everything will go smoothly, and your days will be peaceful."

Shao Shang looked up at him and smiled brightly. "You too. You’ve already endured all the suffering meant for a lifetime. From now on, there’ll be no more hardship or danger."The moonlight was cool as gauze, and the well pulley beside the pavilion swayed slightly, emitting a soft gurgling sound—since the greatest fear in crafting firearms was accidental fires, Shao Shang had chosen this courtyard with a well as her ingredient preparation room.

Huo Bu Yi removed his outer robe and placed it on the stone table, then rolled up his sleeves and walked to the well. Without even using the pulley, he effortlessly drew up a bucket of water with a single flick of his arm. His broad shoulders and straight back, his lean waist, made his movements as graceful as a rainbow arching over a mountain ridge—steady yet captivating. Shao Shang found herself momentarily entranced, suddenly imagining how wonderful life would be if she could one day have a son as handsome and tall as him.

Unaware of her thoughts, Huo Bu Yi took a silk handkerchief from his sleeve, dampened it in the clear water, and gently wiped away the dust and sweat from her cheeks. Her delicate, luminous skin radiated vitality, like a stubborn flower bud just emerging from a branch. He said softly, "My mother loved tending to plants with her own hands and would often end up with mud on her face. Father would always wipe it clean for her."

Shao Shang stared at his face in a daze and blurted out, "Why don’t you call me Mother instead?"

Huo Bu Yi paused. Shao Shang quickly waved her hands. "Ah, no no no no no! I’m not trying to take advantage of you or disrespect your ancestors—I’m just exhausted and talking nonsense."

Huo Bu Yi’s gaze flickered, calm yet faintly reproachful.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to hold it against her, Shao Shang hurriedly changed the subject. "I heard you had people quarry a lot of large stones. What are they for?"

Huo Bu Yi wrung the handkerchief in the bucket again and returned to wipe her hands. "To make a simple battering ram."

Shao Shang first nodded, then gasped. "Wh-what? Are you planning to attack those two manor fortresses? But Third Brother and the others haven’t returned yet—how do you know they’re in trouble? Aren’t you being overly paranoid?"

Huo Bu Yi tapped her nose lightly and smiled. "The reason I’ve lived this long is precisely because I’m ‘overly paranoid.’ Better safe than sorry."

Shao Shang’s heart stirred as she gazed into his deep brown eyes. "...You’re not your father. You won’t meet someone like Ling Yi."

Huo Bu Yi folded the handkerchief neatly and placed it beside the stone table, his tone indifferent. "...Indeed, I am not my father. If someone like Ling Yi showed even the slightest sign of treachery, I wouldn’t let them live past three days."

Ling Yi’s cowardice and self-preservation hadn’t been entirely without warning, but Huo Chong had always believed it was mere timidity, not outright betrayal. Part of it was Huo Chong’s own upright nature—he was unwilling to suspect others lightly—and part of it was out of consideration for his younger sister, always giving his brother-in-law the benefit of the doubt.

Shao Shang fell silent for a moment. "You’re exhausting yourself like this not just to save Yuan Shen, are you?"

Huo Bu Yi studied the girl. "Since discovering Di Wu Cheng, you haven’t mentioned Yuan Shen once. Are you afraid he’ll die?"

Shao Shang closed her eyes briefly, her voice trembling slightly. "In public, he always pretends to be humble and courteous, but he once told me privately that he aspired to rise high in the ranks, to achieve the status of the Three Dukes for generations. I never imagined... he might die in some obscure little place like this. You don’t suspect I still have lingering feelings for him, do you?"

Huo Bu Yi chuckled. "Of course not." Though what he truly thought was: even if their affection had been at its peak, he would have intervened, let alone mere "lingering feelings."

"Tell me honestly—is the situation not looking good right now?" Shao Shang asked.Huo Bu Yi pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, "You were right about one thing—His Majesty pacified the realm too swiftly, leaving behind many hidden dangers. The situation in the world is as uneven as mountains. If an overwhelming landslide were to bury everything beneath it, the casualties would be severe, but at least all the ruggedness would be gone. Yet instead..."

He trailed off, then changed the subject. "While you were reminiscing with Madam Qu, General Wu had already quelled several of the most violent rebellions. Xuzhou, in particular, due to its strategic location as a crucial military stronghold, was swiftly cleared by the combined efforts of several armies. That was why the Crown Prince considered traveling incognito—but shortly after His Highness set out, news arrived of Shi Xin's rebellion in Shu Commandery."

Shao Shang stood up anxiously. "If the situation is this dire, we should send reinforcements immediately! How can we handle this alone?"

"Where would we find reinforcements?" Huo Bu Yi asked calmly.

Shao Shang was taken aback. "What about... the Yanzhou garrison?"

"The Yanzhou garrison is already empty."

Shao Shang sat back down in stunned silence.

"The court has only so many men, and the treasury only so much wealth and provisions. The garrisons in the northwest and northern deserts cannot be moved, or else the tribes of the grasslands and deserts will smell blood and ride into the Central Plains. General Wu has gone south to Shu Commandery to suppress Shi Xin, while the other generals lead their troops to continue pacifying rebellions in Qing, You, and Ji Provinces. The Yanzhou garrison has long been emptied. If not for the Crown Prince, I should have accompanied General Wu to Shu—his health has been poor lately. He is no longer young, and years of military campaigns have left him with accumulated injuries. His Majesty has been deeply concerned."

Shao Shang's heart was in turmoil. Finally, she exclaimed in frustration, "This is all the Crown Prince's fault! What was he thinking, running around like this? Once we find him, we mustn’t let him act recklessly again!"

Huo Bu Yi smiled. "His Highness does have his methods. He disguised himself as a nobleman traveling the land, with Eastern Palace guards and elite warriors protecting him both openly and covertly. They also sent regular reports to ensure his safety. So far, nothing has happened during his journey, except..."

"Except for the fear that someone might deliberately harm him," Shao Shang added.

Huo Bu Yi sighed. "In any case, traces of Gongsun Shi's remnants remain, and Yuan Shen and his family generals and private army have inexplicably disappeared. It all unsettles me. I have a vague feeling that if we can uncover the whereabouts of Yuan Shen and his men, the Crown Prince's peril will resolve itself."

Shao Shang rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "You're right. Let’s find the Yuan family first! The Yuan clan has weathered decades of storms, and Prefect Yuan has served as a high-ranking regional official for years. The guards and family generals he assigned to his only son are anything but ordinary! Yet all these men have vanished without a trace—there must be something sinister at play. Which of the two manor fortresses do you find more suspicious?"

"Tian Family Fortress," Huo Bu Yi replied. "I’ve surveyed the terrain—it’s easy to defend but hard to attack, isolated on all sides. In such a location, even if the Yuan clan members are brave and skilled, they are ultimately outnumbered. Once lured into a trap and slowly eliminated, no one outside would notice."

"Good! Then let’s prepare thoroughly. I’d like to see what kind of formidable walls can withstand my gunpowder!"

Thus, the two of them laid their plans, confident they were close to the truth. Yet as the saying goes, plans cannot keep up with changes. The next day, the news brought back by Lou Yao and Cheng Shao Gong turned out to be rather amusing.

The Tian Family Manor Fortress was led by a young master, while the Li Family Manor Fortress had an older patriarch. Conventional wisdom would suggest the former to be hot-tempered and the latter more diplomatic. Yet when Lou Cheng went to investigate under false pretenses, the Tian family head readily agreed with a beaming smile, repeatedly welcoming them to search the manor at any time to prove their innocence. In contrast, the middle-aged Li family patriarch put on an astonishing display—not only did he spray Lou Cheng's faces with spittle while berating everything from the Emperor's Land Measurement Decree to Liang Wuji's governance, he nearly set dogs on them.

When Shao Shang inquired further about the two families, Lou Yao grew awkward and mumbled, "Originally these two manors weren't under our county's jurisdiction—they were managed by Magistrate Wang from the neighboring county. It was only this year that the Governor of Liangzhou reassigned that territory to Yao County, so... we don't know much about them."

"Why would he do that?" Shao Shang wondered.

Huo Bu Yi smiled. "Likely due to the Land Measurement Decree. Those two manors must wield considerable local influence and have maintained good relations with officials for years. The governor probably worried the local magistrate would show favoritism, so he cut the problem at its root by transferring jurisdiction to A Yao—rendering all their previous connections useless."

"No wonder His Majesty always praises the Governor of Liangzhou. He truly is capable," Shao Shang conceded. While many regional officials had been demoted or executed for poor enforcement of the decree, Liang Wuji stood out as exceptional. Qu Lingjun had married well this time.

Despite this, the current situation remained problematic. Lou Yao only knew basic details about the manors' land coverage, households, and genealogies—everything else about the owners' characters, backgrounds, and social circles remained unclear.

Normally, local officials' families would interact with the gentry's womenfolk, but He Zhaojun had grown extremely cautious since her pregnancy. For most of the year, she refused to even leave the county town to rest and protect the baby. Only Lou Li had attended a few flower-viewing parties and summer gatherings on behalf of her brother and sister-in-law.

"A Li said that although the Tian family head is young, he keeps numerous concubines—three or four principal wives standing side by side. During banquets, they made such a clamor she couldn't tell them apart. The Li family head has a bad reputation—they say every wife he marries dies. No local family of equal status would marry their daughters to him, so a few years ago he had to find one from elsewhere. But the new Li wife is sickly and rarely appears in public. A Li has only seen her a few times," Lou Yao struggled to recall his cousin's account.

"Hmm, one with multiple wives and concubines, the other a wife-killer. These two families make quite the matching pair," Shao Shang quipped.

Huo Bu Yi shot an amused glance at the witty girl before asking Lou Cheng for their impressions. Here, Cheng Shaogong's keen observational skills shone through.

Lou Yao hesitated. "Judging by their reactions, the Tian family must be innocent—otherwise they wouldn't have agreed so readily to a search. The Li family's violent refusal to comply suggests wrongdoing."

"Not so," Cheng Shaogong countered. "To me, this Tian Shuo (Tian family head) has a narrow forehead, sunken cheeks, and a shadowed brow—nothing like an upright man, completely at odds with his high-minded claims. Moreover, his act is overdone—extreme loyalty resembles treachery, and his earnest warmth borders on hypocrisy."

Huo Bu Yi nodded. "Exactly. Barring special circumstances, allowing local officials to freely search one's family fortress while smiling welcomingly... If all powerful gentry were this accommodating, we wouldn't have rebellions erupting everywhere over resistance to the Land Measurement Decree."Lou Yao asked blankly, "So the Li family is actually innocent?" He couldn't help but touch his arm that had nearly been bitten by the vicious dog.

Cheng Shao Gong looked serious. "Actually, I find Li Kuo (the master of Li Family Manor) quite strange too. When this man shouts arrogantly, he's utterly insolent. Complaining about the Governor of Liangzhou is one thing, but he even cursed Your Majesty and the imperial court's decrees—isn't he afraid the court will settle accounts with him later when things calm down?"

Shao Shang rubbed her chilled nape. "But I've seen the terrain of Li Family Manor. Not only is it flat on all sides with no cover, but it's also adjacent to the largest market in the county. When Yuan Shen went out, he brought at least two hundred guards. Even if he was careless, his family generals would know not to let everyone enter the manor fortress, making them sitting ducks. But if some remained outside, wouldn't nearby villagers notice any real fighting?"

The discussion seemed to have reached a dead end, and all three turned to Huo Bu Yi.

Huo Bu Yi remained unmoved, speaking calmly, "Since the Tian family is willing to let us search, we'll go search."

Without delay, Huo Bu Yi immediately led the troops out of the city, accompanied by the Cheng siblings. Originally, they planned to leave Lou Yao behind to guard the county town, but He Zhaojun insisted her husband go with them, even allocating half of the He family's private army to accompany him. She said firmly, "I'll take care of the county town. I'll keep the gates closed and stay vigilant. You go handle the important matters."

Shao Shang understood her intention—if Lou Yao could gain some merit in front of the Crown Prince, his future would be much smoother. She teased, "Back then, you wouldn't even let A Yao take an external posting, but now you're willing to let him take risks."

He Zhaojun sighed. "People have to grow up eventually. Before, with the protection of family and elders, we could afford to be willful. But now it's different—we have to think more about our children. The older generation plants trees so the younger can enjoy the shade."

Shao Shang was moved but still joked, "You've only had one son, yet you're already talking about 'children'? Ancheng Jun, you're thinking quite far ahead."

He Zhaojun rolled her eyes. "Well, there's also you. With you around, A Yao will be fine!"

Shao Shang was defeated again—there's a saying that no matter how sharp-tongued a young maiden is, she's no match for a married woman in a war of words. The ancients truly didn't lie.

They set out at noon that day, passing several peaceful and warm villages along the way. Under the dry, fragrant autumn sunlight, golden ripe crops formed waves of joyful wheat fields stretching endlessly, a sight that lifted the spirits. Unwilling to disturb the busy farmers during harvest, Huo and Cheng's group camped overnight outdoors and arrived near the Tian Family Manor Fortress the next morning.

Looking at the dense, shaded forest surrounding the manor fortress, the trees varied in height and thickness, as if planted in different years. Huo Bu Yi raised his hand slightly from his saddle, and as if his arm directed them, the troops halted uniformly before dismounting to proceed on foot. Shao Shang led her now fully grown spotted horse, walking among towering ancient trees so thick it would take several people to encircle them. Occasionally, she ran her palm over the rough, gnarled bark and sighed, "Some of these trees must be over a hundred years old."

She glanced at Huo Bu Yi. "Is it really safe to come in like this? We won't be lured into a trap and wiped out, will we?" Such a dense, towering forest was like a natural sound barrier—no matter how loud the fighting inside, nothing would be heard outside.Huo Bu Yi led his horse over and said patiently, "Yuan Shen only has about two hundred men, so they could easily be wiped out in one fell swoop. I've brought five hundred elite soldiers, plus yours and A Yao's men—that makes at least seven or eight hundred. No matter how dense this forest is, it can't contain all of us."

Shao Shang felt somewhat reassured and asked, "Hey, do you really think Yuan Shen and the others encountered trouble here?"

"Hard to say. We'll need to investigate carefully to know for sure. But something about this place feels off to me."

As Shao Shang walked forward with her head lowered, she suddenly said, "Why didn't you leave me in the county town to keep He Zhaojun company? Since this place is so dangerous, I'm surprised you agreed to bring me along."

The corners of Huo Bu Yi's lips lifted slightly as he teased, "If you're by the water, there might be towering waves; if you're by the mountains, there could be landslides; if you're at the edge of the sky, who knows if Mount Buzhou might collapse again. I don't quite trust you to be safe, so it's better to keep you by my side."

Shao Shang murmured softly, "But you can't keep me by your side forever."

Huo Bu Yi abruptly stopped walking and stared at her intently. Shao Shang met his gaze, and then they both turned away at the same time.

The Tian family's Manor Fortress was built with imposing grandeur. When the arched city gate, standing over thirty feet tall, slowly swung open inward, Shao Shang felt as though she were entering a sinister, hollowed-out cavern—vast, chilly, and filled with an unpleasant dampness.

As they entered, the Tian family was conducting a bizarre sacrificial ritual.

On a broad circular platform, seven or eight Shamans draped in colorful ribbons danced wildly. Some held bell staffs, others beat hand drums, their hair disheveled as they whirled and chanted around a massive, pitch-black bull. Four bare-chested, muscular men stood at the four cardinal directions, each holding a sharp knife.

The enormous black bull let out a deep, resonant roar that made their eardrums buzz. Its powerful limbs strained against the thick iron chains binding it firmly to the high stone altar.

Kneeling directly in front of the bull's head was a young man—Tian Shuo, the head of the Tian family. Dressed in pure white robes, he raised his hands toward the sky, murmuring incantations in sync with the Shamans' chanting and dancing.

The chanting and dancing grew increasingly frenzied. The Shamans' faces flushed crimson, their movements growing more manic, their spells faster and more intense, like a bowstring stretched to the point of snapping. Suddenly, the eldest Shaman let out a piercing cry—"Begin!"—like a blade slicing through the oppressive midnight. The four knife-wielding men simultaneously plunged their blades into the bull's abdomen, slicing cleanly through its tough flesh.

The bull let out a horrifying, high-pitched wail, its limbs thrashing violently as bright red blood sprayed out like arrows, drenching the surrounding Shamans. Covered in blood, the four men worked with the cold precision of seasoned butchers, swiftly carving into the bull's belly and each extracting an organ—the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

The ancient, bloody ritual filled Shao Shang with both pity and dread, causing her to take a step back.

Four younger Shamans placed the organs on golden trays and followed the elder Shaman to present them before Tian Shuo.The elderly shaman extended his withered, bony right hand, picked up the still-throbbing bull's heart, and smeared it across Tian Shuo's forehead. Next, he used the bull's liver to smear the right cheek, the spleen for the left cheek, and the lungs for the chin. The blood-drenched organs still pulsed faintly with warmth, causing the surrounding concubines and maids to avert their eyes in discomfort. Yet Tian Shuo closed his eyes and smiled, as if thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Finally, the old shaman carefully examined the gaunt face now streaked with animal blood, baring his blackened and yellowed teeth in a grin: "...Rest assured, Master. Heaven has answered. Your wish shall surely be fulfilled."

The stone plaza was thick with the pungent scent of blood. Shao Shang found it unbearable. Huo Bu Yi, who had been observing the Tian family servants around them, noticed the girl swaying unsteadily and pulled her close to his side.

Once the ritual concluded, the guests were invited to the flower hall to rest. By the time Tian Shuo emerged after bathing and changing, Cheng Shao Gong had already begun pacing impatiently around the hall. Lou Yao stepped forward to explain the purpose of their visit, though his expression was awkward—clearly, he lacked sufficient practice in such matters. Cheng Shao Gong, however, possessed a natural talent for shamelessness, boldly stating, "Primarily because your hospitality was too generous to refuse, so we truly came to search."

Contrary to Cheng Shao Gong's earlier unflattering description, the young Tian family head was far from unsightly. Setting aside his inscrutable, gloomy demeanor, his features were refined and handsome. Upon hearing their request, he raised his hand amiably: "Marquis Huo's reputation precedes him like thunder. To have the honor of offering my humble assistance—how could I refuse? Please, proceed as you wish." He even instructed his servants to have the concubines and family members wait outside in the courtyard to avoid hindering the search.

Huo Bu Yi expressionlessly clasped his fists in acknowledgment, unwilling to waste words on the man. He immediately led the soldiers and Lou Yao to begin their search, leaving the Cheng siblings and a contingent of guards waiting in the flower hall.

Tian Shuo seemed entirely unbothered, smiling as if to say, "As you please," and calmly remained seated.

After waiting for over an hour, Tian Shuo had his servants present a fresh dining table for the third time, graciously urging the Cheng siblings to continue enjoying the refreshments and wine.

Unable to resist, Cheng Shao Gong asked, "Might I inquire—was the ritual you performed earlier based on pre-Qin records, where living sacrifices were offered to beseech the fulfillment of wishes?"

Tian Shuo's eyes gleamed. "Young Master Cheng is indeed well-read. You are absolutely correct."

"Are those records still preserved?" Cheng Shao Gong asked eagerly.

Tian Shuo smiled and had a servant bring forth an ancient bamboo scroll. Cheng Shao Gong pored over it without delay.

Tian Shuo glanced at the silent girl seated by the window—her fair skin and delicate features exuding a natural grace, more radiant than autumn light. Without concealment, he regarded her with open appreciation and approached with a smile. "Though I reside in the countryside, I have heard much of Lady Cheng's service to the Grand Empress Dowager of Huai'an. Not only are you as wise as you are beautiful, but you are also counted among the Capital City's finest beauties. Seeing you today, the reputation does not disappoint."

Shao Shang lifted her eyelids slightly. "Flattery, flattery. But shouldn't Master Tian be asking why a mere woman like me, without rank or office, has come along to search your esteemed residence today?"

Tian Shuo chuckled. "Lady Cheng may speak if she wishes, or not if she prefers."

"Excellent. Explaining would be rather troublesome, so I won't," Shao Shang replied. "But I have another question. Master Tian may answer if he wishes, or not if he prefers."

Tian Shuo paused, then said, "Ask freely, Lady Cheng."Shao Shang said, "What wish did you pray for during the ceremony just now, young master?"

Tian Shuo's eyes flickered. "Since it's a wish, I can't say it aloud. Speaking it would make it ineffective. What do you think, Lady Cheng?" He lowered his voice, his eyes revealing a greedy glint as he leaned forward, expecting the girl to retreat shyly. Instead, she remained motionless, staring at him coldly.

Disgusted by his gaze, Shao Shang replied frostily, "I don't think anything of it. I've never pinned my hopes on an ox."

Tian Shuo's expression darkened. "Actually, according to ancient texts, the sacrifice shouldn't have been an ox."

"Then what should it have been?"

"Humans are the wisest of all creatures—naturally, it should have been a human sacrifice!" Tian Shuo's eyes gleamed with cruel excitement. "Unfortunately, the court has long forbidden such practices."

Shao Shang let out a light laugh. "Human or animal sacrifices—both are just pleas for divine favor. Since childhood, I've learned one truth: while success depends on heaven, planning lies with man! Young Master Tian, if you have a wish, don't just rely on spirits. You should also put in some effort yourself."

Tian Shuo sneered, "How do you know I haven't made plans?"

"May I ask what plans you've made?"

Tian Shuo's Adam's apple bobbed as he gnawed his thin lips with sharp teeth. In the end, he avoided the question and changed the subject. "Earlier, the old shaman also read your face, Lady Cheng. Do you know what he said?"

Shao Shang replied indifferently, "What did he say?"

Tian Shuo slowly leaned closer and whispered, "He said you have the face of fertility—destined to bear many children, like fertile soil yielding bountiful harvests..."

Shao Shang's eyelid twitched. Was she being harassed again? Indeed, an innocent appearance attracted flies like honey.

She smiled sweetly. "I think now isn't the time for you to speak so frivolously to me."

Tian Shuo teased, "Is Lady Cheng perhaps blushing in anger?"

"With the nation in recovery, His Majesty has repeatedly ordered all prefectures to encourage cultivation and population growth. Oxen, especially, are forbidden to slaughter... Young Master Tian, the ox you just sacrificed was exceptionally robust—likely worth five or six strong laborers. If someone were to report this to the Governor of Liangzhou, I wonder if you'd face legal trouble?" Shao Shang grinned.

Tian Shuo's face darkened, exuding the "sinister" aura Cheng Shaogong had described. "That wasn't a plow ox—it was a bull!"

"Put a plow on it, and it might still till the land."

"Such a trivial matter—who would dare trouble me over it?"

"In this world, aside from unforgivable crimes like treason and murder, most things can be made big or small. If I were to weep before the Empress, do you think your ox-slaughtering would be a big deal or a small one?"

Tian Shuo nearly jumped up, shouting, "The Grand Empress Dowager of Huai'an you serve is from the deposed Xuan Family! The current Empress is of the Yue family. You might not even have a voice in front of her!"

Shao Shang shook out her wide sleeve and produced a delicate bronze token inlaid with gold threads spelling "Changqiu." "Empress Yue gave this to me before I left. It can't mobilize troops or supplies, but it's enough to secure free meals at post stations or from various governors."In truth, Empress Yue's original words were even more dizzying. Seeing the elderly palace steward who had accompanied her for decades growing frail with age, she asked Shao Shang, who was about to embark on a long journey, "If you're still not ready to marry, why not come serve as my palace steward for a few years?" This nearly gave Royal Uncle—who had been eagerly awaiting his foster son's marriage and offspring until his eyes gleamed green—a herniated disc from shock.

Tian Shuo's face darkened, then he suddenly smiled. "Even if I was wrong, I'll accept the punishment. Surely the court wouldn't exterminate my entire clan over a mere bull, would it?"

Shao Shang was slightly surprised—was this guy really giving up so easily? Seizing the opportunity, she deliberately spoke rudely: "My maternal grandmother bore seven sons and a daughter, and my mother followed her husband to war and still raised four sons and a daughter. I hardly need a shaman to tell me I'll be blessed with many children! Honestly, Young Master Tian, your money must be too easy to swindle—no wonder I've heard that shamans from all over love flocking to the Tian family's manor fortress!"

Cheng Shaogong looked up at the sound of laughter, unsure what his younger sister had said. But the previously composed and carefree Tian Shuo was now trembling with rage, fists clenched, as if barely restraining himself.

After searching for over two hours, Huo Bu Yi and Lou Yao returned empty-handed. Tian Shuo seemed thoroughly provoked—he didn't even offer them lunch before ushering them out. The group had to spend another hour trekking through the woods outside the Tian family's manor fortress before finding a scenic open field to set up camp and cook.

Chewing on bland, coarse food in the tent, Cheng Shaogong sighed. "Niao Niao, what on earth did you say to anger Tian Shuo like that? At least we could've stayed for lunch!"

"Brother, aren't you worried the food might be poisoned?" Shao Shang shot her brother a glare before turning to Huo Bu Yi. "Where did you send A Yao?"

Huo Bu Yi replied calmly, "I sent him to the Li family fortress to ask one last time—will they let us search? If not, we'll have to take action." Though his tone was even, the underlying menace startled the Cheng siblings.

Shao Shang stammered, "Did you really find nothing at all?"

Huo Bu Yi's expression turned grave. "It was as if everything had been cleared beforehand—cleaner than Old Ji's Court of Justice. Yuan Shen's group had over two hundred people. Dead or alive, they couldn't have been hidden in small corners. Later, I sent men to check for hidden mechanisms or secret passages, but there were none."

Shao Shang frowned. "Could it be the Tian family truly has no connection to Yuan Shen's disappearance?"

Huo Bu Yi set down his chopsticks and smiled. "Do you think the Tians are suspicious?"

"Yes," Shao Shang answered without hesitation. When Huo Bu Yi asked why, she said, "Earlier, that scoundrel Tian Shuo teased me, saying I was 'fertile as a vast plain'—"

"What?" Huo Bu Yi's smile vanished. "He dared say such a thing!"

"Don't worry, I didn't let him off—I paid him back in full!" Shao Shang quickly waved her hands. "Not only that, I deliberately provoked him. Third Brother, do you think Tian Shuo is the type to swallow insults?"

Cheng Shaogong swallowed his food. "Of course not! The man clearly holds grudges and has a narrow mind."

"Exactly. Earlier, I mocked him for being easily fooled by shamans and said something even ruder—I told him, 'It's no trouble for shamans to swindle you, Young Master Tian. Just look at how, despite your many concubines, not a single child was seen at the ritual earlier. Clearly, you struggle with offspring. Tell me, haven't you ever consulted a skilled fortune-teller to see if your fate carries obstacles, leaving you with scant blessings of children?'..."Huo Bu Yi's expression softened slightly, but Cheng Shao Gong couldn't stand it any longer: "Your words are too harsh. One should avoid hitting others where it hurts most, especially when it comes to matters as significant as lineage and succession."

"Exactly, I know I went too far, but I did it on purpose," Shao Shang's eyes sparkled. "Anyone judging would say my words were inappropriate and excessively cruel. I thought Tian Shuo would at least complain to my brother or Lord Huo, but surprisingly, he chose to endure it! Isn't that strange?" Initially, Tian Shuo had thought her soft and easy to bully, hoping to gain some verbal advantage. But when he took a bite, he nearly broke his teeth—yet he chose to swallow his anger instead.

"Indeed. Although A Yao and I found nothing during our search, the strangeness of the Tian family became increasingly apparent," Huo Bu Yi nodded. "Did you notice? Most of the guards and servants within the Tian family's Manor Fortress are elderly and frail."

Shao Shang paused, recalling: "Ah, that's true. For such a large Manor Fortress, whether to protect the household or intimidate the locals, there should be at least a hundred strong men."

"Yesterday, when we asked for water from a village near the Tian Manor Fortress, I observed the farmers' deep fear of the Tian family. I refuse to believe the Tians 'win hearts with virtue,'" Huo Bu Yi remarked with a cold smirk.

"Tian Shuo has no 'virtue' to speak of—he's more lacking in it than anything," Shao Shang scoffed, then grew serious. "So where have all the able-bodied men from his Manor Fortress gone? Hmm, something is indeed amiss."

Cheng Shao Gong, chewing on the tip of his chopsticks, squinted sideways: "I told you long ago that Tian Shuo was suspicious. No need for you two to deliberate back and forth—just one look at his face told me he was trouble!"

Shao Shang and Huo Bu Yi both turned to stare at him.

At the beginning of the Hour of the Goat, the Cheng-Huo party reunited with Lou Yao in front of the Li family's Manor Fortress, surrounded by open fields. Upon entering the tent, Lou Yao hesitated: "Li Kuo adamantly refuses to open the gates and even stood atop the walls cursing loudly. His words... his words showed great disrespect toward the court..."

Huo Bu Yi set down the map scroll and said lightly, "Then there's no need for further discussion. Let's proceed."

Hearing this, Shao Shang eagerly had the last few crates of Firearms brought forward, muttering, "Lives matter most—use more fire attacks to minimize casualties..." Since these were for siege purposes, most of the Firearms she had hastily crafted over the past two days were designed for maximum explosive impact. This time, she spared no expense, and a few of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder bombs were particularly formidable.

Huo Bu Yi walked over, picked up a few to examine, and smiled. "Let's conserve them—don't use them all up."

With one hand behind his back, he stepped out of the tent. His fair, slender fingers pointed toward the Manor Fortress ahead. "This fortress is built with massive stones. Are you sure your Firearms can breach it?"

Standing beside him, Shao Shang replied confidently, "Not all stones are the same. Some are solid and unyielding, while others are loose and brittle. I've inspected that stone wall—don't worry, it will definitely blow open!"

Huo Bu Yi gazed at her smooth, creamy skin and her adorably puffed cheeks, then suddenly kissed her. Softly, he whispered, "When we build our own Manor Fortress in the future, we'll choose the finest stones."

Blushing, Shao Shang covered her cheeks and changed the subject. "If you ever face battles in the northwest, these Firearms could be useful there too."

Huo Bu Yi shook his head. "These Firearms burn too fiercely. If they truly set the grasslands ablaze, how would the ordinary herders and remnants of the northwestern tribes survive? I'd rather endure a hard-fought battle than set such a precedent."

Shao Shang's eyes sparkled. Her beloved was not only brave and skilled in battle but also kind-hearted—truly the finest man in the world. She stood on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck and planted a firm kiss on his beautifully curved jawline.

Huo Bu Yi's heart softened as he gazed at her, his eyes shimmering like flowing starlight.

...

A deafening explosion marked the beginning of the small-scale siege. The countryside of Yuzhou had never witnessed such earth-shattering spectacle, and half the Li family's defenders atop the walls immediately collapsed in terror.The soldiers under Huo Bu Yi's command were well-trained and divided into four groups. One group charged onto the city walls amidst earth-shattering explosions, flames, and smoke. Another used newly crafted battering rams to smash open the gates of the manor fortress, then formed square shield formations to protect their heads and faces as they stormed inside. The remaining two groups took turns rotating in.

The siege began near the end of the Hour of the Goat. Midway through the battle, Liang Qiu Fei, who had been sent to deliver a message, returned with Zhang Shan and borrowed reinforcements, intensifying the assault. The fierce fighting continued until dusk when the Li family's manor fortress was finally breached.

Cheng Shao Gong stood leisurely at the rear, hands tucked into his sleeves, admiring the scene: "Swift as the wind, steady as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as a mountain, unpredictable as shadows, striking like thunder... Truly impressive, most impressive!"

Shao Shang couldn't help but laugh. "Third Brother, you followed our parents through battles all those years. Yet you avoid the battlefield like it's a bed of needles. How did you survive all that time away?"

Cheng Shao Gong defended himself, "It's not that I avoid battle. I'm just following Marquis Huo's orders to keep an eye on you and prevent you from running off."

"If not for his orders, would you have joined the fight? I even saw A Yao get injured—oh, his arm, I think! They're coming back now!" Shao Shang pointed into the distance, standing on tiptoes to get a better look.

"...Niao Niao, let me give you some advice. For Lou Yao's sake, try not to show him too much concern."

"Here we go again. Lord Huo said he doesn't mind anymore."

"You actually believe what men say?!"

Shao Shang rubbed her head and, for once, obediently ignored Lou Yao. Instead, she buried herself in Huo Bu Yi's bloodstained sleeve, fussing over whether he was hurt or uncomfortable. Huo Bu Yi, predictably, was overjoyed.

Only after completely quelling the resistance within the manor fortress did Huo Bu Yi allow Shao Shang to ride inside. The stationed soldiers held aloft torches that spiraled like fiery dragons, illuminating the once-dark fortress in brilliant light.

Shao Shang felt nervous. If Yuan Shen wasn't found here, she wouldn't know what to do next.

Huo Bu Yi guided his horse with one hand while holding the reins of her mount with the other. The two rode slowly inward until Zhang Shan hurried over to report, "Young Master, we've searched everywhere but found no trace of Li Kuo!"

Huo Bu Yi nodded. "Take some men to secure the perimeter and continue the search below."

As they rode deeper into the inner quarters, they were met with a sight of exquisitely lavish chambers that rivaled the splendor of the imperial palace.

Liang Qiu Fei also came to report: "We found several dungeons, but they held only unrelated prisoners—no sign of Young Master Yuan. In the inner chambers, we discovered the body of Li Kuo's wife, who had taken her own life, along with several of her maidservants who had also committed suicide."

Huo Bu Yi's striking features, illuminated by the flickering torchlight, resembled a jade statue alternating between light and shadow.

Without a word, he dismounted and led Shao Shang toward the inner chambers. There, they saw the bodies of maidservants scattered across the floor—some seated, some lying down—and Lady Li herself, reclined on a bed piled with brocade. All the women had died peacefully, a few even with faint smiles still lingering on their faces.

On the table were half-finished cups of poisoned wine and an assortment of delicate pastries. Shao Shang guessed they had all taken poison. But Huo Bu Yi bent down to examine the corpses closely, particularly the still-beautiful Lady Li, inspecting her hands repeatedly.Shao Shang was still afraid of corpses and dared not get too close, only asking, "Is there something wrong?" The deceased Lady Li was young and beautiful, with fair and delicate hands, clearly a noble lady who had never done hard labor.

Huo Bu Yi straightened up and said softly, "I hope I'm just being overly suspicious."

At that moment, another guard reported that, according to a servant's confession, a noble young master had been hidden by the master and mistress in a deeply concealed dungeon. Based on the description, the young master should be Yuan Shen.

"Is he still alive?!" Shao Shang was both shocked and delighted—she knew this guy wasn’t dead!

The guard replied, "The servant said he heard Young Master Yuan moving around in the dungeon just yesterday."

Shao Shang’s face lit up with joy, and in her excitement, she forgot her brother’s warnings. She rushed ahead to see Yuan Shen, while Huo Bu Yi followed at a steady pace behind. Liang Qiu Fei cautiously observed his Young Master, whose expression had darkened.

The hidden dungeon was located beneath the brick wall behind the ancestral hall—likely the Li family’s way of having their ancestors guard the prisoner.

Accompanied by a group of guards holding torches, Cheng and Huo arrived at the dungeon entrance. They descended along a dark stone path that sloped downward, like a dagger plunging into the earth. The tunnel twisted and turned, alternating between slopes and steps. After walking for about the time it takes to eat a meal, they finally reached a stone door at the end. Pushing it open revealed a massive square pit.

Liang Qiu Fei, who had pushed the door, nearly stumbled in surprise but was steadied by his comrades behind him. Raising their torches, they realized this was a sunken prison cell.

The cell resembled an inverted, flat-topped pyramid—a square, four-sided frustum, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. After opening the stone door, one had to descend a long flight of stone steps to reach the floor.

By this point, Huo Bu Yi’s brow was deeply furrowed.

In truth, he hadn’t wanted to enter from the start—uncharted territory should never be ventured into lightly. But seeing Shao Shang’s eager excitement, he held his tongue, only instructing the guards to stand watch along the tunnel with swords drawn. At the first sign of trouble, they were to sound the alarm and ensure their retreat wasn’t cut off.

He was about to pull Shao Shang back and let the soldiers investigate first when a familiar yet weak male voice echoed from the depths of the dungeon: "...Who’s there? Fort Master Tian? If you’ve come to kill me, just get on with it. No need for theatrics."

Hearing this voice, Shao Shang’s days of worry finally melted away. Beaming, she grabbed a lantern and clattered down the stone steps. Liang Qiu Fei, seeing Huo Bu Yi’s slight nod, led a few guards with torches to follow.

Huo Bu Yi himself did not descend. Instead, he stood straight at the entrance, his young muscles tense with vigilance.

The steps numbered thirty or forty, and the flickering torchlight cast the dungeon in shifting shadows. One corner of the stone floor was strewn with straw, alongside a low table, bedding, and even a simple folding screen—likely concealing a privy.

Against the wall on the straw sat a young man dressed in a light blue Wrapped Robe. Though disheveled, with bandages on his arms and legs, he appeared relatively clean and composed. Unaccustomed to the light, he shielded his eyes with one hand. "Who goes there?"

Shao Shang teased, "Young Master Yuan, long time no see!"

Yuan Shen quickly looked up and, recognizing the familiar, radiant face of the girl, was overcome with joy. "Shao Shang! How is it you?"

Huo Bu Yi cleared his throat. "And me."Yuan Shen froze for a moment. "You... you came too...?"

Huo Bu Yi said displeasedly, "Who do you think rescued you?"

Shao Shang, oblivious to the undercurrents between the two men, cheerfully went to help Yuan Shen up. But as he moved his hands and feet, everyone noticed an iron shackle locked around his right wrist, with a chain extending over thirty feet into the opposite stone wall. It looked somewhat loose.

Huo Bu Yi saw it too. He sent someone outside to look for the key (though it was unlikely to be found) while ordering Liang Qiu Fei and others to use their knife hilts to pry at the loose stone (they could find a locksmith after getting out).

Shao Shang had already mentally prepared herself for Yuan Shen's misfortune. Seeing her old friend safe and sound now, she joyfully bombarded him with questions: "Are you injured? Are you sick? Are you hungry? Did they torture you...?"

Huo Bu Yi abruptly interrupted, "How were you captured and brought here, Imperial Secretary Yuan?"

Yuan Shen sighed. "I was about to tell you even if you didn't ask. It's a long story—I came here while tracking remnants of the Gongsun clan."

After the Yuan family suffered a major setback in the assassination incident, Yuan Shen knew that even with the Emperor's favor, returning to the Department of State Affairs without merit would invite ridicule. So he deliberately withdrew from court affairs first, seeking opportunities to distinguish himself.

"You think you can just go out and earn merit whenever you want? Is merit like ripe fruit on a tree, ready for picking?" Shao Shang teased. "Di Wu Cheng is still unconscious. What exactly happened to you two?"

Yuan Shen sighed again. "Di Wu Cheng is still alive? That's excellent. It was my recklessness that implicated him."

He paused before continuing, "After sending my parents away from the Capital City, I stayed home pondering and finally thought of something—judging from Gongsun Xian's methods, he seemed quite familiar with people from the martial world. If he could use them, so could I. So I asked Di Wu Cheng to contact his old friends from the martial world. After several inquiries, we heard a half-true rumor."

"What rumor?" Shao Shang listened intently.

"That Gongsun Xian, who repeatedly masterminded assassinations of imperial generals..." Yuan Shen glanced up at Huo Bu Yi standing above them, "has been regularly transporting wealth out of Shu over the years, often using martial artists rather than Shu soldiers as escorts. As for where it was sent—no one knows..."

"With so many shipments, how could no one know?" Huo Bu Yi interjected.

Yuan Shen explained, "Gongsun Xian was mediocre in warfare but excelled in scheming. The escort teams would change hands several times along the way, and after leaving Shu, they would blend into various merchant caravans traveling north and south, making them hard to track."

"Then how did you find this place?" Huo Bu Yi asked.

"The world is vast—it was difficult to locate. So I went to the Honglu Temple to search through records," Yuan Shen said. "Back when that old man Gongsun guarded Shu for years, he developed ambitions to proclaim himself emperor and seize power. He had all his descendants marry daughters from Shu's noble families to form marriage alliances."

Shao Shang gave a soft scoff.

"Gongsun Xian, as the false emperor's younger brother, was no exception. He married a daughter from the famous Zhang family of eastern Shu. However, that Zhang woman was notoriously fierce and jealous, often beating and killing concubines in the household. I then went to the Northern Army Prison to question Shu prisoners captured by the imperial army last year. Someone told me that about a decade ago, a major tragedy occurred in Gongsun Xian's household—it took the false emperor's intervention to settle it."Yuan Shen continued, "Gongsun Xian had a beloved concubine who had been with him for many years. She was said to be the daughter of his wet nurse, and the two had grown up together, sharing a deep affection. Although Lady Zhang was notoriously jealous, Gongsun Xian was no pushover either. He protected his concubine so thoroughly that Lady Zhang couldn’t lay a finger on her. But then, over a decade ago, Gongsun Xian suddenly fell gravely ill and remained unconscious for several days. Amid the chaos in the household, Lady Zhang seized the opportunity to secretly abduct the concubine and then—"

"And then killed her?" Shao Shang’s imagination couldn’t stretch further than this.

Yuan Shen sighed. "Though Lady Zhang was a woman, her cruelty was no less than any man’s. She slashed the concubine’s face, poisoned her throat to render her mute, and sold her to the filthiest, most degrading brothel—leaving her unable to speak or be recognized."

Shao Shang was stunned.

Yuan Shen also found it hard to bear. "Fortunately, Gongsun Xian had connections in all walks of life. After recovering, he immediately mobilized his resources to search for her. Several months later, he finally found the concubine, who was already on the brink of death. She passed away not long after."

"What happened next?" Shao Shang sighed.

Yuan Shen said, "Gongsun Xian was furious and determined to kill Lady Zhang. But the Zhang family held great power in Shu, so the usurper emperor had to step in to mediate and suppress the matter. Unexpectedly, three years later, Lady Zhang suddenly contracted a strange illness—her entire body itched unbearably, her flesh rotted and fell off piece by piece, until even her bones were exposed. The Zhang family sought medical help everywhere, and this incident was widely known among Shu’s officials."

"After months of torment, Lady Zhang succumbed to the illness. The Zhang family suspected Gongsun Xian was behind it but had no proof. Instead, Gongsun Xian spent years meticulously fabricating charges, accusing the Zhang family of treason and colluding with the enemy—the ‘enemy’ in question being us, by the way."

Shao Shang clicked her tongue. "This is the consequence of failing to raise their daughter properly. The Zhang family’s lesson should be widely publicized."

Yuan Shen added, "I also inquired about the fate of Gongsun Xian’s other family members. It turned out that when General Wu captured Shu, they, along with the usurper emperor’s clan, were all slaughtered by General Wu in one sweep."

Shao Shang frowned. "Gongsun Xian managed to escape beforehand but refused to take Lady Zhang’s children with him, even if it meant cutting off his own lineage. This shows how deep their enmity ran."

"Perhaps his lineage wasn’t entirely cut off," Huo Bu Yi suddenly interjected. "Did that concubine leave behind any offspring?"

Yuan Shen glanced up and said, "Marquis Huo is correct. That concubine bore Gongsun Xian a son, whom he adored. When the child turned one, Gongsun Xian invited all the prominent figures of Shu to celebrate. At the time of the concubine’s misfortune, the boy was only seven or eight years old, and the following year, it was said he had died young."

"If that child were alive today, he’d be around twenty-five or twenty-six," Huo Bu Yi remarked.

Shao Shang was startled, a figure flashing in her mind. "Could... could that person be Tian Shuo? But no, he’s the son of the Tian family patriarch. Wouldn’t the Tian family recognize him?"

Yuan Shen shook his head. "I don’t know the specifics, but based on Di Wu Cheng’s investigations, Gongsun Xian began sending wealth out of Shu precisely after his illegitimate son’s supposed death. I suspect Gongsun Xian hid the boy somewhere—how could a father, especially one who lost his beloved so early, let his young son venture alone to a strange place? He would surely send his most trusted confidant to accompany him."

Shao Shang clapped her hands in admiration. "Young Master Yuan, what brilliant deduction!"Yuan Shen smiled and continued, "So, I interrogated those who were frequently in contact with Gongsun Xian again. They said that back then, Gongsun Xian indeed had a trusted aide—a man with a purple complexion and a long scar, skilled with a three-pronged spear, outstanding in martial arts, steady and capable. Hmm, around the same time that the illegitimate son 'died,' this aide and his entire family disappeared. Di Wu Cheng investigated further and finally found a retired thief from the jianghu. He said that while 'working' in this area years ago, he encountered a burly man with a purple, scarred face in a hidden manor fortress deep in the forest. The man wielded a three-pronged spear with such mastery that the thief barely escaped with his life."

Huo Bu Yi remarked, "Hmm, this man was truly loyal—he even burned off his scar."

Yuan Shen nodded. "Exactly. But I still wasn’t entirely sure, so I gathered two hundred family generals and servants, planning to come and see for myself." If he rashly reported this to the authorities and ended up making a fool of himself, he wouldn’t even have the face to stay on the Scripture Discussion Platform.

"Wait, wait," Shao Shang suddenly interjected. "You mean to say that you suspected the Tian family was shady, so you went straight to confront them—'Hey, Tian, are you Gongsun Xian’s illegitimate son?'"

Huo Bu Yi chuckled softly.

Yuan Shen, flustered and angry, slapped the ground. "I didn’t just barge in recklessly! I brought two hundred elite soldiers and the governor’s warrant!" This was his uncle’s territory—what could possibly go wrong? And yet, damn it all, something did go wrong!

Huo Bu Yi burst into laughter.

Yuan Shen grew even angrier. "Every inch of this land belongs to the Emperor! I had an imperial decree and troops to apprehend a fugitive, and they dared to resist arrest and even tried to silence us—utter rebellion!"

"They were already rebels to begin with!" Shao Shang rolled her eyes skyward. "Haven’t you heard of 'a cornered beast will fight back' or 'the dagger is drawn when all else fails'? Sorry, let me laugh for a moment too." She turned her face away to stifle her giggles.

Liang Qiu Fei and several other guards, having heard the whole story, also quietly snickered.

Yuan Shen was so furious he could barely speak, muttering resentfully, "It seems I excel at strategizing from afar but shouldn’t personally take the field..."

The dungeon was shaped like an inverted cone, resembling a large trumpet, and Huo Bu Yi heard his words clearly. He said earnestly, "Young Master Yuan is right. That’s exactly what Zhao Kuo thought back in the day."

Shao Shang had just stopped laughing, but upon hearing this, she nearly doubled over again.

Yuan Shen was seething but could do nothing about it.

Fortunately, the stone wall was finally broken through at this point, or Yuan Shen might have fainted from sheer frustration.

A guard yanked hard, pulling one end of the iron chain out from the shattered wall. Liang Qiu Fei quickly helped Yuan Shen up before Shao Shang could, earning an approving glance from Huo Bu Yi.

The pampered Young Master Yuan groaned as he stood up, still managing to remind them, "...Hurry and block Tian Shuo, or he’ll escape."

Shao Shang walked beside him. "Don’t worry, we left people near Tian Manor Fortress. Besides, now that he’s exposed, with every local authority hunting him, do you really think he can flee to the ends of the earth?"

"Wait, aren’t we in Tian Manor Fortress’s dungeon right now?" Yuan Shen asked, puzzled.

Shao Shang shook her head. "No, we’re in Li Manor Fortress. You were probably knocked out and transferred here."

As they approached the stone steps and stepped into the light, Huo Bu Yi caught sight of Yuan Shen swaying unsteadily and exclaimed in surprise, "Yuan Shen, your face... Did they send someone to the dungeon to shave you?"Shao Shang looked at Yuan Shen's face and noticed a faint stubble covering his jawline. She immediately realized—if Yuan Shen had been in the Dungeon for nearly half a month, how could his beard be so sparse?!

Yuan Shen touched his stubble and explained, "I wasn't originally held here. I was confined in a secret chamber, with mute servants attending to my daily needs. One day, I woke up to find myself here. There was food and water on the table, but no one paid me any attention. Judging by the stubble, I've been here for two days."

Huo Bu Yi froze for a moment before shouting urgently, "This is bad! Shao Shang, come up quickly! Hurry—!"

But it was already too late. The stone walls on all sides began to creak with the sound of mechanisms turning, and suddenly, the floor in the middle of the dungeon collapsed with a loud crash, revealing a massive, pitch-black hole.

Yuan Shen, Liang Qiu Fei, and several other guards didn’t even have time to cry out before they plummeted straight down. Shao Shang, who was closest to the stone steps, barely managed to scramble onto the last step—only for the entire staircase to retract into the wall with a series of sharp cracks.

The four guards by the door above tightly gripped Huo Bu Yi, desperately pulling him back—

"Young Master, retreat first!"

"We can’t all be trapped here—we’ll rescue them once we’re out!"

"The Crown Prince hasn’t been found yet—we must plan carefully!"

Huo Bu Yi watched as the steps below swiftly retracted into the wall. The girl’s face was pale with terror, and as she lost her grip on the vanishing steps, on the verge of falling… he suddenly remembered that night when he had slain the Ling Brothers—the mournful night wind, the desolate wilderness, and how her face had been just as pale then.

His heart burned with a fierce, aching tenderness. And then, he did something he had never thought himself foolish enough to do in this lifetime—he wrenched his arms free, shoved the four guards aside, and leaped down.

How could he leave her alone again, frightened and helpless?

Author’s Note:

For this chapter, please refer to the map on Weibo to avoid confusion. You all know my Weibo, right? Guanxin Zelian zszy.

The word count proves I haven’t been slacking. Just one and a half more chapters, and this story will be complete.