The Emperor was now past his fifties, yet his posture remained upright and vigorous. Once mounted on a steed with bow in hand, there were scarcely a handful in the entire Capital City who could rival him—the foremost among them being his own adopted son, whom he had personally trained.
He had understood from the outset of his uprising that building an empire inevitably came with bloodshed. Every trusted minister who had fought alongside him through the tides of war had lost family or friends, either on the battlefield or to collateral repercussions. Even he himself was the sole survivor of three brothers, with only his eldest sister remaining of three sisters.
Yet none of his loyal followers had suffered as tragically as the Huo family. To hold back the enemy forces for him, the Huo clan had nearly been wiped out entirely. Now, Ling Buyi was the only remaining bloodline left in this world by his sworn elder brother from the Huo family.
At times, the Emperor took comfort in Ling Buyi’s dignified decisiveness, his brilliance and noble bearing. Yet at other times, he was displeased by his adopted son’s excessive singularity. The Emperor often wished Ling Buyi were more like the typical scions of noble families—or like his own sons, who reveled in power and wealth, indulged in fine wine and hunting, and kept concubines. Had that been the case, the Emperor might have been somewhat disappointed that he bore so little resemblance to his Huo brother, but at least these were things he could bestow upon him.
But Ling Buyi was nothing of the sort. He was like a wandering spirit—melancholic and aloof, neither befriending influential nobles nor cultivating retainers or followers. Apart from his devotion to his elders and siblings (here, the Emperor referred to himself and the Crown Prince), it seemed nothing in this world held his heart.
The Emperor knew that currently, the top spot on the Capital’s list of most eligible bachelors belonged to Yuan Shanjian, son of Prefect Yuan. Yet from the first name down to the hundredth, Ling Buyi’s name was nowhere to be found. It wasn’t that there was anything lacking in Ling Buyi—rather, the boy was simply too unpredictable in his actions. After Princess Yuchang and Yuhou’s daughter had both been rebuffed, few families dared approach him again, lest they invite humiliation.
What kind of man stands in this world without love for fine steeds or strong wine, without desire for beautiful women or fame and fortune, only to fixate on another’s betrothed?
Of course, Young Lady Cheng hadn’t initially been someone else’s betrothed. From questioning Ling Buyi’s attendants earlier, the Emperor learned that he and Lady Cheng had met several times before—their first encounter at the Wan residence, then her life-saving act in Dongjun, followed by their reunion at the Secluded Residence outside Hua County. Ah, and then a brief meeting outside the city gates, leading up to today.
The Emperor, ever meticulous in his thoughts, swiftly drew two conclusions.
First: Ling Buyi had already developed feelings for her during the hunting lodge incident. But the Lou and Cheng families had moved with such haste, as if spurred by fire, that by the time he turned his attention back, his beloved had already been betrothed. Thus, he resigned himself and refrained from pressing further.
Second: Ling Buyi genuinely regarded the young master of the Lou family as a younger brother, and by extension, saw Lady Cheng as the wife of a sworn sibling. Hence, he showed her extra care, with no other ambiguous intentions.
Naturally, Ling Buyi’s explanation had been pristine and above reproach. But which version was closer to the truth? The Emperor rose to his feet, pacing restlessly within his tent, uncertain which conclusion he even hoped to lean toward.
If it were the former, should he demand the betrothal be broken to accommodate Ling Buyi? The Lou and Cheng families had already formally pledged their union—even as sovereign, he could not lightly disrespect his subjects. But if it were the latter… The Emperor heaved a heavy sigh. In that case, he’d rather Ling Buyi were fixated on another’s betrothed. At least then his adopted son wouldn’t remain a wandering spirit, and he’d know where to begin addressing the matter.
The Empress, who had been quietly reading in the tent, observed the Emperor for a long while before smiling and asking, “What troubles Your Majesty today? Is it the weight of state affairs?”"No, it's Zisheng who's injured." The Emperor was tight-lipped. "By the way, does the Empress remember that young lady from the Cheng family?"
The Empress raised her delicate brows and smiled. "How could I forget? A Ling has complained to me several times, saying that girl is vulgar, mean-spirited, and ill-mannered, barely able to recognize a few characters."
"Only half of what A Ling says can be believed. Coming to you just to speak ill of others—does that show good upbringing?" The Emperor waved his sleeve and sat beside the Empress. "I recall Lou Taipu once boasted to me that the Cheng girl said something like 'Only amidst desolation can great achievements be made.' Though unlearned, she certainly has spirit!"
The Empress nodded. "That's true. I've already reprimanded A Ling. Cheng Xiaowei and his wife served the country loyally and had no choice but to leave their daughter behind, resulting in her lack of upbringing. How can we mock her for that? Didn't Your Majesty issue an edict betrothing the two families recently?"
The Emperor choked on his words.
The Empress tilted her head in thought, then added, "At the time, Your Majesty also said Cheng Xiaowei was virtuous and talented, though his family background was somewhat humble. But since the youngest son of the Lou family likes the girl, that's what matters most."
The Emperor stroked his beard and muttered, "...Youngsters, what do they know about love?"
The Empress found the Emperor's words rather contradictory tonight—was he supporting the young couple's mutual affection or opposing their self-determined betrothal and mismatched status? She set down the bamboo scroll. "Your Majesty, is something troubling you?"
The Emperor sighed deeply. He wasn't sure what he wanted either and could only say, "...Zisheng refuses to recuperate in the palace and insists on returning to his own residence. Had I known, I wouldn't have granted him that estate!"
"...Your Majesty could summon Zisheng to the palace," the Empress suggested, suppressing a smile while maintaining her dignified grace.
To her surprise, the Emperor shook his head, continuing his incoherent tone for the evening. "It's better for Zisheng to be at his own residence—" That way, someone could come to express gratitude, if that girl had any sense.
...
Shao Shang certainly had sense—not only did she go to express gratitude, she did so three times in a row!
On the first day, the day after returning from Mount Tu Gao to the Capital City, Shao Shang had servants load a cart full of lavish gifts and invited Lou Yao to accompany her to thank Ling Buyi. Unexpectedly, Lou Taipu took leave specifically to join them.
Ling Buyi's residence was only one district away from the palace. Rumor had it that it was originally the estate of a prince from the previous dynasty—magnificent, towering, with soaring eaves and pillars, the buildings resembling dragons ascending through clouds and phoenixes spreading wings. Yet it was unbelievably empty and desolate. From the main gate to the central chambers three courtyards in, apart from two teams of stern patrolling guards, Shao Shang didn't see a single maid or servant.
It resembled a military camp more than a nobleman's residence.
Even chillier than the estate was the atmosphere of the visit.
Shao Shang and Lou Yao were extremely enthusiastic, and Lou Taipu was sincere, but Ling Buyi seemed to possess a peculiar talent—no matter how they tried to start a conversation, he could end it in two sentences. Before long, the three had no choice but to take their leave.
Lou Yao thought Brother Ling must be severely injured and needed proper rest.
Lou Taipu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: Judging by Ling Buyi's icy demeanor, he likely has no particular interest in my nephew's fiancée.Shao Shang, however, sensed Ling Buyi's displeasure beneath his polite yet indifferent expression. She thought to herself that he might have wanted to discuss the Returning Goose Tower matter with her, but with the Lou family uncle and nephew present, it was inconvenient to bring it up.
The next day, Shao Shang rummaged through her father’s storeroom for a few jars of medicinal ointments, intending to visit Ling Buyi again. To her dismay, Old Man Cheng and Madam Xiao insisted on accompanying her. Left with no choice, Shao Shang set off with her parents.
This time, Ling Buyi was slightly more cordial—though the difference was minimal.
"Thank goodness you happened to pass by, Elder Brother, or Shao Shang would have tumbled off the cliff."
"Hmm. Had I not been there, Shao Shang would be dead."
"Thank goodness Lord Ling happened to pass by, or our daughter would have tumbled off the cliff."
"Had I not been there, what would have become of your daughter?"
As a science-minded girl, Shao Shang couldn’t grasp this ancient art of conversation and could only stand by with a vacant smile. The Cheng couple, however, wore complicated expressions. Soon, the conversation ran dry again, and the family of three returned home.
On the third day, the tenacious Shao Shang prepared to visit the Ling residence once more. This time, Madam Xiao directly assigned her third son, Shao Gong, to shadow his sister closely. Shao Shang tried several times to shake him off on the way, but Cheng Shao Gong cut straight to the point: "Niao Niao, save your energy. Mother said you’re about to be married, and to avoid any impropriety, you’re not allowed to get too close to Lord Ling!"
Shao Shang sighed. Why did no one believe her relationship with Ling Buyi was pure?
Just as she thought this visit would also be in vain, she found the Ling residence unusually lively that day. The front gate was lined with fine horses and carriages, and the usually icy courtyard was bustling with guards and attendants.
Liang Qiu Fei, the young man who personally opened the gate for her, was all smiles. He didn’t seem surprised that Shao Shang had her brother in tow and even kindly informed her, "Today, the Crown Prince has brought several distinguished guests to visit my lord. They’re feasting in the front courtyard."
With the Crown Prince present, they couldn’t simply bypass him unnoticed. The siblings hurried to the main hall in the front courtyard to pay their respects. To her surprise, Shao Shang spotted Yuan Shen among the guests and froze for a moment. Dressed in a moon-white scholar’s robe, Yuan Shen exuded an air of refined elegance and gave her a faint smile from afar.
The current Crown Prince had a kindly appearance, with a round face and a neatly trimmed beard. Seeing the Cheng siblings kneel in greeting, he quickly gestured for them to rise and praised Cheng Shi with the usual platitudes: "Loyal to the state, brave and resolute."
Though usually mischievous, Cheng Shao Gong was still a fourteen-year-old boy. The sight of the Crown Prince left him so excited he could barely speak. He stammered, "Your Highness, this subject…" before a richly dressed young man nearby burst into laughter.
The siblings turned to look—it was Xiao Hou Ban, whom they had met at the Lou family. Realizing his rudeness, Ban immediately clasped his hands in apology. "My apologies, Young Master Cheng. Don’t take offense. I’ve always been quick to laugh—it wasn’t directed at you."
Cheng Shao Gong wasn’t angry and replied with a smile, "No harm done. I’d have laughed too." With the tension eased, he regained his usual carefree demeanor.
Yuan Shen glanced at the slender girl who had been quietly seated with her head bowed since entering and remarked with a smile, "Your Highness is in for a treat today. This Young Master Cheng is skilled at playing the xun. I’ve heard friends praise him many times, saying he embodies the grace of ancient gentlemen."
The Crown Prince, charmed by Shao Gong’s cheerful and refined demeanor, as well as Yuan Shen’s praise, took a liking to him. "Excellent, excellent," he said warmly. "Shao Gong, join us at the table and share a drink with us."Cheng Shaogong was quite willing but hesitated, saying, "Today, this humble official has accompanied my younger sister to express her gratitude to Lord Ling for saving her life."
The Crown Prince smiled amiably, "Zisheng is injured and cannot drink. He is resting in the back chamber. Let the Young Lady go and thank him herself..."
Before he could finish, a sharp-voiced noble son interjected, "Zisheng merely lent a casual hand. I fear some might use gratitude as a pretext to get close, clinging like stubborn oxhide, becoming an irksome nuisance."
Shao Shang suddenly raised her head. The gathered noble sons felt as if jade and snow had blossomed into dazzling beauty before their eyes, each secretly thinking: This young lady of the Cheng family is quite lovely. That Lou boy is fortunate indeed.
Yuan Shen's expression darkened, ready to retort, when a royal descendant sitting beside him, who had been drinking alone, suddenly remarked, "Wang Long, daring to slander Eleventh Master—have you grown tired of living? Have you forgotten how he hung you from the high eaves of the Feifeng Pavilion last time, leaving you to endure the cold wind for two hours?"
"You—?!" The noble son named Wang Long flushed with anger, his expression growing increasingly similar to his younger sister Wang Ling's.
Seeing the two about to quarrel, the Crown Prince scolded in a low voice, "A'Long, silence! Fourth Brother, why bring that up?!"
Cheng Shaogong, still indignant, sought justice for his younger sister: "Young Master Wang, your earlier words—"
"Young Master Wang?" Shao Shang suddenly spoke up politely, "This young lady has met your sister before..."
Wang Long and the Fourth Prince paused their argument, and the noble sons all turned to listen to the girl.
"...It was at the Wan family banquet. The first time we met, we quarreled," the girl smiled faintly, "And it was over Lord Ling. Who would have thought that upon meeting Young Master Wang for the first time today, we'd argue over Lord Ling again."
A soft "pfft" escaped Xiao Hou Ban as he failed to suppress his laughter again.
Yuan Shen, stifling his own amusement, swiftly added fuel to the fire: "Young Marquis Ban has always been fond of laughter since childhood. It wasn't directed at you, Young Master Wang. Pray, do not take offense."
The Fourth Prince also chuckled, "Wang Long, if you insist on criticizing the young lady of Cheng, perhaps we should all discuss the bridge incident at the Wan family that day."
Light laughter rippled through the gathering. The noble sons all thought to themselves: Among the young ladies in the Capital City who cling to Ling Buyi like stubborn oxhide, isn't your sister Wang Ling the foremost example? How shameless of you to criticize others. Other young ladies might chase Ling Buyi for mere amusement before moving on to their own marriages, but your sister is the one truly irksome in her persistence.
At this moment, Liang Qiu Fei emerged impatiently from the back chamber, forcing a smile as he bowed and said, "My lord has heard of Young Lady Cheng's visit to express gratitude and has sent this subordinate to escort her inside."
Yuan Shen's heart tightened. That strange feeling from their time at the Secluded Residence resurfaced.
Shao Shang bowed gracefully to the assembly before taking her leave.
Originally, Cheng Shaogong need not have followed, but after Wang Long's remarks, he refused to let his younger sister bear the reputation of a lovestruck fool. Thus, he insisted on accompanying her to deliver their thanks.
Liang Qiu Fei could only watch helplessly as the Cheng siblings both headed toward the back chamber, shooting a resentful glare at Wang Long.
Ling Buyi seemed to have just bathed and groomed, his fair skin glowing with a jade-like sheen, his ink-black hair loosely draped over his snow-white silk underwear. He reclined lazily on the folding chair, resembling an ancient painting of peerless beauty.
Having heard the commotion outside, he leaned quietly against the hidden cushion, his expression unreadable.With Cheng Shao Gong present, Shao Shang naturally couldn't mention the matter of Returning Goose Tower. The three exchanged some lukewarm pleasantries.
Feeling apologetic, Shao Shang glanced sideways at her brother before looking up at Ling Buyi. She said softly, "Actually, I've always..." She wanted to say that except for the first time, she had always intended to visit him alone, but circumstances never allowed it—she truly hadn't been deliberately avoiding him.
"You don't need to say it. I know," Ling Buyi replied gently.
Cheng Shao Gong kept a straight face, thinking to himself: If you already know without her saying it, why bother with all this nonsense!
"Does your arm still hurt?" Shao Shang asked with concern.
Ling Buyi smiled. "From start to finish, you only ask if it hurts, but not whether it affects my archery and horsemanship?"
Shao Shang laughed sincerely. "As long as it doesn't hurt, that's what matters. Whether you can ride or shoot isn't important."
Ling Buyi gazed back at her, his eyes tender as water.
Just as Cheng Shao Gong was about to cough and interrupt this heartfelt moment, Ling Buyi gave him a faint glance. For some reason, he felt a sudden chill and quickly swallowed his words.
Ling Buyi turned back, about to say more, when loud shouts suddenly came from outside. A drunken voice could be heard intermittently: "...I've seen this young lady Cheng meeting someone...Eleventh Master..."
Cheng Shao Gong's face darkened. He glared at Ling Buyi and Shao Shang before abruptly standing up and striding outside, determined to defend his younger sister.
Shao Shang's heart pounded with fear as she looked anxiously at Ling Buyi. Liang Qiu Fei, standing nearby, whispered, "Young Master, perhaps—"
Ling Buyi raised a hand to stop the young man. Gently, he said to the girl, "Every time we've met, except for those few days at Mount Tu Gao, there have always been others present. Don't be afraid. I'll handle this."
Shao Shang exhaled in relief. In her panic, she had forgotten, but now that she thought calmly, it was indeed true. Gathering her courage, she stood up and declared loudly, "I'll go first!"
She strode into the outer hall to find Cheng Shao Gong gripping the collar of a sharp-featured man, shouting angrily, "...Young Master Huang, how can you speak like this!"
Wang Long, standing nearby, fanned the flames with a loud laugh. "...Third Young Master Cheng, if your sister has done it, why fear others talking about it?!"
The guests watched the scene with amusement. Cheng Shao Gong raised his fist to strike, but the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, and Yuan Shen all stood up to stop him—though for different reasons. The Crown Prince wanted to prevent his cousin from being beaten, Yuan Shen sought to stop Huang Yang from spreading rumors about Shao Shang, and the Fourth Prince aimed to halt everyone.
"Young Master Huang!" Shao Shang raised her voice, walking straight to the crowd and bowing. "Please tell us, when and where did you see me meeting someone in secret?"
Everyone fell silent, watching intently.
"Shao Shang!" Cheng Shao Gong said urgently. "Don't make trouble!"
"I may be just a young woman, but I know to act with integrity. Young Master Huang, speak freely!" Shao Shang recalled Ling Buyi's earlier words and felt increasingly confident. Unless this Huang had seen her with Ling Buyi at Returning Goose Tower, what evidence could he possibly have?
Ling Buyi had already reached the corridor. Hearing this, he paused and listened with a smile.Huang Yang had sobered up somewhat by now. Seeing that he couldn't back down, he loudly blurted out: "Twice! Once at the blacksmith's shop by the city wall, and another time outside the mill beyond the city gates. I saw you speaking with a man. Both times he stood with his back turned inward, but judging by his figure, it was the same person!"
What?! Shao Shang's battle-ready mind suddenly relaxed. After a moment of stunned silence, she turned to look at Yuan Shen beside her.
Yuan Shen also appeared dumbfounded, completely caught off guard.
"Young Lady Cheng, don't tell me that wasn't you! And don't say that man was your brother! Though I couldn't see his face clearly, he was taller than any of your brothers!" Huang Yang grew smug when the girl didn't immediately deny it. "You were even driving a small golden-red chariot—my servants and I saw it clearly! Tell us, who was that man? Was it the Eleventh Master? Haha, haha, oh dear..."
As Huang Yang laughed, he caught sight of Ling Buyi standing under the corridor with a frosty expression. His laughter died instantly, replaced by fear.
"Let me explain," Yuan Shen stepped forward, inexplicably feeling cheerful and excited, though his manner became doubly refined. "Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, Third Young Master Cheng, everyone—the man Young Lady Cheng met those two times was none other than myself."
At these words, everyone except Shao Shang was astonished.
Liang Qiu Fei stared blankly at Ling Buyi, feeling that his Young Master was already radiating chilling hostility.
Yuan Shen bowed slightly to the Cheng siblings with a smile. "My apologies for involving the Young Lady. This matter concerns my mentor—"
Before he could finish explaining, Shao Shang loudly declared: "This matter involves Cheng family affairs and isn't appropriate to discuss in detail. But I ask His Highness the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince, and all present gentlemen to believe that my meetings with Young Master Yuan were solely regarding matters concerning our elders!"
Huang Yang and Wang Long were left speechless, while everyone else wore expressions of surprise.
Still unsatisfied, Shao Shang stood straight by the doorway and declared righteously: "Heaven above and earth below as my witnesses—if there was even the slightest hint of impropriety in my meetings with Young Master Yuan, may I be struck by a carriage within two hundred feet of leaving this mansion! How about that?"
After making this fashionable vow, Shao Shang bid farewell to all the gentlemen in the hall with a circular bow, then apologized to the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince with a deep bow. Satisfied with herself, she waved her sleeves and departed triumphantly, even forgetting to take her own brother along.
Cheng Shao Gong silently retracted his fists. Glancing at Ling Buyi under the corridor, whose cold expression had softened slightly, then turning to look at Yuan Shen inside the hall, whose face had darkened—he suddenly felt he knew too much.
...
Naturally, this matter couldn't escape the notice of the Emperor, who had been paying close attention to Ling Buyi these days.
After hearing the spies' report, the Emperor struck the imperial desk in frustration—why was it so easy for other young men to have rumors spread about them? Just standing casually by a blacksmith's shop or mill entrance was enough to be seen. Yet why were there no rumors about his adopted son? If only someone had witnessed that cliff rescue scene and spread the tale, wouldn't that... wouldn't that...
The upright Emperor came to his senses and decided to stop this improper line of thought.
But at this moment, neither the Emperor, Ling Buyi, Shao Shang, Yuan Shen, nor even the Lou and Cheng families could have anticipated how quickly change would come.
Author's Note:
Next update on the 7th, continuing the every-other-day schedule.
If my next update is short, please remember my diligent demeanor during these productive times. Thank you.
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