The weather was scorching and arid, with yellow sand rolling in waves.
Wei Shu, serving as deputy envoy, had already traveled over a hundred li beyond the border of Great Wei alongside the chief envoy.
After exiting the pass and leaving Longyou, their hundred-strong convoy switched from horses to camels and other supplies, gradually adapting to desert life. During this time, one person fell ill due to the unfamiliar climate. Since the mission could not halt for a single individual, they settled the sick member and continued their journey.
Following the map, they had intended to visit a small state. It was said to be a branch of a certain tribe that had established itself here to escape war. Earlier in the year, envoys from that state had visited Great Wei and, with various testimonies, provided this very map.
Yet now, as Wei Shu and his party arrived according to the map, they stood amidst the vast desert, gazing at the ancient city ruins buried in dust, feeling disoriented and bewildered.
The hired Hu guide was equally stunned, never expecting the state to have vanished.
The climate was severely dry. Wei Shu stood on a high dune, while those around him sat dejectedly on the ground, fanning their hats in the wind. Wei Shu sweated less and did not suffer from the heat as intensely as others. He heard the guide say helplessly, "Sir, I was last here three years ago. The state was still here then. Judging by this, whether it was due to war or water scarcity... well, it's a wasted trip. Honorable sirs, will you still pay my fee?"
The Hu people beyond the frontier were unfamiliar with the complex official titles of Great Wei and addressed everyone as "Sir."
Wei Shu crouched on the sandy ground, taking up a brush to revise the map. He erased the mark indicating the state and added a note about the guide's account. An ancient city had vanished without a trace, leaving no written records or legacy. Had they not come, history might not have preserved even a fragment of its memory.
Seeing the group's despondency, the chief envoy said, "In that case, let us rest here briefly before moving on to the next destination..."
The guide grew anxious: "Sir, this place isn't safe. If bandits appear..."
Before he could finish, everyone heard strange noises and looked up simultaneously. The party was scattered before the ancient ruins, with Wei Shu still kneeling on the scorching sand. As he lifted his head, he saw what seemed like a dark cloud covering the sky—dozens of Hu men clad in sheepskin and brandishing spears appeared on the desert ridges above.
Mounted on horses, they moved like lightning across the sands. Their black steeds charged downward as the Hu men shouted in an unintelligible tongue, descending to attack!
The chief envoy immediately commanded, "Prepare for battle!"
The guide urged frantically, "They must have seen our cargo train and come to plunder. Sir, why not abandon the goods to ensure our safety..."
Wei Shu had already approached. While the chief envoy hesitated, his voice remained cool and firm: "We cannot abandon them."
Terrified by the impending fight, the guide nearly wept, "Then our lives will be lost here! You people of Great Wei don't understand—these desert bandits are exceptionally fierce... many states have been wiped out by them!"
An entire state destroyed! How formidable!
The chief envoy's eyes flickered with tension as he loudly ordered everyone to gather and avoid giving the enemy opportunities to strike. Meanwhile, Wei Shu turned to the guide, his tone slightly peculiar: "May I ask how many provinces and prefectures the destroyed state had?"
The guide looked blank. "What provinces and prefectures?"
Wei Shu rephrased it simply: "How many people lived in the entire state?"Guide: "A few hundred people..."
Hearing this, even the previously tense chief envoy relaxed: What a relief, I thought it was a major power like Great Wei. The mention of a destroyed kingdom had made him nervous. A mere few hundred people, and they call it a kingdom... Although achieving victory with a few dozen against a few hundred is still impressive, at least they aren't as invincible as imagined.
Wei Shu explained from the side: "We cannot abandon the goods now. If we lose cargo right after setting out on our mission, future endeavors will only become more difficult. We should preserve as much as we can from the start and not give up easily."
The chief envoy cast an approving glance at Wei Shu, thinking that this seventh son of the Wei family, though young, was neither a burden nor lacking in composure and intelligence—quite remarkable.
However, Wei Shu's intelligence had little to do with the battle unfolding in the desert.
Even if these bandits weren't as formidable as assumed, having roamed this area for who knows how long, the Great Wei envoy group—half scholars, half warriors—was no match for them. Watching the bandits on horseback encircle them, shouting arrogantly and excitedly while fixating on the cargo wagons protected at the center of the envoy group, the situation grew dire.
Seeing the bandits preparing to attack, Wei Shu grabbed the trembling guide beside him: "Can you understand what they're saying? Can you translate my words for them?"
Guide: "...Yes!"
Wei Shu: "Good, tell them we are envoys sent by Great Wei. Our land is rich and vast, not some minor kingdom! If they harm us, Great Wei will dispatch troops... If they only want the goods, we can negotiate!"
His message was too lengthy; the guide stumbled through the translation while the bandits laughed heartily, paying no heed. Their leader roared, raising his armguard, and dozens charged forward, eyes gleaming with greed—how avaricious they were!
At this life-or-death moment, Wei Shu's scalp prickled, realizing that reasoning with such bandits was futile. Gripping his sword, he resolved to fight first and talk later. Though not a military official, noble families of this era emphasized both literary and martial arts. Even if Wei Shu wasn't as skilled as Yang Si, he could handle ordinary combat...
Yet Wei Shu worried now—these bandits seemed exceptionally fierce... Would their envoy group fall on the very first leg of their journey?
As Wei Shu desperately sought an escape, the bandits charged with ferocious momentum, and he struggled to respond. One burly bandit, wielding a long blade, dismissed the slender youth contemptuously, swinging casually to kill him. Suddenly, a flash of snowy blade light cut diagonally across.
The bandit instantly became alert!
Simultaneously, a hand yanked Wei Shu backward with such force he nearly crashed to the ground. Staggering a few steps, he saw a youth-like figure step in to confront the enemy. With a sharp, narrow blade, the newcomer engaged the foe in just a few moves and slew him.
As the enemy's blood gushed out, the one who saved Wei Shu turned to look at him.
In a clear, bright voice, they said: "To negotiate, you must first subdue with force. If you can't even win a fight, who will bargain with you?"
Wei Shu stood dumbfounded, staring at this youth who, despite male attire, had willow-leaf eyebrows, almond eyes, fair cheeks, and red lips—clearly, clearly... He blurted out: "Zhao Wuniang?"
How could Zhao Wuniang be in his envoy group?Zhao Lingfei made a funny face at him and, before he could react, turned back to face the battle!—
That night, the envoy delegation reached a truce with the bandits, agreeing to negotiate the following day.
The envoy delegation rested at the ancient city ruins. As deputy envoy, Wei Shu comforted the group and consulted with the chief envoy before stepping out of the tent. Under the bright moon, he stood in a daze for a while. Lifting his head, he spotted a girl sitting cross-legged atop a moonlit dune.
Zhao Lingfei was wiping her blade under the moonlight when she sensed someone approaching. She glanced sideways and saw it was indeed Wei Shu.
Amid the desert hardships where everyone looked somewhat disheveled, Wei Shu still radiated a clear brilliance, elegant as an orchid or jade tree.
Zhao Lingfei smiled playfully: "You're quite different from before. You used to barely speak a word all day, but I've seen you in the envoy delegation—talking extensively with various people every day."
Wei Shu: "Official duties only."
Seeing him dismiss her with just a few words again, Zhao Lingfei snorted. Propping her chin in her hands like a young girl, she showed none of the heroic fierceness she had displayed while killing during the day.
When she fell silent, Wei Shu looked at her: "Was that your first time killing someone? You were... quite skilled. Weren't you afraid?"
Zhao Lingfei: "In a life-or-death situation, who has time for fear?"
Wei Shu watched her quietly. She thought he had changed since Chang'an, and he felt the same about her. Back in Chang'an, Zhao Lingfei was still the fifth young lady of Imperial Academy Chancellor Zhao's household—though trained in martial arts, she remained charmingly naive and lively. But the Zhao Lingfei beyond the frontier now had bright, determined eyes and an open expression... like an eagle breaking free from its cage.
Wei Shu: "So you've been following the envoy delegation all along? You just avoided showing yourself around me earlier because you were afraid I'd discover you?"
Zhao Lingfei: "I had no choice. I failed once at disguising myself as a man—Second Brother Yan caught me. I was afraid this time I'd be caught again and sent back to Chang'an before even leaving Great Wei. So I had to be extra careful."
She turned to him, her gaze pleading. Gently tugging his sleeve, she whispered: "Just pretend you never saw me, okay? Don't send me back to Chang'an. I can follow you and protect you all the way. You saw today how dangerous it is outside Great Wei—you need me."
Wei Shu pressed his lips together and said softly: "You're still a young woman after all."
Zhao Lingfei: "What's wrong with being a young woman? Why look down on me? Wasn't it a young woman who saved you today when you were nearly killed?"
Wei Shu sighed helplessly: "I mean, traveling with a group of men would be inconvenient in many ways. Imperial Academy Chancellor Zhao would surely be furious if he found out."
Zhao Lingfei froze, seemingly struck by a thought. Her face reddened, and she grew bashful. After stammering for a long while, she finally lowered her blushing face. Still, she insisted softly: "...Anyway, I can't go back. I must follow you."
Wei Shu: "Why don't you go find Yang Sanlang instead?"
Zhao Lingfei: "You mean my cousin? He's starting as a common soldier now—not some general. How could he possibly hide me? Besides, my father knows him well. He might just send a letter to Longyou, and my cousin would pack me right back to Chang'an.
"But your group is different. You've left Great Wei—you can't contact them, and they can't control you. The farther I follow you, the safer I'll be."
Wei Shu: "Why? Is your father still forcing you into marriage?"
Zhao Lingfei mumbled a sullen "Mm" in response.Wei Shu: "But we don't know when we'll be able to return—perhaps a year, perhaps ten years... Are you truly willing to go through with this?"
Her spirits were low, yet she curved her eyes and whispered softly: "Wasn't it you who said we shouldn't submit to fate, but resist it? My father was about to exchange my marriage certificate with another family. If I didn't escape now, it would be too late. He said I couldn't survive without the Zhao family, that everything I have depends on him. I refuse to believe that... So I must leave Great Wei. I want to prove that I don't need to rely on them, nor do I need a man to support me... I can support myself. My own life shouldn't be controlled by my father.
"They gave birth to and raised me, but does that mean I should become a puppet? If I refuse to be a puppet, should I atone with my death? The world shouldn't be like this.
"Seventh Brother, Brother Ju Yuan... Please help me this once. Let me go with you!"
Under the bright moon and sparse stars, desert dust swirled.
Zhao Lingfei looked up at the moon in the sky, her expression gradually firming: "My cousin has always wanted to leave Chang'an, and now I understand—I want to leave Chang'an too. My cousin wants to be a free eagle soaring in the sky, and now I understand—I want that too. I don't want to be bound by others either!
"Is marriage the only path for a girl? Do girls have no life of their own beyond being exchanged for family interests? I don't know... But I want to find out for myself, to figure out what I truly want."
Wei Shu watched her quietly.
When she spoke of her thoughts, she seemed to glow. Yet she probably didn't even notice it herself—
Back in Chang'an, Zhao Wuniang's fleeing from her engagement had sent Duke Zhao into a rage, forcing him to swallow his pride and apologize to the prominent family involved in the marriage alliance, shamefully retrieving the exchanged marriage certificate.
Duke Zhao declared that when he saw Zhao Lingfei again, he would break Wuniang's legs!
For now, he merely thought his daughter was hiding somewhere in Chang'an as usual, at most having the courage to go to the borderlands to find Yang Sanlang. He didn't know his daughter was bold enough to directly leave Great Wei.
Lady Zhao wept daily, while Duke Zhao exhausted all means to no avail. The Zhao household was shrouded in gloom, and even Princess Danyang heard about the Zhao family gossip from a minister.
Hearing about Zhao Lingfei's escape from marriage, Mu Wan Yao grew wary and quickly sent a letter to Shu, fearing Zhao Lingfei might be going to find Yan Shang. At the same time, she felt fortunate that she had firmly held onto Yan Shang. Otherwise, given Zhao Lingfei's fearless temperament... Yan Shang might indeed have been swayed by her.
Yan Shang had been gone for quite some time—especially with relief efforts in distant Shu—already over half a year... Mu Wan Yao felt rather irritated.
In Chang'an, she was merely routinely building her political influence. Without Yan Shang's company, without Yan Shang to tease, this life felt too ordinary, ordinary to the point of boredom. Yet Mu Wan Yao couldn't possibly chase after him to Shu either... What would it look like for her to constantly follow him around while he was busy with government affairs?
It would make her seem as if she couldn't live without Yan Shang.
Besides, wasn't she busy herself?
While Mu Wan Yao unhappily occupied herself with Chang'an's political affairs, nothing major happened in the capital. The only somewhat unusual event for her was that Princess Consort Jin was pregnant.Princess Consort Jin had prayed for countless years, dragging Mu Wan Yao to worship Buddha more times than one could count... Now that she was finally with child, Mu Wan Yao—who had witnessed firsthand how anxious the princess consort had been—breathed a sigh of relief and felt genuinely happy for this long-suffering woman.
So it was truly possible for someone to yearn for a child to such an extent. Had Princess Consort Jin remained childless, Mu Wan Yao felt she would have been driven to madness... Mu Wan Yao then thought of her own situation but quickly shook off such thoughts. Yan Shang had already accepted her; she must not seek out troubles or torment herself.
Yet amidst her joy, Mu Wan Yao grew concerned about Chunhua’s treatment in Prince Jin’s household.
When Princess Consort Jin had no child of her own, she clung tightly to Chunhua, preparing for the worst—if she remained barren, she would inevitably adopt Chunhua’s son as her own.
But now Princess Consort Jin was pregnant.
If she gave birth to a son, the subtle rivalry between the legitimate heir and the eldest son... would inevitably alter Princess Consort Jin’s attitude toward Chunhua. Life in Prince Jin’s residence would likely become much harder for Chunhua.
Mu Wan Yao drifted into thought for a while but found no solution. Chunhua had to live her own life; Mu Wan Yao couldn’t marry Fifth Brother in her stead. At most, she could whisper reminders in Fifth Brother’s ear, urging him to keep an eye on the inner household... If only Chunhua hadn’t been forced to become a concubine in the first place.
The more she pondered, the more Mu Wan Yao resented Prince Qin.
And recently, Prince Qin had been making frequent moves... Having been confined long enough, the military redeployments in Chang’an had unsettled him, and he was likely to be released soon.
Mu Wan Yao naturally employed every means to prolong his confinement, yet by the seventh month, she helplessly watched as Prince Qin was freed. Fortunately, the nearly half-year confinement had left a significant impact, forcing him to lay low for a time and avoid drawing attention.
Prince Qin even specially visited the Princess Residence to share a drink with Mu Wan Yao, proposing a temporary reconciliation: “Yaoyao, we were never truly enemies. Third Brother wronged you before, and I’ve come specifically to apologize. Please stop targeting me in court.”
To this end, Prince Qin sent over a trove of treasures.
With limited means to oppose him now, Mu Wan Yao reluctantly accepted the peace offering. Simultaneously, she felt a secret pride. As she toyed with Prince Qin’s apology gifts in her residence, she reflected that all this was due to her current status.
Power, power—it was all about power.
And it intoxicated her.
She grew even more engrossed in political affairs. Without a man by her side, she became more fervent than before, wholly dedicated to her own schemes. Behind the court scenes, Danyang Princess’s influence had become immensely significant. It was at this time that Xiarong unexpectedly reminded Mu Wan Yao of something: “Your Highness, when will Yan Erlang return?”
Mu Wan Yao, reviewing a memorial, grew wary: “Why do you ask?”
Xiarong: “Because my younger brother was born two days ago, and it suddenly reminded me—isn’t Erlang about to come of age?”
Mu Wan Yao paused, then said: “His birthday is in mid-October. He’ll be crowned then.”
Xiarong: “Will Erlang be able to return by then?”Mu Wan Yao said unhappily: "Of course he can return! He's there for disaster relief, not to settle down in Shu. No matter how difficult Shu is, once we get past September, the drought season will be over. No matter how enthusiastic he is, there's no need for him to stay in Shu any longer."
Xia Rong's reminder made Mu Wan Yao thoughtful yet excited. She tossed aside the memorial, stood up and paced while murmuring to herself: "How important a young man's capping ceremony is. After the capping, that's when he truly becomes an adult. Since his father cannot come to Chang'an, as his... hmm, I should help arrange it for him."
She tilted her head in thought: "I should go consult with Lord Liu."
Lord Liu was Yan Shang's teacher. If Yan Shang was to be capped in Chang'an, it would certainly require an elder of Lord Liu's virtue and prestige to perform the ceremony. Mu Wan Yao's heart leaped with joy at the thought of discussing this thoroughly with Lord Liu to give Yan Shang a surprise... He probably never thought anyone would care about his capping ceremony.
Being a woman of action, no sooner had she conceived this idea than she set off without prior notice, directly driving to Lord Liu's residence to discuss the matter.
The princess's sudden arrival caught the Liu residence unprepared. When Mu Wan Yao descended from her carriage and entered the residence, it was actually Liu Ruozhu who hurried out to greet her. Over the past few months, due to Liu Ruozhu's persistent efforts, Mu Wan Yao had become much more familiar with this young lady and her impression had improved considerably.
Therefore, when she saw Liu Ruozhu, Mu Wan Yao even wore a slight smile and nodded in greeting. However, when her gaze shifted to the tall, scholarly-looking gentleman behind Liu Ruozhu who seemed somewhat familiar, she froze for a moment.
The gentleman bowed to her: "Your subject Lin Dao, Academician of the Hanlin Academy, pays respects to Your Highness."
Mu Wan Yao remembered - this was the person who had set up something like storytelling at the Hanlin Academy during the Scholarly Duel she presided over, competing with her and making her furious.
Mu Wan Yao said displeased: "Why are you here?"
Liu Ruozhu smiled beside them: "Some of the books I bought from the East Market are inaccurate, some are rare surviving copies of lost works, and some were fabricated by later generations. I couldn't sort them out alone, so Eldest Brother Lin came to help me. With his excellent scholarship assisting us, we've already organized many books over these past months. Once everything is sorted, we plan to make copies and send them to the Institute for the Advancement of Literature, so scholars throughout the land can read them."
Lin Dao nodded nearby: "The books Miss Liu saved are indeed extremely important. Unfortunately, while I originally wanted to donate them to the Hanlin Academy, she prefers to send them to the Institute for the Advancement of Literature."
Liu Ruozhu blushed, embarrassed: "Anyway, the goal is to make them accessible to more people. If Your Highness is interested, shall we send some copies to the Princess Residence as well?"
Mu Wan Yao smiled: "How could I let you do all the copying alone? I'll send some people to help you with the transcription."
As she walked past them, she caught the scent of ink on their clothes, suggesting they had been busy in the study earlier. Liu Ruozhu followed Mu Wan Yao to lead her to her grandfather. Mu Wan Yao glanced back and saw Lin Dao following behind Liu Ruozhu... Her eyes flickered, suddenly realizing that the saying "a talented scholar and a beautiful lady" was perfectly embodied here.
Mu Wan Yao asked Liu Ruozhu: "What will you do after finishing with these books?"
Liu Ruozhu said softly: "There are many lost books in this world that I wish to restore one by one. Unfortunately, my capabilities are limited, and being a woman, I don't know how this wish can be fulfilled."Mu Wan Yao casually laughed, "That's simple. Just marry a husband who's willing to do these things with you. Someone who'll collect and organize these artifacts with you, accompany you on travels to explore history and the present, and join you in protecting these lost cultures..."
Liu Ruozhu flushed crimson instantly, especially with Mu Wan Yao saying this in front of Lin Dao, making her stammer, "Y-Your Highness, what are you saying! How can you suddenly say such things!"
She glanced nervously at Lin Dao behind her.
Lin Dao gave her a smile, making her blush even more as she guiltily averted her gaze.
Liu Ruozhu stammered, "I-I'll go help Your Highness see what books you want..."
Mu Wan Yao lazily fanned herself with her feather fan: "Just pick whatever you like. After all, I'm just reading alone, unlike you who has someone accompanying you - accompanied by a beautiful woman, sharing similar aspirations... Our Yan Xiao Er isn't fond of such things anyway."
When she affectionately called out "Yan Xiao Er," Liu Ruozhu had already grown accustomed to the princess's occasional displays of possessiveness and reminders to stay away from Yan Shang. She merely pressed her lips together in a faint smile. However, Lin Dao became thoughtful, wondering who this "Yan Xiao Er" might be.
Could it be... Yan Suchen?
The refined and cultured Yan Suchen with this arrogant princess who had been through marriage alliances?
Interesting—
While Mu Wan Yao was in Chang'an discussing Yan Shang's coming-of-age ceremony with Lord Liu, Yan Shang's disaster relief efforts in Shu proceeded with unusual smoothness.
So smooth... it felt almost unnatural.
After arriving in Shu, he first went to Yizhou, also known as Shu Commandery. Yizhou was one of the most prosperous prefectures in Jiannan, yet the severe drought had struck precisely this region. The officials in Yizhou cooperated fully with Yan Shang, arranging everything exactly as he requested.
The disaster victims in Yizhou remained peaceful—neither causing disturbances nor rebelling. When the court distributed food, they queued up daily to receive their portions. Worried that local officials might engage in misconduct, Yan Shang personally supervised the distribution, yet no issues arose. The various prefects and magistrates in Yizhou all claimed to care for the people as their own children, insisting they wouldn't dare defy the court or engage in duplicity.
Yan Shang tentatively took them at their word.
After leaving Yizhou, he proceeded to several other key counties. This time, however, the disaster situation wasn't as controllable as in Yizhou. In these smaller counties, as an official dispatched from Chang'an, Yan Shang received enthusiastic hospitality from the local minor officials. He maintained the same supervisory approach to disaster relief as he had in Yizhou.
But this time, when people queued for food distribution, Yan Shang discovered sand and gravel mixed in with the grain.
The daily porridge distributions contained excessive impurities—mostly water with little rice.
Both by reason and duty, Yan Shang had to investigate. The officials wailed about their difficulties: "Sir, coming from Chang'an, you've never seen disaster victims and don't understand our hardships. There are too many suffering people—by mixing in more fillers, we can save more lives. As long as no one starves to death, that's what matters. In such desperate times, saving more people is more important."
They clearly categorized Yan Shang as a high-ranking official who knew nothing of the people's suffering or local administrators' difficulties.
Even though, strictly by rank, some of them outranked Yan Shang... there was still a distinction between officials—those from Chang'an held higher status than local officials.
Yan Shang outwardly accepted their explanation, but upon returning, he told his attendant Yun Shu: "The practice of mixing impurities into grain suggests two possible discrepancies in the records."
"One possibility is that the grain quantities in the warehouses are likely inaccurate; another possibility is that the population numbers... don't match the actual situation."
Yun Shu looked puzzled: "We have household registration records here, and daily food distribution records... how could they not match?"
Yan Shang lowered his voice: "I don't know either. I'm just saying it's possible... this matter has been too smooth—the underlying threads might run deep. But perhaps I'm overthinking it... Regardless, we should investigate first."Yun Shu: "If they are truly deceiving their superiors and concealing the truth from their subordinates..."
Yan Shang sighed and said no more—
Most of the common people had become victims of the disaster, but there were also those unaffected.
Such as the powerful local families, such as the aristocratic clans.
In the Shu region, there were no major aristocratic clans. If there were any, they were merely families that had just risen from the ranks of the powerful local families. Investigating such families was far easier than investigating established aristocratic clans. Yan Shang and his team, during their private visits among the people, easily identified several such households, all of whom had connections to grain suppliers and were not short of food.
Yun Shu, holding the information they had gathered, said, "These families purchased grain from outside merchants themselves. The price was somewhat higher than the market rate... but there's nothing to criticize about that. We can't prevent merchants from making a profit, can we?"
Yan Shang sighed: "Merchants."
In the study at night, Yun Shu noticed Yan Shang's silence and looked up: "What troubles you, my lord?"
Yan Shang rested his hand on his forehead and said softly, "Yun Shu, do you know why we have always suppressed the rise of merchants? Clearly, they are merely making money, so why do we continuously belittle their status? Merchants prioritize profit, and officials do the same. Once officials and merchants collude... it becomes truly troublesome."
Yun Shu was startled: "My lord suspects they are manipulating the relief grain?"
Leaning against the desk, gazing at the papers spread across it, and recalling the common people they had questioned during the day... Yan Shang's voice remained calm: "If it were only that, I could handle it. What I fear is more... I fear the entire Shu region is engaged in such practices. I fear even more that from top to bottom, everyone is aware and tacitly allowing it.
"If too many officials are involved... when the law cannot punish all, what should I do?"
Yun Shu remained silent.
Though Yan Shang's tone was placid, having followed his lord for so long, Yun Shu could detect a trace of anger in his voice. Yun Shu clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that these officials must be truly formidable to provoke even his lord, who was usually so even-tempered.
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