Wei Rao rode her horse around for another lap, and once she had her fill of galloping, she leisurely returned to the Secluded Manor before the summer heat intensified.
As soon as she dismounted, a man in coarse short-cloth attire emerged from inside—it was the melon field guard from her maternal grandmother’s estate.
The guard stared in disbelief at Wei Rao, who was wearing a veiled hat. “Th-this…?”
“This is the young mistress. Hurry and pay your respects!” the gatekeeper prompted from the side.
The guard remained frozen in shock.
Wei Rao smiled and said, “I was just having a bit of fun and ended up troubling you, Uncle. Don’t worry, I’ll explain to the Old Madam. She won’t blame you.”
With that, Wei Rao handed her horse to the gatekeeper and went inside.
Shou An Jun had already guessed from the guard’s description of the two melon thieves that one of them was Wei Rao. What piqued her curiosity was the identity of the military officer.
After washing her hands and freshening up, Wei Rao sat beside her grandmother and truthfully recounted her conversation with Qi Zhongkai.
Shou An Jun sighed regretfully, “Second Master Qi is straightforward and free-spirited—quite a match for you. It’s a pity Madam Marquis of Pingxi places great importance on reputation and would never agree.”
Wei Rao replied, “Indeed. When I watched the Dragon Boat Race, I even thought about marrying Second Master Qi. But it didn’t take long for me to experience his mother’s severity firsthand. A mother-in-law like that is more than I can handle. By the way, Grandmother, have you heard about the renewed conflict at the border?”
Compared to marriage, Wei Rao was more concerned about the border situation at the moment. Her tavern was set to open in the middle of the next month. If the border reports were all victories, it would be fine. But if our troops kept suffering defeats, Emperor Yuanjia would surely be displeased, and the entire capital’s atmosphere would turn somber. In that case, which shop would dare to celebrate with drums and firecrackers?
Shou An Jun whispered, “I did hear that an urgent dispatch from eight hundred li away had arrived in the capital, but specific details will take a couple more days to emerge.”
She was well-versed in the social networks of noble families but never pried into court affairs. She would only receive news once it had spread among the common folk.
“Be patient. If the situation truly turns dire, it’s better to open your tavern quietly—even if it means less profit—than to offend the court’s sensibilities,” Shou An Jun advised.
Wei Rao understood. Since she wasn’t in urgent need of money, she could take her time with the tavern’s business.
Before long, discussions about the war indeed began to circulate through the streets and alleys of the capital.
Over the past twenty years, the nomadic tribes of the grasslands and the Central Plains had engaged in minor skirmishes, but there had been no large-scale wars aimed at conquest. Both sides had enjoyed a period of recovery and consolidation. While the Central Plains had only one ruler, Emperor Yuanjia, the grasslands were divided among twelve tribes, constantly fighting among themselves—today you seize my territory, tomorrow I take yours. However, two years ago, the grasslands were unified by the Wuda tribe under the leadership of Hulun Khan, becoming a single entity.
Hulun Khan, ambitious as a fully-fledged eagle, turned his gaze toward the fertile and prosperous Central Plains after consolidating his power. Not long ago, he led a force of three hundred thousand cavalry, divided into three routes, southward with the intent to seize the Central Plains.
In response, Emperor Yuanjia dispatched the Divine Martial Army and the Valiant Tiger Army—two of the elite Four Armies—to lead several border garrison troops, totaling four hundred and fifty thousand imperial soldiers, to confront the enemy.
The Marquis of Pingxi commanded the Valiant Tiger Army. Eager for action, Qi Zhongkai voluntarily petitioned the Emperor for permission to join his father in the campaign. On the Divine Martial Army’s side, they were led by the nearly sixty-year-old veteran Duke of Yingguo and his heir, Lu Zhuo, with one of Lu Zhuo’s cousins also joining the expedition.
Though the flames of war raged at the border, the capital remained as bustling and peaceful as ever. Only in the gambling dens did a few bold individuals secretly set up wagers, betting on the outcome between the two nations.Wei Rao naturally hoped her dynasty would win, preferably defeating Wuda so thoroughly that the grasslands would submit entirely to the Central Plains, never daring to harass them frequently again.
While staying at the Secluded Manor, her cousin Huo Jue hired a shrewd and capable Manager Song for her. Manager Song regularly reported progress on the tavern's preparations: four head chefs had collectively devised twelve signature dishes, eight of which were rarely seen in major taverns across the capital. Apprentices assisting in the kitchen and servers for the front had all been trained, and supply contracts for ingredients had been signed.
As the auspicious day for the opening drew nearer, news finally arrived from the border that Wei Rao had long awaited: in a recent battle, the Divine Martial Army had slain thirty thousand Wuda cavalry, severely dampening the morale of Wuda's northwestern front.
Wei Rao couldn't see the situation in the palace, but the capital's citizens rejoiced at the victory. Manager Song even came up with a clever idea: on opening day, he would rebrand the promotional discounts as a celebration of the border victory, riding the wave of public joy.
Three days after the tavern's opening, Huo Jue returned to the Secluded Manor and reassured Wei Rao with a smile.
Business was even better than the siblings had anticipated, especially the "Charcoal-Grilled Barbarian Lamb," which had become a must-order dish for nearly every table. In truth, "Barbarian Lamb" was merely a breed of sheep originally introduced from the grasslands and long since domesticated in the Central Plains—not freshly imported. Yet, patrons, elated by the border victory, felt as though eating the lamb contributed to humbling the barbarians' arrogance.
Wei Rao stayed at the Secluded Manor until late June, obediently returning to Cheng'an Marquis's residence without waiting for Old Mrs. Wei to urge her.
The weather was no longer as sweltering as midsummer. Well-rested and well-fed at the manor, Wei Rao returned with a rosy glow to her fair complexion. Having not seen her granddaughter for nearly two months, Old Mrs. Wei felt upon their reunion that the peony bud that was her little granddaughter had quietly bloomed further—even skillful makeup couldn't conceal her dazzling radiance.
"Grandmother, I heard a new tavern has opened in the capital with delicious signature dishes. Will you take me to try it?" Wei Rao coaxed.
Old Mrs. Wei smiled and whispered in her granddaughter's ear, "The one you opened?"
Wei Rao couldn't hide her surprise.
Her grandmother tapped her head gently. "Did you think I've gone senile? Every time your cousin visits, you two talk in the corridor. And you've always been ambitious—you bought the land, so opening a shop was the next logical step, wasn't it?"
Wei Rao conceded defeat. She had thought she could surprise her grandmother.
"Let's wait a bit longer," Old Mrs. Wei planned. "If we suddenly suggest going to a tavern, your aunt might grow suspicious. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, we can use lantern-viewing as an excuse to dine there."
Wei Rao had no choice but to wait patiently.
Reports from the border trickled into the capital, mixing worries and joys. As long as the court wasn't suffering consecutive defeats, the common folk still dared to laugh and chat freely.
On the morning before Mid-Autumn Festival, Old Mrs. Wei summoned her son, Cheng'an Marquis, saying she wished to view lanterns that evening and have dinner out, so he should reserve a tavern in advance.
Filially, Cheng'an Marquis asked, "Mother, do you have a specific tavern in mind?"
Old Mrs. Wei replied, "I've heard the newly opened Guangxing Tavern is quite good?"Cheng'an Marquis smiled. The head chef of Guangxing Tower was said to have been hired from out of town, and its signature dishes were rarely seen in the capital. Having only been open for two months, it had already become a popular spot for wealthy families to host banquets. It seemed that if one hadn’t tasted Guangxing Tower’s cuisine, they were out of touch with the latest trends in the capital.
Cheng'an Marquis had been treated to a meal at Guangxing Tower by a colleague once, and the food was indeed excellent.
“I’ll try to make a reservation. Let’s hope there’s still a table available.”
Manager Song had already received Wei Rao’s message and had reserved a private room specially. At dusk that day, Wei Rao accompanied her grandmother and her uncle’s family to her own restaurant for the first time.
While the nobility and officials in the capital celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival, on the grasslands, Qi Zhongkai led his troops in a night raid on the camp of the Wuda Iron Cavalry.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhuo led five thousand elite soldiers on a covert detour to the route the Wuda forces would inevitably take in their retreat, preparing to ambush them.
On the grassland in mid-August, the northern wind carried a chill. Lu Zhuo and his men hid behind rocks, not a word spoken among them, only the howling of the mountain wind filling the air.
From the distant Wuda camp came the sounds of battle—Qi Zhongkai had begun his surprise attack.
Lu Zhuo focused his gaze and observed that the torches within the Wuda camp suddenly lit up simultaneously along the outer perimeter, like a massive fiery serpent, its head and tail connecting, tightly encircling a cluster of torches in the center.
What did this mean?
It meant that the Wuda camp had long been prepared for their night raid, deliberately leaving an opening to lure Qi Zhongkai and his men deeper into the trap, only to surround and slaughter them.
“Let’s go!”
Lu Zhuo spurred his horse into the darkness, leading his five thousand elite troops to rescue Qi Zhongkai’s trapped forces.
Lu Zhuo did not order his men to light torches. Before approaching the Wuda camp, he commanded his soldiers to shout in unison to Qi Zhongkai: “General Qi, do not worry! Twenty thousand Divine Martial Army troops will arrive shortly!”
In the dead of night, no one could see clearly. When the Wuda soldiers in the camp heard that twenty thousand Divine Martial Army troops—whose combat prowess rivaled several times that of ordinary imperial guards—were coming, their morale wavered, and their siege immediately weakened. The trapped Central Plains soldiers, upon hearing this, felt their spirits lift and fought with even greater ferocity.
Only Qi Zhongkai knew that the reinforcements were likely Lu Zhuo’s five thousand troops. Combined, they numbered just over ten thousand—hardly a match for the fifty thousand iron cavalry in the Wuda camp.
A surprise victory was no longer possible. Qi Zhongkai could only hope to fight his way out, minimizing losses as much as possible.
As soon as Lu Zhuo’s reinforcements arrived, Qi Zhongkai instinctively led his troops toward the Wuda forces encircling Lu Zhuo’s side.
Coordinating from within and without, employing feints and real attacks, they managed to break through a gap in the encirclement. The moment the two forces met, they immediately charged back the way they had come.
The Wuda army, realizing what had happened, ceased their panic and disorder, roaring as they gave chase.
“Release arrows!”
A powerful command suddenly rang out from among the Wuda Iron Cavalry. Qi Zhongkai, urging his horse into a gallop, glanced back, but the darkness revealed nothing.
“Damn it, the plan was solid. How did they turn our strategy against us?” Qi Zhongkai couldn’t understand.
Lu Zhuo replied coldly, “There was a leak.”
In this major campaign, the imperial court already had the upper hand. At such a time, certain scheming individuals, driven by greed, sought to seize credit for themselves.
As they spoke, the chilling sound of arrows whistling through the air reached them from behind.
“Split up,” Lu Zhuo commanded sharply, leading his men to charge diagonally in another direction.
“Lu Zhuo, don’t you dare die before me!”The cold wind howled, the whistling of arrows sharper than the hum of bees. Qi Zhongkai took one last glance in Lu Zhuo’s direction and roared with laughter.
Qi Zhongkai’s voice had always been loud, but now he deliberately bellowed, his voice thundering across the grassland.
Yet the one he had provoked gave no response.
A sudden unease gripped Qi Zhongkai’s heart.
To be fair, Lu Zhuo was more serious by nature and often ignored him. But on this battlefield where survival was uncertain, Lu Zhuo’s silence frightened him.
“Lu Zhuo, I’m counting on drinking your wedding wine back in the capital!”
Qi Zhongkai shouted once more toward the direction his friend had gone, though he didn’t forget to keep fleeing for his life.
Finally, a cold, faint voice drifted back: “Shut up!”
Did he think shouting in the middle of an arrow barrage would help the Uda archers miss their mark?
Hearing that familiar voice, Qi Zhongkai felt relieved and fell silent, leaning forward as he sprinted for all he was worth.
With a heavy thud, a man and his horse beside him crashed to the ground.
Just from the sound, Qi Zhongkai knew—the Uda forces were using wolf-tooth arrows, deadly as spears!
Cold sweat trickled down his back, chilling him to the bone.
Damn it all, he might truly not make it back alive to see Fourth Miss!
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