“The so-called ‘Appointing of the Premier’ is merely a folk saying,” Xu Liufeng said, stroking his snow-white beard with an air of utmost gravity. “It is said that four hundred years ago, the most famous Chancellor in the history of Yantian, Lord Zuo Long, received his seal of office at the Lu Platform. Since then, the common people have referred to any ceremony held there as ‘Appointing the Premier at Lu Platform.’”
The autumn sunset carried a deep, metallic hue, casting a golden sheen even over the Old Fox’s beard. His fox-like eyes darted back and forth; he had likely realized that my cornering him in this dead-end alley was a calculated move. Abandoning his futile struggle to escape, he asked with a smile, “Constable Xi, surely you didn't stop me just to inquire about the origins of a ceremony?”
I put on a sinister expression and let out a cold laugh. “The Grand Tutor is a man of great resourcefulness. What do you think?”
The Old Fox chuckled. “Well… as for the thoughts of young people, I’m afraid this old man…”
I rolled my eyes at him. Would I really come looking for him just to discuss "the thoughts of young people"? This Old Fox was definitely playing dumb.
“Constable Xi,” he said, seemingly certain that I couldn't actually do anything to him. He remained unhurried, maintaining a polite, cultured smile. “I must head to the palace to see the Crown Prince. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave…”
I feigned a look of sudden realization. “Speaking of the Crown Prince, I actually did remember something.” I pulled the jade pendant from my robes and shoved it into the Old Fox’s hand, grinning. “Grand Tutor, you must have been bleary-eyed with age and grabbed the wrong thing. Everyone says this jade is worth a fortune; how could you give it to me to use as a waist token? What a sin, what a sin. I couldn't bear to let you be punished for it. Take it back quickly and swap it before anyone notices.”
I turned to run, but the Old Fox grabbed my sleeve. When I looked back, I was met with his grey eyes, wide with absolute horror. Every time I saw him, he was the picture of composure, as if everything were under his control. Seeing him this panicked was a first, and for a moment, I was stunned by his reaction.
“Constable Xi, you might as well just take your silver blade and end my life right now.” The Old Fox looked ready to collapse, leaning his head toward me in despair. I hurriedly supported him, my heart fluttering at his uncharacteristic behavior.
“Old Fox, what are you doing? Speak properly…”
He only flinched slightly at hearing the disrespectful nickname I used for him in private. “Constable Xi, have you never heard the saying: ‘When a sovereign bestows a gift, a subject dares not refuse’? You intend to return a gift from the Heir Apparent? Where would that leave the Crown Prince’s dignity?”
Fearing he might try to bash his head against me again, I kept a firm grip on him. However, his words made me hesitate. Based on my nearly forgotten knowledge of history and etiquette, he seemed to have a point…
“But, this thing seems far too precious…”
The Old Fox countered eloquently, “The Crown Prince is the favored son of Heaven, second only to one and above ten thousand. Which of the items by his side is *not* precious?”
That seemed true enough.
“But…”
The Old Fox waved a hand. “Constable Xi, do you never consider the consequences of your actions? I suggest you reflect on the many repercussions of offending the Heir Apparent.”
I glared at him and said resentfully, “Are you threatening me?”
The Old Fox wriggled out of my grasp and began to leisurely straighten his robes.
“Is it truly just a gift?” I stared at his face suspiciously, my tone wavering. “Is there nothing else going on that I don't know about?”
Stroking his beard, the Old Fox regained his refreshed, spirited demeanor. He gave his grey-white head a couple of jaunty shakes and said with a faint smile, “Why borrow trouble?”
Was my father’s reaction and the slight unease in my heart truly just "borrowing trouble"? Though the Old Fox’s words seemed seamless, the weight in my chest only grew heavier.
“Constable Xi,” the Old Fox said, perhaps sensing my genuine distress. He let out a long sigh and adopted a more sincere expression. “The majesty of the throne is inscrutable. For a subject, one need only do their best to fulfill their duty. Thinking of anything else is futile.”
I could agree with that. Seeing me nod, the Old Fox’s smile returned. “If you ever need my assistance in the future, I shall always be at your service.”
I quickly returned the gesture, saying politely, “The Grand Tutor is too kind. Xi Xia does not deserve such favor.”
The Old Fox burst into laughter. “You truly are an interesting girl. Why have you stopped calling me ‘Old Fox’ now?”
I gave a forced laugh, thinking to myself: *That is a very difficult question to answer.*
The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the smile on my face vanished along with the last rays of light. Ever since Ming Shao left, I had learned to curl the corners of my lips even when I didn't feel like smiling. I didn't want anyone to see what was on my mind.
Zhongjing had lost many of its young men, and with them, much of its vitality. Although the streets were as bustling as ever during the day, they became deathly still once night fell. Even the vendors at the night markets were becoming fewer and further between.
As the weather turned cold, the days grew shorter and the nights longer.
My days felt longer than ever before.
By my estimation, General Chu’s army should have already passed Bingzhou. There, it was said, the snow had already begun to fall…
“Xi Xia!” A very familiar voice called my name from the shadows of an alleyway. Startled, I realized it was Ming Rui.
He was wearing an ordinary long robe, looking like any commoner passing by. But his eyes flashed with a sharp light, like a predator moving through the dark. He pulled me into the shadows and asked in a low voice, “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
I thought for a moment and said, “Follow me.”
I led him through the side door where Baofu and his wife lived to my temporary residence. This was the place I had specifically set up to mislead people; it was a private courtyard, and though it was only separated from Baofu’s quarters by a wall, it was very quiet.
I lit a candle and brought some tea and snacks from Baofu.
When I entered the room, Ming Rui was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. He looked thinner than when we last met, and his brow was furrowed deeply. Yet, when he turned to look at me, his gaze was as bright as ever.
It was strange; usually, when I thought of him, I felt he was a child who needed care and protection. But when he actually stood before me, it was hard to maintain that maternal mindset. Perhaps it was the pride in his eyes or his extreme sensitivity to the pity of others that made me hesitate to show my true thoughts, for fear of truly offending him.
We both sat down. Ming Rui gazed at me with burning eyes and said, “You kept me in the dark quite cruelly.”
I couldn't help but blush, feeling a bit awkward. “It wasn't intentional.”
Ming Rui sighed softly, a trace of dejection crossing his features. A hidden pain welled up in his eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. Though I was curious about the Prince of Xian, asking him directly was clearly not a good option.
“I am returning to Bingzhou tomorrow,” he said. Having finished the sentence, he leaned his head back against the chair as if exhausted. “I am destined to grow old in Bingzhou. I fear I may never set foot in Zhongjing again in this lifetime.”
My heart sank, but I didn't know how to comfort him.
“Do you know? I am a man destined to never be free.” He stared blankly at the ceiling, his tone hollow, as if he were narrating someone else’s story. “The first half of my life was in one cage; the second half will be in another. I can go nowhere. Ever since Ming Di read me that parting poem of yours, I’ve been wondering what the Yu Yang River actually looks like…”
He paused for a moment, his voice filled with longing. “I often fantasize about seeing the Linxi Grasslands with my own eyes and meeting the woman I’ve waited for all my life there…”
These words were somewhat beyond my expectations. I clenched my palms, feeling a slight unease.
“I carry a glittering title, yet I am more impoverished than a beggar on the streets of Zhongjing—at least they have their freedom. As for me, even a simple excursion to the outskirts requires permission…” His voice dropped. “I don't even dare let the woman I love know how I truly am…”
The rest of his words vanished into a sigh full of melancholy.
“Xi Xia,” he sat up straight, looking at me intently. “Will you… miss me?”
The urgency in his tone caused a sudden surge of heat and bitterness in my chest. I managed a small smile. “Ming Rui, you are my friend. Of course I will miss you.”
He gazed at me deeply, a look that instantly triggered a memory, bringing to mind another pair of almost identical eyes.
A sharp pain struck my heart, and the tears I had been holding back finally fell.
His hand reached out, lightly brushing the corner of my eye.
His hand was very cold.
I suddenly snapped back to my senses. I quickly wiped away my tears and sat up straight in my chair.
Ming Rui, however, stared with a dazed expression at the single, crystalline tear on his fingertip. Noticing me watching him, the strange light in his eyes vanished instantly.
“After I return to Bingzhou, the Emperor will send Han莹, the young daughter of Chancellor Han Gao.” The warmth in his voice was gone, replaced by a total coldness, as if he were reciting a report. “This woman is said to be dignified and well-versed in etiquette. She is the wife the Emperor has specifically chosen for me.”
He looked up and gave me a gentle smile, but it vanished before it could reach his eyes.
“Xi Xia, I actually came here today to ask a favor of you.” He seemed to try to smile again but failed. “After I leave, my younger brother Ming Hua will come to take my place in this cage. He was born in Bingzhou and grew up in that remote place; his personality is inevitably a bit wild and unrestrained. I hope you can look after him. I have a sum of savings in Zhongjing’s largest money houses, Huafu and Dingshun. They are private assets left by my mother. I cannot give this money directly to Ming Hua. Otherwise, before I even reach Bingzhou, he will likely have squandered it all.”
He took a uniquely shaped key from his robes and pushed it across the table toward me. “This key is the only proof needed to withdraw the silver. The interest is that you may use this money as you wish; you don't need to tell me. If the money houses should happen to go bankrupt, then my entrustment to you will be considered concluded.”
The gold key was inlaid with a deep crimson gemstone, shaped like a translucent teardrop. I picked up the key carefully, my heart beginning to drum with anxiety. My unease seemed to amuse him, and a faint smile finally touched his lips. “Is there a problem?”
I looked up at his slightly teasing expression and asked seriously, “I have never managed money before—are you sure you were of sound mind when you made this decision?”
Hearing my question, Ming Rui only gave a lonely smile and asked in return, “Even if I weren't, what of it? I fear this is the only chance I’ll have in my life to be unsound.” He gazed at the heavy darkness outside the window, appearing for a moment to be submerged in deep memories. When he spoke again, his voice was as gentle as spring water. “You needn't be uneasy. In Zhongjing, the only people I trust besides you are my brothers Ming Shao and the others. And they… they have no need for my concern…”
He stopped abruptly at that point, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally avoiding mine. His expression gave me a strange feeling: it was as if he wanted to use this money to build a sturdy fortress, stubbornly wishing to protect both Ming Hua and me within it.
Could that be it? But even if it were true, would he ever admit it?
I looked at his face, trying to find an answer.
The shifting expressions on my face did not escape him, but he explained nothing. He only gave a lazy smile. “If you truly feel bad about it, then give me something as a memento.”
“Do you remember the throwing knife you used to cut Lin Qinghong’s hair on Zen Mountain?” He turned to look at me, his deep gaze like a turbulent sea hidden under the cover of night, every rolling wave suppressed with all his might. “After Ming Yi and I retrieved that knife, we gave it to Ming Shao…”
I barely heard what he said after that. My mind was spinning with one thought: Ming Rui’s situation was so precarious he could hardly save himself. And yet, this man, who wasn't even as skilled in martial arts as I was, wanted to protect me…
My nose began to sting again.
I pulled another throwing knife from my sleeve and held it out to him. “This one is for my good friend, Ming Rui.”
Ming Rui lowered his eyelids, his long lashes trembling slightly. He took it with an air of extreme care, as if he were receiving a precious treasure. In a very tender voice, he said, “To be considered your friend is enough to satisfy me. This blade… I will keep it with me always.”
I understood everything he was saying, but I couldn't give him what he wanted. And even if I could, he wouldn't be able to accept it. He knew that better than I did.
I silently walked him to the door, where the heavy night awaited.
Ming Rui suddenly turned and pulled me into a tight embrace. He smelled of the crisp, cool air that follows a snowfall.
But it was only for a moment. He quickly let me go, stepped back, and swept his deep gaze over my face before turning and vanishing into the night.
The first snow of winter fell that night. By morning, a thin layer had accumulated on the ground.
Though the sky was overcast, the biting air carried a refreshing clarity that lifted my heavy spirits.
When I reached the North Gate, the guards told me that Ming Rui’s carriage train had passed through half an hour ago. Calculating the time, he should have already reached the Farewell Pavilion at Qigang. Past Qigang lay the official road to Zhao Prefecture. The ministers appointed by the Emperor to see him off would be waiting there.
I had to bypass Qigang and hurry to the Shangguan Pavilion three miles ahead. Otherwise, with my rank, I wouldn't even have the right to speak amidst that crowd of officials.
The distant hills and fields were covered in a thin veil of snow. In the grey sky, even the sun looked pale. Aside from the sound of horse hooves and our heavy breathing, the world was silent.
Emerging from the woods, I saw a dense crowd of guards outside the Shangguan Pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a man dressed in a black robe with his hair bound in a gold ring paced with his hands behind his back.
Hearing the horse hooves, he looked up toward the sound. On his fair, elegant face, a pair of narrow phoenix eyes shone brilliantly. The firm set of his lips betrayed an air of majesty and composure that seemed beyond his years.
My heart sank instantly, and my hands tightened around the reins.
His Royal Highness.
The man appearing in the snowy outskirts so early in the morning was indeed the Crown Prince, Ming De.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 拜相 (Bàixiàng) | Appointing of the Premier | A historical/folk term for the ceremony of appointing a Chancellor/Prime Minister. |
| 录台 (Lùtái) | Lu Platform | A specific location/platform used for high-level government ceremonies. |
| 左龙 (Zuǒ Lóng) | Zuo Long | A famous historical Chancellor mentioned in the text. |
| 赐 (Cì) | Bestow / Imperial Gift | A formal term for a gift given by a superior (usually royalty) to an inferior. |
| 储君 (Chǔjūn) | Heir Apparent / Crown Prince | Another term for the Crown Prince (Ming De). |
| 兆郡 (Zhào Jùn) | Zhao Prefecture | A geographical location/administrative division. |
| 骑岗 (Qígǎng) | Qigang | A location name (literally "Rider's Ridge"). |
| 送别亭 (Sòngbié Tíng) | Farewell Pavilion | A common type of structure on the outskirts of cities for seeing off travelers. |
| 上官亭 (Shàngguān Tíng) | Shangguan Pavilion | A specific pavilion name mentioned in the chapter. |
| 韩高 (Hán Gāo) | Han Gao | The name of the Chancellor whose daughter is to marry Ming Rui. |
| 韩莹 (Hán Yíng) | Han Ying | The daughter of Han Gao. |
| 华福钱庄 (Huáfú Qiánzhuāng) | Huafu Money House | A name of a bank/money house. |
| 鼎顺钱庄 (Dǐngshùn Qiánzhuāng) | Dingshun Money House | A name of a bank/money house. |
| 明华 (Míng Huá) | Ming Hua | Ming Rui's younger brother. |
| 丹凤眼 (Dānfèng yǎn) | Phoenix eyes | A traditional Chinese beauty standard for eyes that are narrow and turn up at the corners. |
