Golden blossoms stretched along the undulating earth, reaching all the way to the foot of the distant mountains. The amber glow of the setting sun brushed a rouge-like warmth over this dazzling expanse of gold. At a single glance, the world seemed to shimmer with a brilliant radiance, as if a bolt of exquisite golden silk had been unfurled between heaven and earth.
The air was thick with the fragrance of flax flowers, a scent so rich it was almost cloying, yet it brought an intoxicated smile to the face of anyone who breathed it in.
"Three more months? Or two?" I turned to ask Feng Tong.
"The harvest won't be until after the ninth month," Feng Tong said with a slight smile. "There are still three months to go. Are you even more anxious than the farmers?"
I was anxious. I was desperate to see the yield of the experimental fields, to see the tangible fruits of a year’s hard labor. Only by seeing this would I have full confidence in next year’s planting. I believed that every farmer in the Northern Six Prefectures, who had initially looked on with doubt, felt the same fervor I did at this moment.
"However, we’ve had a lot of rain this year," Feng Tong said, shaking his head regretfully. "I’m afraid the quality of the flax might not be the best."
"It’s the first year of planting; this is already better than I expected," I replied. "The notice has already been posted: no matter how good the harvest is this year, not a single cent of tax will be collected."
Feng Tong rubbed his chin with his slender fingers, looking thoughtful. "Very well. I’ll still buy it all at the price of first-grade goods. Once it’s in the warehouses of the Meng Kingdom, if the oil quality isn't great after pressing, I’ll just sell it directly to the leather merchants of the Iron Dragon Tribe..."
"That won't do," I immediately vetoed his kindness. "If you do that, the farmers will think what they grew really was first-grade, and how will they improve next year? You should pay according to the actual quality. At most, I’ll provide subsidies to the households with lower incomes."
Feng Tong shook his head. "It’s not as if your money is inexhaustible..."
I didn't speak, my gaze drifting involuntarily toward the northeast. I had once taken Feng Tong to King Aro’s hidden treasury. After seeing it, he had shaken his head and advised me: "You still need to find a way to make the Northern Six Prefectures grow their own silver. Otherwise, at the rate you're spending, these reserves won't last long."
"The flax stalks can be dried and sold to the Iron Dragon Tribe. They love their horses, and flax stalks are much better for fodder than dry grass." I turned back to Feng Tong. "Does that count as a source of revenue?"
Feng Tong nodded. "Once we get through this year, things will be better by next autumn's harvest. The medicinal herbs are growing exceptionally well this year, at least."
I knew that already. The efforts of Feng Xiuxiu and my fellow disciples had not been in vain.
The light gradually dimmed, and the azure of the sky shifted into a shallow indigo. The breeze brushing past my face carried a hint of coolness—summer in the north was always more refreshing than in the south.
Feng Tong leaned lazily against a tree trunk, a blade of grass tucked in his mouth. The fuzzy tip of the grass quivered against his cheek as he chewed. His emerald eyes shifted, creating a ripple of brilliance, as he asked with a half-smile, "What are you laughing at?"
I followed his lead and sat down on the grass beside him. "You look just like a young master who snuck out of school to catch frogs."
Feng Tong leaned in, pulling me into his arms. He rested his chin lightly on the crown of my head and gave a soft laugh. "If only I had met you back when I was still a young master sneaking out to catch frogs. How wonderful that would have been."
He always carried a faint, refreshing scent of mint. When he was close, it always reminded me of my childhood, waiting for my dad to hand out mint candies. My teeth weren't great back then, so those candies were a luxury, strictly rationed. Fearing I would steal them, my father always kept the candy tin—the one with Donald Duck on it—locked in his study...
I couldn't help but sigh. "If only you were a giant mint candy. How wonderful would *that* be?"
Feng Tong buried his head in the crook of my neck, silent.
As we fell quiet, the faint chirping of summer insects rose from the grass. Above us, the sky deepened from pale indigo to a profound, dark blue, and the Milky Way appeared in the vast firmament, wrapped in a hazy mist of light.
Suddenly, he asked out of the blue, "What if we used landmines?"
I blinked, realizing he was referring to the defense issues we had discussed in the city all morning. Chixia Pass held the geographical advantage, and it would be extremely difficult for Marshal Chu to break through from the plains. However, the towering mountains on either side of the pass were not impassable. If a guide familiar with the terrain led the way, it was entirely possible to circle around to the rear of the pass. Although we had strictly forbidden hunters from entering the mountains, our reach didn't extend to the scattered small villages on the other side.
My heart stirred, but then I shook my head. "Though the mines aren't as powerful as I’d hoped, their explosive force at close range is still nothing to scoff at." I thought for a moment and added, "And if we bury them deep in the mountains, clearing them later will be difficult. It’s too easy to accidentally injure civilians. After all, there are many hunters on both sides of the range."
Feng Tong sighed softly. "What we can think of, Marshal Chu has surely thought of as well. Perhaps he is already looking for a guide."
I had considered what he said. The two armies were in a standoff at Chixia Pass; though there were small skirmishes, they felt more like constant probing. Even I felt that Marshal Chu was waiting for the right opportunity. Perhaps he intended to break through the mountain defenses to launch a pincer attack from the rear. Or perhaps he was waiting for the Restoration Society to grow strong enough to coordinate an attack from within...
"For now, all we can do is strengthen patrols. Take more hounds when patrolling the mountains," I said. "Adjust the rotation times irregularly. As for the Restoration Society..."
I had to admit, the Restoration Society was becoming a major thorn in my side. Among the names I knew, Ying Hui was the most troublesome. Not only was he skilled, but he was also extremely cold-headed. Every operation he led was executed with composure, leaving no unnecessary clues behind.
After leaving White City, he had slipped back to Liangzhou. On the third day after his arrival, the Governor of Liangzhou, Dai Rong, was murdered in his bedroom in the middle of the night.
Dai Rong was the only governor among the Northern Six Prefectures who had proactively surrendered his official seal. Though he was timid, he was meticulous and clever—in just a few days, he had memorized the *People’s Code* and repeatedly expressed his willingness to cooperate with the Administrator, Feng Pu, to promote the Code in Liangzhou.
Because of his cooperation, the Liangzhou government office had remained largely intact. The city's security was good, and the handling of daily disputes was orderly. Feng Pu had even suggested rewarding Dai Rong for his wisdom and cooperation.
And then, the assassination happened.
I was one hundred percent certain it was the work of the Restoration Society. And the prime suspect was Ying Hui.
He hadn't accepted my suggestion to work for the government, and I had only felt disappointed at the time. But seeing Dai Rong’s corpse and thinking of the chaos that would ensue in Liangzhou, I deeply regretted not killing him that day.
Even imprisoning him would have been better than letting him out to sabotage my plans—I must have been out of my mind that day.
"What do you plan to do about Baiyun Temple on the outskirts of White City?" Hearing me mention the Restoration Society, Feng Tong immediately thought of the matter Ming Yue was currently tracking.
"We’ll let the long line catch the big fish," I said, resting my head on his knees lazily. "I don't believe a few young beggars could spontaneously organize the assassination of a Liangzhou official. There must be a mastermind. However, it might not be Ying Hui." He seemed more like the vanguard.
Feng Tong stroked my hair, stroke by stroke. It tickled a little, but it was comfortable. I felt like I must look exactly like the big grey cat, Garfield, that Wu Xiu kept—the one that spent all day lounging in a flowerpot soaking up the sun. I couldn't help but laugh.
"What is it?" Feng Tong leaned close to my ear, his warm breath stirring the stray hairs at my temple. The itch made me laugh again.
Just then, from the direction of Liangzhou, a green signal flare shot into the sky, bursting into a cloud of grey-green sparks.
I jumped up instantly, grabbing his hand. "Quick! Feng Pu has an emergency!"
Under the shroud of night, Mount Qingliang was as silent as if it were fast asleep.
By the time we reached the foot of the mountain, Feng Pu had already ordered a search. From a distance, several faint trails of torchlight were snaking their way up different mountain paths.
Seeing Feng Tong and me, Feng Pu rode forward to meet us.
"Is it Ying Hui?" I asked the question I wanted to know most before he could even speak.
Feng Pu’s square face looked even more impassive in the darkness. He performed a salute from horseback and replied succinctly, "It is Ying Hui. We were patrolling outside Yanxiang Pavilion when we encountered him attempting to assassinate Zhang Danian, the head of the Chamber of Commerce."
Zhang Danian was the head of the Liangzhou Chamber of Commerce and the wealthiest man in the city. He was the second person, after Dai Rong, to support the "People First" policy. After Feng Pu took over Liangzhou, Zhang had proactively donated a large sum of money to establish a home for the elderly. It was precisely because of the cooperative attitude of Dai Rong and the Chamber of Commerce led by Zhang Danian that Liangzhou was the best among the Northern Six Prefectures in terms of urban stability, spring plowing, and the establishment of public schools and elderly homes.
It wasn't hard to see why the Restoration Society had targeted these two.
"There were three assassins in total," Feng Pu’s steady voice recounted in the night. "When we arrived, several of Chairman Zhang’s personal bodyguards were already heavily wounded. Chairman Zhang himself suffered a graze on his arm, but the injury is not serious. Ying Hui was wounded and fled. Of the other two accomplices, one died at Yanxiang Pavilion, and the other has been captured and is currently held in the Liangzhou dungeon."
The sound of rapid hoofbeats approached, and the rider shouted from a distance, "Reporting to the Administrator! The assassin has been cornered at Zhuyun Peak!"
I reached out to stop Feng Pu. "I’ll go up."
Feng Pu tightened his grip on the reins. Though he didn't speak, a look of hesitation crossed his face.
"It’s fine," I said. "You are the Administrator of Liangzhou. The soldiers here still need your unified command."
Feng Pu turned to look at Feng Tong.
Even though these members of the Feng Clan Fortress were all shrewd and capable, they still harbored a very special loyalty toward their former master. In every moment of crisis, they couldn't help but look to Feng Tong for his stance.
I huffed.
Feng Tong gave a short laugh but said to Feng Pu, "Since the City Lord has given the order, the Administrator shall stay." As he spoke, he nudged his horse two steps closer to me, his voice tinged with amusement. "As for the City Lord’s safety, I, her bodyguard, will take responsibility."
Feng Pu’s face was as calm as still water, and his voice followed suit. "City Lord, please be careful."
I nodded and urged *Love You Forever* toward Mount Qingliang.
Mount Qingliang wasn't high, but its slopes were extremely steep. It seemed as though centuries of storms had scoured away everything that could be moved, leaving only jagged boulders and the hardy wild grass rooted firmly between them. Though there were several mountain paths, they were treacherous. Halfway up, the horses could go no further.
Zhuyun Peak was at the very summit of Mount Qingliang. A century ago, a wealthy local family had built an octagonal pavilion here. To this day, though the colorful lacquer inside and out had peeled and faded, the pavilion remained sturdy. Beyond the dark red railings lay a sheer cliff. Because several rare plum trees grew in the wind-sheltered area beneath the cliff, this pavilion was also known as the "Hidden Fragrance Pavilion."
When we reached Zhuyun Peak, the moon was high in the sky. The clear moonlight, bright as liquid silver, cast a mysterious glow over the surrounding peaks. Inside the pavilion, a figure sat cross-legged on the ground. He seemed to be circulating his internal energy to treat his injuries.
He wore dark night-traveler's gear, making it impossible to see where he was hurt. However, the scent of blood in the air was unmistakable. A long sword lay flat across his knees, shimmering like water.
He slowly opened his eyes. As if he had known I would come, he gave a slight smile. "We meet again."
"You can't escape."
"Reclaiming the Northern Six Prefectures is only a matter of time." Ying Hui shook his head and smiled again. "Do you truly believe Chixia Pass is impregnable?"
I didn't speak, only watched him silently. The way he sat so nonchalantly before me made it difficult for me to strike.
"I have read the *People’s Code*." He continued to shake his head, as if speaking of something absurd, a hint of mockery touching his lips. "I think you’ve truly gone mad. You let commoners manage the government offices? What insight do they have?"
I sighed softly. "They have had no opportunity to read or write, no opportunity to participate in political affairs. That is why they blindly follow the opinions of those above them."
He gave a derisive laugh. "Blindly follow? That is the duty of a subject."
I gazed at him, a sense of powerlessness rising from the depths of my heart. "I understand."
"You don't understand." Ying Hui’s eyes flashed with a strange light as he stared at me. "Because you are—disloyal and unfilial." Before I could respond, he tilted his head back and said decisively, "The day Marshal Chu reclaims the Northern Six Prefectures is close at hand. Why wait for that day? The crime of rebellion not only warrants death by a thousand cuts, but the execution of nine generations of your kin..."
"And what of it?" I interrupted him quietly. "What of it? I have no nine generations to be executed. Besides, whether I live or die, the Northern Six Prefectures will only grow more prosperous from now on. In less than three years, they will be self-sufficient. What do I have to regret? Who among us can escape death?"
Ying Hui was silent for a long time before he finally spoke softly. "You were born of a noble family, and you had a fine match like Ming Shao. What’s more, you two already have... If you truly loved him, why do this?"
These words were like a stone dropped into water, stirring ripples of tenderness and sorrow in my heart. "Love?"
"Yes," Ying Hui repeated firmly. "Love. He loves you."
"Love?" That word was like a mysterious incantation. In an instant, it made my gaze pierce through the layers of time, back to the very beginning of this life—the moment I opened my eyes to that dazzling expanse of lush green.
A sense of trance drifted over my heart. Before my eyes, that boundless green grassland seemed to unfurl once more, along with the years of youth spent galloping freely across it. In those memories that still shimmered with light, love was the sunlight dancing on the tips of the grass, the rainbow reflected in the morning dew, the sweetness of a handful of spring water drunk in one gulp.
I gave a wistful smile. "Love?"
"His love is like sunlight on a clear day, so bright it is blinding. Yet, because of that brightness, it brought an endless darkness, allowing me to see many things I should not have seen before the light vanished." I turned to look at Feng Tong. His emerald eyes, soft as autumn waters, were gazing deeply at me.
Our gazes remained locked for a long time, yet neither of us spoke.
With effort, I pulled my gaze away. In the pavilion, Ying Hui had already gripped the hilt of his sword.
He slowly walked out of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion and stopped before me. "It seems a battle between us is inevitable. Xi Xia, are you prepared?"
***
**Glossary**
