As night fell, the lanterns lining both sides of the street flickered to life one after another.
A street that appeared ordinary by day was now transformed by these scattered, intersecting glows into a realm of dreamlike, blurred colors. It felt entirely like a magnificent illusion. Even the air grew thick, saturated with an excess of rouge, floral scents, and the aroma of food; it felt like something tangible that, with every breath, sent a spark of inexplicable excitement to every corner of the body.
I squeezed through the crowd, clutching a piece of warm sugar cake in my hand, while my eyes constantly scanned the surging throngs. For this Lantern Festival, Feng Pu had deployed all the guards who were off-duty. At this very moment, at least a hundred of my comrades were dressed in civilian clothes, mingling with the crowd just as I was. Even so, a faint unease lingered in my heart.
Everyone in Liangzhou City knew that this Summer Festival Lantern Festival was organized by the Merchant Association. However, the association’s president, Zhang Danian, was currently recuperating at home due to the injuries and fright he had sustained the previous night. To prevent the news from spreading and causing unnecessary panic, Zhang Danian had officially claimed he was merely suffering from a minor ailment. I had initially thought the festival might be affected by the president’s absence, but it seemed to be proceeding more smoothly than I had imagined.
Carried by the tide of people, I slowly made my way toward the center of the market. In the central clearing, a high stage had been erected, draped in red lanterns. Before I could even reach the front, a cacophony of gongs and drums erupted from the stage. A middle-aged man in a crimson robe stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting toward several directions below, and called out loudly:
“Elders and fellow townsfolk! Today is the first day of the Summer Festival Lantern Festival. The Liangzhou Merchant Association has specially prepared twenty thousand lanterns. Anyone who solves the riddle on a lantern can take note of it and head to the Association’s East Warehouse to claim a prize!”
A wave of laughter and chatter rose from the crowd, with some shouting their approval.
The man cupped his hands again and smiled. “The Liangzhou Merchant Association invites the city’s elders and neighbors to enjoy the fireworks together. This year, the Lord of Dongyao has exempted the Association from its taxes. The Association does not dare keep such a great benefit to itself, so we have put this money forward to celebrate with all of you!”
Without waiting for the buzzing discussions below to settle, he retreated to the edge of the stage and waved his hand. Everyone felt a sudden flash of light as fiery trees and silver blossoms instantly illuminated the sky above.
*The east wind at night blows open a thousand flowering trees. It even blows down stars like rain...*
I looked up, unable to help but be entranced.
This fleeting brilliance instinctively brought to mind the beautiful things in life that cannot be held onto—like the final, most exquisite glow of a sunset before night falls, or the unheralded, sweet fluttering of the heart before a long period of suffering...
Like tender whispers among the leaves under a sky full of starlight...
It turns out that things too beautiful are ultimately impossible to keep.
A pair of arms reached around from behind and encircled me.
I turned back blankly, meeting Feng Tong’s eyes, which were as green as emeralds. The slight unease on his face dissolved into relief the moment I turned, and a warm, gentle smile slowly curved his lips.
“You’ve been standing here like a fool for so long. What were you thinking about?” He took my hand and tucked it into his palm. Then, he asked in surprise, “Why are your hands so cold?” As he spoke, he reached out to brush my cheek, his voice instantly tightening with tension. “What’s wrong?”
He moved to stand in front of me, searching my face carefully. Seeing that I remained silent, he pulled me into his embrace without a word.
I looked up at him in a daze. His hair was tied atop his head, simple and elegant. He still wore that familiar jade hairpin, but his eyes looked even more translucent than the jade, shimmering like the most dazzling stars in the flickering light.
His fingers gently brushed across my cheek, sliding past my temple and into my thick hair. “The past is the past. If you keep troubling yourself with these thoughts, I... I won’t buy you sugar cakes anymore.”
I couldn't help but smile and asked without thinking, “What am I to you?”
Feng Tong was taken aback. He knit his brows in thought and said hesitantly, “What are you? Well... I’m always thinking of you, and I love to see you smile. Also, no matter what you want to do, I’m willing to accompany you until it’s finished...” He paused, then laughed like a child. “When you’re not by my side... I get very restless, and I lose my temper with people who have nothing to do with anything...”
“I don’t always think of you, I don’t care when you’re angry, and I’ve never asked what you want to do...” My nose felt a bit prickly. “But every time I turn around and can’t see you, I get very restless, and I really want to lose my temper...”
Feng Tong smiled radiantly. “You already love me in your heart; you just refuse to admit it to yourself.”
“Perhaps I’m just selfishly trying to possess you, trying to draw more warmth...”
“I am willing,” he interrupted, tightening his arms around me as if afraid I would run away. “I am willing. I told you, I’ve had enough of days without you.”
His eyes were bright as stars, watching me without blinking, and then, inch by inch, he leaned closer. His soft lips lightly brushed my forehead, then slid down to my mouth. Every touch stirred a faint vibration in the depths of my heart, like a breeze brushing across zither strings.
His thick eyelashes trembled slightly, like the wings of a butterfly dancing in the wind. A trace of blurred emotion bloomed at the corners of his eyes and brows, slowly winding its way into my heart and turning it into a pool of spring water.
I was captivated by the inadvertent vulnerability in his gaze and instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. The increasingly passionate breath between our lips sent the faint ache in my heart drifting further and further away...
Reluctant to let go of the fullness and warmth between my arms, I leaned against his chest to watch the shimmering fireworks. His arms encircled me, creating a small world just for me.
I looked up at him, and he looked down at me. We shared a smile, then looked back up at the fireworks together.
“I’ve almost forgotten what it’s like to celebrate a festival,” I sighed softly.
He gently rubbed the top of my head with his chin and said seriously, “I will take you to remember them all, one by one. When peace comes, we’ll bring Jingchi back and spend every festival with him properly.”
I smiled silently. My little Jingchi should have reached the Kingdom of Anli by now. My old man and little mother would probably be quite shocked...
A black-canopied carriage slowly passed by the high stage. As if unable to resist the temptation of the fiery sky, the curtain was pulled back from the inside, revealing the thin face of a young nobleman.
Just one glimpse, and it felt as if a massive thunderbolt had struck my head.
All the strength seemed to be drained from my body in that instant. My ears roared, and I shook so violently I nearly lost the strength to stand. I looked at his slightly upturned face in disbelief; the fireworks dancing across the sky had turned into a brilliant, flowing light in his eyes—dazzling, yet lonely.
Involuntarily, I began to push through the crowd toward the carriage.
I vaguely heard Feng Tong’s voice calling me: “What’s wrong?”
But I couldn't stop to answer.
I approached slowly, tentatively, and then my steps began to charge forward uncontrollably, completely ignoring the complaints of the people around me. Everything in the world seemed to have vanished, leaving only me and that carriage, so close I could almost touch it...
But before I could reach it, the curtain dropped. The carriage slowly drove into the sea of people.
“Ming Shao...”
My cry was swallowed by the explosion of fireworks; even I couldn't hear it.
The person from my dreams was clearly only a step away, yet no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't reach him...
I stood lost and helpless in the crowd, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Brilliant light danced upon their smiling faces. Above me was the radiant night sky, the magnificent sight of a thousand flowering trees, and the boundless darkness that would inevitably follow the brief brilliance...
The bustling market and the throngs of people around me could not dispel the icy chill accumulating in my heart.
I suddenly felt as if I were lost in a magnificent dream.
I must be dreaming.
How could I stand so foolishly on a crowded street for an entire night? How could I watch the dense crowds around me gradually thin out, watch the fireworks in the sky fade into the pitch-black background, and watch the street that was so lively just moments ago become cold and deserted?
I asked myself again: how could I have seen him on the streets of Liangzhou?
How was that possible?
I turned back blankly.
The fiery trees and silver blossoms had all turned into the lonely lights of late night.
Feng Tong was standing not far behind me. There was no anger or sadness in his eyes; he just looked at me calmly, without blinking, a trace of hidden pity in the depths of his gaze.
He had seen everything, yet he said nothing. He just waited quietly for me to turn back. If I hadn't turned back, would he have waited there forever?
The sour sting of tears returned to my eyes.
No matter how enchanting a beautiful dream is, it will eventually shatter. But the man before me was real—as long as I turned back, I could always see him. Yet what right did I have to walk back to his side? After I had released his tightly held hand without hesitation for the sake of a momentary illusion?
He slowly approached me, every step feeling as if it were treading on my heart.
He stood before me, pulled me into his arms once more, and gave a long sigh.
“Sometimes, you are like a stubborn child,” he said, one hand gently stroking my hair, his voice tinged with a faint sadness. “Clutching onto an old toy and refusing to let go, even though you know it’s broken and can no longer be used. You refuse to open your eyes and look at the new one beside you, even if it’s better than the one in your hand.”
“I’m sor—”
“Don’t say those words,” he interrupted quickly. “Never say those words to me.”
But other than those three words, I couldn't think of anything else to say.
“No one can forget the past; I understand that.” Something soft lightly touched the top of my head—it seemed to be his lips. “But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your entire life as a funeral offering for it.”
My heart gave a sudden leap.
“And, I hope you can be a bit more rational.” He patted my shoulder, his tone slightly hesitant. “I don’t mean to attack anyone. But you’d better think: if that really was him just now... he is the hereditary Prince Jing. For him to appear in the Northern Six Prefectures, which have already been occupied by rebels... I don’t believe it’s as simple as coming out for a stroll.”
Another roar echoed in my brain—behind that question lay an answer I couldn't bear to contemplate.
“Let’s go back.” His voice was calm but carried a hint of fatigue as he put his arm around me and began to walk back.
Unknowingly, the night had grown deep. A hooked crescent moon hung in the sky alongside a few cold stars. The world around us seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep; it was so quiet that the only sound was our own footsteps.
As we passed through the back courtyard of the government office, he suddenly stopped. He held my hand, but his emerald eyes didn't look at me; instead, they followed the high courtyard wall into the distance. “There’s one more thing. I’ve been hesitating the whole way, but I’ll say it anyway.” He looked down and gave a boyish smile. “My feelings for you have never changed. Not since the moment I saw your horse.”
I smiled in return, but what rose in my heart was a sense of desolation. “If only I had met you much earlier...”
Feng Tong laughed freely. “If you are destined to spend your life with me, what difference does it make whether it’s early or late?”
Under the faint starlight, his green eyes shimmered with light, making one unable to resist looking deep into them...
I couldn't help but lean my head against his chest.
To meet such a person—Heaven has been kind to me after all.
On the hillside were thickets of alpine firs, their trunks straight and tall; looking up, their tops seemed to pierce the very clouds. Beneath the trees, the grass was like a green carpet, with clusters of low, thorny shrubs visible here and there. These different varieties of shrubs huddled together, some bearing tiny, scattered flowers. Crisp birdsong drifted down from above, but looking up revealed nothing. The sound of the wind came whistling from afar, carrying the faint tinkling of a forest spring.
Ming Yue pulled on his reins and pointed far ahead. “Right there.”
In truth, even without him saying it, I had already seen the corpses strewn across the slope. Their clothing was no different from that of ordinary mountain folk. However, they were all of a sturdy build, and even their heights were remarkably similar.
“Sixteen in total. They were all lying in ambush in the grass. Our hounds found them. Three escaped, six were wounded, and the rest are here.” Ming Yue jumped off his horse and signaled the soldiers guarding the area to spread out and continue patrolling.
The corpses had been flipped onto their backs; the fatal wounds were all caused by blades and swords.
“Nothing special on them,” Ming Yue shook his head, sounding regretful. “The ones we captured won’t admit to being scouts. They only claim to be hunters from the back of the mountain who were hunting illegally. They say they hid because they heard the patrol and were afraid of being caught.”
I used my riding crop to point toward the narrow path deep in the forest. “They came up this way?”
Ming Yue nodded. “This slope is the easiest section to climb for miles. I’ve had people scout the path; after going down three or four miles, the trail disappears.”
“If they really are scouts from Commander Chu’s army, they must have had guidance to get this far,” Feng Tong’s gaze swept thoughtfully over the dense forest. “If you find the mountain folk and give them some silver, they’ll lead the way. Moreover, Commander Chu is looking to recover lost territory.” A mocking smile flickered across his lips, vanishing in an instant.
“Horses can’t make it,” Ming Yue said, tapping the thick trunk of a fir tree with his crop. “However, Commander Chu has many capable men under his command. With a guide, reaching this place isn't difficult.”
My brow furrowed deeply. The hunters on this side of the mountain had already been forbidden from entering. But the hunters on the other side were very likely to bring us fatal danger.
“We can only lay mines.” Feng Tong looked at me, his expression very composed. “Otherwise, if a troop comes up from here, they can follow the Xilu Pass directly to the rear of Chixia Pass.”
My eldest senior brother, Lin Ru, had handed over the management of Bingzhou’s affairs to the Wind Branch. After his improvements, the performance of the landmines had increased remarkably. And it was precisely this point that made it harder for me to make up my mind.
“We can establish a defense zone nearby,” Ming Yue suggested, as if sensing my hesitation. “Use iron caltrops on both sides of the zone and lay mines in the very center.”
the iron caltrops we used had been specially treated by Lin Ru; some were soaked in anesthetics, while others were dipped in lethal poisons. Regardless, doing nothing was no longer an option. Although the dense forest blocked my view, I knew clearly that if one passed through here, went down the mountain, and headed straight south, they could reach Chu De’s main camp in two days at most.
“Send the pigeons. Have Senior Brother Lin immediately transport landmines and iron caltrops to the Xilu Pass.” I glanced at Ming Yue; he seemed to have been waiting for those words, and he smiled upon hearing them.
“What about Baiyun Temple?” I asked him.
Ming Yue appeared confident. “Everything is in place. We move at the hour of the Rat.”
A sliver of a waning moon hung slanted over the distant mountain ridge. From our hiding spot, we could faintly see a few scattered lights in the dense forest.
This was a branch of Mount Qingliang. The mountain wasn't high and had several springs. There were at least thirty or forty temples and nunneries here, the most famous of which was Baiyun Temple. Our hiding spot was behind Baiyun Temple, with the dense forest further back. Once they slipped into the woods, catching them would be difficult. The front of the temple faced Liangzhou City, and the left and right sides were flanked by other temples; our men had already been quietly positioned.
As the hour of the Rat approached, two sharp bird cries suddenly rang out in the distance. Immediately after, two identical bird cries echoed from a hundred meters below us, responding to the first.
And the place where the first sound had originated was our target—Baiyun Temple.
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 夏节 | Summer Festival | A local festival in the story. |
| 凉州商会 | Liangzhou Merchant Association | The local trade guild. |
| 张大年 | Zhang Danian | President of the Merchant Association. |
| 东仓 | East Warehouse | A storage location for the Merchant Association. |
| 东瑶城主 | Lord of Dongyao | The protagonist's title/position. |
| 竞驰 | Jingchi | Likely the protagonist's child or a younger relative. |
| 安黎国 | Kingdom of Anli | A neighboring country. |
| 明韶 | Ming Shao | The name of Prince Jing. |
| 静王 | Prince Jing | A high-ranking noble title. |
| 习卢关卡 | Xilu Pass | A strategic mountain pass. |
| 赤霞关 | Chixia Pass | A major military fortification. |
| 并洲 | Bingzhou | A regional province. |
| 铁蒺藜 | Iron Caltrops | Spiked metal devices used to slow down troops. |
| 楚德 | Chu De | The full name of Commander Chu. |
| 清凉山 | Mount Qingliang | The mountain range where the temples are located. |
| 白云寺 | Baiyun Temple | White Cloud Temple; the target of the raid. |
| 子时 | Hour of the Rat | 11 PM – 1 AM. |
