The weather was turning warm, and dawn in Que City arrived a bit earlier than it had in days past.
Just past the hour of the Rabbit, the city streets were already bright and clear. Diligent vendors had finished sweeping their stalls, waiting for the first wave of customers to arrive.
An early-rising servant yawned as he slipped into a back alley. Finding a secluded tree root, he unfastened his waistband and began to relieve himself with a steady pitter-patter.
Halfway through, he suddenly heard movement above his head. He looked up blankly, only to see a dark shadow plummeting from the sky. With a loud thud, it landed a mere two paces away from him.
As the dust settled, a haggard figure with disheveled hair was revealed. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a woman dressed in men’s clothing, her expression grim.
The woman didn't spare him a single glance as she walked toward the main street with heavy steps. The servant watched with his mouth agape, not even noticing that he had splattered his own shoes.
Xiao Nanhui’s current mood was utterly at odds with this radiant May day.
Last night, she had used every trick in the book—coaxing, pestering, and wearing her down—to send Du Juan away. She had then spent the entire night perched in a tree behind the Prime Minister’s residence. She had waited until the vegetable and melon vendors arrived, yet she never saw that face that made her teeth itch with hatred.
As expected, that talk of being a "guest of the Prime Minister’s manor" was all a lie.
She must have been possessed to believe his solemn nonsense, allowing him to swindle her out of her belongings without lifting a finger.
The thought of returning to the Marquis’s manor to face Xiao Zhun made Xiao Nanhui’s stomach churn with anxiety. This time, she had traveled far on a whim, not only abandoning her military duties without permission but also returning empty-handed. She truly had no face left to show.
Torn by inner conflict, her feet were reluctant to move toward the Qinghuai Marquis’s residence. Instead, she found herself wandering aimlessly onto Yukun Street.
The largest estate on Yukun Street was the old residence of Prince Shuo, the place where Xiao Zhun had grown up.
Since the events of that year, the place had been derelict for a long time. In Xiao Nanhui’s memory, Xiao Zhun often came here alone to wander. He didn't like her following him inside, so every time, she would simply wait for him outside the main gates. Her impression of Prince Shuo’s manor was limited to the two bronze-green lion heads on the doors.
Though she knew well enough that there was likely nothing within those high walls but weeds, rats, and insects, she remained curious. She felt that those walls contained Xiao Zhun’s past—a past that did not include her.
As time went on, she would occasionally drift to this street, just as she had today.
Xiao Nanhui sighed and sat down at a nearby tea shop that had just opened, deciding to fill her stomach first.
The tea shop in the early morning was livelier than expected. Most of the early risers were local merchants, along with some travelers hurrying to leave the city, all of them appearing to be in a great rush.
She intentionally chose a seat in the middle of the crowd. Having been away from the city for a month, she needed to hear the latest local news, and a tea shop frequented by merchants was the best place for it.
No sooner had she sat down than the conversation of several people behind her drifted into her ears.
"Master Li, I see you’re all packed and ready to go. I shouldn't be saying these things, but we’ve done business together for years; how can I stand by and watch you walk into danger?"
The man named Li seemed surprised. "Brother, what do you mean by that? I’ve been running goods to the west for many years. If you’re worried about the recent floods..."
"This has nothing to do with floods. Lean closer..."
The man’s voice dropped very low, but Xiao Nanhui’s hearing was far superior to an ordinary person's, and she could still hear him clearly.
At that moment, the diligent shopkeeper brought a basket of steaming buns to her table. She decided to multitask—eating, drinking, and eavesdropping. She took a large gulp of cold tea and reached out her chopsticks for a soup bun.
"Have you heard? King Kang of Lingxi was assassinated over a month ago."
Xiao Nanhui’s chopsticks trembled, and the bun fell back onto the plate with a "splat," the skin tearing away from the meat.
Master Li and the other diners at the table were clearly shocked. "You can't just spread rumors like that! If a vassal king dies, won't there be nothing left to shield Chizhou from Bijiang?"
The voice behind her continued, "How would I dare lie about such a major event? My brother-in-law serves at the Subei Camp drill grounds outside the city. He says Tiancheng has already begun reorganizing the army; it’s eighty or ninety percent certain. I reckon war is coming soon, and the roads to the west will be impassable before long."
"No wonder the supply of raw silk from Lingxi has been cut off lately. I thought I was overthinking it, but I never imagined something so terrible had happened..."
The noise behind her continued, but Xiao Nanhui only felt a buzzing in her ears. She could no longer distinguish a single word.
The shopkeeper, carrying a jar of vinegar, was about to bring it to the table that had ordered the buns. In the blink of an eye, he found the seat empty. On the table remained only the basket of buns—with only one touched by chopsticks—and a half-piece of silver that had been snapped in two.
The shopkeeper picked up the silver and looked around for the young gentleman who had been sitting there just a moment ago. "Sir? Sir? I haven't given you your change yet..."
The desolate street stretched out as far as the eye could see, but there was no sign of the young man. Such speed was truly astonishing.
***
Although there had been omens, the moment she actually heard the news, her heart still hammered against her ribs. King Kang was mediocre, yet he was a regional king commanding over a hundred thousand troops. To be assassinated in his own territory could only mean that Bijiang’s influence had expanded far beyond what she had imagined.
Xiao Nanhui raced all the way back to the Marquis’s manor. Unable to wait for Chen Si to open the gate, she vaulted over the wall and headed straight for Xiao Zhun’s study.
Chen Si was just coming out of a room carrying some old clothes and fresh bedding. He was stunned to see the disheveled Xiao Nanhui and only reacted after a long moment, hurrying forward to greet her.
"Young Miss, you’re finally back! Why didn't you send word? Why have you come running in such a rush?"
Xiao Nanhui was still breathless. Ignoring the need for explanations, she glanced toward the study. It appeared empty.
"Uncle Chen, where is my adoptive father?"
"An urgent summons came from the palace last night. All civil and military officials were ordered to attend court at the hour of the Tiger today; no leaves of absence allowed. The Marquis went to the palace early this morning."
It seemed the Emperor had already begun pressuring the court over this matter. Xiao Zhun would likely be receiving military orders.
"Then... then I’ll wait for him in the study."
Xiao Nanhui turned to head toward the study, but Chen Si caught her arm.
"Don't be so impatient, Young Miss. The Marquis knew of your whereabouts once you entered Chizhou territory. He calculated that you would return around now and instructed this old servant to tell you: the situation is critical, and he likely won't have time to return to the manor. He wants you to go directly to the camp to find him."
It was true. Given the current situation, Xiao Zhun would soon be too busy to be seen. She had known this year wouldn't be a peaceful one.
"Is that brat Bo Lao back yet? Jixiang is still with her. I need to ride him to the camp."
Chen Si nodded, hurriedly stuffing the items in his hands into a deep chest used for storage. "She snuck back last night. I just fed the horses this morning; you can take him. But don't be in such a hurry to leave. I’ll call Du Juan to get you a change of clothes. If you go looking like this, the Marquis will be worried."
Hearing Du Juan’s name made Xiao Nanhui’s legs feel weak again. A look of distress involuntarily crossed her face. Seeing this, Chen Si smiled, understanding her perfectly. "Is Young Miss still afraid? Rest assured, Du Juan is a sensible person. She knows the weight of current events and won't make things difficult for you for the time being. Just don't act so recklessly next time; it makes people worry."
The old steward’s back was no longer as straight as it had been years ago, and the hair at his temples had turned white. His slightly reproachful tone made her feel both warm and guilty. She couldn't say anything in the moment and simply gave a low murmur of agreement.
Half an hour later, Xiao Nanhui and her horse stood before the gates of the Northern Suburbs Camp. A red flag with the character "Su" fluttered in the wind, looking even more grim and solemn than usual. The camp where Xiao Zhun was stationed consisted mostly of heavy armored cavalry. Because they had guarded the northern defense line for years, they were granted the camp name "Subei" (Northern Pacification). It was the most powerful branch of the Tiancheng military, and this particular location was the detachment closest to Que City.
Jixiang was familiar with the place. Once Xiao Nanhui released him, he wandered off toward the stables on his own.
Most people in the camp recognized her, but according to military law, she still had to have her waist token verified before being allowed entry. Once she actually stepped into the camp, Xiao Nanhui instantly felt the change in atmosphere.
The Director of Manufactures, who oversaw the armory and usually never showed his face, was now rushing between the various tents. The ground was covered in deep rut marks left by carts transporting armor, shields, and halberds. Several squad leaders she usually served with were nowhere to be seen; they had likely been called away by the company commanders to reorganize the combat units.
Everything conveyed the same message: war had begun, and it was unavoidable.
Thinking of how she had been wandering around Huozhou without a care in the world, Xiao Nanhui felt a surge of lingering fear. If she had returned a few days later, she might not have seen Xiao Zhun at all. Once war broke out, it would be iron hooves and armored horses—a separation of life and death. She didn't know how much she would have regretted it then.
Lost in thought, she continued toward Xiao Zhun’s tent with her head down.
Suddenly, a gust of fierce wind attacked from her flank—fast and ruthless. Xiao Nanhui dodged it narrowly by twisting her body. Looking up, she saw a familiar face, which came as no surprise.
There was only one person who wouldn't let her off easily, even at a time like this.
"Xu Shu, this is the camp. Private brawling is punishable by military law." She tried to suppress the anger in her voice, but the other party didn't seem to care.
"What brawling? This is clearly just a friendly sparring match between military colleagues."
The young man had a cynical face. Thanks to Xiao Nanhui, he had a scar over his left eyebrow. This broken brow gave him a wicked air whenever he raised it; in her eyes, he was the definition of "begging for a beating."
Xu Shu was the son of the current Minister of Justice, Xu Zhi. He was the same age as Xiao Nanhui and was one of Xiao Zhun’s most capable deputy generals.
In the past, she always tried to enter the camp during the final shift change before the drums signaled the extinguishing of lights, specifically to avoid running into Xu Shu.
She found Xu Shu to be a strange person.
When they first met, Xiao Zhun had been entrusted by Xu Zhi to look after him. Thinking that she and Xu Shu were of similar age and both practicing martial arts in the camp, Xiao Zhun suggested they train together. Xu Shu must have inherited his father’s cunning nature, for he had been slippery since childhood. In front of Xiao Zhun, he was a respectful "good elder brother," but the moment they turned away, he would mock her for being a weak woman, unworthy of training in the camp alongside him. Yet, when they actually began training, he never showed her any mercy, often striking harder than he did against the men. Xiao Nanhui knew he wanted her to give up, to prove his judgment right.
But back then, she was also at an age where she refused to lose. Ever since she started learning from Xiao Zhun, she never viewed herself as a girl. Whether she was beaten or fell victim to a dirty trick, she never complained to Xiao Zhun. At most, if she held it in too long, she would howl a few times in front of Yao Yi and be done with it.
The most serious incident occurred when Xu Shu intentionally swapped a wooden practice staff for an iron rod without a spearhead. He had intended only to make her admit defeat in a match witnessed by others, but Xiao Nanhui’s stubbornness flared. Even when her wooden staff was broken, she didn't call a halt, fighting on with her bare flesh and blood. Xu Shu couldn't win, and with the surrounding soldiers jeering, his temper flared. He thrust the rod forward, piercing her right leg.
The onlookers were all young men, and they were instantly terrified. When Xiao Nanhui dragged her leg—still impaled by the iron rod—to find Xiao Zhun, blood had already soaked her entire pant leg.
That night, Xiao Zhun used that same iron rod to beat Xu Shu so badly he couldn't leave his bed for three months. Afterward, Xiao Zhun personally carried the boy to the Xu residence to apologize. Xu Zhi was a shrewd man who knew when to yield; even though his son had been beaten into such a state, he rationally knew he couldn't break ties with the Marquis of Qinghuai, who held military power. After both sides exchanged apologies, the matter was considered settled.
From then on, the grueling days of training together finally ended, but the grudge between Xiao Nanhui and Xu Shu was firmly established.
She had thought that after passing their most rebellious years, things might soften between them. Unfortunately, it seemed there hadn't been the slightest improvement.
"Move." Xiao Nanhui didn't want to waste a single word.
Xu Shu’s response was a close-range arm grab. She shook him off with a reverse hand movement, but he pressed his advantage, entangling her again. After several exchanges, Xiao Nanhui reached the limit of her patience and was about to strike back when Xu Shu suddenly pulled back his hand and shouted, "Greetings, General!"
Startled, she reflexively pulled her strike. In that split second, Xu Shu seized the opportunity, grabbing her waistband and throwing her whole body outward.
This move was truly malicious. A throwing technique like this had a ninety percent chance of making the opponent land face-first like a dog eating dirt. Even if one managed to break the fall, their sleeves and pants would be covered in dust. She had just changed into dark clothes; she would look a mess when she saw Xiao Zhun.
*Sigh.* In terms of martial skill, she wasn't necessarily at a disadvantage, but in terms of cunning, she fell into his traps every single time.
Xiao Nanhui sighed inwardly, attempting to adjust her posture mid-air, only to fall into a broad embrace. The person behind her had powerful arms; they caught her, neutralizing Xu Shu’s force, and set her steadily on the ground.
She remained in that embrace for only a fleeting moment, yet it left her dazed for a long time.
Xiao Nanhui didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Adoptive Father."
***
