Xiao Rong instinctively looked at the guards and noticed that they bowed to the old man before continuing their vigilant watch at the door.

 

Xiao Rong had a rough idea of the old man’s identity, but still somewhat doubtful, he walked over.

 

Inside the side hall, there was no one else. The old man closed the door and then looked at Xiao Rong as if he were examining his own grandson, before sighing with a smile. “Truly, as beautiful as jade.”

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

Although it was meant as a compliment, it sounded more like a regretful statement.

 

Next, the old man introduced himself. “My surname is Gao, given name Xunzhi.”

 

Xiao Rong had already guessed this and immediately bowed. “Chancellor Gao!”

 

Gao Xunzhi waved his hand. “Ah, no need for titles. Just call me Master Gao. Come, come over here.”

 

Saying this, Gao Xunzhi led the way to the wall. This side hall was as empty as the main hall, with a few bows hanging on the wall and some leather used for maintaining them. Gao Xunzhi lifted a piece of leather, revealing a crack in the wall that let light through.

 

Lowering his voice, Gao Xunzhi explained to Xiao Rong, “Last year, the King, in a fit of anger, overturned a table and threw a weapon, piercing this wall. The craftsman who repaired it did a poor job, leaving a crack, which happens to be perfect for eavesdropping.”

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

He was bewildered. “This, this isn’t proper, is it?”

 

Gao Xunzhi, already pressing his ear to the crack, looked at Xiao Rong in surprise. “Is eavesdropping in front of the guards proper?”

 

Xiao Rong was momentarily stunned, then immediately fell silent and also pressed his ear to the crack.

 

Indeed, listening from here was much clearer than from the door.

 

…

 

In the main hall, separated by a wall:

 

Qu Yunmei: “Are you sure it’s him?”

 

Yuan Baifu: “Although we haven’t seen him in person, those commoners we interrogated mentioned that the man who frequently visited their house had a long scar on his face and a large black mole on his right hand.”

 

Qu Yunmei was silent for a moment. Xiao Rong, not hearing any movement, peeked through the crack but could only see the floor, not the people inside.

 

Qu Yunmei: “Where is he now?”

 

Yuan Baifu’s voice carried a hint of tension. “I don’t know…”

 

Qu Yunmei: “When did he escape?”

 

Yuan Baifu: “After Shenli County fell, this group of people fled under the pretext of reporting to their leader and requesting reinforcements.”

 

Qu Yunmei: “Why didn’t you have your personal soldiers send me a message?”

 

Yuan Baifu: “My lord, it’s just Li Xiuheng—”

 

With a loud bang, Xiao Rong was nearly startled out of his wits.

 

Gao Xunzhi, still intently listening, patted Xiao Rong’s back with a grandfatherly affection.

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

After a moment, he quickly resumed listening to the conversation inside.

 

Qu Yunmei: “Yuan Baifu! Did you disregard my military orders? If there’s any trace of Li Xiuheng, you should report it to me immediately! Now that you’ve let him escape, what’s your punishment?”

 

Yuan Baifu had said earlier that Li Xiuheng fled on the day Shenli County fell, and by the time he arrived, even Jiangyang County had fallen.

 

When Qu Yunmei stood up, Yuan Baifu reflexively knelt, pressing his lips together as he quickly replied, “Li Xiuheng is a petty, vindictive man who has drifted between various factions for years, never staying long. Now he’s degenerated into being a lackey for the Qingfeng Cult. My lord, as the Northern King, you shouldn’t mobilize just because of such a scoundrel!”

 

Qu Yunmei: “I don’t need your opinion on what I should do!”

 

Hearing the genuine anger in Qu Yunmei’s voice, Yuan Baifu bit his lip and restrained himself, finally replying, “Yes, my lord is right. It was presumptuous of me.”

 

Qu Yunmei, fuming, paced back and forth in the main hall. He wanted to capture Li Xiuheng, but after so many days, who knew where he had fled? The only clue was the Qingfeng Cult, whose influence was spread across the entire Central Plains.

 

Growing increasingly enraged, Qu Yunmei kicked over a nearby table, breaking its solid wooden leg, and shouted, “Get out!”

 

Without a word, Yuan Baifu promptly rose and left, knowing Qu Yunmei’s temper well. The more one tried to advise him, the more agitated he became, so it was best to leave him alone.

 

Yuan Baifu departed, and Qu Yunmei, alone in the palace, continued making noises. Xiao Rong listened, stunned, as the sounds of smashing continued until Qu Yunmei finally stormed out, slamming the door.

 

Xiao Rong, feeling dizzy, almost stumbled and fell against the wall.

 

Gao Xunzhi quickly supported him, looking worried. “Master Xiao, are you alright?”

 

Could he have been frightened ill by our king?

 

Thinking this, Gao Xunzhi hurriedly spoke in defense of Qu Yunmei, “Today’s events were unusual. Our Lord isn’t usually like this. Please be understanding, Master Xiao.”

 

Xiao Rong steadied himself and shook his head. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Chancellor. By the way, the Li Xiuheng they mentioned, do you know who he is?”

 

Upon hearing this question, Gao Xunzhi sighed. “Ten years ago, he was part of the Northern Border Army and also the commander of the Northern Army.”

 

…

 

Knowing history doesn’t mean knowing all the people in it.

 

Few are recorded, while most, like their physical forms, have weathered away in the past.

 

Li Xiuheng, as Yuan Baifu mentioned, was a complete scoundrel, never having done any good deeds. It’s understandable why he wasn’t recorded in history. Yet, who would have thought that he played such a crucial role in the real development of the Northern Border Army?

 

Without him, the Northern Border Regiment, named and formed by Qu Yunmei’s father, wouldn’t have suddenly been renamed the Northern Regiment and transformed from a grassroots self-defense force into the court’s hounds, attacking on command.

 

Without him, the Northern Border Army wouldn’t have suffered so much for years, being mocked by the court and the noble families they protected. They called the Northern Border Army a nest of lowly people, expendable warriors whose deaths didn’t matter.

 

Without him and his greed, the veterans of the Northern Border Army wouldn’t have been so quickly depleted. Qu Yunmei’s brother, once the highly praised heir of the Northern Border Army, wouldn’t have been framed and killed by the Xianbei cavalry.

 

Xiao Rong found it hard to empathize with this.

 

At nineteen, he had never been a subordinate or had a job, so he didn’t understand the frustration of working hard only for a superior to undermine his efforts.

 

Nor did he grasp the dramatic change when life suddenly took a turn for the worse.

 

After Gao Xunzhi returned and learned about Xiao Rong’s recent actions, he was thrilled that the king listened to him. He already trusted Xiao Rong before meeting him and thus shared these private matters.

 

Ten years ago marked a turning point for the Northern Border Army. After a brutal battle, only about five thousand soldiers remained. Qu Yunmei, then fourteen, crawled out of a sea of blood, leading the survivors to safety. Though it wasn’t originally his responsibility, it fell on him. Admittedly, the Xianbei invasion wasn’t Li Xiuheng’s doing and couldn’t be blamed entirely on him. Still, Qu Yunmei’s brother’s death was entirely his fault.

 

For ten years, Qu Yunmei sought revenge for his brother but was never able to catch him.

 

Gao Xunzhi advised Xiao Rong to leave Qu Yunmei alone tonight and not provoke him. He would check on the situation tomorrow and then inform Xiao Rong if it was possible to see him.

 

Xiao Rong blinked and readily agreed, but once Gao Xunzhi left, he immediately went to find Qu Yunmei.

 

…

 

Feeling dizzy since earlier, possibly due to Li Xiuheng or something else, Xiao Rong’s principle was to leave no stone unturned.

 

Xiao Rong, with a dizzy head, arrived at the foot of Yanmen Pass.

 

Having been in Yanmen County for so long, it was his first time coming near this pass. Looking up at the towering Great Wall, he took a deep breath and resignedly started climbing.

 

He arrived at dusk, and by the time he climbed up, it was night.

 

…

 

Truthfully, Xiao Rong felt like he was about to lose half his life.

 

Gasping for breath and clutching his chest as if about to faint, the guards didn’t stop him. They watched him suspiciously, wondering what he was up to.

 

As for questioning him, they decided against it. They feared he might collapse before they reached him and they’d be blamed.

 

…

 

Qu Yunmei sat in the gatehouse, the emptiest place, gazing north towards the Xianbei capital, Shengle.

 

No one knew what he was thinking, and as his thoughts grew heavier, he heard a nearby voice growing louder.

 

“Huff… huff… I… I’m going to die here…”

 

Qu Yunmei: “…”

 

Frowning, he walked to the staircase and saw someone clinging to the wall at the landing. That person’s upper body hung on the wall while their legs were limp like noodles. After a moment’s rest, just as he was about to continue up, he saw Qu Yunmei standing above, and his eyes lit up.

 

“Your Majesty! Please wait a moment, I’m coming up!”

 

Qu Yunmei: “…”

 

At this rate, it’ll be dawn before he gets up here.

 

Seeing Xiao Rong drenched in sweat, Qu Yunmei stared at him with a mix of bitterness and anger before finally descending and, in an act of rare humility, helped him up.

 

Xiao Rong, exhausted, ignored propriety. Lacking strength, he leaned against the muscular Qu Yunmei, his head resting against his chest. Qu Yunmei, wearing thin clothing, felt a certain part rubbed as Xiao Rong leaned in.

 

Qu Yunmei’s body stiffened, standing rigid.

 

Xiao Rong, panting like a dog, noticed the sudden stop and curiously asked, “Your Majesty, why aren’t we moving?”

 

They had reached the top, and looking down, Qu Yunmei saw Xiao Rong’s bright, moist eyes. He abruptly pushed him away, his face full of disdain. “A weakling climbing a pass! You mustn’t have bled enough!”

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

You changed your attitude way too fast!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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