Only those who were unaware would go to the royal tent at that time. Those who truly knew the situation waited anxiously for several hours, only sneaking a peek inside in the afternoon—when people were at their laziest and least likely to make a commotion.

…

Carrying the burden entrusted to him by others, Gao Xunzhi took on the role of a mine-sweeper. He quietly lifted the tent flap and carefully scanned the interior. He saw that the rough, plain tent of the King now had a long table exuding refinement and elegance in every detail. Gao Xunzhi paused silently for a moment, then continued looking ahead.

This glance made him stop slightly.

Qu Yunmie was lying on the bed, fast asleep. His head was tilted to the left, and Xiao Rong was sitting on that side, legs crossed on the bed. He held a sheet of paper and was reading it word by word. When he came across something he thought was problematic, he furrowed his brows, then reached out for the writing brush placed to the side. He hesitated for a long time without writing anything, and the tip of the brush, unwilling to stay idle, let out a drop of ink. It fell precisely on the paper, quickly spreading and covering several characters.

Xiao Rong froze immediately.

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

As Xiao Rong tried to wipe away the ink with his thumb, Gao Xunzhi gave a light cough and strolled in.

Xiao Rong looked up at once. Seeing that it was Gao Xunzhi, he reflexively turned to look at Qu Yunmie, but Qu Yunmie was truly exhausted. He hadn’t closed his eyes for almost a whole day and night. At that moment, he was sleeping like the dead.

…

A moment later, Xiao Rong followed Gao Xunzhi out of the tent. Once outside, he ordered the guards to find someone—whether it was Jian Qiao, Yu Shaocheng, or Dongfang Jin. Someone needed to stay and keep watch over Qu Yunmie while he was away.

Gao Xunzhi had no choice but to silently wait with him. Shortly after, Yu Shaocheng, who had nothing to do, was called over. Smiling at the two of them, he lifted the tent flap and entered.

Only then did they go to Gao Xunzhi’s place.

＊

Gao Xunzhi’s place had the same specifications as Xiao Rong’s. Having stayed in Qu Yunmie’s tent for a while, entering this small military tent again made Xiao Rong feel somewhat cramped. He sat by the clay stove in the center, pulled a blanket over his legs, and said, “I only went to the bed because I was tired of sitting.”

Gao Xunzhi blinked, realizing Xiao Rong was explaining why he had been sitting beside Qu Yunmie. Gao Xunzhi couldn’t help but smile. “Ah Rong, you can sit wherever you like. No one would say anything.”

Xiao Rong pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Gao Xunzhi paused, then dropped the subject. He brought up Xiao Rong having called Yu Shaocheng over. “These past few days I’ve adjusted the stationed troops. Now, the central army is securely protecting the royal tent. Not even a fly will get in. Ah Rong, you don’t need to worry anymore.”

Xiao Rong gave a quiet, “Mm. I know. I’m not worried about someone assassinating the King. It’s just—‘a gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall.’ I’m not specifically guarding against anyone. It’s just precaution.”

Gao Xunzhi nodded. “You’re meticulous, as always.”

Xiao Rong looked at him but didn’t want to keep up the empty talk. He still wanted to go back and stay by Qu Yunmie’s side.

“Did the Chancellor come to me for something?”

Hearing this, Gao Xunzhi gave an awkward smile. “I just wanted to ask… you and the King…. Have you reconciled?”

Xiao Rong opened his mouth. His first instinct was to say there hadn’t been any falling out between him and Qu Yunmie. Then thinking about what had happened before—and about the noises outside the tent last night—Xiao Rong paused, then quietly said, “Mm.”

There were many types of reconciliation. Some meant truly letting go of past grievances. Some just glossed things over with a smile. Some were merely for the sake of moving on.

Xiao Rong wasn’t sure which kind this was, but he had done everything he should have, and Qu Yunmie had given an answer. Not a satisfying one, but still acceptable. Whatever he said, Xiao Rong no longer believed it. From now on, he only cared about what he did.

Xiao Rong knew Gao Xunzhi hoped they would completely make peace, and put everything behind them, but Xiao Rong didn’t want to lie or force himself. He remained silent again, then suddenly said, “The King’s condition has stabilized. There are generals in the army to help make decisions. I don’t plan to leave, but in Chenliu, only Song Shuo and the Monk are holding the fort. I really can’t feel at ease. I handed over the position of prefect of Chenliu to Song Shuo out of urgency and impulse back then. He’s young and lacks experience in governing a city. Rest another day, Chancellor, and then head back. If anything happens in Chenliu, it should be you overseeing the situation.”

He paused, then added, “Take Zhang Biezhi with you. I originally had him accompany me to protect us, and he endured all the hardships along the way. Now that I’m staying with the King, I no longer need him as my guard. Besides, he’s even younger than Song Shuo. Keeping him here does him no good. The situation ahead may change daily. I can’t keep an eye on everyone. Zhang Biezhi said he wants to become an official and not a general anymore. I don’t want this incident to shake his resolve.”

After hearing this, Gao Xunzhi gave a soft laugh.

He sighed with a smile. “Ah Rong, do you still remember that you’re even younger than Song Shuo?”

Xiao Rong was taken aback. He understood what Gao Xunzhi meant, but still chose to joke around.

He shrugged and smiled, “But I feel like I’m twenty years older than him.”

Gao Xunzhi didn’t respond to that. He lowered his eyes and said, “At times like these, I always realize how powerless I am. I’ve worked all my life, but in the end, I still have to watch you youngsters make the same mistakes.”

Xiao Rong didn’t know what to say. Eventually, he just softly replied, “I’m not a child anymore.”

Gao Xunzhi said nothing to that. In the eyes of someone his age, Xiao Rong would always be a child.

He looked at the top of Xiao Rong’s head. From the first time he had seen him, Xiao Rong had worn an adult’s crown. In these troubled times, the standards for adulthood had become more relaxed. Once a man officially joined the army, even if he wasn’t yet twenty, he could wear the crown.

Gao Xunzhi wouldn’t think too much about others, but when he looked at Xiao Rong, he suddenly felt the world had been deeply unfair to him. It should have been a time of fine clothes, galloping horses, laughter and joy. Yet he was always on the road, running from one place to another, never catching a breath.

Gao Xunzhi was briefly lost in thought, suppressing the emotions that suddenly rose in his chest. He asked, “Ah Rong, when is your birthday?”

Such a simple question, yet Xiao Rong was completely stunned when he heard it. Slowly, he pressed his lips together.

He didn’t want to say.

Gao Xunzhi understood and inevitably felt a little disappointed, but he had always been considerate. Smiling, he apologized. “Look at me, why would I bring that up? You’re right. I should go back and check. As for Zhang Biezhi, he probably won’t be willing, but with orders from you and Jian Qiao, he’ll follow me.”

Xiao Rong said, “Also take Clan Chief Agusheja’s. Though Danran and Lady Sang can care for themselves, she probably won’t be at ease. Also Brother Yu. Things might get dangerous ahead. You might as well take him too.”

Gao Xunzhi gave him a surprised look and then burst out laughing. “Ah Rong, what makes you think I can persuade Yu Shaoxie? You already said it’s dangerous, and both his brothers are here. How could I possibly force him to leave?”

Xiao Rong frowned. “I’m not his brother.”

Gao Xunzhi chuckled. “I didn’t say the other one was you.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Fine. If he couldn’t take him, then so be it. The main goal was to send Gao Xunzhi away. As for Yu Shaoxie… it was probably okay to let him stay.

＊

Xiao Rong wanted them to rest one more day, but Gao Xunzhi was more anxious. With Xiao Rong holding down the fort in the army, he had nothing to worry about. Chenliu had already been under Song Shuo’s control for several days. Gao Xunzhi feared he had already offended everyone he could, so he decided to leave that night.

Xiao Rong handed him letters he had written—one to Song Shuo, one to the Monk. Behind Gao Xunzhi stood a sulking Zhang Biezhi. Agusheja didn’t go back, she was in the injured soldiers’ camp. She had been a military doctor for years. Though she had hoped for a break this time, since she was here, she returned to her old job.

Mr. Gao was leaving. Jian Qiao and the others came to send him off. Qu Yunmie wanted to go to send him off as well, but Xiao Rong didn’t allow it. He had to lie in bed, staring wide-eyed at Wang Xinyong, who had been sent to watch over him.

Wang Xinyong: “…”

Since Mr. Xiao arrived at the camp, his importance had skyrocketed, but honestly, he still missed the days when no one paid attention to him.

…

At dusk, over the withered prairie, beneath a sky dyed with dark blue and orange, Xiao Rong stood at the edge of the camp and watched the two of them ride away. The vast wilderness made the farewell feel endlessly long. Only after a long while, when he could no longer see the two tiny horses, did he lower his head and fall silent.

Jian Qiao had been standing beside him the whole time. Seeing this, he tried to comfort him. “Mr. Xiao—”

Just then, Xiao Rong suddenly perked up and raised his head. He turned around and looked at everyone’s expressions.

Jian Qiao looked worried, while Yu Shaoxie was calm. Yu Shaocheng looked slightly impatient, Yuan Baifu was pensive and Gongsun Yuan had already turned and left.

Xiao Rong: “…”

What a swift exit.

No matter. Facing the ones who remained, Xiao Rong smiled slightly, his eyes once again full of energy.

He said to them, “Alright, time to get to work. First, take me to see those traitors.”

Jian Qiao immediately responded. Yuan Baifu frowned and said, “They’re not traitors. The real villains are their relatives.”

Xiao Rong had already taken a step, but hearing that, he turned around and looked Yuan Baifu in the eye. “Until they’ve been cleared of suspicion, I’ll treat them as traitors.”

Yuan Baifu couldn’t accept Xiao Rong’s stance, but looking around, he realized he was the only one who couldn’t accept it. The others seemed to think there was nothing wrong.

He furrowed his brow, feeling more and more uneasy.

＊

Jian Qiao led Xiao Rong to the area near the prison tent. Once they were out of sight from outsiders, he lowered his voice and said, “Before you reminded me, I hadn’t realized how annoying Yuan Baifu really is. He can persuade the King, but I can’t. He still thinks the King is the same as before, always giving him moral lectures, but the King has changed. Even the King thinks he’s nagging now.”

In the end, Jian Qiao couldn’t help but show a bit of pride. Xiao Rong looked at him and suddenly thought he resembled a maid from a palace drama—one who flattered the favored concubine, saying, ‘My lady is the Emperor’s favorite, that seductive fox won’t last long.’

Xiao Rong imagined himself in the concubine’s role. The problem was, in those dramas, concubines with such maids usually didn’t survive to the end.

…

 

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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