Chapter 49

News of Zuo Lingxue’s death in childbirth reached Bu Nian while he was on the march. The report had been rushed out from the capital on fast horses. The moment Banxia received the encrypted message, he spurred his horse forward and rode up beside Bu Nian, leaning in to deliver the news in a quiet voice.

Bu Nian was silent for a long time before he finally spoke.

“This might be the best ending for her.”

Banxia asked, “And her children?”

Zuo Lingxue had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. According to custom, they couldn’t be raised together.

“The girl will stay in the palace, just as I said before,” Bu Nian said, pausing a moment in thought. “As for the boy… send him to Tianfu Temple. Let him study Buddhism from an early age, learn discipline, temper his nature. Hopefully he won’t grow up to be like his father.”

Banxia nodded. “Yes, Master.”

The long procession moved slowly through the mountain pass, orderly and calm. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Miss Fang Yuan of the Fang family had finally arrived in Zhongzhou after a long journey.

Fang Yuan had a gentle temperament and looked every bit the image of a refined young lady from a wealthy family. After speaking with her, Lian Ai quickly realized she had traveled to many places and seen much of the world. She was braver than she appeared. Though she looked like a delicate noblewoman, she had the spirit of a wandering swordswoman.

Now that she had arrived in Zhongzhou, one place she insisted on visiting was Mount Xiao. Lian Ai still remembered the first time Zuo Lingyu dragged him there for a martial gathering. There had been too many things to worry about then. The scenery was beautiful, but he hadn’t had the heart to enjoy it. Later, when he came to live with the Helian family, he had all the time in the world to travel, yet he never returned to Mount Xiao.

Sitting in the carriage, Fang Yuan lifted the curtain and asked, “Is this your first time visiting Qingfeng Temple too?”

Halfway up Mount Xiao sat a Daoist temple named Qingfeng Temple. It wasn’t known for much, except that it was said to have a thousand-year-old apricot tree in the courtyard. That tree was the reason Fang Yuan wanted to go.

Lian Ai rode alongside the carriage and nodded. “Yes, it’s my first time.”

They weren’t very familiar with each other to begin with, and with the added constraint of gender norms, there wasn’t much to say. After exchanging a few polite sentences, the conversation faded.

The guards assigned to Lian Ai by Helian Qiufeng rode ahead and behind the carriage, four in total, all armed. When they reached the front of the temple, Fang Yuan was helped down by her maid. Lian Ai handed his horse to the coachman and entered the temple together with them. The temple grounds were small and open. Everything could be seen at a glance, so the guards remained outside the entrance.

As soon as they stepped through the temple gate, they saw a towering ginkgo tree standing in the courtyard. It was massive, its trunk gnarled and ancient, exuding the weight of centuries. Its very presence was overwhelming, so striking that for a moment no words came.

Anything that had withstood the passage of a thousand years seemed to carry a touch of spirit. And in a Daoist temple like this, stories naturally grew. At some point, people began to say that the ancient ginkgo was the mortal incarnation of the matchmaker deity, Yue Lao. The tale spread so widely that everyone in Zhongzhou knew Qingfeng Temple was especially effective for praying for love. Though the temple was small, its incense burned strong year-round. Countless wooden plaques hung from the thick branches of the ginkgo tree, each one carrying someone’s wish for a perfect match.

Fang Yuan walked beneath the tree, gazing up at it. The sunlight filtered through the fan-shaped leaves, so bright that she had to shield her eyes with a handkerchief.

“This tree is enormous. I imagine it must be even more stunning in late autumn when the leaves fall. It’s a shame I didn’t come at the right time.”

Lian Ai stood a little behind her. Just by tilting his head slightly, he could take in the full view of the ancient tree.

“They say by late autumn, the whole courtyard is covered in ginkgo leaves. You can see the golden canopy from far away.” Right now, the leaves had only just started to grow, still soft and tender. It would be a long while before they began to fall.

Fang Yuan looked up at the tree, her face full of longing. “I’m definitely coming back to see it one day in the fall.” Then she turned to her maid. “Xiao Huan, go get me a wooden plaque.”

The maid acknowledged the order and hurried off. Fang Yuan circled the tree while she waited, as if trying to gauge just how wide the roots spread.

The maid soon returned, but she came back with two plaques.

Fang Yuan covered her lips with her hand, pretending to have just remembered something. “Oh, I almost forgot. Second Brother hasn’t settled his marriage either. He should pray for a good match too.”

Lian Ai wanted to say he didn’t need one, but since she had already handed the plaque to him, it would’ve been rude to refuse. He accepted it without protest.

The plaques came pre-engraved with two lines of small characters: May I find one true heart, and never part till old age. All one had to do was hang it on a low branch, or toss it up to catch on the higher ones, and the prayer would be complete.

Fang Yuan pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and silently made her wish for a future husband. Then she hung the plaque on one of the lower branches.

Lian Ai held his plaque in one hand, fingers brushing over the carved words. He didn’t make a wish. Instead, he stepped back a few paces, aimed like he was drawing a bow, and flicked the plaque upward. It sailed high into the tree. As it came down, the red string caught on a branch and left it dangling, swaying gently two zhang above the ground.

He narrowed his eyes at it, then smiled in satisfaction. This way, when the temple caretaker came to clear the old plaques from the tree, his wouldn’t be taken down.

Fang Yuan had been watching from the side. She saw the soft smile on his face, the warmth in his eyes, and thought to herself, this Second Young Master of the Helian family may not be engaged yet, but he must already have someone in his heart.

A man without someone in his heart could never smile like that.

“Second Brother, do you have a girl you like?” Though Fang Yuan looked gentle and refined, she was not the shy type. When she had something to ask, she asked it directly, never thinking it was inappropriate.

Lian Ai glanced over at her, the smile still lingering in his eyes. He had been too focused on watching the plaque he tossed into the tree and hadn’t quite caught her question. His response was a bit delayed. “What?”

Fang Yuan thought he was pretending not to understand. She stepped closer, leaned in slightly, and pouted in mock annoyance. “It’s not some big secret. Why can’t you just tell me? I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Lian Ai instinctively took a small step back, mentally trying to recall what exactly she had just asked.

“You asked if I have someone I like?”

Fang Yuan straightened up and smiled. “I mean someone in your heart. Do you have one?”

Lian Ai hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. A second later, he nodded.

Fang Yuan frowned. “It’s either yes or no. What does that even mean?”

Lian Ai replied honestly, “I don’t have a girl I’m interested in, but I do have someone in my heart.”

He had no intention of hiding it. He never thought his relationship with Bu Nian was something to be ashamed of. Even Bu Nian himself never tried to keep it secret.

Fang Yuan was caught off guard for a moment, then her curiosity deepened. “What do you mean? Second Brother, don’t tell me…”

She trailed off, but Lian Ai finished the thought for her.

“I’m in love with a man.” He said it openly, with a calm smile. There was something in that smile that stirred the heart. It gave life to his features, made them suddenly glow with light and clarity. It wasn’t shyness or nervousness, but a quiet honesty mixed with a deep and gentle affection.

In Great Qi today, it wasn’t uncommon for men to sleep with men. But openly admitting to being in love with a man was still rare. People seemed to draw an unspoken line between the body and the heart. Physical indulgence was one thing, but emotional attachment was something else entirely.

Fang Yuan was surprised by his answer, but she admired his courage.

“Which fine young man is so lucky to win Second Brother’s heart?”

Seeing that she wasn’t shocked or disturbed, Lian Ai’s smile deepened.

“Someone from the Bu family.”

Fang Yuan was no sheltered noble lady. She had traveled to many places and met all kinds of people. Her knowledge surpassed that of many men her age. The moment Lian Ai said it, a figure formed vaguely in her mind.

“From the capital?” she asked cautiously, unsure.

Lian Ai saw her hesitation and didn’t hold back. He simply said everything.

“Bu Nian.”

There was no way Fang Yuan hadn’t heard of the Grand General. She blinked, and suddenly it all made sense. She could understand why Lian Ai would fall for such a man.

“Oh, that’s certainly a man worth admiring.”

A man like Bu Nian was a legend just by being alive. He was too exceptional, too far out of reach. The so-called handsome men adored by the masses didn’t even come close. With someone like that, it wasn’t just women who admired him. It made perfect sense if men did too.

The day is still early when they descended from Mount Xiao, and Fang Yuan expressed interest in walking around the nearby area a bit more.

Mount Xiao sat in the western part of Zhongzhou, close to Liangzhou. And lately, Liangzhou had been in chaos because of the Qian family. Bu Nian was already on his way there to round up the remaining rebels. Lian Ai had originally planned to stay home and do as Bu Nian said. But it was hard to refuse his mother’s request, and Fang Yuan was an honored guest. He couldn’t very well ask her to stay cooped up indoors with him.

Their group stopped to rest beside a clear, flowing stream. The sunlight was gentle, the air pleasant. Fang Yuan walked to the edge of the water, dipped her handkerchief into the stream, then pulled it back quickly with a gasp. “So cold!”

She wrung out the cloth and wiped her face, then glanced at Lian Ai, who hadn’t dismounted. He remained on horseback, scanning their surroundings with quiet alertness.

She gave a small laugh. “Second Brother, what are you doing? Are you worried some wild beast might jump out at us? You look so tense.”

Lian Ai didn’t know why, but his eyelids twitched, and a strange, unshakable sense of unease crept into his chest.

The stream burbled along quietly. The breeze rustled the leaves. Birds chirped on the branches above. Everything seemed peaceful.

His Yuanmo crossbow was stored in the bag attached to his saddle. Just as he moved to reach for it, a sudden commotion erupted. Birds scattered from the trees in alarm, flapping wildly as if startled by something.

The guards all turned in the same direction, their expressions sharpening with caution.

Lian Ai felt certain something was about to happen. He was just about to spur his horse toward Fang Yuan when, in that instant, an arrow shot out from the woods, striking the front leg of his horse.

The horse collapsed with a sharp cry and Lian Ai was thrown to the ground.

He rolled to absorb the fall, grabbed his crossbow in the same motion, and sprang to his feet. His eyes locked on Fang Yuan, and ran toward her.

“Get in the carriage and go!” he shouted as he ran.

Fang Yuan, brave as she was, had never experienced anything like this. She froze in shock. Her maid had to shove her toward the carriage, and she stumbled into it in a panic.

The four guards all drew their weapons, trying to hold off the volley of arrows coming from all directions. But with the enemy hidden and their positions exposed, it was impossible to hold out. One by one, each of them was wounded.

The coachman’s face had gone completely pale. Gripping the reins tightly, he lashed at the horses again and again, trying to make them run faster.

Fang Yuan screamed when the curtain was pulled open, but when she saw it was Lian Ai, she immediately rushed forward and helped him inside.

“Second Brother, are we being attacked by bandits? What’s going on?” It was broad daylight, under a clear sky, and they were still in Zhongzhou, a place known for its peace. Fang Yuan could hardly believe something like this was actually happening.

Lian Ai gently pushed her aside and raised his crossbow to the window, ready to shoot at any stranger who got too close.

“I don’t know. Maybe mountain bandits.” He kept his voice calm and steady. “Don’t be afraid. We’ll be fine.”

Fang Yuan nodded, her face pale. “Yes… we’ll be fine.”

But just as she spoke, an arrow flew in from the front of the carriage. Blood stained its tip. It had pierced through the coachman.

Fang Yuan’s eyes widened. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. Her maid had already broken down, her face streaked with tears as she sobbed that she didn’t want to die.

With no one controlling it, the carriage veered wildly into the forest. Branches struck the carriage walls, making it rock and sway. Then a violent jolt threw the cabin off balance. The shaft snapped, and the two horses charged ahead while the carriage stayed behind.

Everyone inside was thrown forward. The world spun. Lian Ai was the first to recover. He crawled out of the cabin and helped Fang Yuan and the others climb out.

They had just gotten to their feet when footsteps came from not far away.

“I saw them run that way!”

“Hurry, catch them!”

Fang Yuan looked terrified, her face white as paper. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to speak.

Lian Ai raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be silent. Then he pointed to a nearby tree and mouthed, “Go there. Hide.”

Fang Yuan bit her lip and obediently crouched down, moving in that direction.

Three people together made too large a target to escape. But if one of them acted as bait to draw the pursuers away, the other two might still have a chance.

Lian Ai could feel the pursuers closing in. He glanced back from behind the carriage and happened to catch sight of a burly, bearded man approaching slowly with a long blade in hand, slashing away at the undergrowth as he moved forward.

Lian Ai raised his crossbow, aimed at the man’s brow, and fired. The bolt tore through the air with a sharp whistle and struck the man clean between the eyes.

The moment the arrow hit, Lian Ai turned and bolted, diving into a thicket.

Shouts of anger erupted behind him. Moments later, footsteps came crashing through the woods from every direction.

There was no time to aim. Lian Ai fired toward any movement that caught his eye. He loosed five or six bolts. Some hit, some missed. None of it slowed the pursuit behind him.

They were like shadows clinging to his heels, impossible to shake off.

He kept glancing over his shoulder and didn’t see the thick root ahead. His foot caught, and he fell hard to the ground.

Just as he tried to scramble back up, a shadow fell over him. His chest tightened. He looked up and saw a thick-faced man standing directly in front of him.

“Let’s see where you run to now.” The man sneered as he brought the flat of his blade down hard on the side of Lian Ai’s neck.

Lian Ai went limp immediately and lost consciousness.

The man bent down, slung him over his shoulder, and gave a sharp whistle. “Got him. Let’s head back.”

Voices responded from different directions, some laced with curses.

“Damn, finally! That little bastard’s slippery as hell!”

“He took out a bunch of our men too. Just wait till I get my hands on him.”

—

Helian Qiufeng was flipping through the account books, his fingertip tracing line by line down the rows of numbers. His face was serious, fully focused. The Helian family managed a wide range of businesses, all of which he personally oversaw. Recently, they had also received an imperial title, making them officially recognized as “Imperial Merchants.” Many were now eager to form connections with the Helian household, and their trade had become so busy that it was almost unmanageable.

So when he said he didn’t have time to accompany Miss Fang, it wasn’t just an excuse to brush off his mother. He genuinely had no time.

He was engrossed in his work when suddenly the door to the study burst open with a loud bang. He frowned and looked up, about to scold whoever barged in, but the servant who rushed in wore a face full of panic and shouted,

“Bad news, Young Master! Second Young Master has been taken by mountain bandits!”

Helian Qiufeng shot to his feet. “What did you say? Where was Xiao Ai taken? What happened?”

He paused to think. “Wasn’t he with Fang Yuan today, heading to Mount Xiao? What about her?”

“Miss Fang has returned. She said they were ambushed at the foot of the mountain, and Second Young Master was taken by a group of bandits. The guards and coachman were all killed. Only she and her maid managed to escape.”

The servant added, “Madam already knows. She’s crying badly. Miss Fang is with her right now.”

Helian Qiufeng immediately strode out of the room, the servant following close behind. As they walked, the servant continued reporting what he knew, describing the attackers’ appearance, the way they spoke, their accents, and every other detail he could remember.

Helian Qiufeng asked, “Miss Fang told you all this?”

The servant replied, “Yes. She said she remembered everything she could, thinking it might be useful.”

The moment Helian Qiufeng heard that those men had Liangzhou accents, his heart sank. He had heard rumors about the Qian family setting up a bandit stronghold called Fenglei Fort in Da Qing Mountain. They were known for petty crimes like robbery and extortion. Thanks to the mountain’s natural defenses, it was easy to guard and hard to attack. Several local forces had sent troops to storm the place, but none had even located the stronghold. Instead, they were repeatedly thrown into chaos by the traps scattered all over the terrain.

Bu Nian had already eliminated several remnants of the rebel faction along his route. But even he had held off on attacking Fenglei Fort, precisely because of how unfamiliar the area was. No matter how skilled the commander, without someone to lead the way, even the best tactics were difficult to execute in the vast and tangled wilderness. A strong outsider was still no match for local bandits on their home ground.

Helian Qiufeng was seventy percent sure this was Qian Zeliang’s doing. If they had taken Lian Ai, it could only be for two reasons. Either they wanted to pressure Bu Nian, or they were after ransom from the Helian family.

While he worked to calm his parents, he also sent men to investigate the scene. At the same time, he dispatched a covert letter to Bu Nian, informing him of everything that had happened.

—

Lian Ai didn’t know how long he had been unconscious. When he came to, he found his hands bound tightly behind his back, his whole body stuffed inside a burlap sack.

He could feel the uneven jolting underneath him. He was likely in a moving carriage. He could hear the sounds of hooves and voices outside. From the noise, it seemed several riders were circling the cart to keep watch.

He had just started to move when something sharp and cold pressed against his chest.

“Don’t move.”

It wasn’t until the voice spoke that Lian Ai realized there was someone else inside the carriage. That person pressed slightly forward, and the tip of the blade pierced through Lian Ai’s clothes, breaking his skin.

A muffled grunt escaped his lips from the pain in his chest. He didn’t dare move again. The man, seeing that the warning had worked, withdrew the blade in satisfaction.

Lian Ai couldn’t see outside and had no idea how much time had passed. He could only count the number of times they fed him and guessed that it had been about two days.

On the third day, the carriage came to a stop, though the group itself kept moving. Lian Ai was taken out of the carriage and thrown onto a horse. Someone took the reins and led the horse forward. They traveled for several more hours.

His body was bent awkwardly, stomach jolting with every movement. His head hung upside down, and the discomfort made him feel sick. By the time someone unfastened him and pulled him off the horse, his body was drenched in cold sweat and completely drained of strength.

Two men grabbed him from both sides and dragged him forward without explanation. It didn’t take long before they threw him to the ground. Then someone yanked the sack off his body.

He squinted against the sudden brightness, his eyes struggling to adjust to the light.

“Finally got the little bastard. Leader, hurry up and kill him.”

The voice sounded vaguely familiar. When he looked toward it, he saw a face he recognized.

Feng Zhang was staring at him with hatred, as if he wanted to tear him to pieces right then and there. “Kill him and avenge the Prince Regent.”

Lian Ai’s gaze shifted to the man seated in the main seat. That man rubbed his chin, his sharp eyes scanning Lian Ai as though assessing a valuable object.

“Why kill him now? I’m planning to use him to squeeze a hefty sum out of Helian Qiufeng.” As he spoke, he gave a greedy smile that sent a chill through the air.

Feng Zhang still looked unwilling. “Killing him won’t make any difference. Helian Qiufeng wouldn’t even know. Just cut a few fingers from his corpse and send them to the Helian family. Let’s see if they dare not pay.”

Hearing this, Lian Ai involuntarily shifted back a few inches. He was afraid. Afraid of dying, and afraid of the pain and grief his death would bring to his family.

Surrounded by vicious eyes, he felt like a helpless prey cornered by a pack of wolves. There was no chance to run, only the looming fear of a death that could come at any moment.

“If we kill him now, what leverage will we have when Bu Nian comes for us?”

Just then, a voice sounded from behind Lian Ai. He froze for a moment before quickly turning around.

Zuo Lingyu walked in from outside. His frame looked thinner than before, his expression blank. If he had once been the sun in the sky, he was now a mass of cold, impenetrable fog. There was nothing but bleakness and deathly stillness in him.