Chapter 19

Zuo Lingyu grinned, showing a row of white teeth. “Of course it’s me. You’ve been hiding in the general’s estate. I’ve been looking for you for ages.” He leaned in to examine Lian Ai’s cheek more closely. A frown tugged at his brows. “What happened to your face? Did Bu Nian hit you?”

Lian Ai tried to pull his hand away but couldn’t. Holding back his irritation, he said, “Let go of me first. Then we can talk. This isn’t from the general. I bumped into something by accident.”

Zuo Lingyu was not the suspicious type. He believed whatever people told him. Since Lian Ai said it was an accident, he didn’t question how such a bruise could come about from a simple bump.

“I have to tell you something,” he said, finally letting go. He lifted the hem of his robe and took a seat beside Lian Ai, then began speaking at once, voicing one grievance after another.

After they parted at Mount Xiao, his father, Zuo Luan, had dragged him home and locked him up. He was scolded for wasting time, neglecting his martial arts, and living without discipline. It had taken great effort to sneak away again. He went to the private mansion to look for Lian Ai, but when he didn’t find him there, he came all the way to the capital.

Listening to his story, it did sound like a rough journey. But Lian Ai felt nothing.

In fact, he was starting to regret sending Fen Zi and the others away. “Why were you in such a hurry to find me?”

Zuo Lingyu blinked. “Did you forget? I said I’d take you to find your family. Last time, it was all ruined because of Bu Nian. Come with me now. We’ll go to Zhongzhou and meet the Helian family together.”

Lian Ai’s head began to ache. It always came back to this supposed reunion.

He already knew that this young master acted on impulse. Once an idea took root, he had to follow it through. He never made detailed plans, nor did he consider the consequences.

“You want me to go and recognize relatives just like that. What if I’m not the person they’re looking for? Wouldn’t that make things awkward for both sides?” Lian Ai said. “I wouldn’t care, but you said your aunt isn’t in good health. If she gets her hopes up for nothing, that wouldn’t be fair to her.”

Zuo Lingyu had always believed without a doubt that Lian Ai was the missing youngest son of the Helian family. Being reminded that there might be another possibility left him momentarily stunned.

“Then what should we do?” he asked, scratching his head with a lost expression.

Lian Ai looked at him and let out a soft sigh. “Why don’t you look into it first. See if that young master had any kind of birthmark or scar. If there’s something that matches, then I’ll go to Zhongzhou and visit them myself. There’s no need to rush.”

If they truly were his family, then after more than ten years apart, waiting a few more days wouldn’t change anything. When it came to patience, he had always been good at enduring.

Zuo Lingyu’s eyes lit up with realization. He slapped the table in excitement. “Then it’s settled.”

Lian Ai reached out to steady the wine pot that had nearly toppled. He watched as Zuo Lingyu stood and walked out of the pavilion. Rising from his seat, he followed after him.

Under the moonlight, Zuo Lingyu turned back to smile at him. “I’ll come get you once I’ve confirmed everything. Wait for me,” he said, then leapt onto the rooftop and vanished into the night.

Lian Ai stood there, staring in the direction he had disappeared. He felt dazed. A part of him hoped Zuo Lingyu would return. Another part hoped he wouldn’t.

In the brothel, many people carried quiet fantasies. The most common among them was the dream that one day, family would come to find them, save them from that bitter life, and take them home to live happily ever after.

But what made a fantasy just that was how unreal it was. Lian Ai had never believed he would be lucky enough for that dream to come true.

“Why didn’t you go with him?”

The sudden voice made him jump. He turned toward the entrance and saw Bu Nian walking into the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back.

“General…” He should have realized it earlier. With how tightly guarded the residence was, how could Zuo Lingyu have come and gone without anyone noticing? Bu Nian must have known the moment he scaled the wall.

The more he thought about it, the more relieved he felt that he hadn’t left with Zuo Lingyu just now.

Bu Nian walked into the pavilion at a steady pace. When he saw the wine and food laid out on the table, he sat down and poured himself a cup as if everything were perfectly normal.

“Were you afraid I’d have him hunted down?”

His tone sounded calm, but Lian Ai dared not treat it lightly. He moved in close, knelt at his side, and looked up. “This slave would never betray the general. If I ever leave, it will not be in secret. It will only be because one day, the general no longer wants me, and tells me to go.”

A faint smile curved at the corners of Bu Nian’s mouth. He reached out, pinched Lian Ai’s chin, and gave it a slight shake. “Have you noticed? Every time you’re trying to cover something up, you go back to calling yourself ‘this slave.’”

Lian Ai froze. Even his expression stiffened.

“This sl… I didn’t.” He quickly changed his wording, but that only made it clearer that Bu Nian had struck a nerve.

Bu Nian laughed, even more amused. “Still too easy. I tricked you without even trying.”

Lian Ai pressed his lips together and said nothing. Better to stay quiet than risk saying something wrong.

Bu Nian stroked the back of his head, running his fingers through the smooth black hair. His voice softened. “I know you want to leave.”

Lian Ai remained there, head resting on Bu Nian’s knee, long hair falling loosely down his back and brushing the ground. He didn’t move. He couldn’t bring himself to admit it, but he didn’t deny it either.

Then he heard Bu Nian speak again.

“When all of this is over, no matter what happens, I’ll set you free.”

Lian Ai trembled.

He understood what those words truly meant. When all of this was over, he didn’t want to believe it pointed toward what he feared, but deep down, he knew there was no other possibility.

If Bu Nian succeeded, if he rose to power and stood above all others, then letting Lian Ai go would be effortless.

But if he failed, if he lost everything and died because of it, then everyone connected to him would be punished. Lian Ai would be included in that. There would be no freedom left to give.

He didn’t voice his doubt. Partly because he was afraid. Partly because he chose to believe that Bu Nian wouldn’t go back on his word.

—

The Prince of Kangding’s birthday banquet drew every notable figure in the capital. Even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor sent lavish gifts in their stead.

The prince stood at the entrance hall, greeting guests as they arrived. Just then, the steward announced the arrival of Prince Yong. He looked up and saw a young man dressed in elegant purple robes walking in at an unhurried pace.

“Your Highness, to have you grace my humble residence is an honor beyond words,” the prince said warmly, stepping forward with cupped fists.

Prince Yong, Gan Yan, had a gentle and refined appearance. If dressed as a commoner, he would easily be mistaken for a scholarly gentleman.

“You are an elder, and it’s only proper for the younger generation to come offer congratulations. Since the Empress Dowager and His Majesty were unable to leave the palace, I’ve brought their blessings on their behalf.”

Several court officials stood nearby. The group quickly engaged in lively conversation. Before long, the topic turned to Prince Yong’s upcoming marriage to Zuo Lingxue.

Ordinarily, the idea of a royal prince marrying a woman from the martial world as his primary consort would be the subject of much ridicule among the nobility. Many would say the woman was reaching too far above her station. However, Zuo Lingxue was known as the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. And Prince Yong, for all his rank, was more a lover of poetry and leisure than a statesman. A refined scholar paired with a peerless beauty made for a match that few could fault.

“Auspicious dates have been chosen. They say early spring of next year is ideal,” Prince Yong said with a smile full of tenderness. He was clearly very pleased with his bride-to-be. “Spring weather is warmer. The new bride won’t have to suffer the cold.”

The officials at his side all nodded in agreement. “Yes, yes, spring is best. The weather will be fine.”

Just as the group was deep in cheerful conversation, the steward announced the arrival of General Bu.

In an instant, the conversation came to a halt. The atmosphere turned slightly awkward.

The Prince of Kangding, a seasoned politician, calmly stroked his beard and invited the guests to take their seats. He had someone lead Prince Yong to a table next to the head table.

At banquets like this, the seat of honor should have gone to the guest with the highest rank. But the relationships within the court were complex, full of tension between factions. Prime Minister Lu and Old General Bu, for example, could not sit together. Neither could Prince Yong and the young General Bu. The Prince of Kangding clapped his forehead and decided to seat each of them near the main table while reserving the center seat for the eldest person present. That, at least, would avoid conflict.

Bu Nian arrived dressed in a dark robe and silver crown. His bearing was austere, his figure tall and upright, his movements brisk and sharp. Compared to Prince Yong’s gentle presence, the contrast between them could not have been greater.

As Bu Nian crossed the short distance to the hall, the Prince of Kangding found himself full of emotion. No matter which of these two men Zuo Lingxue married, she would not be marrying poorly. One was a hero. The other was a gifted scholar. Not like his own daughter, who had turned down every other match and insisted on Bu Nian alone. As if a marriage with Bu Nian was something one could arrange just like that. Even if he threw aside his pride and begged the Emperor for an official decree, Bu Nian would probably refuse to comply and die rather than submit.

“General Bu, your presence brings great honor to my household,” the prince said as Bu Nian approached. He greeted him with the same words he had just used on Prince Yong, though with a slightly different tone.

But unlike the warmth and affability of Prince Yong, Bu Nian was far more direct. He offered a slight smile and said, “The princess brought the invitation in person. How could I not come?”

The remark, laced with subtle reproach, made the Prince of Kangding’s smile freeze for a moment.

He had indeed heard rumors that his daughter had made quite a scene at the general’s residence. But she had been spoiled beyond repair. He couldn’t scold her, couldn’t strike her. He no longer knew how to keep her in line. He wanted to do better, but his hands were tied.

The Prince of Kangding forced a laugh and pushed down his frustration as he stepped aside to lead Bu Nian into the hall. “General, please do come in.”

Bu Nian walked in, greeting many of his colleagues along the way. But as he passed by Prince Yong’s table, neither of the two acknowledged the other. One turned to speak with someone beside him. The other lowered his head to murmur quietly with the person at his side. It was no secret that they could not stand the sight of one another.

As was customary, the male guests were seated in the main hall, while the women took their meal in the floral banquet hall.

The wife of the Prince of Karding noticed her daughter seemed distracted and uneasy, so she asked what was wrong.

Princess Fuqu snapped out of her daze. “No, it’s nothing. The room just feels a little stuffy,” she replied, then raised her cup and took a sip of wine to mask her unease.

By the time the banquet had reached its midpoint, several acts had already been performed on the stage. Bu Nian kept his eyes on the performance. Each time he emptied his cup, a maid would step forward to refill it, and so he paid no attention to the wine itself.

After draining another cup, he paused and looked down at it with a slight frown. Turning to the maid beside him, he asked, “The taste is different from earlier. Was the wine changed?”

The maid appeared somewhat nervous. Whether it was because she feared him or for some other reason, she replied with great caution, “General, this may be from a different batch than the previous one, which might explain the slight difference in taste.”

Bu Nian gave a small nod and asked nothing further.

A little while later, as the guests began to move around the hall offering toasts, a maid rushed in from the back courtyard and came to Bu Nian’s side. She leaned in and spoke softly. “General, my lady has something urgent to tell you. She hopes to meet you in the back garden.”

Bu Nian looked her over. Her face was familiar. She did seem to be one of the maids who often followed Princess Fuqu.

“Not interested,” he replied flatly.

The maid froze for a moment, then quickly grew more anxious. “General, it truly is something important. Her Highness said that if the general agree to see her, she will never bother you again.”

That only made Bu Nian more suspicious. But knowing Fuqu, her tricks never amounted to much. At worst, she might be trying to create a scene. At best, perhaps there really was something she wanted to say. With a faint sense of curiosity, he rose and followed the maid out of the hall.

The moment she saw him stand, the maid’s shoulders relaxed in relief, and she couldn’t hide her grin. “Please come this way, General.”

She walked ahead with a lantern in hand, guiding him toward the back of the residence. Compared to the cheerful noise of the front hall, the rear courtyard was quiet and dim.

“We’re almost there. Her Highness is just ahead,” she said, turning back frequently as they walked, as if afraid he might grow impatient.

Bu Nian noticed that the area around them had grown increasingly deserted. The maid’s demeanor also seemed off. Nervous, almost furtive, as though worried someone might see them. He quickly guessed this was likely another of Fuqu’s antics. Whatever urgent matter she had mentioned likely didn’t exist.

He came to a stop. “What exactly does Fuqu want from me?”

“There is… something urgent,” the maid stammered. Seeing that he wasn’t moving, her nerves rose to the surface. Even in the cold air, the tip of her nose was dotted with sweat.

Bu Nian’s voice dropped to a chill. “If you dare utter even half a lie, I’ll have you taken in and charged as a foreign spy.”

The maid instantly began to tremble. Even the lantern in her hand nearly slipped from her grasp. “This servant… I…”

Bu Nian was about to press her further when a wave of heat suddenly surged through his body. A familiar, uncontrollable urge began to take hold. Ever since the time he had been drugged by Daoist Ji Yuan, he had come to loathe these low and filthy tricks. The way the maid was acting told him everything he needed to know.

“You really dared to drug me?” His fury exploded and his expression twisted in anger. “Do you know what it means to poison a court official? Do you understand what that crime entails?”

He had never imagined Fuqu would be so bold as to use an aphrodisiac on him.

“It wasn’t this servant…” The young maid, having never faced such an accusation, crumbled under the weight of it. Her knees gave out and she fell to the ground. “It was Her Highness! She ordered me to do it! General, please have mercy. Please spare me!”

Bu Nian flung his sleeve and turned away. By the time he returned to the banquet in the front courtyard, his face was dripping with sweat. A few officials stepped forward with concern, asking if something was wrong, but he waved them off.

The Prince of Kangding, who had been seated nearby, noticed his disheveled state. He placed his cup aside and stepped forward at once, reaching out to steady him. “General Bu, are you all right? Could it be the wine from earlier catching up to you?”

Bu Nian could have kept the matter quiet and dealt with it later. He could have settled accounts with the prince’s household in private. But he had no intention of staying silent.

He shoved the prince aside and spoke through clenched teeth, his voice loud enough for everyone around to hear. “Go and ask your precious daughter what she’s done.”

Under the stunned gazes of the guests, he strode off in fury.

That night, Lian Ai fell asleep unusually early. Not long after he lay down, the wind outside began to howl. It sounded like a storm was approaching.

He turned over and gave it no thought.

Suddenly, a loud crash came from the window as it was blown open by the wind.

Lian Ai jolted upright in bed. Through the gauze curtain of his canopy, he could make out the silhouette of someone standing in the room.

A cry of fear rose in his throat but never left his lips. Just then, lightning split the sky, illuminating the room.

The light struck across the figure’s face.

It was Bu Nian.