Chapter 41

Bu Nian paused in slight confusion. Had he really spoiled him? He had always treated him so strictly, never once coaxed him with soft words, and constantly found fault with him. Where was the spoiling in that?

“You… it’s only because your past was too hard that you think anyone who treats you a little better is being kind.” His voice carried a trace of helplessness. “Alright, stop crying. You’re about to flood the whole bed.”

Lian Ai sniffled and wiped his face roughly with his sleeve.

“That’s not true. I know exactly who’s truly good to me…”

The person he used to be was like a bird trapped in a cage. Its beautiful feathers were nothing but decoration. It knew how vast the world was, but it had no way to escape the prison that confined it. Opening the cage was easy, but a bird that had never flown would not know how to survive. Even with freedom, what use was it?

Bu Nian had not only opened the cage, but had taught him how to spread his wings, how to take flight, how to soar across the skies, how to survive in this world.

Gan Yan was of the same rank as Bu Nian, yet all he wanted was to torment him for his own pleasure. He wanted to break his wings and force him back into the cage.

They were nothing alike. It was only after experiencing Bu Nian’s kindness that he could truly understand the cruelty of Gan Yan.

When Fen Zi came in to deliver the medicine, she had just opened her mouth to speak when Bu Nian raised his hand to stop her. She immediately slowed her movements and noticed that someone was curled up against the inner side of the bed.

Bu Nian held his palm upward and silently motioned for her to come closer.

Fen Zi, quick to read the situation, stepped forward and handed him the warm medicine bowl from the tray. Bu Nian drank it like it was tea, finishing it in a few swallows.

When he was done, he passed the bowl back to her the same way, and Fen Zi took it. Then she handed him a clean cloth.

Bu Nian wiped the corner of his lips and tossed the cloth back onto the tray with precision, as if he could still see.

Fen Zi gave a small bow, then quietly exited the room. Just because the General could no longer see didn’t mean the proper courtesies could be abandoned.

Lian Ai lay curled up at Bu Nian’s side, his breathing slow and quiet. The day had been overwhelming for him, and after the emotional breakdown just now, his injuries, and the exhaustion that weighed on his body, he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes.

Bu Nian rested against the headboard. Though everything before him was darkness, he could still picture what surrounded him. He was too familiar with this place. It was precisely because of that familiarity that he felt no panic or helplessness.

Including…

He gently stroked Lian Ai’s smooth, soft hair. In his mind, he pictured him clinging close, quiet and warm, like a cat curling up for heat.

Gan Yan was no longer a threat. The Helian family had earned merit in protecting the Emperor. Whether in court or the martial world, they would no longer face any true opposition. As “Helian Ai,” Lian Ai should now be able to live a peaceful, prosperous life without worry.

Bu Nian pressed his palm against Lian Ai’s back. Before he realized it, he too had fallen asleep.

—

The attempted coup at Tianfu Temple shook all of Great Qi like a storm. In the past, people believed Gan Yan and Bu Nian were merely political rivals. Most assumed Gan Yan only sought to control the court, to become the most powerful subject under the throne. No one had imagined he planned to seize the throne itself. Worse yet, he had colluded with many martial sects. News of it spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

Gan Yan had suffered grave injuries and was now imprisoned at the Court of Justice, his life barely sustained by daily ginseng decoctions. For a crime like treason, the punishment should have been death without mercy. But as a member of the royal clan, his case placed the Minister of Justice in a difficult position. They could only wait for the young Emperor’s condition to improve before asking how he wished to proceed.

The martial artists who had come to the Emperor’s aid were all rewarded. The Helian family, in particular, received the highest honors. The second son, Helian Ai, not only protected the Emperor in a time of danger but also wounded Gan Yan critically. The Emperor personally bestowed upon their household a plaque inscribed “Number One in Great Qi,” a treasured sword, and an iron token for meritorious service.

He also declared them the top clan in the empire. When the Emperor himself grants such a title, who would dare speak against it? In the martial world, Helian Qiufeng’s reputation surged. He succeeded Zuo Luan as the new leading figure.

As for the martial families and sects who had joined the rebellion, those with substantial influence were executed under the charge of treason, their entire clans implicated and wiped out. Those who were drifters with no sect or family name were all issued wanted notices. From then on, they lived like fugitives, constantly moving and hiding.

Just when the people of the capital thought Grand General Bu was about to dominate the court with no rivals left, the political scene shifted once again. The former Prime Minister, Lu Binglian, who had already retired and returned to his hometown, suddenly came back to court. Even more unexpected, he had been personally brought back by Bu Nian. The court and public alike were left confused and caught completely off guard by this sudden turn of events.

“Court affairs should stay in court. They really shouldn’t involve too many others.” Compared to a year ago when he left the capital, Prime Minister Lu now had a few more streaks of white in his hair, but his energy remained strong. Barring any accidents, he would likely live long enough to see the young Emperor rule on his own.

“You’re right, Prime Minister. The court and His Majesty will be in your hands now.” Bu Nian stood beside him just outside the palace hall, on the red marble steps marked with dragon patterns. Not far off, Song Qiao waited silently.

Prime Minister Lu looked deeply at Bu Nian, his eyes pausing for a moment on the white cloth covering Bu Nian’s eyes. He recalled the scene inside the hall just earlier, when the Emperor had clung to Bu Nian’s sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably. A wave of sorrow stirred in his chest.

According to Liang Shao, even if Bu Nian managed to neutralize the poison within three months, his eyesight would never return to what it once was. For someone like him, a Grand General without his sight was like a tiger defanged, an eagle grounded. He would never stand at the peak again.

It was a tremendous loss for Great Qi. Prime Minister Lu felt a deep ache in his heart.

“General Bu, there’s no need to say more. This old minister only doing what I should.” He tucked his hands inside his sleeves, bowed slightly toward Bu Nian, and said, “May the general make it through this trial safely. Otherwise, with no one left to argue in court, things might get too quiet.” After speaking, he chuckled, turned, and walked off with his hands behind his back.

Bu Nian heard him speak like a mischievous old man and could not help but smile.

When Old General Bu was still alive, he and Prime Minister Lu often clashed in court. Their political views rarely aligned, and the two would argue in front of the Emperor at the slightest disagreement. Everyone believed they were bitter enemies. When the old general was assassinated, Prime Minister Lu was the first person suspected.

But what others did not know was that, in private, Old General Bu deeply respected Prime Minister Lu. More than once, he drunkenly mentioned him in front of Bu Nian. And when he spoke of him, it was not with curses, but with admiration.

The old general was no brute who lived only for battle and pleasure. He had sound judgment. He knew who truly had the nation’s best interests at heart. In the time of the former Emperor, when decadence and incompetence reigned, he had been grateful to have Prime Minister Lu supporting Great Qi. And Prime Minister Lu had felt the same.

Because of that, Bu Nian also treated Prime Minister Lu with sincere respect and instinctive trust. He had never once suspected him of having anything to do with his father’s death.

“General, shall we head back now?” Song Qiao waited until the Prime Minister had gone before stepping forward to ask.

Bu Nian nodded. “Let’s go. Lian Ai’s probably getting anxious.”

Song Qiao made a face behind his back and grinned to himself. Then he turned and walked ahead, letting Bu Nian follow the sound of his footsteps. At the steps, Song Qiao gave timely reminders, but most of the time Bu Nian already anticipated them. Apart from walking more slowly than usual, he looked no different from any ordinary man. He did not look like someone who had lost his sight.

When they reached the palace gates, Song Qiao helped him into the carriage bound for the general’s residence. Just as he was about to turn back and return to duty, he caught sight of a pair of pale, delicate arms extending from within the carriage, carefully supporting Bu Nian into the carriage cabin.

Song Qiao paused at the sight. He didn’t know why, but something about it gave him a deep sense of comfort. He had always felt that the general lacked someone by his side, someone who could look after him and truly feel his pain. The old general had raised his son with strict discipline, and the lady of the house had passed away early. Bu Nian’s youth had not been an easy one.

In the past, when Bu Nian had taken a liking to Zuo Lingxue, Song Qiao had said nothing, but deep down, he had always felt she was too cold and aloof, too calculating. She could be a comrade in arms, but she was not a good match.

Lian Ai was different. His birth might have been low, but he never complained, and his heart was pure. More than that… he knew how to care for others.

—

With the capital now at peace, Helian Qiufeng was eager to return to Zhongzhou. He wished to reunite with his anxious parents and personally deliver the imperial rewards granted by the Emperor.

He knew Lian Ai would not be able to leave for now, so he didn’t try to persuade him. He only reminded him to be careful. Some rebels had yet to be caught, and there was no telling what desperate acts they might resort to.

Lian Ai nodded and said, “You be careful too, elder brother.”

He actually hoped Zuo Lingyu would show up. At least then, he could try talking to him. He still felt that Zuo Lingyu would be more willing to listen than his sister.

After seeing Helian Qiufeng off at the city gate, Lian Ai watched the convoy disappear into the distance. Then he turned and mounted his horse. On the way back, he made a small detour to buy two baskets of freshly baked pastries for Bu Nian.

When he returned to the general’s residence, Fen Zi was already waiting for him at the gate. Seeing him at last, she let out a long sigh of relief.

“Young Master, you’re finally back.” She grabbed his wrist and began pulling him inside. “The General woke up and didn’t see you. His face was dark all morning.”

Lian Ai, worried the pastries might get jostled, carefully held the boxes and said in a low voice, “I did tell him I was going to see elder brother off.”

Fen Zi turned her head slightly and said, “He knows, sure. But knowing is one thing, and being unhappy is another. You know the General’s temper better than anyone.”

With Prime Minister Lu handling court affairs, Bu Nian had no worries and was focused entirely on recovering. Whenever official documents needed his attention, he had Lian Ai read them aloud. After hearing them, he would dictate his responses, and Lian Ai would write them down.

He allowed no servants or maids near him. All matters, from dressing to washing, were handled by Lian Ai. Perhaps because of this, the General had grown somewhat reliant on him.

When the two of them reached the study, the guards outside saw who they were and let them in. Bu Nian was seated at his desk, holding a brush in his hand. He appeared to be writing, but the paper in front of him remained completely blank. There wasn’t even a drop of ink on it.

“What is the General doing?”

Since losing his sight, Bu Nian’s hearing had grown exceptionally sharp. He could tell who was approaching just from the sound of their footsteps. Fen Zi and Lian Ai had made no effort to walk quietly, so he had known they were coming long before they entered.

“Practicing calligraphy.” He rested his chin on one hand, his tone a little lazy. If not for his strict daily routine, Lian Ai would have thought he was nodding off.

Lian Ai made a sound of acknowledgment. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fen Zi setting the pastries on the table. He turned to Bu Nian and said, “General, I passed by Fushun Pavilion on my way back and picked up some of your favorite pastries.”

As soon as Bu Nian heard that, he immediately set down his brush. If Helian Qiufeng were returning to Zhongzhou, he should have exited through the south gate. If Lian Ai had come back to the general’s residence from that direction, there was no way he would have passed by Fushun Pavilion by chance. These pastries could only have been bought by deliberately taking a detour.

Everything he had done that morning had felt dull and uninteresting, even tiresome. Yet now, his mood suddenly lifted, and the corners of his lips rose without him realizing it.

“Very good,” he said, tossing aside the brush and reaching his hand naturally toward Lian Ai.

Lian Ai took hold of it at once, gripping it firmly as he carefully led him to the table. Bu Nian was clearly someone who could move about the room without help, yet for this short distance, he allowed himself to be guided.

After they had eaten the pastries, Fen Zi was already waiting beside them with a basin of warm water filled with flower petals. Lian Ai attended to him again, wiping his hands and helping him rinse his mouth. When it was done, he asked if the General wanted lunch brought in.

“I just finished the pastries. I’m not hungry,” Bu Nian said. “You eat. Stay here and have it. I’ll go to the courtyard and practice a bit, to help with digestion.”

He rose from the chair. He needed no assistance to find the doorway and walked out of the study on his own. The guards outside were already used to it. Their early concern had faded with time.

Bu Nian snapped off a plum branch and began to move in the open courtyard, using the branch as a substitute for a sword. His posture was strong and precise. Every move was firm and practical, without unnecessary flair.

Lian Ai stood at the window, staring blankly at the elegant figure moving in the cold wind.

It felt as though nothing could bring Bu Nian down. Even after losing his sight, even with death once looming near, he could still face it all calmly, without fear.

Had he long been prepared for death? Not just this time, but even further back, perhaps from the moment he first stepped onto the battlefield as a youth. Had he already understood life and death, already come to terms with time, so that now he could remain this composed?

There was not a trace of panic or unrest on him. Was it because he truly believed this was not yet a crisis, or because, even if he were to die, he would have no regrets?

As the second possibility crossed Lian Ai’s mind, his lashes trembled involuntarily. It was then that Fen Zi suddenly cried out beside him.

“It’s snowing!”

Lian Ai looked up at the sky. Snowflakes the size of fingernails were drifting down.

“Snowfall during the New Year is a good omen.” He reached a hand out the window and caught a snowflake. Before he could pull his hand back, it had already melted into a splash of cold water.

Bu Nian’s sword moved faster and faster, as if he had become one with the wind and snow. His dark cloak whipped through the freezing air, and the feathered surface shimmered gold beneath the sunlight.

The sword dance lasted the length of an incense stick. By the end, the snow was falling too heavily, and Bu Nian finally stopped and returned indoors. Lian Ai met him at the corridor and brushed the snowflakes from his body, then used a clean cloth to dry the snow from his face and hair.

“General, should we have the food brought in now?” Fen Zi asked.

The cloth over Bu Nian’s eyes had grown damp, so he pulled it off and said, “Do it. After moving a bit, I really am hungry now.”

Lian Ai took the cloth from his hands and told Fen Zi to bring fresh bandages and the medicine for his eyes as well.

Once Fen Zi had left, Bu Nian sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. “I told you to eat first. Why didn’t you? Are you not hungry?”

Lian Ai walked over and did not sit on a stool. Instead, he sat down on Bu Nian’s lap.

“I want to eat with the General.” He stared at the dark marks around Bu Nian’s eyes. He recognized it as the poison, Fentian, the deadly toxin threatening his life.

His own injuries no longer mattered. What he worried about was when Bu Nian would recover.

He lowered his head and took off the peace-lock from his neck, then placed it on Bu Nian. “I believe this is what kept me alive. That is why I survived.” He opened the lock. Inside the hollow case was a small roll of red paper. It was the note Bu Nian had included in the red envelope on New Year’s Eve. “I will lend it to the General. When you recover, return it to me.”

~Year after year, may we reach this day again. Every year, may we have peace.~

Such a simple wish, yet so hard to fulfill.

Bu Nian froze for a moment. He reached toward his chest and felt something hard and cold against it. That lock had once belonged to his mother. He had worn it all through his childhood and only stopped when he grew older. He never thought he would wear it again today.

Bu Nian found it amusing. “Wasn’t this something Bai Shu lent you in the first place? Now you’re acting like a peddler, lending it to me again.”

Lian Ai pressed his palm against his chest. “Because I know the General never had him in your heart. Sooner or later, you were going to take the peace-lock back.”

Bu Nian did not deny it. “You really do know everything.”

Lian Ai poked his chest. “Because the General has me in your heart.”

Bu Nian fell silent for a moment. The next instant, he grabbed the mischievous fingers and said in a hoarse voice, “You’re getting bolder by the day. It seems I’ve spoiled you too much.”

Though it sounded like a scolding, it wasn’t exactly a denial.

With the rest of his fingers restrained, Lian Ai used his free thumb to lightly scratch the back of Bu Nian’s hand, leaving behind a trail of tingling sensation.

“My wounds have healed.”

That abrupt statement caught Bu Nian off guard.

Lian Ai spoke more directly. “Tonight, I want the General’s favour.”

If there was anything regretful about losing his sight, it was not being able to see Lian Ai’s face at this moment.

Bu Nian wrapped his other arm around Lian Ai’s waist, pulling that soft, slender body closer.

“Then you better moan louder.”

Not being able to see his expression in the heat of desire was a real pity.