The Lament of Autumn - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Phoenixes Sing and the Silk Vines Rely on the Tall Trees; The Startled Swan Loses Its Companion and the Flowing Water Buries the Fallen Blossoms

In early June, Xiao Beichen of the Jiangbei Xiao family and Yu Changxuan of the Jiangnan Yu family unexpectedly toasted to each other’s health, calling one another "third brother" and "fifth brother." This sudden reconciliation, which washed away their former hatred with a smile, caused an uproar in both domestic and foreign public opinion. Yet, for the world to be at peace was truly a great fortune for the people and a great security for the nation.

Following the peace talks, the Xiao army retreated to guard Huyang Pass, while the Yu army massed heavy troops at Xiangping Pass. Yu Changxuan was promoted to Commander of the Ninth Military Region and Lieutenant General of the Army, stationed at the vital military stronghold of Xiangping Pass. To the north, he kept the Jiangbei Xiao family in check, establishing a standoff with the Xiao army at Huyang Pass. To the south, he held military power, shaking Jinling with his prestige. From this point on, although the Mou and Tao families in Jinling were fully fledged, they dared not make any rash moves against the Yu family.

Since the peace agreement was reached, the situation of infighting among domestic warlord factions had eased, and the Xiao warlords and the Jinling government entered a rare period of peace. In the final analysis, it was a case of two tigers on one mountain, neither able to defeat the other, leaving them no choice but to coexist temporarily. The Yu army at Xiangping Pass and the Xiao army at Huyang Pass began to rest and build up their strength; it was even rumored that on the front lines of the standoff, the two armies would laugh, scold, and joke with each other from within their respective fortifications.

One day, having nothing to do and with the weather being just right, Yu Changxuan decided to go to the parade ground to ride his horse and clear his mind. Gu Ruitong, as the Chief of the Aide-de-camp Office, naturally made the safety of Yu Changxuan his top priority. He had long since arranged for the guard brigade to set up posts around the horse track, with cavalry squads on sentry duty and a guard battalion protecting the route.

By two or three in the afternoon, Yu Changxuan had led a few attendants on a long loop around the parade ground before returning. He was riding a chrysanthemum-blue horse over four feet tall, and dressed in a dashing riding outfit, he looked incredibly spirited. He saw Pingjun, who had come with him, sitting in a temporarily erected canvas tent. He smiled, lifted his riding crop toward the front of the tent, and gestured to her: "Do you dare?"

Pingjun had just happened to change out of her long skirt into a riding outfit as well. Seeing this, she stood up and smiled: "Do you think I don't know how to ride? That would be underestimating me too much. But since we are going to ride, I want to ride my own horse."

Seeing the confidence in her eyes and brows, Yu Changxuan told Gu Ruitong, who was nearby: "Go find a docile horse."

Gu Ruitong hurried personally to the horse management station. Before long, he brought back a horse with a jujube-red coat. Two guards on the side helped hold the horse and steady the stirrups. Pingjun walked up generously, grabbed the reins with one hand, stepped into the stirrup with her left foot, and with one effortless flick of her body, she was up, sitting steadily in the saddle.

Yu Changxuan could not help but laugh: "Where did you learn that?"

Pingjun turned her head back, a dashing spirit adding to her delicate features, and smiled mischievously: "Bai Liyuan's father is a master horse trainer. Liyuan and I both learned from him, though I only learned the basics. You aren't allowed to laugh at me."

Yu Changxuan laughed: "Whether you are 'showing off your axe before a master' or not, we'll know once we race." Pingjun let out a laugh and said: "Oh, so the Commander-in-chief wants to race? Then I'll be off first." She flicked the reins and was the first to gallop out. After running several miles along the parade ground, she pulled on the reins and turned the horse's head to look, only to see Yu Changxuan riding at a leisurely, steady pace right behind her.

Pingjun laughed: "This counts as my win."

Yu Changxuan rode up to her side; ultimately worried, he reached out a hand to hold her reins and smiled: "Alright, alright, I'll count it as your win. What reward will you give me?" Hearing this, Pingjun couldn't help but smile radiantly: "Why should I reward you?"

Yu Changxuan chuckled: "If I hadn't been afraid you would fall, I would have made several laps by now. Since I was so attentive, tell me, shouldn't you reward me?" Pingjun pursed her lips and smiled: "That actually sounds somewhat logical. Then what reward do you want?" Yu Changxuan leaned over from his horse toward her cheek and whispered something with a smile. Pingjun’s face turned crimson instantly. She pushed him away and chided: "And you call yourself a Commander-in-chief, being so thick-skinned! Go away, I’m going back."

She turned her horse around, intending to ride back, but suddenly her waist felt tight. He had reached out an arm and pulled her onto his own horse. She let out a small cry of fright, and suddenly she was in his embrace. He lowered his head and kissed her near her cheek, whispering with a laugh: "With me here, where are you thinking of going?"

She had truly been given a start, and her heart was still pounding violently. She couldn't help but look up and chide: "You really are betting like Zhao Kuangyin—refusing to lose and grabbing the winnings regardless. You’re so unreasonable." He just laughed, holding her tightly in his arms, and said: "When it comes to you, what reason do I need?"

She was held so tightly she could barely catch her breath, yet deep in her heart, a surge of warmth could not help but rise. She tilted her head back slightly, resting it against his chest. As he sat on the horse with her in his arms, he pointed his riding crop forward into the distance and said: "Pingjun, look—that is Jiangbei."

She followed the direction of his riding crop and saw the vast expanse of mountains and rivers, rising from the earth as if meeting the sky, covered in green grass as far as the eye could see. Yu Changxuan said: "For now, that is all the Xiao family’s, but my father says that one day, our Yu army will definitely cross the north of the river." He paused, hugged her a little tighter, and smiled: "When that time comes, I will take you to ride and see the scenery on the land of Jiangbei, how about it?"

Pingjun smiled: "You have a beautiful imagination, planning everything so perfectly. Even the moon has its waxing and waning; aren't you afraid that Heaven might give you this, but specifically refuse to give you that? Let's see what you do then."

She said this with a cheerful smile; it was meant to be a joke, but for some reason, Yu Changxuan felt a twinge in his heart and smiled somewhat forcedly: "Then what would you want?" Pingjun reached out to tuck away the hair blown across her temple by the wind, and turned her head back, her eyes as clear as water: "I want something that belongs to you."

Yu Changxuan asked: "What do you want?" Pingjun pointed toward his military belt and smiled: "I want this sword." Yu Changxuan looked down and realized she was pointing at the short sword he wore every day. This was awarded to him along with his graduation certificate after he graduated from the Nanming Military Academy. The blade was engraved with the four characters "Success or Benevolence," meaning to either succeed or die for a righteous cause; thus, it was also known as the "Soul of the Soldier."

At this moment, she pointed at that short sword and smiled faintly: "I want this one." Yu Changxuan unbuckled his sword and placed it into her hands, smiling: "Since you like it, then let this serve as our token of love." She held the short sword, her fingers gently stroking the exquisite plum blossom petals carved into the hilt, and nodded. The smile at the corner of her lips was both firm and happy: "Whatever you want to do, I will follow you; I will follow you for a lifetime."

Yu Changxuan felt a surge of excitement in his chest, his arms filled with the warmth radiating from her. He lowered his head; her hair carried an intoxicating, faint fragrance that seeped into his breath little by little. Strands of black hair were blown by the wind, brushing against his handsome face. A wave of joy and relief welled up in his heart—an ecstasy so great it was simply indescribable. He only held her tighter and said softly: "Pingjun, I am truly happy."

Gu Yigang and several senior advisors of the Ninth Military Region arrived a little late to find guards standing around the temporary tent, but no sign of Yu Changxuan; even the adjutant, Wu Zuoxiao, had been left behind. Gu Yigang sat down in the tent with the senior advisors and asked the chief of guards, Gu Ruitong: "Where is the Commander-in-chief?"

Although they were father and son, Gu Yigang was an extremely stern man who never practiced favoritism. Gu Ruitong stood at attention, stiff and formal: "Report, the Commander-in-chief has gone riding." Gu Yigang, who was currently serving as Deputy Commander and Supervisor of the Ninth Military Region and was the most important person Yu Zhongquan had placed by Yu Changxuan’s side, immediately darkened his face upon hearing this and raged: "The Commander-in-chief is out riding, and you group of guards are all dead? Why didn't you follow?" Gu Ruitong looked slightly embarrassed and replied after a long silence: "The cavalry squad has already been arranged to follow from a distance."

Gu Yigang asked: "What do you mean by 'follow from a distance'?"

Gu Ruitong had no choice but to answer: "The Commander-in-chief went riding with Miss Ye." Gu Yigang was slightly taken aback, and his expression did not look good. The senior advisors on the side were drinking tea and eating snacks; hearing this, they all smiled meaningfully. Gu Yigang turned back and smiled at these advisors: "Look at this, our Commander-in-chief turns out to be a passionate hero after all."

A senior advisor in the tent laughed loudly: "The Commander-in-chief's actions fit that saying perfectly: 'True men of letters are naturally romantic; only great heroes can maintain their true character.'" Everyone followed suit with laughter, except for Gu Yigang, whose face did not show the slightest hint of a smile. The military flags on the horse track fluttered, and the soldiers looked sturdy. He turned his head to look at Gu Ruitong, his gaze extremely stern, and Gu Ruitong silently lowered his head.

By July and August, although internal worries had somewhat settled, external threats were becoming increasingly serious. The Fuso army advanced step by step, having fought their way from the Southern Dian battlefield, and another route landed from a port city, gradually occupying several major railway lines from south to north. Meanwhile, the internal infighting within the Jinling government was becoming increasingly intense, leaving them naturally no time to attend to the Fuso threat, which led to a rising wave of opposition among the domestic populace and made the situation even more volatile.

On this day, after the regular meeting at the headquarters, the secretaries and staff officers left. Seeing that Yu Changxuan still had his thick eyebrows locked in a frown, Gu Yigang said slowly: "Does the Commander-in-chief still not agree with the instruction from the seat of power?"

Yu Changxuan frowned and said: "The Fuso army is advancing step by step, yet Father still insists on preserving strength and keeping the troops stationary. I only fear that if the Yu army continues to retreat blindly and indulges the Fuso, we will end up 'inviting the wolf into the house,' and by then, we won't be able to drive them out."

Gu Yigang let out a long sigh and said: "The Mou and Tao families have formed a strong alliance, pressing the Yu family step by step and suppressing us everywhere. The seat of power is also helpless. Besides, there is another matter at hand that is even more disadvantageous to us."

Yu Changxuan asked: "What other matter?"

Gu Yigang said: "When the Mou family’s adopted son, Jiang Xueting, was the editor-in-chief of the 'Ming Bao,' he relied on his pen and his mouth to curse the heavens and earth, earning popular support and establishing quite a foundation. The seat of power finally could not hold back and suppressed him once, but unexpectedly, it only helped him build an image as a hero fighting for freedom. Now, he has great prestige and has been promoted to Deputy President of the Executive Yuan. The cabinet led by Chu Wenfu is already existing in name only. As of now, the Mou and Tao families in Jinling are in the prime of their power; I am afraid even the seat of power has to yield three points to them."

Yu Changxuan said indifferently: "Jiang Xueting has risen quickly."

Gu Yigang said: "The old man of the Mou family is the number one person in the Central Party Headquarters. With such a backer, Jiang Xueting is naturally thriving in the political arena and rising all the way up." He paused slightly, his face turning solemn again, and added: "On top of that, this brat Jiang Xueting is not to be underestimated. After so much calculation, he finally got what he wanted and became the second son-in-law of the Tao family."

A fine drizzle fell. In the courtyard of the rear of the headquarters, the several pear trees planted there were in the season of shedding flowers and flourishing leaves, with hidden fruits appearing here and there, quite charming and delightful. The wind blew and the trees swayed. A military car pulled up at the courtyard gate. Gu Ruitong stepped out first, opened an umbrella, and opened the back door of the car. Ye Pingjun stepped out holding some paper bags, took the umbrella from Gu Ruitong’s hand, and walked into that courtyard.

Gu Ruitong watched her figure gradually disappear, when he suddenly heard the guards beside him stand at attention: "Salute!" Gu Ruitong turned his head and saw his father, Gu Yigang, wearing a raincoat and standing in front with a stern expression, with an adjutant holding an umbrella for him.

Gu Yigang said to Gu Ruitong: "Come here!"

Gu Ruitong walked over. Gu Yigang did not let even the adjutant follow, only leading Gu Ruitong to a secluded corner. He turned his head and, without a word, slapped Gu Ruitong hard across the face. Gu Ruitong received the blow silently and fell to his knees in the rain, whispering: "Father."

Gu Yigang said indifferently: "Do you know why I slapped you?"

Gu Ruitong knelt there, his spine straight: "I know."

Gu Yigang said coldly: "If you know, then good. Just for the fact that you sent her here, you have caused a rift between the seat of power and the Commander-in-chief, father and son. Look at the state of their arguing now. If it weren't for my face, the seat of power would have taken your life long ago. Think of Li Boren’s fate; don't end up not knowing how you died when the time comes!"

Gu Ruitong bowed his head deeply, listening to his father’s footsteps as he turned and left. The fine rain beat down from all sides, and he remained kneeling there, motionless. A parasol tree leaf above his head rustled in the rain, and the unfeeling drizzle falling on his face felt icy and bone-chilling.

The light rain drizzled until the afternoon, when the clouds unexpectedly parted and the sun came out, quickly drying the muddy ground. Pingjun was in the inner room tidying up the things she had just bought when she heard footsteps outside. She glanced out through the window lattice and indeed saw Yu Changxuan being escorted back by guards, presumably because the meeting at the front had finished. She turned around just as he walked in. He laughed and said: "I saw you from outside. Are you a child? Still peeking through the window."

Pingjun walked over to help him undo the buttons on his military uniform and smiled faintly: "I heard your footsteps and wanted to take a look. Who told you to have such sharp eyes, seeing everything?" He took her hand in his, and she smiled and pulled it back, hanging his coat on a clothes rack nearby. Watching him sit down to drink tea with a somewhat quiet expression, she asked: "What's wrong? Did you encounter something tricky?"

Yu Changxuan placed his belt, sidearm, and other items on the table, turned back to look at her, and smiled faintly: "Nothing much, just very busy these past few days and a bit tired." Seeing the fatigue in his brows, she said: "Then go lie down on the bed for a while, I’ll call you when dinner is ready."

Yu Changxuan agreed and, without changing his clothes, lay straight down on the bed. He had been heavily entangled by military affairs these past few days, along with countless taxing matters, and was physically and mentally exhausted. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted off. He slept very deeply, and when he woke up again, he saw the moon filling the window; it was already late at night, and the room was completely quiet. He turned his head slightly and saw her sitting quietly under the lamp, holding an embroidery frame, stitching away. Half of her face was illuminated by the lamp light, as beautiful as peach blossoms. He stared at her intently for a long time before smiling: "What are you embroidering? Let me see."

She was startled at first, but seeing him awake, she laughed: "Waking up without a word, you gave me such a scare." She stood up and brought the embroidery frame to him. Yu Changxuan took a look; she was embroidering a "Lotus Painting." She had only just finished one lotus flower and a few leaves. Yu Changxuan reached out and pointed at the frame, laughing: "This flower is me, and these leaves are you."

Pingjun couldn't help but laugh: "You really are... how did you become the elegant, upright flower while I became the leaf?" Yu Changxuan said: "What can I do? Who told you your surname is Ye (Leaf)?" Pingjun took the frame over, picked up the needle, and made a dot below the lotus flower, saying softly: "Since that’s the case, I’ll embroider a few small fish below this; let them be you."

Yu Changxuan smiled warmly: "That’s not me, that’s our son." Hearing this, Pingjun gave him a light shove and laughed: "You’ve truly woken up refreshed and started spouting nonsense again." Yu Changxuan laughed: "This isn't nonsense. I’ve already thought about it. When we have a child in the future, the formal name will definitely be chosen by Father, but we will choose a nickname. If it's a son, we'll name him 'Yu-er' (Fish); if it's a daughter, we'll name her 'Yu-er' (Jade)."

"Yu" (Fish) and "Yu" (Jade) were homophones for the Yu surname. Pingjun smiled slightly but did not follow his line of thought, only saying: "It’s already this late, and you haven't eaten dinner yet. Are you hungry?" Hearing her say this, Yu Changxuan felt hungry too, and asked: "Is there anything to eat?"

Pingjun put down the embroidery frame and said: "You lie down a bit longer, I'll go call the aide-de-camp outside to boil some noodles." She had just stood up when a knock came at the door, and the voice of the confidential secretary, Wang Ji, came through: "Commander-in-chief, a telegram from the seat of power."

Yu Changxuan was slightly taken aback, knowing that for Wang Ji to knock on the door at this time, it must be something of great importance. Pingjun had already retrieved Yu Changxuan’s coat for him. Yu Changxuan took the coat and said: "Go to bed early, don't wait for me." Pingjun nodded, and Yu Changxuan walked to the outer room, where the confidential secretary, Wang Ji, was already waiting with a telegram.

Yu Changxuan took the telegram, unfolded it, and glanced at it. He immediately furrowed his brow, slapped the telegram onto the table with a "smack," and sneered: "A fine Deputy President of the Executive Yuan; he’s barely been promoted before he can’t wait to come to Xiangping Pass to show off his authority."

Yu Changxuan did not return for several days. By noon that day, an aide-de-camp brought lunch. Pingjun had a few bites of soup and rice but eventually couldn't eat anymore. Feeling inexplicably restless and agitated, she couldn't even continue her embroidery, so she put the frame away and went to iron some shirts and coats Yu Changxuan had just washed. Busying herself this way, evening gradually arrived. The pear trees in the courtyard swayed with the wind, illuminated by the evening sunset, casting dim, shifting tree shadows all over the ground, yet there was still no sign of Yu Changxuan returning.

Pingjun finally could not help but go out into the courtyard to wait. Feng Tianjun, the head of the Sixth Group, was on duty and walked out of the Aide-de-camp Office: "Miss Ye, the Commander-in-chief called to say you should rest early tonight and not wait for him." Pingjun couldn't help but ask: "Is he still busy?"

Feng Tianjun said: "Several high-ranking government officials have arrived, and the Commander-in-chief hasn't been able to get away for the past few days."

Pingjun didn't ask further, just nodded. Feng Tianjun returned to the guard room, but Pingjun remained sitting in the courtyard. The branches and leaves of the pear tree rustled above her head, and a faint fragrance floated through the quiet courtyard.

She was about to turn and leave when she suddenly heard a sound of chaotic footsteps in the front courtyard, as if everything had suddenly become disordered. An angry voice immediately reached her ears: "This is outrageous! With the massive Fuso army pressing on our borders, you, Yu Changxuan, sit on heavy troops but act timid and hesitate to move, allowing the Fuso army to swallow our territory in one breath. I, the dignified Deputy President of the Executive Yuan, have come personally to the front line to advise you, not to eat, drink, and make merry in your restaurants and dance halls!"

The moment this voice reached her, Pingjun stiffened and stood still.

Immediately after came Yu Changxuan's cold, mocking voice: "A general in the field is not bound by orders from above, especially when you don't even have a military order! If you represented the government to come find me and decided to fight the Fuso to the end, that would be one thing. But what is that you said? What do you mean by 'fighting a battle to suppress them in order to quell the domestic protest wave'? My Yu army isn't afraid to die, but we cannot die so meaninglessly!"

Pingjun stood in the inner courtyard, hearing these words clearly. Then came a series of rapid footsteps; someone was approaching and about to arrive. Pingjun felt panicked and hurried back into the house. The door was only half-closed when she heard footsteps, and the guards on duty in the inner courtyard snapped to attention with a "slap" and saluted with their rifles. Feng Tianjun said: "Commander-in-chief."

Pingjun relaxed slightly and was about to walk out when she suddenly heard Gu Ruitong shout: "Vice President Jiang, this is the inner courtyard, please stop!" Jiang Xueting, who had chased them all the way, said indignantly: "Yu Changxuan, you stand still! I am from the Executive Yuan. How dare you speak to me like this? What is your intention in holding these troops to command yourself?"

Yu Changxuan looked back; Jiang Xueting was standing at the moon-gate of the inner courtyard, blocked by several guards accompanying Gu Ruitong. The guards Jiang Xueting had brought were no pushovers either, and both sides had their hands on their guns. Yu Changxuan’s face was dark: "We in the Yu army hold the gun barrels to guard this land for you government officials, spending our days in a hail of bullets, and today you bunch of bastards sitting in the government playing with pens only want to live a few stable days. Instead, you want my men to trade their lives for it. I’m telling you, don't mention that you’re just a Deputy President of the Executive Yuan; even if the old man of the Mou family came himself, don't even think about making my Yu army move a single inch."

Jiang Xueting’s face looked dreadful. Then, a flurry of footsteps was heard in the outer courtyard as dozens of Yu army guards surrounded the area. They were all from the main security brigade, surrounding Jiang Xueting and his entourage. Following behind Jiang Xueting was his adjutant, Xue Zhiqie, who stepped forward to Jiang Xueting’s side and whispered: "Vice President Jiang, this is not a place to linger!"

Jiang Xueting knew that in this time and place, the situation held a hundred harms and no benefit for him; this was absolutely not the time to be impulsive. He suppressed his anger for the time being and turned to leave. The Yu army guards then lowered their guns. Just at this moment, with a "creak," the half-open door was suddenly blown wide by the wind. Yu Changxuan turned his head and saw Pingjun standing inside the door.

Jiang Xueting cast a glance, and Pingjun’s figure entered his eyes. His body shook violently; he never expected her to be here. In an instant, a burst of rage surged up, making him almost mad with hatred. He shouted furiously: "Yu Changxuan!" He turned and pulled the pistol from his holster, pointing the black muzzle at Yu Changxuan, startling his adjutant Xue Zhiqie into a panic: "Vice President Jiang!"

In an instant, Pingjun was as pale as paper and cried out: "Changxuan!" She was very far from Yu Changxuan and, in her panic, stumbled right out of the doorway.

In the blink of an eye, with a "clatter," all the surrounding guards pulled back their bolts and pointed their muzzles at Jiang Xueting and his guards, who were standing in the middle. It looked like they were about to fire a volley. Cold sweat streamed down Xue Zhiqie’s face, and he could only grab Jiang Xueting’s arm tightly, saying repeatedly: "Vice President Jiang, do not act on impulse!"

Jiang Xueting seemed to be frozen there, his right arm raised straight, clutching the gun. A desperate and angry light shot from his eyes, staring fixedly at Yu Changxuan standing in the courtyard. Yu Changxuan, however, showed not a hint of fear. He turned and walked to Pingjun, who had fallen to the ground, and steadily helped her up.

Pingjun’s eyes were filled with horror. He turned and stood between her and Jiang Xueting, his back to Jiang Xueting, and slowly smoothed out her slightly messy hair. Pingjun was even more afraid and trembled: "You go, quickly." She wanted to stand in front of him, but he held her hand and smiled: "Don't worry."

Pingjun’s hand was already ice-cold, held tightly in his palm. Jiang Xueting stood at the moon-gate looking at the two of them. His arm holding the gun trembled in bursts, and his whole body swayed as if shaking with fever. Adjutant Xue Zhiqie seized the opportunity to press down on his arm, and the hand holding the gun hung powerlessly toward the ground. Xue Zhiqie let out a small sigh of relief, looked up, and saw Jiang Xueting still staring straight ahead at the two people; his eyes were full of hot, rolling tears.

Xue Zhiqie said in astonishment: "Vice President."

Jiang Xueting seemed not to hear his words, only looking ahead and calling out: "Pingjun."

She finally raised her eyes and looked at him silently, yet across such a great distance, it felt like a previous life—everything had changed. Jiang Xueting stared blankly at her and whispered: "Your mother, isn't she..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his voice was too small. Pingjun was standing behind Yu Changxuan and hadn't heard clearly, but Yu Changxuan turned around suddenly, pulled out his own pistol, and fired a shot "bang" right at Jiang Xueting’s feet, shocking everyone around. Jiang Xueting, however, didn't move an inch. He stared straight at Yu Changxuan, suddenly sneered, and said: "The Commander-in-chief is truly too impatient. I don't believe that if I told you, you would still dare to kill me?"

He sneered: "The Commander-in-chief is truly too impatient. I don't believe that if I told you, you would still dare to kill me?"

Yu Changxuan slowly shifted the muzzle he had pointed at Jiang Xueting’s feet up to point at his head. His lips were pressed tightly together, his gaze cold and piercing, filled with a chilling menace. It was certain that if Jiang Xueting said one more word, he would fire without hesitation!

The courtyard seemed filled with a thick smell of gunpowder; the tension was high, and there was a dead silence so profound one could hear the sound of heartbeats. The situation was like a lit fuse, ready to blow at any moment!

In this heart-stopping atmosphere, a hearty laugh suddenly rang out from the outer courtyard, sounding very abrupt. Before the laughter faded, Gu Yigang had already walked over quickly with several guards. He walked right up to Jiang Xueting, looked at the scene, and laughed heartily: "Young and vigorous, young and vigorous, all of you are so young and vigorous!"

After laughing at the ice-cold Jiang Xueting, he turned to look at Yu Changxuan, pointed at his arm holding the gun, and acted the part of an elder, jokingly reprimanding him: "I say, Commander-in-chief, I know you come from a family of generals, but you really aren't worthy of the Yu surname if you don't take this gun out to wave around for a day! Vice President Jiang has rarely come to visit; is this how you treat a guest? Hurry up and put it away."

Yu Changxuan smiled: "Uncle Gu arrived just in time." He put away his pistol. Gu Yigang turned and reprimanded the adjutant Wu Zuoxiao on the side: "You bastard, can't you see how exhausted Vice President Jiang is after all these days? Why haven't you quickly sent him to rest? You only know how to stand here like an idiot!"

Wu Zuoxiao hurriedly stood at attention: "Yes!" He walked over and said to Jiang Xueting: "Vice President Jiang, please follow me!"

Jiang Xueting knew this was the final room for maneuver. He looked at Pingjun, but Pingjun turned her head away. Jiang Xueting’s lips trembled slightly. The adjutant Xue Zhiqie whispered: "Vice President." Jiang Xueting finally turned around and followed Wu Zuoxiao with his men. Gu Yigang turned back, his gaze lingering on Ye Pingjun’s face for a moment before shifting to Yu Changxuan’s. After a long while, he smiled faintly: "Commander-in-chief, I have a few words to say."

Yu Changxuan nodded and said to Ye Pingjun: "You go inside first."

Pingjun still raised her eyes to look at him. Yu Changxuan smiled and comforted her: "Go in, everything is fine now!" Only then did she say "Hmm." Yu Changxuan led the others straight to the study in the front courtyard, with Gu Yigang following behind. Before leaving, he looked at Ye Pingjun again and smiled pleasantly: "Miss Ye was frightened."

Pingjun really couldn't stand that smile, which resembled an old fox’s, so she bowed her head and said: "It's nothing."

Gu Yigang laughed as generously as an elder: "Hurry into the house. It's cold outside; if you catch a chill, I’m afraid our Fifth Young Master will be heartbroken again. If he loses his soul, the seat of power far away in Jinling will be sending telegrams to curse again! This pair of father and son, if they both become stubborn, it really is a headache. We must think of a foolproof plan."

Pingjun was slightly taken aback. When she looked up, she saw Gu Yigang still wearing a faint smile, nodding to her before turning to walk out of the inner courtyard.

Yu Changxuan waited in the study, and before long, sure enough, he saw Gu Yigang walking in slowly. He stood up and smiled at Gu Yigang: "I acted on impulse today. If Uncle Gu wants to lecture me, I will listen."

Gu Yigang smiled and said slowly: "I have no lectures, I just wanted to follow and ask the Commander-in-chief one thing: How did it feel today being chased all the way to the inner courtyard to be interrogated? To say nothing else, having lived this long, have you ever experienced such a feeling?"

Yu Changxuan leaned against his desk, took out a cigarette case, clicked it open, took out a cigarette, bit it in his mouth, and casually grabbed a match from under a desk lamp to light it. After smoking a few puffs, seeing Gu Yigang still smiling there, he said: "Uncle Gu, if you have something to say, just say it directly."

Gu Yigang walked up and reached out to pat Yu Changxuan on the shoulder: "Then I’ll be straightforward. Has the Commander-in-chief ever thought about how you are any different from Xiao Beichen in the north?"

Yu Changxuan looked at Gu Ruitong. Gu Ruitong smiled slowly: "He is an autocratic Commander-in-chief, and you are a restrained Commander-in-chief! With one order, his flows from top to bottom, and who dares not listen? You, however, want to do something, want to achieve something, but you have to listen to others first! First, you need a piece of military order. Your fatal weakness lies in this!"

Yu Changxuan furrowed his brow. Gu Yigang followed up with a smile: "If the Commander-in-chief wants to flip over to the sky in one go, wants the Yu family to tower over those three great families, and wants to suppress them forever so they can never turn over, then you must endure for now. 'Small things not endured ruin great schemes.' Even the seat of power in Jinling is enduring. Why does a thousand-mile levee collapse? Because of an ant hole! Think about it the other way around: it is about slow accumulation, infiltrating and hollowing them out bit by bit."

Yu Changxuan turned his head to look at Gu Yigang and asked: "Does Uncle Gu mean..." Gu Yigang smiled: "Isn't the Commander-in-chief just unhappy with Jiang Xueting’s behavior of acting as if he is standing on your head giving orders?"

Yu Changxuan said: "Does Uncle Gu have a brilliant idea?"

Gu Yigang said slowly: "Does this require a brilliant idea? You hold the gun barrel; why fear a group of people holding pens? We are just giving them some face for now. In the final analysis, whether he says to fight a battle is his business, but whether we fight or not is for us to decide. We still occupy the dominant position. A person like him, a villain who has achieved success, won't be arrogant for many days. What we need is just one perfect opportunity!"

Yu Changxuan asked: "What opportunity?"

Gu Yigang said: "Naturally, the opportunity to fulfill the lifelong ambition of you Yu family members."

His words hit home in Yu Changxuan’s heart. Yu Changxuan said without hesitation: "Cross the Xi River!"

"Right, right, you finally got it." Gu Yigang breathed a sigh of relief, patted Yu Changxuan’s shoulder, and smiled incredibly kindly: "Look at you, making me sweat. You really have the same temperament as your father back then! This thing, it had to come out of your own mouth for you to truly accept it yourself!"

Yu Changxuan stood there with the cigarette between his fingers, his brow locked tight, his dark eyes deep, and his sharp, angular face showing a cold, grim color, lost in thought. The cigarette burned by itself, and a long length of ash slowly dropped silently beside his fingers.

Gu Yigang was a ruthless character who focused on attacking the heart. Seeing Yu Changxuan like this, he patted his chest again and said with a relaxed smile: "If you are blooming with success on the surface, there must be a storm brewing underneath. There is no such thing as having it both ways in this world; if you want this, you cannot have that. Your Uncle Gu will pull rank today and say one more thing to the Commander-in-chief: In this world, what thing is more reliable than this empire?! And what feeling could be more important than the father-son bond between you and the seat of power?"

Not many months later, it was winter, and several snowfalls had occurred, making the weather colder day by day. Pingjun had only stood in the courtyard for a moment when she felt an icy chill, so she hurried to stand up, go inside the room, cover herself with a plush blanket, and drift off to sleep. In her half-conscious state, she seemed to hear footsteps. She opened her eyes to see Yu Changxuan, who had not turned on the light in the room, standing with his back to her, gently and carefully removing his military coat. There was a faint smell of alcohol. She had slept for a long time, her head felt heavy, and her voice was slightly hoarse: "You drank?"

Yu Changxuan turned back and, seeing she was awake, smiled: "I ended up waking you after all. If I had known, I would have just slept in the guard room." Pingjun sat up on the bed. Yu Changxuan said: "Don't get up, I don't need anything." He walked over and covered her with the quilt again. Pingjun touched his palms; they were ice-cold. She hurried to say: "Your hands are so cold, let me warm them for you."

She pulled his hands into the quilt, but Yu Changxuan pulled them back, laughing: "Don't be naughty. You just managed to warm up the quilt, and if I chill it with these cold hands, how can your body take it?" Pingjun smiled faintly: "It truly is 'three days away, and one must look at each other with new eyes.' The current Commander-in-chief is different from the original Fifth Young Master; he actually knows how to care for people."

Yu Changxuan laughed and said: "You’re being unreasonable. Whether I was the original Fifth Young Master or the current Commander-in-chief, when have I ever cared for you less? Looking at you, I’m afraid that even if I were to hold my heart out to you, you wouldn't cherish it. You tell me, do you have me in your heart?"

Pingjun, teased by him like this, couldn't sleep, so she laughed: "You came back smelling like alcohol; are you going to throw a drunken tantrum at me? Drinking like this in the middle of the night, do you think you’ve done something meritorious? You wait until tomorrow for me to settle accounts with you." Yu Changxuan laughed and lowered his head to kiss her cheek. Pingjun looked up at him and asked: "What is this for?"

Yu Changxuan laughed loudly: "This is taking a mile after being given an inch."

This sentence was very fitting for the situation, and thinking about it carefully made one unable to help but laugh. Pingjun laughed so hard she couldn't even lie down. She pulled the quilt up to cover her face, but she was still laughing hard. Then she felt something soft on her cheek; he had lifted the quilt and climbed in, kissing her cheek. While holding back her laughter, she pushed him: "Your beard, it's prickly." He had been so busy these past few days that he barely returned, much less had time to shave. Pingjun pushed against his chin and said: "Go shave your beard first."

Yu Changxuan whispered: "It's too much trouble, just bear with it." Pingjun couldn't break free and couldn't breathe, so she said, half-angry and half-chiding: "Why should I bear with it?" He laughed: "Because I can't bear it." He kissed her lips, his palms gripping her hands tightly. His whole body pressed down against her, his chest feeling as hot as a soldering iron. Her cheeks were burning hot. He kissed her greedily, and she felt dizzy, as if she had stepped into a bottomless abyss, her body falling and falling, with no support to be found. She suddenly became afraid; an inexplicable terror washed over her, her heart racing. In a panic, she reached out to grab his arm, sobbing out a sentence: "Changxuan..."

His movements paused.

Her voice sounded like the low sobbing of a child, and tears flowed down from her tightly closed eyes, soaking the soft pillow. Her black hair hung softly beside his hand. She held his arm tightly, her hot tears flowing uncontrollably as she choked out: "Mom is gone, you must be here, you must always be here. I'm afraid when I'm alone."

He lowered his head, his pupils holding a dark light. The room was filled with night, immersing everything in vague shadows. Only her naked shoulders were like white ivory, emitting a warm scent. He slowly kissed her shoulders, as if leaving a blazing, intense mark.

He was a torrential river; she was duckweed without roots. Even if she were smashed to pieces, she could only follow him, not knowing where the end would lead. He was a raging fire; she was a moth to the flame. He burned her to ashes, but in the end, she was still defeated.

The bright, floating light, the thin-frost-like moonlight shone down, icy and cold, yet still blindingly dazzling, as if it had accumulated light for several lifetimes. The window lattice reflected the shadows of the pear tree branches, winding and swaying with the wind. The courtyard was full of fragrance—a night of a world between heaven and earth.

In the winter of this year, the intense factional struggle within the Jinling Central Government finally reached its peak. The attempt by the Mou and Tao families to force the Chairman of the Military Commission, Yu Zhongquan, to step down failed completely, and the Jinling government officially split.

In early January, Mou Dechuan and Tao Wan led a group of important leaders of the Jinling government and announced their departure. In early February, they established a new central government in Yuzhou, built another Central Party Headquarters, incorporated all troops west of Yuzhou, and announced Jiang Xueting as the Administrative President and Nationalist Government Chairman of the Yuzhou Central Government, and Tao Wan as the Minister of Finance and Secretary-General of the Political Committee. South of the Xi River, the region was officially split into two major factions and went their separate ways, which naturally shocked the entire country.

At the end of March, in the headquarters at Xiangping Pass, Feng Tianjun had just come out of the Aide-de-camp Office when he saw Gu Ruitong leading several guards standing outside the moon-gate of the inner courtyard. Because Yu Changxuan had been busy expanding the air force lately, Gu Ruitong, who was the most capable person beside Yu Changxuan, always followed him closely, leaving early and returning late. It was only evening, yet seeing Gu Ruitong standing there, Feng Tianjun walked up and smiled: "Has the Commander-in-chief returned?"

Gu Ruitong nodded and pointed to the inner courtyard: "He just went in." After a long while, he added: "You are to escort Miss Ye back to Jinling tomorrow. Are you taking the waterway or the land route this time?"

Feng Tianjun smiled: "Miss Ye is pregnant now. The Commander-in-chief is worried that taking the train might not be very good, so he asked me to escort her by water. It’s calm, and we’ll be there in a day and a night. Once in Jinling, Mrs. Yu will have people there to meet her."

Gu Ruitong nodded silently. Feng Tianjun smiled and handed a cigarette to Gu Ruitong: "Ultimately, the Commander-in-chief’s move was well-played. After dragging it out for so long, he still made the seat of power yield. This layer of 'window paper' has been pierced; it seems we shouldn't call her Miss Ye anymore, we should call her 'Young Mistress'."

Gu Ruitong took the cigarette from Feng Tianjun’s hand, but only held it, looking at the snow-white pear flowers in the courtyard. The expression on his face was indifferent, and no one knew what he was thinking. After a long time, he said only: "I hope so."

Around eight or nine in the evening, the room was lit by a pink silk lantern, with sparkling bead strings hanging on all four sides, which were also colored into a soft pinkish glow, the light shifting continuously. A pot of just-blooming 'Penglai Purple' sat on the windowsill, its fragrance very strong. Pingjun, wearing a soft red silk qipao, was folding some clothes by the bed when she suddenly paused and turned around with a smile: "Look at you, you ripped a hole in your clothes and didn't even know it. How did this happen?"

Yu Changxuan was reading some files and, hearing her speak, looked at her hands. Seeing that she was indeed holding a white, mandarin-collar shirt with a fingernail-sized hole on the chest, he laughed: "I definitely can't remember how that happened. Don't worry about it, just throw it away." Pingjun looked down at the shirt, thought for a moment, pursed her lips in a faint smile, stood up, went to a small sandalwood wardrobe to take out needle and thread, and sat by the window, bowing her head to work on the shirt.

Yu Changxuan put down the files, walked over to her, and seeing her threading the needle and weaving the shirt’s seam stitch by stitch, he smiled: "You really are looking for trouble. There are countless shirts like this; why go to this effort? We’re getting on the boat tomorrow, and you’re pregnant; don't wear yourself out."

Pingjun continued with the needle and thread, glanced at him, and smiled faintly: "Go do your work, don't worry about me." Seeing that he couldn't stop her, Yu Changxuan took his files and sat to one side, smiling: "Then I’ll keep you company." Pingjun smiled slightly and focused on mending the small hole in the shirt.

Time passed bit by bit. Yu Changxuan glanced at his files and then looked up at her, seeing that the light from the pink silk lantern cast both their shadows onto the snow-white wall, pair by pair. He couldn't help but smile; she hadn't noticed, still slightly bowing her head, mending carefully.

The small golden clock on the table struck eleven or twelve times. Yu Changxuan watched Pingjun use scissors to cut the thread and shake the shirt. He immediately sighed with relief and laughed: "It’s finally finished. May Miss Ping rest peacefully. Look at your eyes, they’re all bloodshot from staying up."

Pingjun turned back and scolded with a smile: "Silly, how can this be finished? It’s just mending the hole; it’s not delicate or pretty at all." Seeing her pick up the embroidery thread again, Yu Changxuan asked: "What are you doing again?" Pingjun smiled faintly, her eyes and brows as gentle as a painting: "I’ll embroider something on it for you."

He said: "Don't embroider it; it’s so late, and you have to get on the boat tomorrow." Pingjun said: "Then I’ll just sleep on the boat." She glanced out the window, seeing the vast, dark night with a bright moon hanging in the sky. The three pear trees in the courtyard were covered in snow-white flowers, resembling white brocade winding through the branches, exceptionally dazzling. That cold fragrance even surpassed the frost and snow.

She smiled and said to him: "I’ll embroider a pear blossom for you here." Yu Changxuan said: "How long will that take? Aren't you going to sleep?" Pingjun was working on the embroidery frame; she looked up at him and said softly: "Don't worry about me. I’m fine. If you’re sleepy, go to sleep."

He laughed: "It’s so late, I’m actually hungry."

Pingjun said: "That’s perfect. I bought some water chestnuts outside today; this is the best snack. I’ll let the aide-de-camp boil some for you." Yu Changxuan smiled: "You don't need to move, I’ll do it." He stood up and walked to the outer room. There were naturally aides-de-camp on duty outside, and seeing Yu Changxuan walk out personally, they all stood up and saluted: "Commander-in-chief."

Yu Changxuan wasn't gone long before he returned, holding the washed water chestnuts and a portable gas stove for hot pot. He placed them on the table, put the water chestnuts into the pot, and cooked them himself, amusing Pingjun, who couldn't help but laugh: "The Commander-in-chief knows how to do this too?"

Yu Changxuan laughed and said: "This is the only thing I know how to do. I often messed around with this with my eldest and third brothers when I was young, though it was all for mischief and fun; eating was secondary." Seeing Pingjun sitting at the table, he walked over, hugged her to the edge of the bed, let her sit down, and took out a soft quilt to cover her legs before laughing: "Alright, I concede to you. The ancients wrote of 'the sick Qingwen mending the sparrow-gold cloak,' and now there is the virtuous Pingjun stitching pear blossoms all night. You keep stitching."

Pingjun bowed her head and smiled softly. As she picked up the needle and thread, she heard him whisper with a laugh: "'Needle of love and thread of longing,' 'gambling on books and splashing tea'—there are even greater pleasures in the boudoir than 'painting eyebrows'." Pingjun’s face turned crimson instantly. She glared at him and laughed: "You’re talking more and more outrageously; you have no sense of propriety. And you’re still a Commander-in-chief? Where has your usual dignity gone?"

Ignoring him, she focused on her embroidery. The golden clock on the table pointed past one in the morning. Yu Changxuan still sat by the table, looking up at her. The eerie light from the pink gauze lamp shone down obliquely on her. She leaned against the head of the bed, slightly bowing her head to embroider, revealing a snow-white neck, with some small black strands of hair resting softly on her skin. Her focused side profile was even more beautiful, as if carved from jade, and under the lamp light, it seemed to give off a warm glow.

He watched her silently, his heart filling with an involuntary surge of warmth.

It was now deep in the night, and the small clock on the table was still ticking in circles. She grew tired, her eyelids began to droop, and her eyes were having trouble focusing. He said: "Don't embroider anymore. Leave half of it for me to do when I return to Jinling." She rubbed her eyes and smiled gently at him: "It's fine, it’s almost at the end."

Yu Changxuan took a boiled water chestnut, peeled it, walked to the bedside, sat down, and held it to her lips. Pingjun took a small bite; it was indeed full of sweet fragrance. She took another bite from his hand. Yu Changxuan smiled faintly, his handsome, clear brows showing a manly air: "Glutton. Once you return to Jinling, my mother will definitely prepare a pile of supplements for you to eat."

She bowed her head slightly and whispered: "I just have a preference for eating this." Yu Changxuan leaned into her ear and whispered with a smile: "I know. This is something I made with my own hands; how could it not be delicious?" She turned her head, her cheeks showing a faint blush. After a long while, she seemed to have thought of something, her lips pressing together. Yu Changxuan asked: "What’s wrong?"

Pingjun said: "I thought about having to return to Jinling alone, and I’m always a bit afraid."

Yu Changxuan laughed: "Don't worry. My mother listens most to my father, and she calls you 'daughter-in-law' directly, which means my father agrees too. You know my second sister, and it’s even better to have her there; she can talk to you. Just take care of your pregnancy well in the Jinling residence. Once I return, I will naturally give you a proper status."

Pingjun bowed her head to embroider the last pear blossom petal, listening quietly to him. Unexpectedly, she was not careful, and the needle pricked her fingertip. She let out an "Ow," and a drop of blood seeped from her left index finger, falling onto the side of the embroidered pear blossom on the white shirt. Yu Changxuan furrowed his brow: "How can you be so careless?" He went to look at her finger, but she stared at the bloodstain on the shirt, sighing incessantly: "It was perfectly fine, but now it’s soiled like this."

Yu Changxuan said: "Let me see your finger." He took her bleeding finger, held it up to his eyes, and put it into his mouth to suck it for her. Pingjun let out another "Ah," pulled her finger back, and glared at him with a blushing face. Yu Changxuan smiled faintly: "Your blood is sweet."

Pingjun didn't look at his dark, smiling eyes, only bowing her head to stitch the last few stitches. Finally, she took off the frame and used a small brush to brush it gently and softly. But the drop of blood next to the pear blossom could not be brushed away; it could only stay dried on it. She was already pregnant and easily exhausted, so she put the shirt into his hands, let out a sigh of relief, and smiled softly: "I’m leaving tomorrow. If you miss me, just look at this pear blossom; it’s finally a piece of my heart..."

As she said this, she was already dizzy and lightheaded, her complexion not looking good, and her breathing becoming slightly rapid. Yu Changxuan knew she was exhausted, so he hurried to help her lie down and covered her with the quilt. He looked at the clock on the table; it was already past four in the morning, so he said: "Close your eyes and sleep for a while."

Pingjun breathed softly and said: "Help me get that short sword." Yu Changxuan knew she meant the sword he had given her, which she usually kept on the ebony frame nearby. He stood up, walked to the frame, took down the small short sword, turned back, and handed it to her.

That short sword was extremely exquisite, the size of a dagger, with delicate plum blossoms carved into the hilt. There was a spring switch where the hilt met the scabbard; as long as you pressed the switch, you could draw the sword.

She lay in the soft quilt, her complexion slightly pale. Now, she received the sword from his hand, held it silently in her arms with both hands, and only then did she look up at him and smile faintly, whispering: "During the days I am away, you must remember me and the child firmly; don't forget us."

He nodded and smiled at her tenderly: "Alright, I will definitely remember you both firmly."

The next day, deep into the night, the darkness was pitch black. Because Feng Tianjun had escorted Pingjun back to Jinling, Gu Ruitong had arranged for He Junsen, the deputy leader of the Sixth Group of the Second Office of the Aide-de-camp Office, to take Feng Tianjun’s shift. At this moment, he was in the telegram room talking to Wang Ji and several other secretaries when he heard a guard outside shout: "Director Gu! Director Gu!..." Each shout was more urgent than the last. As soon as Gu Ruitong heard it, he knew something big had happened, so he hurried out. Wang Ji was also wondering why Gu Ruitong hadn't returned for a long time, so he looked out of the telegram room and caught a glimpse of Gu Ruitong standing in the courtyard, his soul apparently flown away.

Wang Ji said in astonishment: "Director Gu."

Gu Ruitong turned his head, his face ashen. He looked at Wang Ji, then suddenly turned to grab the lead guard and asked almost viciously: "Can you guarantee what you said? Can you guarantee what you said?" His voice was trembling, carrying a hysterical tone. The guard said in a panic: "Absolutely no mistake, Director Gu. My older brother is on a fishing boat nearby and saw with his own eyes that the boat first exploded and caught fire, and then sank to the bottom of the river."

These words turned even Wang Ji’s face white, and he said in a panic: "Is it Miss Ye..."

The night was silent. Gu Ruitong and Wang Ji looked at each other, both covered in cold sweat. The wind blew through the trees in the courtyard, rustling loudly. Then, they heard the sentries outside shout in unison: "Attention!" Followed by a flurry of footsteps walking toward them.

In this situation, it could only be Yu Changxuan returning.

The several pear trees in the inner courtyard, blowing with the chilly night wind, dropped petals all over the ground, as if covered by a thin layer of snow. Illuminated by the moonlight, it was a cold, icy fragrance. The courtyard was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps walking toward them, gradually... getting closer and closer…