Xu Junyuan rushed to the palace, thinking that something earth-shattering must have happened. Unexpectedly, the entire Ci’an Palace was in a flurry just because Little King Huai smiled at the beautiful imperial physician who fed him oranges.

Xu Junyuan opened Xiao Li’s eyelids, looked at it repeatedly and then gave Lin Qingyu a meaningful look.

The Empress Dowager urged, “National Teacher, Li’er has grown and except for crying when he was just born, he has shown no expression since. Now with this smile, does it mean that his missing soul illness is getting better?”

Xu Junyuan murmured, “Not necessarily.”

Not necessarily meant that it was possible. The empress dowager couldn’t restrain her eyes from turning red and she said, voice trembling, “So, there is still hope for Li’er’s illness to be cured?”

“Although the prince’s soul has left his body, wisps of his soul still remain to ensure that the body continues living. As a remnant of the soul, it is normal for it cry and smile. This does not explain anything.”

The empress dowager would not give up and said, “But, Li’er has never smiled before. Why would he smile all of sudden?”

Xu Junyuan asked Xiu Jiao momo, “You said just now that His Highness smiled at Imperial Physician Lin?”

Xiu Jiao momo nodded nonstop. “Imperial Physician Lin fed His Highness a piece of orange and His Highness smiled.”

“That must be it.” Xu Junyuan smiled and said, “The prince can see and he saw the beauty feeding him and then he was happy. He smiled.”

Xiu Jiao momo said, “But the prince never smiled even when he saw other beauties.”

“That’s probably because the other beauties weren’t beautiful enough.”

Lin Qingyu said calmly, “I am already a married man. I am someone’s wife. For the National Teacher to refer to me only as a beauty makes light of my identity.”

Xu Junyuan made a bow, and said, “I was negligent and I apologize to the General’s wife.”

Greater hope brings greater disappointment. The empress dowager caressed Xiao Li’s face. Choked up, she said, “Li’er, you should also smile at your mother…”

The empress dowager treated him with such sincerity but Xiao Li didn’t even want to look at her. The boy had his long, distinct lashes hanging down. He was quietly playing with his fingers.

Even Xu Junyuan couldn’t help but be moved by this situation. He said, attempting to bring comfort, “Days and months, years upon years, the world is ever-changing. The prince’s soul may yet return to his body in the future. Since the prince shows a liking for the General’s wife, let the Madam come to Ci’an Palace often to accompany the prince. The future is unpredictable and I hope the Empress Dowager can rest at ease. Taking care of your phoenix body is most important.”

When all was said and done, the Empress Dowager was someone who had weathered countless storms. Her qualities had been tempered by palace politics for many years and only her son and her nephew could make her lose her composure. She made up her mind, wiped away the tears from her eyes and said, “I have troubled the National Teacher to make this visit.” She looked at the sky outside the window, “It’s less than an hour before sunset. Now that you’re here, why not stay for the night in the palace. Accompany His Majesty and aijia to climb the tower and see the lanterns.”

Xu Junyuan responded with a smile, “This minister gladly obeys.”

Once night fell, Xiao Jie, the Empress Dowager and many of the imperial clan climbed up the tower together. The Empress Dowager was at the head of the column, supported by Xiao Jie. Seeing Xiao Jie’s rather unnatural expression and awkward movements, one could easily tell whether his display of filial piety was sincere or not. Standing behind them were several old kings and princesses, as well as Xiao Li led by Xiu Jiao momo. Lin Qingyu and Xu Junyuan stood at the end. Amongst the many people here, only the two of them were not related to the emperor.

The imperial palace tower was the highest in the capital and was thus the most suitable place for viewing the lanterns. Looking from that vantage point, you had a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery of the capital.

Trees lit as though afire and flowers shining like silver. Parade floats travelled the streets and crowds thronged throughout. It was much like it was the year before.

The moon and the lanterns remained the same but the person from the year past was nowhere to be seen. Appreciating the lanterns at the very best spot, oh but who to tell it to?

Xiu Jiao momo’s voice came from not far away, “My lord, look. That lantern is made in the shape of a rabbit…”

A few steps away from Lin Qingyu, a young man with but a remnant of his soul was standing high above the city, his eyes reflecting the same bright lights reflected in Lin Qingyu’s.

The Empress Dowager was in no mood to admire the lanterns and after watching it for an hour, she said, “Aijia is exhausted. I shall be going ahead with Li’er back to the palace to rest. It is so rare for the whole family to get together. Your Majesty, you should stay and chat with your noble uncles.”

Xiao Jie replied in assent. Lin Qingyu took the opportunity to retire as well. The empress dowager said, “That’s fine, let Imperial Physician Lin escort aijia back to Ci’an Palace.” Saying so, she raised her hand.

Lin Qingyu paused, stepped forward, and asked the empress dowager to put her hand on his arm. The two were about to head down when Xi Rong suddenly stood up. He lifted his robes and knelt down, saying loudly, “This servant, Sili supervisor, Xi Rong, am here to plead for forgiveness from the Empress Dowager and Imperial Physician Lin.”

With his loud delivery, all the nobles’ attention was drawn to them.

Lin Qingyu and the empress dowager looked at each other. The empress dowager said sharply, “What nonsense are you doing? Are you deliberately spoiling the enjoyment of His Majesty and the assembled nobility?”

“No, Empress Dowager,” Xiao Jie said nervously, “A’Rong wishes to sincerely apologize and I ask that you listen to him first.”

The emperor himself having spoken, naturally, the empress dowager couldn’t humiliate him in front of the clan. “It seems that the Emperor knew of your crime in advance. Well, let’s hear it.”

Xi Rong kowtowed and said, “On that day, Yong Liang fell, and the Northwest was in turmoil. No one in court save for General Gu was qualified to serve as commander of the Zhengxi army. However, General Gu refused to take command. It was this servant who offered advice to the Emperor and Prime Minister Cui to deliberately anger General Wu and fuel General Gu’s fighting spirit, make him regain his glory, show the vigor that trod the Xixia underfoot and save the people of Yong Liang from disaster. For the sake of the Northwest and for the Dayu, I had no choice but to make such an unwise move. This servant is willing to accept punishment.”

Before the Empress Dowager could say anything, Xiao Jie said again, “Imperial mother, although A’Rong did something wrong, he did so with the Northwest in mind. The Xixia threatened to massacre the city if we didn’t send General Gu. A’Rong really only did it because there was no other way…”

One old king said, “I too have heard something of what had happened that day. General Gu was the commander personally appointed by the late emperor. Despite turmoil in the Northwest, he was standing back unconcerned and letting matters rest. In my opinion, His Majesty should have issued a decree ordering him to go. Why so much concern on his wishes? The Emperor has already spared General Gu face by going about things this way.”

Another king agreed, “Third brother is right. After all, it is all for the sake of the Dayu. Even if the eunuch is guilty, the merits and demerits of this matter have balanced each other.”

Xi Rong looked at Lin Qingyu from out of the corner of his eye. The beautiful Imperial Physician was also looking at him quietly, his expression seemed calm but he knew that Lin Qingyu… wanted his life.

The empress dowager’s chest rose and fell slightly. She tried her best to hide her anger and said with a sneer, “Since the two kings have pleaded for you, aijia has no choice but to deal with you leniently — Drag him away, give him thirty lashes.”

Xiao Jie’s eyes widened. “Th-thirty?”

“Why?” the empress dowager said coolly, “Does the emperor think it is too much?”

Xi Rong called “Your Majesty” in a low voice and Xiao Jie pursed his lips tightly, saying nothing more. Anyone though could see that he was dying of distress.

Lin Qingyu couldn’t help thinking, if Xi Rong died in front of him, what kind of funny expression would Xiao Jie have?

He kind of wanted to see it.

Back in Ci’an Palace, the empress dowager asked Xiu Jiao momo to take Xiao Li back to his room to rest and then dismissed everyone. She said angrily, “That was a good trick. The thief crying thief first. Aijia has underestimated that eunuch. I never expected the emperor to actually protect him to that extent!”

Lin Qingyu said, “Unfortunately, the time has not yet come to touch Xi Rong.”

“Why?”

Lin Qingyu explained, “Before the General regains the Northwest, there must be no changes within the capital. We have to at least wait until the General regains Yong Liang and stabilizes the situation in the Northwest before we can make a move.”

Since he stayed behind in the capital, he had to ensure that the Xixia did not have any chance to disturb the morale of the army, so that the soldiers could fight on the battlefield without any worries.

“Aijia does not understand.” The empress dowager said coldly, “Granted, Xi Rong is a somewhat clever eunuch but how can killing him cause changes in the capital? Is it possible that the emperor would risk his position on the throne for the sake of matters between me and him?”

Lin Qingyu said, “If I were to say that Xi Rong is to the emperor what the little prince is to you, will you understand?”

The empress dowager was stunned. Of course she understood that Xiao Li was her life. In order to be reunited with Xiao Li, she had even betrayed her emperor and her husband. If anyone were to kill Xiao Li, she would have the murderer and his entire clan buried alive with him. And then… she would go below to the Nine Springs to accompany Li’er.

“But, how could that be? Even if the two had a close childhood friendship, it should not result in something like this.”

Lin Qingyu told the empress dowager about Xi Rong’s life experience. After hearing this, the empress dowager’s expression became more severe and she resolutely said, “If he really is the emperor’s half-brother, then all the more reason we cannot let him remain.”

“At this moment, the war in the Northwest should come first in everything.” Lin Qingyu still said the same thing, “We will talk about the rest once Yong Liang has been recovered.”

The empress dowager asked, “Are you not afraid that he will move against us first?”

Lin Qingyu laughed, “He won’t. He wouldn’t dare.”

If something were to happen to him in the capital, it might not be Xixia the 300,000 soldiers under Gu Fuzhou’s command would kill. Xi Rong was also waiting. Once Gu Fuzhou pacifies the Northwest for him, he will look for an opportunity, hiding his strength and biding his time, aiming to take back military power. With Xi Rong’s caution and prudence, he considers thrice each step he makes. He will not touch Lin Qingyu until he has absolute assurance.

Lin Qingyu stayed in the palace until late at night. By the time he left the palace, the lanterns had been extinguished and the crowds were gone. Only the bright moon was left in the sky; the same bright moon shining thousands of miles away in the Northwest.

Northwest, Guizhou Governor’s Mansion.

Gu Fuzhou stretched out his hand and asked Hu Ji to examine his pulse. Seeing the seriousness on Hu Ji’s face, he couldn’t help sighing, “Is there no cure for my disease?”

Hu Ji said, embarrassed, “When people reach middle age, they often suffer from hair loss, especially men. The general’s hair loss is not a serious matter. I lose more than you. You really worry too much.”

“No, I really feel like I’ve lost half the hair on my head though.” Gu Fuzhou said in a deep voice, “Imperial Physician Hu, you must find a way to cure me. If my hair keeps falling at this rate, I’ll return to see Qingyu with a bald head.”

Hu Ji had no choice but to say, “You should rest more and think less. You might see some improvement.”

Gu Fuzhou laughed loudly, “How is that possible in the current situation?”

The two were talking when there was a sound of footsteps outside. There were two visitors, one was Zhengxi Army vanguard Wu Youyuan, and the other was Shen Huaishi, the former shadow guard of the Tianji Camp.

Wu Youyuan and Shen Huaishi were both skilled in martial arts. One was good at fighting head-on and the other was well versed in the ways of an assassin. After Wu Youyuan learned that Shen Huaishi used to be a shadow guard from the Tianji Camp, he often pestered Shen Huaishi to spar with him in his spare time. After a month, he hasn’t won once.

“General, we’re back.”

Hearing Wu Youyuan’s voice, Gu Fuzhou didn’t even bother raising his head. He asked, “Let me guess, you lost ten games in a row?”

Wu Youyuan remained unreconciled. “How much older is Shen Dage than I am? Wait for me to grow up a few more years. I will definitely beat him.”

Shen Huaizhi smiled helplessly, and said, “General, I have your letter from home.”

Gu Fuzhou stood up at once. “Give it to me.” In front of the three of them, he opened the letter and began to read it carefully.

Hu Ji said, “Looking at the General’s expression, Imperial Physician Lin must be doing fine in the capital.”

“Everything remains the same in the Imperial Palace. He is trying to solve the problem of insufficient provisions and wages… It’s all business.” Gu Fuzhou turned a page and the corner of his lips rose up, “Oh, the little Gu is growing very well. It’s already given birth to the second nest.”

Wu Youyuan asked curiously, “Little Gu? What is that?”

Gu Fuzhou said solemnly, “They are the second young lady and the third young master of the General’s Mansion.”

Wu Youyuan was dumbfounded, “When did the General and Imperial Physician Lin have a baby?”

Hu Ji smiled and said, “I think the general is talking about the Gu’s being raised by Doctor Lin.”

Wu Youyuan laughed out loud and Shen Huaishi couldn’t help laughing as well. Wu Youyuan asked, “What about the eldest son of the General’s Mansion?”

“Not the eldest son, but the eldest daughter.” Gu Fuzhou said, “She was trampled to death by a servant.”

They looked at each other, at a loss. Not knowing what expression to put on their faces, they said, “General, we are sorry for your loss.”

“Speaking of which, today is the Lantern Festival.” Hu Ji recalled, “During the year, it’s only during the Lantern Festival that the curfew is lifted in the capital. It’s also the busiest day of the year.”

Hearing what Hu Ji said, Gu Fuzhou’s memory of that festive night in the capital emerged in his mind: the city full of lanterns, the Jinshui River as bright as a galaxy of stars, a great beauty lovely enough to cause the face of a city and …— a lantern in the shape of a rabbit.

Gu Fuzhou smiled to himself. He patted Wu Youyuan on the shoulder and said, “Brothers, you’ve done a good job. Finish your sparring early and go turn in.”

It took more than half a year but Gu Fuzhou led the soldiers to recover several cities adjacent to Yong Liang.

In the autumn of the second year of Chuxi, the Dayu’s army was ready for action, setting their sights on the last city – Yong Liang.

The author has something to say: No matter how beautiful San Zhuang may be, you must still cherish Er Zhuang who has not long to live. This is the last series of events of the year. (dog head)