Chapter 96: Mountains and Seas Calmed
The other two rumors initially originated from Huguang as well.
Later, they began spreading in the fiefdoms of Prince Dongjiang and Prince Dingbei, gradually extending to surrounding areas and the capital.
However, it didn't have much effect.
Chu Jiubian’s identity as a "deity" had long been known throughout the Great Ning. Not only in Southern Xinjiang and Hexi County, where people actually benefited, but even ordinary people elsewhere were aware that without Senior Tutor Chu, the previous floods and droughts in Great Ning would have been hard to get through.
Moreover, the imperial examinations were also proposed and handled by Senior Tutor Chu himself.
It was thanks to him that commoners gained the opportunity to become officials—even previously ordinary farmers could now become officials.
This was something the people had never dared to imagine before.
Additionally, the responses of the scholars from the Imperial College during the palace examinations really spoke to the people.
These scholars and the court genuinely wanted to make life better for the people.
And they were not just making empty promises—they delivered on them.
Over the past six months, Lu Yao had traveled across the land, helping people reclaim their farmland and assets, ensuring they had land to farm. As long as they worked diligently, they wouldn't go hungry anymore.
The people were indeed uneducated and easily influenced, but under the efforts of Chu Jiubian and the Imperial College scholars over the past six months, most had learned to tell truth from lies.
They did not know who held more power in the court or who didn't get along with whom. They only knew that since the current emperor ascended the throne, the once-devastated Great Ning had begun to stabilize.
With Prince Ning, the borders of Great Ning had become secure. Not only were the barbarians of the Sai kingdom repelled, but new territories were also annexed for Great Ning.
And it was because of Chu Jiubian that Great Ning now enjoyed these wonderful changes.
Their lives were steadily improving.
For example, the high yield of sweet potatoes in Hexi County this year alone got people excited.
Earlier, it was rumored that Prefect Han Yuandao of Hexi County had received guidance from Senior Tutor Chu and obtained crop seeds from the immortal realm. The harvests from these seeds doubled the yield of common crops, and the food produced was more filling...
Among other benefits.
While the people might not dare to speak on other matters, they knew about farming.
Thus, they were initially skeptical about such high-yielding crops. However, Chu Jiubian’s identity as a "deity" was firmly believed in their minds, leading them to wonder if Lord Chu truly possessed such amazing skills and such excellent resources.
Amid this uncertainty, in October, the sweet potatoes planted in Hexi County had a huge harvest!
The yield was more than double that of other regions!
It was said that the taxes paid in grain by Hexi County this year were more than double the previous year’s, proving that the people indeed had ample grain.
This news spread rapidly, and with Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao deliberately adding fuel to the fire, along with the Wang family’s influence over what people think, it naturally spread faster and wider than the rumor about "an otherworldly disaster descending."
As a result, all the people of Great Ning, including those in the fiefdoms of vassal princes, became really jealous.
However, just half a month ago, they received good news.
The court had issued a decree stating that next year, Zhang Er, a student studying agriculture at the Imperial College, would lead other students to all over Great Ning, bringing sweet potato seedlings to help the people plant this high-yielding crop.
By then, almost no one would have to go hungry anymore.
Additionally, in Southern Xinjiang and the territories previously conquered by Prince Ning from the Sai kingdom, vast stretches of cotton had been planted as early as April this year.
By September, the cotton had been harvested. After over a month of working hard, the Southern Xinjiang Silk Store, which had branches throughout Great Ning, began selling cotton clothing.
Cotton cloth was slightly more expensive than linen but softer, more durable, and better to wear.
Moreover, its price was not exorbitant—compared to silk, it was practically "free."
Thus, many people with some extra money could afford to buy cotton cloth for clothing.
As the weather gradually turned colder, cotton clothing was warmer than linen, making it even more popular among the people.
When the timing was right, Situ Zhaoling began producing cotton quilts and padded clothing, though these were covered with high-quality brocade and silk.
These were sold to wealthy families, generating another wave of huge profits.
However, most of the cotton in her possession was actually used to make padded clothing for the armies under Qin Xiao and Jiang Shuoye. Otherwise, the profits would have been even greater.
These matters aside, the people knew that both sweet potatoes and cotton were brought by Chu Jiubian from the "immortal realm," further making them believe even more in his divine identity.
When rumors spread labeling him as an otherworldly disaster, the vast majority of the people felt genuinely angered.
How could someone who helped them achieve enough to eat and wear be anything but a kind god? How could he be an otherworldly disaster?
Instead, those spreading the rumors were the ones with bad intentions.
When the rumors first reached the capital, the Wang family did nothing, and Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian also acted as if they were unaware.
It was only when the rumors spread widely, tricking some confused people and stirring pity for Chu Jiubian and resentment toward the rumor-mongers among the majority, that the Wang family finally took action.
The usually aloof Confucian scholars came forward one by one.
Some held literary gatherings, while others composed poems or essays—all striving to praise the accomplishments of Chu Jiubian as a deity and the auspicious benefits brought by Emperor Baili Hong since his ascension.
Coupled with Qin Xiao’s identity as a member of the "Qin family" and his actions over the past year, people gradually forgot the harsh actions he had taken when Baili Hong first ascended the throne.
Thus, this deity and these two men became innocent people set up by bad guys, igniting even stronger anger among the people.
Who would want to harm such a benevolent "Divine Lord" and such a virtuous court?
The "culprit" was quite obvious.
The renowned Confucian scholars openly called out and revealed the actions of Prince Huguang, Baili Yue, revealing his ambitious nature.
The more the people heard, the angrier they grew.
"What golden dragon appearing in his fiefdom? I think it’s all Prince Huguang’s scheme to usurp the throne. How shameless!"
"Exactly! And they even spread rumors that our emperor’s ascension was illegitimate, claiming that Lord Chu and Prince Ning are otherworldly disasters. This is a classic case of the guilty party filing the complaint first."
"These vassal princes—I doubt any of them are good. They all want to be emperor, but who do they think they are? How could they dare!"
Public outrage grew.
Even people in the fiefdoms of other vassal princes felt uncomfortable.
During Emperor Yingzong’s reign, they had considered themselves fortunate to be under vassal princes, as they at least had food and clothing.
But now, they began to envy the people in the northern and southern directly administered regions, who were under the court’s direct rule and were the first to get the benefits. How could they not be envious?
The people in the fiefs of the Southern Frontier King and Prince Zuiliang counted themselves lucky, believing that their prince had a good relationship with the court and had not missed out on any imperial favors. As a result, they became even more loyal to both their prince and the court.
Meanwhile, the people in the Huguang region were the most enraged.
By now, they could clearly see that Baili Yue had intentions of seizing the throne.
In the past six months, he had been recruiting soldiers and stockpiling grain, clearly preparing for war against the court. This put them squarely in harm's way, and their peaceful lives were on the line.
Thus, under the deliberate instigation of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao, resentment among the people in the Huguang region boiled over.
Baili Yue was so furious that he had several people executed.
"Who exactly spread those rumors!" he fumed, itching to kill a few more.
The news of the golden dragon auspicious sign appearing in his fief had been spread by himself, intending to test the court's reaction. If the court sent troops to attack him, he could use it as an excuse to rebel, claiming he was "forced into rebellion" by the court.
If the court did not send troops, he could further test the waters, allowing the rumor that he might be the "True Son of Heaven" to spread farther and longer, until the people gradually began to waver.
However, he had never intended for the other two rumors to spread.
It was true that Qin Xiao, as a maternal relative, held power, but given the young emperor's age, he was the most suitable candidate to assist in governance. Moreover, he had carefully cultivated a strong reputation, and few would believe he was misgoverning.
As for Chu Jiubian, needless to say.
He was a "deity."
The common folk were unsophisticated and deeply believed in tales of gods and spirits. All they sought now was to be well-fed, clothed, and live in peace. Chu Jiubian, as a deity, happened to grant their wishes, so they naturally revered and worshipped him.
Under such circumstances, spreading rumors to slander these two would only backfire.
Not only would it make Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao more beloved by the people, but it would also lead to the current situation of boiling public resentment in the fief.
"Fools! Fools!" Baili Yue's eyes turned red with rage. "It must have been done by those idiots. I wish I could kill them!"
The "idiots," of course, were his so-called "dear" younger brothers.
But was it Prince Dongjiang or Prince Dingbei?
Baili Yue actually leaned more toward the former. Prince Dingbei was shrewd and calculating and would not likely do such a thing.
However, Prince Dongjiang had always been at odds with him and was known for his willful and reckless behavior. It was possible that he wanted to kill two birds with one stone—damaging the reputation of the emperor's faction while making things difficult for Baili Yue, thereby escalating the conflict between the court and Baili Yue and accelerating the march toward war.
Now, instead of harming the emperor's faction, he had only infuriated Baili Yue.
This was the downside of the vassal prince alliance—no one trusted each other, and when problems arose, they would suspect and blame one another.
Baili Yue knew full well that Prince Dongjiang was unwilling to be the first to raise troops, so he was forcing his elder brother to take the lead. Afterward, he and Prince Dingbei could follow suit. If the situation turned unfavorable, Prince Dongjiang might even double-cross Baili Yue, claiming he was "rescuing the emperor" rather than rebelling.
But Baili Yue could no longer wait.
The rumors were now working against him, and the Wang family was continuously applying pressure. The court would surely seize this opportunity to send troops to suppress him.
Thus, he had to strike first and be the first to mobilize.
However, the people in his fief still needed to be pacified, so he had to expend more effort.
Although he was fairly certain that Prince Dongjiang was behind this, they still needed to jointly oppose the court, so he could not afford to break ties openly.
He had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill. While pacifying the people in his fief, he sent messages to Prince Dongjiang, Prince Dingbei, and Prince Anhuai, instructing them to prepare their troops. Once the Qin Family Army left the capital, they could march toward the capital.
Upon receiving the message, the three vassal princes reacted differently. Prince Dongjiang, Baili He, sat in the council hall of his residence, his face full of scorn.
"My elder brother is really impatient," he remarked casually before burning the secret letter.
A strategist seated below frowned and said, "It’s understandable that he spread the news of the auspicious sign in his fief—it was likely to test the court’s reaction. But why did he spread the other two rumors?"
"You don’t understand," Baili He clapped his hands and said. "Baili Yue is arrogant, proud, and impulsive."
Most of the strategists under him were useless, merely tools to bolster his reputation as a "talent-loving" prince. That he would do something so foolish was no surprise to Baili He.
"What should we do then?" the strategist asked, looking at him.
Baili He replied, "Contact the Lu family in the capital and tell them to make the first move."
"Yes."
The secret letter reached the capital in just two days.
Lu Youwei opened it and was not surprised by its contents, though his eyes turned cold.
He handed the letter to his strategist, Lu Tong, who read it and then burned it.
"It’s already October—hardly an ideal time for military action," Lu Tong frowned. "Prince Huguang has never led troops in battle, so he lacks even this basic common sense."
Originally, they had thought it better to wait until spring the following year, when the grass was green and the birds were singing, to make military movements more feasible.
Otherwise, by November or December, the weather would turn cold, and with ice and snow covering the ground, not only would it be difficult for large armies to march, but transporting provisions would also be a major challenge.
"There are some advantages, though," Lu Youwei said. "If the Jurchen 'invade,' Jiang Shuoye’s Northern Desert Army will be unable to move. That means only Qin Xiao’s troops can go to the northeast, where it’s truly icy and snowy."
If Qin Xiao were to lead the expedition personally, he would be trapped there and unable to return to the capital in time.
By then, with the three great families in the capital—especially the Lu and Qiu families, who had thousands of hidden household troops, totaling nearly 20,000 soldiers—the scholarly Wang family would be no match.
Even if the Imperial Guards were present, they numbered only a few thousand.
Moreover, the heads of the Lu and Qiu families, Lu Jinfeng and Qiu Xuanzheng, were both martial arts masters. Even top-tier martial artists could do little against them, so how could An Wuji alone stop them?
Once the capital was under the control of the three great families, and the vassal princes arrived, the throne could easily change hands.
However, by then, the initiative would lie with the great families. Whoever they supported would ascend the throne. Otherwise, the vassal princes would have to fight among themselves, resulting in mutual destruction.
"What do the Qiu and Xiao families say?" Lu Youwei asked Lu Tong.
The Qiu family’s intelligence network was even faster than the Lu family’s.
"The Qiu family has already sent people to the northeast, and Wang Wenyao is accompanying them."
After being dismissed from his post, Wang Wenyao’s hatred for the court had deepened. He had been waiting for an opportunity, and now that it had arrived, he naturally wanted to contribute. This way, when another vassal prince ascended the throne, he could regain his eligibility for an official position.
Wang Huanzhi naturally supported him.
Having been forced out of his position as family head by his eldest son, Wang Huanzhi had lost face and barely dared to show himself in social circles lately.
His current position in the Wang family was awkward, at best making him an elder of the clan.
But he was unwilling to accept this, so his only hope now lay with the vassal princes. Previously, it was his scholars who helped Prince Huguang spread the "golden dragon auspicious sign," and the results were quite effective, giving him confidence.
He had demonstrated his usefulness for now. When Prince Huguang or other vassal princes ascended to power in the future, as long as they still needed the Wang family’s voice, they would surely put him back in as family head.
"Then notify the Northern Desert. Once there is news from the Northeast, they should mobilize their troops as well," Lu Youwei said with gravity.
The Northern Desert Army’s exact troop numbers were unknown. If Jiang Shuoye received news of the Jurchen invasion and rushed there, the Qin Family Army in the capital would remain inactive.
Thus, the Tatars must also take action to ensure Jiang Shuoye’s movements were reliably delayed.
Only then could Qin Xiao be pushed to lead another campaign.
Even if Qin Xiao himself did not leave, with the Qin Family Army gone, the capital’s outer defenses would be left wide open, easily overrun by the vassal princes’ armies.
Inside the city, the house troops of the noble families would storm the palace and launch a palace coup.
"The Xiao family had everything arranged well in advance. As long as the vassal princes follow the predetermined route, they will encounter no obstacles along the way."
During Grand Marshal Qin’s lifetime, he dispatched the reassigned Qin Family officers to various parts of Great Ning, appointing them either as City Defense Force commanders or directly as Commandants. This seriously slowed down the vassal princes’ march toward the capital.
Any attempt to pass through towns defended by former Qin officers would lead to major casualties—losses the vassal princes could not afford.
Fortunately, there was the Xiao family.
The Xiao family had more women than the Qin family had commanders. These women, married or serving as concubines in the households of high-ranking officials across different cities, had skillfully wrapped their husbands around their fingers over the years.
Under their daily influence, these officials were easily led.
This was the Xiao family’s unique skill: their members were not only beautiful and perceptive but also adept at steering people's thoughts.
In later generations, this might be called brainwashing.
Family head Xiao Yao had long prepared routes for the vassal princes to enter the capital. These routes didn't require going out of their way while cleverly bypassing cities guarded by former Qin officers, going only through towns with Xiao family women.
When the time came, the city gates would open wide, allowing the vassal princes’ armies to pass without any trouble.
A few days later, Prince Dingbei Baili Yu was holding a letter sent by the Xiao family. It contained a route map drawn by Xiao Yao himself. Following this map, he could indeed reach the capital smoothly.
However, on the second page of the letter, there was another map.
This map would allow him to get through easily to the commanderies where Prince Anhuai and Prince Huguang’s mansions were located.
Baili Yu let out a low chuckle and said, "Xiao Yao is really something else."
His strategist took the two maps and, after examining them, couldn't help but admire. "Indeed, impressive."
After just a few encounters, Xiao Yao had likely discerned the intentions of all parties and identified the one most likely to become the next emperor.
Unlike the Qiu and Lu families, who were greedy, Xiao Yao understood the importance of reading the situation.
The Xiao family did not ask for much—only for a Xiao woman to become the empress and for the family to keep their footing at court.
Thus, while publicly remaining neutral, he had privately aligned himself with Prince Dingbei.
These two maps were the Xiao family’s proof of loyalty, ensuring Baili Yu would come out ahead either way.
Advance, and he could smoothly reach the capital and seize the throne.
Retreat, and he could instead attack Henan and Huguang, taking over the territories of Prince Anhuai and Prince Huguang.
The choice between advancing and retreating depended solely on whether Qin Xiao would leave the capital with the Qin Family Army.
As long as the Qin Family Army departed, the capital could be taken.
Baili Yu tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair, his smiling eyes looking east toward the capital and Henan.
Prince Anhuai Baili Ming also received a letter from Prince Huguang.
After reading it, he handed it to Jiang Yongshou, who passed it to He Zhen after reviewing it.
Once He Zhen had finished reading, Jiang Yongshou said, "General, we should also prepare."
They were the closest to the capital, but Hexi Commandery stood in their way. Its populace and defenses were difficult to breach, forcing them to detour through other counties.
This would lengthen their journey.
Still, compared to the fiefs of other vassal princes, they had geography on their side.
If they could be the first to enter the imperial city, then...
He Zhen’s eyes shone with a dark glint as he said, "We have long been prepared."
Over the past six months, his Anhuai Army had grown from thirty thousand to sixty thousand soldiers. Though not the crack troops they once were, they were still formidable.
Jiang Yongshou smiled, but his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were clenched tight with anxiety, his knuckles turning white.
He hoped everything would go smoothly.
As long as Qin Xiao left the capital, Prince Dingbei would march directly on the capital, and Henan would be safe.
Even if Prince Dingbei’s army entered Henan, Prince Anhuai himself should remain safe. Yet, for some reason, Jiang Yongshou had a bad feeling.
He couldn’t help but glance at the young man seated in the main seat.
The youth lowered his eyes slightly, his expression calm, deep in thought.
Perhaps he was also contemplating the events to come. After all, Baili Ming wasn't stupid—he surely understood the situation unfolding across the land.
Baili Ming was not thinking of anything else. His thoughts were solely on the capital and that soft little child.
The Little Majesty, only four years old, would surely be scared out of his wits if he were to face these fierce vassal princes and their soldiers.
And Senior Tutor Chu? Could he protect the emperor and himself?
On the night of October 25th.
In the capital, inside the palace.
Baili Hong had already gone to sleep. Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao were in the bedchamber, had just finished reading a letter sent by Nie Xian, the commander of the Northeast Army.
In recent days, news had been coming in thick and fast.
Ever since Chu Jiubian instructed Wang Qichen and Qin Chuan to secretly spread rumors about himself and Qin Xiao, events had unfolded just as they'd planned.
The attitudes and actions of the vassal princes and noble families had played out almost exactly as predicted.
That’s right.
Those two rumors were Chu Jiubian had put out. He knew the rumors could no longer harm him or Qin Xiao—in fact, they actually helped their cause.
And the moment he had been waiting for was precisely when Prince Huguang tested the waters with the so-called "auspicious sign."
He circulated rumors about himself and Qin Xiao along with the "auspicious sign," aiming to incite public anger and make the vassal princes more wary of each other.
Besides that, the most important goal was to force these people to take action.
If they remained inactive, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao couldn’t initiate a war themselves, to avoid being blamed for provoking conflict.
Of course, another reason he chose to pressure them at this time was that winter was coming.
While other troops lacked winter gear and blankets, the nearly two hundred thousand soldiers of the Qin Family Army and the Northern Desert Army were already fully equipped with thick garments.
Several more batches of quality horses had also arrived from the Jurchen side, and with the previously forged high-hardness weapons, the cavalry’s strength had significantly increased.
Now, the imperial court had ample supplies of troops, horses, and provisions. If they didn’t fight now, why wait until New Year?
The heated floor was already running in the bedroom, so although it was cold outside, the room was as warm as spring.
Qin Xiao, who ran hot, wore only his inner garments and left his collar wide open, as if worried about getting too hot.
The faint outline of his pectoral muscles drew Chu Jiubian’s gaze more than once.
After burning the letter, Qin Xiao turned his head and noticed Chu Jiubian’s gaze shifting away from his chest.
"Let’s sleep," Chu Jiubian said, purposely avoiding Qin Xiao’s eyes as he slipped under the covers.
A hint of a smile appeared in Qin Xiao’s eyes as he calmly replied, "Mm," and blew out the lamp.
Once they were in bed, he lay still without touching Chu Jiubian.
It had been four days since he last touched Chu Jiubian, but he restrained himself because he was no longer satisfied with where things were—he wanted more.
He had already prepared everything, from the fragrant ointment to the instruction manuals, all tucked under his pillow.
He had studied the manuals many times and had even used the ointment on Chu Jiubian once, though they hadn’t taken the final step.
Since that time, Chu Jiubian hadn’t allowed him to touch him again.
But both were young and passionate; Qin Xiao knew Chu Jiubian couldn’t last much longer either.
Chu Jiubian lay flat on his back, recalling how Qin Xiao had been especially intense a few nights ago, even inserting two fingers.
He had been pushed too far and told Qin Xiao not to touch him so casually anymore.
But he hadn’t expected Qin Xiao to be so "obedient," refraining from touching him entirely since then.
Chu Jiubian closed his eyes, but the image of the man’s well-defined chest muscles flashed in his mind. His throat felt dry, and swallowing didn't help.
A wave of heat slowly spread from his throat to his limbs, causing a response in certain areas.
He opened his eyes and sat up quickly.
Qin Xiao turned to look at him. "What’s wrong?"
"Thirsty," Chu Jiubian said.
Qin Xiao started to get up, but Chu Jiubian stopped him. "I’ll go myself."
With that, he placed a hand on Qin Xiao’s side and swung a leg over him, his thigh brushing lightly against the man’s abdomen, whether intentionally or not.
His long hair swept across Qin Xiao’s chest.
Qin Xiao’s brow twitched, but Chu Jiubian had already gotten out of bed and put on his shoes to go to the outer room.
The sound of water pouring, the clink of the cup against teeth, and the soft gulp as he drank—each sound was unusually clear.
Qin Xiao sat up and glanced toward the screen.
The moonlight was bright tonight, allowing him to vaguely make out Chu Jiubian’s silhouette—tall and slender, with a waist so narrow he could encircle it with both hands.
Yet below the waist, there was a perfectly rounded curve, the feel of which was incredibly exquisite.
Qin Xiao’s eyes darkened as he let his imagination run, his body’s reaction growing increasingly obvious.
When Chu Jiubian returned to the bedroom and climbed back into bed, he tried to step over Qin Xiao again. But as he lifted one leg, he noticed the clear outline beneath the brocade quilt, nearly touching his thigh.
He froze and looked up at Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao smiled, his eyes intense and full of desire.
A hand tightened around Chu Jiubian’s waist, pulling him forward until he collided with Qin Xiao’s chest, sitting squarely on his lap.
It was a compromising position, and Chu Jiubian’s ears flushed red.
But Qin Xiao was already pressing the back of his neck, kissing him passionately.
Chu Jiubian closed his eyes, the familiar touch making his body go limp instantly. He wrapped his arms around the man’s neck, his head spinning.
Before long, Chu Jiubian tried to get off him, but Qin Xiao held his waist firmly in place.
He wanted to say it was inconvenient, but Qin Xiao grabbed the waistband of his pants and tore them easily, the fabric splitting into two pieces hanging from Chu Jiubian’s legs.
Chu Jiubian’s eyelids twitched, his entire body burning with heat.
Qin Xiao retrieved the porcelain jar from under the pillow, scooped out a generous amount of ointment, and awkwardly applied it to Chu Jiubian’s body.
After a few attempts, he became more skilled, going deeper and deeper.
Two fingers became three...
Chu Jiubian kneeling, burying his face in the man’s neck, his attention entirely focused on that one spot.
He felt it was enough, but Qin Xiao remained patient, moving with careful precision.
The ointment melted into liquid.
Then Qin Xiao asked again, "Can I go in?"
Chu Jiubian’s heart was pounding loudly, but he said nothing.
Qin Xiao lifted him slightly before lowering him slowly.
Pleasure and pain mixed together as Chu Jiubian’s fingers left marks on the man’s back.
Qin Xiao felt that all his previous imaginings had been too tame—in that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be overwhelmed by pleasure.
That night, Qin Xiao made love twice, unusually for him.
Fortunately, he was naturally skilled and didn’t injure Chu Jiubian, only giving him pleasure.
Chu Jiubian’s body was so exhausted he couldn't move, yet his mind was sharper than ever.
He closed his eyes, allowing Qin Xiao to call for hot water and help him get cleaned up.
Hearing the man's increasingly labored breathing, Chu Jiubian's body stiffened.
Qin Xiao gently kissed his earlobe and said hoarsely, "Don't be afraid, I won't do anything else."
After being cleaned up, Chu Jiubian was helped back to bed and burrowed into the fresh bedding.
The sound of splashing water came from the outer room—Qin Xiao was cleaning himself up.
Chu Jiubian lay awake, staring at the bed frame.
He had given in.
But it wasn’t a moment of impulsive confusion; he had truly prepared himself to take a step further with Qin Xiao.
Yet the physical connection only brought a deeper emptiness and aimlessness to his heart.
Qin Xiao soon finished washing and returned. Chu Jiubian turned his head to look at him and said hoarsely, "I want to go out and see the snow."
Qin Xiao paused in surprise, only then realizing that it seemed to be snowing outside.
This must be the first snow of the year, arriving so early.
He dressed Chu Jiubian in winter clothes, put a cloak with hood on him, quickly pulled on a few layers himself, and they stepped out.
The two stood beneath the covered walkway.
The jasmine planted in the courtyard had died back, but with a layer of snow, it appeared to bloom again.
They stood side by side, neither speaking, allowing the silence to linger, yet feeling only peace and warmth.
Chu Jiubian reached his hand out from under the eaves, letting the cool snowflakes fall into his palm.
The next moment, his hand was enveloped by the man’s warm grasp.
Chu Jiubian turned his head and met Qin Xiao’s deep, tender gaze.
Qin Xiao turned him to face himself, placed his slightly cold hands against his own chest to warm them, and said, "We missed the first snow last year. This year, I finally get to watch it with you, my lord."
Chu Jiubian gave a faint smile and said, "Next year’s first snow should be even more beautiful."
By then, without internal and external troubles, every day ought to be beautiful.
Qin Xiao laughed, his expression tender in a way Chu Jiubian could barely bring himself to look at.
Noticing the young man’s instinctively evasive gaze, Qin Xiao reached out a hand to gently caress his face and said playfully, "In this vast world, would you be willing to face storms and calm seas together with me, my lord?"
Chu Jiubian’s heart seemed to beat even faster.
He lifted his eyes, and his gaze plunged into the man’s intense, focused pupils.
Moonlight fell like a veil; snowflakes floated down like jasmine petals.
After a long while.
Chu Jiubian finally spoke: "When everything is settled, if you still feel this way—"
His eyes reflected Qin Xiao’s tense expression as he said hoarsely, "I will agree."
On October 25th, Chu Jiubian’s birthday.
And this time, it truly was a good day.
==
A few days later, on the first day of November.
Urgent news arrived from the Northeast: the Jurchen tribe had invaded, and the Northeast Army, low on supplies, requested reinforcements.
At the same time, news came from the Northern Desert.
The Tatar General Muhammad led troops to the border of the Northern Desert, where the Northern Desert Army had won their first battle.
A few more days later, the Northeast Army reported it could not withstand the Jurchen forces and requested that the court send troops.
The Minister of War Lu Youwei, the Minister of Justice Qiu Heng, the Minister of Revenue Su Sheng, and others formally requested Prince Ning to lead the troops into battle.