Chapter 1

 

It was early spring, but as the sun sets, the evening chill was still as sharp as a knife.

At the end of the official road in the wild, a group of people and horses gradually appeared. Several riders escorted a carriage and rushed towards an isolated city standing in the sunset on the yellow sand. When the group pushed open the city gate and entered, and finally arrived at the gate of their destination, it was already dark.

The night wind blew the two lanterns in front of the gate left and right, and the flickering light and shadow showed that this building was different from other ordinary houses in the city, even the gate was majestic. But this was just a first impression. When people get closer, they could see that the gate was actually old, the walls on both sides were mottled, and there are even signs of peeling in some places. But the owner of this place didn’t seem to care much about it and had not repaired it.

“This is the Weiyuan County Governor’s Mansion on Ganliang Road.

In recent years, it had been relatively peaceful, and the county governor mansion had had little to do, closing its doors early at night. The team leader, a man in his forties, didn’t bother to brush off the dust on his hat and shoulders. He dismounted quickly, strode up the steps, knocked on the gate, and asked in a low voice, ‘Is the county governor in?'”

A young boy poked his head out, recognized the man, and quickly glanced at the carriage parked outside the gate, smiling happily: “It’s here! It’s here! General He has brought Miss Ye?”

Xuyu slowly rubbed her stiff and cold fingertips under her sleeves.

Across the carriage, the joyful voice of the person who opened the gate kept floating into her ears.

“…The governor said that General He should be able to take the person back soon, and repeatedly reminded this servant to always pay attention to the movements outside the gate. It was fine during the day, but at night, even an old owl has to take a nap. This servant is afraid that if this servant fell into a deep sleep, he won’t hear anything. So these days this servant has too always pricking up his ears even with his eyes closed, barely getting any sleep. Finally the person arrived…”

The gatekeeper seemed to be a chatterbox, and would talk nonstop whenever he got the chance.

He Jin quickly turned back: “Miss, we’re here.”

Although he was a low-ranking guerrilla general, he had a long career. There were many brave and powerful people here who looked up to him, but his tone of voice at this moment was very respectful.

The boy who opened the gate was called Qingtou. He was originally a small servant in the mansion. He was smart and capable. Because the original gatekeeper was old, he recently volunteered to take over the guarding. The master of the house valued this Miss Ye very much and made various preparations for her arrival, as if he was welcoming his own daughter. Seeing that He Jin also had the same attitude tonight, Qingtou couldn’t help but become more curious and opened his eyes wide, wanting to see what kind of person she was.

Xuyu reached out and opened the carriage door.

Qingtou was stunned.

It turned out that this Miss Ye was disguised as a man, with her hair tied up in a blue scarf. She wore a dusty gray round-collared robe with narrow sleeves and black boots, casually carried a travel bag as she got out of the carriage.

It seemed that she had been dressing like this for many years and was used to it. She walked with a light and steady step and a calm demeanor.

If he hadn’t known her identity, Qingtou would have thought that she was a young man. Coming to his senses, he hurried over to take her bag, but she smiled at him, nodded, and didn’t hand it over. She continued walking forward, quickly climbed the steps, and walked into the gate.

Pei Ji, the county governor of Weiyuan County, was reading by candlelight in his study room at this moment. He was relieved when he learned that the guest had arrived safely. Thinking that she must be tired after a long journey and it would be inconvenient to meet immediately, he asked someone to inform He shi to arrange for the guest to rest first.

He shi was brought by his nephew’s mother, Cui shi, from her maiden home. He himself was over 60 years old, and his wife had passed away many years ago, so all the family affairs were handed over to He shi. The Cui family was a large family with a high surname, so He shi was naturally capable and could manage such a remote county governor mansion with ease.

Xuyu was taken by He shi to the place she would stay. After washing off the dust from the journey, she prepared to change her clothes to meet the host and found some women’s clothes placed next to a suitcase in the room.

Obviously, this was prepared for her.

Knowing that the guest should follow the host’s wishes, Xuyu put down the old men’s clothes she was going to wear and put them on. He shi came with a maid and invited her to have dinner, smiling as she said, “The wind outside is strong and cold, making your ears feel like they might fall off. Miss, you have travelled a long distance and must be tired. After dinner tonight, you should rest early. The county governor told me to tell you that it’s not too late to meet tomorrow.”

Her attire was simple, and her smile was kind, but her eyes were bright, revealing a hint of shrewdness.

“Thank you for your concern. I’ve had dinner on the road this evening, and I am not tired. If it’s convenient for Lord Pei, I would like to pay my respects early.”

He shi stopped trying to dissuade her, lit the candle, and ordered the maid who followed her to help her tie her hair. After that, she secretly looked at the woman in front of her.

She looked entirely different from when she first arrived, as if she had become another person. Clad in a ruqun, under the lamplight, she appeared radiant and captivating.

It was said that this young woman had no parents, and her origins were unknown, although many years ago she had come here with her adopted grandfather. He shi had also spent some time with her and knew that she was very sensible. She recalled that when the adults wouldn’t let her go outside, she would stay inside and paint all day from morning till night, her hands becoming chapped with cold but never putting down the brush. But at that time, she was still young and not fully matured. Now, after so many years without seeing her, it was uncertain how her character had changed.

It was not that He shi was suspicious, but marriage was not a trivial matter. She dearly loved the young master, so she couldn’t help but feel concerned. After a secret observation tonight, she found that the grown-up Miss Ye was impeccable in appearance, education, and etiquette.

If there was any flaw to be found, it was only that her background was somewhat humble.

However, since the master of the house had accepted her, this was not something she should think about. She was getting old and her energy was declining. She was looking forward to having a new mistress soon, and now she finally got her wish.

He shi withdrew her gaze and stepped forward to personally adjust the young woman’s half-sleeve and waist sash. Noticing the cold and windy night outside, she draped a thick velvet cloak over her shoulders. Finally, she stepped back, bowed respectfully with a smile, and said, “Please, Miss, follow me.”

In the study, a thin old man with half of his beard and eyebrows already white was reading by the candlelight. Footsteps were heard outside the door, and then He shi knocked on the door and said that Miss Ye had come to see him.

His eyes lit up, and he immediately looked up and put down the book. Just as he was about to get up, he paused, raised his hand to smooth his hair and beard, then straightened his clothes, and finally sat up straight. After he finished making a solemn expression, he ordered the people to come in.

Although this girl would soon become a member of the family, she was still a guest now. She was also a junior whom he hadn’t seen for many years. It would be bad to let her see his unkempt appearance.

Xuyu walked in, bowed to Pei Ji who was sitting on the seat opposite her, called him “Lord Pei” and expressed her gratitude.

Pei Ji had no daughters. In the past, he had only one son who, like Pei Ji’s younger brother, General Shenhu, died in the national tragedy. Though he still had a nephew, Xiaoyuan, whom he regarded as a son, the young man was often absent. Moreover, his nephew had a reserved nature, and their conversations rarely went beyond greetings and official matters. As for his subordinates and colleagues, it was even less likely for him to confide in them. Having endured years of loneliness in this remote area, Pei Ji suddenly found himself in the company of a flower-like young girl. The carefully prepared words he had in mind were forgotten, and a smile crept up to his eyes. He nodded repeatedly, telling her there was no need to feel constrained.

“When you came here with your grandpa that year, I remember you were only this tall—”

He raised his hand and gestured at the table.

“In the blink of an eye, you have grown so big! Time waits for no one. I see the young grow tall in the wind while I barely notice myself turning gray, already becoming an old, decaying tree.”

Perhaps feeling sentimental, he sighed with a smile after his words of joy.

Xuyu looked at the person in front of her.

Judging from his appearance, it was hard to imagine that the frontier county governor in casual clothes and looking rather old in the candlelight was once the famous savior, Grand Chancellor Pei Ji, who turned the tide in the darkest of times.

Sixteen years ago, a rebellion of unprecedented scale erupted in the court. The ferocity of the rebel forces caught the court off guard, and the late emperor fled in haste under the protection of Crown Prince Jing Sheng, leading to the fall of the capital. In the face of such dire circumstances, with the world seemingly collapsing and hearts wavering, it was the former Grand Chancellor Pei Ji, who had already resigned and retired to his hometown, who stepped forward as a pillar of strength. He rallied support from all sides, stabilized the people’s morale, and personally went to the battlefield to direct the troops. The former emperor bestowed upon him the title of Duke of An’guo and reinstated him as grand chancellor, making his reputation unparalleled in the land.

However, just as water’s flow is unpredictable, so too are human fortunes. Just when the overall situation of recovering the capital was about to settled, two major events occurred in just half a month. First, rumors spread that Crown Prince Jing Sheng committed suicide after failing to force the emperor to abdicate. Then, the late emperor, who was already old and exhausted, was deeply shocked and bedridden, and abdicated to the current saint who was still Prince Ding at that time. Before the court could stabilize from this series of upheavals, Pei Ji, the foremost grand chancellor, was implicated in the crimes of his younger brother, General Shenhu, Pei Gu. He was demoted and exiled, eventually ending up here as a county governor after several transfers.

Although Ganliang was far from the capital, Weiyuan County was a strategic location. For an ordinary person, this might be seen as a sign of the court’s trust, an opportunity to gain experience and build a career in the future. But for Pei Ji, it undoubtedly meant being completely exiled from the central court.

Although Xuyu had met him with her grandfather in the past, he was still a stranger after all, and she hadn’t seen him for many years. Now, returning with a heavy heart, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of detachment and wariness at first. But when she saw that his attitude was even more friendly than before, she immediately felt a little closer to him and said, “Lord Pei is still strong at old age, and you will surely live a hundred years.”

She only said ordinary words of comfort, but her eyes were sincere and made people feel very comforted.

Pei Ji laughed out loud and asked her about the journey. Xuyu answered his questions one by one. After chatting for a while, he noticed that she looked a little tired, so he called He shi in and asked her to take her back to rest.

“Now that you’re here, just treat it as your home and live here peacefully. If you need anything, just tell her. I remember that when you came here back then it was still chaotic outside and I didn’t dare to let you go out. It’s different now. Although this place is not as fertile as the inner county, it has magnificent scenery and is worth visiting. When you have rested well, I will ask someone to take you wherever you want to go!”

He shi was just outside the door, but she could hear everything going on inside clearly.

The county governor usually gloomy and rarely smiles happily, but tonight he was quite different, which showed that he and this girl get along well.

Thinking of the upcoming happy event, He shi‘s mood became even more delighted and she immediately accepted.

After Xuyu said goodbye and left, Pei Ji’s smile remained on his face for a long time. He didn’t have the heart to do anything else, so he just paced around the study with his hands behind his back, pondering.

After coming to Ganliang, he served as the county governor for more than ten years. The incessant sandstorms from the northwest slowly turned his hair and beard white.

If nothing unexpected happens, he would probably die of old age in this border town.

However, life was like a temporary stay, so why worry too much? It was a blessing for him to live out his life like this. Now he only had to wait for his nephew’s lifelong events to be settled, and in the future, just send his few old bones back to his hometown, then he would have no regrets in this life.

Thinking of his nephew’s marriage, Pei Ji suddenly became impatient and immediately ordered someone to call He Jin over. He first expressed his thanks for his hard work on the journey.

He Jin hurriedly expressed his luck that he had fulfilled his mission.

Pei Ji nodded: “Xiaoyuan has been away for quite some time, so it’s time for him to come back. Send someone to urge him. Just say that I have something to say and ask him to come back as soon as possible!”

Next year marks the current emperor’s five hundred thousandth birthday celebration. The Crown Prince would lead the officials in presenting a tribute from the people, expressing gratitude for the peace and prosperity across the four seas, and celebrating the achievements of the current emperor for his contribution to recreating a prosperous age. With such a grand occasion approaching, it was hoped that all under heaven would join in celebration, expressing thanks for divine grace. The emperor could not refuse, so preparations for this event, which was not only the most important matter for the court but also captures the attention of all the regions, have already begun. Many vassal princes and envoys were preparing to travel to the capital early to offer their congratulations, including Prince Ashina, Chengping, from the grasslands.

A few years ago, the imperial court went to war against Xifan, and Ashina clan was ordered to help. Pei Xiaoyuan had fought with Chengping, and the two had formed a brotherly relationship. Last autumn, he was invited to go hunting with Chengping, and had not yet returned.

This place was the only way for Chengping to go to the capital to celebrate the birthday, and the two of them must have returned together. But it was only early spring now, and Chengping had plenty of time, so he may not have left yet.

During the time when he was away, nothing seemed to have happened nearby. He Jin didn’t know why the master suddenly wanted to urge the young master to return. But he could see that his master was very eager. Just as he was about to say that he would go there in person, suddenly, a voice came from outside to report that the young master was on his way back.

It turned out that Pei Xiaoyuan had returned with the prince, and not only that, they were almost arrive, with only a few days left. Because the prince was traveling with a large entourage, he sent someone to report back to the city in advance so that they could be prepared.

“I’ll go pick up Young Master Pei right now!” He Jin said happily.

Pei Ji couldn’t hide the joy on his face. He knocked on the table with his fingers and said yes.

TOC     Next

Translator’s note:

It’s rare for me to pick up a new translation project before the previous one has completely finish. but heck let’s try it, at worst I missed some schedule, haha.

It’s historical novel again, because apparently that’s my expertise (lol). Actually I want to try translating modern novel, but I’ve yet find one that peak my interest, you can give me suggestion if you want. If my previous two novels are more light-hearted, this one is a bit more serious. There’s a lot going on, court intrigue, revenge, power struggle, that kind of stuff.

I actually haven’t finished reading the novel, I don’t how it will end, or whether the quality of the story will decline. But at least the part I read so far is very exciting. And it seems the novel will be adapted into drama, but knows when that be. But if it’s true, I hope I can finish the translation before the drama air.