Spring flowers bloomed, and Xue Qi, the eldest grandson of the imperial family, celebrated his first month. The Fifth Prince's residence was decked in red, its gates open to a ceaseless stream of guests.
Murong Jin sat by the window, cradling the child, watching the courtyard turn green. The trees outside grew strong, just like the boy in her arms.
"The guests have arrived," Xue Liulan said, pushing open the door and resting a hand on her shoulder.
"I could hear the noise from here," she said with a faint smile. "So many people?"
"Of course. Qi'er is the first imperial grandson. The court officials are eager to fawn."
"The tides of politics. Thirty years east, thirty years west." She stood, glancing at the sleeping baby. "He's asleep. I'll come out later."
"Don't trust the wet nurse?" he teased. Since she had woken, she had kept the child by her side, watching over him even when she couldn't tend to him herself.
She didn't answer.
"Murong Jin, what are you worried about?" he asked, serious now.
She hesitated. "Die Man."
"You're afraid she'll hurt him?" He understood. Joy had blinded him to the danger. Or perhaps he hadn't wanted to believe Die Man would harm an infant.
"If a woman truly loves a man, she cannot tolerate his child by another. I believe Die Man truly loves you." She took his hand. "So I must be on guard."
"A mother's intuition." He nodded. "Even with the Fifteen, she knows their methods. There will always be gaps. From today on, I will guard him with you."
She laughed softly.
"What? You don't think a father can be vigilant?" He frowned, pretending to be offended.
"I believe you," she said, smoothing his brow with her fingertip. "But you have important things to do. I can handle this."
"Right now, you are the most important thing." He pressed her hand to his chest.
"I know," she smiled. "But I haven't forgotten why I married you."
To help you take the throne. To win the world. And then, she had said, she hoped he would let her ride free.
His smile faded. He remembered too.
"I told you, I won't give you up." He looked at her solemnly, as if she might pack her bags and disappear tomorrow.
"I didn't say I was leaving." She looked at him, amused. "If I had known then that I would willingly grow old with you, bear your children… I wouldn't have said it."
"Should I be laughing at my good fortune, then?" He tilted his head, his eyes full of love.
"Of course." She paused. "You've been with me every day. Aren't you afraid our seventh brother is making moves behind your back?"
"Whatever he does, the crimes of the Deng faction are set in stone. If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."
She frowned. "The men you impeached are all Deng Qinyao's protégés. The Emperor isn't blind. Will it be that easy?"
"Speaking of which, I have to admire Guo Shangzhong's work." He sat beside her on the bed. She rocked the baby gently as he spoke.
"Some of the names on that list were Guo Shangzhong's own men. It makes it look impartial. But the Deng faction is a web; pull one thread, and the whole thing shakes."
"Clever," she murmured.
"So, in return for his… thoughtfulness, I should give something back." He leaned back, looking at her sideways.
"You? Have good intentions?" She rolled her eyes. "Qi'er, do you hear that? Your father is up to no good."
The baby slept on.
"See? Your son agrees." She grinned.
He laughed, innocent. "Let's go. The guests are waiting."
"Hey, you didn't tell me what your 'good intention' was."
"It's not really a good intention anyway. Let's not talk about it." He grinned mischievously and walked away, waiting for her.
"Xue Liulan." Her face darkened. She glared at him, wishing she could throw him into the pond.
"What? Is the tigress showing her claws?" He laughed. "Should I run?"
"You dare?" She put the baby down and marched up to him, staring him down.
"Oh? Let me think." He rubbed his nose, pondering. Then he looked up, smiling. "I guess I don't."
They stared at each other, serious for a moment, then burst out laughing. Seeing her face, flushed like a peach blossom, he was moved. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"You really want to know?" he whispered, his voice husky.
She met his burning gaze, blushed, and looked away, nodding.
"Since Guo Shangzhong offered up a few of his own men, I thought I'd help him out and implicate a few more."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Do you remember Yan Lingfu? The scholar who wrote the memorial?"
"You want to submit his memorial?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. Guo Shangzhong is still useful, and I'm not sure I can take him down completely yet."
"Won't that anger him? If he turns to Xue Feiyan, it will be trouble." She placed a hand on his arm, worried. Peace was hard-won; she didn't want to ruin it.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." He patted her shoulder. "You're still recovering. Don't worry about me."
A knock at the door interrupted them.
"What is it?"
"Zuo Xunxiao is here." It was Yi's voice.
Murong Jin opened the door. "Since when are you a messenger boy for the Fifth Prince's residence?"
"Anyone else, I would have ignored. But Zuo Xunxiao left a message at Yumen Jiao. We ate from the same pot, once. I couldn't refuse." Yi leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
She smiled. Xue Liulan walked up behind her.
"Let the baby sleep. I'll go see him. I'll come back for you later."
"Alright."
Yi chuckled. "Guarding against thieves?"
She glared at him, then looked at Xue Liulan, who was smiling silently.
"If I were truly guarding against him, his best position right now would be a thousand miles away," Xue Liulan said softly.
His best position? Yi shivered. What about his worst? Would Xue Liulan just kill his rival? This man was definitely not as carefree as he looked.
Outside a secluded pavilion in the garden, Yi stopped. "He's waiting for you there. I'll watch. No one will overhear."
"Thank you." Xue Liulan bowed.
Yi returned the bow. "I have no gift for the little prince. Consider this my offering for a cup of wedding wine."
Xue Liulan laughed and walked down the gravel path.
Zuo Xunxiao stood in the pavilion, looking out at the spring scenery, sighing.
"Is the General feeling sentimental?" Xue Liulan called out.
Zuo Xunxiao stiffened, then turned slowly. "Youth is always worth remembering."
"The past is smoke. Only when your hands are empty do you think to look for traces of what was. Instead of mourning, why not look to the present? At least you can choose what you will hold in the future." Xue Liulan met his gaze, his eyes sharp.
Zuo Xunxiao's heart trembled. His choice had been made long ago, but hearing it spoken… perhaps it was not wrong.