Lang Tao Xue Jin galloped away from the campgrounds, but did not go far. It came to a stop on a snowy slope at the northern end of the Chashi Sinkhole. The humid fog and snow made Shen Zechuan appear to be situated amidst the vast expanse of misty, rolling waves on the lake’s surface. All his eyes could see where they roamed was white.

Xiao Chiye rolled off his horse and removed his helmet. There was sweat along his temples as he panted slightly, yet his eyes were full of spirits. “Can you see Duanzhou?”

As Shen Zechuan held onto Lang Tao Xue Jin’s reins, he handed the blue handkerchief in his sleeve over to Xiao Chiye. He could only catch a glimpse of the abandoned relay station’s watchtower in the far distance amidst the visible clouds of his breath, but he understood Xiao Chiye’s jubilation. “Looking at Duanzhou now is just like looking into what’s already in my bag.”

Xiao Chiye lifted his chin slightly, and beads of sweat trickled down. He smiled. Shen Zechuan gazed at him, realizing that he still retained the unyielding and untamable attitude he possessed during their time in Qudu; this was the spirit that Shen Zechuan desired to have in his possession.

Shen Zechuan leaned over, breathing onto Xiao Chiye’s cheeks. The tip of his nose pressed right up against Xiao Chiye and edged up along the latter’s temple as he licked the latter’s sweat like he desired. Those beads of astringent, salty sweat dissolved in Shen Zechuan’s mouth. As his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, he said, “This will be your, Xiao Ce’an’s, riding track from now on.”

Xiao Chiye raised a hand over Shen Zechuan’s nape, covering it, and the iron fingers of the armor he had yet to remove were icy and hard as they lay over the soft, fair neck, leaving behind a touch that resembled the cold steel of a blade.

“I don’t want a riding track.” The straight bridge of Xiao Chiye’s nose nuzzled along the spot on Shen Zechuan that had been bobbing earlier. He watched fixedly as Shen Zechuan narrowed his expressive eyes. His words had an edge of danger to it as he said, “I want Shen Lanzhou.”

Shen Zechuan breathed out a puff of hot air at Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye thought Shen Zechuan wanted to kiss him. He did not expect Lanzhou to grab the chance to pull back the blue handkerchief in his hand. Shen Zechuan then straightened up and wrapped the overcoat tightly around himself. The Prefectural Lord, who was sensitive to the cold, revealed only his eyes and the reddened tips of his ears as he said in a muffled voice, “Shen Lanzhou’s freezing to death.”

Xiao Chiye, his arms empty, had still yet to realize what just happened.

Shen Zechuan watched Xiao Chiye’s expression undergo several changes. Xiao Chiye looked as though he was going to make a grab for him, so Shen Zechuan immediately shook the reins to urge Lang Tao Xue Jin into returning back to camp. Xiao Chiye cradled his helmet in his arms. There was still a lingering warmth from where he had been licked on his temple. He touched it, gradually getting riled up as though he were a maiden of a decent family who had been disrespected by a frivolous philanderer.

“Shen Lanzhou…” Xiao Chiye watched as Shen Zechuan fled. With a stride of his long legs, he slid down the snowy slope and yelled, “Heartless cad!”

◈     ◈     ◈

Achi, who had been confident of success, had been defeated at the Chashi Sinkhole, and the Biansha people, who had been winning battles in the north for half a year, never expected Achi to lose to Xiao Chiye. The remaining soldiers in Duanzhou were no match for Wu Ziyu’s surprise attack. Consequently, the six prefectures of Zhongbo all fell under Shen Zechuan’s command. Qudu received news of it only seven days later. At the same time, the military report of Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops into battle with the Qingshu tribe also made its way into the palace.

The Empress Dowager sat in Mingli Hall behind the hanging curtain and flung the memorial onto the seat across the luminous pearls. The eastern pearls swayed beside her ears as she held back her rage and barked at the ministers in the hall, “Did the Ministry of War reject Qidong’s request to deploy its troops or not? Chen Zhen, you handle military affairs, and you can’t even make yourself clear?!”

The Minister of War, Chen Zhen, immediately kneeled on the ground, knowing that the Empress Dowager was venting her anger. Qi Zhuyin now had a strong and well-trained military, and Qudu was unwilling to act rashly and offend them, so they could only take it out on the easy games like him. He listened expressionlessly until she was done speaking before saying, “In the first month of the year, Commander-in-chief Qi presented a memorial to the imperial court, hoping to deploy troops to fight the Qingshu tribe. We rejected her request on the grounds that we were lacking in military provisions. The Grand Secretariat kept a copy of the correspondences for archival records. The Senior Grand Secretary and the various other ministers are all aware of it.”

The Empress Dowager understood that this was in no way authorized by the Ministry of War, but she was still fuming. After a moment’s pause, she continued, “So why did she go ahead with it this time?”

“Seven days ago, the Bianjun Commandery’s night patrol encountered a surprise attack by the Qingshu tribe.” Chen Zhen lifted his head slightly at this point. “Commander-in-chief Qi was thus forced to mobilize troops.”

“Amu’er is at war with Libei in the north. Why would the Qingshu tribe provoke Qidong for no rhyme or reason?” Han Cheng had been at the receiving end of Qi Zhuyin’s frostiness when he escorted Hua Xiangyi to her new home. Sitting in the hall now, he suddenly bared a smile and said, “Then again, it’s really such a coincidence that Commander-in-chief Qi happened to be in the Bianjun Commandery just when the Qingshu tribe launched their surprise attack. This battle was such a swift and abrupt one that the report of victory and request were both presented together. Even if she was at fault, she had already succeeded.”

Kong Qiu, who had fallen ill after the new year, sat in the hall with his complexion all ashen as he covered his mouth and coughed. “We cannot listen to only one side of the story. If the Qingshu tribe had genuinely crossed the line, then Commander-in-chief Qi’s mobilization of troops was an act of emergency. For the past years, the situation at the frontiers has been unstable. When Lu Guangbai was still stationed at the Bianjun Commandery, the Qingshu tribe often invaded as well. The details of the matter still need to be presented by Commander-in-chief Qi. What is of utmost urgency now is how long this war will continue? We are right about to enter the plowing season in spring, and the thirteen cities of Juexi are still waiting for the arrangements to be made. The supply of military provisions is of major concern.”

Pan Xiangjie timidly folded his arms up his sleeves. Xue Xiuzhuo wanted to investigate their Pan clan of Dancheng, and this matter had been stuck at an impasse for a long time. Given that the fields were still in dispute, he did not dare to butt in now for fear that the Grand Secretariat would apportion the shortfall of military provision to them.

The Empress Dowager did not consent to send their troops to war because Qidong’s deployment of troops at this moment was akin to supporting Libei, and also because Xue Xiuzhuo had been too impatient in chasing the accounts. The Eight Great clans were presently in a situation where one slight move could lead to major consequences for all of them. Fields were their roots, and the young masters of the eight cities all depended on these fields to survive. If an investigation were to be launched, then the noble clans would suffer debilitating effects just by having to return the fields to the common folks and make up for the arrears in taxes. Not to mention that there was also the risk of dismissal and prosecution as well as imprisonment. Qi Zhuyin’s battle with the Qingshu tribe meant that the expenses for the Qidong’s Five Commanderies’ military salaries and provisions would have to go through the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue. Once the state treasury ran out of money, all the past events during the reign of Yongyi were going to get dredged up again. The Empress Dowager was acting in place of the crown prince, and there was still the Heir Apparent beside her eyeing the throne, so she dared not act rashly without careful consideration.

Whether Amu’er was a rapacious aggressor or not, the noble clans did not know, but they knew it was inadvisable to keep delaying given the current situation. Zhongbo had already grown to be a thorn in their sides, and getting themselves stuck in a stalemate with the Heir Apparent and the Grand Secretariat would not do the noble clans any good.

“Since it was the Qingshu tribe that invaded, Qi Zhuyin can just repel them; there is no need to mobilize troops again to penetrate deeper into the enemy’s territory.” The Empress Dowager’s fury had subsided. She deliberated it over and said, “I know that it’s bitterly cold and impoverished at the frontiers. No doubt the battle with the Biansha people must be fought, but not now. Just as the Grand Secretary has said, the spring plow season is right around the corner. We should place the commoners as our priority. Not all of Juexi’s territories last year had bumper harvests either, and the granaries in Qudu have still yet to be filled to the brim, so where would the imperial court have the spare grains to give Qidong to fight wars? This matter has to be conveyed properly to Qi Zhuyin. As someone who assists in the government affairs of the Five Commanderies, she should have long known about this.”

Silence descended upon Mingli Hall for a moment. The hanging screens at the entrance were all securely tucked in to keep the wind out. Because of Qi Zhuyin’s mobilization of troops, the atmosphere in the hall was grave and heavy.

In truth, Kong Qiu and Cen Yu approved of Qi Zhuyin’s wish to wage a battle against the Qingshu tribe. But they were presently duking it out with the noble clans. Pan Lin was the one who had the Ministry of Revenue in his grasp, but he presently had his hands too full with Xue Xiuzhuo incriminating him to jointly discuss the matter of Qidong’s military salaries and provisions. Moreover, it was precisely because the Pan clan was the first to bear the brunt that Pan Xiangjie did not dare to let his son get too involved with the Grand Secretariat at this juncture.

Pan Xiangjie was used to playing fence-sitter. It was all thanks to this ability to sway where the wind blows that he could survive until now. He did not want to offend Xue Xiuzhuo, and he did not want to offend the Empress Dowager either. As long as there was no victor in the tussle for power in Qudu, he was unwilling to let the Pan clan follow another’s lead easily. In the past, he threw in his lot with Hua Siqian and Wei Huaigu, but these two men both used him as a scapegoat. Now wary and guarded, he trusted none of these three parties.

Cen Yu sighed lightly. He rarely spoke up in Mingli Hall now. Yu Xiaozai left the capital with the letter he wrote to Shen Zechuan, but Shen Zechuan never replied, and he understood what Shen Zechuan meant by that. Everyone had drinks in his house a year ago, and he still remembered the distinguished figures Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye had cut then. He found it a pity the way things had turned out.

Cen Yu shifted his gaze to Li Jianting, who was sitting upright at the side staring at the tea before her, as if she had not heard the discussion in the hall. After the court session was dismissed, Cen Yu and Kong Qiu walked along the long path that had been cleared of snow.

The palace eaves on both sides hung low, turning the paths oppressively dim. The eunuch in front was holding a lantern. As Cen Yu walked, his sleeves flapped in the wind. The wind blew his short, newly grown beard all over, and he lifted a hand to stroke it.

“Why didn’t you say a word today with something this big happening?” Kong Qiu asked.

Cen Yu lifted his eyes. “Her Majesty’s mind is already made up. The result will be the same, whether or not I speak up.”

It was already dark by the time both men walked out of the palace gate. Cen Yu did not get into the horse carriage. Instead, he carried the lantern himself and stepped on the snow as he walked on the level path with Kong Qiu.

“Xunyi, you seem to have a lot on your mind today.” Kong Qiu scrutinized him. “What are you thinking about?”

“Thinking about today last year,” Cen Yu answered, “when Vice Commander Shen and Marquis Xiao were both still in Qudu…”

If Emperor Tianchen had not been assassinated, perhaps Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye would still be in Qudu today. Cen Yu had always been one to cherish talents. He once thought of having Shen Zechuan join the imperial court as an official, but alas, things did not go the way he wished—the weight of Shen Zechuan’s crime was too heavy.

Kong Qiu let out a long sigh and thought of Hai Liangyi again.

“If Emperor Tianchen possessed even a fraction of a crown prince’s disposition, would you and I be reduced to such a state? I’ve been feeling more and more out of my depth lately. There are simply too many situations that are beyond my ability to salvage. They do not consent to the current war Commander-in-chief Qi is waging with the Qingshu tribe for fear that the military provisions would drag the eight cities’ fields into it. But I can tell that the war in Libei is at a tense and critical juncture. Even the Prince of Libei, Xiao Fangxu, met his end in battle. The strength and the capabilities of the Biansha can no longer be underestimated.” Cen Yu could see it all clearly, but it was pointless. He could not solve the conflict in Qudu just with his eloquence alone. It was simply a tall order to get the noble clans to relinquish their existing interests.

Both of them had not gone far when they saw a man standing under a bamboo umbrella ahead of them, waiting. Cen Yu and Kong Qiu traded looks and looked at Xue Xiuzhuo.

Xue Xiuzhuo’s official robe was brand new, and he was not wearing a lined jacket. He stood in that spot all by his lonesome self, like a floating leaf among the torrential currents even as the wind sent his sleeves fluttering. He kept away his umbrella and bowed in greetings to Cen Yu and Kong Qiu.

“Why are you standing here? Is something the matter?” Kong Qiu asked.

Xue Xiuzhuo straightened up as floating snow sporadically danced past. “This humble official has been waiting here for both gentlemen to discuss the issue of Dancheng’s fields and taxes in detail.”

Cen Yu frowned slightly and said, “Affairs of the imperial court should be settled on the imperial court itself. There is no reason to discuss them in private. This case, in particular, should avoid having aspersions cast on it. If others were to see this, rumors and slanders would inevitably start making their rounds. You should go back first. We’ll discuss it in the Grand Secretariat’s office tomorrow morning after the morning court session.”

“If not for the urgency of the matter, this humble official would naturally not dare to bother both of you.” Xue Xiuzhuo’s expression remained unchanged. “At the beginning of the month, Her Majesty drew up a decree to have a key official from the Ministry of Revenue tag along to investigate the case, and Pan Lin appointed Liang Cuishan, who is in charge of salt taxes in Hezhou and Juexi.”

Kong Qiu and Cen Yu both knew who Liang Cuishan was. Xiao Chiye had vouched for him and recommended him for an official position during the collapse of the public ditches. He was a Ministry of Revenue official who had been personally appointed by Emperor Tianchen to investigate Wei Huaigu in the case of the military provisions. He was very talented in the administration of financial affairs and taxes. Last year, he sorted out the old accounts of the thirteen cities with Jiang Qingshan in Juexi, and for a period of time, he even managed the transportation of grains by water from Hezhou to the capital.

Yan Heru told Shen Zechuan that it was tough to do business via the waterways. The Yan clan’s goods heading for Juexi were all subjected to rigorous checks, and Liang Cuishan was the reason for this. This man was smooth and diplomatic in his work, but he was not a slippery character. In his position, the amount of tax money passing through his hand every day numbered tens of thousands of silver. Yan Heru wanted to pull strings and make backdoor deals with him, but his attempts were all rebuffed.

“Liang Cuishan has already returned to the capital and will enter the palace tomorrow morning to seek an audience.” Xue Xiuzhou held his umbrella in his arms. “But he had a narrow escape this trip and must meet both gentlemen tonight.”