Duan Xu claimed he had no illustrious reputation, but he was being too modest.
“Duan Shunxi? Who in the court doesn’t know that name?”
He Simu held a luminous pearl that emitted light in the bright moonlight. Wrapped in a cloak, she sat on the roof of the provincial governor’s mansion, one hand supporting her chin, the other holding the pearl as she listened to the voices coming from inside.
“The Duan family has produced imperial scholars for three generations and has royal connections. Duan Shunxi’s maternal grandmother was the Princess Imperial from the previous dynasty, the late Emperor’s elder sister. His father, Duan Chengzhang, served as Minister of Rites before retiring due to illness. His family is a renowned lineage of civil officials. Two years ago, he ranked second in the imperial examinations, entered court service, and has exceptional prospects ahead.”
He Simu leaned against the roof ridge, looking up at the bright moon, and asked, “Then who is Duke Pei?”
“Oh, so the venerable ancestor knows about Duke Pei. The court is currently divided into two factions locked in a deadly struggle — one led by Minister Du and the other by Duke Pei. Duan Shunxi’s father was Minister Du’s trusted confidant, so naturally, he belonged to Du’s faction. The Emperor now favors appointing young officials. Minister Du is advanced in years, while Duan Shunxi has deep connections and is favored by Minister Du, being groomed as a future chancellor.”
“Unfortunately, he has a mortal enemy — the top-ranked scholar from the same examination year, the current Remonstrance Officer Fang Xian Ya. Fang Xian Ya comes from a humble background and was originally Duke Pei’s retainer. After ranking first in the examinations, he naturally joined Duke Pei’s camp. This clever and meticulous young man consistently outshines Duan Shunxi.”
“At the recent Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, the Emperor suddenly had the whim to ask the talented attendees to debate military strategy. Duan Shunxi greatly defeated Fang Xian Ya and earned the Emperor’s high praise. As a result, Duke Pei immediately submitted a memorial stating that since Duan Shunxi possessed military talent, he should receive more practical training. The Emperor, in his momentary delight, appointed Duan Shunxi as an Imperial Guard Commander.”
“Duan Shunxi was originally a Supervising Secretary in the Chancellery, on a smooth path to becoming chancellor, but this unexpected development redirected him to a military position. Coming from a civil background, he had no foundation in the military. Inevitably, he made mistakes in the Imperial Guard, and Fang Xian Ya seized the opportunity to impeach him with a memorial that sent him out of the capital to serve as Lieutenant General in the Taibai Army. Who would have thought that as soon as he arrived at the Taibai Army, the Hu Qi would invade? When the Taibai Army general died in battle, he was appointed in the emergency as the Taibai Army General.”
He Simu rubbed her temples while tossing the luminous pearl in her hand and said, “I understand now. He must be your well-known, famous unfortunate one.”
From a distinguished family and chancellor candidate to a precarious frontier general position—no wonder Meng Wan was like a firecracker ready to explode, shouting about protecting Duan Shunxi.
He Simu looked at Duan Xu’s room in the distance. The night was deep, yet dim lamplight still burned in his room. His silhouette cast on the window stood tall like a pine tree.
“But I see this young general appears completely carefree, always smiling, without complaints about his situation,” He Simu said thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand. “Is he truly so open-minded and indifferent, accepting whatever comes? In this mundane world, after ten years of diligent study to achieve scholarly honors, doesn’t everyone want to become prime minister?”
“If given the opportunity, even the Emperor might want that, haha! Duan Shunxi is known for his bright disposition, greeting everyone with a smile. But what he truly thinks in his heart, who can know? With his illustrious background and outstanding talent, how could he not desire to be second only to one and above ten thousand others?”
“Ah… how boring.”
All the world bustles for profit; all the world struggles for advantage. This young general is merely an ordinary mortal, trapped in this realm of fame and fortune, coming and going throughout his life.
Once having seen the ocean, all other waters pale in comparison. Her uncle had been the most upright and gentle yet formidable person she had ever known in this world. After having such a master, how could the Breaking Illusion Sword settle for such a mundane person?
Meanwhile, in his room, Duan Xu sneezed while reading military reports. The officer in the room immediately looked at Duan Xu and asked, “The snow is heavy today, General. Have you caught a cold?”
Duan Xu shook his head. He put down the military report and stared at the lamplight for a moment, then raised his eyes to look at the officer.
“Qing Sheng, have you caught the person who tried to assassinate me today?”
Xia Qing Sheng’s face showed shame as he clutched his sword and replied, “Not yet. The assassin had exceptional martial skills and escaped quickly. We lost track of them. General, in the future, please be sure to bring guards when you go out. Otherwise, it’s too dangerous.”
Duan Xu disliked bringing attendants, which was well-known in the Southern Capital. For someone of his status, traveling with four or five servants would already be considered modest, yet he always went alone.
According to him, he had once been ambushed by bandits, and the servants who had attended him closely for years had died by the bandits’ blades while helping him escape. Out of sentiment for the past, he was unwilling to take on new servants.
When this explanation spread throughout the Southern Capital, it gave Duan Xu a reputation for being sentimental.
“Exceptional martial skills… The position they chose on the corner tower was very concealed. To aim at me from such a distance, they are indeed highly skilled,” Duan Xu said softly, directly ignoring Qing Sheng’s advice.
“Even if you were by my side, you might not have detected the assassin.”
Duan Xu smiled gently.
Not to mention an “ordinary” young woman who couldn’t practice martial arts?
The moon had reached its zenith. Xue Chen Ying woke from a nightmare to find the young miss not in the room. He tentatively called out several times without response, then took a candlestick to search the courtyard, but still couldn’t find her.
He stood dazed for a long while as scenes from his nightmare seemed to resurface. Chen Ying gradually became panicked, took the candlestick, pushed open the door, and ran into the street, calling out “Young Miss!” all the way.
Where had the Young Miss gone?
Had the Young Miss abandoned him because he ate too much?
Chen Ying’s eyes gradually grew wet with tears, and the street before him became blurry. He recalled his mother and father, and all his deceased relatives—they had all disappeared without a trace after he woke up one day, never to return. It seemed like some kind of ominous premonition.
The people he couldn’t see when he opened his eyes might never be seen again in this life.
Because it had snowed all day, the ground was covered with a layer of ice. Chen Ying walked while crying and accidentally fell.
The candlestick dropped to the ground, and the flame extinguished with a “puff,” emitting faint wisps of smoke.
Just as the light went out, a gentle female voice sounded, vague and somewhat muffled.
“Child, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Chen Ying looked up. In the desolate, cold, and utterly silent street, about ten paces away stood a young woman wearing a green jacket.
The snow that had briefly stopped began to fall again. She stood in the shadows, and only her delicate, exquisite silhouette was visible. Jade and emerald earrings hung beside her ears, and she cradled a large jar with black and white infant designs.
Chen Ying stumbled to his feet, looked around to see no one else, and stood awkwardly in place.
“I’m looking for someone,” he said softly.
The woman then stepped forward, her footsteps in the snow making no sound.
“Who are you looking for?” she asked.
With this step closer, her crimson lips became visible, the corners curved in a smile.
Chen Ying hesitated for a moment but still answered her: “I’m looking for… Young Miss He. Do you know her?”
“He Xiaoxiao? I know her best of all. I know where she is. Mother will take you to find her.” The woman took another step toward Chen Ying.
Chen Ying unconsciously stepped back. Like a wild young beast, he instinctively sensed danger. Confused but cautious, he said, “My mother died long ago, and she didn’t look like you. Why do you call yourself my mother?”
The woman fell silent, the smile at the corners of her mouth slowly fading. The surroundings were frighteningly quiet, with only the howling wind blowing through the banners and signs in the street.
The woman stepped forward again, this time completely into the light. Chen Ying then discovered that her eyes were completely black, without whites. And the infant-design jar she cradled was covered in blood stains.