Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 53

Puyang took a sip, her brows knitting together in a pained expression. She seemed particularly averse to bitter and spicy flavors, disliking anything with a slightly strong taste. But the ginger soup was good for her, so she had no choice but to hold the bowl with both hands, her eyes betraying deep disgust and resistance as she blew on it to cool it, sipping it down one mouthful at a time.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the bowl of ginger soup was finally finished. Puyang placed the white porcelain bowl far away and averted her gaze, letting out a small breath as if she had just fought a difficult battle.

Turning her head, she met Wei Xiu’s eyes. She started, realizing that the entire scene must have been witnessed by her teacher.

Wei Xiu watched with a smile, not saying a word. This reminded Puyang of what had happened in the room earlier, and a blush crept onto her face. She forced herself to remain calm and said, “Sir, you were also at the banquet last night. What did you think of the several generals?”

The triumphant army had entered the capital the day before yesterday to receive their enfeoffments from the Emperor. Those treated most generously were these few generals from humble backgrounds. What the Emperor intended to do was perfectly clear. The great families were furious, but these men all had military achievements to their names, so they couldn’t even oppose the appointments openly.

“They are all meritorious officials with distinguished military records. However, at their current official ranks, being able to fight is no longer enough to get by.” Wei Xiu had also been present at the banquet last night and had seen the men with her own eyes.

Puyang naturally understood the meaning behind her words. The great families could not reject the imperial edict, but they could secretly create obstacles for these commoners from humble origins. To say nothing of other things, their direct superiors were likely scions of great families who were hostile to the lowborn.

“The road ahead is perilous,” Puyang sighed.

The road ahead was always perilous. They had chosen the most difficult path in the world; how could they not expect to endure more hardships? Wei Xiu thought for a moment and said, “Only fire can test true gold. If they crumble at the first blow, they are not worthy of Your Highness’s efforts.” A thought occurred to her, and she smiled. “Besides, if Your Highness only offers words, how can you win the sincere admiration of these generals who have fought their way up with real swords and spears?”

This was the perfect opportunity for Puyang to win these men over. The generals were currently close to Puyang, but without shared interests, this closeness was very fragile. Only by letting them witness the princess’s capabilities could the bond be maintained.

Puyang nodded. Thinking of how Wei Xiu had devised strategies for her in the past, she couldn’t help but smile. “Sir, you always seem to be able to grasp others’ weaknesses and exploit them.”

A shadow passed through Wei Xiu’s eyes. She pressed her lips into a smile, but it was as thin as paper. “It is all I am capable of.”

“It’s a pity I did not see Zhou Qi.” Zhou Qi was the greatest hero of this war, enfeoffed by the Emperor as General Who Pacifies the Army, with a stipend of two thousand shi—already a high-ranking official of the third grade. Puyang sounded slightly regretful. “And I’ve heard rumors in the army that this general is very worldly-wise, strict in commanding his troops, valiant in battle, and on very close terms with his superiors.”

This man’s meteoric rise was a foregone conclusion, and he had the Emperor’s favor.

A chill appeared in Wei Xiu’s eyes. “If Your Highness is able to handle every single matter, His Majesty will not see you as a pillar of support, but as a threat to be feared.”

Puyang froze. She slowly turned her head to look at Wei Xiu, her expression stiffening. Wei Xiu gave her a slight nod, her eyes growing even more indifferent.

Puyang took a deep breath and cupped her hands in a salute. “Thank you for your guidance, Sir.”

She could share the sovereign’s burdens, but she could not leave the sovereign with no burdens to bear. His Majesty was the Son of Heaven, holding the power of life and death, residing in the nine-gated palace, receiving the prostrations of the myriad people. She should be filial, respectful, and loyal, but she could not be overly assertive.

Zhou Qi was exceptionally talented, a man His Majesty had taken note of. He was certain to receive the Emperor’s attention and be placed in important positions. She could win over the others, but she could not win him over.

The wind scattered the dark clouds, and sunlight emerged, illuminating the earth. The summer heat returned with a vengeance.

Puyang had lunch at Wei Xiu’s residence before heading directly to the palace.

Wei Xiu watched her walk away, her expression unchanged, only the soft light in her eyes gradually faded. Yan Huan then quickly entered and reported to Wei Xiu, “Zhou Qi has heard that you are in the capital, Sir, and wishes to pay a visit, hoping for your permission.”

Wei Xiu focused her thoughts for a moment, then said, “Tell him there is no need to rush. There will be opportunities in the future.”

Soldiers advanced through military merit. After this war, it was uncertain when the next would begin. The Emperor would surely keep him in the capital to facilitate deployment.

Yan Huan accepted the order and withdrew.

As Puyang entered the palace, she happened to run into Zhou Qi, who was just coming out.

It was true what others said about him being worldly-wise. Seeing Puyang’s formal attire, Zhou Qi bowed and said, “This subject pays his respects to Your Highness.” He only addressed her as “Your Highness” without mentioning her title, which suggested he might not actually know which princess she was. But unless one thought about it carefully, who would notice? They would only think him thorough and respectful.

Puyang smiled faintly. “General Zhou, you may dispense with the formalities.”

Zhou Qi remained deferential, saying, “Thank you, Your Highness,” before straightening up.

Unlike the rough and boisterous nature of most martial practitioners, Zhou Qi had thick brows and large eyes, yet possessed a scholar’s refined elegance. In time, he would likely become a scholar-general, conversing and laughing casually amidst the three armies.

Puyang’s pupils contracted sharply. The sight of Zhou Qi’s face stirred a tempest in her heart. He was clearly the general who had stood beside her teacher in her dream. She fought to suppress her shock, maintained her smile, and said amiably, “The general must be busy. Please, go ahead.”

Zhou Qi did not know her, so naturally, he did not stand on ceremony. He bowed and went on his way.

The palace paths were teeming with people. Any suspicious event would be transmitted through various eyes and ears to the deep palace courtyards and the imperial court.

Puyang suppressed the urge to turn back and get a better look at Zhou Qi, continuing forward with composure. But the dream kept replaying in her mind.

The sky was gray and heavy, as if a great catastrophe was imminent. The city wall was strewn with the bodies of soldiers, bl00d seeping into the wall through the cracks in the bricks. Scorched areas still emitted black smoke. The entire scene was cold, tragic, and devoid of life.

Her teacher sat atop the city wall, a general standing beside her with a respectful expression, congratulating her on avenging her great grievance. The dream had been clear and real, and after waking, it remained perfectly intact in her memory, not blurring in the slightest. Therefore, she had also remembered the general’s appearance.

Zhou Qi’s face matched the one from her dream. They were two identical faces, the only slight difference being that the Zhou Qi in the dream was clearly older, possessing a more weathered and experienced look than the man she saw today.

A person from her dream had appeared in reality. It was as if she only needed to wait for all the people from the dream to assemble, and the dream’s predicament would be reenacted. Puyang felt a heart-pounding premonition, like the calm before a storm.

The feeling came out of nowhere, yet it spread with tangible certainty, mixed with an unsettling sense of oppression.

After her audience with His Majesty, Puyang returned to her residence and rested in her bedchamber.

From the beginning, she had been certain that the dream depicted events after her death. Back then, it was just a feeling without any real evidence. Zhou Qi’s appearance was like the final nail in the coffin, completely confirming the dream’s reality.

Puyang tried her best to recall the dream once more.

In the dream, it was said that her teacher left the capital and joined the Prince of Zhao. Then the scene jumped to the top of Luoyang’s city wall. Zhou Qi had said, “Master Wei has returned, and Luoyang has fallen,” which implied she had succeeded. Since she had joined the Prince of Zhao’s command, it must have been the Prince of Zhao who conquered Luoyang and became the new emperor.

This Zhou Qi, then, was very likely one of the Prince of Zhao’s men, assigned to serve under her teacher.

No sooner had this idea formed than Puyang rejected it. It was only one possibility. Perhaps the Prince of Zhao was defeated midway through, and her teacher switched her allegiance to someone else. Zhou Qi might not necessarily be the Prince of Zhao’s man either.

What exactly happened between her teacher leaving the capital and the fall of Luoyang? Without knowing the events in between, countless possibilities could arise, and she would have no way of knowing the precise situation.

Puyang felt a little anxious. Since her rebirth, many things had been changing. Starting with the assassination attempt, more and more events had become unrecognizable. The court situation had always been one where a single action could affect the whole, and her actions had not been small. Many events from her past life could no longer be used as a reference.

So whose man was Zhou Qi? Or was he, for now, just a newly risen figure who had struggled his way up from the army, loyal only to His Majesty?

Puyang grew more and more uneasy. This shouldn’t have been a major issue, yet she inexplicably felt it was of great consequence. She suddenly remembered that since it was a city wall, there should have been a great banner planted there. Based on what was written on the banner, she could know who had ultimately conquered the realm. She hurriedly tried to recall it, but although the dream was real, the moment she tried to remember such a detail, it became impossible to see clearly. She could only vaguely see the flag. All she could make out was a new, black great banner planted on the city wall, billowing in the wind like the triumphant, bared fangs and claws of a victor.