Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  The voice in the straw hut was filled with mocking and an almost maniacal arrogance. It harshly scolded the most powerful brother and sister in Qing Kingdom and said, “Imprison? Only an idiot would believe that. The brother and sister have been playing god and the devil for a dozen years. How could they suddenly turn against each other? Even if they did, there needs to be a reason…… Reasons Qing court has tossed out recently, can they even be considered reasons? 

  Yun Zhilan’s knees hurt a bit. He knew that his master was caught up in his own mumblings and had clearly forgotten that he was still kneeling there. Rubbing his knees, he climbed up with a forced smile on his face. He thought that his teacher’s life, for the most part, was absurd. But, he always had an admirable patience when it came to the big picture. In some details, he was also struck by genius, like his little brother disciple. 

  At this moment, his teacher’s words had clearly become absurd again. Did he think that the huge incident in Jingdou was purely because the Emperor and Eldest Princess had nothing to do? That they didn’t care about the face of the royal family and acted out a play for people to watch? 

  No matter what, Yun Zhilan did not believe in this. He said a few words to express his opinion. 

  The Great Grandmaster in the Sword Hut fell silent. It seemed that he felt his deduction did have some problems. However, in his heart, the Qing people, particularly the Qing royal family, were, without question, the vilest, shameless, filthiest, lowliest, and black-hearted of all creatures. It was not easy to have him believe that such a gap had truly appeared in the Qing royal family. 

  He unconsciously wondered if Qing Kingdom was preparing to scapegoat him for something again. This thought made him angry and dark, so he couldn’t absorb Yun Zhilan’s words. 

  As the leading disciple of Dongyi’s Sigu Jian, other than the two times he was invited by the Eldest Princess to Qing Kingdom, Yun Zhilan represented his teacher’s intentions at other times. He cooperated with the Master of Dongyi to maintain the peace in the city and surrounding small countries. As for politics, he was much cleverer than the Great Grandmaster, who the world labeled an idiot. Ever since the incident in Jingdou, he acutely sensed that a precious opportunity had appeared in front of Dongyi. 

  If they could grasp this opportunity, Dongyi’s greatest threat could be removed. They would never again have to be like a big tree on the fence, sacrificing between the nobles in Qing Kingdom. 

  Since the Eldest Princess didn’t die, this confirmed Yun Zhilan’s judgement. Very sincerely, he related it to his teacher. 

  The straw hut once again fell silent. Sigu Jian didn’t speak. He stayed silent. After a long time, that voice slowly said, “We can’t interfere right now. How do we know it’s not a trap?” 

  Yun Zhilan showed that he understood, but in his heart, he was laughing bitterly. 

  He didn’t understand. The great swordsman in the Sword Hut and the idiot Great Grandmaster had not just been scared by Qing Kingdom’s black heart. If Dongyi wanted to use Qing Kingdom’s internal fighting, they needed a good opportunity. As the most powerful country in the world, this kind of opportunity couldn’t be created by outsiders. They could wait until the people inside Qing Kingdom issued an invitation. 

  Regardless of whether it was Sigu Jian or Ku He, they were both giant trees outside of Qing Kingdom. These two trees could not lightly express their opinion or casually go where the wind blew. Once they leaned toward one direction, if they wanted to come back, it would not be an easy thing. 

  “Wait and watch. Let’s see just what trick the Qing people are playing.” 

  The noise rose once again in the straw hut and gave out orders to Yun Zhilan. He did not tell his disciple that some people in Qing Kingdom could deliver important messages through some channels. He was still weighing that information. 

  “Yes, teacher.” Yun Zhilan got ready to go to the manor of the Master of the city to discuss it when he suddenly remembered something. He turned and said with furrowed brows, “Qing Kingdom’s Eldest Princess has already lost power. Fan Xian should be safe there now. To prevent others from discovering little brother disciple’s identity, should we call him back?” 

  The last disciple of Sigu Jian, Thirteenth Wang with the green banner, had always been a mysterious figure. In these two years, many people, including Yun Zhilan, only knew that the teacher loved this young disciple very much. But, they did not have the opportunity to enter the hut to see what the young disciple looked like. It was not until after the fight between the Jiangnan Ming family and Zhaoshang money house that Yun Zhilan found out for the first time that his teacher had sent him to Fan Xian’s side. 

  Yun Zhilan did not understand and felt faintly uncomfortable. Within Qing Court, it had always been the young man named Fan who was Dongyi’s greatest enemy. During these years, he had ruined a number of Dongyi’s plans and killed many people from Dongyi. 

  Even Yun Zhilan himself had almost died by the Overwatch Council’s assassination attempt. The ace assassins from Dongyi had conducted guerrilla warfare against the Overwatch Council’s Sixth Bureau in Jiangnan for half a year. After finding out about his teacher’s change in attitude toward Fan Xian, Yun Zhilan accepted it but was conflicted in his heart. 

  “I know what you are thinking,” The voice in the straw hut said with ridicule. “You still think that it is wrong of me to help Fan Xian. Actually, you are wrong. It is not that Fan Xian needs our help. Rather, we need Fan Xian to accept our help.” 

  “It’s already over for Li Yunrui’s side, at least in the palace treasury. We need Fan Xian. The Ming family is also done for, but it did not affect Dongyi. What does this mean? This means that Fan Xian has already accepted our help.” 

  Yun Zhilan lowered his head slightly and said, “But, in this way, at least 30 percent of our channels are controlled by Fan Xian. This young noble from Qing Kingdom turns his face like turning pages in a book. If he decides to turn against us, he will not be easy to defeat.” 

  “Why would he decide that?” In the straw hut, Sigu Jian’s analysis stepped onto a wise and farsighted path. He could see everything clearly. “In the past, the two sides have only bickered slightly and did not involve their roots. The reason we clashed previously was because Li Yunrui was in between. Now that she has been imprisoned, there is no longer a clash of interests between me and Fan Xian. Why would he run the danger of everything turning against him and decide that?” 

  Yun Zhilan’s heart jumped. He understood his teacher’s words “between me and Fan Xian.” Did this not mean that the teacher already, to some extent, admitted on the surface that Fan Xian had the right to sit and talk with him as an equal? 

  “If we could work with Li Yunrui before, we can now work with Fan Xian,” the voice in the straw hut rang out again. “In Qing court, there are only these two who do not fear the Qing Emperor. Remember, Qing Kingdom doesn’t belong to Fan Xian. He has no reason to suffer losses for the sake of the interests of Qing Kingdom.” 

  Yun Zhilan thought for a bit but still didn’t fully understand it. If Fan Xian was present, he would raise a thumb toward the straw hut and praise that the idiot had a relatively high emotional intelligence. 

  “Before the incident, I had your younger brother disciple throw in his lot with Fan Xian. This is the so-called attitude.” The voice in the straw hut paused briefly. “The right amount of attitude has to be shown. Let your disciple brother do his work by himself.” 

  Yun Zhilan furrowed his brows closely and thought, That mysterious and pitiful younger brother disciple was thrown like this to Fan Xian to do hard labor. Was it just to express his and Dongyi’s attitude? 

  “Of course, I also had other reasons for having him go to Qing Kingdom.” 

  Yun Zhilan’s attention was piqued. He didn’t know what secret he was going to hear next. However, the words that finally entered his ears shocked him. After thinking for a while, he realized that this was indeed the case. There was no other matter more important than this. 

  “Back when the Northern Qi royal family was faced with armed rebellion, why was that woman in Northern Qi able to hold onto her son and sit firmly on the throne and turn the sorrowful cries into what Northern Qi is like today?” 

  “Because Ku He stands on her side.” 

  “Why have Dongyi and other countries caught between the two most powerful countries manage to continue on despite being pushed left and right, despite it being impossible to completely protect themselves, and despite paying out tributes and silver? The ambitions of the Qing Emperor and his people are boundless. Why have they yet to try and use their powerful military force to take over Dongyi? 

  Yun Zhilan had no need to think. With a trace of respect, he said, “Because Dongyi has you and the sword in your hand.” 

  \r \r \r 

  “Correct. Even though the title Great Grandmaster has little meaning, it is still pretty good for scaring people and using it as a weapon.” The voice in the straw hut suddenly sounded a bit lonely. “Have you thought about if Ku He dies and I die, what would this world look like?” 

  Yun Zhilan’s back felt cold. As for this scenario, everyone under heaven had thought about it, but no one dared to speak it out loud. They knew that given Qing Kingdom’s powerful military and hot blood at the root of the Qing people’s hearts, once the two Great Grandmasters, who didn’t belong to Qing Kingdom died, the entire world would sink to battle again. Putting aside Northern Qi, it would at least be difficult to protect Dongyi. Sincerely and resolutely, he said, “Teacher, you won’t die.” 

  “What nonsense! Who doesn’t die in this world?” 

  The voice in the straw hut became desolate again. “Even if I don’t die, people will always become old. Ku He is at an advanced age now, and I am also not young. Do you think that a withered old man who can’t even lift a sword anymore with his shaking hands is he still a Great Grandmaster?” 

  After Yun Zhilan was silent for a moment, he asked the question in his heart. “But, what does this have to do with young brother disciple entering Qing Kingdom?” 

  “Originally, there were no Great Grandmasters in the world,” the Great Grandmaster in the straw hut said coldly. “About 30 or so years ago, a few of us strange creatures came out. There were none before, and who knows if there will be in the future. Presently, of all the aces in the younger generation in the world, there are few people who have the chance to reach this realm.” 

  Yun Zhilan’s heart jumped. He watched the calm and closed door. 

  The voice inside laughed. “It’s a great pity, you are too old. It will be very unlikely. Many people have climbed out of my sword pit in Dongyi. It has perhaps produced the most ninth-level aces in the world. If we are talking about who has the chance to become the strange creature of a new generation, perhaps there is only your younger brother disciple alone.” 

  Yun Zhilan opened his mouth slightly. In Zhaoshang money house in Suzhou, he had once faced off with Thirteenth Wang. At the time, when he learned that his younger brother disciple had already entered the ninth-level at such a young age, he was shocked. He felt that his young brother disciple’s realm was far from being as integrated as his. Why was it that from the teacher’s perspective, he was the person most likely to enter the realm of a Great Grandmaster? 

  “This is a matter of one’s nature.” Sigu Jian’s voice had finally changed and become confident and tranquil. “There are some things to be desired, and some things that should not be cared about. You can’t do it. Neither can the one called Lang Tiao under Ku He’s tutelage, who plays with knives. During these years, presumably Ku He has been like me, troubled with the question mentioned earlier. Once we become old and die, what will happen to the land we leave behind? So, we have to resolve this question before we die.” 

  “I chose your younger brother disciple. Ku He has chosen Haitang.” 

  “What a coincidence. They are both final disciples.” 

  “What is even more coincidental is that, Ku He had sent Haitang to Fan Xian’s side……” Sigu Jian’s voice carried a glimmer of ridicule. “Even if he didn’t send her, he must at least be happy that something happened between her and Fan Xian. Since he can send someone, I can also send someone. However, Haitang is a girl, so she has a great advantage.” 

  Yun Zhilan was dumbstruck and speechless. He had no idea how the plan of raising a Great Grandmaster brought the subject back to Fan Xian. He didn’t understand why Ku He and his teacher, these two Great Grandmasters, one after another sent their last disciples to Fan Xian’s side. 

  “Are there truly only four strange old creatures in the world?” Sigu Jian gently asked rhetorically. “Yes, perhaps there are only four strange old creatures. The other strange creature seems not to age. You should know of him, that blind man……” 

  Yun Zhilan’s heart became cold. He knew that his teacher was speaking of the mysterious figure that had secretly passed through Dongyi many years ago. 

  “However, you do not know that Fan Xian is that blind man’s disciple.” The person in the straw hut laughed. “Is this not a very amusing matter? It is right that the last disciples of the strange old creatures should gather together to fight and to talk, It will help them progress a great deal. This is what is called ‘practice.’ Of course, presumably, Ku He thought the same as me. To have one’s disciple at Fan Xian’s side is also to dip into his good fortune.” 

  “Fortune?” Yun Zhilan stared at the tightly closed door. 

  “What conditions are needed to be a strange old creature? Cleverness, wisdom, nature, and hard work. But, the most important is still good fortune.” Sigu Jian sighed., “There are countless people who practice the martial arts. In the end, only a few people succeed. Is this because heaven is not fair or something else? It is actually only because our luck is better than some other people’s.” 

  In the end, he said, “The reality is that 30 years ago proved that in order to become a Great Grandmaster, this kind of fortune is needed. So, one must meet the blind man, but no one knows where the blind man is. Since it is so, then one can only go meet the blind man’s last disciple.” 

  Yun Zhilan was confused by these mysterious words. A moment later, he asked, “Younger brother disciple, Haitang, and Fan Xian…… Teacher, of these three people, who do you think is the most likely to succeed?” 

  Among these three young aces, other than Thirteenth Wang, who had no reputation, Haitang and Fan Xian stood, without question, at the peak of the year group. They had both already entered the realm of the ninth-level at a young age and had very good teachers. Furthermore, at different times, people had thought they were Tianmai Beings. 

  When people discussed who would be the next Great Grandmaster, they would think of Fan Xian and Haitang Duoduo. 

  “Haitang.” Sigu Jian’s judgement came simply. “She is very good, thus, she is very quick.” 

  “What about younger brother disciple?” 

  “Also possible. That child’s nature is bright and thorough. He is not below Haitang.” 

  “And Fan Xian?’ 

  It was silent inside the straw hut for a moment. “Fan Xian is the least likely.” 

  “Why?” Although he very much detested Fan Xian, Yun Zhilan still unconsciously raised an opposing opinion. “Although his realm sways within the ninth-level. He is very unstable and not as good as Haitang Duoduo. His progress speed could truly be said to be inhuman, particularly when it comes to his nature. According to what I have seen, it is rare to see such unswerving determination among the young people in this world. As for hard working, although he was born into power, he has practiced endlessly since his youth and is very hard working.” 

  “He meets all the conditions, but Fan Xian is missing the most important part.” Sigu Jian made his judgement. “He doesn’t have heart. This young man has no heart toward this world. Since he has no heart, he has no nature to speak of. If he wants to enter the heavenly realm, he has to give up everything. Do you think he could?” 

  Fan Xian was a common man, so, naturally, he could not. 

  “Although the blind man is an incredible person and can bring fortune to his opponents, his own fortune is not very good. Furthermore, it is impossible that he is a good teacher.” 

  Sigu Jian said. “I miss the blind man a great deal. It is a great regret that after he disappeared for a dozen years, he went looking for Ku He after he came out. Yes, it’s a great regret.” 

  Yun Zhilan heard the sound of a sword suddenly being drawn inside the hut. 

  Among the Great Grandmasters, Ye Liuyun was an unfettered person who never took disciples, while Sigu Jian took on many disciples. If the disciples that did not follow him all the time were included, there were at least 50. Thus, the disciples were of all different levels. Although there were ninth-level aces like Yun Zhilan and mysterious youths like Thirteenth Wang, there were also those who were not as successful. As for the Northern Qi Imperial Advisor Ku He, he didn’t accept many disciples. But, each was an ace like the Northern Qi Emperor’s martial arts teacher, the ninth-level ace Lang Tiao, or the one who wore flowery clothing and was rumored by the people to be a Tianmai Being, Haitang Duoduo. 

  The blind man Wu Zhu also had disciples. However, his first and last disciple was the same person, Fan Xian. 

  What Sigu Jian said wasn’t wrong. The Great Grandmasters were also people. They also had to think about what comes after them. Thus, these strange creatures gave a great deal of attention to their last disciples. Of course, this was done secretly. They would not allow this kind of pressure to interfere with their disciples’ cultivations. 

  Haitang, Fan Xian, and Thirteenth Wang had, up to now, never appeared at the same place at the same time. If such a day arrived, it would certainly be an interesting sight. 

  Sigu Jian got one thing wrong, or perhaps involuntarily forgot one thing. The Northern Qi Imperial Advisor Ku He once again took in disciples last year. Taking advantage of the auspicious clouds, he had accepted two female disciples. One had entered a Palace as a royal concubine and another was picking medicinal herbs in the mountains. This meant that Haitang was not the last disciple of Tianyi Dao. Fan Ruoruo was.

  Chapter 504: The Young Lady Of The Fan Manor In The Forest And Letters

  Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  Spring in Northern Qi arrived a bit late but still came. Not far outside of the capital city of Northern Qi, Shangjing, around the desolated topaz-like Xi Mountain and a few more hours of walking to the north, one would arrive amidst green and silent mountains. This mountain was not very big, but the roots of the trees on the mountain were dense and thick. The made it appear unusually primitive and silent. Layers of light and dark green colors lay on top of each other. It was very beautiful. 

  Like the place the Sword Hut had in the hearts of the world’s swordsmen, the mountain was, in the eyes of Northern Qi people and practitioners of Asceticism, also a lofty scared place that was not to be violated. 

  Walking into the quiet mountains by the craggy mountain paths, one could faintly see the place where tens and thousands of pines gathered together. 

  The shapes of the pine needles and roundness of the trees were all different. Some of the pine needles were soft like hanging threads of hair. Some were vigorous, hard and piercing. Others were like a narrow round tube and particularly interesting. At this moment, it was dawn. The early morning dew covered the vegetation on the mountain. Most of the dew drops fell to the floor after moistening the pine needles. Only the pine trees with dense needles would store drops of crystal dew among their branches and leaves. When it reflected the morning light, it was as beautiful as a gem. 

  If one’s eyes followed these dew drops into the mountain, one would see the structures of Tianyi Dao’s school doors. These buildings continued the traditional styles of the Wei Kingdom and Northern Qi, with green and black as the main colors. The black was severe, while the green brought them closer to nature. Mixed together, they stood between heaven and earth. Their might was hidden within their clear beauty. 

  Although the school of Tianyi Dao did not accept students as broadly as the Sword Hut, with Grandmaster Ku He here for seclusion, countless sages came forward to worship him. Of those that came, only one stayed. Even though the Imperial Advisor took very few disciples, grown disciples such as Lang Tiao had to take on disciples. After a dozen years, the people in the school gradually increased. Presently, there were over a hundred people who had spent long years in the mountain in seclusion and learning. 

  In the heart of these disciples, they wished to stay in the mountain in recluse for many years. They would then go out into the world to rectify and help the courts, just like the immortal in their hearts. 

  Back then, the Northern Qi Sage Girl Haitang Duoduo secluded herself for countless years beneath these pines. Before Haitang Duoduo left the school, she grew vegetables in a garden on the outer bounds of the green-and-black buildings. Other than eating the vegetables she grew, she sent the rest to the study hall. Even up until today, many disciples considered it an honor to have eaten food that had been personally planted by Haitang. 

  During this year, most of Haitang’s time had been spent in the Jiangnan in the distant Qing Kingdom along with the famous Sir Fan junior. This truth made many Northern Qi hearts feel uneasy, particularly the Tianyi Dao students in the mountains. Other than the jealousy and anger they wore on their faces, these students were also unhappy that it was difficult to see the flower-clothed girl. In the past, as long as they could see her figure, everyone’s heart would be set immediately at ease. 

  Not long after Haitang left, another girl moved into that garden. At the same time, she changed the vegetables in the garden into medicinal herbs. 

  This girl’s identity was not the average. She was the new last disciple that Ku He accepted. She took over Haitang’s position. She moved into Haitang’s garden and managed Haitang’s vegetables. She was Fan Xian’s sister. 

  The disciples in seclusion were shocked and did not understand why their teacher would go to the faraway South Kingdom to take on a female disciple. Furthermore, they didn’t understand why he chose Fan Xian’s sister, of all people, to be his disciple. Who was Fan Xian? He was one of the South Kingdom’s most outstanding young nobles. 

  However, the matter had already happened. The disciples on the mountain weren’t able to change anything, so they could only learn to accept it. After a long time, they finally adjusted to the existence of the young lady from the Fan family. 

  The South Kingdom and Northern Qi were old enemies. Although the two countries had existed in a state of friendship never seen before, the emotions rooted deeply in people’s hearts were difficult to remove. Thus, Fan Ruoruo’s initial days in the mountain were not smooth. Regardless of where she was, all that welcomed her were hostile gazes and secret discussions behind her back. 

  Fortunately, she did not care about this at all. Additionally, her personality had always been cold and indifferent, so she never noticed other people’s attitudes. Thus, months passed and the disciples of Tianyi Dao found this girl had an even more indifferent attitude than them. Inevitably, they found it a little boring. 

  Fan Ruoruo was very happy with her learning lifestyle in Northern Qi. There were much more smiles on her face than when she was in Jingdou. However, the Northern Qi people didn’t know this. After all, they didn’t know that the young lady of the Fan family had long had the nickname of “talented ice lady” in Jingdou. 

  Fan Ruoruo’s joy came from her relaxed environment and intense life. Imperial Advisor Ku He only taught her some rudimentary things about the Heart of Tianyi Dao and given her a few books. He did not mind her much. At other times, she followed her second brother disciple in learning the medical arts. This was one of the reasons she had come to Northern Qi. During the day, she would use the medical knowledge she learned to treat some of the poor people at the foot of the mountain. Her days were rich and full. 

  The second brother disciple was Mu Peng. Ku He had given all his disciples very amusing names. Lang Tiao, Haitang, Mu Peng, and Bai Shen were all names of plants. People were like their names. Lang Tiao was just like his name. His entire body was filled with killing intention and sharpness. Haitang was stood gently and firmly through the storm. Mu Peng was a traditional Chinese herb. One could think and know what Ruoruo’s 40-year-old second brother disciple specialized in. ……

  Fan Ruoruo raised the leaf and collected the dew on the pine leaves at the side of the courtyard. She tilted her head slightly and poured the water into a bottle. She was curious as to why the prescription would need to use dew. 

  She held the bottle and left through the courtyard door. She followed the stone steps up the mountain and got ready to carry out her daily learning. All along the way, she saw some young Tianyi Dao disciples. When these disciples saw the girl carrying the bottle, they all stood to the side and bowed in greeting. 

  For one, it was because, no matter what, she was these people’s disciple aunt. Second, after a few months, the disciples of Tianyi Dao knew that although her nature was cold, her heart was truly kind and she made no pretenses. Compared to Fan Xian, who had a warm face but treacherous heart, she was much better. Furthermore, for months without end, the young lady of the Fan manor went down to the foot of the mountain despite the hard work to treat the common people. This made her young disciples deeply respect her virtue. 

  Fan Ruoruo slightly nodded her head to return the greeting without any expression on her face. 

  When she finished climbing the many stone steps, she stood on the top of the mountain. She stopped and gazed down at the verdant and lush green woods. Suddenly, she stretched and gave a loud cry. Two spots of color rose on her cheeks from the exercise. She felt slightly excited. 

  Ever since her youth, she did not have sufficient natural nutrition. Although her brother had treated her for a while, there was no turn for the better at the root of the problem. While she was in Jingdou, her face was mostly deathly pale. Now, seeing the healthy red glow on her face, one could see that her body was much better after living in Northern Qi for over a year. 

  One’s health depended on one’s heart. The most important thing was that her mood was much more relaxed. 

  “There is no need to participate in boring poetry conferences. I don’t need to go to the various manors to chat with the women. I don’t need to hide behind a screen to look at men like those sisters. I don’t have to do women’s crafts every day……” 

  Fan Ruoruo stared in a daze at the mountain below the stone steps and a happy smile rose to her face. “This is the kind of life I want. Thank you, brother.” ……

  Other than practicing the way of the Heart of Tianyi Dao, they also learned about scriptures and justice. Basically, they used the curriculum Zhuang Mohan had personally created. Fan Ruoruo finished an hour of practice and came to Mu Peng’s room. She greeted him respectfully and then asked his advice on a few medical questions she was having problems with. 

  Mu Peng said a few things. He suddenly saw the quiet joy in the girl’s eyes and said with a slight smile, “Sir Fan junior wrote again?” 

  Fan Ruoruo smiled and nodded her head. “Although it hasn’t arrived yet, it should be here in a few days. 

  Mu Peng scratched his slightly disheveled hair and smiled. “Since you are so happy, presumably you two have a good relationship. Since it is so, why didn’t you stay in South Kingdom? Although Northern Qi is good, it is a foreign country after all.” 

  Although Mu Peng’s status could not be compared to that old poison master in the Overwatch Council, no matter whether it was a medicinal practitioner or a major figure in poisons, it seemed that their hair was also messy and daily lives chaotic. Naturally, such a thing as looking nice was not something they noticed. 

  Fan Ruoruo smiled slightly and replied, “It doesn’t matter where we are. Brother once said, in one’s life, sacrifices will always have to be made to achieve one’s goal.” 

  Mu Peng asked with astonishment, “Oh? Then what is your goal?” 

  “Saving people,” Fan Ruoruo said calmly. 

  \r \r \r 

  “It’s that simple?” 

  “Yes.” 

  “Hmm……” Mu Peng hummed for a moment., “Medical practitioners have the heart of a parent. However, before you came to Northern Qi, you only listened for a while at the Imperial Academy of Medicine in the Southern court. How come you have such a great wish?” 

  “Brother disciple, it is not because it is a wish. Rather, it is what one wants.” Fan Ruoruo didn’t think deeper. “Brother once said, how should life be lived? First, one should make one’s heart happy…… Treating and saving people makes me happy, so I chose this.” 

  How should life be lived? Mu Peng furrowed his brows slightly and sighed. He didn’t speak anymore, but he was wondering just what kind of person Fan Xian was to be able to make Haitang lose her head. 

  The day had not yet entered dusk. Fan Ruoruo held the empty bottle and walked down the stone steps. She returned to her little courtyard and carefully tidied up the medicinal supplies in the garden. Then, she returned to the quiet room and began to prepare paper and brush. The decorations in the room had not been changed because she knew that, after all, this was Haitang’s old residence. For Northern Qi people, it had a different meaning. 

  A letter lay silently on the table. A glimmer of joy flashed through Fan Ruoruo’s eyes as she quickly opened up the letter and looked carefully at the familiar thin writing. While she read the letter, her mood changed endlessly. At times she was nervous. Other times she was happy. And, still other times at she had a faint sorrow. 

  The letter had come from Fan Xian. He had used a great deal of power to send his sister to Northern Qi’s Tianyi Dao school. The brother and sister were separated by a great distance. It was not easy getting messages to each other. Each truly missed the other. After Ruoruo decided to stay, Fan Xian resumed sending a letter each month. 

  As a child, Ruoruo had returned to Jingdou from Danzhou from a very young age. Ever since Ruoruo could read and write, Fan Xian began writing to her. Using Qing Kingdom’s developed mail route, the their letters moved between Jingdou and Danzhou through wind and rain. One letter a month without fail arrived until the fourth year of the Qing calendar, when Fan Xian entered Jingdou. 

  Who knew how many years they had been writing to each other? Who knew how much of the brother and sister’s feelings were held in these letters? 

  The letters were about gossip, trivial matters, described their respective locations and people around them, and small domestic matters. All in all, their topics were numerous. Through these letters, Fan Xian became one of his sister’s teachers and taught her about thinking. Ever since her youth, Ruoruo had been influenced by the contents of the letters. Her state of mind was different from most of the women…… No, different from most of the people in this world. 

  She was still filial toward her parents, loved her brothers, and got on very well with the other women in the boudoir. However, there were many things different in how she thought. She had a relatively individual personality and a yearning for freedom. She never fit into any of the pigeon holes in this world, but she also refused to leave the life of this world. 

  It was because of this conflict that made her a self-restrained, polite, and cold-as-ice woman while she was in Jingdou. It was only later in front of Fan Xian that she dared to reveal her true heart. Thus, she went to a distant foreign country. The quiet and difficult life that many noble girls considered unusually terrifying pleased her and made her very happy. 

  The beginning of all of this were letters between her and Fan Xian. ……

  Fan Ruoruo stared at the letter in a daze and let out a sigh after a long time. Her eyes were slightly wet. The fights in Qing court were very far away from her. She trusted in her father’s and brother’s abilities. Thus, she was not overly concerned about the dangers written in the letters. However, this time, Fan Xian mentioned Hongcheng. 

  Hongcheng…… 

  Fan Ruoruo wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes. The face of the gentle heir rose in her mind. He was going to war in the West. Would he get hurt? Would he come back? 

  King Jing’s manor and the Fan manor were old friends. Ruoruo had also grown up with Li Hongcheng. She knew that although the other party had lofty aspirations, he was a rarely seen good person in terms of nature. Throwing aside the romantic anecdotes on the pleasure boats, he was truly infatuated with her. This time, Hongcheng personally asked to leave the capital to leave behind the fight between the princes in Jingdou. She knew that it was also a kind of self-exile after she had hurt him. 

  It was impossible for Fan Ruoruo to accept Hongcheng. Her clever heart, which had been influenced by Fan Xian, was now, even more than Fan Xian himself, unable to accept the attitude the world had toward men and women. 

  Was this not an absurd and amusing thing? 

  Even if there were not those romantic accounts on the pleasure boats, even if Hongcheng was a perfect person, Fan Ruoruo would still not be able to accept living her entire life with that man, just like a story Fan Xian had once written in a letter. 

  That was all very good, but…… I just don’t like it. ……

  “What story has he written now to make you cry?” A lazy and clear voice came from the doorway of the room. “That brother of yours is indeed very vile in some respects.” 

  Fan Ruoruo raised her head to see Haitang standing in the doorway wearing a thin, flowered outfit. She quickly stood up and said, “So, it was sister disciple who brought the letter over. I had thought it was someone Sir Wang sent.” 

  Haitang’s hands were stuffed in her clothes. She walked in with dragging feet. “Wang Qinian won’t be coming back, didn’t Fan Xian say? The person in the capital now is Deng Zi Yue. You should have met him before.” 

  Fan Ruoruo nodded. 

  Haitang smiled slightly and said, “I am truly very curious about the contents of this letter since it could make the usually calm you cry.” 

  Fan Ruoruo’s fingers squeezed the letter. She lowered her head. “Sister disciple, don’t tease me. Brother is just as chatty as he always was.” 

  Haitang sighed and said, “I have experienced that deeply.” 

  Fan Ruoruo tilted her head slightly and asked with confusion, “Were you not in the capital? Why have you returned to the mountain?” 

  Haitang had not returned just to help Fan Xian deliver a letter to his sister. She gazed at Fan Ruoruo and said, “Teacher received a letter from second brother disciple and believes you can leave the mountain. I am here to accompany you to the capital.” 

  “Go to the capital?” Fan Ruoruo asked with uncertainty. “But, there is still much I haven’t learned.” 

  “Someone wants to see you, so they asked me to bring you over,” Haitang said. “If you like life on the mountain, then you can come back when the time comes.” 

  “Do you not also like life in the mountain?” Fan Ruoruo smiled and asked. “I haven’t dared to change this room. I’ve kept it like this. When we come back, we can live together.” 

  Hearing these words, Haitang sank into silence. After a long time, she sighed and said helplessly, “Even if I wanted to come back, it’s not a matter of a year or two.” 

  Fan Ruoruo knew that Haitang had been doing something in secret for a long time with Fan Xian. At first, with Fan Xian acting as a bridge in the middle, she and Haitang’s relationship had always been very good and they spoke casually. However, every time she thought about her sister-in-law Lin Wan’er far away in Qing Kingdom, Ruoruo always purposely maintained some distance between herself and Haitang. Perhaps they were just some womanly worries. 

  She suddenly thought of the words from earlier and asked curiously, “In the capital, who wants to see me?” 

  “His Majesty.” A glimmer of a smile rose to the corners of Haitang’s lips. She thought to herself that the Emperor’s thoughts were just as difficult to fathom as Fan Xian’s. 

  Inside the capital, which was not far from the mountain where the Tianyi Dao school was established, in that complicated, unique, and beautiful black-and-green Royal Palace, the Northern Qi Emperor was lying on a low couch. His large feet were covered with socks and with hot air passing through. However, his body was slanted in the arms of a beautiful woman. 

  The rather young Emperor sighed mournfully and asked the beautiful woman behind him, “Lili, I still don’t understand. Tell me, what exactly did we do last summer?”