Within the secluded annex upon Mount Xia, Jiang Wang had withdrawn entirely, barring all outside contact, even dismissing his servants.

After ushering Yu Li Yang to a seat in the courtyard, he personally retrieved four jars of wine. After a moment’s thought, he returned for two more.

A tree of Fragrant Snow Osmanthus, a treasure beyond price, was transplanted here, standing proudly in the courtyard, facing the wind. Of course, at this moment, there was no scent of osmanthus blossoms. The saying “Floating Mountain old, Fragrant Snow wither” referred to the two most renowned osmanthus varieties in the Eastern Domain. Beyond their captivating beauty, one was said to calm the spirit, the other to gladden the heart.

A low, simple bluestone table stood beneath the osmanthus, flanked by two meditation cushions, seemingly carved from jade.

Jiang Wang then brought out some Iron Pulp fruits and a selection of pastries before kneeling down opposite Yu Li Yang.

From the start, Yu Li Yang had remained seated quietly beneath the Fragrant Snow Osmanthus, like a figure in a meticulously painted scene, observing Jiang Wang’s bustling movements.

Only now did he speak, “Never did I imagine the Martial Peace Marquis’s courtyard to be this tranquil.”

This was their first encounter since the Grand Ancestral Temple ritual. In truth, before that solemn occasion, they had no contact. Yu Li Yang stood too high; at that time, Jiang Wang was far from having the standing to share wine with him.

“Besides cultivation, I have no other affairs,” Jiang Wang replied warmly. “I am accustomed to solitude and have no need for company.”

Six jars of Deer Cry wine were lined up neatly beside the table, resembling six white deer facing the Snow Osmanthus. Setting aside their exquisite taste, even the jars themselves were extraordinary. Their entire bodies were of jade-like hue. If tapped lightly three times with a bent finger, the jade color would slowly recede, the bottle becoming transparent, revealing the amber, pulp-like liquid within. After three breaths, the jade color would return. This was the so-called “White Deer Hide Forest.”

The overall shape of the wine jar was that of a white deer kneeling with four hooves on the ground. The deer horns on either side were particularly intricate; twisting one side unlocked the seal. The deer’s lips served as the mouth of the jar, while the horns were two wine cups, known as “Deer Horn Zuns.” This wine, it was said, must be paired with these zuns to fully appreciate its lingering flavor.

Jiang Wang personally detached two Deer Horn Zuns, filled them with wine, and offered a simple gesture of invitation, speaking no further words.

Yu Li Yang took up a zun, lightly sniffed it to savor its fragrance, then took a delicate sip to taste its mellow depth, and finally drank it down. A thread of wine qi coursed from his internal organs to his Heavenly Spirit. Toying with the Deer Horn Zun, a hint of intoxication graced his face. He remarked casually, “Of Eastern Country wines, none are drunk in Deer Frost. Of Deer Frost wines, the most sought after is ‘Seek Forest.’ And the absolute peak of ‘Seek Forest’ is called ‘Deer Cry.’ This wine is produced less than twenty jars annually, impossible to obtain lightly. That the Martial Peace Marquis possesses such a stock… one can see the depth of his network.”

“In truth, I myself find it difficult to acquire,” Jiang Wang said, patting the two jars closest to his hand. “These two jars were won in a wager with General Yan Po of Yi Country.” Of course, he did not elaborate on what the wager entailed. He then patted the two jars in front of him. “These two jars were a gift from my good friend, Yan Fu.”

The gifts bestowed upon the Marquis by the eldest young master of the Yan clan filled ten carts; two jars of Deer Cry wine were indeed but a trifle.

He paused, then pointed to the remaining two jars. “These two jars… were brought by Yan Fu for a small gathering here a few days ago. Two jars of Deer Cry remained unopened at the time, so I simply brought them all out.”

Thus, what was referred to as “stock” was almost entirely sourced from Yan Fu, causing him some slight embarrassment. He ceased speaking and again refilled Yu Li Yang’s wine.

To be precise, it wasn’t just the wine; everything on this table was a gift from others. The Iron Pulp fruits were, of course, sent by Lian Que, and the pastries were all brought by friends. Among them were even mooncakes personally made by the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, Jiang Wu Hua. Of course, even this secluded annex on Mount Xia originally belonged to Chong Xuan Sheng…

Hearing “Yan Fu” mentioned repeatedly, Yu Li Yang paused, naturally recalling the hospitality he had received in Bei County these past few days. He couldn’t help but sigh, “The Yan clan indeed possesses a fine family tradition…”

Marquis Jiang felt a deep resonance with this sentiment.

Their Deer Horn Zuns touched, and they drank a cup together.

The two conversed casually while drinking, a truly comfortable spring-like atmosphere settling upon them. Clouds drifted across the clear sky, wind swept through the empty courtyard, and the people within were slightly tipsy. Several rounds passed in this manner.

Yu Li Yang looked at Jiang Wang and suddenly asked, “You haven’t asked why I visited the Earl of An Le today?”

Jiang Wang had no particular agenda in inviting Yu Li Yang for wine. It simply happened to be a pleasant day, he was in the mood for wine, and he found the man’s demeanor refined, so he wished to share a drink. That was all. It was truly rare for him to have such naturally relaxed time. In recent years, he had been driven by palpable and invisible pressures almost every moment, with no leisure to spare.

At this moment, he simply poured wine and smiled, saying, “What kind of person is High Minister Yu! If you wish to see someone, you see them. What need is there for a reason?”

Yu Li Yang laughed, raised his zun, and said, “We should drink to that!”

Jiang Wang naturally joined him.

After finishing this zun, Yu Li Yang chuckled lightly, “The Earl of An Le is a clever man; he knows that meeting me now is neither proper nor safe.”

“Yet he is only a man of petty cleverness. He doesn’t know that in the eyes of the Qi Emperor, he fundamentally does not exist. The Emperor cares not what he does. Whether he is genuinely happy and has forgotten his troubles, or feigning ignorance to conceal his abilities, it is fundamentally harmless.”

“You are right… I simply had a sudden desire to see him today.”

“I wanted to know what he would say upon seeing me.”

“I wanted to ask him if he had ever felt guilt.”

“I wanted to see what he is like today, and how different he is from the person I saw thirty-three years ago…”

Yu Li Yang spoke at length, then abruptly stopped, perhaps feeling that there was nothing left to say. Finally, he let out a soft “heh.”

“Indeed, even Yan Dao finds it hard to be free.”

Jiang Wang listened quietly, offering no response.

But Yu Li Yang then asked, “Shang Yan Hu rashly activated the Chang Luo Absolute Array, bringing down the disaster water and plunging the world into chaos. Whose command did he receive? I believe the Martial Peace Marquis knows?”

Jiang Wang replied, “At that time, I did indeed see the Marquis of Bei Xiang produce a decree from the Xia Court’s Imperial Seal.”

“It was the command of the Earl of An Le,” Yu Li Yang stated. “Shang Yan Hu, like Xi Meng Fu, is a staunch supporter of the Emperor. Without the Earl of An Le personally speaking, he would not have done such a thing.”

The Deer Cry wine flowed in their blood, the wine’s effect still lingering. Jiang Wang softly said, “So that is how it was.”

From this perspective, that Si Cheng could still be alive today, could still be granted the title of Earl of An Le, and enjoy song and dance, truly showed how much face the Qi Emperor gave Yu Li Yang. And for those who had already perished, in preserving Si Cheng, in reversing fate by triggering the disaster water, and finally shifting the blame to the King of Wu, Si Jiao, instead of the Xia Empress Dowager, one had to consider that it was related to Yu Li Yang’s will.

“The Earl of An Le desired to activate the Chang Luo Absolute Array, and the King of Wu permitted it. The Earl of An Le wished to shift responsibility to Xi Meng Fu, and the King of Wu permitted it. The Earl of An Le even wished to shift responsibility to the Empress Dowager, and the King of Wu also permitted it… but I could no longer agree. Having proven the Dao and served the country for sixteen years, this was the only matter on which I disagreed with the King of Wu.”

Yu Li Yang looked at Jiang Wang and said, “This is also the reason I sit here today, drinking wine with you.”

Jiang Wang didn’t know what to say, so he poured wine.

For a moment, Yu Li Yang seemed lost in thought, his gaze distant and empty, like affectionate ripples in water. He sipped the wine gently, his posture exceptionally graceful.

He smiled and asked, “A person who has dedicated their entire life to their country, even turning their life into fuel. After such a person dies, should they not be left undisturbed? Should they not find peace?”

“They should receive respect,” Jiang Wang said.

“Every day within the Shen Wu era, she worried about the future of the country. For thirty-three years, she had not a single day of leisure. The later Xia Country was built upon ruins; when it returned to ruins, she could not live on either,” Yu Li Yang said slowly. “The Empress Dowager was like this, and Xi Meng Fu was also like this.”

The Xia Empress Dowager burned in fierce flames, Xi Meng Fu perished amidst a myriad of soldiers – both were reflections of the collapse of that thousand-year empire. Such illusions were extinguished.

“So-called heroes.” Jiang Wang raised his Deer Horn Zun, and lightly poured it in front of the Fragrant Snow Osmanthus. “I should offer a remote toast.”

The amber-like fine liquid soaked into the soil, brimming with an enduring fragrance.

Yu Li Yang’s eyes were complex. “Even Jiang Martial Peace, who was sealed marquis by war, is willing to pay them respect. I believe that if they had consciousness in the netherworld, they would be gratified.”

Jiang Wang said sincerely, “My military achievements were due to divine providence. Their deeds, however, will forever remain in the hearts of the people.”

“I spoke wrongly. If they had consciousness in the netherworld…” Yu Li Yang leaned forward, and said softly, “They would certainly find a way to crawl up and kill you.”

This sentence was truly somewhat chilling, especially coming from the mouth of a Yan Dao True Monarch. Especially… when you couldn’t be certain if he was joking or not.

But Jiang Wang simply filled a zun with wine and said, “I would certainly flee with the wind.”

Yu Li Yang sat back, speaking very calmly, “Loneliness in prosperity is harder to endure than in adversity. To be able to hide away and cultivate during such a heated time, the Martial Peace Marquis is not your end… you have great prospects in the future. If the Xia Country were still here, I would certainly not allow you to live.”

“Consider that a compliment!” Jiang Wang smiled wryly, then said, “In truth, being sealed marquis and becoming prime minister were never things I contemplated. High Minister Yu speaks of the future, but I do not know what the future holds. I merely try to do the good things I can, walking forward one step at a time.”

“Oh? Where is the Martial Peace Marquis’s front?” Yu Li Yang asked.

“A very distant place.” Jiang Wang paused, then said, “Perhaps it is no longer that far.”

Yu Li Yang then ceased asking. He shifted topics, saying, “You killed Yi Sheng Feng, and Tian An Ping forced back Ren Qiu Li. These individuals are all from the Southern Dipper Hall… perhaps you know if the Everlasting Lord also made a move?”

Jiang Wang smiled bitterly, “That is not a level I can involve myself in.”

“Do you know who blocked the Everlasting Lord?” Yu Li Yang asked again.

Jiang Wang shook his head.

Yu Li Yang said slowly, “The Blood River True Monarch.”

Jiang Wang suddenly lifted his head. The Blood River Sect was a contemporary great sect, having been responsible for suppressing disaster water for many years. It held a quite special significance. The appearance of the Blood River True Monarch on the Qi-Xia battlefield meant that Cao Guan had long been prepared for the Chang Luo Absolute Array!

This meant that Jiang Wang’s merit in suppressing the disaster water should actually be discounted. With or without him, the disaster water was impossible to cause problems. If this matter were announced, Jiang Wang’s military merit could still earn him a marquisate, but he would definitely not have a fief of three thousand households. Yet the Qi Emperor completely disregarded this, bestowing the sealing reward without any discount whatsoever. The Emperor’s grace was truly extraordinary!

Then, why? Why was the matter of the Blood River True Monarch blocking the Southern Dipper Hall’s Everlasting Lord completely absent from military intelligence? And why did Yu Li Yang speak of this matter? Furthermore, why was it the Blood River True Monarch?

Jiang Wang remembered that the Blood River True Monarch had previously traveled with the Shen Du True Monarch Wei Xun, joining forces with three other strong individuals to enter the Vast Sea, chop off Wan Tong’s dragon horn, and return. Since this person had a private friendship with Wei Xun and also intervened on the Qi-Xia battlefield to help Qi Country block the Everlasting Lord, it felt somewhat strange.

“Why him?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Perhaps you should go ask Cao Guan, because I am not clear either,” Yu Li Yang said indifferently. “I am merely telling you what you should know, so that you, this proud son of Great Qi, may be more devoted to the country and earn a favor from the Qi Emperor.”

Jiang Wang vaguely felt that within this matter, an extremely large secret was hidden. All secrets were inevitably tied to something undesirable, and often something his small body could not bear. Heaven pity him, he simply wanted to have a drink today!

He peeled an Iron Pulp fruit and ate it. Then he simply said, “If I should know, Commander Cao will tell me.”

“The Chang Luo Absolute Array thirty-three years ago, perhaps it was related to the Blood River True Monarch…” Yu Li Yang turned his head and looked at the still green Fragrant Snow Osmanthus beside the stone table, his tone casual. “When you know the inside story, feel free to tell me. I am also very curious.”

Without waiting for Jiang Wang’s response, he asked again, “When it blooms, what is it like here?”

“Like floating snow,” Jiang Wang said.

Yu Li Yang then sighed, “Today is a good meeting; it should be accompanied by osmanthus flowers!”

He lightly waved his robe sleeve. And beheld the full tree of green, suddenly transformed into the color of snow. Pure white petals fluttered and fell, dancing like myriad points of light. For a moment, it was truly impossible to discern if they were snowflakes or osmanthus flowers. A single osmanthus petal fell into a Deer Horn Zun… the amber wine liquid held the first snow.

Yu Li Yang raised his wine zun, offering a slight gesture. Jiang Wang raised his cup and drank with him.

What a True Monarch! With a wave of his hand, the seasons shifted, and with lips red and teeth white, youth seemed to return. At this moment, Yu Li Yang wore a rare, innocent smile, as if afraid of waking someone from a dream. He lightly asked, “How is it?”

“It is indeed beautiful, and the fragrance is also extremely fragrant,” Jiang Wang said honestly. “But for some reason, I always feel it’s not quite appropriate.”

Yu Li Yang was likely intoxicated, looking up at the falling, snow-like osmanthus flowers. He said casually, “I often wonder if there is some greater power in the world that can change these things?”

He withdrew his gaze and said to Jiang Wang, “Timing is very important for people.”

With a flick of his large sleeve, he stood up gracefully and walked towards the outside of the courtyard. He simply said, “The wine is very good. Farewell!”

Silence reigned in the courtyard for a long time.

Great Qi’s Martial Peace Marquis sat quietly amidst the flying snow. Snow was a pure image. The color of snow was sometimes also a kind of utterly thorough sorrow.

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, Jiang Wang, with a white cloth band around his arm, stood with Chong Xuan Sheng. Behind them were seven hundred and sixty-seven soldiers of the Victory Camp. Everyone’s left arm was wrapped in white. In front of them was a tall tomb, its stele marked: Victory. The stele bore no inscription.

Truly, there were no words that could engrave that several tens of days of fighting shoulder to shoulder, that fate that was transferred over several thousand li of battlefield. In the campaign against Xia, the Victory Camp had undergone reinforcement. At that time, five hundred and forty-seven had perished. Afterward, from the allied forces of the various Eastern Domain countries and the surrendered Xia Country army, individuals with the best conduct were selected to replenish the ranks. After a full complement, several tens more died in the Min West Corridor, and in Sang Fu… they fought until only eight hundred and thirty-six remained. Of these eight hundred and thirty-six, sixty-nine did not survive their injuries. Thus, only seven hundred and sixty-seven remained.

Their future was secure; the wealth each person plundered on the battlefield was enough for a lifetime of enjoyment. As for the families of those who had died in battle, Chong Xuan Sheng had already contacted them one by one. The Qi Country military had made initial contact, providing corresponding comfort and condolences, and Chong Xuan Sheng and Jiang Wang, in the name of the Victory Camp, had conducted another round of comfort. Besides equally distributing the wealth they had plundered in the Xia Country battlefield, they also, according to each family’s situation, either granted them the identity of a good family child of Great Qi or provided extraordinary opportunities…

But could these things soothe the pain? There was no answer. The cruelty of war could not be fully expressed in words; sometimes it was only embodied in people’s sorrowful hearts.

Jiang Wang and Chong Xuan Sheng stood in front of this tomb. Everything that needed to be done was done. After the sacrifice, there were no more words to be said.

“Will you go to Ji Xia Academy tomorrow?” Chong Xuan Sheng asked.

“Yes,” Jiang Wang answered.

After that, there was silence. This was the best burial ground that could still be found on Catch Horse Mountain. The down-and-out renowned scholar Xu Fang was also buried here. The wind blew. The white banner still waved, and withered grass fell.