Princess Jianan stepped down onto the eunuch’s back, her gold-thread-trimmed lambskin boots landing on the red carpet. A maid immediately handed her a hand warmer, but she did not take it. Instead, her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Xing Muzheng, speaking softly, “Marquis, I never would have guessed you were in Yongan. Why didn’t you inform me in advance? I would’ve prepared a proper welcome.”
Xing Muzheng said, “I am unworthy. I wouldn’t dare trouble Your Highness.”
“Marquis, you are a loyal general of our Xie dynasty, risking your life for our people. Hosting you is the least I could do.”
Meanwhile, Qian Jiaoniang, Xing Pingchun, Qingya, and the others knelt on the cold, hard ground, still waiting for the princess to permit them to rise. But Princess Jianan was speaking slowly, sweetly, her gaze never once leaving Xing Muzheng—as if she had forgotten anyone else was even present.
Xing Muzheng politely declined again, and the princess exchanged a few more pleasantries, still making no move to let the others stand. Only then did Xing Muzheng gesture slightly. “Your Highness, these two kneeling here are my wife and my son.”
Only then did Princess Jianan seem to wake from a dream. “Look at me, lost in old memories and forgetting my manners. Madam Marquis, please rise. Young Master as well—don’t chill your knees on this cold ground.”
Xing Pingchun helped Qian Jiaoniang up, and Qingya along with the rest slowly rose as well. Princess Jianan summoned Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Pingchun forward. She looked Qian Jiaoniang over carefully, her lips curving into a faint, ambiguous smile. “This must be the newlywed Madame Feng, yes? Truly, a lady of refined grace and orchid-like elegance.”
Qian Jiaoniang kept her eyes lowered, gaze respectful, not even raising her eyelids—she said nothing at all.
At this moment, Xing Muzheng fully understood what it meant to suffer the consequences of one’s own actions. His ears twitched slightly. He said, “She is my wife, of the Qian family. I have only one wife.”
Princess Jianan visibly paused, but quickly regained her composure and smiled as if nothing had happened. “Qian… so she is your primary wife? Then Marquis, you haven’t yet married Lady Feng? Is the mourning period still not over?”
“Mere family matters, best left unspoken. The weather is bitterly cold today, Your Highness. Please return to your residence quickly, lest you catch a chill.”
Princess Jianan laughed. “Since the Marquis is so concerned for me, I shall listen. Once you are settled, I’ll invite you and the Madam to the Princess’s residence for a gathering.”
She returned to her palanquin, but just as the curtains were about to fall, she lifted them again and said, “Then Marquis, will you be following behind my procession?”
Xing Muzheng replied, “My wife has long heard of Wuling Mountain Since the hour is still early, I’ve promised to take her up the mountain for a walk.”
Qian Jiaoniang suddenly felt the weight of the princess’s gaze linger on her. She hadn’t realized Xing Muzheng could be so shameless—using her as a human shield.
“Marquis and the Marchioness are so affectionate. I’m quite envious. Very well, we shall meet again in Yongan.”
The sound of strings and flutes resumed. Maidservants scattered flower petals as the twelve bearers carried the grand palanquin steadily forward. Xing Pingchun watched for a long while, then seriously asked Qian Jiaoniang, “Mother, do those maidservant sisters have enough petals to sprinkle all the way back home?”
Qian Jiaoniang had still been lost in thought, but burst out laughing at that. “The princess’s household has more petals than you can imagine. No need for you to worry about that!”
Xing Muzheng glanced subtly at Qian Jiaoniang. Seeing that she showed no unusual expression, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He asked, “Since we’re here, shall we go up the mountain? Wuling Temple is halfway up.”
Qian Jiaoniang replied, “I wouldn’t dare trouble the Marquis.”
She quietly returned to the carriage. Qingya noticed the sky had grown darker and the wind had picked up. Pulling tighter the cloak Qian Jiaoniang had given her, she asked, “Would you like a hand warmer?”
Qian Jiaoniang rubbed her hands—they were cold, but she said no. Then she added, “If you’re cold, go ahead and have someone light some charcoal.”
If it were before, Qingya would’ve already felt unbearably cold, but now she seemed able to endure it. She shook her head and got into the carriage. “I don’t need it either.”
After the two of them sat down, Xing Pingchun climbed up as well, curling into Qian Jiaoniang’s arms like a monkey. He hadn’t worn a cloak earlier when he got down, and now, after being hit by the cold wind, he was shivering all over. Qian Jiaoniang took the cloak that had been covering him earlier and draped it over him, rubbing his back vigorously.
But Qian Jiaoniang kept feeling like something was missing. Suddenly, Xing Pingchun asked, “Mother, where’s Big Sis?”
Qian Jiaoniang gave his back a heavy pat—right! Where was her dog?
Qian Jiaoniang looked around frantically. Xing Pingchun even crouched down to peer under the seat, but the one-eyed dog was nowhere to be seen. Qian Jiaoniang quickly jumped off the carriage and looked around, but still saw no sign of the dog. She asked the coachmen and others, but all said they hadn’t seen it.
“Quick, help me look!” In this freezing weather, where could Big Sis have gone? Qian Jiaoniang was truly panicked.
Her anxious jump from the carriage had already caught Xing Muzheng’s attention. With a wave of his hand, he ordered Ah Da to take men to search for the dog. He also told Wang Yong to release Lielei to help find its “old rival.” Everyone knew they were looking for a one-eyed little dog, but within a few miles of the road, not only was there no one-eyed dog—there wasn’t a single dog at all. It seemed clear the dog must have snuck out of the carriage and run up the mountain.
Though Wuling Mountain wasn’t a towering or treacherous peak, it was still a sizable mountain—dense with trees and rich in flora despite being a place with many visitors. Even with Lielei flying overhead, it was hard to see through the thick canopy. The dog was small, a mere ball when curled up. If it hid in a tree hollow, it would be impossible to spot.
Qian Jiaoniang joined the search team, anxious and cold. The weather turned against them—strong winds howled, and the clouds grew darker by the minute, threatening a downpour.
“Big Sist! Big Sis—!” Xing Pingchun called out loudly, his clear child’s voice echoing through the forest, only to be carried away by the howling wind.
“Found it!” a guard suddenly shouted.
Qian Jiaoniang’s heart leapt with relief. Lifting her skirts, she rushed into the bushy undergrowth. Ah Da hurried to slash away the branches in her path with his sword. But before they even reached the spot, they saw the guard lift up a large white rabbit.
“Oh no—it’s just a rabbit!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, well, we can save it for dinner at least!” Ah Da joked.
Qian Jiaoniang forced a smile, disappointed, and turned to continue searching for her dog.
Unknowingly, they’d reached halfway up the mountain but still hadn’t seen any trace of the one-eyed dog. At this point, the path split in two. One trail was well-trodden, thick with incense—Wuling Temple was clearly in that direction. The other trail looked barely used, suggesting most visitors stopped at the temple without climbing further.
Xing Muzheng ordered a team to search the direction of Wuling Temple and also to ask the monks if they’d found a blind little dog.
The sky darkened as if night were about to fall. The wind stung their faces. Li Qingquan slashed at brambles and said to Xing Muzheng, “My lord, we’ve been climbing for a while. If we don’t leave soon, we might not make it to Yongan by midday!”
Li Yi hesitated, then added, “Marquis, judging by the sky, it’s about to pour.” Though he didn’t say it directly, it was clearly a suggestion to turn back.
Xing Muzheng looked toward Qian Jiaoniang in the distance. She seemed to have heard them and turned back to meet his gaze.
There was no emotion in her eyes. Xing Muzheng stared back at her for a long time and finally said in a low voice, “We won’t leave until we find the dog.” With that, he stepped into the forest, scanning the surroundings.
Li Qingquan and Li Yi exchanged a look. Li Qingquan inwardly sighed. Li Yi was sent by Prime Minister Hang. Even if not a close confidant, he was clearly Hang’s man. If the Prime Minister learned from Li Yi that the commander delayed the journey just to search for a mutt, making him wait in the freezing weather, how would he feel? If he believed it was intentional, wouldn’t it be even harder to explain? Word was Prime Minister Hang was extremely talented but also extremely petty. The Prime Minister had shown goodwill by bathing and preparing to welcome the commander personally—how could the commander trample such hospitality and ruin a good thing?
Suddenly, a sharp bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Lielei cried out midair. Boom! Thunder rumbled deafeningly overhead, seemingly right above Wuling Mountain. Qingya was startled.
“My lord, it’s about to rain!” Wang Yong ran up to urge Xing Muzheng. “Why not let me lead a search team, while you and Madam head back first?”
Ah Da also tried to persuade Qian Jiaoniang. “Madam, if it starts pouring, the ladies will all fall ill. Why not take Chou’er and the Marquis back down? Leave the dog to us—”
Before he finished speaking, rain came crashing down.
“Quick, quick, umbrellas!”
Although the search team had prepared umbrellas, the rain was overwhelming—like the sky had burst open. The oil-paper umbrellas were nearly torn apart. Water pooled rapidly, forming streams on the ground. Skirts and shoes were instantly soaked.
Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Pingchun huddled under one umbrella. The child trembled in her arms. Qingya and the others were in a sorry state, soaked and pressed together under their umbrellas. Qian Jiaoniang turned her head and let out a long, silent sigh.
The sky continued to thunder and flash, the storm raging without pause. Everyone was waiting for their masters’ command.
“Let’s go. We’re done looking,” Qian Jiaoniang said.
