Moonset, sunrise. In the morning, the Wenhui House courtyard was filled with a somber atmosphere.

"...These things are not for immediate action, but some preparation is good... As for the new manager, your judgment of character is actually quite good. For now, we don't need someone exceptionally brilliant, but someone who can accomplish assigned tasks one by one. The Prime Minister's office will help with this, so you don't need to worry too much... During my absence, as long as everything proceeds as planned, a foundation should be in place when I return..."

"...Take care of each other... Visit the Prime Minister's office often, and maintain contact with Madam Qin and Yun Niang. Madam Qin aside, that Yun Niang actually handles many affairs of the Secret Agency, archiving them for Prime Minister Qin. Of course, your interactions with her should be as usual..."

Sunlight streamed into the room as Ning Yi, Yun Zhu, and Jin Er sat at the table, going over matters piece by piece. Jin Er asked, "You said you were leaving tomorrow, but suddenly changed it to today. Is it because of what happened last night... will it cause trouble?"

Ning Yi smiled and shook his head. "There will be trouble, of course, but not the kind you're thinking of. The Grand Commandant's office was in the wrong last night, and they wouldn't dare to really do anything to me, but once it's pressed from above, the investigation will begin. I might have to stay here for ten days to half a month, but time waits for no one, so I'll leave the city first. Besides, the Right Prime Minister's office will suppress it."

Cheng Zhouhai's sudden move last night meant that Ning Yi hadn't made any prior preparations. But as one of the central figures in the Secret Agency, Ning Yi wasn't worried that the other party was a complete idiot.

The night's events proceeded as planned. When the Prince Chong's府 people arrived, Ning Yi protected Zhou Pei, who was covered in blood and had her clothes torn, as she came out. Prince Chong周骥, Zhou Ji, was furious, drawing his sword and chasing Gao Mu'en, who was in a miserable state, for half a street. During this, Lu Qian could only protect Gao Mu'en as he fled, and two guards from the Grand Commandant's office were killed by the prince's rage. Lu Qian didn't dare hide too much, and was also hit a few times, his head bleeding. When Gao Qiu hurriedly arrived with people, crying that he deserved to die, the matter was already settled.

The next steps, Cheng Zhouhai had been preparing for so long, so it shouldn't go too wrong. But as one of those involved, Ning Yi didn't want to be left behind, so he had to arrange to leave as soon as possible. When he returned last night, he spent half the night telling Xiao Chan what needed to be arranged, and this morning he started to instruct Yun Zhu and Jin Er. The matter was suddenly moved up a day, and although they had many things to say to each other, they were at a loss for words.

At this time, in the imperial study of the palace, the current emperor, in his thirties, was throwing everything he could see at Grand Commandant Gao Qiu, who was kneeling on the ground in front of him, venting his anger.

"Bastard! Gao Qiu! I was really wrong about you. You failed to educate your son, and he did such a thing!"

He threw a glass lamp onto the ground, smashing it to pieces.

"My niece! Came to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday! Such a thing happened in the capital, under my nose! A playboy! This morning, the Empress Dowager was furious. How can I be this son, how can I be this uncle! Gao Qiu! Did you think you could run wild just because I appreciate you!"

Kneeling on the ground, Gao Qiu could only nod and repeatedly admit his guilt, but at the end he slightly suggested that his son might have been framed. Before he could finish speaking, a plate smashed in front of him with a "pa".

"Framed! Grand Commandant Gao! What is your son like, does anyone in Bianliang not know? Do you think that just because I sit in this palace all day, I really don't know the customs of the people? Your son, with a history of misdeeds, I won't kill him because you, this Grand Commandant, still have some merit and hard work. But now you dare to cry injustice in front of me?"

"This subject dare not..." Gao Qiu dared not argue any further. "That rebellious son has bad character and improper conduct. It is this subject's failure to educate him. I will definitely punish him severely when I return, and I will never condone him..."

As he nodded and admitted his guilt, the emperor above cursed angrily for a while before telling him to get out. Only after Gao Qiu left, and the palace servants came in to clean up the debris on the ground, did the emperor Zhou Zhe sit behind his desk, his expression showing no sign of the anger he had just displayed. He even reached out and adjusted the tie of his imperial crown.

A woman in the robes of an empress walked over from behind, carrying a bowl of soup, and smiled: "Your Majesty has a great temper."

"His son is a mess, but not to the point of daring to attack a princess. I don't know who's behind it, but he has to swallow this loss. I'm stable and calm," said the man in the imperial robe. "Civil officials and military officials, loyal officials and sycophants, being able to cause a stir is also beneficial. After all, the way of the emperor places great emphasis on balance. I don't care who plotted this time, but since it involves the royal family, if I still speak up for Gao Qiu, then he's dead. My scolding him is saving him, he will understand... What do you think, Empress?"

"Your Majesty is wise. However, is there really no need to find out who dragged that little princess into this?"

"What can we do even if we find out?" The emperor smiled, took the spoon from the empress's hand, and took a sip of the sweet soup. "Among the members of the imperial family, although they are my relatives, most of them are stupid, while inside and outside the court, everyone is playing smart. They are involved and cast out without them even knowing. If I have to intervene every time they're used, wouldn't I die of exhaustion? I care about the affairs of the world, but as for court battles, I don't care about the truth, as long as they are balanced."

What happened last night was a matter of life and death for many people, but for the emperor, it was only like a small chime ringing under the eaves of the palace, and was soon drowned out by the wind.

Around noon, Ning Yi entered Prince Chong's府 and went to the courtyard where Zhou Pei now lived. The girl, with bandages wrapped around her head, was waiting for him under the eaves. In yesterday's fight, Zhou Pei wanted to kill Gao Mu'en, and Gao Mu'en was trying to resist after losing two fingers, which caused Zhou Pei to suffer some minor injuries. But such bandages were definitely used to gain sympathy. However, the bandages and some medicinal smells made the girl in front of him appear particularly delicate.

"Why did you do something like that?"

"Zhou Pei is going back soon, and wanted to help teacher do some things. Zhou Pei thought about this matter... before and after, and hopes that it didn't cause too much trouble for teacher."

"It's fine. It's just that you're only fifteen years old, you shouldn't take such risks, and you shouldn't get involved in these things... and you shouldn't trust people so easily."

The sun was shining brightly, and the two sat down in the shade of the courtyard. Zhou Pei smiled, her face slightly red.

"Actually... I'm getting married when I get back, and I can do something for teacher before that. Most importantly, being able to do something like this is also... very meaningful to Xiao Pei herself."

She previously referred to herself as "Zhou Pei," but now she changed it to "Xiao Pei." Ning Yi listened to her speak, watched her expression, and vaguely felt that after yesterday's events, the girl in front of him seemed to have changed slightly, as if she had made some decisions and gained some insights.

"Have you decided to get married?"

"Yeah." Zhou Pei's expression dimmed slightly, and then she smiled again. "After all... I can't delay it any longer, right? I haven't found a man I feel... is suitable, but I have to face what I have to face. Delaying it isn't a solution, teacher, what do you say?"

"It's not good to do things just for the sake of doing them, but if you can figure it out, then whatever."

Zhou Pei smiled and said, "By the way, teacher and Madam Tan'er, what were they like before?"

"Don't you always know?"

"I know a little bit, but can teacher tell Xiao Pei about it?"

The little princess had a look of longing on her face. Ning Yi thought for a while: "Heh, when we got married, we didn't know each other at all. I was hit on the head, and she was running away from the wedding..."

He recalled those things, and roughly told Zhou Pei about the entanglement between him and his wife: "Actually... as long as everyone is willing to sincerely try to understand each other, they will eventually be able to find good things in each other. I think that's the basis for getting along. After you go back, you don't have to see living with someone as too exclusive. How the relationship between people is depends, at least half the reason, is on yourself."

"Yeah." Zhou Pei nodded. When Ning Yi was about to leave, she sent Ning Yi to the courtyard gate, and smiled hard: "Teacher."

"Yeah?" Ning Yi turned around.

"Will we... not see each other again in the future?"

"We probably won't see each other much." Looking at the smiling girl standing a few steps away, Ning Yi smiled and said, "Maybe you'll be in Jiangning in the future, and I'll be in Bianliang, but I'll always go back, and you might come up here. As long as there is a will, the relationship between teacher and student will not be completely severed."

"Yeah... Teacher, take care." She looked at Ning Yi, finished speaking, bowed deeply. It was an almost perfect lady's etiquette, and under the sunlight, Ning Yi felt it was as beautiful as water.

As expected... I can't teach such a disciple myself...

Thinking this, he left the Prince's residence.

After Ning Yi's figure left, Zhou Pei sat under a tree in the courtyard, waiting for the sun to set to the west. There were some things she couldn't see, but she could know in her heart. When the sun waned a little, Ning Yi and his group of carriages said goodbye to people by the earthen mound outside the city. Yun Zhu and Jin Er didn't come, and Xiao Chan was also left in the city. At this time, his heart was full of the image of Xiao Chan crying as she packed his luggage for him: "Husband, can't you take me with you too..." His heart tasted of tears.

Besides the guards from the Prime Minister's residence, who were quite skilled, the ones going to Shandong this time were the three Qi brothers, and Su Wenyu from the Su family. As for Su Yanping, he was left in Bianliang to take care of things. After Tan'er came up, he would go to Shandong to report the news and reunite with him.

Monk Jueming, Yao Zunian, Cheng Zhouhai and others came to see them off. Not long after, a carriage came, and Qin嗣源, Si Yuan, came out and spoke to Ning Yi aside.

"The matter of Liangshan is not easy. I know you are eager for revenge, but if you can't solve it, it doesn't matter. No one here dares to say that they can solve the banditry of Liangshan. Shan Yue is extreme in nature, if possible... keep an eye on him."

"Understood." Ning Yi nodded. "Yun Zhu, Jin Er, Xiao Chan, and Tan'er who is coming up, they are very important to me. I'm asking for your help. I'm not usually afraid, but after this incident, I hope Gao Mu'en doesn't cause any trouble."

"This old man understands the importance of this matter, and will arrange manpower to prevent it from happening. This matter will be handled by Ji Kun, who is the most meticulous in his work, so Liheng can rest assured. In Bianliang, no one can move them." Qin Si Yuan paused, "Zhouhai's plan this time does have feasibility, and this old man secretly agreed to it, which may have caught Liheng a little off guard, and this old man will be responsible for resolving the aftermath. Zhouhai's character is not bad, but he still lacks experience. Afterwards, he will probably be sent to the north to be responsible for supervising grain..."

"Uh... hehe..." Ning Yi laughed, "It seems he won't be able to kill Gao Mu'en..."

"If the Grand Commandant comes down, this old man will kill that playboy as well..." Qin Si Yuan sighed and shook his head.

Not long after, they said goodbye to everyone.

"Confident in life for two hundred years, I will strike the water for three thousand miles. Everyone here has important things to do, go back... take care."

The carriages cracked their whips, left Bianliang, and headed east.

The sun gradually set, and soon the sky was burning with red clouds. After the setting sun went down and the stars rose, Cheng Zhouhai walked into Prince Chong's府 and into that courtyard, where he saw the little princess sitting in the moonlight.

"Mr. Cheng..."

"In the afternoon,公子 Ning, Gongzi Ning, left Bianliang. I think... I should come and tell the princess."

"I know."

Zhou Pei nodded in response, and Cheng Zhouhai stood there for a moment.

"Forgive me for speaking frankly, Princess, if you like公子 Ning, Gongzi Ning..." When Zhou Pei's sharp gaze came over, he smiled calmly, "Why not try to fight for it?"

Zhou Pei looked at him for a long time, and then a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth: "Mr. Cheng, what if I fight for it?"

"If you want to delay, there are still ways, such as becoming a nun... or being frightened this time..."

"Will teacher like me if Zhou Pei fights for it?"

"Uh..."

"Teacher won't like me. I've figured it out. Teacher... has many women around him, and he's not a heartless person, but... that's fate. I've known teacher for more than two years, and I slowly got to know him, understand him, admire him, but I may not really understand him. Teacher is always teacher, and I'm always just his disciple. Two years... it's all fate..."

As Zhou Pei said these words, she lowered her eyes, her gaze clear: "...I suddenly grew up, and this fate has come to an end."

Cheng Zhouhai was stunned. After all, he was a warm-hearted person, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. In the end, he could only give up: "Then... the princess will get married when she goes back. I wish the princess and the prince a harmonious and happy marriage."

Zhou Pei smiled: "Actually... getting married is not a big deal anymore. Mr. Cheng, I'm very happy to be able to do something like this for teacher before I get married. But last night's experience also suddenly told Zhou Pei that Zhou Pei is always a member of the royal family, and it's really too petty to always worry about getting married. I also hope to be happy in the future. But what this incident really told me is that Zhou Pei still has many things she can do."

The girl looked at Cheng Zhouhai, got up gracefully: "For example, there's another Gao Mu'en running rampant somewhere, and there are also corrupt officials, who are ruining the foundation of my Wu Dynasty... I always wanted to do something, but I always felt that I was a woman and couldn't do anything, so I often lost my temper with my lazy younger brother, hating him for not living up to expectations. But this incident told me that as long as I want to do it, there's always a way to do things. Zhou Pei wants to thank Mr. Cheng for his help in this matter, and if there's a chance in the future, she will repay Mr. Cheng generously."

"Uh... you're welcome." Cheng Zhouhai cupped his hands, vaguely not understanding whether the matter in front of him was good or bad. He saw the fifteen-year-old girl standing there, looking at the night sky. Her figure was no taller than his, but in that figure, there was vaguely a kind of arrogance in it, and he knew that it was the aura brought about by the power of the royal family.

Cheng Zhouhai said goodbye and left.

Zhou Pei stood there for a long time. The air cooled down, and there was no one around. She felt tears sliding down her face.

The tears were icy cold... Teacher has left...

From last night to today, she thought about many things in her heart. There were many things that she could do in the future, and there were also many things that she could never do again. But the things she had figured out could only be put in the future, and did not help to take care of her current emotions.

She just didn't want to be weak in front of others.

The缘分, yuan fen (fate) is over... I won't see him again... Teacher has finally left...

When she met him, she was thirteen years old, and when she realized she liked him, she was fifteen years old, but he was leaving, and she was getting married.

Knowing it clearly, she couldn't suppress the sadness in her heart. After tonight, youth had already passed, like a corpse buried in the soil. New trees would sprout, the old shell would die, and people could pretend to be strong, but no one would know what was waiting in the future.

She stood there, holding onto the trees in the courtyard, lowered her head, and covered her mouth, crying silently. In her mind, there was such a carriage, which left Bianliang on this afternoon, heading east, and on the carriage was the teacher she had fallen in love with at the age of fifteen. And then the carriage kept going, getting farther and farther away from her...

A shooting star streaked across the sky.

***************

Lüliang Mountain, Qingmu寨, Qingmu Village.

Lu Hongti raised her head, watching the shooting star streak across the night sky, and then brushed her hair at her temples, and walked into the small house in front of her. In the room, an old man was holding a writing brush and studying something at his desk.

"Grandpa Liang, I'm coming in."

"Oh." Liang Bingfu tilted his head and sorted the things on the table. After a while, he nodded, "Oh, Hongti, you're here..."

"Grandpa Liang, you said before that you had something to do. Is it something important?"

"Go for a walk." Liang Bingfu thought for a while, then supported himself with his crutches and got up to go out. Lu Hongti followed beside him. Looking down from the small hillside, the shadows of people came and went in Qingmu寨, with specks of light, which was one of Lu Hongti's favorite scenes.

"How do you feel about the marriage proposal from Mengshui寨, Mengshui Village, before? "

After walking for a while, Liang Bingfu suddenly asked, causing the girl to be slightly stunned: "Grandpa Liang, why are you suddenly asking this..." There had been more than one marriage proposal, and Mengshui寨's was not special, and she didn't quite understand why the old man specifically mentioned it.

Liang Bingfu smiled, leaning on his crutches: "I'm just asking casually, what do you think?"

"I feel... it seems, it's not... uh..." She was not young anymore, and she had rejected too many, and Lu Hongti herself was a little hesitant when she said it. Liang Bingfu stood by the roadside on the mountainside, looking at the scene below, and laughed for a while.

"Actually... Lu San and Li Li, they went south together."

"Hmm?"

"Hongti, you should also pack your luggage and go south again."

"Grandpa Liang, what's going on?"

Speaking of this, there was finally an atmosphere of talking about serious business. Lu Hongti was puzzled. Liang Bingfu stood there, holding his crutches, his expression serious.

"After Lu San, Li Li, and others were driven out of the寨, they have been restless. They went south to find trouble with that Ning Liheng. These people have never left Lüliang in their lives. The South is prosperous, and they are not clear about many things. They asked Tian Liu to lead the way. Do they think I don't know their movements?"

Lüliang Mountain is a desolate place, where many things are resolved with knives. The rules are also different for survival. Although these people seem free, they live in their own land all their lives, and they may not be able to adapt to other places. If they want to travel far, there are always some people who have been to the outside world who can help lead the way and teach them customs. Tian Liu, whom Liang Bingfu mentioned, was one of these people. Lu Hongti said for a long time: "Grandpa Liang, this..."

"They have been gone for several days. You can't intercept them within the borders of Lüliang."

"But I... can't leave now. Grandpa Liang, everything has just gotten on the right track... Qingmu寨 is like this, how can I leave?"

"I've also thought about this." Liang Bingfu closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed, "But... it doesn't matter for a while. I can still help you look after it for a while..."

"No, Grandpa Liang..." The girl shook her head, and after a moment, "That... that Ning Liheng, he learned my kung fu, he's very powerful. Lu San and the others can't beat him. As for schemes, they're just going to die. I don't need to worry about him at all..."

Liang Bingfu looked at her: "With preparation and without preparation, are you really so sure?"

"I..." Lu Hongti couldn't speak, and after a long time, she looked at the old man in front of her, "...Why?"

"You should... live for yourself." The old man glanced at her and smiled, "You rejected those people, and they were not very good, but even if there were good ones, I wouldn't say anything. That Ning Liheng, you like him... heh, don't tell me in front of this old man that you don't. You should also like someone, liking him is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm already old, and this寨 will be hard to support for a few more years, but while I can still support it, I hope you can do something else, maybe there won't be this opportunity in the future..."

Lu Hongti was silent for a moment, and a smile appeared on her face: "We are friends, and I really think... he is very powerful, but I can't bring him back to the mountain..."

"Being able to bring him back is of course the best thing." The old man smiled, "But even if it's not possible now, go see him more, maybe something will happen. You have to go first, before you can have something in the future. Hongti... take advantage of now, even if there is no result, you will be very happy when you think about these things in the future. You have carried so much for the寨, you have to leave something good behind..."

"I think it's very good now..."

"Heh, Grandpa Liang is not urging you to get married. It's like this in Lüliang Mountain, if you really don't want to, then wait. You go see him, talk to him, talk about... what happened in Lüliang Mountain, and then see what he's doing. As for whether you can succeed, and what will happen after you come back, Grandpa Liang won't say anything, okay?"

Hongti stood there, looking at the lights below, her fingers twisted together: "What about the寨? It's only just like this..."

"Lüliang Mountain never had any rules, and the things Ning Liheng wrote are too strict. If you must implement them, it's okay for now, but if you want it to last, you have to take it slowly." The old man said, "When you go out, I will do the strict things, and I will suppress things. After you come back, you can change it a little, and they will all be grateful to you. I have thought about these things. Although I am old, I can still suppress it for half a year or a year."

After a long silence, Hongti suddenly said: "Grandpa Liang, you and Master, are you..."

She couldn't finish her words. Liang Bingfu's crutches paused twice, his gaze looked below, his expression changed, but in the end he just said: "Your Master saved me back then, and I came here... Some words were not said, and some things were not done. When you get old, you may regret it."

Lu Hongti looked at him, and after a long time, she nodded, "...I will think about it."

"Yeah, think about it."

After saying this, Lu Hongti walked down the hillside. She didn't know what she should do. When she looked back, the figure on the hillside was still standing there, leaning on his crutches, looking towards the distant, deep night.

In her memory, Master was much older than her, and Grandpa Liang was a gentle and refined middle-aged scholar when she was young. And until Master died, Grandpa Liang quickly grew old.

She used to think that Grandpa Liang suddenly got old because he couldn't help the寨. Master seemed to have the intention of saving him back then, and Grandpa Liang did a lot of things, some useful, some useless. In the end, he only allowed this寨 to continue to survive, until the people living today expanded it.

What were the things between that Confucian scholar and that female warrior back then? Some of the participants have died, and those who are alive probably don't want to say anything anymore. Hongti stood there, looking at that figure, thinking about what he was looking at.

The starlight fell all over the sky.

What was buried in that darkness was probably their story.

Thinking like this, she felt a little sad.

************

Well, the two chapters added up to more than 11,000 words, right? I originally wanted to open a single chapter to cheer that I had a manuscript, but I found out it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I simply posted it today. It's a holiday, so we should always celebrate.