Chapter 59

Accompanying the Emperor for a meal was already a great honor for a courtier. After the meal, the snow outside had become heavy, instantly covering the palace roof in a blanket of white. The Emperor was in a good mood, and Mo Yin remained as reserved as ever, speaking little, but occasionally saying something amusing, which greatly pleased the Emperor.

Throughout the court, there was a thorough cleaning, which the Emperor didn’t particularly care about. Even during the reign of the previous Emperor, many old courtiers had been demoted or executed, but there would always be successors to take their place.

Naturally, the Emperor didn’t believe that Mo Yin was anything exceptional, but he was a useful tool, pleasant to have around and use.

For something as pleasing and useful as Mo Yin, the Emperor was willing to show some favor and grace. After the meal, due to the heavy snowfall, the inn was too far from the outskirts of the capital. Thus, the Emperor ordered a eunuch to tidy up a side hall and permitted Mo Yin to stay in the palace.

Mo Yin was profusely grateful for this favor. The Emperor supported his arm and said with a gentle smile, “My dear, from now on, you shall stay in the capital. There are many tasks I wish to entrust to you.”

“I am willing to serve diligently for Your Majesty,” Mo Yin replied softly.

The Emperor patted his arm approvingly, and with the eunuch leading the way, they left. Inside the side hall, the charcoal basin was plentiful, warming the room like spring, and the fragrance from the incense burner was fresh and elegant. The palace maids, beautiful as flowers, came gracefully to assist Mo Yin in changing clothes and freshening up, providing him with a comfortable bed and soft pillows, making him feel so relaxed that even his bones felt limp.

Mo Yin had always slept on hard narrow beds at the border, enduring harsh conditions. It was barely warm enough to fall asleep.

Compared to the palace, it was like heaven and earth.

Mo Yin lay in the darkness, staring at the carved beams and painted walls of the side hall.

He had been in this world for too long, five years, which almost made him feel as if he were truly born and raised here. Why had he come to this world? The Alliance had sent him to be the antagonist, but he didn’t care about what the Alliance wanted him to do; he only cared about his own happiness.

Was living on the border, enduring hardships and battles, really happiness?

Mo Yin never liked self-deception.

He admitted that those days were indeed happy.

But was that the happiness he truly wanted? Was that what Mo Yin should have? Just blindly serving as the protagonist’s right-hand man, being a strategist for others, and making wedding clothes for them?

That tiny bit of so-called happiness was immediately extinguished by another instinctual desire in Mo Yin’s heart.

In this world, he should be the most powerful.

As a perfect natural being, he was born supreme.

He would never be a foil to the protagonist.

He Xuan waited all night for Mo Yin’s return. After midnight, Li Yuan suggested he rest. “With such heavy snow outside and the palace far from here, the carriage must be moving slowly and carefully. General, you should rest first. I’ll instruct the innkeepers to prepare a room for the strategist.”

He Xuan sat on the chair, his posture upright. As a military man, whether standing, walking, or lying down, he was always rigid, exuding a stern aura.

He commanded, “Go.”

Li Yuan didn’t speak, quietly withdrawing.

Mo Yin didn’t return all night, and He Xuan sat in the room, waiting throughout.

As dawn broke, He Xuan stood up, striding to the door and pushing it open. It was still snowing outside. The snow had fallen all night, and the courtyard was nearly knee-deep in snow.

The road was also blanketed in snow, and the inn’s occupants had yet to awaken. He Xuan summoned Li Yuan and ordered him to call several soldiers.

The soldiers promptly arrived, clearing the snow from the steps in front of the inn and then shoveling the snow along the inn’s path. They worked swiftly, and within half an hour, they had cleared the snow from the inn’s route.

However, despite the path being cleared in front of the inn, the capital city was still covered in thick snow. It was estimated that they would have to wait until daylight, when the guards and citizens of the capital came out to clear the way.

He Xuan waited at the city gate on horseback for a long time.

By the time the hour of Jingzhong arrived, the capital city had begun to stir. He Xuan didn’t wait for the road to be cleared before Li Yuan returned from the capital with news.

After instructing the soldiers, Li Yuan entered the city. Running back and forth in the snow-covered capital, he was quite heated, steam rising from his body. His expression was neither joyful nor anxious; it appeared rather complex.

After spending the night in the palace, Mo Yin accompanied the emperor for breakfast in the morning. Seeing that it was still snowing heavily outside, the emperor was very excited and asked Mo Yin to accompany him to the plum garden to appreciate the flowers and the snow. He also reminisced about the events at the imperial banquet years ago. Mo Yin replied, “Your Majesty’s praise brings great joy to my heart. However, being from a rural background, I am not very eloquent. Upon receiving Your Majesty’s praise, I was momentarily unsure how to respond.”

The emperor laughed heartily, “You’ve benefited from your years of experience on the border; now you are more articulate.”

Mo Yin humbly replied, “I am grateful for Your Majesty’s guidance.”

The emperor gently plucked a plum blossom in front of him and said cheerfully, “You will soon be serving in the capital. I will grant you a mansion.”

When Mo Yin served as the Ministry of Revenue’s assistant minister, he did not have his own residence in the capital. A mansion in the capital was beyond what his salary could afford; he had merely rented a courtyard to live in.

The mansion granted by the emperor was naturally grand and luxurious. However, more importantly, it was a gift from the emperor himself.

After the words of appreciation were spoken, Mo Yin left the palace. A eunuch took him directly to see the mansion.

The mansion was not far from the palace, just around the corner from Dongshunmen Street, in an excellent location. If Mo Yin needed to attend court, a sedan chair could get him there in no time. The interior was beautifully decorated, with the courtyard meticulously groomed. As Mo Yin looked around, he immediately noticed something unusual and asked, “What is this?”

The palace servant smiled and said in a chirpy voice, “This used to be the mansion of the former Minister of Justice, Lord Shang Shuwei. After Lord Shang’s family was exiled, this place became vacant. Don’t worry, everything inside has been cleaned and prepared. If there’s anything else you need, just write a note, and we’ll take care of it for you.”

Mo Yin remained calm and nodded gently, “Thank you for your efforts.”

The court was shaken by recent events; the Yan faction had been almost entirely purged, with only a few survivors, most of whom were opportunists who quickly switched sides. Now, the most triumphant figure was the Grand Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Qing Shi. They were all from the same hometown, once oppressed by the Yan faction, but now they could finally hold their heads high.

Mo Yin, who had risen again from the ashes, also received a lot of attention. The emperor’s gift of a new mansion was a shocking development. Immediately, people came to visit, and his residence was bustling with activity. What the emperor bestowed in the morning, by noon, servants both inside and outside had already gathered in full.

Mo Yin sat down in the house, while several servants inside and outside tidied up. All of this was the goodwill of various ministers. When the emperor granted the mansion, it was just a casual reward, but he didn’t expect that such a large mansion would require so many servants. The emperor didn’t think about that much.

The charcoal brazier was lit, the wind and snow outside were swirling, but inside it was warm and peaceful. The servants had already heated water and prepared tea for Mo Yin. The tea was fragrant, the finest tea leaves sent by the Deputy Chief of the Court of Judicial Review.

Mo Yin hadn’t drunk tea for a long time. He lifted the teacup and took a sip, feeling warmth spread through his body.

“Sir.”

A servant entered with his head bowed. “Zhao Qianming, the Ministry of Works’ assistant minister, is here to visit.”

Mo Yin put down his tea and stood up. “Please, show him in.”

From morning till evening, Mo Yin had been entertaining guests. It could be said that he completed all the socializing he should have done in the five years he spent in the capital.

For most officials in the capital, Mo Yin didn’t leave much of an impression. Besides putting on a friendly face, Mo Yin didn’t leave much of an impression on others.

He was diligent yet reclusive, adhering to his principles of self-reliance in the capital without making any friends.

But the Mo Yin who returned to the capital now was different. He interacted with people neither arrogantly nor humbly. He wouldn’t make you feel distant, but he wouldn’t get too close either. He maintained just the right distance, making all the courtiers who came to visit him alert, knowing that he was definitely not a simple person.

Indeed, how could someone who survived exile, infiltrated military camps, and fought his way back to the capital be simple?

As night fell, Mo Yin bid farewell to another guest, and he noticed a carriage approaching from afar.

The carriage stopped, and the driver jumped down from it. Someone also stepped out from the carriage.

It was Zhou Yong.

While Mo Yin was busy entertaining guests, he had sent a servant to the inn.

The servant was sharp and clever. He took the carriage to the inn and informed He Xuan of the situation.

“Sir, please have your personal bodyguard pack your belongings here properly and come with me.”

He Xuan remained silent for a long time, and Li Yuan beside him was also stunned.

After a while, He Xuan calmly said to Li Yuan, “Go and call Zhou Yong.”

Zhou Yong remained unhesitant and unsurprised. He was wholeheartedly loyal to Mo Yin, immediately packing up everything in Mo Yin’s room.

“General,” Zhou Yong knelt down on one knee, “I take my leave.”

Li Yuan took a step forward but restrained himself. “What is the meaning of this, Counselor?!”

Zhou Yong didn’t answer, instead stepping back a few paces, then turning and following the servant out.

Li Yuan turned to He Xuan, “General?”

He Xuan remained silent, his expression and gaze like that of a statue.

Li Yuan pressed on, “Is Counselor not coming back?”

He Xuan still didn’t move, his gaze fixed on the falling snow outside.

Li Yuan became agitated, “Even if he wanted to stay in the capital, he should at least bid us farewell!”

After three years of fighting side by side, facing life and death on the battlefield countless times, how could he just leave without a word?!

Li Yuan couldn’t fathom it. Frustration and anger brewed within him as he paced, while He Xuan suddenly stood up, stepping decisively out of the threshold.

The horse followed behind the carriage, watching it enter the mansion from a distance. The tall figure also turned and entered. He Xuan hesitated for a moment, then several more carriages approached. People descended from the carriages, servants carrying gift boxes, and the entrance became lively again.

As the servants escorted guests inside and returned to the door, they saw a tall man in simple clothes holding a horse at the entrance.

“Sir?” The servant quickly approached.

He Xuan lowered his gaze, releasing the reins and stepping inside. The servant hurriedly asked, “May I ask who you are, sir? Do you have a card?”

“A card?”

The servant improvised, “Even without a card, could you please tell me your name, sir? I can announce it inside.”

He Xuan couldn’t articulate his feelings. He managed to squeeze out two words, “He Xuan.”

Seeing his imposing demeanor, the servant hastily said, “Please wait here, sir.”

The servant entered and gently closed the door.

The crimson gate closed before him, and He Xuan clenched his fists behind his back.

After a moment, the servant came out again, looking troubled. “Sir, my master is entertaining guests. Would you please wait here, Mr. He?”

Mr. He?

He Xuan’s gaze sliced across the servant’s face like a knife. It seemed Mo Yin hadn’t even explained his identity to the servants.

But how could everything have changed so drastically overnight?

Perhaps it wasn’t just overnight. Perhaps it had been planned for a long time…

The servant saw the man’s face darken and felt afraid, discreetly stepping back. Suddenly, the man turned around, grabbed the saddle, leaped onto the horse, and pulled the reins. The chestnut horse dashed away, its hoofbeats ringing in the servant’s ears, causing him pain.

When Mo Yin came out to see the guest off, the servant approached. “Sir, Mr. He has left.”

Mo Yin lowered his eyes, neither confirming nor denying it.

Inside, Zhou Yong stood silently to the side as Mo Yin picked up a long knife from the items Zhou Yong had brought back. He gently drew the knife from its sheath, examining the words “Hidden Edge” on the blade. He whispered, “From now on, you will stay with me in the capital. Are you willing?”

“At the Counselor’s command, I dare not disobey.”

“Good.”

With a slight exertion of force, he sheathed the knife. Mo Yin turned his head, “The first thing from now on is that you are not allowed to address me as Counselor anymore. You shall address me as—Sir.”

“Yes, Sir.”

* 

For several days, Mo Yin received a continuous stream of guests.

He Xuan did not return.

Mo Yin thought He Xuan must have understood by now.

Between the capital and the border, Mo Yin chose the capital.

In the capital, there was prosperity, wealth, and overwhelming power, where his talents could be fully utilized. What was there on the border? Apart from yellow sand and slaughter, there was nothing.

Before the New Year arrived, He Xuan was ordered to return to the border. The Emperor wanted him to spend the New Year in the palace and return to the border after the festival, but He Xuan resolutely refused. The Emperor smiled and pointed at him, “Among my subjects, there’s always someone rebellious. I wonder if your stubbornness was honed on the border. It seems not.”

With his face lowered and expressionless, He Xuan returned to the inn and immediately ordered the army to prepare to return to the border.

Li Yuan packed his belongings. He Xuan traveled light, so there wasn’t much to pack. He reluctantly looked back at the inn, and sighed, still unable to understand why he had made this trip and lost the Counselor in the process.

Soldiers have been resting on the outskirts for a long time, the formation remains very neat, the army marches on solemnly and strictly. With the departure of their leader, the Bright Army, both officers and soldiers, felt strange. However, they were well-trained, and no one questioned. They just followed the army.

He Xuan changed into armor and mounted his horse. He glanced back at the orderly army, pulled the reins with one arm, and made a gesture to move forward.

The army silently began to move from front to back, like a beast awakening from a nap, reluctantly bidding farewell to the bustling capital they had never entered.

He Xuan sat upright on his horse, his face firm and determined. After the army had moved slowly for a while, he suddenly turned his head as if sensing something.

At noon, the snow had stopped, and the sunlight was glaring. On the city tower of the capital, a slender figure stood half hidden behind the wall, dressed in a fox-fur coat as white as snow.

Li Yuan followed He Xuan in silence. Suddenly, he heard the neighing of a horse, and he turned his head sharply, only to see a flash of silver beside him. “General—”

Mo Yin stood on the city tower. He didn’t know why he came, he just wanted to come, so he did.

From the midst of the army, clad in silver armor and riding red horses, they galloped towards the city tower. Mo Yin remained motionless in his place, feeling a strange sensation in his heart. The sound of galloping hooves seemed to echo in his ears. Mo Yin tucked his cloak and turned around, descending from the city tower. As he descended, he saw He Xuan pulling the reins, dismounting from his restless horse.

Mo Yin was tightly embraced by the approaching He Xuan, the hard armor enclosing him.

Since breaking through that layer of veil, they had never been so intimate.

He Xuan’s arms tightly encircled him.

Mo Yin felt a little dazed.

“Come with me.”

A burst of warm breath reached his ear, the tone seemingly restrained, yet no longer able to contain itself.

He Xuan said, “Come back with me to the border.”