"Where did you get so many of these grasses?"

Qi Yu stood at the entrance of the Firefly Study, looking strangely at the few bunches of snow-white Xuancao Grass.

Shen Mengzhi was sitting at the table, slowly grinding the Phosphorus Powder in the mortar. Hearing him, he looked up and said, "Don't touch them, I need to use them later."

At these words, Qi Yu immediately withdrew the hand that had been about to touch them, his expression mournful. "Jiang Zhen!"

'Is it really necessary?' he thought. 'He has been working on this Everlasting Lamp for Chu Jin for nearly half a month without sleep, toiling day and night. And now, I can't even touch a single blade of grass!'

"That's Xuancao Grass," Shen Mengzhi explained. "It only grows with the first snow and dies when the snow melts. Its leaves retain extremely cold properties. If you touch it, it will instantly melt into a puddle of water."

Qi Yu flinched in fear and didn't dare look at the Xuancao Grass again. He sullenly sat down beside Shen Mengzhi, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Then how did you handle it?"

Shen Mengzhi gave him a mysterious smile. "I have my ways."

"So secretive..." Qi Yu yawned. "Chu Jin has been gone for so many days. Did he say when he'll be back?"

"Not yet." Shen Mengzhi slowly spread the powder from the stone mortar onto a stone dish. "He's probably too busy. At this rate, it'll probably be after the new year."

"Oh..." Qi Yu said, gloating, "Then it's his loss."

He had been worried that Shen Mengzhi would be disappointed at not being able to give the gift in person, but it seemed he was still quite calm.

"Honestly," Qi Yu added tartly, "if you had just told him, our Heir would have flown back on New Year's Eve."

Shen Mengzhi's hands paused. He glanced at him, then casually picked up a piece of sugarcane from the table and tossed it over.

Qi Yu fumbled to catch it. "What for?"

Shen Mengzhi said, "Eat something sweet to counter the sourness."

"..."

Qi Yu resentfully bit into the sugarcane with a crisp crunch. "You've definitely been corrupted by Chu Jin!"

Shen Mengzhi ignored him and evenly brushed the Phosphorus Powder into a glass bowl. As the light fell upon it, it shimmered with iridescent, rainbow-like colors.

"Look," he gestured for Qi Yu to see, his voice uncharacteristically light. "What do you think?"

Qi Yu was captivated by a single glance. The precious young master of the Censor's family, who considered himself to have seen all the world's rare treasures, now found himself swallowing. After a long pause, he said, utterly entranced, "Damn it... How did a brat like Chu Jin get so lucky? I'm so damn jealous of that guy..."

His curse was heartfelt. Shen Mengzhi couldn't help but laugh and said, "This is just a semi-finished product. There are many more steps to making an Everlasting Lamp."

"Why this gift?" Qi Yu asked, coming back to his senses. "It's beautiful, but it's too much work to make."

Hearing this, Shen Mengzhi paused slightly.

After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, tinged with a smile, "Ancient texts say that an Everlasting Lamp illuminates cause and effect and brightens the path home."

He had simply overheard Chu Jin mention offhandedly one day that his birthday was on New Year's Eve. So, on a whim, he wanted to secretly give him a surprise.

For royalty and nobility like them, they had seen all the splendid and rare treasures in the world. But Shen Mengzhi was inherently proud and arrogant; a gift for his beloved had to be one of a kind.

After much thought, he came up with the Everlasting Lamp, a symbol of lasting peace and fated connection among the common folk of Yanling.

It was customary to light Everlasting Lamps on New Year's Eve. Once lit, they could not be blown out until the oil ran out and the lamp died. A lamp was like a person, seeing through cause and effect, illuminating the long night.

But a simple oil-paper lantern seemed a bit shabby.

He remembered an ancient secret art from old Yanling that could hide writing on paper, only to be revealed by fire. So he lit a lamp in the Wanzong Pavilion and searched through ancient texts for a whole night, finally finding a relevant record.

—Serene Nightshine from late autumn, Xuancao Grass from the first snow on the Twelve Peaks, and Phosphor Ash extracted from pebbles.

He went to great lengths to gather these materials one by one, and soon it would be the final step.

Everything had gone exceptionally smoothly up to this point. Shen Mengzhi breathed a sigh of relief, belatedly feeling the fatigue that had been accumulating for a long time.

"I'm a little sleepy." He shook his head, trying to clear it. "Let's just leave these things here for now..."

Before he could finish, a bird chirped outside the door. They both looked over and saw Imperial Censor perched at the entrance, peeking in, a letter held in its sharp beak.

Qi Yu was incredulous. "This can't be a letter from Chu Jin, can it?"

Compared to his stunned expression, Shen Mengzhi appeared much calmer. He beckoned, and Imperial Censor flew over, landed on his palm, and dropped the letter.

Qi Yu was still exclaiming, "Have you two been corresponding all this time?"

After seeing the signature on the letter, Shen Mengzhi suppressed his weariness and, without committing one way or the other, gently opened the letter.

When Chu Jin left, he didn't take Imperial Censor with him, so the bird had become a messenger. Whenever the postman delivered mail, it would scramble to be the first to snatch it and bring it to Shen Mengzhi.

The letter's content was brief, the calligraphy powerful and flowing. After reading it, Shen Mengzhi's lips curved into a faint smile. He then folded the letter back up, perfectly as it was before, and set it aside.

Qi Yu's curiosity was piqued. "What did he say?"

"Nothing much," Shen Mengzhi said. "Just some amusing anecdotes from the palace."

"What was so amusing?" Qi Yu looked skeptical. "To make you smile so happily."

Shen Mengzhi glanced at him and said softly, "A secret."

The affairs of the palace were indeed amusing, but not enough to make him react this way. He was smiling because of the last line of the letter, where that person had lazily added a complaint with his brush.

—Though Xiangjing is extravagant, it is no match for the moon over Heshan.

He could even imagine Chu Jin, draped in an outer robe, leaning against a window, holding the brush in his mouth as he gazed at the moon for a long time before casually writing a few strokes.

When he was young, his mother told him that longing had a form, but he didn't understand.

Only after walking through the mortal world for years, wandering through its dust, and pondering it again, did he realize with a start.

Xiangjing, the capital of Yanling, was a thousand li from Xufang. It was a city of earthly delights, with bustling streets and wealth that dazzled the eyes.

Sitting in the horse-drawn carriage, Chu Jin lifted the curtain and glanced outside with a casual air.

A few days ago, he had sent a letter to the academy, telling that person he would ask for leave from Xiao Zhuo and rush back on New Year's Eve.

This had been his plan all along. Although Shen Mengzhi had never mentioned it, he could guess that something important was supposed to happen on New Year's Eve. Besides, he hadn't planned to stay in Xiangjing for long. Putting aside Xiao Zhuo's omnipresent spies, the gloomy, overcast weather alone was enough to be annoying. For over ten days straight, it had been just as oppressive.

Chu Jin glanced at the sky, shrouded in clouds and locked in mist, then released his hand, letting the curtain fall.

The attendant beside him said respectfully, "Heir, the carriage is about to enter the palace gates."

Chu Jin closed his eyes and acknowledged him with a soft sound.

Xiao Zhuo was holding a banquet in the palace today for all the ministers. He had been invited, which gave him a good opportunity to probe the current relationship between the ruler and subjects of Yanling.

This was another reason why Old Qin had sent him here. It wasn't just to willingly be a hostage in the other's hand, to behave harmlessly and stabilize the alliance between the two states; beneath Old Qin's friendly exterior lay a far greater ambition.

And he was the most indispensable part needed to realize this ambition.

The carriage slowly moved forward and stopped at the entrance of the inner palace.

The attendant looked outside and said knowingly, "Those are several lords from the court up ahead."

Chu Jin followed his gesture and saw several carriages parked in place. Compared to the others, which were lavishly decorated, the leading carriage was remarkably plain, with no flashy ornaments or exaggerated totems. Only a jade swallow inlaid on the roof made it look particularly unique.

The attendant chattered on, explaining, "The one plated in white gold is Lord Lou's carriage, the Supervisor of Attendants. The one with silver tassels belongs to the Lord Censor. The one carved with golden-horned plum blossoms is..."

Chu Jin cut him off. "Whose is the one with the inlaid jade swallow?"

Just as he finished speaking, the curtain of the leading carriage was gently lifted, and a figure stepped out.

The man's side was turned to Chu Jin as he lowered his head to adjust his cuffs. The various officials of Yanling, big and small, gathered around him in small groups, watching from a distance, but none dared to approach easily.

He had a tall, imposing stature. Although his face showed signs of weathering, he showed no signs of decline. In contrast, he made the people around him look short and stout.

For some reason, Chu Jin found this person inexplicably familiar. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately dismissed the absurd thought from his mind.

However, the next second, he frowned—

In the distance, that lord suddenly looked in his direction. His stern, cold eyes held a hint of inquiry and warning, like the unsheathed blade of a snow-white sword.

'An extraordinary level of alertness,' Chu Jin thought.

He obediently lowered his gaze, concealing the expression in his eyes, while silently pondering the situation.

The attendant's voice reached his ears a moment later. "...That is Grand Marshal Shen. It's the Shen Manor's carriage."

Grand Marshal Shen, Shen Ke.

He became a general at sixteen and had served Yanling loyally for thirty years. A powerful minister who held significant military authority.

Indeed, what immense power. No wonder Xiao Zhuo was so wary of him.

Even back in Old Qin, he had heard bits and pieces about the feud between Xiao Zhuo and Shen Ke. It was said that when the former king of Yanling was still alive, Shen Ke had never thought highly of this fifth prince of humble origins. Later, when Xiao Zhuo ascended the throne by decree and tried everything to curry favor with this eminent minister, the latter never changed his attitude.

It seemed that with Grand Marshal Shen around, Xiao Zhuo's position as the Prince of Yanling was particularly uncomfortable. But no matter what, the latter always maintained a respectful demeanor. Thus, to outsiders, it still appeared to be a harmonious relationship between ruler and subject.

It seemed Shen Ke was a loyal minister who spoke his mind frankly, while Xiao Zhuo was an enlightened ruler who disregarded past grievances and welcomed counsel.

Was that truly the case?

Chu Jin curled his lip and followed the attendant's guidance out of the carriage.

Before he had taken more than a few steps, he suddenly heard a gentle, refined voice from his side, "Heir?"

Chu Jin turned at the sound and returned the greeting, "Lord Censor."

When he first arrived from Old Qin, the envoy who welcomed him was this very Grand Censor, so he had an especially deep impression of him.

Compared to Shen Ke's stern demeanor, this Grand Censor appeared much more amiable, seeming like a spring breeze and gentle rain next to the former. But anyone who could attain this position was certainly no pushover. Chu Jin had long heard of his reputation for being old and cunning. Together with Shen Ke, one a civil official and the other military, they had easily quelled the previous dynasty's internal turmoil.

Qi Jue was bowing as he disembarked from his carriage, his movements poised and graceful. Although he was also an old minister who had served two dynasties and was in his forties, his appearance had not changed, and one could still see the elegance of his youth. He smiled slightly and said, "It's been a few days. Is the Heir faring well at the academy?"

"Everything is well," Chu Jin also smiled. "I was fortunate to receive your son's care at the academy. The Censor's son is chivalrous and warm-hearted. We get along very well."

Qi Jue must have been used to such praise and knew the truth of the matter. He said, "No need to say more, I know what that boy is like."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping in a certain direction, and his expression shifted subtly. Then he smiled meaningfully and said in a friendly tone, "Heir, let me introduce you to someone."

Chu Jin followed his gesture and looked up to see Grand Marshal Shen's indifferent face.

"This is Grand Marshal Shen. You may have heard of him," Qi Jue said. "He happened to be away when you entered the capital, so you missed each other. It's good to meet now."

Chu Jin didn't know what this Grand Censor was up to, but he calmly greeted the other man.

"It's just a pity Yunyan isn't here now," Qi Jue sighed, though not very sincerely. "General Xiao Yan is quite eager to meet you."

This was unexpected. Chu Jin's expression was a little strange. "Why?"

Qi Jue said, "Perhaps your deeds at the academy were too prominent. Qi Yu mentioned it in the letters he sent home. General Xiao Yan was also Minister Fang's student back then. The Heir did something he wanted to do but never dared to, so he grew curious..."

Before he could finish, Shen Ke, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, "That's not true."

Interrupted by him, Qi Jue stopped talking and looked at him with a smile, as if waiting for his next words.

Unfortunately, after saying this, Shen Ke became mute again. He glanced at the two of them, his gaze lingering on Chu Jin for a moment, before leaving them with a "I have matters to attend to" and turning to walk towards the palace banquet.

Qi Jue looked troubled and explained to Chu Jin in a warm voice, "Grand Marshal Shen is quite concerned with face and wants to protect General Xiao Yan's image."

Chu Jin looked at that stern back and, combining it with what Qi Jue had just said, slightly revised his opinion of Shen Ke. A faint smile touched his lips. "Grand Marshal Shen seems very partial to General Xiao Yan."

Hearing this, Qi Jue's expression didn't change, but he gave him an extra look.

"Not just General Xiao Yan." His tone was unreadable, and with a hint of a smile, he said, perhaps intentionally, "This old friend of mine has always been like this. The colder his face, the more he cares in his heart."

The author has something to say:

Chuchu has met his father-in-law!

Also, what was written in Qi Yu's letters?

Other than not revealing Shen and Chu's relationship for fear that Grand Marshal Shen would storm Heshan, he wrote about everything else like a running account...