Chapter 206: The Sword And The Flower

The frontier cities were mostly used for stationing troops.  

The General’s Mansion was built in the center of the city and served as the residence for the generals who had been stationed in Xinzhou and guarded Yanmen Pass throughout various dynasties. Inside, it housed essential facilities such as the confidential seal office, the records room, and the provisions department. Though small in scale, it was fully equipped. In a small city like Xinzhou, its land area was considered quite extensive.  

Yan Lin led them all the way to the entrance.  

“The city has already received news of Master Xie’s arrival to oversee the military. All ranked officers, big and small, are waiting inside,” he said as he dismounted at the gate, handing the reins to a nearby soldier. He also casually helped Jiang Xuening, who was about to dismount beside him, before addressing Xie Wei, who had just stepped out of the carriage. With a wave of his hand, he added, “Please, sir.”  

Xie Wei was not wearing official robes, only plain clothes.  

Others had heard that a high-ranking official from the capital had arrived in the frontier city these past two days and had been speculating about what kind of person he might be. When they saw him, they were momentarily stunned, followed by astonishment.  

How could someone like this be an official?  

Xie Wei paid no attention to the others. After alighting from the carriage, he ascended the steps alongside Yan Lin and entered the General’s Mansion. He then asked, “Would you like to join the meeting?”  

Jiang Xuening was taken aback before realizing, “Are you asking me?”  

Xie Wei glanced at her but said nothing.  

Jiang Xuening inexplicably shivered, feeling that Xie Ju’an’s gaze was chilling. She straightened her back instinctively but glanced at Yan Lin, considering the relationship between the two. Deciding it was best not to get involved, she said, “No, I wouldn’t understand any of it. Let Yan Lin have someone take me to rest instead.”  

The way she casually called him “Yan Lin” made those around them break into a cold sweat.  

Yet she remained oblivious.  

Yan Lin, on the other hand, had no objections. He summoned the old steward of the General’s Mansion and asked him to take Jiang Xuening to the guest quarters.  

Xie Wei, meanwhile, waved to Jian Shu and said, “You go with her.”  

Jian Shu bowed his head and replied, “Yes.”  

He stepped back from Xie Wei’s side and automatically followed Jiang Xuening.  

This left Jiang Xuening somewhat puzzled.  

However, upon reflection, she thought that although Yan Lin had already taken control of the military, it hadn’t been long. In such times, who knew if something unexpected might happen? It was better to be cautious, and having someone accompany her couldn’t hurt.  

So she said nothing more and turned to follow the steward.  

Yan Lin, watching Jian Shu following behind her, suddenly frowned for some reason, sensing that faint, inexplicable unease again.

He turned his gaze to Xie Wei.  

Xie Wei, however, showed no reaction. He simply said, “Let’s go,” and then passed through the hallway, heading toward the meeting hall.  

The frontier garrison consisted of a hundred thousand soldiers, with more than a dozen named generals, not to mention the local officials of Xinzhou. Thus, when Xie Wei arrived, the scene was quite lively.  

He remained calm and composed, but the others were somewhat uneasy.  

After all, winter was approaching, and there had never been a precedent for initiating a campaign during the winter. Each of them had their own concerns.  

Yan Lin had arrived in Xinzhou a month ago.  

Alone and unaccompanied.  

At that time, he had neither a transfer order nor an imperial decree. He was even a “criminal minister” who had left his place of exile without permission. Fortunately, few people on the frontier recognized him, allowing him to thoroughly assess the situation there.  

The Yongyi Marquis House had always been in charge of military operations.  

Many of the frontier generals were old subordinates of his father, Yan Mu.  

This should have been a good thing.  

However, after the incident at the Marquis House, many of these individuals were implicated. Some were unable to advance further in the military, while others were demoted or dismissed. Those in charge of the hundred thousand troops in Xinzhou naturally belonged to the Xiao faction.  

So, on the day he took power, to ensure that future orders would be carried out smoothly, Yan Lin did one thing.  

“Executed?”  

Jiang Xuening followed the steward toward the guest quarters, taking the opportunity to inquire about the affairs of the frontier city. However, she learned something that Yan Lin had not mentioned earlier on the street, leaving her momentarily stunned.  

“Executing a general on the eve of battle…”  

The old steward, hunched with age, showed no pity for the unfortunate soul who had lost his head. In a muffled voice, he said, “General Yan has only just arrived in Xinzhou, but hasn’t he done a great service for the people? Over the years, with no battles to fight on the frontier, many parasites have emerged, sucking the blood of us common folk. That execution was a relief—well deserved!”  

Jiang Xuening suddenly fell silent.  

The old steward continued to ramble, “With the Tatars about to attack, a bunch of good-for-nothings still want to avoid fighting. Yesterday, it was the princess sent off for a political marriage; tomorrow, those dogs might come to plunder the daughters of our city! A general who doesn’t want to fight is a good general, but a general who dares not fight deserves to be dragged out and beheaded. You arrived a bit late. Had you come a few days earlier, the blood on the platform outside the city wouldn’t have dried yet. Quite a sight.”  

Jian Shu glanced discreetly at Jiang Xuening.  

Jiang Xuening seemed lost in thought.  

The old steward finally reached the guest quarters and, after speaking for a while, suddenly realized he might have said too much. He quickly bowed and said, “Look at me, old and rambling. I don’t even know if such talk is appropriate in front of a noble guest. Please don’t take offense.”  

Jiang Xuening was merely surprised.  

But in truth, there was nothing particularly shocking about it.

To establish a firm foothold in such a place and truly take control of military power, decisive and ruthless measures are indispensable. Only by making an example of someone can the rest be intimidated, and only then can the old subordinates of the Marquis House truly submit.  

She simply felt a pang of pity for the young man of the past—  

Alone and unassisted in such a place, having to make critical decisions in isolation, he must have faced countless hardships. Yet, when he met her, he never mentioned any of it, as if everything had gone smoothly.  

Jiang Xuening thanked the old steward and entered the room. She found that the room had been meticulously arranged, far more refined than the rough exterior suggested. On the dressing table, there was even a newly purchased box of rouge.  

She couldn’t help but smile.  

Turning to Jian Shu, she said, “I’ll stay in the room and won’t go out. You should go back and follow your master. In case he needs anything, you’ll be there to assist.”  

Jian Shu hesitated for a moment, likely also concerned about the unfamiliar environment of Xinzhou. He bowed to her and, without saying much, took his leave, heading back toward the meeting hall.  

When Xie Wei arrived, he naturally first familiarized himself with the situation in the city.  

The generals’ greatest concern was the state of their provisions.  

The court had sent Xie Wei under the guise of overseeing the military, but in reality, it was to prevent a mutiny on the frontier. Naturally, they had made no preparations for provisions, not even the slightest hint of it. However, Xie Wei and Yan Lin had other plans. They were determined to fight the Tatars and rescue Shen Zhiyi. Therefore, when responding to questions about provisions, Xie Wei showed no trace of panic, simply stating that the supplies were already on their way and urging everyone not to worry.  

With such assurance from a high-ranking official from the capital, the others felt somewhat relieved.  

After the meeting concluded, it was announced that a banquet would be held that evening to welcome Xie Wei and wash away the dust of his journey. Everyone then took their leave.  

Only Xie Wei and Yan Lin remained in the hall.  

The tea in the cup had cooled to barely lukewarm.  

Xie Wei picked it up and took a sip.  

Yan Lin, however, watched him intently, a rare hint of hesitation in his eyes, even carrying a peculiar scrutiny. He tried to discern something from Xie Wei’s expression, attempting to connect it with his father’s hopes and watchfulness over the past two years.  

Back when the Yongyi Marquis House faced the calamity of being raided and nearly wiped out, someone had stepped in to help.  

That person was Xie Wei.  

But what was his connection to the Marquis House? On the surface, there was none—he was merely Yan Lin’s tutor during his studies in the palace.  

Back then, when his father was ill, Yan Lin had his own suspicions and asked, “Who exactly is Master Xie?”  

His father coughed violently but refused to reveal more.

His father’s eyes welled up with tears as he replied, “He is someone you must trust completely.”  

At that moment, Yan Lin had an inkling of the answer in his heart.  

After a long silence, Yan Lin finally said, “Thank you, sir, for your care over these years.”  

Xie Wei lowered his gaze and asked, “How is the Marquis?”  

Yan Lin replied, “In previous years, the burdens in the capital took their toll, and his health had already deteriorated. It worsened on the way to Huangzhou. However, after arriving there, life became simpler and more peaceful. It seemed as though some emotional knot had been untied, and his health actually improved. When I left Huangzhou, Master Lu came to take care of him, and he has been settled comfortably.”  

Xie Wei nodded slightly and fell silent.  

He had never been an easy person to get close to.  

Yan Lin found it hard to reconcile that his former tutor was actually his elder brother. He blinked, still unable to change how he addressed him, and asked, “Sir, what about the court? How will you handle them?”  

Xie Wei replied, “The frontier is still some distance from the capital. A matter as significant as war cannot be kept entirely secret, even if Xinzhou is under our control. Therefore, the battle must be swift and decisive. If the court reacts before we achieve our goals, we may find ourselves caught between two fronts. However, if we can defeat the Tatars and rescue the princess before the court intervenes, we will have gained the upper hand. By then, I will simply claim that when I arrived in Xinzhou, the frontier troops were already under your control, and there was nothing I could do to change the situation. With you holding military power and enjoying the support of the people, the court will not dare to confront you directly. Instead, they will try to appease you, offering you a title of nobility, such as a duke, marquis, or earl.”  

Yan Lin frowned immediately. “A title of nobility?”  

Xie Wei looked at him with a faint, enigmatic smile. “You don’t want it?”  

Yan Lin answered frankly, “No, I don’t.”  

Xie Wei gently set down his teacup, the subtle curve at the corner of his lips hinting at something deeper. “If you don’t want it, that’s simple enough.”  

Their conversation didn’t last long.  

Xie Wei had also traveled a long and arduous journey to get here. With the evening banquet still ahead, he exchanged a few more words with Yan Lin before leaving the meeting hall. He returned to his guest quarters, inquired about Jiang Xuening’s situation, freshened up, and rested for a couple of hours.  

As the sky darkened, someone came to invite him, and he stepped out again.  

The welcoming banquet was held in the General’s Mansion.  

Everyone knew that a distinguished guest from the capital had arrived.  

Aside from the ethereal Master Xie, the most attention-grabbing figure was the “Second Miss Ning.” No one knew her true identity or name, but since those who accompanied her addressed her as such, everyone followed suit, assuming her surname was “Ning” and that she was the second daughter in her family.

The news of how General Yan treated her with such special care had already spread throughout Xinzhou City in just one afternoon.  

No one in the mansion dared to slight her.  

Moreover, Yan Lin had given explicit instructions, so when the evening banquet was held, she was naturally invited to attend.  

The courtyard outside had been transformed. The tables and chairs in the meeting hall were rearranged, and rare delicacies and fine wines were brought out.  

By the time Jiang Xuening arrived, most of the guests were already seated.  

Xie Wei sat at the head of the table.  

Yan Lin sat across from him.  

Jiang Xuening, thinking she was just there to eat and drink, didn’t join the main crowd. Instead, she sat closer to the wives and daughters of the officials and generals, listening to their stories about life on the frontier.  

Without a doubt, Jiang Xuening became the center of attention among these ladies.  

People couldn’t help but be curious about her identity.  

She didn’t reveal her family background, only stating that she was Xie Wei’s student and Yan Lin’s friend. Upon hearing this, the crowd gasped in admiration and even toasted her with wine.  

Jiang Xuening wasn’t much of a drinker.  

But after the hardships of the journey and finally arriving at the frontier, with You Fangyin and Lu Xian soon to arrange the provisions and supplies, they could finally launch an attack on the Tatars and rescue the princess. She felt a sense of anticipation and joy, so she half-heartedly accepted a couple of cups of wine and soon felt a bit dizzy.  

The women of the frontier were truly bold and unrestrained.  

Even the married women, unlike the strict discipline of the military, were quite open-minded. Seeing that Jiang Xuening didn’t outright refuse, they became even more enthusiastic about urging her to drink.  

After downing two more cups, Jiang Xuening suddenly felt a sense of alarm.  

She didn’t dare to be too reckless in such a setting, and after all, she wasn’t a girl raised in the north. She couldn’t handle much more, so she quickly made an excuse to step out for some fresh air to sober up and slipped away.  

Over at the generals’ table, the wine had already flowed freely for several rounds.  

Yan Lin, seeing Jiang Xuening leave from a distance, couldn’t help but feel concerned. He excused himself to those around him and across from Xie Wei, set down his wine cup, and followed her out of the hall.  

Behind him, good-natured laughter erupted.  

Who hadn’t heard the rumors circulating in the city today?  

Though no one knew the true identity of the “Second Miss Ning,” it wasn’t hard to guess that she was someone special to Yan Lin.  

Seeing him follow her out, everyone knew exactly what he was up to.  

Someone at the banquet quipped, “Even heroes can’t escape the charms of a beauty.”

The others naturally chimed in with agreement.  

Only Xie Wei watched coldly, picking up his wine cup.  

Everyone present knew that this man was the Emperor’s teacher, and no one dared to slight him. Seeing him raise his cup, they immediately approached with smiles, eager to toast him.  

Xie Wei held his cup without refusal.  

His fingers were long and elegant, like jade bamboo, and his manner of drinking was refined. However, his expression remained aloof, and he showed little warmth toward others. The generals, sensing his detachment, grew more cautious and respectful, not daring to overstep.  

In the corridor, lanterns hung brightly, and servants bustled about, refilling wine and serving dishes.  

Jiang Xuening, having left the hall, sat on a bench at the corner, letting the cool breeze refresh her.  

The northern wind was chilly, and its touch against her face quickly sobered her.  

Yan Lin stepped out of the hall and immediately spotted her silhouette in the dim light. As he was about to approach, his gaze fell on a cluster of small carnations blooming by the corridor.  

The flowers were white on the outside with a purple center.  

Though only the size of a coin, they were charming and rare in the harsh northern climate.  

He paused for a moment, a smile tugging at his lips as he bent down to pluck one, along with a slender stem about the length of a finger and a small leaf.  

Twirling it between his fingers, he walked toward Jiang Xuening, hands behind his back.  

When he was close, he cleared his throat softly.  

Jiang Xuening turned and saw him, her brows rising in surprise. She stood up and smiled, “Why did you come out too?”  

Yan Lin replied, “I saw you leave.”  

Jiang Xuening looked up, tilting her head slightly to meet his gaze, and muttered, “This is Xinzhou. You’re the commander of the army. It’s not proper to leave the banquet so casually. If you’re this reckless, be careful Master Xie scolds you later.”  

Yan Lin thought, what was there to worry about?  

Though it had been nearly a day since their arrival, between discussions and arrangements, they hadn’t had a proper chance to talk except for some casual conversation on the way here.  

He looked at her and asked, “How have you been these past two years?”  

From the distant hall, the sounds of clinking cups and lively chatter drifted over.  

But here, it was utterly quiet.  

The lanterns swayed gently in the cool breeze, and in Jiang Xuening’s vision, they seemed to sway as well.  

She smiled softly, “How could I not be well?”  

After a moment of silence, she asked in return, “And you?”

Yan Lin’s deep black eyes were illuminated by the faint, warm glow of the lanterns. He spoke slowly, “It hasn’t been as bad as you might think.”  

For a moment, they stood in silence, words unnecessary.  

The night sky was a deep, ink-like blue, with a bright moon hanging high above.  

Its silvery light was as pure and cold as frost.  

Yan Lin took a step closer and asked, “Why did you come with Master Xie?”  

Jiang Xuening thought of Xie Wei but didn’t respond.  

Yan Lin watched her for a long moment before asking, “What about Zhang Zhe?”  

At that moment, Jiang Xuening felt as though she had been struck.  

It had been a while since she last thought of him.  

Hearing his name suddenly brought a dull, unfamiliar pain surging up, moistening her eyes. She didn’t know what to say, her gaze dimming as she lowered her eyes.  

But words weren’t really needed.  

Yan Lin had, after all, accompanied her through those carefree days of mischief in the streets and alleys. He might not have known her completely, but he could read her emotions well enough to guess that things hadn’t ended well.  

After a moment of hesitation, he pulled out the small carnation he had picked earlier and held it out to her.  

He smiled gently, “It’s not such a big deal. Here, I saw this and picked it for you. Don’t be sad.”  

In the quiet night, the tiny petals trembled delicately.  

Jiang Xuening’s gaze shifted from his face to the flower, and she was reminded of that rainy night long ago, the string of winter jasmine. Tears welled up and clung to her lashes, but she only looked at him, not reaching out to take the flower.  

Yan Lin suddenly felt a surge of anger.  

Angry at her for being like this.

For a moment, he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tightly, but he was no longer the reckless youth of his younger days. Instead, he said, “Even if it’s not Zhang Zhe, it’s still not me, is it?”  

Jiang Xuening didn’t dare to answer.  

Yan Lin suddenly laughed, a bitter edge to his voice.  

He looked at the carnation for a moment, then pinched off the flower at the top, leaving only the slender stem with its small leaf. He held it out to her, his expression a mix of indulgence, helplessness, and a faint trace of sorrow. “It’s still a token of my feelings. Don’t let it go to waste.”  

Only then did Jiang Xuening take it.  

Her nose tingled, and her eyes stung. She almost choked on her words as she whispered, “Okay.”  

Yan Lin, however, smiled and ruffled her hair. “It’s been two years, and you’re still like this? No wonder he didn’t want you.”  

Jiang Xuening thought to herself, *Was it ever about whether Zhang Zhe wanted me or not?*  

Though her heart was heavy with sadness, his playful tousling of her hair broke through her melancholy, and she couldn’t help but laugh. She scolded him lightly, “If Magistrate Zhang heard you talking nonsense like this, even with his good temper, he’d probably punch you.”  

Yan Lin looked at her, not arguing, and simply said, “It’s cold out here. Let’s go back.”  

Jiang Xuening thought about it and realized she was tired. She didn’t want to return to the banquet, so she nodded, planning to go back to her room and rest.  

But after taking a few steps, she stopped.  

Turning around, she held the slender stem in her hand and looked at Yan Lin, who had grown even taller and more mature. She spoke with utmost sincerity, “Yan Lin, I’m not unhappy. I’m really glad.”  

*I’m really glad that you’re still the boy who would pick flowers for me.*  

*Even though…*  

*I’m no longer the girl who can accept your flowers without a second thought.*  

She walked away, her figure gradually disappearing into the distance.  

The lanterns in the corridor still glowed as brightly as before.  

Yan Lin stood tall, his shadow stretching long on the ground. His fingers, calloused from years of wielding a sword, held the small purple-and-white carnation, its head drooping silently.  

After a long while, he finally smiled softly.

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