110 Five Years Later

Time flew like a shuttle, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Five years can change a person in countless ways. I was no longer the girl I had been at sixteen; I was twenty-one now, considered an adult in this world.

I set down my brush. A painting of a solitary wintersweet blooming amid the snow had already come vividly to life before me. Over the past five years, besides directing the commercial enterprises from behind the scenes, I had devoted myself to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. If my body had been suited to it, I would even have taken up martial arts, but under the physician’s repeated advice, I had been forced to abandon the idea.

“Mother…”

Nono’s voice rang out. The child came stumbling into the room and threw herself straight into my arms.

“What is it, sweetheart?” I lifted her up.

She pouted without saying a word. The child was practically carved from the same mold as Li Yexuan. At such a young age, she was already devious to the extreme, pretending to be foolish and adorable in order to win all sorts of advantages. The heroic air between her brows was in no way inferior to Li Yexuan’s.

Sometimes I thought Heaven truly was unfair. Why did this child resemble Li Yexuan so much?

“She doesn’t cry when she falls during her exercises, but the moment you say she hasn’t been working hard enough, her little mouth droops like an oil flask.”

My younger brother entered the room. He was no longer the child he had once been. He was sixteen now, and I could not help sighing over how old I had grown.

“Uncle, you’re awful.”

“All right, Mufeng, don’t cry, don’t cry.”

My son was named Huangfu Mufeng, taking my family name. Though he had no biological father, he had a godfather and two uncles who doted on him, and he lived an exceedingly happy life. He rarely shed tears, but whenever he did, the entire island’s heart broke along with his.

“Let Mother take a look at you and change you into clean clothes, all right?” I placed him on the couch.

“Sister, let me do it.”

My younger brother had just stepped forward when I stopped him.

“Don’t meddle. Go call Afu here.”

He pouted and went out to fetch her.

Sometimes I wondered whether coming to the island had truly been a good thing. Over these five years, with Gu Teng and Dongfang Qingyu by his side, my younger brother had come to life in a way I had never expected. Once, I had been deeply afraid that he would grow into a cold and ruthless emperor—someone who killed without blinking, ruled through tyranny, and schemed at every turn. Fortunately, that had not happened.

A child ought to have the nature of a child. I had never forced Mufeng to do anything; I let him pursue whatever interested him. He happened to love martial arts, though, and despite his young age, his skill was already considerable.

After giving birth to Mufeng, I remained unconscious for an entire day and night. In the end, I only awoke after Gu Teng brought out an ancient clan medicine called the Fragrant Essence Pill. From that day onward, a strange fragrance left by the pill lingered upon my body.

About half a month after I awoke, news arrived of Li Yexuan. Not only had he survived, he had also assisted the Fifth Prince, Li Zheng, in ascending the throne. By my reckoning, that child must be thirteen by now—only three years younger than my brother. As for Li Yexuan, he had become Regent.

The Crown Prince had vanished without a trace, while the Second Prince, Li Ming, had been granted the title of Prince Ming. As for Yun Heng, it seemed he had suffered some minor repercussions, though I did not know the details.

After that, whenever there was news of Li Yexuan, Dongfang Qingyu and Gu Teng never kept it from me. They were afraid I might suffer another shock, and they certainly could not bear to frighten me again.

I had changed greatly over the years as well. Gu Teng often joked that I had become increasingly careless about propriety. During the first few years, I had clung to him and insisted on calling him “Brother,” but now I simply called him Gu Teng.

“Auntie Fu.”

Mufeng’s sweet voice rang out when he spotted Afu entering the room.

“Princess, let me do it.” Afu reached for the little shirt in my hands.

“I’m his mother. What is there to fear? I’ll do it.”

Mufeng cooperated completely as I changed his dirty clothes. His little hands waved about as I dressed him.

He grew larger with every passing day. At first, I had not known the slightest thing about holding or caring for a child. Now I was perfectly capable of looking after him on my own.

They said women forgot everything after having children, and that saying was not wrong in the least. Mufeng’s growth had brought me endless joy, and little by little, I had cast many of the grudges of the past behind me.

Once, I had thought that if Li Yexuan had never deceived me, perhaps Mufeng could have grown up with both father and mother by his side. But I immediately took back such foolish thoughts. Without Li Yexuan, where would Mufeng have come from? He and I belonged to two entirely different worlds now.

“Princess, I think Young Master Dongfang has returned. I’ll go downstairs first.”

“All right.”

No wonder I had heard sounds outside. Dongfang Qingyu had left the island again half a month ago, and it was about time he returned. For the past five years, he had been constantly traveling back and forth, and it had truly been hard on him. Afu had deliberately given us time alone. I could only be grateful for her kindness.

“Godfather, hold me.”

Mufeng had not even finished fastening his clothes before he hurried to the doorway and wrapped his arms around Dongfang Qingyu’s leg as he stepped inside.

“Godfather will hold you. Mufeng has grown so heavy.”

Dongfang Qingyu scooped him up with one strong arm, lifted him high over his head, then brought him down and held him against his chest.

“You’re back,” I said, coming forward to straighten Mufeng’s clothes.

“I missed my precious Mufeng terribly, of course I had to come back.”

“Mufeng missed Godfather too.”

The large and the small one rubbed their foreheads together.

“All right, come down now. Your godfather must be exhausted from hurrying back.” I reached out to take Mufeng, but unexpectedly, the child tightened both arms around Dongfang Qingyu’s neck. His pitiful eyes told me that he had no intention of leaving him.

I froze.

At five, he was old enough to understand and remember things. Was he longing for a father’s love?

“Godfather still wants to hold little Mufeng,” Dongfang Qingyu said, “but Godfather is longing for the pastries Mufeng’s mother makes. Would Mufeng like some too?”

“I want… to eat…”

Dongfang Qingyu carried Mufeng to his seat and placed him on his lap.

Smiling, I brought food for both of them, then brewed a cup of tea for Dongfang Qingyu and a cup of goat-milk tea for Mufeng.

“Tea from outside is never as good as the tea you brew.”

His words reminded me of the past, when things had been much the same.

“That’s because you’ve worked so hard.”

Watching Dongfang Qingyu amuse Mufeng, I felt an incomparable sense of contentment and could not help smiling. Perhaps the child knew that Dongfang Qingyu had always been there since the day he came into this world. That was why he was so attached to him.

Before long, Mufeng fell asleep in Dongfang Qingyu’s arms.

“He’s still only a child. He made quite a commotion today, and I knew he was tired. Give him to me.”

“I’ll do it. You sit.”

Dongfang Qingyu carried Mufeng outside and handed him over to Afu.

Dongfang Qingyu had come back to discuss the commercial affairs of the three kingdoms with me.

Over the past five years, I had established a commercial empire that extended throughout the Cloud Soaring Kingdom, the Moonlit Kingdom, and the Northern Peace Kingdom.

The Soaring Heaven Pavilion controlled the most luxurious inns, restaurants, pleasure houses, gambling halls, and all manner of entertainment establishments.

The Cloud Heaven Pavilion manufactured and resold weapons. It also maintained a number of underground forces. The Twelve Slayers had trained many new members during those five years. Some took on assignments, while most gathered intelligence from the three kingdoms. Their informants could be found in every corner.

The Purple Heaven Pavilion was the birthplace of clothing, jewelry, and ornaments.

The industries under the three pavilions were already beyond counting. There was scarcely an occupation they had not touched. As the greatest owner behind the scenes, all I needed to do was wave a hand, and the silver throughout the Central Plains would probably tremble.

Five years had passed, and countless plans had flowed from my brush. I had also introduced a modern system of shareholding. Dongfang Qingyu and Gu Teng had received so many benefits that their hands had grown soft from counting them.

The beginning had not been easy. No matter how much silver the island possessed, it could not all be brought into the outside world. Fortunately, I had the City Lord’s Token given to me by Baili Yue.

I had once sent Dongfang Qingyu to Maple Leaf City, where he received the vigorous support of Baili Yue and Baili Changfeng. The path for the three pavilions into the Moonlit Kingdom was thus opened. The Cloud Soaring Kingdom was familiar territory to both my brother and me, so naturally there had been no difficulty there. As for the Northern Peace Kingdom, I had no idea what method Dongfang Qingyu had used to settle matters.

Gu Teng had even come to ask whether I intended to expand into the Great Desert. I told him no. The Central Plains were already vast enough to keep us busy, and the desert was no smaller. Where would I find the time?

Most of the people on Cloud Soaring Island were still ordinary folk, and I could not bear to disturb their peace.

On countless nights, I had sat beneath the candlelight, taking up my brush and writing one policy after another. Afu, who ground ink for me, had nearly dropped her entire head into the inkstone from drowsiness more than once. I could not say whether it had truly been苦苦苦 — I mean, whether it had been bitter or not.

During the day, whenever Dongfang Qingyu or Gu Teng took one of my plans in hand, they would always let out a resounding cry of approval.

“Excellent!”

Their voices would startle both Afu, who was dozing, and me awake. Mufeng, sleeping in his cradle, would then burst into tears, and everyone would rush over to soothe him.

At times, I almost felt as though I had returned to my previous life. As the ruler of a commercial empire, my only concern had been how to obtain greater profits.

“What are you thinking about? I’ve been standing in front of you for quite some time, and you didn’t even notice.”

Dongfang Qingyu waved a hand before my eyes.

“Nothing. How was your trip this time?”

His expression grew somewhat solemn.

“There are rumors that the former emperor of the Cloud Soaring Kingdom—your father—left behind a treasure. People everywhere are trying to find out what became of you and Zijun.”

My fingers tightened around the teacup. Father had been gone for six years, and they still refused to let the matter rest?

“In any case, my brother and I know nothing about any treasure. Who started the rumor?”

“The imperial palace of the Cloud Soaring Kingdom.”

“That woman truly will stop at nothing to wipe out every last trace of her enemies.”

“When do you plan to leave the island? The authority in your hands is not a problem. You are only lacking troops. You may have to leave the island before anything can truly be accomplished.”

“Mufeng is still young.”

It was not that I had never considered it. The child was simply too young, and I wanted to keep him by my side.

“Ziyun, I know you don’t like living this way. You don’t care for power, and you dislike…” Dongfang Qingyu took my hand, an unfamiliar emotion showing in his eyes. Even before me, he rarely allowed himself to reveal so much. “Revenge.”

“You understand me after all.” I smiled and gently withdrew my hand. “What happens to me is not important. But I know my brother cannot go on like this. He is Huangfu Zijun, the future heir to the Cloud Soaring Kingdom. My brother cannot remain an ordinary person for his entire life.

“And my son cannot hide forever either, living without even an identity. If one cannot fight for bread, one must at least fight for dignity. A person has to accomplish something in this life.”

“Don’t do this to yourself.”

Dongfang Qingyu pressed my head against his chest and wrapped one arm around me.

After a long while, I pushed him away.

“I’m fine.”

Men were not to be relied upon. I would never forget that.

Dongfang Qingyu noticed the painting I had just completed and quickly changed the subject.

“Your painting has improved tremendously.”

“That’s only natural…”