“It’s Bei Chenyuan…”
Bei Chenyuan—Jiang Yueli had heard the name for the first time. The War King of Bei, as Fu Qingchen had described him, was ruthless in battle and a master strategist. He was the youngest son of the late emperor of Bei. Though he did not inherit the throne, his position in Bei was unshakable.
Even the emperor had to act according to his mood. Since the new emperor ascended at age ten, it was Bei Chenyuan who had raised him. Compared to the young emperor, who was only thirteen or fourteen, Bei Chenyuan was the real power behind the throne. If he wished, he could replace the child emperor and claim the throne himself—but he did not. He existed only as the War God guarding Bei.
Jiang Yueli did not fully understand Bei Chenyuan’s power, but she knew this: he was the one who had injured her father.
The news of Jiang Shian’s severe injury could not be hidden from the family. When her grandmother and mother found out, they wept through the night. Though her grandmother did not outwardly overreact, she secluded herself in the Buddhist hall and did not emerge. She vowed that as long as her son remained unconscious, she would devote herself to fasting and prayer. She chanted scriptures and copied sutras daily. Already advanced in age and living mostly on a vegetarian diet, her nutrition fell short, and within ten days she had lost a considerable amount of weight and fallen ill.
Fortunately, a month later, news arrived from the frontier that her father had regained consciousness. However, due to the ongoing conflict at the border, the emperor sent reinforcements to Tongguan.
Even Jiang Yueli’s younger brother, Jiang Yuebai, who had previously been immature, seemed to suddenly grow up after their father’s injury. He had been practicing martial arts intensely. In the past, when Jiang Yueli wanted to spar with him, he would avoid her at all costs. Now, he sought her out for sparring. He said nothing, but Jiang Yueli could see he had plans.
The day the reinforcements departed, Jiang Yuebai left a letter for Jiang Yueli before heading to the frontier with the army. Jiang Yueli anticipated this decision but did not stop him. An eagle must spread its wings and fly; she could not prevent her brother from doing so out of fear for his safety. He wanted to protect their father, and she wished the same. Unfortunately, she was a girl.
At that time, Jiang Yuebai was only fourteen, still a young boy. Though trained in martial arts, the battlefield was far too dangerous for his skills to guarantee safety. Old Madam Jiang and Shen Nanzhi worried daily about his wellbeing. Fortunately, after a year of anxiety, no news of mishap reached them, and they finally relaxed.
Jiang Yueli’s coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen was modest. Old Madam Jiang invited only close friends and family, as well as Jiang Yueli’s maternal relatives. Last year, her mother’s family had just returned to the springlike Lingnan city and could not attend Old Madam Jiang’s birthday, sending gifts instead. Now, for Jiang Yueli’s coming-of-age, though the elder Jiang family could not attend, her two maternal cousins returned.
The two cousins arrived with two carts full of treasures, gifts prepared by Old Madam Jiang, her father, her uncles, and aunts. They also brought Jiang Yueli rare antiques. Knowing her maternal grandfather’s affection, Jiang Yueli naturally accepted their generosity.
Both cousins were strikingly handsome, especially the elder. Though stern in appearance, he doted on her the most. Initially, he worried her martial training was too harsh, but seeing her passion, he no longer objected.
On the day of the ceremony, the elder cousin presented a long, glossy red whip. Jiang Yueli fell in love with it at first sight.
“This is a Chilian python whip, made from the skin of a hundred-year-old red python. It’s flexible and agile. For a girl, practicing swordplay daily may appear ungainly, but this whip is perfect for self-defense. It can be tucked at the waist and drawn easily,” he explained.
Jiang Yueli twirled the whip; it moved like a dragon diving into the sea, like a snake emerging from its hole—graceful and nimble.
“A wonderful gift! I truly love it, thank you, elder cousin,” Jiang Yueli said, her eyes sparkling.
Shen Huaizhi ruffled her hair, a loving smile in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”
“Ali, you love what elder brother gave you, but don’t like what I brought?”
Shen Huaian placed his hands on his hips, mock-jealous. Jiang Yueli laughed and patted him. “Of course I like what second cousin brought!”
She eagerly opened the large chest Shen Huaian had brought. Inside were curious and exotic items, including a delicate pocket watch and an old-fashioned telescope—she hadn’t expected such things existed in this era.
“These are trinkets I collected traveling across lands. The small round object and the telescope came from a foreign merchant. The telescope can see very far, so I call it the Thousand-Mile Eye. The round object is cute and spins inside—fun to watch. There’s also an echo shell—you speak into it, and it echoes back. And this comb, made from ivory. I don’t know much about ivory, but it looks beautiful. I’ve collected many such items over the years,” Shen Huaian explained carefully.
Jiang Yueli examined them—all were impressive. Especially in this era, acquiring these items was no small feat. The telescope, in particular, would be a powerful tool for her father to scout enemy positions. The pocket watch was a modern convenience; judging time by the sun daily was inefficient.
“Second cousin, I love everything, thank you!” Jiang Yueli said, smiling broadly. Shen Huaian, seeing her genuine joy, gave Shen Huaizhi a meaningful look—proof that she didn’t find his gifts childish.
Shen Huaizhi’s dark, profound eyes briefly narrowed, his presence emanating a mysterious depth. Fu Qingchen and the Gu siblings, being among Jiang Yueli’s few friends, naturally did not miss her coming-of-age ceremony. Fu Qingchen gifted her a simple, elegant jade bracelet—vivid green, pure emerald, clearly valuable.
“Qingchen, this is too precious,” Jiang Yueli said instinctively, feeling she could not accept such an expensive gift. Shen Huaizhi also frowned, realizing the bracelet’s worth.
Fu Qingchen gently lifted her jade-white hand and personally placed the bracelet on her wrist, leaving no room for refusal. “Precisely because it is precious, it is only suitable for Ali. For you, the girl, is even more precious than this bracelet.”