Following Lady Xiang’s gaze, Jiang Shiyuan leaned out to look. Their private room was positioned perfectly, facing the side of the royal viewing stands, allowing them to see everything clearly.
She saw Pei Zisu, flanked by a crowd of admirers, striding confidently onto the platform.
Jiang Shiyuan was too far to see his features distinctly, but he carried an aura as intense as a scorching sun illuminating the sky. He matched the memory of the young general she had known in her previous life.
The Pei family held immense power, and this young General Pei was gifted with extraordinary talent.
At fifteen, he had won seven consecutive battles, crushing the southern rebels and reclaiming nine cities, including Fancheng. Consequently, his fame was legendary, not just in Hanzhou, but throughout the entire Sui Dynasty.
Everyone said he was a rising star among generals, yet no one knew he was destined for a short life. He would die on a summer day before even reaching the age of twenty.
Jiang Shiyuan still remembered the scene from her past life: the imperial family dressed in plain mourning white and the civil and military officials observing three days of mourning. The common people were overcome with grief, mourning the young general whose brilliance had incited the jealousy of the Heavens. It was an event truly without precedent.
Before she could finish her silent sigh of lament, she saw him drop to one knee before the Emperor. Then, in a resonant voice, he spoke.
“By Your Majesty’s grace, this subject boldly asks for the four types of rootless water.”
As soon as he spoke, everyone present was struck with bewilderment. Such a golden opportunity could have been used to request a grand career or a perfect marriage, both of which would likely have been granted. Why on earth would he ask for something as trivial as “rootless water”?
“Rootless water? What is that?”
Lady Xiang looked equally puzzled, but Jiang Shiyuan, standing beside her, softly provided the answer.
“Rain, dew, frost, and snow.”
“What use does Cousin Pei have for such things?”
“Likely to be used as a medicinal catalyst.”
Jiang Shiyuan had been ill for years. To be fair, it wasn’t a fatal disease, yet she never fully recovered. She had managed to prolong her life until now solely because she took Condensation Pills.
The medicinal catalyst for those pills consisted of these four types of rootless water.
Collecting them was not exactly difficult, but it wasn’t simple either. It required years of meticulous care to preserve them. Thus, she wondered—could someone close to this young General Pei be ill as well?
On the stand, the old Emperor looked weary.
He had not been feeling well, and attending today was an act of sheer endurance. While the excitement of the race had distracted him earlier, now that things had settled, he felt a wave of exhaustion.
In particular, looking at the vibrant, energetic Pei Zisu before him made him feel his age acutely.
He recalled the recent reports of the Pei army returning victorious. He had expected Pei Zisu to ask for wealth or honors for the Pei family. Hearing the request for rootless water instead, the tension in the Emperor’s mind relaxed slightly. He gave a faint smile and turned to the eunuch attending him.
“Rootless water? Dezhong, does the Imperial Pharmacy have any in stock?”
The eunuch had frost-white hair at his temples, yet his face was smooth. He wore a well-fitted robe of dark green silk and thick-bottomed black boots. Bowing low, he answered in a high, thin voice.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, we do have some, but Princess Qinghuan took a portion a few days ago, so the remaining amount is small.”
“Oh? Qinghuan took some? Is that girl up to some strange new mischief again?”
“This servant is not entirely sure.”
Princess Qinghuan was the Emperor’s youngest daughter.
Having a daughter so late in life meant he doted on her immensely. Furthermore, in the year she was born, the Sui Dynasty won several battles in a row, and the northern tribes surrendered. Everyone claimed she was a lucky star sent from the Heavens. Consequently, she became the most favored princess in the dynasty. The people often whispered that had she been born a man, the throne would surely have fallen to her.
“Since there is some, bestow it all upon our beloved subject.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This servant obeys.”
Seeing this, a look of calm satisfaction appeared on Pei Zisu’s lips. His eyes, which remained steady whether facing honor or disgrace, were now full of respect as he looked up at the old Emperor. The absolute submission shown by such a valiant warrior gave the Emperor a moment of profound satisfaction.
“Very well. Next.”
Pei Zisu was not the only winner of the dragon boat race. Others stepped forward, and their requests were more in line with what the Emperor expected. He smilingly granted most of them. Meanwhile, the second cousin, Wang Kuan, and the third cousin, Wang Hong, who were waiting in line, laughed and questioned Pei Zisu as he walked down.
“I thought you were working so hard because you wanted to ask for a marriage. Instead, you asked for useless things. Tell us, what are they for?”
Pei Zisu looked at them with a smile but did not answer. His sturdy build and peerless handsome features caused many women nearby to steal bashful glances at him. Observing the noble, youthful spirit in his brow, the second cousin Wang Kuan couldn’t help but sigh.
“You’d better head back to Hanzhou, kid. Staying in the Western Capital will only cause trouble for many people. Look at those noble ladies; usually, they’re all ‘Brother Wang’ this and ‘Brother Wang’ that. Now, their eyes can’t see any other man but you.”
The third cousin, Wang Hong, patted his shoulder and gave a hearty laugh.
“Second Brother, that’s quite unreasonable. Your own abilities are lacking, so why blame Cousin Zisu?”
“You brat! You’ve been in Hanzhou for a few years and now you’re taking their side? What, are you going to change your name from Wang to Pei?”
The brothers teased each other, but they failed to notice that Pei Zisu was scanning the area. When he didn’t find the person he was looking for in the crowd, his expression turned indifferent.
“I’m dying of the sun. Let’s go back.”
Hearing those words from his mouth was truly shocking.
After all, he was the one who trained soldiers daily in Hanzhou, exposing his bare chest to the scorching sun. Back then, he was ruthless, pushing men until they felt like three layers of skin were peeling off. Now, to complain about being “dying of the sun” over this bit of heat—anyone could tell something was off.
Unfortunately, before the Wang brothers could press him for details, Pei Zisu walked away with long strides. Everywhere he went, low gasps of admiration followed in the crowd, though he didn’t seem to hear a single one of them.
As the festivities on the stand continued, Jiang Shiyuan ate another lychee in the private room.
The sweet and sour flavor melted in her mouth, lifting her mood. Just as she was about to reach for another, she was startled by a woman who burst into the room like a gust of wind.
“Aunt? What are you doing here?”
The newcomer was none other than Jiang Shiyuan’s aunt, the current mistress of the Marquis Wenyuan’s estate, and Lady Xiang’s mother-in-law.
Though over forty, she was extremely well-preserved.
She wore a front-opening long skirt embroidered with floral branches in a vase. The hem was made of plain gauze, and her shoes were set with bright pearls and intricate fish-scale patterns, looking quite beautiful.
If one didn’t know her age, they might mistake her for a noblewoman in her early thirties. In truth, she had four sons; with the exception of the youngest, all were nearly twenty years old.
“Greetings to Mother-in-law,” Lady Xiang said.