Chapter 2: The Xie Clan

At dawn, the fifth prince was already dressed and ready, stepping out as the vermilion doors slowly opened. He immediately spotted the man standing below the steps.

Though dressed in simple white, the man’s confidence and poise made him seem no less than anyone else. The morning light illuminated his face, exuding a reassuring charm.

The man approached with the wind, saying, “I am Xie Chang’an from Suyue, here to present Your Highness with a prosperous era.”

As the war intensified and the northern territories were on the brink of loss, the fifth prince finally gained the trust of the Jian’an Emperor and was given control of the court.

The Jian’an Emperor, the fifth prince, and Xuan held a secret meeting in the palace. Afterward, the Jian’an Emperor appointed Xuan as the General of Pacification, commanding 100,000 troops in the northern frontier and 120,000 in the western army, heading to the front lines to repel the enemy.

Xuan managed the military affairs of both regions from the northern military camp, strategically employing several overlooked generals. His strategic prowess was evident as the situation improved even in the distant west.

Later, as the Jian’an Emperor’s condition worsened, rendering him speechless, the fifth prince acted on his behalf, appointing Xuan as the Marshal of Pacification, overseeing all military forces in the west and north, keeping the enemy at bay.

The war dragged on for three months, with the three sides in a stalemate. Within the court, under the fifth prince’s leadership, internal disputes gradually subsided.

The Crown Prince of Jin, eager for war, held power in the court, with his mother’s family controlling politics. The Crown Prince of Jin, ambitious and arrogant, was lured into leading an expedition himself by Xuan’s strategy.

Subsequently, Xuan devised a plan to trap and kill the Crown Prince of Jin on the northern battlefield, causing chaos within the Jin army.

The political factions in Jin were embroiled in internal conflicts, and the military leaders were in disarray, leading to the collapse of the alliance between Jin and Shang. The morale of the Chu army in the north soared, reclaiming the northern territories and capturing seven cities of Jin, prompting Jin to send a peace proposal.

Xuan ordered troops to guard the northern frontier, focusing efforts on the west. With the alliance broken, the morale in Shang was unstable. Three months later, a decisive victory in the west led Shang to also send a peace proposal, bringing temporary peace to the land.

Reports reached the imperial capital, and the Jian’an Emperor, in tears, personally handed the imperial seal to the fifth prince before passing away.

The third and fourth princes, allying with court factions, accused the fifth prince of coercing the emperor to command the vassals, but the fifth prince swiftly quelled the rebellion.

The fifth prince ascended the throne as Emperor Ding’an.

Xuan returned to the capital, greeted personally by the emperor. Kneeling, Xuan declared, “I have won.”

The emperor replied, “So have I.”

They exchanged smiles, bringing peace to the realm.

Though the war ended, the country was in ruins and needed rebuilding.

Xuan returned victorious, and the emperor conferred upon him the title of Marquis of Pacification, granting him a fief of 3,000 households, inheritable by his descendants.

At this time, a secret report revealed corruption among officials in Luzhou, with collusion and embezzlement rampant, harming the people. The emperor secretly ordered Xuan to investigate.

Xuan went to Luzhou in disguise, investigating for over a month, uncovering the roots of the corruption and capturing the culprits. This sparked a wave of reform in the court.

The emperor was furious. Xuan volunteered to serve as an inspector, spending half a year to restore clarity to the court. The emperor was pleased, saying, “My judgment was not wrong.”

Young and promising, Xuan remained unmarried, maintaining a pure reputation. The powerful and influential families all sought to ally with him through marriage. Yet, despite living in the mortal world, Xuan seemed like a celestial being, untouchable and revered.

In the spring of the third year of Emperor Ding’an’s reign, Xuan found some leisure amidst his busy schedule, riding alone to the peach blossom forest outside the city at White Cloud Mountain. There, he encountered a young woman in red. She wielded a long sword, her movements as graceful as the wind. Xuan, unsure if it was the mesmerizing peach blossoms or the intoxicating fragrance, felt his heart stir.

News of the Marquis of Pacification marrying the third daughter of the General of Cavalry spread throughout Yingdu.

On that day, the ten-mile procession of red bridal attire made the young woman his alone.

Rumors in the city spoke of how the Marquis of Pacification cherished his wife dearly. One night, as they conversed, his wife said, “Did you know I went to the peach forest that day, hoping to meet you? But once there, I thought it would be difficult to find you in such a vast forest, so I danced with my sword. Who knew we would actually meet? I wonder if it was fate or mere coincidence.”

Xuan embraced his beloved wife, saying, “Whether fate or coincidence, among millions, I only see you, and I only wish to see you.” (tln : uwah so sweet ♥)