A piece of Japanese incense

A bright moon hangs high in the sky, the stars twinkle, and the surroundings are quiet. Occasionally, the sound of birds singing can be heard, clear and distant.

The winding stream gurgled through the forest, the clear water reflecting the fine sand at the bottom. Feng Zhixu dipped the bloodstained silk into it, slowly rinsing it, his thoughts drifting away with the water...

Emperor Feng Weichu suddenly loosened Feng Zhixu's tightly clenched palm, waved his arm, and pushed him towards Yan Shaoyu.

"Grandpa Huang!"

Before Feng Zhixu could react, several sharp swords were already hanging above the emperor's neck like the shadow of death, flashing cold light.

"No time to lose, evacuate immediately!" Yan Shaoyu shouted in a low voice, and with his arm he grabbed and pulled Feng Zhixu, rushing towards the weakest gap in the encirclement...

Feng Zhixu had a lot of thoughts in his mind. Ever since he was rescued from the rebels by General Yan on the night of the Lantern Festival, Feng Zhixu had been retreating northward with the Yan army. In just a dozen days, they had experienced more than twenty life-and-death battles of varying sizes. The originally mighty force of hundreds of soldiers had now been reduced to less than two hundred.

At countless critical moments, Feng Zhixu thought he was going to die several times. However, every time, he watched in horror as his comrades-in-arms, who had shared life and death with him, risked their own lives, stood in front of him, and blocked the fatal blow for him.

He knew very well that he had an unshirkable mission. He had to survive and make it to Dream City alive, for his father, for his grandfather, for his brothers who sacrificed their lives, and for his mother - his mother was still there, and she must be anxiously awaiting his return.

He couldn't imagine how grief-stricken his mother would be after learning the tragic news of his father's death. He couldn't, absolutely couldn't let his mother endure the pain of losing her son again. He had to live.

Feng Zhixu wiped the dried blood from his forehead in the moonlight. His fingers touched the jasmine flowers embroidered on the silk handkerchief, and Ah He's shadow involuntarily appeared in his mind.

He originally wanted to go see her, but he wondered how she was doing now? Had the imperial physician Yun cured her of the poison? Was the Yun residence affected by the palace coup?

In the distance, the low roars of wild beasts can be faintly heard, as if reminding others that this is their territory.

"Zhixu, it's time to set off." Yan Shaoyu's gentle urging voice swept across the night sky. Feng Zhixu suddenly came back to his senses, his alertness increased, and he quickly returned to the team, continuing to move forward with difficulty under the cover of night.

"Are you feeling tired, Your Highness? Just hold on for another two days and we'll be safe when we meet up with the main force." Yan Shaoyu patted Feng Zhixu's shoulder and consoled him with concern.

"I'm fine, but Uncle Shaoyu must be eager to go home right now." Feng Zhixu raised the corners of his mouth slightly and tried to smile.

Feng Zhixu learned from others that Ah He's brother Yu Nian was actually the biological child of Shao Yu's uncle. And the Aunt Hong that Ah He often mentioned was actually the woman who made Shao Yu's uncle commit suicide for love after learning of her death, and never married for her.

Yan Shaoyu was originally ordered to escort the prince to the capital, but unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived in the capital, he received a secret letter. The letter contained only a few words, ordering him to stay put. He was doubtful, but the name of Hong Niang mentioned in the letter made him involuntarily feel a glimmer of hope, and he went to the place mentioned in the letter.

Standing on the city wall, in the crowd, his eyes were as sharp as torches, instantly locking onto that familiar figure, the person he missed day and night, who was still alive and well in this world. Standing next to her, the man who looked a little like him, touched his deepest emotions...

With his heart pounding, Yan Shaoyu was about to step forward to meet the mother and son, but unexpectedly, they disappeared into the vast crowd right before his eyes.

In desperation, he had to send someone to the palace to ask for help. For more than 20 years, he had no contact with his aunt. In the past, because he was dissatisfied with his and his sister's marriage being used as political pawns, he had a grudge with his aunt and father and left home in anger.

Unfortunately, he was cheated and lost all his money because of his inexperience in the world. He ended up working as a waiter in a tavern, and thus got acquainted with Hong Niang, who supplied game to the tavern.

In that remote countryside, they tied the knot and built a thatched cottage between the green hills, waiting for the arrival of a new life. However, soldiers found him and took him away by force.

He thought he had convinced his father and could bring Hongniang back home, but unexpectedly his aunt lied to him and told him that Hongniang had unfortunately passed away during childbirth and the child died before it was born.

Soon after, the situation at the border was unpredictable. Before he could get to the bottom of the truth, he hurried to Menghui City and began his 20-year garrison career...

Before the bell rang, he almost disobeyed the emperor's will for the safety of his mother and son. Fortunately, with the help of his aunt, he was able to rescue Zhixu and prevent the Yan family army from bearing the infamy of treason because of his actions.

Now, he only needs to bring Zhixu safely to Menghui City. By then, his aunt will lead the Yan family army back to the capital with the power of a man who can hold up the sky and the sea. Then he can be reunited with Hongniang, Nian'er and their family and enjoy the happiness of family life together.

However, things did not go as planned. While Yan Shaoyu was still looking forward to a better future, Yu Nian had been kneeling in the mourning hall for two days and two nights, without eating a single grain of rice or drinking a single drop of water, in extreme grief...

Feng Zhixu and his team finally arrived at the military camp. The moon was high in the sky and the wind was biting. In the military camp, bonfires were twinkling and the soldiers were wearing armor and holding spears. The soldier standing guard and patrolling in the night first recognized Yan Shaoyu and cheered excitedly:

"The general is back! The general is back with the little prince!"

Suddenly, soldiers swarmed in from all directions and surrounded them in a circle.

Yan Shaoyu looked around and anxiously pulled someone over to ask, "Where is Hong Niang? Where is my son?"

Everyone was silent. The chaotic atmosphere made Feng Zhixu panic. He whispered, "Uncle Shaoyu, let's go see the Empress Dowager first."

Yan Shaoyu noticed that everyone was silent, but they all looked in the same direction at the same time, fear roaring in their eyes, and he walked quickly in that direction anxiously.

The dim yellow lamps flickered with weak light, forming a sharp contrast with the hustle and bustle in the military camp. The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. The white gauze curtains hung low, like solidified grief, silently telling the heaviness of life and death.

Feng Zhixu followed closely behind and caught a glimpse of a man kneeling on a cushion in the middle of the mourning hall, carefully sketching with a paintbrush in his hand.

Yu Nian noticed the slight movement, and stopped moving his hands, looking back.

Yan Shaoyu walked silently to Yu Nian's side, lowered his head and stared at the portrait on the ground. The person in the painting had a warm smile, tender eyes, and was still gentle.

Yan Shaoyu looked at Yu Nian in disbelief, and then his gaze seemed to fall into an icy cave, fixed on the heavy wooden coffin behind the altar. His legs trembled, and he fell to his knees involuntarily, tears silently streaming down his face.

"Uncle, be careful!" Feng Zhixu hurriedly stepped forward and steadily supported Yan Shaoyu, who was on the verge of collapse.

"How could it be... How could Hong Niang..." Yan Shaoyu kept whispering questions of disbelief on his lips.

"General, the dagger pierced his heart and lungs. Even if we find all the famous doctors, they are powerless to save him... Alas..." a general stammered.

"How is this possible...how could this be..."

Yu Nian looked at everything in front of him indifferently, his eyes empty. He said nothing and continued to paint with his head down.

Not until the crowd gradually dispersed did Yu Nian slowly wipe the fruits on the table one by one, then carefully wiped the coffin, and hung the portrait in the center of the mourning hall, leaving the room quiet.

"During the Lantern Festival, what unusual movements occurred at night? Your Highness, please let me know." Yu Nian stood beside Feng Zhixu, bent down slightly, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

This was the first time Yu Nian had spoken to Feng Zhixu since he entered the Dream Return City. He described his experience that night in detail, letting Yu Nian know everything.

Yu Nian listened indifferently, with no fluctuation in his eyes, as if those words were nothing more than fallen leaves in the wind to him, meaningless.

After Feng Zhixu finished his story, he gently placed his hand on Yu Nian's shoulder and said to her in a gentle voice, "The past is gone, and the world is as impermanent as a dream. You don't have to stay in sorrow for too long."

Yu Nian still had no expression on his face, like an isolated frozen island. It seemed as if he had wrapped himself in frost since the Lantern Festival. All sounds from the outside world seemed to be blocked by the cold, leaving only icy echoes.