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Inside Dengzhou city, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze blew. Cao Ping's heart was filled with barely suppressed excitement; he had finally received Huirou, whom he had longed for. The moment they met, everything around them seemed to blur into a background, their eyes seeing only each other. The longing that had accumulated during their separation surged forth like a flood. They clung tightly to each other, pouring out their sorrows of separation, their words filled with mutual concern and deep affection. Their profound and unwavering love moved even those who witnessed it.

Meanwhile, after much earnest persuasion, the King of Goryeo finally convinced his ministers to accept the plan to conquer the Liao Dynasty. Without delay, the King began to gather the last of his troops, preparing for a desperate gamble to secure a new future for Goryeo. Once everything was ready, Goryeo sent envoys hastily to demand the promised weapons from the Kim general. Upon seeing this, the Kim general only provided a batch of weapons for training, then assured them that as long as the Goryeo army marched as planned and reached the border, there would be ample supplies of weapons, and they had nothing to worry about.

Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, three years have passed quietly. Under Jin Shuai's meticulous governance, Dengzhou has undergone a complete transformation, a truly remarkable change. The streets are clean and wide, shops stand side by side, and the people live and work in peace and contentment—a scene of prosperity and flourishing.

Two years ago, after General Jin returned from the Goryeo battlefield, Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, fulfilled his promise and issued an edict to confer upon him the title of King, with his fiefdom including Dengzhou and some territory previously seized from Goryeo. After General Jin took over his fiefdom, he left Cao Ping to guard Dengzhou. In the past two years, Cao Ping and Princess Huirou of Fukang also successfully married and lived a stable and happy life. Now, they are blessed with a son, and their family is complete.

Upon learning the good news, Jin Shuai sent a congratulatory message and also recounted in detail the plan he had privately discussed with Zhao Zhen years ago to Cao Ping and Huirou. Cao Ping had no objections. After all, he was already a man who had "died on the battlefield" in name only, and his current life was entirely due to Zhao Zhen's blessing, which allowed him to be with Huirou. He would always remember this kindness. As for letting their child take the Zhao surname to maintain ties with the royal family, he had no complaints whatsoever, feeling it was only natural. Huirou also understood the reasons and gently expressed her support. The family of three continued their peaceful and warm life in the tranquil land of Dengzhou.

Inside the Jin residence in Tokyo, the courtyards were deep and tranquil. Recalling two years ago when General Jin strongly urged Goryeo to launch a western expedition against the Liao Kingdom, the scene was now quite different.

Initially, the Kim dynasty provided Goryeo with a batch of excellent weapons, which greatly boosted the Goryeo army's strength. They advanced rapidly, conquering cities and seizing territory in Liaodong. However, the Goryeo king was not incompetent; he was not blinded by successive victories and did not choose to expand recklessly. He assessed the situation carefully, selectively seizing strategic locations and fertile lands. After conquering territory that was one-third larger than Goryeo's original borders, he decisively halted his expansion and began to focus on recuperation, internal affairs, and pacifying the people.

Upon learning of this, Jin Shuai greatly appreciated the Goryeo king's rational decision to stop at the right time. He knew that if Goryeo were to recklessly pursue its goals and exhaust its young and able-bodied population, even if it occupied vast territories, it would be an extremely long process to recuperate and recover its strength. In fact, its foundation might be unstable, and it would ultimately suffer more losses than gains.

After Goryeo rebuilt its nation on its new territory and consolidated its rule, it immediately submitted a letter of state to the Song Dynasty, formally submitting and becoming a vassal state of the Song. With this, the Jin general's affairs in Goryeo came to an end, and he naturally returned to the capital. Before departing, the Jin general discussed some follow-up arrangements for the governance of his fiefdom with Cao Ping and his wife.

The triumphant army passed through Dengzhou, where they stayed for a few days. There, they discussed the future development of Dengzhou with the old master, Sheng Hong, and Yu's father, offering suggestions on various government affairs. Only then did they set off with peace of mind to return to Dongjing (Kaifeng). After all, he had promised Zhao Zhen years ago that if he were to be enfeoffed as a prince, he would stay in the capital for several more years, a promise he always kept in mind.

During these two years, although General Jin was in the capital, he never had a moment of leisure. He deeply understood the long-term significance of expansion and development for the Song Dynasty. After some planning, he ordered Di Pojun to carefully select several elite troops from the army to form an advance force. These forces split into several routes, adopting a strategy of fighting to sustain the war effort, and set off towards the unknown distances to explore those countries that had never been set foot in before.

At that time, Zhao Zhen's health was deteriorating, and his energy was waning. He had no desire to wage war again and only hoped for domestic stability and the well-being of his people. Jin Shuai noticed Zhao Zhen's concerns and specially went to the palace to advise him: "Your Majesty, these advance teams are not large in scale. The court only needs to provide them with initial supplies. You see, with the Song army operating on the periphery, we can explore new resources and also serve as a deterrent, preventing surrounding forces from making any rash moves. This will actually add to the stability of the country."

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Zhen thought that General Jin was always far-sighted and that what he said made some sense, so he finally nodded and agreed to his proposal.

But Jin Shuai's true intentions went far beyond that. He wholeheartedly wanted these advance teams to shoulder the heavy responsibility of exploration and development, to find various mineral deposits and crops urgently needed by the Song Dynasty—such as drought-resistant and high-yield corn, adaptable potatoes and sweet potatoes, rice varieties that could be improved, and rubber trees that could be used in many fields. If these crops could be introduced to the Song Dynasty, they would greatly improve people's livelihoods and ensure that the people had more food and clothing.

In addition, he hoped the team could find some rare mineral deposits. After all, the improvement of smelting technology cannot be separated from the support of diverse materials, and the progress of science and technology is closely related to the abundance of materials. With more rare metals and minerals, the forging of weapons and the manufacturing of machinery in the Song Dynasty can reach a higher level, and the national strength can steadily improve accordingly.

Before each advance team set off, Commander Jin personally summoned its commander, giving detailed instructions and listing out the targets to be explored, repeatedly emphasizing the need for meticulous surveying and thorough recording. Those teams, carrying hopes, thus disappeared into the vast distance with their mission, becoming the tentacles of the Song Dynasty reaching into the unknown world, and also laying the groundwork for future development.

That night, the moon shone coolly, and the night was deep. The streets of Tokyo had long since fallen silent; every household had turned off their lights and gone to bed. Only the occasional night watchman striking his clapper echoed through the empty streets. Suddenly, the rapid sound of galloping hooves approached from afar, clattering against the bluestone pavement and breaking the stillness of the night. The hoofbeats carried a hint of anxiety as the horse galloped towards the Jin residence.

However, just fifty meters from the Jin residence, the horses were stopped. The Jin guards, already on high alert, stood in the way, blades at their sides, their expressions solemn. After a brief, hushed exchange, the guards' expressions shifted slightly, and they turned to report to the residence. Moments later, the heavy gates of the Jin residence were pulled open from the inside, followed by a series of loud bangs, shattering the tranquility of the night.

Deep within the palace, the lamplight flickered in Zhao Zhen's bedchamber, the atmosphere oppressively heavy. Commander Jin stood in the hall, his heart sinking as he looked at the disheveled, vacant-eyed Zhao Zhen. He knew all too well that this once benevolent ruler likely had little time left. Seeing Commander Jin arrive, Zhao Zhen, as if grasping at a last straw, staggered to his side, clutching his sleeves tightly, murmuring incoherently, "Xi-ge'er, you've finally come… Just in time, Zhang Maoze… Zhang Maoze, in league with Cao Danshu, plots a rebellion! You must… go quickly and eliminate the rebels for me, preserve the Song Dynasty!"

Jin Shuai gently shook his head. Knowing the course of history, he naturally understood that Zhao Zhen was already out of his mind. But he did not point it out. Instead, he followed Zhao Zhen's wishes, bowed and accepted the order, saying, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will handle it immediately and will certainly not let the rebels succeed."

Outside the palace, the commander of the Imperial Guards was already at a loss, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. When he saw Marshal Jin come out of the palace, he hurriedly stepped forward, his face full of anxiety. He was about to tell him about the situation inside the palace and the chaos outside, but Marshal Jin raised his hand and waved him off.

Commander Jin remained calm and spoke in a steady tone: “Commander Liu, you’ve worked hard. No need for further words. His Majesty’s old illness has relapsed, and he is temporarily delirious. I have already instructed the eunuchs to take good care of him. From this moment on, you are to immediately establish a defensive line a hundred feet away from His Majesty’s palace. No one is allowed to approach without authorization; anyone who violates this rule will be executed!” He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and added, “Also, from today onwards, all those serving in His Majesty’s palace should be temporarily detained and not allowed to move around freely.” After speaking, he couldn’t help but sigh softly, his voice filled with unspeakable helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Commander Liu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and his anxiety finally subsided. He quickly gave Marshal Jin a crisp military salute and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness! I will certainly live up to your mission and guard this place well!"

After arranging the affairs of the palace, Jin Shuai turned to look at the eunuch Liao Zi, who was waiting with his head bowed to the side. His tone was tinged with undisguised fatigue as he slowly said, "Liao Zi, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip to Funing Palace and invite the Emperor and Zhang Yuanshi to the Imperial Garden for a meeting. Tell them that they have important matters to discuss."

Liao Zi dared not delay and quickly bowed, replying, "This servant obeys." With that, he turned around and his figure soon disappeared into the depths of the night.

In the Imperial Garden, a gentle evening breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees. Marshal Jin stood alone by the lake, gazing at the bright moon high in the night sky. Moonlight, like water, bathed him, reflecting the solemnity in his eyes. A deep sense of powerlessness crept in, permeating his heart. He could use his knowledge and understanding to stir up the winds of change and alter the course of the world, but faced with the cycle of life and death, faced with the impending end of this benevolent ruler, he felt utterly helpless.

Later historical records clearly state that most of the rulers of the Zhao dynasty did not live long, and Zhao Zhen was the longest-reigning emperor of both the Northern and Southern Song dynasties. The hereditary disease lurking in their blood was like a malignant tumor, incurable. Jin Shuai understood this reason, but could not voice it; he could only do his best to keep this final turmoil under control and minimize the losses.

A series of soft footsteps approached, interrupting Jin Shuai's thoughts. He turned around and saw Zhang Maoze and Empress Cao walking towards him one after the other. By the flickering candlelight in the corridor, Jin Shuai could clearly see the undisguised weariness on Empress Cao's face, and a deep worry lingering between her brows; while Zhang Maoze looked terrified, his eyes darting around, as if he had not yet recovered from the panic he had just experienced.

Jin Shuai gestured for the two to sit down. After they were seated, he spoke first, his gaze falling on Empress Cao, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, has His Majesty's old ailment been flaring up more frequently lately?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Cao's lips moved slightly, but she ultimately remained silent, only nodding heavily, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

Jin Shuai understood and asked no further questions. He turned to Zhang Maoze beside him and said in a calm but undeniable tone, "Zhang Yuanshi, pack your belongings and come with me out of the palace. There is no place for you in this palace anymore."

"Your Highness, is there... is there really no other way?" Empress Cao's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and she hurriedly asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Jin Shuai sighed, his tone full of helplessness: "Your Majesty, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, this matter must be resolved... Let him go to Cao Ping's place for temporary refuge, and I will handle the rest." He knew that this was the best solution he could think of at the moment, preserving the royal family's dignity while also giving Zhang Maoze a way out.

Zhang Maoze slumped in his chair, his face as pale as paper. Hearing Jin Shuai's arrangements, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word. His eyes were filled with deep reluctance as he looked at Empress Cao. Empress Cao glanced at him, then at Jin Shuai, and ultimately could only remain silent. A night breeze blew by, bringing a chill, and the atmosphere in the Imperial Garden grew even more heavy.

Looking at the two people silently facing each other in the Imperial Garden, Jin Shuai couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "In the end, they are a pair of star-crossed lovers. This relationship, which can't be made public, is probably going to end without a trace." The insurmountable barrier of their social status stands between them. No matter how much reluctance and unwillingness they have at this moment, in the face of the rules and dignity of the royal family, they can only turn into bubbles and disappear without a trace.

As night deepened, Jin Shuai led Zhang Maoze onto the carriage to return to the manor. The candlelight inside the carriage cast a dim glow, illuminating their silent profiles. After a bumpy ride, Jin Shuai finally broke the silence, his tone tinged with melancholy and consolation: "Zhang Yuanshi, from now on, cherish the beauty in your heart. Your and her identities destined this entanglement to have no resolution from the very beginning. Forcing it will only cause deeper harm to both of you."

Zhang Maoze abruptly raised his head, looking at Jin Shuai with a complex expression. His lips moved, as if he had a thousand words to say—perhaps an explanation, perhaps resentment, perhaps a question of "why." But the words seemed to be stuck in his throat, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't utter a single syllable. In the end, he could only lower his head in despair, the light in his eyes gradually dimming, leaving only endless bitterness and confusion, spreading through the silent carriage with its swaying.