Chapter Sixteen: Walking Side by Side

“Even if I, your humble brother, wish to grow old in loneliness alongside Brother Qin, how can I be certain that Brother Qin will never find new brothers? What if a new brother happens to have a young sister waiting in the wings?”

Qin Jinghao reached out and took hold of Luo Yunyao’s hand—the same hand she had just impulsively struck—enveloping her cool fingers in his large, warm palm. His gaze locked intently with hers. “No. Old friends are always the best.”

New faces can never compare to old ones.

The warmth from Qin Jinghao’s palm slowly radiated through Luo Yunyao’s limbs, reaching deep into her heart. As a solitary white rabbit, she no longer needed to look elsewhere for shelter. This man before her gave her a place to rest.

There was a saying among the people of the Imperial Capital:

This year’s top scholar, now Minister of War, was a prodigy of youth.

Not only did he achieve fame at a young age, but he was also now the emperor’s favored official, held in high esteem. Whatever he proposed, the emperor would consider seriously.

His prominence stemmed mainly from his appointments due to correcting errors in maps—roads, city gods, frontier defenses—and adding his insights. These endeavors repeatedly earned the emperor’s praise. Had his initial post not been so lofty, he would surely have risen even higher by now.

In truth, Luo Yunyao felt unworthy of these honors. While some of the contributions did stem from her own research and years of practice, much of the practical substance actually came from Qin Jinghao.

Luo Yunyao felt guilty for taking credit for others’ achievements, like offering borrowed flowers as gifts. “Brother Qin should have proposed these ideas himself. I feel unworthy to claim your merits.”

“You don’t look all that remorseful,” Qin Jinghao said with a cool tone. He knew Luo Yunyao well—she shed formalities with those close to her, treating them as friends, or even family. “Just remember to repay kindness in full one day.”

When you do good for him, he may initially refuse to accept it, but he will remember it deeply and repay it well. Qin Jinghao thought to himself, this is the person he likes: someone who rarely accepts favors lightly, but when they do, they always repay them. Such a person is hard to approach, but once you are close, you hold a place in their heart.

Luo Yunyao sighed softly, a sound of lament.

Both understood why Qin Jinghao could not openly submit his views on reforming the Ministry of War—because of the emperor’s deep-seated suspicion.

Even as a retired general, the emperor did not fully trust Qin Jinghao. If he still commanded vast military power and voiced independent opinions on governance, the emperor would be restless, obsessed with how to eliminate him.

Later, Qin Jinghao looked out the window at the osmanthus blossoms clinging to branches, hidden beneath leaves, and said softly, “Actually, it’s I who should thank you.”

Without Luo Yunyao, all his grand ambitions and plans for the Ministry of War would have dissolved into nothingness.

Luo Yunyao tilted her head to look at him, finding his gaze as elusive and intangible as the scent of osmanthus.

Qin Jinghao was always a prince of jade—aloof, detached from worldly affairs, like a flower on a high mountain, untouchable. He was meticulous and gentle, as warm as morning sunlight. Yet he spoke without following convention, awkward in words, unfamiliar with social niceties, and awkward in dealings with others.

To Luo Yunyao, he was nearly omnipotent, a pillar to lean on.

This was the first time she saw the faint sadness within him—delicate as a fragrance, but when deeply inhaled, it stirred pain throughout her being.

As a great general commanding thousands on the battlefield, decisive and unyielding, he was now entangled in court intrigues, powerless. Subject to baseless suspicion and unwarranted fear from the king.

Qin Jinghao was a man with lofty ambitions and strategies for retribution, yet unable to execute or reveal them.

He now resembled a stranded dragon, feigning to be a mudfish under watchful, purposeful eyes.

Luo Yunyao had never felt such heartache for anyone—heartache for his thwarted revenge.

She reached out and gently took Qin Jinghao’s hand, slowly prying open his clenched fist with the wide sleeve of her garment, then softly placed her palm within his.

Their hands clasped together.

The young man whispered softly, “You thank me for having you, and I thank you for having me. From now on, let us continue to thank each other as we move forward.” His voice was gentle, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus.

Side by side, watching the osmanthus bloom and wither, the scent rise and fade. Supporting one another as they walked onward. You give me your vengeance, and I will see it fulfilled.

Luo Yunyao silently echoed in her heart, forgetting for a moment the ruin of the country and family, the very purpose of their existence.

Both thought, such days are truly beautiful—please let them linger.

As the funds to aid Southern River increased, Luo Yunyao grew poorer and poorer. Of course, General Qin fared no better. But luckily, neither was extravagant or indulgent. They could find joy even in hardship.

Their concern, naturally, was for the people of Southern River.

According to Qin Jinghao, the aid they provided to Southern River was limited and localized.

Though some were helped, the overall situation remained dire.

The grain distributed by officials was barely edible porridge, with not a single grain of rice. Building dikes was mere token work done by a few people. As for new homes for the people, with frozen corpses lining the roads and refugees roaming outside, local officials and citizens turned a blind eye, looked down upon, and bullied them.

Luo Yunyao’s brows never relaxed while listening to reports from Qin Jinghao’s subordinates.

Every day, as she handled Ministry of War affairs, she cursed herself for not choosing a department more focused on people’s livelihoods.

Yet this was only a fleeting thought. If given the chance again, she would still choose the post of Minister of War. For if she had not, her encounters with Qin Jinghao would have been far fewer. Perhaps she would still see General Qin as a distant, icy flower—aloof and untouchable. But in truth, he was the gentlest of men.

The issue of Southern River remained unresolved. The Chariot Department, one of the four bureaus under the Ministry of War, was tasked with arranging carriages and chariots.

Luo Yunyao had been so anxious and busy lately that she had forgotten the upcoming autumn hunt.

The people of Southern River suffered greatly, yet their sovereign was indulging in hunting for amusement!

The Chariot Department asked Luo Yunyao if she wished to add new chariots and conveyances. Luo Yunyao replied, “With the great disaster in Southern River, His Majesty surely sympathizes. How could there be additions?”

The official looked distressed, fearing the old carriages might displease the emperor and bring trouble upon himself. Luo Yunyao reassured him that she would handle it and there was no need to worry.

After dismissing the Chariot Department, Luo Yunyao considered replacing the official at a more appropriate time.

She then turned to the Ministry of Revenue to request additional funds for carriages.

The Minister of Revenue, a seasoned official under Prime Minister Lu, immediately responded that the treasury funds had already been allocated for Southern River relief by the Prime Minister. The remaining money was silver reserves kept for emergencies—and certainly unavailable to Luo Yunyao.

She was quite satisfied with this answer.

“Are you in a good mood today?” Qin Jinghao asked after inspecting Luo Yunyao’s calligraphy practice, his gaze lingering on the corner of her lips, which curved upward against her usual expressionless demeanor. Though he didn’t know the reason for her happiness, he felt it with her.

Playing with the brush in her hand, Luo Yunyao replied, “Eh, how did you tell?” Her words were merely to respond, nothing more.

She pondered whether to share her plan with Qin Jinghao.

“Your lips are curved all the way to your eyebrows,” Qin Jinghao said coolly. Recalling past moments when he saw her furrowed brows and pained expression, he felt useless—a feeling he never wanted again.

Luo Yunyao’s smile stiffened. She looked up and glared at Qin Jinghao in mock annoyance. Could he not speak properly? Lowering her eyelids, she gathered courage and said, “The autumn hunt is about to begin.”

Qin Jinghao watched her long, thick, curled lashes flutter like a butterfly resting lightly on his heart, gently beating beautiful wings.

“You want to watch me hunt?” Qin Jinghao knew well that Luo Yunyao’s real meaning was elsewhere.

Autumn hunting was hardly something this delicate youth would care about. He imagined her preferring elegant festivals like the Lantern Festival.

Luo Yunyao was once again vexed by him. She knew that besides praising the general’s heroic figure, the question “You want to watch me hunt?” also implied, “What does the autumn hunt have to do with you? You don’t hunt; you’d better be thankful you’re not the prey.”

She wondered if this jade-like man’s cold demeanor was genuine or if his words were just naturally sharp.

Angrily, she replied, “Brother Qin, you should practice hunting for Princess Yue Liuxi. I am more interested in the prey.”

“Prey,” Qin Jinghao raised his eyes to look at her. He ignored her playful use of the princess’s name. He knew her words had a double meaning and waited for her to explain.

Luo Yunyao cast him a look of appreciation for understanding the heart of her words, feeling an unspoken connection.

She continued proudly, “I checked the records of the Chariot Department and examined the carriages.”

Qin Jinghao watched quietly, already knowing her scheme.

“The Chariot Department still keeps the carriages from the past three years. I saw them—the ones from last year are still quite new…” Seeing his mischievous smile, she went on, “They should fetch a good price.”

Luo Yunyao laid out her plan clearly: sell last year’s quality carriages to noble families near the capital to raise funds for disaster relief, while reserving the carriages from the year before for the emperor’s use.

Qin Jinghao was utterly at a loss against this clever youth. “You’re quite bold. Trying to deceive everyone—have you thought about getting caught?”

Luo Yunyao was unbothered. “Isn’t Brother Qin here?”

She thought to herself that she wouldn’t have shared this plan if he weren’t.