"You must come to see me off tomorrow morning," Li Chungan said softly, resting her head on her sister's shoulder and clutching her hand. Ever since she could remember, their mother had always told her to hold her sister's hand, and it had become a habit.
Li Wanxue smiled, "Who wouldn't want to see the mighty 'General Guan' in action?"
Li Chungan stared at her seriously. "Two years ago, on the Frost Descent day, you said your Jun'er cried all night and didn't come to see me off. Four months later, you didn't come to greet me because your Jun'er had a slight fever. More recently, ten days ago, your Jun'er coughed a few times, and you broke our date to admire the changing maple leaves at 'Qitu Mountain House.'" Li Wanxue was amused by her expression. "My Jun'er is truly too frail. Standing next to the younger Zi Xian, their physiques are almost the same." Li Chungan’s expression turned serious. Li Wanxue glanced at her, sighing inwardly, and coaxed, "Don't be mischievous. Your battle robe has been finished for you, and I'll be sure to come tomorrow to add to your valiant send-off."
Li Chungan smiled triumphantly.
Li Wanxue took a deep breath and said, "You really must behave." Li Chungan sat up and walked from the bedside to the hall. Unable to help herself, Li Wanxue said, "Xia'er sent word that many people have complained to Grandmother that you are arrogant, domineering, and even plotting misconduct." Xia'er was their younger sister, Li Yunxian, seven years younger than Li Wanxue and five years younger than Li Chungan. After their mother passed away, their grandmother, Li Yidao of the Li clan, took her in and raised her.
Li Chungan hopped onto the table, striking a pose with a proud demeanor. "'General Guan, whose double legs sweep the six directions and single palm supports the universe,' should be like this." Li Wanxue approached and earnestly advised, "It is unwise to be slandered and to damage your relationship with Grandmother because of baseless rumors." Li Chungan continued to move on the table, saying, "Let them slander and play dirty tricks. They can't hurt me, not even itch." Li Wanxue said, "Rumors can become truth. If you are not careful, Grandmother will surely overthink things." Li Chungan lowered her head, bringing her face close to Li Wanxue by the table, and said, "I want to anger her to death." Then she let out three loud laughs. Li Wanxue urged, "Why betray Grandmother's careful upbringing since childhood and waste your own years of blood and sweat? What's the point?" Li Chungan said, "I don't care! Does she care either? Mother never smiled in her life, my aunt stayed away until death without returning, I..."
Li Wanxue saw her turn away, her movements ceasing abruptly. She understood and felt sad, then advised, "Don't forget that our great-grandmother decreed that the Zhan, Li, and Dong clans should not intermarry to avoid gossip and favoritism. Dong Zhuyi's conduct was improper and his mind full of twisted logic, truly not someone to rely on. Yin Zhang has always admired you; he is handsome, brave, and resourceful..." Li Chungan said indifferently, "In others' eyes, he is a treasure, but to me, he is just smelly mud." The smell... that sweat that erupted when she went all out for her goals, it again stimulated her chest for a moment, causing her mind to surge and her soul to leave her body... She was pulled back to reality as her arms were grasped, and she heard her say, "Li Yinzhang is merely a lapdog she planted by my side to watch me." Seeing her eyes narrow and eyebrows raise, her voice trembling, she said, "Do you know that when that beast stirs within me, my throat feels like it's crawling with a thousand insects and ants, and every inch of my skin is twitching?" Alas, every time she was intimate with him, wasn't she desperately recalling that person's sweat to intoxicate herself? Her thoughts were in turmoil, and before she could persuade her, the steward Xu Tai reported from outside the door, "Madam, Military Advisor Li has come to escort the General back." Li Wanxue responded vaguely.
Li Chungan regulated her breathing and gently patted her arms. "I must leave now. Lingering too long will do no good to your family." She waved her hand to stop her from speaking. "Damaging our relationship isn't about others' words, but her own heart. Entrust that little girl to you." She paused and continued, "Raise her to be useless, and find an excuse to expel her from the mountain range." With that, she walked out of the room without looking back.
The next morning, in the square outside Kai Bao Temple, the army awaiting deployment stood in neat formation, their armor gleaming. The onlookers, besides seeing off their friends, were also whispering about the figures praying for blessings within the temple. The temple doors opened, and leading the way was a maiden of about eighteen or nineteen years, pure as a lotus after rain, shaped like a jade pear in bloom, clad in a battle robe and embroidered armor. Behind her stood a military general of similar age, with a prominent nose and white teeth, his slightly curved eyes resembling a gentle smile. They were Li Chungan and her husband. They turned at the foot of the steps and bowed to the clan elders and cave masters who followed out, lining up in a row. Standing at the far right was Zhan Jiacheng of the Zhan clan, in his early twenties. At the far left was the first female Grand Master, She Yunxuan. To her right, about sixty or seventy years old, with the appearance of an old scholar, was Ding Xianggai, the Cave Master of You Xu Cave. The one in the center, appearing over forty, with a dignified yet slightly tired demeanor, was Li Yidao of the Li clan. Beside her stood a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl with bright, twinkling eyes, her granddaughter Li Yunxian.
Dong Zhongting of the Dong clan stayed away due to his nephew Dong Zhuyi being exposed for frequenting brothels, drinking, and harassing young girls, which was as expected by the public. However, Li Yidao, rumored to be in discord with her grandson over power, appeared in person despite her poor health, surprising many. This army was supposed to have departed for the front lines at the beginning of the year to relieve the contingent led by Li Qingping and carry out the mission of aiding Jin to annihilate Liao. But Li Yidao cited that Li Chungan had given birth only six months ago and needed to recuperate, refusing even Li Chungan's repeated requests. This was seen as Li Yidao finally taking action against Li Chungan, whose increasingly arrogant and overbearing behavior over the past three years fueled the rumors of a power struggle between grandmother and granddaughter.
Ding Xianggai announced loudly, "May the heroic souls within the temple protect the army and ensure its smooth arrival at the front lines to serve. May they be invincible in attack, victorious in battle, divinely protected, and may the Liao jackals be annihilated. May the grievances of the martyrs and ancestors be avenged, and the well-being of future generations be sown. May everyone return home safely and honorably upon completing their mission!" The crowd, noticing that the "Mighty General Guan" was not mentioned as leading them, began to speculate.
"Chungan," Li Yidao called out softly. Accompanied by Li Yunxian, she walked to Li Chungan and continued, "I steamed glutinous rice with old pumpkin this morning. Xian'er has already delivered it to your attendant." Ever since childhood, whenever she smelled this faint sweet aroma made by her grandmother, her anger would dissipate. Li Chungan saw her grandmother's slight fatigue and her sister's glistening eyes, and her heart ached. "After dinner, diligently serve Grandmother double sesame tea. Don't add too much honey; it's not good for her." Li Yunxian frowned, as if feeling she shouldn't say the last two sentences, but quickly reverted to normal and replied, "Xian'er will remember."
After the ceremony, Li Chungan mounted her horse and led the army away from the square. Most of those present praised her as a tiger released from its cage. Li Wanxue gazed at her retreating back, unable to describe how she was charging forward as if nothing mattered.
Seven months later, news arrived that she and her husband had been ambushed and killed by Liao soldiers in the snow. Li Wanxue felt that at that moment, nothing seemed to matter, as she could break through anything.
Li Wanxue paced along the corridor, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of lotuses, which inexplicably reminded her of the smell that day.
It was the peak of summer, twenty-seven years ago...
Li Wanxue specially went to Qitu Mountain House to pick wild flowers to visit her deceased sister, as she was very fond of the local flora. At the dock, she encountered Li Yunxian, who was in a hurry. She simply explained that she was going to fetch something on Grandmother's orders and then boarded the boat and left. Li Wanxue found it strange, as she had been inseparable from her grandmother in recent years. What could she possibly need to send her to fetch? Could it be that Grandmother intentionally wanted to send her away? Xian'er should have come from the Mountain House; perhaps Grandmother was there? It was common for her to rest at the Mountain House, but... was she truly meeting with Yue Fei's secret envoy, as rumored outside? However, Chi Qian, who was actively bridging the gap, had come to her mansion before she left for the Mountain House to present a host of arguments to persuade her to agree to his plan, which didn't seem like a separate arrangement. His reasoning of "praising Song and denigrating Jin," alas, "a mother's arms become stronger," which household manager didn't have plans? Perhaps he was only here to inquire about my Jun'er's preferences. His words were easier to please than Dong Zhuyi's, but too idealistic. In contrast, the reticent Chen Tiyu was more practical. These two handsome gentlemen, I wonder which one my Jun'er prefers? Anyway, as long as she genuinely likes them, but to me, both are bland and uninteresting.
Li Wanxue looked up and realized she had unconsciously reached the vicinity of the Mountain House's green steps. She thought it best to avoid showing herself and took a detour to the hillside behind the maple forest, where the wild rock orchids were also one of her sister's favorites. Possessing the number one light footwork in the Luameng Alliance, she lightly leaped several times, landing on the pile of scattered rocks on the slope. Holding her breath, she followed the faint, secluded fragrance and found several clusters of flowers in yellow and green. Just as she was about to act, a trace of his scent flashed in her mind. She tried hard to stop herself, but her nose kept sniffing, and her feet involuntarily followed. Concealed by the intersecting oak trees, she could finally see his back again. He was still robust but seemed a little unsteady, and his scent had also faded. Alas, after thirty years of striving for the position of heir, they still passed each other by. May you not lose your original ambition; soaring to the clouds is certainly achievable! Her heart was tied to the past, her soul attached to its aftermath, but her body was difficult to move... She didn't know how long she stood there before hearing a light cough. Li Wanxue quickly turned around to look, and her grandmother was standing about ten paces away.