Chapter 2: Will You Come With Me?

The man standing in front of Mu Zhiming was tall and so beautifully handsome, he could light up an entire room. There were even people who praised him for being a handsome, talented young man.

His surname was Gu, his given name Yuyi, and his courtesy name Heyan.

He was the Great General1 of Jin. When he was only 17 years old, he bent his bow and left his hometown2. Then, on his own, he charged against tens of thousands of soldiers in an iron cavalry and decapitated the enemy General in one fell swoop. After that, he set up a border in the North, and offered sacrifices to Heaven in the Khentii Mountains3.

Unfortunately, a year before the new Emperor ascended the throne, this young man died on the battlefield against the barbarians. The whole country mourned and cried, crying because the Heavens were hungry for talent4.

Although Mu Zhiming had the honor to get to know him, they didn’t have a deep friendship. They would simply nod at each other from time to time.

In a situation like this, at this very moment, Mu Zhuming would have never expected that, of all people, the one waiting for him at the Naihe Bridge would be Gu Heyan.

The two looked at each other without knowing what to say. Just when Mu Zhiming was about to speak, Gu Heyan suddenly saw something. As his eyes widened and his thin lips trembled, he stepped forward and carefully pulled up Mu Zhiming’s right hand. As if he was holding something extremely fragile.

There were deep and shallow cut marks on Mu Zhiming’s right wrist. It was a shocking sight to behold.

“Does it hurt?” Gu Heyan spoke softly, as if he was afraid of disturbing Mu Zhiming.

The concerned question shocked Mu Zhiming for a moment, but then he replied: “It doesn’t hurt–….”

However, his words were interrupted and his whole body stood foolishly still, frozen in place.

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It was because tears were falling down from Gu Heyan’s eyes.

According to the rumors, Gu Heyen’s heart was like a solid stone or black iron5. A man who bleeds without shedding any tears. He once had to peel off his own skin, down to the bones to heal a wound because his arm was pierced by a poisoned arrow. Such pain could make anyone faint, while others may be scared to death, but even if he was drenched with his own sweat, Gu Heyen never shed a single tear.

But now, why was this man crying?

Gu Heyan wiped his tears away and looked into Mu Zhiming’s eyes again: “Will you come with me?”

Mu Zhiming asked: “Where to?”

Gu Heyan said: “I’m not sure.”

Mu Zhiming couldn’t help but laugh. As his eyes curved like the bright moon, he asked: “You’re not sure?”

“Mm-hmm.” Gu Heyan didn’t seem to be joking, and yet, he nodded with extra seriousness.

Mu Zhiming looked at him as he remembered his own life. After listening to some slander, and surrendering himself into the hands of someone who had a cruel heart under the cover of sugar-coated words6, he ended up losing his family. Now, he was empty and no longer had any ties, so it didn’t really matter where he goes from now on.

“Alright.” Mu Zhiming smiled and promised Gu Heyan: “I’ll go with you.”

Gu Heyan’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Mm.” Mu Zhiming nodded.

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So, Gu Heyan summoned up all his courage to hold Mu Zhiming’s hand. His palm was big and warm, making Mu Zhiming feel inexplicably at ease.

Side by side, they walked through the stone bridge, until they saw an imposing residence in front of them.

“Hm?” Mu Zhiming was surprised. “This vermilion door, this stone lion plaque, these bronze knock holders7…. They look so familiar. No, they actually look exactly the same as the one in my family’s residence.”

When Mu Zhiming tilted his head, he was surprised to find that, at some point, Gu Heyan had disappeared from his side!

“General Gu?” In a panic, Mu Zhiming looked around trying to find him. “General Gu? Where are you?”

—

Then, Mu Zhiming woke up from his sleep. As he sat up he took a big breath, as if he had just come back from the dead.

In the Jingzhe8, Spring thunderstorms will burst for a short period of time, wetting the swallows with misty rain. Although the weather showed signs of warming up, it was still cold early in the morning.

Caiwei, the eldest maidservant serving the son of the Duke of Yan, waited outside the window of Mu Zhiming’s wing room. With a smile on her face, she picked up some yellow jasmine flowers, when all of a sudden, she heard Mu Zhiming scream ‘General!’ inside his room. Although she was confused, she immediately ordered a young maid: “The Young Master has just woken up. Go quickly and bring the hot water with a copper basin. With such a cold morning, the Young Master, who suffers from the cold, needs to be warm.”

“Hm!” The young maid answered and left in a hurry.

Caiwei, on the other hand, stood outside the wing room. Then she raised her hand and knocked on the door: “Young Master, are you awake? I’m coming in.”

However, after a long while passed, no one replied. Caiwei pushed open the door as carefully as she could, until she could enter the room. When she saw Mu Zhiming sitting on the bed, staring blankly into nothingness, and with his black hair scattered everywhere, she was frightened.

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“Young Master! What are you doing? This morning is particularly cold, you have to put on a garment when you sit up on the bed! Please avoid getting chilled by the cold air.” With a worried look, Caiwei walked to the wardrobe carved with pearwood, which stood next to the bed, and fetched a heavy brocade garment with the intention of putting it on Mu Zhiming.

Unexpectedly, Mu Zhiming suddenly grabbed her wrist with great strength.

Caiwei was at a loss for words. When she saw that Mu Zhiming’s eyes were red as if he was about to cry, she panicked: “Young Master, are you alright? Did you have any nightmares last night? Don’t be afraid, I’m right here.”

Mu Zhuming choked up: “Sister Caiwei…. Really, it’s really you. This is not a dream…. Where are my parents?!”

“At this hour, the Duke and the Madam should be up. They’re probably eating breakfast in their wing room.” Caiwei guessed.

Mu Zhiming then lifted the quilt and jumped out of the bed. Without even putting on shoes, or changing his clothes, he stumbled and ran outside.