Loyal Bones Lie Buried Everywhere in the Northern Region; Only I Love Green Mountains

Kyoto, Jade Dragon Street, where Xie Manor stood in towering splendor.

The imperial capital of Great Qing was as prosperous as embroidered brocade, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

Streets and alleys crisscrossed in perfect order, each keeping to its proper place.

That Xie Manor could establish its residence on Jade Dragon Street was proof enough of its noble status and distinguished position.

The gates of the mansions along Jade Dragon Street saw guests flowing like clouds, with no shortage of powerful nobles and regular visitors to the Son of Heaven's hall.

The swallows that once flew before grand halls could hardly enter the homes of ordinary folk!

Though the sky had not yet fully darkened!

Jade Dragon Street was already ablaze with lights, bright as day.

The shops, taverns, and teahouses on either side shone brilliantly, forming a stark contrast with the dim surrounding streets.

"Elder Sister Xie, have you truly decided to go to Mount Zhongnan?" A crisp female voice echoed through the deep courtyard of Xie Manor.

The woman in palace robes paced about the chamber, deliberately putting on an air of maturity.

Her features were adorable, exquisite as a painting.

Yet compared with the woman seated by the table with her head lowered over a book, she fell far short.

The other woman gently set down her scroll and slowly lifted her head, revealing a face of peerless beauty.

There was an air of clever elegance between her brows, her radiance dazzling to behold.

Truly, she was as lovely as spring plum blossoms blooming through snow, her spirit like autumn orchids touched by frost.

Her cheeks glowed warmly, rosy clouds reflected upon clear pools; her eyes sparkled brightly, moonlight shining over a cold river.

Bathed in the lamplight beside the table, she smiled faintly. That smile was vivid and captivating, as though all the beauty in the world had gathered into that single moment, enough to intoxicate the heart and bewilder the soul.

The woman in palace robes was dazed for a moment as well.

"Elder Sister Xie, you are far too beautiful!"

The woman in palace robes looked as though she wanted to cry but had no tears.

"According to my original plan, I was supposed to have grown up looking like you."

The woman surnamed Xie spoke calmly, her voice gentle and melodious.

"When next year's spring breeze turns to rain, when spring begins, I will set out with my father."

The woman in palace robes sighed softly.

"Ah, once you leave, Elder Sister Xie, who knew how many talented young gentlemen in Kyoto would be left heartbroken over you."

The woman was named Xie Lingxuan. She was the eldest daughter of the Xie Clan, and also the "fiancée" Lu Chen's mother had arranged for him.

She and Lu Chen had once been betrothed in childhood, but after the Northern Region moved south, the matter had gradually come to nothing.

The Xie Clan now belonged to the pure-stream faction at court. They were close ministers of the Son of Heaven, deeply favored and trusted, often retained overnight within the palace to discuss state affairs with him.

In just three short years, they had risen four ranks in succession, a legend in the officialdom of recent years.

Even Junior Guardian Lu, who had fought his way to Huanglong Prefecture, had needed six years for such a rise.

He was a towering figure at court, red-hot with influence.

From then on, the Xie Clan soared straight into the clouds.

Xie Lingxuan slowly rose to her feet and said indifferently,

"What do their thoughts have to do with me?"

Su Yue hurriedly said,

"Elder Sister Xie, don't you think the eldest son of the Wang Clan is remarkably handsome? He is refined, handles matters very well, spends generously, and is extremely interesting. Among Kyoto's nobles, he is the one best able to gather people around him."

The woman in palace robes was named Su Yue.

Her father was a Vice Minister of the Office of Literary Selection, one of the four offices under the Ministry of Personnel, a high official of Subordinate Third Rank.

When the court decree arrived next spring, Xie Lingxuan's father would be promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Among the Three Departments and Six Ministries of the court, aside from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites stood foremost.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was the Ministry's second-in-command, already worthy of being called a "Heavenly Official."

Compared to the Xie Clan as it was now, however, it was still far too lacking.

But!

There was a bond of kinship between Su Yue and the Xie Clan, which was why the two were so close. By seniority, Su Yue ought to call Xie Lingxuan her elder cousin.

At this moment, excitement appeared on Su Yue's face as she continued,

"And then there is the third young master of the Prime Minister's household. Last year, he passed the imperial examination in one stroke and ranked first among the successful candidates. He is also skilled in calligraphy and painting, his name known throughout Kyoto. Countless people dream of obtaining even one piece of his calligraphy or painting, yet for the past three years, he has written so many letters to you, Elder Sister. It truly makes one endlessly envious."

"The second young master of the Ministry of Works Minister's residence is a leading light in poetry. When his work 'Visiting White Horse Temple' was published, countless scholars and poets came drawn by its fame, searching for the Zen spirit and scenery described in the poem. He has admired you for a long time."

"This year's Third-Ranked Scholar is dignified in appearance and overflowing with talent. During the palace examination, even His Majesty praised his mastery of state affairs. The Eldest Princess held a celebratory banquet for him in Kyoto, and he specifically came to bring you the good news. What a pity that you did not meet him."

Su Yue sighed and lamented at the side.

Xie Lingxuan seemed not to hear a word. Leaning lightly against the window, she fixed her gaze on the book lying quietly upon the table.

It was not poetry or prose by some great literary master. On the opening page were written the words:

"Essentials of Military Training"!

It had been written by Lu Chen during his years in the Lu Family Army, consisting of nine main volumes and six supplementary collections.

The entire work recorded the selection of soldiers, the organization of troops, methods for raising morale, weapons and equipment, the cultivation of commanders, and more.

On the other side!

The more Su Yue spoke, the more excited she became. Light glittered in her eyes as she brought up another man.

"And the second young master of General Wang's household. He is accomplished in both letters and arms, possesses both talent and virtue, and is exceptionally handsome as well."

"Not to mention the current Sixth Prince, a true imperial scion, peerlessly noble. At a banquet, the Sixth Prince became drunk and swore solemnly that he had two wishes in this life. One was for his royal father to remain healthy and for peace to reign beneath heaven. The other was to have Lingxuan at his side, sleeves red as she added fragrance, enough to comfort him for a lifetime."

"Who in Kyoto does not know?"

"And there are... there are many more talented young men... all secretly harbor feelings for you, Elder Sister."

Seeing that Xie Lingxuan seemed to be lost in thought, Su Yue hurriedly nudged her.

"Elder Sister Xie, are you listening?"

Xie Lingxuan smiled.

"Go on. I wasn't listening."

Helpless, Su Yue asked curiously, "Elder Sister Xie, so many gifted young men have fallen for you. But in your heart, which one do you truly favor?"

At the mention of the past!

A faint melancholy surfaced in Su Yue's eyes.

She had once fallen for a poor scholar who had come to Kyoto for the examinations. He was dressed in humble poverty, yet played the qin beautifully. He was gentle and refined, handsome and distinguished.

Who would have thought that after meeting her elder cousin just once, his entire soul would be hooked away?

The scholar had proven himself capable as well, passing the examinations in one stroke. He was now in the Hanlin Academy and merely awaiting official appointment; a Fourth Rank post was already in the bag.

But!

The scholar still could not forget the Xie Clan's eldest daughter.

Su Yue shook her head, not knowing whether she should feel happy or bitter!

Back then, Su Yue herself had introduced the two to each other.

What sorrow!

Her gaze fell upon the military treatise on her elder cousin's desk, where the two characters "Lu Chen" stood boldly written.

Naturally, Su Yue knew that this Junior Guardian Lu had once shared a betrothal with her elder cousin.

That news had once stirred up a tremendous uproar throughout Kyoto.

However, North Wind and Great Qing had long since become allies!

Lu Chen was merely a martial man who knew only how to wage war.

What could he possibly know of moonlit romance and floral passions!

He was now nothing more than a Daoist on Mount Zhongnan.

How could he possibly be mentioned in the same breath as the court's Three Excellencies and Six Ministers, men of high station who held great power?

Her elder cousin was a noble daughter of the Xie Clan!

Her beauty and talent had long spread throughout all of Kyoto.

She was a figure like an immortal maiden.

How could Lu Chen be worthy of her!

Was he worth her elder cousin's concern?

"Elder Sister Xie, you cannot still be thinking of that Junior Guardian Lu, can you?"

"He can only be considered a commoner now. He does not even hold official status, merely a man in plain cloth."

"And the two of you have never even met."

Xie Lingxuan refuted her.

"We met when we were seven."

Su Yue said helplessly,

"Who could possibly still remember that? Besides, after so many years, what does he even look like now? Is he tall or short, fat or thin?"

"What if he is ugly?"

Xie Lingxuan said softly, "I remember."

After saying that, she ignored her.

This noble daughter of the Xie Clan turned her gaze out the window.

There she saw!

Night had fallen, and lights had lit up in every household. As the year drew to its close, lanterns had been hung and spring couplets pasted up.

Kyoto was prosperous, the moonlight like water, the sound of countless households beating clothes.

All was peaceful!

But without Lu Shenzhou!

Where would all these myriad household lights have come from?

Where would there be the bright days in a thousand homes, always replacing old talismans with new peachwood charms?

Where would there be Kyoto beneath a single moon, with the sound of ten thousand households beating clothes?

Warmth flickered in Xie Lingxuan's eyes as she said,

"People often envy the jade-carved gentleman of this world; Heaven itself must have granted him a lady soft as cream."

The poem's original meaning was that people often admired men as handsome and radiant as jade carvings, while even Heaven took pity on them and bestowed beautiful, gentle, intelligent women to accompany them.

Xie Lingxuan placed a hand over her chest and said softly,

"Loyal bones lie buried everywhere in the Northern Region; only I love green mountains."

Thank you all for your support. For those who point out typos, I'll fix them when I have the time. Thank you all!!

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