The moon shone bright amid sparse stars as the Charcoal-Red Steed climbed through the depths of the mountains. Now and then, the low calls of birds and beasts sounded nearby:
"Hoo~~ hoo..."
On horseback, the Empress Dowager wrapped herself in her cloak and gazed at the scattered lights in the distant wilderness, asking curiously:
"People live in these mountains?"
Ye Jingtang walked ahead, holding the reins and sweeping aside weeds and vines along the mountain path. At her question, he replied:
"They're from Lady's Stockade, one of the Eighteen Stockades of Hong Mountain. They mainly trade in wild ginseng and medicinal herbs. When I took medicinal baths as a child, we bought the ingredients here..."
"Really..."
They had departed Shazhou City that afternoon and, thanks to their exceptional horse's extraordinary speed, reached the western side of Hong Mountain around midnight.
Ye Jingtang knew Hong Mountain's terrain well. Ascending the western slope of Wife's Peak, they walked for an hour before reaching its deserted heights. Even before reaching the summit, they spotted a ginkgo tree.
Though smaller than the one in the Imperial City, the ginkgo appeared to have weathered two or three hundred years, its branches and leaves still luxuriant. A small burial mound clearly lay beneath it, its surroundings neatly cleared. There was even a little shrine beside it.
The Empress Dowager had thought they would have to search for a long time and was rather surprised:
"Someone still tends this place?"
Ye Jingtang stopped and turned, supporting his Hand Warmer by the waist as he lifted her down:
"Wife's Peak has had that name since ancient times. Legend says that when the mountains and rivers underwent a great upheaval long ago, a husband and wife sheltered on the mountain from the floods. The husband went down to investigate,