Old Yao wore a faded old robe, his feet shod in cloth shoes that left shallow water marks on the gleaming golden bricks.

He walked very slowly, unhurried and calm, as if strolling in his own yard.

The Imperial Army stepped forward to block him, the Big Halberd whistled as it swung, the cold light on the spear blade swept over the candle flames in the hall.

Old Yao didn't even glance at it, casually flicking it, and the Big Halberd bent like a branch blown by the wind, causing the soldier holding it to stagger several steps back.

Several more soldiers stepped forward, but with the same unhurried demeanor, he casually brushed aside those Halberds without using much force, yet no one could get close to him.

Dozens of Imperial Army soldiers stood on both sides of the grand hall, yet none could stop him.

The Champion Marquis Yuan Hengli Zhen, donned in armor, came forward, blocking his way below the imperial throne.

But Old Yao stopped twenty steps away from the throne, casting a glance at the middle-aged eunuch beside Emperor Jing, and did not advance further. He looked up at the Emperor sitting on the throne, his gaze calm.

Dozens of eyes in the hall were fixed on him, but Old Yao acted as if there was no one else present, and after a long while, he sighed softly, "I didn't expect the young lad from back then to have grown so old."

Emperor Jing slightly straightened in his seat, his cloudy old eyes squinting, facing the wind and snow outside the hall and with the help of the candlelight inside, closely observed Old Yao.

The civil and military officials exchanged silent glances, the hall so quiet they could hear the crackling of the charcoal fire and the sound of wind and snow hitting the window lattices outside.

When the Emperor could see Old Yao's face clearly, he murmured, "You are..."

But it had been so long, that face was worn down by time in his memory until only a vague outline remained. He felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't recall where they had met.

He braced himself on the armrest of the dragon throne and stood up, his arm trembling slightly, as the eunuch hurriedly assisted him step by step down the imperial path towards Old Yao.

Assistant Minister of the Secretariat Yuan Zhu cupped his hands and reminded, "Your Majesty, be cautious, this person's origins are unknown..."

Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Jing passed by him, casually brushing him aside.

Emperor Jing stumbled to a stand before Old Yao, his back hunched, his head tilted, like an old pine tree bent by the wind and snow. He squinted and leaned in for a closer look, inspecting carefully.

The Emperor's eyes suddenly brightened, as if a nearly extinguished oil lamp had been stirred: "You are... you are the master who drank wine with the Mountain Master in the peach blossom forest back then."

The courtiers were silent.

Princess Liyang suddenly turned her head to look at Old Yao. Just now in the carriage, she spoke about a story she happened to hear, but Old Yao was certain it was true.

Because he was originally part of that story.

Someone quietly glanced at Lu Jin, but Lu Jin continued to stand with eyes observing the nose, the nose observing the heart, with folded arms, indifferent. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Emperor Jing looked at Old Yao's graying hair, exclaiming, "Old. Forty-one years, we've all grown old, but it seems I've aged even faster than you and the Mountain Master."

Old.

The wheat had been harvested dozens of times, flowers had bloomed and withered for forty-one years.

The young Crown Prince who once could draw a hundred pounds hard bow, eat seven big bowls of rice in one sitting, and ride a horse day and night without getting tired, was now an aging Emperor long confined within the court.

It seemed Emperor Jing regained some strength, his back straightening a little as he reminisced with a smile, "Back then, I was so bold, daring to snatch wine from the Mountain Master's table, and even won at hand-guessing games against him once... In my life, I've won many times, the fight for the throne was one, the grand victory of the imperial expedition of the ninth year of Li Sheng, driving the Southern Dynasty Emperor to his death was another. But every time I reflect in the dead of night, winning all those times doesn't compare to that one time I beat the Mountain Master."

Old Yao casually replied, "Being born also counts as one."

Princess Liyang's expression changed.

But Emperor Jing was not offended, instead, he laughed heartily, his voice like a Hong Bell: "Forty-one years, and master, your wit is still as sharp. I remember, when I escaped from Yingkou for a day and a night without eating, you lit a bonfire at night, and I ate while crying, looking utterly pathetic... You scornfully told me to stay away from the bonfire lest this straw bag catches fire."

Princess Liyang's gaze at Old Yao grew even more complicated.

At that moment, Emperor Jing began coughing violently, his waist bending further, his entire weight leaning on the eunuch's shoulder.

Old Yao caught his wrist and closed his eyes to check his pulse.

The civil and military officials in the hall were shocked: "How dare you!"

"Impertinent!"

"Protect the Emperor!"

Emperor Jing raised his hand, that withered hand paused in the air for a moment.

All sounds in the hall ceased, and the Imperial Army and the Champion Marquis Yuan Hengli Zhen gradually retreated.

In the silence, Emperor Jing let Old Yao check his pulse, and after a moment, Old Yao leisurely said, "It's fate, seventy-three years, is a good life. For ordinary people to live to this age, their grandchildren would have grandchildren by now."

Emperor Jing was not angry, instead, he laughed: "Master, your words remain just as blunt."

Old Yao calmly prescribed a remedy: "Three qian of astragalus, two qian of codonopsis, two qian of female ginseng, three qian of goji berries, two qian of rehmannia, two qian of cornelian, two qian of eucommia, two qian of ox knee... Boil three bowls of water into one bowl, take one dose daily for seven days. After seven days, if you feel lighter, halve the remedy and continue for twenty-one days. Thereafter, take one dose on the first and fifteenth of each month."

Emperor Jing agreed: "Alright."

Among the ministers, someone quietly reminded: "Your Majesty, this person's origins are unknown. After forty-one years, people's hearts are unpredictable. Be careful there might be a poisonous conflict in the prescription..."

Old Yao glanced sideways: "The prescription isn't poisoned. If you want poison, add it yourself."

Emperor Jing laughed heartily: "Good, good, good, master is still the same master from back then!"

He slowly restrained his laughter, turned, and walked slowly up the imperial path, sitting back on the dragon throne. After reminiscing enough, he was still that emperor with five thousand miles of territory under his reign.

Human affections in this world were severed the moment one sat on the dragon throne.

Emperor Jing leaned back on the dragon throne, gazing at Old Yao for a long time: "Mr. Yao, we haven't seen each other for forty-one years. Why have you returned to the world this time?"

Old Yao pointed at Princess Liyang: "I find this girl pleasing to the eye."

Emperor Jing glanced at Princess Liyang: "Why, of all people, do you find her pleasing? She's caused quite a bit of trouble before."

Old Yao chuckled: "Pleasing is pleasing. There's no reason why."

Emperor Jing's cloudy eyes gazed into Old Yao's, trying to discern something: "Earlier, the Champion Marquis mentioned that he had never heard your name at the Temple of Martial Arts."

Old Yao sneered: "Who is the Champion Marquis? Have Wu Kezhi say it."

Emperor Jing pondered: "Does the Mountain Master know you are here?"

Old Yao responded indifferently: "Where I go, I don't need to inform him."

Emperor Jing's brow gradually furrowed. He glanced at Princess Liyang and then at Old Yao: "Mr. Yao, would you work for me? I am willing to grant you the title of State Preceptor."

Princess Liyang was taken aback, her fingers clenched her sleeves.

Emperor Jing's meaning was clear: he was still occupied with the troubles she had previously caused and did not wish to keep Mr. Yao by her side. When she no longer had the Temple of Martial Arts as support, her other supporters would eventually change sides, and she wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble in Shangjing City.

Princess Liyang anxiously looked at Old Yao. She knew Old Yao had followed her down the mountain with another purpose, and the title of State Preceptor would be much more useful than following her.

In the next moment, Old Yao casually responded: "I'm getting old and just want to find a place to spend my remaining years. I think Li Yang Princess Mansion is quite nice."

The fingers of Princess Liyang, which were clutching her sleeve, slowly relaxed, and a bit of smile appeared in her eyes.

At this moment, Yuan Xiang, who hadn't spoken from the beginning, finally lifted his eyelids and slowly said: "Your Majesty, while Her Highness was mischievous in her youth, her nature is not bad. Let Mr. Yao stay by her side for careful guidance. She likely won't cause any more trouble."

Emperor Jing pondered for a moment longer, finally relaxing his brow, and slowly said: "As the master wishes, stay at the Li Yang Princess Mansion. When she was young, she was dear as a pearl on my palm, brought up with indulgent freedom. I hope you take good care of her and keep her from acting recklessly."

The ministers exchanged glances, but before they could say anything, Emperor Jing waved his sleeve and hoarsely said: "Court dismissed."

The middle-aged eunuch beside Emperor Jing shot Old Yao a deep gaze and loudly declared: "Court dismissed!"

Someone was unwilling, standing in the hall, reluctant to leave.

They quietly looked toward Lu Jin, but Lu Jin paid no mind, walking out alone, neither forming factions nor building alliances, just stepping into the heavy snow by himself.

Old Yao slowly ambled out, when suddenly Emperor Jing called out to him: "Mr. Yao."

Old Yao turned to see Emperor Jing sitting alone on the dragon throne, shrouded in shadows, resembling a flickering candle on the verge of being extinguished by a gust of wind.

Emperor Jing sighed: "Mr. Yao, I do not know if in this life I will see the Mountain Master again. If you ever have the chance to meet him, please tell him that what I promised back then, I have not forgotten."

Old Yao agreed: "Alright."

...

...

When Princess Liyang stepped over the threshold of the main hall, she stood in the snow, taking a deep breath, only to feel the air fresh and lightly sweet.

After returning to the capital, she had sent greetings to the palace over a dozen times without response, until today—with this most difficult hurdle finally being crossed.

At this moment, the Assistant Minister of the Secretariat passed by her without any expression: "Your Highness is truly a person favored by the heavens to come back from such a desperate situation."

Princess Liyang smiled: "This mission to the Ning Dynasty was an escape from death, and if it weren't for the elite from Longyou Road and Tokyo Road supporting us, we would have been lost on the way... It was you, Assistant Minister, who suggested sending me for a diplomatic marriage, was it not? I'll be sure to repay this."

The Assistant Minister's eyelid twitched: "Jiang Yu and Yuan Chong are becoming increasingly foolish in their old age, not understanding that a woman's skirt hem is like a deadly blade."

Upon hearing this, Princess Liyang wasn't angered but meaningfully said: "Mr. Assistant Minister is insinuating that I used my charms to win the support of the two Military Governors? But, sir, a woman's skirthem is never a 'blade,' ambitions within people's hearts are. Moreover, the desires in our hearts are not our enemies; hypocrisy is."

With that, Princess Liyang cast no further glance and turned away, holding Old Yao's arm, smiling: "Let's go, old man, there should be food prepared at the mansion, along with two jars of fifty-year-old Yuquan Wine. Tonight, I'll sit right beside you, pour the wine, serve the food, and from now on, you are the greatest support among all I have."

Old Yao gave her a sidelong look: "You said earlier my apprentice was."

Princess Liyang beamed: "Didn't you know? Women are the most changeable."