Chapter 201: Why would I dream of you?

Tuan Tuan looked around: "Where is this? It's so beautiful!"

A vast peach blossom forest, the flowers abundant, colorful petals falling, all around as if a soft, soundless pink-white drizzle was falling.

The stream babbled, clear enough to see the bottom.

Huh, someone! Tuan Tuan walked over.

Two small figures, about four or five years old, wearing Daoist robes, were clumsily drawing water at the stream's edge.

The taller one, with delicate brows and eyes, held a wooden bucket full of water; though it was a bit of an effort, he still managed to keep it steady.

The one following behind him had a round, chubby face, pouting lips, reluctantly carrying a slightly smaller wooden bucket, spilling water along the way.

"Senior brother, why do we have to come draw water?"

The round-faced one slipped, nearly falling, muttering: "Couldn't Qingfeng and Mingyue do this instead?"

The taller one ahead stopped, turned, and reached out a small hand to steady him: "Master said, in cultivation one must do things personally. Sweeping, cleaning, carrying water, chopping firewood—all are part of the lessons."

"Lessons, lessons, nothing but lessons!" the round-faced one stamped his foot, splashing water that wet the hem of his Daoist robe: "I want to learn great abilities like summoning wind and rain, turning stone to gold—not these!"

The taller one looked at him, sighed lightly, said nothing more, silently took the water bucket from his hand, one in each hand, and trudged with effort deeper into the peach forest.

The round-faced one froze for a moment, watching his senior brother's back, then trotted after him, reaching out to grab his sleeve: "Senior brother, let's carry it together."

Tuan Tuan followed them all the way, wondering: "Who are they?"

She called out to the two: "Where is this? Can I play with you?"

The two children ignored her, continuing straight ahead.

Oh, it seems as before, they can't see or hear me.

Then let's go see what they're doing.

The scene shifted.

On a simple wooden table lay a few plain vegetarian dishes.

The round-faced one kept slipping tofu from his own bowl into the taller one's bowl, blinking his big eyes: "Senior brother, you're older than me and have done so much for me—eat more."

The taller one watched the little mound of tofu grow in his bowl, then glanced at his junior brother's eager "praise me" face, chuckled, and ruffled his hair: "You!"

At night, under the oil lamp.

Two small heads huddled together over a yellowed classic.

"Senior brother, how do you read this character?"

"It's read 'qi', different from the breath we exhale; it is the fundamental source of all things in heaven and earth."

"Oh, this formation is hard to draw."

"Come, I'll teach you. Like this, keep your wrist steady and your mind calm."

The candlelight cast the two small shadows onto the wall, intimate and inseparable.

Tuan Tuan sat to the side, chin in hand, eyes full of envy: "Hey, I don't know either—can you teach me?"

Still no answer, Tuan Tuan watched and watched, grew bored, got up and headed outside.

Just as she reached the doorway, suddenly the scene changed—bright daylight, two youths walking toward her from the front, passing by her side into the house.

Tuan Tuan stared, then looked back and could faintly make out their childhood appearances.

Oh, it's still them—how did they grow up so fast?

Her curiosity piqued, she turned and returned to the table.

The two were evidently discussing their lessons again.

The taller one grew ever more steady, his brows and eyes relaxed, sitting still like a pine.

The round-faced one's gaze grew sharp, no longer as cute as in childhood.

"Senior brother! Why are you always so hidebound!"

The round-faced youth pointed at the book before him: "The upper volume of the True Explanation of Qi Fortune clearly states this at its end, while the lower volume records a faster method! By guiding with a secret art, one can draw upon others' fortune to benefit oneself! Why can't we use it?"

The taller one's face changed, he snatched the book away: "Junior brother! Master has warned repeatedly, this is drinking poison to quench thirst! It harms the foundation and will inevitably invite heavenly punishment!"

"Heavenly punishment?" the round-faced one said indifferently, "Victors become kings, losers become bandits! If I can control others' qi fortune, I am heaven itself—what heavenly punishment?"

"Impossible!" the taller one exclaimed anguished, "As cultivators, we must follow the heavenly way, protect all beings—how could we, for selfish desire, commit this defiance of heaven?"

"Follow? Protect?" the round-faced one sneered, "Look at this world! The weak are prey to the strong! Without qi fortune as a blade, what can we use to protect?"

"If you cultivate slowly, those you care about will be long dead! I just want to take shortcuts—I just want to control everything!"

"That's not control, it's loss!" the taller one grabbed his arm, "Junior brother, don't think about this anymore—don't sink deeper into the mire!"

"Enough!" the round-faced one shoved him away, "Senior brother, different paths, no plot together. You keep your antiquated principles—I'm not accompanying you any longer!"

Tuan Tuan jumped up and down beside them, waving her little fists, shouting at the round-faced one: "Hey! What your senior brother said is right—why won't you listen?"

Obviously, the round-faced one couldn't hear her at all, gave a cold snort, rose, and walked into the shadowed depths of the peach forest.

The taller one stood where he was, his outstretched hand dropping limp.

Tuan Tuan panicked: "I'll go chase him back for you!" She took off running.

Just as she reached the doorway, her foot slipped and she fell forward, "Ouch!"

Tuan Tuan woke up.

She blinked her eyes blankly, looked around, oh, I'm still in the military camp.

The anxiety from the dream lingered, not diminished in the slightest.

She turned over and murmured to herself: "Who are you all? Why would I dream of you?"

Drowsiness welled up, she fell asleep again—this time, no dreams, sleeping straight through until dawn.

The next day, the great army set out,

After several days, they arrived at Jingcheng.

Tuan Tuan finally returned to her mother's embrace, overjoyed.

But then her little head drooped again: 'Mother, I bought lots of nice things for you, great-grandfather, and older brother, but I couldn't bring them back, sorry.'

Cheng Ru'an tightly hugged her: 'Mother doesn't need anything; your safe return is the best gift for Mother.'

Tuan Tuan rubbed against her face: 'Mother is so good!'

The next day, morning court.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the assembled civil and military officials: 'The Seventh Prince Xiao Ze and others, on this mission to Da Xia, faced extraordinary danger yet feared no hardship, exalted our nation's prestige; therefore they are specially rewarded.'

Eunuch Cheng stepped forward, unfolded the already prepared imperial edict, and read it aloud loudly.

By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Seventh Prince Xiao Ze, having accepted command in crisis, not failing his lord's trust, mediating with hostile states, manifesting our nation's fierce prestige, is made Prince Jing, granted a princely mansion, and appointed to assist the Ministry of War.

Ning Prince's second son Xiao Ningchen, peerless in valor, having rendered service in defense, is made Count Wuan.

Ning Prince's third son Xiao Ningxun, surpassingly wise, perceiving opportunities early, repeatedly thwarting conspiracies, is made Count Wenhui and granted the right to attend the Emperor.

Princess Jiayou, chosen by Heaven's mandate, of fairy-like beauty and jade-like purity, who has exalted our nation's prestige abroad, is further ennobled as Guardian State Princess Jiayou, with a stipend equal to a prince, granted three imperial estates in Jiangnan, and countless pearls, jade, silk, and satin.

The guard Xiao Er, loyal and brave, is appointed General of Loyalty and Courage and bestowed a thousand taels of gold. The other guards each promoted one rank, richly rewarded with gold and silver. Such is the imperial decree!

Several stepped forward to receive the edict and give thanks; the officials all shouted 'Long live the Emperor,' with none dissenting.

That evening at the Ning Prince's Mansion, the family was celebrating their promotions when a servant hurried into the Flower Hall: 'Outside there is someone claiming to be from the Private Goods Workshop, requesting to see the young lady.'