The Great Han Dynasty, Shangjing City.
Winter had just begun, and the cold northern wind swept through, carrying with it a sharp and chilling breath.
Although the sky remained bright, scattered snowflakes had begun to drift down, carried gently by the northern wind from the high heavens.
This year's first snow seems to have arrived earlier than usual, adding an extra chill to this ancient capital.
Although the weather was cold, the main street remained lined with shops, and bustling crowds moved to and fro among them.
The cries of vendors rose and fell in waves, and the various stalls were filled with an array of dazzling goods, ranging from fresh fruits and vegetables to exquisite handcrafted items, offering a little of everything.
Children chased and played, while adults bustled about shopping, filling the entire street with a festive atmosphere.
Everything signaled the prosperity and wealth of the Great Han Dynasty.
In the northeastern districts of the imperial city, most of the residents belong to the nobility or prominent families of the capital.
The Founding General's Manor is situated among them.
The founding General Jiang Zhenting is known for his unparalleled martial prowess on the battlefield and his exceptional administrative skills in governing the nation. He enjoys the utmost trust of the Emperor.
He is the foremost statesman of the Great Han Dynasty, standing above all but the Emperor, wielding unparalleled authority over the masses!
The General's Residence is now at its peak, with the estate alone covering an area of 800 acres.
In each courtyard of the residence, servants were busy cleaning and arranging; some accompanied their master in martial arts practice and sword training, while others served tea and fetched water; some prepared paper and ground ink for their master; and there were also those quietly adding firewood and stoking the flames, waiting patiently for any command from their master.
However, the secluded courtyard at the far west of the General's Residence appeared especially desolate.
This courtyard was hidden behind a tall, imposing wall, surrounded by withered trees and withering flowers and grasses.
The gate was tightly shut, with the copper ring on it already tarnished and rusted.
Occasionally, a few snowflakes would fall on the door, only to be quickly blown away by the wind.
The buildings within the courtyard were old and simple, with some of the roof tiles loose, and several places already letting in the wind.
The interior was dimly lit, with only a few faint rays of sunlight filtering through the window and casting patches on the floor.
The furniture was arranged neatly, yet it gave off a sense of wear and age.
The stove had already gone out, and a faint chill lingered in the air.
Unlike the other courtyards, which were bustling with maids and servants, this courtyard had only one occupant—Young Master Jiang Li, the fifth son of the General's Residence.
Though this courtyard appeared desolate, it was still his, for he was the master of the house, albeit the least favored one.
Jiang Li's birth mother, Luo Lengyan, was a commoner. She was strikingly beautiful and had some talent, which caught the eye of Jiang Zhenting, who, after returning from battle, took her as a concubine and brought her back to the estate.
Luo Lengyan, true to her name, was a cold and aloof beauty.
Though she was stunningly beautiful, her indifferent nature and unwillingness to compete for favor meant that she was only cherished for a brief period after being brought into the residence. Soon after, she was forgotten in this vast estate.
A concubine with nothing but beauty, no background, and no desire to compete or fight for favor—though she could still be considered half a mistress of the household, her life was worse than that of a favored servant.
It wasn't until a year later, when Jiang Li was born, that her situation improved, but only slightly.
Though she wasn't treated excessively harshly, she remained, in the end, a mere peripheral figure.
Though mother and son lived a humble life in this secluded courtyard, their situation, though poor, was still far better than that of many outside families struggling in poverty.
As a child, Jiang Li longed for his father's affection, which is why he worked diligently in his studies.
As he had hoped, with each praise from his tutor, Jiang Li, along with his mother, once again caught the attention of Jiang Zhenting.
However, this also brought jealousy and resentment toward mother and son.
When Jiang Li was six years old, at a banquet held in the estate, a man from outside appeared in front of everyone, holding Luo Lengyan's handkerchief.
Though it was later verified that the man had found the handkerchief by accident on the road, the First Madam, Wang Chunling, used this incident to accuse Luo Lengyan of being immoral and engaging with an outsider, thus tarnishing her reputation.
"Jiang Li, unable to contain his anger, publicly retorted a few words. He was immediately scolded for lacking manners, and his mother, Luo Lengyan, was also blamed for failing to properly discipline her son.
Using this as an excuse, they forcefully separated mother and son, and without permission, they were not allowed to meet easily.
Not long after, news came that his mother was gravely ill. In less than half a year, she passed away.
He didn't even have the chance to see his birth mother for the last time.
Jiang Li harbored deep hatred toward Lady Wang and his biological father.
The book in his hands had not been turned for a long time.
He absentmindedly caressed a piece of white jade in his hand, his gaze fixed on the snowflakes falling outside the window.
This jade pendant was the only thing his mother had left him.
A cold gust of wind blew through, and Jiang Li couldn't help but cough twice, tightening his clothes around him.
As he thought of that beautiful woman, a fleeting trace of longing appeared in his eyes.
'Mother, did you name me Li because you hoped that one day I could leave this place?' Jiang Li murmured once again.
Although he had once asked his mother this question when he was a child, she had only smiled at him without answering.
Now, ten years had passed, and the image of that stunningly beautiful woman was gradually becoming blurred in his memories.
Though his mother's nature was cold and distant, she had always been gentle with him.
Reflecting on the past, he couldn't find a single memory of his mother laughing freely, not once.
He thought to himself that his mother must not have liked this place.
But if he wanted to take her away from here, he needed to have enough strength to do so.
Although his mother had died without being buried in the ancestral grave, as a concubine of the Duke of Anguo, her grave was still placed in a designated location.
According to the laws of the Dahan Kingdom, someone of his mother's status could only move her grave if they held an official rank of third grade (Marquis) or higher.
The General's Residence was known for its martial traditions, with most of the children in the family following the path of martial arts.
However, Jiang Li could not follow this path.
Ever since he had fallen into the water at the age of eight, his body had been left with lasting ailments.
He staggered with every three steps, swayed with every five, and countless times, the servants in the residence used him as the subject of their wagers, betting on when he would die.
But he defied their wishes, stumbling and struggling, yet managed to live to sixteen!
Ever since his mother passed away, he had thrown himself into his studies even more diligently, hoping his father wouldn't forget about him.
However, the more outstanding he became, the more unjust treatment he faced.
Under the constant suppression led by Lady Wang, his life grew harder with each passing day.
Until he fell into the water once more and nearly died, and his cold-hearted father didn't even spare him a glance, Jiang Li finally gave up all hope for the father he had only met a few times.
After that, he gradually became mediocre.
Unable to practice martial arts and deliberately hiding his talents at home, Jiang Zhenting completely forgot about him.
The General's Residence was known for its martial traditions, with most of the children in the family pursuing martial arts. However, the Duke of Anguo was a man of both literary and martial skills.
He understood the importance of literature, especially since the Dahan Dynasty had placed increasing emphasis on the development of the arts in recent years.
Therefore, all the children in the residence, regardless of their favor, were sent to the academy.
There was also a large library within the estate, specifically for the use of the young masters and young ladies.
Though Jiang Li was treated harshly in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities, no one dared to hinder his studies.
The key reason was that he hid his talents, presenting an average facade to the outside world.
Within the residence, everyone mocked him, saying he was neither accomplished in literature nor martial arts.
However, he paid no attention to these words.
How can a sparrow understand the ambition of a swan?
His future was to soar freely like a swan, high above the world—how could he waste time arguing with these narrow-minded people!
Mother, I've grown up. Don't worry, I'll soon take you away from here!' He murmured to himself, his eyes fixed on the jade pendant in his hand.
With these thoughts, he carefully tucked the jade pendant close to his body and returned to reading the book in his hands.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door to his courtyard was suddenly knocked on with great force!