The darkest hour before dawn hung thick and heavy, like indissoluble ink, wrapping Mukden in an airtight shroud. Torches on the city gate tower flickered dimly, casting light on Shen Yanci's stern profile. He had stood guard here the entire night; the bluestone slabs beneath his military boots had grown slightly warm from his body heat, yet the rifle in his hands remained piercingly cold.
"Young Master, the enemy is beginning to assemble," his adjutant's voice was hoarse from staying up all night as he handed over a pair of binoculars. "Judging by their formation, they plan to launch a fierce assault on the East Gate."
Shen Yanci took the binoculars. Through the lenses, a dense crowd loomed outside the city, their banners fluttering sharply in the morning wind, the character "Jing" emblazoned on them stabbing painfully at the eyes. He counted the enemy forces—at least three times the number of the city's defenders, plus three heavy artillery pieces, their barrels aimed straight at the East Gate like dormant beasts.
"As expected," he set down the binoculars, his voice as calm as a frozen lake. "Tell the East Gate commander to let them draw closer. Once they enter range, open fire with the mortars."
"Yes, sir!"
No sooner had the adjutant rushed off than hurried footsteps echoed from below the tower. Guard Li Xiao came panting up, holding an envelope aloft. "Young Master, an urgent letter from Apricot Blossom Valley!"
Shen Yanci's heart clenched violently; his fingers trembled as he took the envelope. The handwriting on it was Su Wan's—delicate yet slightly scribbled, proof that she had written it in great haste.
The city defenses are strained, but do not concern yourself with me. I am well, do not worry. Await your triumphant return to admire the crabapple blossoms together.
Those few short words flowed like a warm current, instantly dispersing his exhaustion from staying up all night. He clutched the letter, his fingertips brushing repeatedly over the phrase "admire the crabapple blossoms together," and his eyes suddenly stung with warmth. She was always like this—even in the tensest moments, she thought to comfort him, clinging to their gentle promise.
"Reply to Miss Su," he folded the letter carefully and tucked it into his inner pocket, alongside the small cloth doll. "Once I repel the enemy, I shall keep my vow and return."
Li Xiao took his leave and hurried off. Shen Yanci tightened his grip on the rifle once more, his gaze turning back to the enemy outside the city. The softness in his eyes was replaced by biting killing intent.
For her "await your triumphant return," he must win this battle.
At six o'clock in the morning, the bugle call for the siege shattered the dawn's tranquility.
Boom—
The deafening roar of heavy artillery shook the air. Shells rained down on the East Gate's city wall, sending bricks and stones flying, smoke and dust billowing. Defenders on the tower were thrown off balance, screams rising one after another.
"Hold fast!" Shen Yanci's roar cut through the gunsmoke. "Mortars, ready! Target the enemy artillery positions!"
The pre-positioned mortars fired in an instant. Their shells trailed white tail flames, striking the enemy artillery positions with pinpoint accuracy. Explosions erupted one after another, reducing the three heavy guns to scrap metal.
"Well done!" A cheer burst forth from the tower.
The enemy had clearly not anticipated their mortars to be so accurate, and their formation fell into disarray at once. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yanci gave the order: "Rifles, volley fire!"
Intense gunfire crackled like popping beans. Bullets pierced the morning mist, tearing gaping holes in the enemy ranks. Charging soldiers fell like mown wheat, their blood staining the ground outside the city gate a winding crimson river.
Yet the enemy's numbers were overwhelming. For every batch that fell, another surged forward, like locusts that could never be exterminated. Shen Yanci's military uniform was spattered with blood and grime—he could not tell if it was the enemy's or his comrades'. A shrapnel gash on his arm dripped blood down his fingers onto the rifle, but he felt nothing, only mechanically loading, aiming, and firing, his movements as precise as a well-oiled machine.
"Young Master, the southeast corner is about to fall!" A guard scrambled over, his face covered in blood. "They've set up ladders and are climbing over!"
Shen Yanci's eyes sharpened, and he turned to rush toward the southeast corner. No sooner had he descended the tower than he saw several enemy soldiers scaling the wall, bayonets raised, charging into the defenders. Without hesitation, he fired several shots, felling the intruders, then roared: "With me, take them back!"
He charged forward like an enraged wolf. When his rifle ran out of bullets, he drew the dagger at his waist, stabbing it repeatedly into enemy chests. The sound of steel slicing through flesh cut sharply through the chaos. His face was splattered with blood, yet his eyes blazed bright, like a blade tempered in blood.
Inspired by his ferocity, the guards around him fought back like men possessed, forcefully driving the enemy who had climbed the wall back down.
Shen Yanci leaned on his dagger, gasping for breath, his chest heaving violently. Sunlight filtered through the gunsmoke, falling on his bloodstained face, revealing the bloodshot fury in his eyes… and a trace of imperceptible weariness.
"Young Master, you're wounded!" The adjutant hurried over, his face paling at the gash on his arm. "Go down at once to have it bandaged!"
"No need," Shen Yanci waved him off, his gaze still fixed on the enemy outside. "The enemy has not retreated. I cannot leave."
He knew he was the backbone of the troops. If he fell, Mukden would be lost. He could not fall—absolutely not.
The battle raged on for an entire day.
A section of the East Gate wall had been blown apart. Half the defenders lay dead or wounded, ammunition was nearly exhausted. Every face was streaked with blood and grime, yet their eyes remained unyielding, like stubborn weeds taking root amid artillery fire.
Shen Yanci leaned against the city wall, holding his last bullet, about to load it into his rifle, when an unusual commotion erupted outside the city. He looked up to see the enemy ranks thrown into chaos, as if internal strife had broken out.
"What is happening?" he asked his adjutant.
The adjutant raised his binoculars, then suddenly shouted in excitement: "Young Master! Reinforcements! Local militias from Mukden are here to support us!"
Shen Yanci's heart skipped a beat, and he lifted his own binoculars. Behind the enemy lines, dust swirled as a force in varied uniforms charged forward, armed with rifles, broadswords, even hoes—an unstoppable torrent crashing straight into the enemy formation.
"It's Commander Zhang!" Shen Yanci recognized the leader, an old subordinate of his father's who had retired to the countryside and organized a civilian militia. "How did they come?"
"It must be Miss Su!" the adjutant cried, thrilled. "Only the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce jade pendant in her hands can mobilize these local forces. Miss Su has brought us reinforcements!"
Something heavy slammed into Shen Yanci's heart, a mix of sourness and swelling warmth, bringing instant tears to his eyes. He recalled Su Wan's line in the letter, "do not concern yourself with me." So this was what she meant by "I am well"—risking her life to rally reinforcements for him!
That gentle girl who always brought him rice cakes and sewed cloth dolls, who seemed as delicate as spring grass—she had held up the sky for him, in a place he knew nothing about.
"Charge!"
Shen Yanci let out a thunderous roar, transformed as if reborn. Leading the remaining defenders, he charged down the city wall, joining forces with the reinforcements to launch a final assault on the enemy.
Trapped between two fronts, the enemy had long lost their will to fight, crumbling into a disorganized rout, fleeing the city like stray dogs. Shen Yanci did not give chase. He knew not to press a desperate foe; more than that, all he wanted now was to fly to Apricot Blossom Valley, to the one who held his heart captive.
As the sun set, Mukden finally fell silent.
Gunsmoke slowly lifted, revealing the artillery-blackened city walls and the devastated battlefield. Surviving soldiers helped one another clear the debris, their faces showing no joy of victory, only the exhaustion of those who had escaped death.
Shen Xiaoshan leaned on a cane and slowly ascended the tower. Gazing at the carnage before him, then at Shen Yanci standing by the wall, a flicker of relief crossed his cloudy eyes. "Good lad. You haven't disgraced the Shen name."
Shen Yanci turned and bowed deeply to his father, his voice hoarse. "I owe it to your teachings… and to Su Wan."
Shen Xiaoshan laughed, childlike and warm. "I knew I was right about that girl. Go fetch her home. I'll have the kitchen prepare a proper meal for you two."
"Yes." Urgency thick in his voice, Shen Yanci turned and raced down the tower.
He did not even stop to change into a clean uniform, leaping onto his horse, Ta Xue. The black stallion seemed to sense his master's urgency, galloping at full speed, hooves kicking up clouds of dust.
Golden sunset light draped over him, stretching his bloodstained figure long, like a triumphant hero. His arm still bled, yet he felt no pain—only one thought burned in his heart: faster, faster still, to see her.
Lights blazed brightly in the safe house in Apricot Blossom Valley.
Su Wan sat by the window, holding the Browning pistol Shen Yanci had given her, her fingers brushing the cold metal repeatedly. At the sound of hooves outside, her heart jolted, as if it would leap from her chest.
She hurried to the door and pushed it open. There was Shen Yanci on his black horse, walking out of the sunset, covered in blood and dust, his eyes blazing as he stared fixedly at her.
"Shen Yanci!" she cried, her voice breaking. Unable to hold back any longer, she ran toward him.
Shen Yanci dismounted in one fluid motion, opening his arms to hold her tightly as she threw herself into his embrace. She was soft, carrying a faint scent of crabapple blossoms, like a spring breeze that instantly blew away the stench of blood and battle from his body.
"I'm back," his voice was rough and ragged. He rested his chin on the top of her head, repeating over and over, "I'm back, Su Wan. I'm back."
Su Wan wept in his arms like a child, pouring out all her days of fear, anxiety, and dread. "You scared me to death… I thought… I thought I'd never see you again…"
"You won't," Shen Yanci tightened his arms, as if wanting to merge her into his very bones. "I promised I'd come for you, and I always keep my word."
He lifted her face, wiping away her tears with his rough thumb. Looking into her reddened eyes, he suddenly smiled, like a boy who had just received candy. "Why didn't you tell me you went for reinforcements? Do you know how dangerous that was?"
Su Wan sniffled and pouted. "If I told you, you'd never let me go. Besides, I didn't do much… just… just showed them the jade pendant."
Shen Yanci looked at her feigned nonchalance, his heart aching yet filled with love. He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
The kiss was gentle, tinged with the scent of gunpowder, yet impossibly tender—like spring rain falling on parched earth, nourishing their souls at once. Su Wan's face burned bright red, ripe as an apple, but she did not push him away. Instead, she closed her eyes and clumsily kissed him back.
Crabapple trees in the distance swayed gently in the evening breeze, petals drifting down like soft rain. The warm lamplight of the safe house wrapped around the embracing pair, freezing them in a timeless painting.
Shen Yanci knew they had won more than just the battle to hold Mukden—they had protected their future together. Affection forged in flames of war was firmer than any oath; an embrace after returning bloodied was more moving than any sweet words.
"Let's go home," he took her hand, his voice so tender it could melt.
"Mm." Su Wan nodded, squeezing his hand back, her eyes shining brighter than starlight.
The black horse snorted beside them, as if urging them on. Shen Yanci mounted first, then pulled Su Wan up in front of him, his arms wrapped securely around her waist.
"Hold on tight."
"Mm."
The stallion neighed and galloped toward Mukden. Sunset glow gilded their figures; Apricot Blossom Valley faded behind them, while the bright lights of Mukden lay ahead, a warm home waiting.
Shen Yanci lowered his head, looking at the woman in his arms, breathing in the fragrance of her hair. Suddenly, all the killing and bloodshed felt worth it, for this single moment of peace.
Beneath his armor, he had found his softest vulnerability; within his iron resolve, he held his most precious warmth.
And this warmth would walk with him through all the years to come—through stormy turmoil, through peaceful days alike.
The crabapple blossoms in Mukden would surely bloom even more brilliantly next year, Shen Yanci thought. Then, he would stay by her side, admiring them one by one, slowly.