Chapter 1

Yamei Province, Grul Town.

When the Frost Moon first arrived, this remote town, far from the center of the Golden Finch Empire, suddenly welcomed a column of silver-armored knights with banners bearing clan emblems.

Old scholar Palsia, from Grul Town, upon seeing the pattern on the banners, widened his eyes in shock and broke out in a cold sweat.

— A fierce tiger treading on a python, the python coiling around a full moon.

Palsia's neighbor, the town's only blacksmith, Tim, noticed the old man's expression. While puffing on his water pipe, he asked curiously, "Hey, old buddy, what's that look for... Could it be you know where these knights come from?"

Palsia took a deep breath and whispered to Tim, "If I'm not mistaken, the emblem on those banners seems to be the Mont family's."

The Mont family?! Tim, upon hearing this, turned to look at Palsia with a stunned expression.

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

Before Palsia could answer, Tim seemed to recall something, shuddered, and hurriedly slipped into his narrow and cramped blacksmith shop, locking the door and looking quite shaken.

Palsia, seeing Tim's cowardly appearance through the blacksmith shop's glass window, couldn't help but shake his head. If it were any other day, these two old friends would surely have mocked each other, but today, with the Mont family's unexpected arrival in Grul Town, and considering their role in the empire, Tim's cowardice made sense.

Palsia recalled the rumors he had heard at the hunter's tavern in the city.

The Mont family, known as the backbone of the Golden Finch Empire, has produced at least six military generals over the past few centuries. They have repeatedly achieved great military feats in defending against enemy invasions. Moreover, during each war, the members of the Mont family did not hide in safe shelters to give orders; instead, every member of the family was a frontline warrior, fearless and strategic. This family, known for their hands-on approach and prestigious background, naturally controlled the military lifeline of the empire.

Recently, the Golden Finch Empire and the neighboring country of Helan were in a state of war. The border of the Helan Dynasty was not far from Grul Town. The arrival of the Mont family's knights... perhaps it was for this reason.

Palsia speculated that there were two possible purposes: conscription or defense, or perhaps both.

Whichever the purpose, it was fatal for the blacksmith Tim. According to the Golden Finch Empire's conscription law, during wartime, every household in the conscription area must provide one able-bodied young man or pay 100 gold coins to obtain an exemption token. Tim was the only male in his family and was in the conscription age range. If he were conscripted, his future wife and children would have no security. As for paying the gold coins? In all of Grul Town, perhaps only the Part family had a savings of 100 gold coins. One gold coin was enough to cover his family's expenses for half a year.

Palsia, after the initial shock, quickly returned to his normal state. He was an old bachelor, nearing his twilight years, and not within the conscription range, so he wasn't worried. Instead, he had the presence of mind to observe the Mont family's movements.

Hmm, they didn't go to the mayor of Grul Town. Could it be that they're not here for conscription?

Palsia continued to observe, and the iron-clad cavalry instead headed to another place.

— The Part Viscount's residence, which, even in the Frost Moon, was still full of lush and fragrant flowers!

...

Part Estate.

Two maids wearing light yellow linen headscarves were working and whispering to each other.

Their gossip was about the two young masters of the Part family.

"The master and mistress have been dead for two years. According to the empire's laws, the eldest son will inherit the title after the Frost Moon and before the Frostfall Moon," said the young maid with an apple-shaped face, somewhat worried. "I wonder if the second son's situation will change after the eldest son inherits the title."

"Olly, it's best for us servants to avoid discussing the affairs of the adults. However, I don't think your worry is necessary. Although you work in the second son's tea garden, the tea garden is far from the main house. You might not know, but the eldest son and the second son have a good relationship! Don't worry, the kind of family disputes you see in operas won't happen in our estate," said the middle-aged maid with a pockmarked face, smiling.

At this moment, the sound of hooves clattered on the path outside the tea garden.

Soon, a knight in ancient copper armor appeared before them.

The horse neighed and reared, and the knight stopped at the entrance of the tea garden, removing his helmet.

This was a brown-haired young man exuding a masculine aura. The backlight made his facial features even more pronounced, adding a touch of nobility to his already handsome appearance.

The young man's gray-green eyes swept over the two maids, bypassing Olly and focusing on the middle-aged maid.

"Housekeeper Mana, good afternoon."

Mana put down her bamboo basket and curtsied to the young knight, "Good afternoon, Master Leo."

Leo glanced at the newly picked tea leaves in Mana's basket, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "Is my brother visiting that old man again?"

Mana lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Master Engel is studying with Mr. Joren."

Leo pursed his lips and muttered to himself, "Studying? That old man must be out of his mind, spouting nonsense every day. My brother goes to him for lessons and even supplies him with tea every day. I think he's a lunatic. I don't know what has possessed my brother to study with him."

Leo tugged at the reins in frustration. "Alright, I understand. You two continue your work. I'll go find him now."

With that, Leo spurred his horse and galloped away.

After a while, Leo arrived at the southeastern corner of the estate, near the forest, where there was a rather exquisite stilt house. The architectural style was unique, with overhanging eaves and a two-story structure. One side was connected to the ground and the main house, while the other three sides were suspended, supported by pillars.

This stilt house, in terms of construction method and style, was completely different from the architectural features of the Golden Finch Empire. Even in the other countries Leo had visited, there was no similar style.

"Truly a remarkable building! It remains stable despite being suspended on three sides." Although Leo resented Joren for taking his brother's attention, he was also quite impressed by Joren's architectural skills. However, he never showed it on his face. Besides the stilt house, Leo had no other admiration for Joren. Perhaps the construction method of the stilt house was common in Joren's "country"? Even though Joren had been in the Part estate for nearly twenty years, Leo never knew where Joren's country was.

Pushing open the fence, the courtyard of the stilt house was planted with vegetables and fruits. On one side, there were withered vines climbing up a trellis. These vines would bear many "clusters" during the Harvest Moon, which Joren called grapes. Leo had tasted them, and they were quite sweet, but the current season was past the time for grapes.

As soon as he opened the bamboo door of the stilt house, he saw a young man with delicate features buried in a parchment, using a quill pen to quickly record something.

Leo approached, and even though he had tried to be quiet, the copper boots still made a loud thud on the wooden floor.

"Hey, you're here?" The young man drew a period on the parchment, looked up, and his voice was clear and warm, filled with affection.

"My dear brother, Engel. From your tone, did you know I would come today?" Leo smiled.

Engel shrugged and smiled, "I didn't know, but answering this way gives me a bit more initiative."

"Did that old man teach you that?"

Engel shook his head, "Does it need to be taught? Didn't Father always speak like that?"

"If someone misunderstands and thinks you know their intentions, and they don't speak when they enter, how would you respond?" Leo raised an eyebrow.

"I would remain calm and wait for them to speak first."

"What if they never speak?"

Engel pursed his lips, "That would be awkward. If it were me, I would turn and leave to avoid making the atmosphere even more awkward. If they call out to me, there would naturally be a follow-up."

Leo nodded with a smile, not commenting further, and instead looked around the room.

"Where is that old man, Joren?"

At the mention of Joren, Engel's brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes showed a hint of worry. "You know, my mentor's health is getting worse. His body is gradually withering. Just two days ago, his legs became completely immobile. He just applied some medicine and is now resting upstairs."