Fang Linyuan had just entered the Imperial City when he heard that the marriage proposal from the Turks had already arrived in the capital.

It was, in fact, a suggestion that he himself had made to Emperor Hongyou.

The Turks were willing to send a princess for marriage in order to open up trade relations. However, those barbarian Turks were not known for being particularly trustworthy or reliable. The only way to ensure the marriage would go smoothly was to tie it directly to their own interests.

Thus, the treaty between the two nations explicitly stated that the opening of the border towns for trade would be set one month after the marriage took place.

As soon as Naren Temüji returned to Turkic lands, he wasted no time in selecting a princess of prime marriage age and drafting the official proposal, which was delivered to the Imperial City today.

"The Emperor is very pleased," said the eunuch who had come to greet Fang Linyuan with a smile. "I believe His Majesty has a good task waiting for you today."

A good task?

Fang Linyuan was slightly taken aback.

For a foreign princess to come to the capital for marriage, the best task would be to serve as the envoy sent to escort her from the Turks.

This role represented the majesty and honor of the empire abroad and, domestically, indicated that one was a trusted confidant of the Emperor. Even centuries later, such a role would be recorded in the history books.

"You mean..." Fang Linyuan looked at the eunuch.

The eunuch, who already knew the details, was trying to curry favour with Fang Linyuan. This was common in the palace—leaking a bit of information to the favoured officials so they could reward the bearer of the good news.

The eunuch nodded with a smile.

"Of course! You are the famous General of Longxi, and now a prominent figure in the capital. Who else could be more fitting to carry out the Emperor's decree and escort Princess Saihan from the Turks?"

"...Princess Saihan?"

Fang Linyuan stopped in his tracks.

"The twelfth princess, the daughter of the Turkic Khan?"

"Indeed!" The eunuch animatedly continued, "Have you seen her before? They say she's only seventeen, and her beauty is unparalleled—said to be the most beautiful woman on their steppes. Is that true?"

He looked at Fang Linyuan expectantly.

But Fang Linyuan's expression remained blank. After a moment, he replied, "I saw her on the battlefield once, but I don't remember what she looked like."

The eunuch, not suspecting anything, nodded and laughed.

"Well, this time, General, you will have a chance to see for yourself whether her beauty is as legendary as they say."

*

Seen her?

He had not only seen her.

As Fang Linyuan recalled the situation in which he had first met Princess Saihan, he could feel a throbbing pain at his temple.

Princess Saihan and the crown prince, Naren Temüjin, were not born of the same mother. It was said that her mother was an extraordinarily beautiful dancer in the Turkic royal court. After giving birth to Saihan, she was granted the title of consort, but she offended the queen and was tied to the side of the Heavenly Sacrifice Pool, where she was burned alive.

Princess Saihan, however, was beloved by the Khan due to her exceptional beauty and was raised by his side from a young age.

Much like her brother Naren Temüjin, Princess Saihan was born with no concept of loyalty to her family or nation, nor any understanding of enemies or honour. She had the instinctive admiration for strength typical of a wild beast, and her father's doting affection only made her more unruly.

Fang Linyuan had seen her once two years ago.

Ever since taking up the commander's banner from his father and brother, Fang Linyuan had patiently conserved his strength, and finally, in that year, he launched a counterattack against the Turks, who had been harassing the borders for years.

With successive victories, he caught the Turks off guard, forcing them to abandon their weapons and armour in retreat, and he captured three cities in a row.

The Turks, wailing in despair, believed that the wrath of the Eternal Heaven had descended upon them. The Turkic royal court, after recovering from the shock, immediately dispatched envoys to negotiate a ceasefire with Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan did not refuse and opened the city gates to let the small group of envoys enter.

Inside the solemn, tension-filled military tent, Fang Linyuan only brought two deputy generals to confront the Turkic envoys.

"Speak. What does your Khan intend to offer in exchange for a ceasefire?" he asked coolly.

At that moment, a slender and tall figure among the envoys stood up and boldly tore off the cloth wrapped around her head.

Long, curly brown hair cascaded down, and with a flick of her hand, she uncovered a face with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, strikingly beautiful.

Her pale, wolf-like eyes, both innocent and cruel, stared directly at Fang Linyuan, filled with undisguised admiration and awe.

"Who are you?" Fang Linyuan immediately frowned.

The envoy beside her only smiled knowingly, as if he had expected this all along.

"I am the twelfth princess of the Turks. You can call me Saihan," the woman said.

Fang Linyuan couldn’t care less who she was.

All he knew was that these Turkic barbarians had mixed a woman in here, and they clearly weren’t serious about peace negotiations. Staging such a farce only showed that they hadn’t truly been subdued.

But that was fine. The Daxuan Empire still had fifteen cities in Turkic hands, and there were plenty of battles left to fight.

"Since you haven’t made up your minds yet, escort the envoys out of the city," Fang Linyuan ordered.

Princess Saihan’s gaze, however, only grew more fervent.

"We have made up our minds," she declared proudly. "I am offering myself in exchange for the ceasefire agreement. What do you think? I know you don’t have a wife, so let me be your wife."

The soldiers who had come in to escort the Turkic envoys out were all stunned.

But Princess Saihan remained unperturbed.

She said that her lifelong wish was to marry the most powerful man on the steppes, but now it seemed that none of the warriors on the steppes could compare to Fang Linyuan.

She had begged her father and brother, asking to come and see her beloved’s face for herself, but she hadn’t expected him to be even more handsome than a god sent down from the Eternal Heaven.

She wanted to marry him.

As for the peace talks, her brother had told her nothing about them.

Fang Linyuan calmly averted his gaze.

He knew that the Turks had set this bait for him. To them, women on the steppes were no different from cattle or sheep. Compared to men who could ride horses, herd animals, and burn, kill and loot, women were nothing more than commodities.

She, though a princess, was nothing more than an expensive treasure.

Naren Temüjin and others like him never cared about familial ties. Sending over his audacious sister was merely setting up a crude trap.

If he were to be swayed by her beauty, he would become entangled with the Turks. And if anything were to happen to Saihan, the Turks would not only have an excuse to launch an attack but could also lay all the blame on him.

Faced with those eyes brimming with affection, Fang Linyuan remained expressionless.

"Truly sorry, I already have someone in my heart," he said coldly, turning to the guards.

"Escort the envoys safely out of the city," he commanded.

The Saihan Princess's face briefly displayed a hint of disappointment, but it was fleeting. She quickly adopted an indifferent expression.

"No matter, I know you men of the Central Plains can have more than one wife."

Fang Linyuan ignored her completely.

He felt little emotion toward the princess. To him, she was nothing more than a flower that grew among wolves, a prized ornament in the Turkic royal court. Though she appeared brave and bold, her life and death were not her own to decide.

Dislike wasn't the right word, but as for welcoming this foreign princess—Fang Linyuan would rather not be associated with her at all.

Thus, when Emperor Hongyou suggested in the golden hall that Fang Linyuan carry the imperial edict to the Turks, Fang immediately knelt.

"Please pardon me, Your Majesty, I dare not accept the task."

The emperor looked puzzled. "Why is that?"

Fang Linyuan bowed deeply before the emperor.

"While this marriage agreement is meant to benefit both nations, I am but a soldier with no knowledge of diplomatic protocol. I fear that I might bring shame to Daxuan."

"You think it would be more appropriate to send a civil official?" asked the emperor.

Fang Linyuan replied, "Indeed. Diplomatic affairs have traditionally been handled by civil officials."

The emperor was silent for a moment before sighing.

"Civil officials..." he muttered. "They've caused me so much unrest these past few days. When I think of their conduct in Jiangnan, I no longer know who to trust."

Fang Linyuan remained silent.

Fortunately, the emperor didn’t seem to be seeking advice from him.

After pondering for a moment, the emperor waved his hand dismissively. "Your reasoning is sound. I shall think about it further."

Fang Linyuan finally felt relieved as he was escorted out of the imperial city.

It seemed as though fate was playing a trick on him.

To be sent as an envoy to the Turks, one had to pass through the Yumen Pass. If it had been a month or two ago, when he was eager to return home, he wouldn’t have hesitated for a moment to accept the mission, whether it was to escort Princess Saihan to the capital or even to personally greet Naren Temüjin for the marriage alliance.

As dusk approached and the day darkened into the hour of Xu (NT: 7 to 9 p.m.), there was nothing urgent left for Fang Linyuan to handle, so he made his way back to his residence.

Upon arriving outside the Marquis’ mansion, he noticed a cargo-laden carriage parked on the steps. A few people were standing by, conversing with the guards at the gate. The person at the front was dressed in plain, mourning clothes, which caught Fang Linyuan's attention. He recognized her at once—it was Lady Su from Rongchang Street. Her father had died at the hands of Turkic bandits, and she had once come to the Anping Marquis' mansion to deliver fabric as a gesture of gratitude for saving her life.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Lady Su noticed him and promptly turned to offer a bow in greeting.

Fang Linyuan dismounted from his own carriage and asked, “Lady Su, are you here to deliver fabric?”

Lady Su smiled and nodded. “Yes, the clothes that Princess Zhao ordered from me have been completed.”

“I’ve been so busy that I completely forgot about this,” Fang Linyuan said apologetically, glancing back at the carriage.

The silk shop attendants had just untied the ropes securing the load and uncovered the cloth covering the boxes. The carriage was filled to the brim with crates of clothing materials.

Fang Linyuan was momentarily surprised. “Did she order so much?”

“Princess Zhao, feeling sympathy for my family after our tragedy, specifically instructed the palace maids to have six sets of clothing made for each member of the household,” Lady Su explained.

“Six sets?” Fang Linyuan was taken aback.

Though he rarely managed the household accounts, he recalled that the servants typically received three new outfits each season.

“Yes, Princess Zhao ordered three outfits for spring and three for summer,” Lady Su replied. “I even asked the mansion maid about it when I signed the order. It takes over a month to complete the clothes, so I was worried that the spring outfits would be made in vain as the weather would warm up soon.”

At this point, Lady Su's face revealed a grateful expression.

“But the mansion maid told me that the princess said the money for the clothes should be considered as compensation for helping to rebuild our store. If the spring season passes, the clothes can be worn in the fall instead.”

… Did Zhao Chu really say that?

It took Fang Linyuan a moment to process this.

He had merely lent a helping hand to someone in need, involving Zhao Chu in the process. Yet, he hadn’t expected Zhao Chu to be so thoughtful and attentive.

He remained silent for a moment, then Lady Su spoke again, “I came here today specifically to thank you and the princess once more.”

That cunning, sharp-tongued fox—secretly doing good deeds behind everyone's back.

Fang Linyuan took a deep breath and nodded.

“She… indeed put a lot of thought into it. Go ahead and bring the fabric inside. If he’s free, you can thank her in person.”

*

Lady Su remained behind to supervise the workers as they moved the materials, while Fang Linyuan entered the mansion.

The sky had grown darker, and it was roughly around mealtime. He figured that while asking Zhao Chu if he had time to meet Lady Su again, he could also take the opportunity to grab a meal at Huaiyu Pavilion.

Along with that, Fang Linyuan realized he should thank Zhao Chu as well.

Though their initial agreement was clear—neither would interfere in the other’s affairs, and once the matter was settled, they would part ways without further ties—their relationship could hardly be called anything more than a mere collaboration.

However, Fang Linyuan noticed that Zhao Chu would often go out of his way to do things for the Marquis’ residence and for him—things that were unnecessary from Fang Linyuan’s perspective. Even something as simple as his casual mention of Lady Su had received such thoughtful attention from Zhao Chu.

But how exactly should he thank Zhao Chu?

Zhao Chu’s noble status and his immense wealth—rich enough to rival a kingdom—made it difficult for Fang Linyuan to decide on a gift as a token of gratitude. He pondered it all the way to the entrance of Huaiyu Pavilion but still couldn’t settle on anything.

Oh well, before thanking him, he might as well score a free meal.

Fang Linyuan walked into Huaiyu Pavilion. The dishes here were always excellent, and around this time of day, the rich aroma of food usually filled the air.

Unexpectedly, as he entered the courtyard, the place was brightly lit yet eerily quiet.

At the door, Juan Su hesitated slightly when she saw him, offering him a polite greeting. Wu Xinghai, who was standing nearby, stared at him for a moment with his cloudy eyes, as though assessing something.

Fang Linyuan naturally didn’t know that the complex emotions behind Wu Xinghai’s gaze were stirred by Zhao Chu’s earlier probing questions. The old, suspicious eunuch was grappling with his own thoughts—thoughts he could scarcely believe.

What sort of person could prompt His Highness to so meticulously explain his inner thoughts? And who exactly was the "he" Zhao Chu had been speaking of?

The moment Wu Xinghai saw Fang Linyuan, he suddenly remembered that this man was, in fact, engaged to His Highness. Could the two people Zhao Chu had referred to possibly, shockingly, be Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu?

As soon as the eunuch touched on that unthinkable possibility, he quickly averted his gaze and avoided looking at Fang Linyuan again.

Fang Linyuan, unaware of the tempestuous thoughts within the old eunuch’s mind, was puzzled by the strange stillness in Huaiyu Pavilion. He turned to Juan Su and asked, “What’s going on?”

Juan Su hesitated to speak, her eyes glancing at the maids standing nearby.

“His Highness isn’t feeling well today. Marquis, perhaps you should go in first,” she said cautiously.

Seeing her concern, Fang Linyuan nodded and followed her inside.

The lights were dim in Zhao Chu’s bedchamber. As Juan Su closed the door behind them, Fang Linyuan glanced back and noticed Zhao Chu’s shadow cast by the flickering lamplight onto the screen, stretched out by the distance. He seemed to be sitting on a couch behind the screen.

“What happened?” Fang Linyuan turned to Juan Su, who whispered softly.

“There’s no need to worry. His Highness had too much to drink today.”

Fang Linyuan was taken aback and lowered his voice, “I saw him outside earlier today, and he seemed perfectly fine.”

“You saw His Highness outside the residence?” Juan Su appeared surprised. “Then I’m not sure what’s going on. His Highness has a special status when he goes out, and we usually don’t accompany him closely.”

Fang Linyuan nodded.

“You left him alone?” he asked. “Is that safe?”

“Don’t worry,” Juan Su said. “His Highness just doesn’t speak when he’s drunk. After resting for a day, he’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“Not speaking?” Fang Linyuan had never seen such a symptom of drunkenness before.

Juan Su nodded, “His Highness has always lived cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.”

Fang Linyuan was extremely surprised by her response.

He turned to look at Zhao Chu through the screen.

Indeed, being able to disguise himself as a woman while growing up in the confines of the palace without being detected was a remarkable skill.

But such skills are not innate. Even a fox that has gained intelligence must endure countless tribulations.

Fang Linyuan’s gaze momentarily faltered as he looked at Zhao Chu, while Juan Su’s eyes reflected the emotion he was feeling at that moment.

After a moment, he heard Juan Su slowly begin to speak, “In the past, when His Highness accidentally got drunk, even in the depths of winter, when the Third Prince pushed him into a pond, he didn’t make a sound.”

Her tone was light and slow, more like she was confiding in someone rather than speaking in her usual cautious manner.

It was as if the master, who had never been cherished or cared for, was being regarded with such an expression for the first time.

“When His Highness returned to the palace that day, his palms were so cold that they bled, yet he didn’t dare to utter a sound.”

Fang Linyuan looked at her.

Juan Su gently pressed her lips together and said, “...because he was afraid someone would hear that he wasn’t a woman.”

*

Fang Linyuan found himself at a loss for words for a moment before regaining his voice.

“...He hasn’t had dinner yet, has he?” he asked.

Juan Su nodded.

“Please prepare some food; it’s best to eat something after drinking,” Fang Linyuan ordered.

Juan Su nodded and silently stepped out, leaving Fang Linyuan alone, facing Zhao Chu through the screen.

A soft halo surrounded him, like a fragile shell he had built around himself.

It was surprising that he would feel pity for Zhao Chu, who resembled a slick, well-groomed fox, but underneath the fur, there were old scars.

Fang Linyuan walked around the screen and saw Zhao Chu sitting there with a book in hand.

Hearing Fang Linyuan enter, Zhao Chu looked up, his peach blossom eyes shimmering under the light.

Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, his eyes appeared even deeper tonight, focused on Fang Linyuan in a way that made him feel slightly flustered.

“What are you looking at?”

Recalling what Juan Su had just said, Fang Linyuan lowered his voice slightly when speaking to Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu paused for a moment, lowering his eyes to the book in his hands.

In the next instant, he quickly closed the book, his lowered eyelashes trembling, revealing a hint of panic.

Fang Linyuan couldn't help but sneer.

What’s this? Someone appears serious on the outside but secretly hides and reads forbidden books after getting drunk?

He leaned over, not leaving Zhao Chu any personal space typical of a drunk person.

He was curious to see what Zhao Chu was reading...

But when he looked closely, he saw the title of the book clearly written in standard Wei-style calligraphy on the cover. (NT: specific calligraphic style developed during the Wei dynasty, with tall characters and angular strokes.)

‘Han Feizi’. (NT  : ancient Chinese text attributed to Han Fei, comprising a selection of essays in the Legalist tradition, explaining theories of state power)

Fang Linyuan: …

Seriously, why would anyone hide a classic text like this?

He remained silent for a moment and then looked up at Zhao Chu.

But Zhao Chu still wore that familiar, expressionless face, cold and unmoving like a clay Bodhisattva statue.

Even when drunk, he didn’t forget to apply rouge to his lips, which glowed vividly under the flickering candlelight.

Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but twitch his lips.

Even when drunk, he could maintain such a disguise, diligently studying—if Zhao Chu didn’t achieve great things one day, Fang Linyuan would have to seek him out in the afterlife for an explanation.

He pouted, observing with interest as Zhao Chu continued his actions.

Zhao Chu lowered his eyes, seriously closing the ‘Han Feizi’.

He looked like a little child.

But this little child seemed a bit nervous under Fang Linyuan’s gaze. As he closed the book, he accidentally folded the page he had just been reading.

Just then, Fang Linyuan caught a glimpse of the content on that page.

“Thus, the actions of Zi Xia had not changed from the beginning…”

Fang Linyuan had never liked reading these texts since he was young. He skimmed through the ‘Analects’ and the ‘Book of Songs’, and he had never even touched the ‘Han Feizi’.

As a result, he read the sentence and forgot it, unaware that it came from the story of Mizi Xia and Duke of Wei, which depicted a tale of the ruler of Wei and his male lover sharing peaches.

(NT: Duke Ling favoured a courtier named Mizi Xia (彌子瑕), who he allowed to use the ducal carriage , and who he admired for handing over the remainder of an especially delicious peach. Han Fei recorded that once Mizi Xia's looks faded, the Duke accused him of stealing the carriage and of degrading him by giving him a half-eaten peach. This story was so widespread that the phrase "the bitten peach" (餘桃) became a byword for homosexuality.)

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The author had something to say:

Fang Linyuan, intrigued: Ha ha! The mute bride!

Zhao Chu: (Expressionlessly closes the BL novel he secretly read )

 

Translator : DarNan