The deputy general Fan Yushu, who had previously followed Fang Linyuan to quell the refugees in Jibei, was the one Emperor Hongyou sent to pacify the unrest in Jibei.

Before his departure, Fan Yushu made a special trip to the Sixteen Guards Command to seek out Fang Linyuan.

"This subordinate has come specifically to thank the general!"

Whether it was Fang Linyuan's imagination or not, after not seeing him for several days, Fan Yushu seemed to have lost some weight compared to when he had set out on the previous campaign. It appeared he had truly taken Fang Linyuan's advice to heart and had been training diligently during this time.

Fang Linyuan looked him up and down and smiled. "You've trained well. Why thank me?"

Hearing this, Fan Yushu bashfully patted his slightly smaller belly and smiled at Fang Linyuan. "If it weren't for the general taking me along to achieve great merits last time, I wouldn't have had the chance to catch the emperor's eye and receive such a fine assignment from His Majesty."

Fang Linyuan laughed at this but didn't forget to remind him, "It's only a good assignment if you handle it well. Don't slack off."

Fan Yushu scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Speaking of which, General, I do have some concerns," he said.

"I hope the general won't laugh at me. Over the past few years, I've read many military books, but leading troops to suppress bandits is a first for me. I don't know what the situation with the bandits in Chongzhou is like. If something goes wrong and the emperor blames me, what should I do?"

"If you've read the military books, there's no need to worry so much."

Fang Linyuan was not stingy with his advice. Seeing Fan Yushu's hesitant expression, he spoke frankly, "Just remember, never underestimate the enemy at any time. Familiarize yourself with the land, the details, the approximate numbers, and the enemy's leader beforehand, then plan your strategy. You can also consult with others you trust."

Fan Yushu nodded repeatedly.

"Moreover, since they are mountain bandits, they must have been established for a long time and won't easily escape," Fang Linyuan added.

"Once you surround their defence, it's only a matter of time before you capture it. But don't make rash decisions that could needlessly cost the lives of your soldiers."

"Yes!" Fan Yushu replied. "General, rest assured!"

Fang Linyuan wasn't particularly worried.

After spending several days with Fan Yushu, he had a good grasp of the man's temperament. He was worldly but timid, and even if he couldn't achieve great feats, he was unlikely to cause trouble.

"Also, remember not to harm innocent civilians," Fang Linyuan added. "In a few days, I'll be going to Chongzhou to welcome the Turkic princess. If I hear any news of misconduct, I'll have to report you to the court."

Hearing this, Fan Yushu quickly smiled and said, "General, don't worry, that won't happen!"

Fang Linyuan nodded with a smile and was about to tell Fan Yushu to go back and rest when he suddenly recalled what Fan Yushu had said earlier.

"Are you going directly to Chongzhou?" Fang Linyuan asked. "Don't you need to go to Jibei first?"

"Jibei?" This time, it was Fan Yushu's turn to be confused. "There's no bandit trouble in Jibei. Why go there?"

Seeing Fang Linyuan frown, Fan Yushu quickly pulled out a report he had with him and showed it to Fang Linyuan.

"Look, the largest bandit stronghold is in the mountains near Ningbei County in Chongzhou. The others are in nearby counties, but they're not significant—just small groups of a few dozen people," Fan Yushu explained. "There's no mention of Jibei!"

Fang Linyuan frowned and took the report.

Indeed... Ningbei County, Pingxi County—these were all far from Jibei. Especially Ningbei County, located in the northernmost part of Chongzhou, bordering the Chongzhou mountains, over four hundred li away from Jibei.

And throughout the entire report, from beginning to end, there was no mention of Jibei.

"What's wrong, General?" Seeing Fang Linyuan holding the report without speaking for a long time, Fan Yushu grew nervous and leaned in to ask.

Had he missed something? Surely not... Could there already be a problem before even setting out?

But Fang Linyuan handed the report back to him.

"It's nothing," he said calmly.

"I must have remembered wrong."

*

Not two days later, Zhao Chu received news that Fang Linyuan would be going to Chongzhou on behalf of Emperor Hongyou to welcome the Turkic princess.

Along with this news came detailed information about the Turkic princess.

The Eastern Depot, as always, left no stone unturned. Every new person around Emperor Hongyou had to pass through Zhao Chu's hands.

The Eastern Depot's investigation of Saihan was thorough.

Every detail of her life, from birth, was clearly documented by year and month.

Zhao Chu slowly flipped through the pages one by one. When he reached the second-to-last page, one sentence caught his eye.

"At the age of fifteen, she once disguised herself and entered Hulao Pass alone. The garrison commander detected her and personally escorted her back."

Hulao Pass. Garrison commander.

Zhao Chu's gaze lingered on those words and did not move away.

After a moment, he slightly furrowed his brow. His hand, resting on the table, slowly moved to the words "garrison commander," his fingers brushing over them.

*

After that day, Fang Linyuan felt a bit awkward whenever he saw Zhao Chu.

He wa so strange!

Could it be because he had been pretending to be Zhao Chu’s husband for too long? Or was it because he had always seen Zhao Chu dressed as a woman? But he was sure that since the day they got married, he had never treated Zhao Chu as a woman again. So why was he starting to have these illusions now?

Fang Linyuan couldn’t figure it out, so he decided to keep some distance from Zhao Chu for the time being.

But…

He didn’t succeed.

Every night when he returned to the estate, he would pass by Huaiyu Pavilion, and it always happened to be during dinner time.

For some reason, Eunuch Wang from Huaiyu Pavilion had been getting his hands on some excellent ingredients these past few days. Today it was fish soup, tomorrow it was roasted lamb. The aroma wafted all the way to Fuguang Pavilion, and Fang Linyuan couldn’t resist being lured into Huaiyu Pavilion for dinner several times.

Fortunately, Zhao Chu had been perfectly normal these past few days.

He didn’t talk much, nor did he smile often. When they ate, they were separated by a large table, not even close enough to bump elbows.

After a few days, Fang Linyuan gradually forgot about the awkwardness from that day.

Until this day.

When he returned to the estate today, it was already past Xu hour (7-9 PM). It was midsummer, and the weather in the capital was always clear. By the time he got back, the clouds on the horizon had been burned a fiery red by the setting sun.

As soon as Fang Linyuan arrived at Huaiyu Pavilion, he caught the scent.

Eunuch Wang seemed to have gotten his hands on some excellent seafood today, preparing Buddha’s Delight shrimp and braised red clams.

Fang Linyuan loved these dishes.

When he was at the border, he occasionally had fish and shrimp to eat. But the river water there was too muddy, and the fish and shrimp often had sand in them, which would grit against his teeth.

From afar, he could smell the fresh, sweet aroma, and Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but sneak over to the small kitchen, greeting Eunuch Wang through the window.

“Eunuch Wang, you’ve worked hard!” he said with a smile outside the window.

Eunuch Wang also stopped and smiled, bowing to him. “Marquis, you’re here. Please wait in the hall for a moment. Dinner will be ready in half of an hour.”

“Alright!” Fang Linyuan replied with a smile and walked through the corridor.

He had always been kind and cheerful, and the servants in the estate liked him. As he passed by, the maids and servants would greet him warmly, and he would greet them back, making his way into the hall of Huaiyu Pavilion.

Half the table was already set with dishes, but Zhao Chu wasn’t there yet.

Indeed, Zhao Chu wasn’t one to indulge in food. He was never one to sit at the table waiting for a meal. Most likely, he was either busy with something or reading.

Fang Linyuan didn’t disturb him. Seeing that the chopsticks on the table hadn’t been set yet and the shrimp smelled irresistible, he simply picked up the top one, held it by its whiskers, and popped it into his mouth.

So hot!

Caught off guard, Fang Linyuan let out a few puffs of hot air. But the large river shrimp was so fresh and fragrant that he couldn’t bring himself to spit it out. As he was wrestling with it, he happened to look up and saw Zhao Chu walking out from inside.

Fang Linyuan was too hot to speak. He watched as Zhao Chu’s brow furrowed, and he quickly walked over, holding a handkerchief in one hand and extending it in front of Fang Linyuan.

“Spit it… here.”

Before Zhao Chu could finish his sentence, Fang Linyuan swallowed down the shrimp with a gulp.

“Spit what?”

Still savouring the scalding, fresh, and fragrant taste in his mouth, Fang Linyuan asked in confusion.

Zhao Chu’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he picked up the sour plum soup that had just been brought up from the cellar and poured Fang Linyuan a cup.

The two of them sat down at the table.

The sour plum soup was made by Juansu, with two or three medicinal herbs added to it. It wasn’t too sweet and could help relieve heat and cool the body.

Zhao Chu, of course, didn’t need to cool down. His body temperature was always lower than others’, regardless of the season. But Fang Linyuan, on the other hand, had been sweating lightly on his forehead every day due to the hot weather.

Zhao Chu handed the sour plum soup to Fang Linyuan, watching as he picked it up and drank it, exclaiming how delicious it was.

“If you like it, I’ll have Juansu prepare more for you tomorrow morning,” Zhao Chu said.

Fang Linyuan nodded repeatedly.

“Then thank you, Sister Juansu!” he called out with a smile toward Juansu at the door.

Juansu at the door also smiled at him and bowed in return.

Fang Linyuan turned back and was about to pick up his bowl again when he heard Zhao Chu ask from beside him, “Have you met the Turkic princess, Saihan?”

Fang Linyuan’s hand paused.

Huh? Why would Zhao Chu suddenly ask about her?

He turned to look at Zhao Chu and saw that Zhao Chu was calmly pouring tea, his eyes downcast, his expression unreadable.

Oh, right. Zhao Chu had probably already received news that Saihan would be arriving in the capital in a few days.

“Ah, yes, I’ve met her once,” Fang Linyuan replied casually.

Anyway, he was only going to Chongzhou to receive the envoy and would return to the capital the same day. With guards and envoys accompanying him the entire way, he wouldn’t have any chance to be alone with Saihan, so there was no risk of giving anyone grounds for gossip.

Since there was nothing to worry about, Fang Linyuan didn’t dwell on the Turkic princess anymore. When Zhao Chu asked, he simply answered casually.

However, just as Fang Linyuan turned his gaze away, Zhao Chu, who was pouring tea, looked up and gave him a deep, inscrutable glance.

“I heard that she once disguised herself as a man and entered Hulao Pass. It was you who saw through her disguise and escorted her out of the city.”

When it came to this, Fang Linyuan had plenty to say.

“It wasn’t me who saw through her! She was young and reckless back then. She sneaked into the military tent and took off her headscarf—any blind person could have told she was a woman!” He put down the half-finished bowl of sour plum soup and complained to Zhao Chu.

Fang Linyuan would never forget how the perfectly good peace talks were ruined by Saihan’s sudden appearance.

Because of this, his plan to stabilize the Turks and buy some time to gather supplies also fell through. If he hadn’t come up with the idea of a night raid on the royal tent, a direct confrontation with those barbarians would have likely dragged on for half a year before a winner could be decided.

Thus, Fang Linyuan, who rarely spoke ill of anyone, used the word “reckless” for the first time to describe someone. In his eyes, it wasn’t an unfair characterization of Saihan.

However, he didn’t notice Zhao Chu’s hand, resting on the table, pause slightly upon hearing his choice of words.

Zhao Chu had never seen Fang Linyuan speak about anyone like this before.

The wording was sharp, but the tone didn’t carry any dislike. Instead, the reproach sounded too soft, almost as if it carried some other meaning.

Fang Linyuan, lost in reminiscing about his brilliant plan of setting fire to the enemy camp that night, naturally didn’t notice the complex look of inquiry in Zhao Chu’s eyes.

After a moment, Zhao Chu asked again, “You escorted her out of the city?”

Of course!

Saihan didn’t value her own life, but Fang Linyuan was afraid her blood would stain the military tents of Hulao Pass. To prevent any accidents along the way and to avoid giving Naren Temüjin an excuse to cause trouble, he personally led a team of soldiers and escorted her out of Hulao Pass.

“Yes,” Fang Linyuan nodded matter-of-factly, not understanding why Zhao Chu was asking this.

Then Zhao Chu fell silent again.

Fang Linyuan turned around and saw the kitchen maid bringing in the last dish, setting out bowls, plates, and spoons for them.

Oh, right. With so many people in the estate, Zhao Chu was always cautious and only spoke to him in private.

Fang Linyuan tactfully didn’t press further and instead continued the conversation, telling Zhao Chu an amusing story.

“Speaking of which, Princess Saihan and Naren Temüjin are truly cut from the same cloth—both ruthless to the core,” Fang Linyuan noted as he picked up a spoon to serve Zhao Chu some soup.

“Back then, to avoid further trouble, I simply left her at the city gate. Apart from having soldiers spread the word and keep an eye on her, I didn’t send anyone to escort her,” Fang Linyuan explained.

“But Naren Temüjin didn’t send anyone to pick her up, completely indifferent to her safety. As for her, she didn’t wait at the spot either. She grabbed a wild horse and rode back to the camp on her own.”

As he spoke, a bowl of matsutake and ginseng chicken soup was served.

Fang Linyuan placed it in front of Zhao Chu.

“Be careful, it’s hot,” he said, then sighed.

“It’s also because the Turks don’t allow women on the battlefield. Otherwise, I might have seen her more than once, and she wouldn’t have ended up marrying into the capital.”

At that moment, he heard Zhao Chu say abruptly, “After she comes to the capital, she’ll be an imperial consort.”

Zhao Chu, who rarely spoke much, for some reason, suddenly made a seemingly random remark.

Fang Linyuan paused, only to see Zhao Chu pick up his chopsticks and start eating.

And then, belatedly, he realized—

Zhao Chu could speak!

*

Two days later, a courier from the post station north of Chongzhou delivered a message to the capital, stating that the Turkic envoy escorting the bride would arrive in Chongzhou early the next morning.

The night before, Fang Linyuan left the city with his troops and headed north.

To receive the envoy, he changed into the qilin robe (NT: ceremonial garment adorned with embroidered patterns of the qilin, the mythical ‘Chinese unicorn’) bestowed by the emperor, wore a long sword at his waist, and a jeweled crown on his head. Even his horse, Liuhuo, was adorned with the white jade and gold saddle he had won at Qujiang Pond during the Qingming Festival. From a distance, he looked radiant, like a divine warrior descending from the heavens.

That day, the dashing figure of the Marquis of Anping once again became the talk of the capital.

People said Fang Linyuan was highly favoured by the emperor, but Fang Linyuan knew that galloping hundreds of miles to receive an envoy was no easy task.

He led five hundred cavalrymen, setting off as dusk fell and arriving at the border of Chongzhou late into the night. There, a government post station with fluttering banners stood, serving as the place to welcome the envoy.

By the time they arrived, Fang Linyuan and his troops were covered in dust. He glanced at the sky and ordered the cavalry to dismount and rest.

After a quick meal at the post station, he led the soldiers in tidying their appearance, mounting their horses, and forming ranks. They stood in front of the post station at the border of Chongzhou, quietly awaiting the arrival of the envoy.

As the first rays of the red sun shone over the Chongzhou mountains, Fang Linyuan saw the grand envoy procession approaching on the horizon.

Behind the colourful banners of the ceremonial guard were eight carriages with red curtains fluttering in the wind. The Turkic warhorses were tall, and the carriages were as high as small houses. The morning sun cast a red glow on the carriages, making the golden decorations sparkle.

Behind them were large carts of dowry chests, cattle, and sheep—all part of the princess's bridal gifts.

"The Turks are so extravagant..." Fang Linyuan heard a soldier behind him whisper.

Fang Linyuan slightly turned his head and glanced at him.

The soldier immediately understood and straightened his posture on his horse, falling silent.

The five hundred cavalrymen stood in formation at the border, like hundreds of golden-armoured statues, shining brilliantly under the morning sun.

The grand procession gradually approached and finally stopped in front of the golden-armoured formation at the border.

With a clatter, the five hundred cavalrymen sheathed their swords and dismounted. The sound of metal clashing echoed like a roaring tide.

Princess Saihan lifted the carriage curtain and saw the general in fiery red robes in the distance.

"General Fang Linyuan of the Sixteen Guards, by the command of His Majesty, welcomes the Turkic princess to the capital!"

The morning sun fully illuminated his face, handsome and upright as a sword. For a moment, even the sun behind him seemed to pale in comparison.

*

Two years had passed, and Saihan's features had matured, blooming like a Gesang flower (NT: The Gesang flower represents purity, love, and the pursuit of happiness in the Tibetan culture). No one in the entire Turkic royal court could match her beauty.

Fang Linyuan looked up and saw the face peeking out from the carriage.

Compared to the women of Daxuan, her features were much more pronounced—thick eyebrows, dense lashes, and curly hair that shone golden-brown in the sunlight. The makeup of Turkic women was also much bolder, with thin, upward-curving eyebrows and bright red lips, a style that exuded the unrestrained boldness of foreigners.

She wore a vibrant red veil on her head, adorned with gold and jewels, momentarily dazzling enough to overshadow everything around her.

Yet no one could overlook her eyes.

Her eyes were a light amber color, filled with untamed beauty and wildness, staring unabashedly at Fang Linyuan.

Fang Linyuan frowned slightly and averted his gaze.

The breaths of those around him seemed to grow softer, but he felt nothing. With a single glance, he raised his hand and issued an order.

Immediately, the five hundred soldiers behind him moved in disciplined formation, quickly flanking the bridal procession on both sides, awaiting Fang Linyuan's next command.

Fang Linyuan turned slightly and gave a slight bow to the lead envoy.

"Sir, time is tight. We must deliver the princess to the capital's embassy before sunset," Fang Linyuan said. "Please follow me as we set off."

The Turkic envoy had rested overnight and had breakfast before setting out, so this request wasn't unreasonable for them.

However, the envoy gave Fang Linyuan a troubled look, then glanced back at the carriage before smiling and saying, "Of course, General. However, our princess has been anxious throughout the journey, wondering what your emperor is like. Since you're here, General, and there's nothing else to do on the road, perhaps you could tell our princess more about him."

It was clearly Saihan's request, and the envoy seemed somewhat reluctant, likely unable to refuse her before approaching Fang Linyuan.

But Fang Linyuan wasn't one to fall for such tactics.

Facing the envoy's ingratiating smile, Fang Linyuan curled his lips and returned a smile.

Just as the envoy's face lit up, thinking Fang Linyuan would agree, he saw Fang Linyuan tug on the reins and turn his horse around. "My only task is to escort the princess."

With that, he raised his hand and issued another order to the five hundred cavalrymen behind him.

The cavalrymen immediately obeyed, and the troops surrounding the bridal procession began to move. The bridal procession, encircled on all sides, was forced to slowly follow.

*

Fang Linyuan didn't waste a single moment. By sunset, the Turkic bridal procession, escorted by Daxuan soldiers, entered the capital in grand fashion.

According to the arrangements of the Honglu Temple, Fang Linyuan's task was complete once he delivered the Turkic envoy and princess to the Turkic embassy. After that, the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Astronomers, and the Honglu Temple would jointly decide the date for the princess's entry into the palace. The grand banquet at the imperial palace would no longer be Fang Linyuan's concern.

He led the envoy procession and slowly stopped outside the embassy.

The entire road in front of the embassy had been cleared, with the Sixteen Guards standing on both sides. Beyond them, commoners crowded the streets, eager to catch a glimpse of the Turkic princess's beauty.

Fang Linyuan dismounted and stopped in front of the carriage with its flowing red curtains.

"The embassy has arrived," he said from below the carriage. "Please disembark, Princess."

Palace maids from the embassy stepped forward, placing a red wooden footstool in front of the carriage and lifting the curtain for Saihan.

However, a fair hand adorned with red nail polish suddenly pulled aside the carriage window curtain. Saihan sat inside, unmoving.

"General Fang, you haven't looked at me once during the entire journey," she said.

"The princess is about to enter the palace. I dare not be disrespectful," Fang Linyuan replied without looking up.

Saihan chuckled softly in the carriage and slowly stood up.

The maids stepped forward to assist her, but Saihan gently waved them away. She lifted her skirt with one hand, stepped lightly onto the footstool, and gracefully alighted on the ground.

Amid the jingling of gold and jade, her eyes remained fixed on Fang Linyuan.

"General Fang, don't worry. I'm not someone who disregards my life," she said with a soft laugh. "You can look up. There's no need to be afraid."

Though she spoke of valuing her life, her tone was flirtatious, like a seductive enchantress.

But Fang Linyuan's heart was as still as water.

She seemed convinced that men were inherently flawed, but she didn't know that he already had a fox demon at home, one whose cultivation likely surpassed hers by several years.

 

--

The author has something to say:

Fang Linyuan: If you're talking about inherent flaws, I don't have any. But if you're talking about enchantresses, I already have one at home :D

 

Translator : DarNan