Fang Linyuan was not afraid of her.

For him, the imperial decree he had received was solely about safely escorting Princess Saihan to the capital. Now that she had arrived safely, there was nothing more for him to do. His polite demeanour was merely for the sake of maintaining the dignity of the Great Daxuan.

Thus, he did not say much, only slightly lowering his head and taking a respectful step back as he spoke.

"Your Highness, the officials from the Honglu Temple are inside the embassy to receive you. This general will now take his leave."

As he spoke, he gave a slight bow to Princess Saihan and then took the reins from the soldier beside him.

"Don't you have anything else to say?" Saihan called out from behind him as he turned to leave.

There seemed to be a hint of unwillingness in her voice.

She had asked the same question two years ago outside the gates of Hulao Pass.

The young girl, who had been idolized in the Turkic lands, had never faced such rejection before. When she was driven outside the city gates, her eyes had stared on Fang Linyuan, demanding if he had anything more to say.

Back then, Fang Linyuan hadn't even turned his head. He simply raised his hand, signalling the soldiers to close the gates.

As the gates shut in front of her, Fang Linyuan's voice came calmly from inside.

"Go back quickly. There are wolves after dark."

Now, hearing her question again, Fang Linyuan remained expressionless.

He had never harboured any feelings for her, and no matter how many times she brought up the past, he couldn't detect any deeper meaning in her words.

However, he did have something to say.

He tilted his head slightly. Though his words were directed at Saihan, his calm eyes swept over the Turkic envoys standing beside her.

"Then, this general wishes that during your stay in the capital, all remains peaceful, and that no masked villains set fires to harm the people of Great Daxuan."

His words were a reference to the recent disturbances caused by bandits in the capital.

The envoys' expressions froze for a moment, and they exchanged silent glances.

Meanwhile, Saihan, standing beside them, let out a laugh as if she had heard a joke.

"How could we do something so underhanded?" she took a step forward, lifting her chin.

"Besides, even if we were to do such a thing, the warriors of the grasslands would never be so cowardly as to hide their faces."

Her tone was confident and haughty, and the expressions of the envoys beside her were somewhat intriguing.

Fang Linyuan's gaze lingered on their faces for a moment.

Could it be that they were unaware?

He stored his doubts in his heart, subtly withdrawing his gaze. He nodded slightly to the envoys with a faint smile, then took the reins of his horse and turned to leave along the guarded street.

As he passed, the soldiers of the Sixteen Guards saluted with their swords, their expressions solemn and respectful.

Behind him, Saihan stood at the entrance of the embassy, watching his retreating figure.

The officials inside the embassy had already come out to greet her. Seeing her hesitating at the door, one of them quickly stepped forward with a smile and asked, "Your Highness, is there something amiss?"

Saihan turned her wolf-like eyes to him.

"Nothing," she replied calmly. "It's just that I've never seen such a bustling and wide street before."

The official was momentarily stunned, then laughed heartily. "My apologies for the oversight! If Your Highness is interested, I can arrange for subordinates to accompany you on a tour of the capital in the coming days. We can show you all the splendid and beautiful sights."

Saihan smiled at this, then turned her head. Just before entering the embassy, she glanced once more in the direction Fang Linyuan had left.

She saw the general leading his horse had already reached the end of the street.

There, a carriage had stopped at some point. It was made of redwood, intricately carved, and adorned with silk on all sides. The bells hanging from its corners swayed gently in the wind.

She saw Fang Linyuan smile.

He handed the reins to a servant beside him, and just as the carriage's curtain was lifted from within, he turned his head and smiled at the person inside.

It was a woman, dressed in fine silks and adorned with jewels.

She was beautiful, exuding the grace and elegance unique to Han women. Her eyebrows were delicately painted, but her eyes were sharp. As she spoke to the general outside the carriage, she glanced up and her gaze met Saihan's from afar.

Wariness, scrutiny, and a haughty appraisal.

She knew her!

In that moment, Saihan was certain of one thing.

She watched as the general nimbly climbed into the carriage, and then as the woman, after sweeping her gaze over Saihan, let the curtain fall.

Her calm and dismissive demeanour was like that of someone looking down at a defeated rival.

Immediately, Saihan's instinctive desire to compete and conquer surged within her.

Forget about the finest men of the grasslands for now—she wanted to see what made this woman so extraordinary.

She was the first person who could outshine her so thoroughly.

*

"Ah, why are you here!"

Fang Linyuan had never expected Zhao Chu to come here to pick him up.

But seeing Zhao Chu's exquisite makeup and gorgeous attire, Fang Linyuan figured he must have just attended some banquet and happened to pass by.

Fang Linyuan thought it was quite a coincidence.

Then he saw Zhao Chu pause slightly and say, "I happened to be passing by, so I stopped here to wait for a while."

Fang Linyuan nodded upon hearing this.

The light inside the carriage was dim, making people's complexions and expressions less distinct. Fang Linyuan looked at Zhao Chu and felt that there seemed to be some dark circles under his eyes.

He took a couple more glances but couldn't see clearly.

Oh well.

With Zhao Chu's temperament, it was unlikely that anything could keep him up all night, right?

Then, Zhao Chu asked, "How was the journey today?"

Fang Linyuan immediately smiled and said, "Everything was peaceful. I was only responsible for their safety, and we didn't encounter any bandits along the way. I suppose the efforts to suppress bandits in Chongzhou have been effective."

Zhao Chu nodded, paused for a moment, and then asked, "She didn't bother you, did she?"

"Not at all!" Fang Linyuan, unaware of Zhao Chu's hesitation and probing, answered honestly.

"Perhaps it's because she's two years older now, but she's become much more cautious. She only exchanged a few more words with me earlier, nothing significant."

At this point, Fang Linyuan suddenly realized something.

"Were you waiting here because you were worried I might run into some trouble?" He turned to look at Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu didn't answer immediately.

His silence was an admission.

Fang Linyuan's eyebrows shot up, like a general who had just seized a flag on the battlefield.

He had caught another one of Zhao Chu's little secrets!

But just as he eagerly leaned over to say something...

For some reason, when he looked at Zhao Chu's soft silk robes, the memory of that firm and resilient touch resurfaced in his mind.

He was reminded of that time again.

What was he thinking!

Fang Linyuan was startled by his own thoughts.

He quickly sat back.

Oh well, the carriage was swaying, and it wasn't safe. If this happened a couple more times, Zhao Chu might start finding him strange.

Fang Linyuan sat upright in his seat, feeling awkward.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Chu spoke again, "I was just worried that if something unexpected happened and it reached the emperor's ears, he might become suspicious of you."

Fang Linyuan pursed his lips, feeling a bit embarrassed.

See, Zhao Chu was still carefully considering the pros and cons for him, while he, on the other hand, kept recalling that awkward incident.

Sitting up straight, under the weight of strong shame, he nodded obediently and solemnly, "You're right!"

Zhao Chu was slightly taken aback by his reaction.

He turned his head and saw Fang Linyuan sitting upright beside him, hands on his knees, his moist eyes looking at him pitifully, like a scolded student, appearing both obedient and pitiful.

...What was going on?

There were only the two of them here, separated by a wide gap.

Zhao Chu was puzzled but didn't want to scare him, so he simply twirled his fingers hidden in his sleeves, resisting the urge to touch the top of his head.

*

The Imperial Astronomers, after observing the stars, selected an auspicious date ten days later to welcome Saihan into the palace.

And the day after that, Fang Linyuan saw Lin Zizhuo again.

He looked thinner than before, and his spirits weren't great either. A dark cloud seemed to hang over his brows.

Recalling the recent incident where he had been reprimanded by the emperor, Fang Linyuan didn’t ask too many questions. Instead, he poured Lin Zizhuo a cup of tea at the garrison office and said, "Do you have time today? Wangjiang Tower recently got a batch of fine wine from Jiangnan. How about we go try it?"

However, Lin Zizhuo shook his head. When he looked up at Fang Linyuan, his expression was complicated.

After a moment, Lin Zizhuo took the teacup and drank half of it in one go before speaking. "No wine for me. I came today because I have something important to discuss with you."

"Go ahead," Fang Linyuan quickly responded.

"Last night, His Majesty issued a special decree. The Turkic envoys have arrived in the capital, and their movements must be closely monitored," Lin Zizhuo said.

"Is His Majesty worried that the Turkic envoys might collude with the Western merchants in the capital and cause trouble in the city again?"

Lin Zizhuo nodded.

"The entire embassy is already under the surveillance of the Imperial Guards, so there’s no need to worry about that," Lin Zizhuo said. "But there are a large number of Western merchants in the North Market, and that’s where the Sixteen Guards come in."

Fang Linyuan immediately understood and nodded. "Got it. That’s not a difficult task. If any merchant acts suspiciously, I’ll send someone to notify the Imperial Guards."

Lin Zizhuo acknowledged this.

At this point, Fang Linyuan paused slightly and added, "But... is His Majesty really that suspicious?"

Lin Zizhuo looked at him.

"Yesterday, when I escorted the Turkic princess into the capital, I spoke to them in front of the embassy," Fang Linyuan said, his expression darkening slightly as he recalled the moment. "But from their expressions, they seemed puzzled rather than panicked, as if they were unaware of the incident."

Fang Linyuan knew his speculation was somewhat rash, but based on his understanding of the Turkic people, if those bold and straightforward barbarians had something to hide, they wouldn’t have remained so composed when he suddenly questioned them.

He spoke with some hesitation, but Lin Zizhuo’s gaze sharpened slightly as he looked at him.

"Did you try to fish for information from them?" he asked.

Fang Linyuan was startled and quickly replied, "No, not really. I just warned them before leaving. I didn’t get anything out of them."

Lin Zizhuo fell silent again.

After a moment, he sighed and looked at Fang Linyuan with an extremely serious expression.

"Linyuan, do you remember what I told you before you went to Jibei?" he said.

Fang Linyuan was slightly taken aback.

Lin Zizhuo leaned in slightly and spoke to him slowly and solemnly.

"His Majesty values you greatly," he said. "Just focus on doing your duty. Don’t concern yourself with anything else."

Fang Linyuan looked at him and was momentarily speechless.

Lin Zizhuo’s complexion wasn’t great, but his eyes burned with intensity, filled with a seriousness and solemnity that Fang Linyuan had never seen before.

...What had he been through these past few days?

After a moment, Fang Linyuan’s lips moved, and he nodded first.

"Alright," he said. "I understand."

*

With Lin Zizhuo’s warning, Fang Linyuan feared that something major might happen. In the following days, he remained vigilant and cautious, ensuring that the entire capital was patrolled without a single loophole.

As for the North Market, there were no signs of unusual activity up until the day Saihan entered the palace.

The palace banquet for Saihan was held in the Hanchun Hall.

On that day, as the sky began to darken, Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu’s carriage stopped outside the Tianji Gate.

Even though the princess’s summer attire was made of the lightest danyun silk, it still consisted of seven or eight layers, making it quite cumbersome to wear.

Not far away, the Fourth Princess, Zhao Pei, stepped down from her carriage. Her delicate makeup was already glistening with a thin layer of sweat, and when the eunuch guiding her stepped forward to greet her, her brows were still furrowed in displeasure.

Fang Linyuan helped Zhao Chu out of the carriage and happened to see Li Zhe following behind her.

Dressed in the green round-collared official robe of a Hanlin Academy scholar, he appeared dignified and scholarly from a distance, exuding the refined demeanour of a literati.

He also happened to see Fang Linyuan and, standing behind Zhao Pei, gave him a slight smile and a respectful bow.

Just as Fang Linyuan was returning the gesture, he saw Zhao Pei turn her head. Though she was smiling at Li Zhe, she abruptly snatched the folding fan he was holding for her.

Then, she strode off with the guiding eunuch without looking back.

Li Zhe turned to Fang Linyuan and gave an apologetic smile before quickening his pace to catch up with Zhao Pei.

Fang Linyuan’s eyes showed a hint of sympathy.

"If the Fourth Princess isn’t satisfied with this marriage, why did she agree to it in the first place?"

Zhao Chu, standing beside him, let out a meaningful chuckle. "The Empress’s plans. She just doesn’t appreciate them."

While everyone else was sweating and anxious, Zhao Chu remained as cool as an ice block, exuding a natural chill that made the osmanthus fragrance on him even more refreshingly sweet.

Truly a serpent demon.

Fang Linyuan silently cursed in his heart but subtly moved closer to Zhao Chu, borrowing his coolness to dispel the heat from his own body.

The Hanchun Hall, however, was pleasantly cool.

This hall was originally built by the previous dynasty’s emperor as a place for music, dance, and escaping the summer heat. It was located on the northern shore of the Taiye Lake.

In the summer, a gentle breeze blew in from the lake, and the shimmering reflections of the water danced on the hall’s walls. The curtains fluttered, and the scent of lotus flowers filled the air, creating an exquisite atmosphere.

Thus, in the center of Hanchun Hall, there was a high platform with carved railings, paved with white jade steps that exuded a cool, fragrant air. Although the banquet had not yet begun, palace dancers were already gracefully performing on the platform, their gauzy sleeves fluttering, creating a delightful interplay with the gentle ripples of Taiye Lake outside the hall.

As soon as Fang Linyuan entered the hall, he felt the cool breeze drifting through.

Despite the lively chatter and the mingling of fragrant robes and hair ornaments, the atmosphere did not feel stifling or oppressive.

"It’s so cool in here!" he whispered to Zhao Chu in amazement.

Zhao Chu remained expressionless, only slightly tilting his head.

Wind wheels had already been set up throughout the hall, a traditional feature of the palace during summer.

The gilded and jewel-encrusted blades of the wind wheels were intricately carved with flowers, birds, and scenes of the four seasons. Beside them stood elegant palace maids, gently turning the wheels. As the wind wheels slowly rotated, the scenes of the four seasons shifted and intertwined, creating a charming spectacle reminiscent of a revolving lantern.

Fang Linyuan, however, was entirely focused on the banquet tables.

The tables had not yet been set with dishes, but beside each one was a gilded bronze ice container.

Cold air wafted from the ice containers, which were filled with clear ice and topped with fresh seasonal fruits. At a glance, they looked refreshingly cool and delicious, promising a sweet taste.

However, since the banquet had not yet begun, the fruits remained in the containers, not yet served.

Thus, Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu took their seats. As the officials and nobles around them mingled and exchanged pleasantries, Fang Linyuan sat idly, secretly counting the fruits in the ice containers.

The most refreshing watermelon, of course, would be cut into small pieces and served by the maids once the banquet began. There were also honeydew melons from the Western Regions, though Fang Linyuan found them too sweet and cloying in the summer, so he didn’t care for them much.

From the south came the Dongkui bayberries, their deep purple-red hue almost dripping with juiciness. And his favourite, the crystal grapes, a prized variety from the Western Regions, crisp and sweet. Just a couple of them would be a perfect treat to cool down in the summer heat...

Just then, Zhao Chu gently nudged him.

Fang Linyuan turned and saw Zhao Chu sitting upright, his expression calm, his beauty so radiant that it almost outshone the gold and jade adorning the hall.

"Hold out your hand," Zhao Chu said softly.

Fang Linyuan, though puzzled, obediently opened his palm. Under the cover of a handkerchief, three crystal grapes were placed in his hand.

Fang Linyuan: !!

The cold, firm grapes startled him.

He looked at Zhao Chu in surprise.

The ice container was two feet away from him. How had Zhao Chu managed to discreetly pluck the grapes from it without moving a muscle!

He stared at Zhao Chu in astonishment, but Zhao Chu remained expressionless, only lowering his eyes to pick up the teacup on the table. With a graceful motion, he covered his mouth with a silk handkerchief and took a sip, his demeanour poised and dignified.

Fang Linyuan, however, seemed to catch a hidden signal in Zhao Chu’s actions.

After a moment of staring at Zhao Chu, as if under a spell, Fang Linyuan also picked up his teacup. Under the cover of the cup, a crystal grape slipped into his mouth.

...So sweet!

As the cool, refreshing sweetness spread across his tongue, Fang Linyuan’s eyes lit up.

Unnoticed by him, Zhao Chu, sitting beside him, remained calm and composed, his posture as elegant as a golden statue of a Bodhisattva, beautiful yet cold.

Only the corner of his lips, hidden behind the celadon teacup, curved into a faint smile—the only hint of human warmth in the otherwise icy, golden figure.

*

After finishing all three grapes, the sound of a eunuch’s announcement echoed from outside the hall. Emperor Hongyou entered, accompanied by the empress and the palace concubines, and took their seats.

The ministers rose and bowed in reverence. Emperor Hongyou, seated on the high platform, smiled and raised his hand. "Rise, my beloved ministers."

Outside the hall, the evening glow gradually faded, leaving only a faint red light on the golden tiles of the layered palace roofs.

As the ministers and noble guests settled into their seats, a eunuch announced that the Turkic envoys were waiting outside the hall.

Emperor Hongyou raised his hand with a kind expression. "Summon them."

The sound of traditional string and wind instruments rose from behind the curtains, and the Turkic envoys, who had come to escort the princess, slowly entered the hall and bowed to Emperor Hongyou.

"Your Majesty, congratulations! Today, the union between the Turkic people and Daxuan is a great blessing for both nations!" the leading envoy proclaimed loudly.

Emperor Hongyou’s face lit up with joy, his expression filled with delight as he gestured for them to rise.

Beside him, Empress Jiang Hongluan smiled gently and said softly, "The envoys are too kind. The weather is hot, and the night is approaching. Why not invite the princess to enter the hall and take her seat?"

The envoy smiled and replied, "Her Highness the Princess wishes to present a gift to Your Majesty upon their first meeting."

"Oh?" Emperor Hongyou’s interest was piqued, and he leaned forward slightly. "What gift is this?"

The envoys exchanged glances and then stepped back, positioning themselves behind the white jade platform in the centre of the hall.

The dance performance on the platform had temporarily ceased, leaving only the empty stage.

After the envoys stepped back, they smiled faintly and remained silent. The music from behind the screen also paused.

In the ensuing silence, a bright red silk ribbon suddenly descended from above.

Amidst a few soft gasps of surprise, a woman dressed in fiery red, her face veiled with beaded curtains, grasped the red silk ribbon. With a light tap of her crimson embroidered shoes, she landed gracefully on the high platform.

It was Saihan.

She wore a foreign-style dress made of red gauze, her hair adorned with rubies and gold. The vibrant veil fluttered gently in the breeze, and the jade beads covering her face tinkled softly, revealing glimpses of her bright red lips. Above the beaded curtain, her deep-set brows and nose, along with her enchanting eyes, made her resemble a fox spirit—so stunningly beautiful that it was almost blinding.

Everyone in the hall gasped in awe.

Yet she seemed utterly indifferent, her strikingly beautiful light-colored eyes fixed solely on Emperor Hongyou.

In the next moment, she let go of the red silk ribbon. The golden bells on her wrists and ankles jingled as she held a tambourine in her slender, snow-white hands. With each tap and shake, the rhythm gradually transformed into a drumbeat.

It was the Turkic bell dance.

As the red silk ribbons fluttered around her, Saihan on the jade platform gradually immersed herself in the performance. Like a red butterfly emerging from the desert, she was wild and dazzling, with an innate charm that radiated natural brilliance.

Her dancing skills were truly exceptional.

For a moment, the entire hall fell silent. Even Emperor Hongyou on the high platform couldn’t tear his eyes away, his admiration utterly unconcealed.

Beside Zhao Chu, Fang Linyuan leaned over slightly and whispered in a very low voice, "This must be her father and brother’s idea."

"Sending her to Daxuan is no different from sending a singer or dancer to them. It’s all about flattering and bewitching the emperor."

Zhao Chu glanced sideways at him.

Amidst the astonished and admiring gazes of the entire hall, Fang Linyuan’s eyes remained clear and sharp as he looked at Saihan. His brows were furrowed solemnly, and his words were filled with strategic analysis.

Zhao Chu paused slightly and asked, "Don’t you think she’s beautiful?"

Fang Linyuan looked at him, his expression matter-of-fact. "Of course she’s beautiful. If she weren’t, how could she bewitch the emperor?"

His praise was too objective, devoid of any personal sentiment.

Zhao Chu: "..."

For a moment, he didn’t respond, but Fang Linyuan grew slightly anxious. "Why are you laughing? Isn’t what I said correct?"

Was he laughing?

Even Zhao Chu himself hadn’t realized it.

But he did seem to feel an inexplicable sense of joy.

He pressed his lips together slightly, and after a moment, slowly shifted his gaze away from Fang Linyuan’s face.

*

The drumbeats on the stage grew increasingly urgent and intense, finally coming to an abrupt stop amidst the fluttering red silk ribbons.

The dazzling woman on the stage finished her dance with the tambourine in hand, and the red silk ribbons drifted down, landing right in front of Emperor Hongyou at the last moment.

Even Empress Jiang Hongluan beside him wore a stiff smile.

After a moment of silence, Emperor Hongyou was the first to clap.

"Bravo!" he exclaimed. "The princess’s dance is truly as graceful as a startled swan and as elegant as a swimming dragon!"

Immediately, a wave of praise surged through the hall like a tide.

The princess on the stage smiled charmingly, her voice even more melodious than the golden bells.

"I don’t understand Central Plains poetry, but since Your Majesty said it, I’ll take it as a compliment," she said.

Her naive and innocent demeanour perfectly elicited a hearty laugh from Emperor Hongyou.

"Your Majesty, such a dance from the princess truly deserves a generous reward," Empress Jiang Hongluan said, observing the emperor’s expression and seizing the moment to speak.

"Reward! She must be rewarded!" Emperor Hongyou declared.

"Each Turkic envoy accompanying the princess shall be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold. The princess shall be granted a thousand taels of gold, eight rolls of brocade, five sets of jewelry, and shall be conferred the title of ‘Consort Yu.’ How does that sound?"

If she were a palace consort, she should have knelt in gratitude at this moment. But Princess Saihan remained standing, seemingly unaware of the need for reverence, and asked directly, "Your Majesty, can the princess know what ‘Yu’ means?"

Emperor Hongyou, with a kind and patient expression, explained to her: "The 'Yu' from the phrase '钟灵毓秀' (zhōng líng yù xiù), meaning 'a place blessed with outstanding talents.' Do you understand, Princess?"

Saihan shook her head openly.

"I don’t understand," she said. "Your Majesty, since you’ve given me a reward I can’t comprehend, may I ask for another favour?"

She was bold and dazzling, yet undeniably ignorant of literature.

Emperor Hongyou’s expression remained gentle and magnanimous as he replied, "Of course, go ahead."

"I’ve long heard that the dances of Central Plains women are vastly different from those of the Turks. But I’ve never left the grasslands, so I’ve never had the chance to see them."

She raised her head and looked at Emperor Hongyou, her strikingly bright and alluring eyes filled with a provocative charm as she smiled and said, "Why not let the most beautiful woman in the capital, Princess Huining, perform a dance and compete with me?"

--

The author has something to say:

[Princess Saihan issued you a battle request.]

Please choose:

A. Accept
B. Face the disappointed and worried gaze of the young general

Zhao Chu: (Silently smashes the A key repeatedly.)

 

Translator : DarNan