On the hunting grounds of Lu City, a young woman rode her horse, pursuing a herd of frantically fleeing gazelles. She deftly nocked an arrow to her bow, and with a twang of the bowstring, the arrow whistled through the air. A gazelle fell with a thud, and cheers erupted from the sidelines.
“If Yi Xiao had been born a man, she’d have surely surpassed us by now,” Ning Fei said as he caught up, greeting Yi Xiao as she rode back. Xiao Weiran, following behind, chuckled, “If she were a man, who knows how much more His Highness would worry about her.”
At seventeen, Yi Xiao cut an impressive figure with her long bow and arrows. Her eyes brimmed with valor. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she barely glanced at Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran, instead calling out to someone behind them, “Bring me the bow!”
Xia Jingshi slowly raised his eyes, meeting her jet-black gaze. Those unfathomable eyes were like a startled autumn pond in a dream, scattering red like a shower of flowers. He curved his lips into a slight smile, “As you wish.”
In truth, the bow was always meant for her. He had only proposed the challenge of shooting down a running beast within five breaths on a whim, to tease her a little.
Seeing her beaming as she received the gleaming silver bow, Xiao Weiran pinched her cheek, “You little minx, you have no manners at all. How dare you speak so rudely to His Highness?”
“You’re so annoying – His Highness doesn’t mind,” she retorted, slinging the bow over her shoulder. She turned to Ning Fei, “Ning Fei, come try out the new bow with me!”
Just as Ning Fei handed her the reins, they heard the urgent sound of hoofbeats approaching. “Your Highness, my lords…” A royal guard galloped towards them.
Xia Jingshi’s gentle demeanor vanished, his narrowed eyes flashing with sharpness. “What has happened?”
The guard swiftly dismounted and knelt, “His Majesty the Emperor has issued an edict. He requests Your Highness to receive it immediately!”
Xia Jingshi nodded slightly, “Understood. I’ll return at once.” He turned to the other three, “You come as well.”
Although Yi Xiao was eager to try her new bow, Xia Jingshi’s words were an unquestionable command to her. Reluctantly, she mounted her horse along with Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran, following behind Xia Jingshi as they galloped back to the royal city.
Yi Xiao was born into a renowned family of scholar-officials in the Jinxiu Dynasty. Her mother was merely a maidservant in the Fu family, with no status to speak of. No one paid much attention to Yi Xiao, so she spent her days roughhousing with the boys, developing a forthright personality, and forming an intimate friendship with Ning Fei.
After Ning Fei joined the military, he introduced her to Prince Xia Jingshi of Zhennan. Later, at a martial arts competition, she astounded everyone with her extraordinary archery skills, earning Prince Xia’s admiration. Despite her youth, she was exceptionally recruited to serve under Prince Xia. She started as a junior officer and was promoted to commandant after the wars subsided.
For years, her gaze had followed Xia Jingshi with reverence, admiring the nobility in his every gesture and cherishing every bit of his demeanor. To stay by his side, she had rejected the pursuits of many young military officers. As she grew older, the matchmakers came less frequently, but she paid it no mind.
Yet Xia Jingshi always remained aloof. Not just towards her, but to everyone. He was sometimes warm, sometimes distant, but this never deterred her. As long as she could make him smile, she was willing to give her all. She didn’t know where her feelings would lead, she just wanted to remain by his side.
“…By imperial decree,” the imperial envoy dragged out the final words, smiling as he folded the edict. “This humble official has heard that this marriage alliance was specifically requested by Princess Xiyang. Even an enemy princess has fallen for Your Highness’s charm. Your Highness truly is…”
“This edict cannot be accepted!” Fu Yi Xiao suddenly sprang up from her kneeling position, startling the envoy. “Yi Xiao, don’t cause trouble,” Xiao Weiran glanced at Xia Jingshi’s inscrutable expression and was the first to reprimand her.
Yi Xiao remained defiantly standing, her large eyes glaring at the envoy. “His Highness has spent years dealing with border issues, often going days without sleep. Now that the wars have finally settled and he’s had a few days of peace, the Emperor wants him to marry into an enemy state! Is he of no use when there’s no war?”
The envoy stuttered in rebuke, “H-how dare you…”
“I accept the Emperor’s decree with gratitude,” Xia Jingshi formally kowtowed.
“Your Highness!” Yi Xiao exclaimed in shock.
Xia Jingshi smiled mildly at the envoy, “I apologize for my subordinate’s lack of discipline.” His gaze turned severe as he looked back at Yi Xiao, “Commandant Fu has offended the imperial envoy. She will receive thirty lashes as punishment!”
“Your Highness…” Ning Fei jumped up in alarm. “Yi Xiao has always been outspoken since childhood. Please, consider that she’s a woman and spare her this punishment?”
Before Xia Jingshi could respond, Yi Xiao retorted coldly, “What are you begging for? It’s my fault for being inconsiderate. I almost ruined his grand plans…”
“Make it fifty lashes,” his eyes narrowed in displeasure, piercing Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran who were about to speak again. “Anyone who dares to plead for her again will make it seventy!”
A nearby soldier hesitantly stepped forward, “Com-Commandant Fu…”
Yi Xiao turned and snapped, “What are you stuttering for? It’s just fifty lashes. If I utter a single cry of pain, I’ll write the name Fu Yi Xiao backward from now on!” With a final glare at Xia Jingshi, she strode towards the training ground.
Xia Jingshi turned away impassively, offering a slight smile to the still bewildered envoy, “I have some military matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. Someone, escort the imperial envoy to the side hall to rest.” With that, he left for the rear hall, leaving behind Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran, who were fretting anxiously.
Ning Fei stamped his foot in frustration, “Yi Xiao has always been like this, stubborn to the point of exasperation. And His Highness insists on challenging her… Fifty lashes would lay up even the toughest person for half a month. How will Yi Xiao endure it?”
Xiao Weiran pondered for a moment, “Let’s go plead for Yi Xiao together.”
Ning Fei was shocked and held Xiao Weiran back firmly, “Have you lost your mind? This will be the death of Yi Xiao! Didn’t you hear His Highness say that anyone who pleads again will make it seventy lashes?”
Xiao Weiran glared at him, “You’re the one who’s lost your mind. His Highness’s words earlier were meant for the envoy to hear. Otherwise, if that official took it seriously, the crimes of defying an imperial edict and disrespecting an imperial envoy – which one could Yi Xiao bear?” He shook off Ning Fei’s hand and hurried after Xia Jingshi.
Yi Xiao bit her knuckle hard, fighting back the pain and telling herself not to let a single tear fall. Never in her life had anyone punished her like this, let alone in front of so many people. Yet the pain in her heart far exceeded the physical pain.
He was going to marry, wed a woman he had never met. A woman who had never fought alongside him, never kept night watch with him, never bandaged his wounds, never killed for him…
Perhaps that woman had nothing but an illustrious background.
“Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen…” The officer administering the punishment counted each lash meticulously.
Seventeen. She was already seventeen. Girls her age in the clan were already mothers by now, or at least had respectful husbands. And what about her? To stay by his side, she had followed a group of men, crawling and rolling in the dirt, drinking large bowls of wine and eating hunks of meat with them. She had almost forgotten she was a woman!
Suddenly, the lashes stopped falling, and a pair of blue brocade boots appeared before her.
He had come.
She looked up, meeting Xia Jingshi’s enigmatic gaze. “Well, have you realized your mistake?” Yi Xiao raised her defiant face, “This subject knows how to read every character, except I don’t know how to pronounce those two, Your Highness!” She deliberately emphasized the opening words, smirking coldly, expecting him to be angered. Instead, she heard him chuckle softly, “Such a stubborn girl. Very well, considering your years of service, the remaining lashes are pardoned.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Fei pulled Yi Xiao up from the bench, aggravating her injuries and making her wince in pain. Xiao Weiran reminded helplessly from behind, “Be gentle… You’re acting as if Yi Xiao is made of iron.”