In his previous life, Wang Daxia had castrated himself and was much taller and more robust than in this life. The current Wang Daxia, due to long-term separation after marriage, hadn’t gained weight from married life and still maintained a young man’s tall and slender figure with not an ounce of excess fat. His waist was even thinner than Wei Caiwei’s, with two crane-like long thin legs. The combined weight of flesh on his legs was about the same as the two melons on his chest. His total weight was only about a hundred jin (roughly 120 modern pounds).

A’duo Si was a strong man. During the annual sheep-snatching festival, riding his horse, he could easily snatch an eighty-plus-jin fat sheep from the ground onto his horse’s back barehanded.

Now, with Wang Daxia sitting on the carriage shaft and A’duo Si riding his horse, he spread his arms like an eagle. Using the diving force of his steed, he lifted the unsuspecting Wang Daxia into the air and threw him onto the horse’s back.

Wang Daxia felt his body floating like riding clouds. Fortunately, today his waist belt was tied tightly, otherwise the two melons stuffed in his chest pocket would have flown out from his garment and smashed to pieces!

Wang Daxia knew martial arts and quickly adjusted his posture in mid-air, spreading his legs to sit on the horse’s back. His body involuntarily leaned forward, and the two melons bumped against A’duo Si’s broad back.

A’duo Si was absolutely thrilled, carrying his bride and shouting loudly: “I’ve married another wife! Tonight we’ll roast ten sheep to celebrate!”

Inside the carriage, Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya looked at each other: The driver has been mistaken for the bride and captured – what do we do?

The steed galloped. If Wang Daxia jumped off now, he’d probably be killed, so he could only wrap his arms around A’duo Si’s waist. Feeling a short knife at his waist, he immediately drew it and pressed it against A’duo Si’s lower back, saying coldly: “Stop! Let me down!”

Feeling the chill behind him, A’duo Si immediately pulled the reins, stopping the horse in place. It wasn’t worth getting his kidneys stabbed for a wife.

Wang Daxia held the knife against A’duo Si with one hand while pulling the reins with the other, turning the horse around to return to the carriage.

Seeing this scene through the carriage window crack, Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya’s suspended hearts finally settled.

The surrounding tribal soldiers saw their leader subdued by the red-clothed bride and immediately drew their weapons, surrounding the carriage and horse.

Not wanting to lose face in front of his subordinates, A’duo Si said: “You can’t escape. Marrying me is An Da Khan’s order, my bride.”

Wang Daxia made a beautiful turn, standing back on the carriage shaft, pulling the red veil down to his neck to reveal his full face, saying:

“Open your dog eyes and look carefully at this lady. I’m Ximen Jinlian, owner of the Rouge and Powder Cosmetics Shop, not your Hasi Tuya. Quickly clear the way – this lady still needs to go purchase goods.”

A’duo Si looked carefully and indeed saw the difference, but this flirtatious, charming, and fierce red-clothed beauty pleased him even more than Hasi Tuya, especially that collision on horseback that had made his heart bloom with joy. Thinking of tonight’s wedding night when he could thoroughly enjoy her, how could he bear to let go?

A’duo Si gave a look, and his subordinates immediately surrounded the carriage completely.

Wang Daxia became angry: “What are you trying to do? In broad daylight – you’re truly a beast.”

A’duo Si said: “I want to marry you as my wife.”

Hasi Tuya in the carriage: Beast!

Wang Daxia put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly: “The men who want to sleep with this lady could circle Fengcheng once – it’s not your turn yet. Scram!”

The more defiant he was, the more A’duo Si liked him. This woman was interesting: “I’ve taken a fancy to you. Tonight when we share our tent, you’ll know my good points.”

As he reached out to grab Wang Daxia, Wang Daxia slapped A’duo Si’s hand away and mocked: “Famous green-hat tribal leader of the grasslands, is your good point giving away your fiancée to others?”

Hitting someone without hitting their face – Wang Daxia had struck A’duo Si’s weak spot. A’duo Si’s smile disappeared, his face turning iron-blue: “Woman, don’t test my limits.”

Wang Daxia said: “Man, you lost one wife – even snatching a hundred wives can’t restore your face. Why harm other women?”

A’duo Si’s expression grew even uglier. His subordinates climbed onto the carriage to pull Wang Daxia down, but this red-clothed beauty was not to be trifled with, wielding a whip and keeping them at bay.

“Stop!” Ding Wu rode up: “A’duo Si! Have your men back off!”

A’duo Si said: “This woman was rude to me. I want to teach her a lesson.”

Wang Daxia continued wielding his whip while saying: “Magistrate Ding, A’duo Si wants to snatch me as his wife. Will you intervene or not?”

Why is it you again! Ding Wu looked at this calamitous beauty who flirted everywhere and didn’t observe marital fidelity. Fighting with a group of men on the carriage, his red skirt fluttering, panting delicately, pearl ornaments scattering from his head in the struggle, his hair coming undone and flowing loose – alluring and moving.

But there was no choice – he was his brother-in-law, his sister just happened to like him. If he didn’t intervene, who would?

“A’duo Si, have your men withdraw.” Daming’s most tolerant brother-in-law Ding Wu said: “This is all a misunderstanding. I know this woman – please give me face.”

With Ding Wu interceding, A’duo Si waved his hand and ordered his subordinates to withdraw. Wang Daxia’s beautiful hair danced wildly in the wind. He hastily tied it into a bun and was about to jump down from the carriage to find hairpins when A’duo Si picked up a golden phoenix hairpin and handed it to him as a peace offering.

Wang Daxia was still worried about the two people hidden in the carriage. The mission wasn’t complete – this wasn’t the time to be petulant.

Wang Daxia restrained himself and accepted the hairpin, inserting it into his hair bun.

How refreshing! The more A’duo Si looked, the more interesting he found this woman: “My feelings remain unchanged. Come with me.”

Wang Daxia looked helplessly at Ding Wu: “Magistrate Ding, I was just leaving the city to purchase goods and did nothing wrong. A’duo Si suddenly rushed out to snatch me as his wife.”

It wasn’t me seducing him – he made the first move!

Ding Wu said: “A’duo Si, you can’t take him away.”

A’duo Si: “Why not?”

It seemed this day truly couldn’t be avoided. For his sister’s sake, for the greater good, Ding Wu threw caution to the wind and said: “Because… he is my…”

Ding Wu used all his strength to force out the last two words with difficulty: “Woman.”

To think his first public confession would be to his brother-in-law – he had never even said such words to Lu Ying!

“Ah?” A’duo Si looked at Ding Wu, then at Wang Daxia: “You like this type of woman? I thought you loved those delicate, elegant, refined Central Plains women, which is why you’ve remained unmarried.”

Having already taken eight hundred steps, what was another thousand? Ding Wu grasped Wang Daxia’s hand: “I also thought I was that kind of person, but since meeting him, I realized I didn’t understand myself. He is the person I love. I’ve always considered you a brother – a brother’s wife should not be touched. A’duo Si, I met him first. Let go.”

Wang Daxia: How touching! Who knew brother-in-law was so skilled at sweet talk!

A’duo Si looked at the brilliant and moving Wang Daxia with some reluctance, but still ordered his subordinates to clear the way: “Go then. We have no fate in this life. I won’t touch a brother’s woman.”

Wang Daxia drove the carriage away. A’duo Si watched the flash of red disappear into the horizon before turning to ask Ding Wu: “When will Hasi Tuya come?”

Men – eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot. And here I thought you really liked Wang Daxia.

Ding Wu coughed lightly: “There’s been a change in plans. Last night the White Lotus Sect set fires in the khan’s court as a demonstration. Bahan Naji took advantage of the chaos to elope with Hasi Tuya. An Da Khan has locked down the entire city searching for them.”

The one in the bowl flew away, the one in the pot ran off with another man. A’duo Si slumped onto the grass that was just beginning to show green: “Why don’t they fancy me? Am I really that terrible?”

Ding Wu sat beside A’duo Si and handed him a bag of Central Plains liquor: “You already have eight wives – aren’t you satisfied? You had to marry someone else’s fiancée, forcing Bahan Naji to elope with Hasi Tuya. There’s a saying in the Central Plains: ‘Do not impose on others what you do not want yourself.’ Have you forgotten your purpose in coming to Fengcheng? It was for grain, not women!”

“If you take the grain back, you’ll be the great hero who saved your tribe. Who would dare say you’re terrible? You got your belly full and started thinking about women, forgetting the important matter – your tribe is still starving.”

While this was true, still… A’duo Si said: “An Da Khan owes me a woman. Should I just let it go like this?”

Ding Wu said: “You can’t do things too absolutely. This time you wanted both grain and a woman, settling seven years of accounts. Next time there’s another grassland drought with livestock dying and the tribe running out of grain, what will you do? You’ll have no excuse to ask An Da Khan for more grain. Let him owe you a favor forever – then you can ask again in the future.”

Ding Wu’s silver tongue could talk the dead back to life. A’duo Si thought about it and agreed this made sense – let An Da Khan owe him forever.

A’duo Si thus withdrew his troops. Before leaving, he still tested Ding Wu’s attitude: “That Ximen Jinlian… I really like her. If you ever don’t want her, send her to my tent. I’ll treat her well. I, A’duo Si, never mistreat my women.”

There’s always men competing with my sister for her man. Ding Wu was numb to this by now and said: “Future matters can be discussed in the future. Hurry and take the grain back.”

Having resolved this matter, Ding Wu returned to the khan’s court to report. Third Madam had given birth to a son. An Da Khan, over sixty and having a son in his old age, was overjoyed. Holding the fat baby in swaddling clothes, compared to the joy of new life, recent troubles were nothing.

Hearing that A’duo Si had withdrawn his troops was the second piece of good news. Fortune was turning – this son truly brought luck! An Da Khan treasured the baby, and thinking of his most beloved grandson, said: “Spread the news of A’duo Si’s withdrawal. The city gates need not remain under martial law. Hasi Tuya needn’t marry A’duo Si – Bahan Naji’s engagement to her remains valid. They’ll return on their own.”

But Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya had already been sent to Datong by Wang Daxia. Historical records state that when Bahan Naji was detained at the border, he said: “My grandfather deceived his grandson, taking his grandson’s wife to give to others. I cannot be such a grandson. I am leaving.” (Note 1)

General Qi Jiguang, recognizing a valuable opportunity, treated them as honored guests, serving them well and sending them to the capital.

Emperor Longqing warmly received Bahan Naji, treating him with the protocols due a prince and housing him in a prince’s mansion. Empress Chen also bestowed upon Hasi Tuya the robes and crown of a princess consort. Having never seen Beijing’s prosperity, the two were almost too happy to think of home.

When news reached the khan’s court, it was already early autumn.

Having no news of his grandson for four months, An Da Khan had thought the eloped young couple had been devoured by wolves or killed by bandits. Learning his grandson was still alive, An Da Khan quickly wrote a state letter saying he missed his grandson and asking Daming to send him back, that they could discuss any conditions.

Emperor Longqing had originally planned to use this for a ceasefire between the two countries. He wrote back with only one condition: deliver the White Lotus Sect’s ringleaders Zhao Quan, Li Zixin and others to the country for trial and settlement, to appease popular resentment.

An Da Khan could hardly believe the reply! He had thought Daming would demand cities or land in exchange for Bahan Naji, never expecting they only wanted Zhao Quan, Li Zixin and these few beaten dogs!

It was practically a free gift!

An Da Khan showed Emperor Longqing’s reply to Third Madam, saying: “Is the Daming Emperor playing tricks with ulterior motives? Exchanging Bahan Naji for a few worthless people – this is too good for us.”

Ever since his eldest son tried to send away his young wife with the court ministers’ support, An Da Khan had been wary of his strong sons and discussed all government affairs with his young wife, because she and their young son were too weak and could only survive by depending on him – they posed no threat.

Third Madam understood Emperor Longqing’s meaning at once: “Great Khan, the Daming Emperor is clearly showing us goodwill. Bahan Naji is a favor, like a free gift, showing the sincerity of peace between our countries. The former old emperor refused to open mutual trade markets, but this young emperor is different from his father. He lifted the sea ban and now has the will to open mutual trade.”

Years ago, An Da Khan had fought all the way to Beijing to force Emperor Jiajing to open border mutual trade markets. When An Da Khan’s army was at the city gates, Emperor Jiajing agreed, but as soon as An Da Khan withdrew, he immediately reneged.

Now the new emperor was proactively showing goodwill for mutual trade. Truly, “deliberate planting yields no flowers, casual insertion makes willows grow.”

Coincidentally, this year’s spring and summer were still drought-stricken, with large areas of grassland dying and Bansheng’s grain worse than last year’s – another famine year. If mutual trade opened, they could exchange furs for grain, just enough to get through the winter.

With Third Madam’s mediation, An Da Khan wrote a reply: “…Three halls report to the Emperor, I beg for Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya. If you give them to me, whatever you ask of me, I will not obstruct. You send out my grandson, and I will send Zhao Quan, Li Zixin, Liu Si and these three people to the Emperor…” (Note 2)