Wang Daxia was unwilling: “The task of maintaining peace is left to you. I need to return to manage my rouge shop. We haven’t restocked for three months – our regular customers will probably all run away.”

Wang Daxia had already become a friend to the women of Qinhuai River. Outstanding people shine wherever they go and in whatever profession they pursue. Compared to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s life-threatening work, he preferred the peaceful days of dealing with rouge and powder.

Wei Caiwei said: “You take Qiwu back first. I need to go to Hohhot with them.”

Unexpectedly, his wife had “betrayed” him. How could Wang Daxia feel at ease about Wei Caiwei? He had no choice but to tearfully bid farewell to his daughter, looking back with every step.

Lu Ying and Wang Daxia rode horses while Ding Wu and Wei Caiwei traveled by carriage. Even through the carriage wall, Ding Wu could feel Wang Daxia’s reluctance to part. “Aren’t you worried that Xia Qiwu will miss you both?”

Wei Caiwei gently sniffed the large red silk flower their daughter often wore in her hair. After Xia Qiwu was born, whether swaddling clothes or belly bands to protect her stomach, everything was carefully prepared by Wang Daxia, all in bright red. He wished he could dress his daughter like the Red Boy – mountains may change, but nature is hard to alter. Even Wang Daxia’s love for red was so devoted.

Wei Caiwei actually couldn’t bear to leave her daughter either, but she didn’t show it in front of Wang Daxia: “Wang Daxia spoils her too much, indulging her every whim. It’s fine to pamper a three-year-old like this, but not an eight-year-old. When I intervene, I seem like the villain, and I can’t stop it anyway. I’m taking advantage of this opportunity to separate father and daughter for a while so both can grow.”

Throughout the journey, Wang Daxia couldn’t eat or sleep well, constantly fretting:

“It thundered and lightninged heavily last night. In the past, when she was startled awake by thunder, she would definitely crawl into our big bed and squeeze between us before she’d sleep. Without us, how will she sleep?”

“She loves Nanjing duck oil sesame cakes the most, but the capital doesn’t seem to have these. What if she craves them?”

“When I’m not there, who will comb her hair? Usually when even one strand breaks, I feel heartbroken.”

No matter how pitifully Wang Daxia complained or hinted around the issue, Wei Caiwei’s maternal heart was like iron and she refused to relent and return. “She’s eight years old, not eight months. Don’t imagine her as so fragile. When I was her age, I had already— forget it, let’s not mention these things. In any case, you need to learn to trust her. Our daughter couldn’t possibly be a delicate hothouse flower. In the future, we will both have to leave her life, and how she fares will depend entirely on herself. As a father, you must learn to let go.”

Wang Daxia understood all the reasoning but couldn’t accept it, sighing constantly from dawn to dusk.

Unable to convince him with words, Wei Caiwei had to convince him with her body.

On the road to the northwest, Wang Daxia didn’t spend a single night alone. Wei Caiwei had never been so passionate with him even during their honeymoon.

With meat delivered to his mouth, how could he not eat? Wang Daxia welcomed all comers, wiping clean and devouring everything. Both found long-lost passion and, forgetting to think of their daughter, it was like a delayed ten-year honeymoon.

During the first two nights at post stations, Ding Wu and Lu Ying stayed in adjacent rooms, but the couple made such a commotion that Ding Wu and Lu Ying couldn’t sleep peacefully. They simply requested four rooms, deliberately leaving the rooms on both sides of Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei’s room empty to avoid attracting attention with too much noise.

When they reached Hohhot, it was already late autumn and thick fur coats were needed. The northwest wind swept in, shrouding this city surrounded by green mountains in an atmosphere of solemn killing intent. Snow flew everywhere, turning the green mountains into snow-covered peaks.

The four arrived a step too late – An Da Khan had already died yesterday. Guihua City was currently controlled by his eldest son Huang Jitai. This city built in imitation of Central Plains cities was constructed by Third Madam and An Da Khan. Usually its gates were wide open, welcoming visitors from all directions – whether Central Plains people, Mongols, or Western Region people could freely trade in the city. In less than ten years, it had become the most prosperous city in the northwest.

But now Hohhot was heavily guarded, with only two gates open, requiring travel documents and searches of merchant caravans for entry and exit.

The frontier had also grown tense, with the Great Ming strengthening border defenses and closing all eleven trading posts.

Everyone knew that Huang Jitai had always advocated taking a hard line against the Great Ming. With An Da Khan now dead, heaven knew what the future would bring!

Lu Ying and the others worried about Third Madam’s safety. She and Ding Wu directly presented their Great Ming Embroidered Uniform Guard credentials to meet with Huang Jitai, while Wang Daxia and Lu Ying disguised themselves as merchants to gather intelligence outside the city.

Prince Shunyi’s Estate.

Huang Jitai sat in his father An Da Khan’s tiger skin chair to receive Lu Ying and Ding Wu. His expression was sorrowful as he politely invited them to be seated: “My father has passed away. The obituary has been sent to Beijing for His Majesty the Emperor and Empress Dowager Li.”

Lu Ying said: “Please accept our condolences. We have always respected An Da Khan and wish to pay our respects before the Great Khan’s spirit.”

Huang Jitai led them to the white tent where An Da Khan’s body lay. Lu Ying observed carefully – from outward appearance, An Da Khan had passed peacefully and had not died unnaturally, but…

Lu Ying asked: “Why don’t we see An Da Khan’s widow Zhong Jin Khatun?”

Huang Jitai’s face showed embarrassment: “This is a family shame. Now we must arrange Father’s funeral, and it shouldn’t be spread outside.”

Lu Ying said: “Zhong Jin Khatun is the Loyal and Obedient Lady enfeoffed by the Great Ming. We need to know where the Loyal and Obedient Lady is.”

Huang Jitai said: “I also want to know her whereabouts, but she dislikes my ugly appearance and lameness, unwilling to remarry me according to levirate marriage customs. Last night she took the trading post seal and her personal guards and fled Hohhot – no one knows where she went.”

Lu Ying and Ding Wu exchanged glances: Like hell we believe your nonsense!

Huang Jitai’s leg had been crippled in the war against the Great Ming, and he had never been able to let go of his resentment toward the Great Ming. But Third Madam was different. Over the past ten years, Third Madam had actively befriended Great Ming officials and famous literati, wearing Han clothing and following Han rituals.

The Great Ming literary giant Xu Wei had even painted her portrait wearing Great Ming court dress and composed a poem: “Han armies compete to see her embroidered skirts, One hundred thousand bows bent by a single lady. Summon Mulan to compare with her personally, See whose arrows fly longer.”

Their political views were clearly different. In An Da Khan’s later years when he was often ill, he only trusted Third Madam, entrusting power to her, so Huang Jitai had no way to resist Third Madam. Now An Da Khan was dead, Huang Jitai was the heir with strong military forces, while Third Madam’s fate was uncertain.

Meanwhile, Wang Daxia rode his horse to high ground, using a Western telescope to observe the vast snowy mountains and grasslands. Heavy snow covered everything, until his gaze finally fixed on a patch of dark sky where a flock of vultures circled.

Vultures were carrion birds – where they appeared, there was certainly death.

Wang Daxia spurred his horse toward where the vultures circled and indeed discovered piles of battle-dead bodies in the white snow on a hillside. A brutal battle had taken place here.

Wang Daxia shot red fireworks into the sky. Wei Caiwei put on her face covering and examined the corpses.

About half an hour later, Lu Ying and Ding Wu arrived with Embroidered Uniform Guard agents. Wei Caiwei had already examined all the hundred-odd bodies at the scene: “All died in battle. All were young and strong people, probably all soldiers. There are several female corpses dressed as servants, but none are Third Madam.”

Ding Wu repeated Huang Jitai’s claim that Third Madam had fled privately, refusing marriage: “…I think he’s lying. He must have had a dispute with Third Madam. Fearing for her safety, she was forced to flee Hohhot. He sent people to intercept her. Now either Third Madam has been secretly captured and quietly disposed of, or she has escaped and is hiding somewhere safe.”

Third Madam’s whereabouts were mysterious, but Lu Ying remained strategically composed: “We’ll split into two groups. Ding Wu, you’re most familiar with A’duo Si of the Ordos tribe – go find him to ask about Third Madam’s news. The rest follow me to Bansheng to find Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya. They’re both pro-Great Ming and know Third Madam well. If Third Madam needs to escape, she should choose between these two places.”

Ding Wu rode alone to the Ordos tribe.

Lu Ying led the others to Bansheng City.

Ten years later, Bahan Naji, who had defected to the Great Ming with his wife Hasi Tuya, had become the richest lord on the grasslands. Bansheng’s population had exceeded one hundred thousand, with Han Chinese making up half – all wealthy merchants, artisans, and skilled people. The grain produced by the land here could feed the entire grassland.

The couple had been married ten years without children. Bahan Naji didn’t mind, refusing many cousins’ attempts to make their sons his adopted children, enjoying the comfortable life of wealth and power with Hasi Tuya.

Bansheng was right on the Great Ming border, and Third Madam had indeed led her forces here to escape!

Besides over a thousand loyal personal guards, she had also brought her son with An Da Khan, Bu Ta Shi Li, to Bansheng to prevent harm from Huang Jitai.

Seeing Lu Ying and the others had followed her to Bansheng, Third Madam was very happy, not at all like someone who had just been widowed: “Even if you hadn’t come, I would have gone to the Great Ming to find you. As soon as An Da Khan died, Huang Jitai wanted to kill me and my son under the pretext of elopement to monopolize power. Fortunately, I was prepared in advance and trained these personal guards to be loyal to me, enabling our escape from Hohhot.”

Bahan Naji said: “If Huang Jitai succeeds, he will definitely assemble armies to attack the Great Ming. Our Bansheng is on the border – if war breaks out, Bansheng will be the first to suffer. Fertile fields will become wasteland, and people will flee in terror to avoid the chaos, causing population loss. Bansheng will lose its current prosperity. I support Third Madam and hope to maintain peace with the Great Ming.”

Hasi Tuya remained beautiful, warmly entertaining the guests. Third Madam’s son Bu Ta Shi Li was fourteen this year, and his earlobes turned slightly red when he saw Hasi Tuya.

Hasi Tuya said: “I don’t want war either. This kind of life is good enough. If war breaks out, our Bansheng will be the first to suffer. We’re willing to follow Third Madam. If Huang Jitai insists on war, we’re willing to unite with other tribes, convene a lords’ assembly, and drive Huang Jitai out of Hohhot.”

Since Bahan Naji had never had an heir, his wife also participated in governing Bansheng. The current Hasi Tuya had become a mature political figure, no longer the shy girl who only knew about rouge and powder.

Third Madam took out the great seal: “Send people to find the leaders of each tribe. Tell them the trading post seal is in my hands. If they want to take goods to trade at the eleven trading posts, they must have my seal to issue travel documents. Otherwise, the Great Ming won’t let them pass and they can’t trade at the markets. Whether they support Huang Jitai and cut off their income, or support me and continue making money living peacefully – let them weigh it carefully. Those who follow me may pass through; those who oppose me will be refused outside the passes.”

Bahan Naji sent people carrying Third Madam’s letters to run between various tribes, spreading the message.

Seeing Third Madam arrange the power struggle so clearly, Wang Daxia said to Lu Ying: “I feel that with Third Madam’s capabilities, I can’t help her much anymore. Just let us husband and wife return home.”

Lu Ying said: “Since we’ve come this far, let’s ensure peace before leaving. We can’t make things too tense with Huang Jitai’s side. If the grasslands fall into internal strife, it will inevitably harm innocent bystanders. If peace is possible, we should avoid war as much as possible. You act as envoy and go to Hohhot to negotiate with Huang Jitai. If Huang Jitai insists on war, the Great Ming will fight to the end. He will simultaneously lose support from other tribes. An Da Khan has more than one son – if he dies in battle, many sons could replace him, willing to become the second Loyal and Obedient Prince.”