Chapter 01: Imprisoned

In the fifth month, the Emperor in the capital fell gravely ill. The Crown Prince assumed the regency, while the Empress and the Left Chancellor jointly assisted in governance.

In the south, Prince Jiangning of the Xiao clan declared that the imperial house had fallen into decay and that sovereign authority had been usurped by the imperial in-laws. He rallied the various princes to raise their armies together, leading a loyalist force northward to crusade against the in-laws’ monopoly on power. At the same time, Prince Yuzhang Xiao Qi commanded his forces to march south, acting in accordance with the Empress’s imperial decree to “purge those beside the throne and execute the treacherous villains,” repelling the rebel army from the south and defending the capital’s imperial city.

Prince Jiangning mobilized one hundred thousand troops to march north, and the princes of the south rose up in response one after another — the loyalist forces swelled to nearly two hundred thousand strong.

Prince Yuzhang, fighting rebels within and guarding against the Turks without, left General Tang Jing and two hundred fifty thousand troops to garrison Ningshuo in order to prevent foreign enemies from exploiting the chaos. He himself led his one hundred fifty thousand iron cavalry south.

The journey to Langya was long and distant. We had to pass through Huizhou as soon as possible, then continue east toward Langya.

Huizhou was a vital strategic juncture between north and south, commanding the river crossing at the foot of Luling Pass. Once across the Long River, heading southwest through Linliang Pass opened a clear path with no further obstacles, aimed straight at the capital’s throat. From Linliang Pass, traveling south through Chuzhou and then crossing the Cang River would bring one to the south.

After crossing the river, we still had to travel east through three commanderies before reaching Langya on the Eastern Sea. That place lay in the far eastern reaches — verdant mountains, fertile fields meeting the sea — a land of culture and refinement, untouched by the blades of war since ancient times, and the foundation of the Wang Family’s power.

We had been riding hard for several days straight, pressing on day and night, and finally arrived at Yonglan Pass at dusk.

The scenery here was increasingly familiar. Past Yonglan Pass lay Huizhou, the place where I had once lived in seclusion for three years.

As the sun tilted westward and sank, we were still more than ten li from the city, and both people and horses were utterly spent. The carriage halted beside a wild lake in the wilderness for a brief rest, after which we would need to press on again to reach Huizhou before nightfall.

I leaned against the carriage in a daze, feeling aches throughout my body. I simply stepped down from the carriage and took Yuxiu for a walk along the lakeside.

The journey these past days had been grueling, and Yuxiu had been exceptionally diligent, carefully attending to my daily needs — her plump little face had grown noticeably thinner.

Looking at her face, I felt increasingly reluctant to see her suffer, and smiled, “Once we reach the city of Huizhou, we can finally have a proper rest for one night. There are still quite a few fine wines stored in my lodge there. Tonight we can invite General Song to come share a drink with us.”

Yuxiu still had the heart of a child — the moment she heard mention of fine wine, she immediately brightened with excitement. “Thank you, Your Highness! This servant will go relay the message to General Song right away!”

“It would be this subordinate’s honor.” The man’s voice behind us gave us both a fright. We turned to find it was Song Huai’an.

“Oh! How is the General here too!” Yuxiu patted her chest, her cheeks flushing, apparently quite startled by his sudden appearance.

This young general was as unsmiling as ever, his hand resting on his sword as he stood five paces behind me and inclined in a slight bow. “This place is desolate and remote. This subordinate has been ordered to protect Your Highness’s safety and has not dared stray even half a step.”

I smiled gently. “General Song has labored hard throughout this journey. This Princess is deeply grateful.”

Upon hearing this, Song Huai’an seemed briefly flustered, but then spoke gravely, “This place is no more than ten-odd li from the city. This subordinate believes it is not wise to linger here — we should make our way to the city as soon as possible.”

I turned my head to look at the soldiers resting in the distance, some still busy feeding the horses… I had ridden in a carriage and still felt exhausted — how much more so must they. I sighed softly, “The soldiers are truly worn out. Rather than pressing this little distance further, it would be better to let everyone rest a while longer.”

Song Huai’an did not yield in the slightest. “We have been ordered to escort Your Highness. Our only duty is to deliver Your Highness safely to Langya — we would not dare speak of hardship.”

I could only laugh helplessly. This man was stubbornly amusing in his obstinacy. I no longer argued with him. “Very well, then. Let us set out.”

At that moment, the dusk deepened. A wind rose over the lake, sweeping through the dense wilderness of tall and short trees with a whispering rustle.

Yuxiu quickly draped a deep crimson cape trimmed with oriole feathers over my shoulders.

Song Huai’an, who had been keeping silent behind us all along, now spoke. “The night air is cold and the dew is heavy. I hope Your Highness will take care of herself.”

I stopped suddenly, a faint stirring in my heart.

By the last glimmer of light in the fading dusk, I turned my head to look at him. This young general was slender and upright, his valiant bearing touched with a gentleness that had always given me a sense of warmth. When I was in Ningshuo, we had crossed paths fleetingly a few times. These past days of hurried travel, I had not looked at him closely. Gazing at him now, I found his features handsome and refined — and felt a strange sense of familiarity, as though I had seen him somewhere before.

What surprised me most was his last remark, which sounded as though I had heard it somewhere before.

Seeing me stop to look at him, Song Huai’an’s expression grew even more tense. He lowered his head in silence, as though facing a great enemy.

I raised an eyebrow and smiled. “General Song looks rather familiar to me?”

He suddenly lifted his head, his gaze burning as it fixed directly on me. That look flashed through my memory — as though long ago, someone had looked at me with that same burning intensity…

“Is it you?” The words sprang from my lips before I could stop them. “The person who burst into my bridal chamber on my wedding night — it was actually you?”

Song Huai’an’s cheeks instantly blazed crimson, and a strange light appeared in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then stopped himself.

Yuxiu stared at us in bewilderment. I could not help bursting into laughter. “So it was you all along!”

He lowered his head, silent for a moment, and at last smiled with a reddened face. “Indeed it was this subordinate. I was presumptuous toward Your Highness that day, and I beg your forgiveness.”

A wave of feelings washed over me, and my thoughts drifted back to that night that changed my life… At the door of the bridal chamber, a brash young general who showed no deference to anyone was roundly scolded to his face by me and knelt without daring to raise his head. At the time I had thoroughly despised Xiao Qi, and without asking for any explanation, had vented my fury on his subordinate. It had not occurred to me that I would meet him again today, stirring up those old memories.

“It was my words that were discourteous that day — I wrongly blamed the General,” I said with a slight smile and turned my head. Looking again at this silent, solemn young general, I immediately felt a much greater warmth toward him. He grew even more flustered, not daring to look at me. “Your Highness is too kind. This subordinate is unworthy and ashamed to accept such words.”

Yuxiu suddenly covered her mouth and laughed. That laugh turned the tips of Song Huai’an’s ears completely red.

He was still quite a bashful young man — having spent so long among the military, he became all the more tongue-tied in the company of women.

I suppressed my smile and said with a composed expression, “By now, His Highness the Prince must have led his army south. I wonder where he has reached. Prince Jiangning’s vanguard has probably crossed the Cang River ahead of time — I wonder how much longer Chuzhou can hold out…”

Song Huai’an deliberated and said, “The news of His Highness the Prince’s southward march has already been circulated to the six garrisons of the northern frontier. The northern frontier is far from the Central Plains and has suffered greatly from war and unrest. Over these years, it has been only because His Highness has guarded the borders that the people have been able to live in peace. The six northern garrisons revere His Highness as though he were a god, and their devotion to him far surpasses their loyalty to the court. With His Highness’s army now on the march, the military governors of every prefecture and county have submitted without exception, and every locality has opened its city gates wide, provisioned with grain and fodder, awaiting the arrival of his army. Once past Huizhou and safely across the river, given the speed at which His Highness advances his troops, he is certain to arrive at Linliang Pass ahead of Prince Jiangning.”

I nodded with a smile. “The Governor of Huizhou, Wu Qian, was a student of my father’s. With his full support, ferrying the army across the river should be effortless.”

By the time we arrived outside the city of Huizhou, it was already deep into the night.

Song Huai’an had sent men ahead to notify the Governor of Huizhou. Though night had fallen, the city walls blazed with light. Wu Qian had brought together all the officials of Huizhou, great and small, with a grand ceremonial escort, and came out from the city to receive us with the utmost reverence and deference, welcoming us into the city.

I sat quietly in my carriage. Through the gaps in the curtain, the familiar sights and faces appeared as warm and intimate as ever. Yet the mood that now filled me was nothing like the tranquil, listless state of mind of the past. Those days of strolling and singing, of apricot blossoms and fine wine, had already faded. I thought of Jin’er — I did not know where she was now, or what state the lodge had been left in. The begonia trees in the courtyard — was there anyone still tending to them…

The carriage entered the city, but instead of heading into the city streets, it turned directly onto the main road and proceeded to the west of the city, toward what appeared to be the road to the post station.

I felt slightly puzzled and ordered the carriage to stop, then called Wu Qian over to ask, “Why are we not going into the city?”

Wu Qian quickly bowed with a smile. “The soldiers and officers have had an arduous journey. This official has prepared food and wine at the post station, so that General Song and all the officers may first settle in. Afterward, this official will personally escort Your Highness back to the lodge… The road from the western part of the city to the lodge is also somewhat shorter.”

Song Huai’an immediately frowned. “Wherever Her Highness is, this subordinate must follow. I would not dare stray even half a step.”

Wu Qian smiled and said, “The General may not be aware — the lodge outside the city was Your Highness’s former residence, and it would not be convenient for others to intrude upon it.”

These words subtly hinted to Song Huai’an that it would be inappropriate for him to accompany me to the lodge, and sure enough, they left Song Huai’an visibly stiffened.

Wu Qian, who had always been humble and compliant, was today insistently pressing his point — even speaking to contradict the people around me. My sense of unease grew with each moment. I turned to look at him with a composed gaze, my expression giving nothing away. “We are grateful for Official Wu’s generous consideration. This Princess also wishes to invite the Official and General Song to the lodge, to taste the wines that have been cellared there.”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s gracious invitation!” Wu Qian bowed repeatedly, smiling so broadly that the long beard beneath his chin trembled, his manner growing even more reverential. “It is only that the accompanying guards — with so many people, the noise and bustle would be unavoidable… If this were to disturb Your Highness’s peace and quiet, how would this official answer to His Highness the Prince?”

He persisted again and again — what he was implying seemed to be that he was determined to separate me from my accompanying guards. A quiet alarm went off in my heart, and I shifted my gaze to Song Huai’an.

Yet I saw Song Huai’an smile with his hand on his sword, exchanging a glance with me in a way that left no trace, and said aloud in a clear voice, “Official Wu jests. Her Highness is simply showing consideration for the brothers-in-arms by hosting a banquet to enjoy together. As for how things will be arranged, we shall naturally defer to our host’s wishes afterward.”

“However…” Wu Qian hesitated, “food and wine have already been prepared at the post station…”

“This Princess has been away from Huizhou for some time and misses the city’s lively scenes greatly,” I said, deliberately to test him, smiling at the two of them. “Tomorrow we set out again at dawn. Why not take the road through the city now, and let General Song see for himself the wine houses and evening lanterns of our Huizhou — far livelier than Ningshuo, I assure you.”

Song Huai’an smiled with a slight bow, and our eyes met, as though a flash of unspoken understanding passed between us.

But Wu Qian’s expression grew increasingly ill at ease. He forced a smile and said, “Your Highness has had a tiring journey — it would be better to return to the lodge and rest early.”

“Some time has passed since we last met, and it seems Official Wu has become a great deal more stingy,” I turned my eyes and smiled pleasantly at Wu Qian. “This Princess merely wishes to pass through the city — no one will be disturbed. Is even this not to be permitted?”

Wu Qian hastened to apologize profusely, but his eyes kept shifting.

Song Huai’an and I exchanged another glance, both of us now sensing something distinctly peculiar.

A cold and clammy sweat crept into my palm. I silently cursed my own foolishness — I had naively trusted my father’s former student without the slightest wariness.

If Huizhou had turned against us, and Wu Qian had harbored treacherous intentions, then we had already walked into the trap he had set, and it was too late to turn back. The post station and lodge ahead were likely already staked with hidden soldiers in ambush — and even if our five hundred elite guards were skilled and fierce fighters, they would be no match for the nearly ten thousand garrison troops of Huizhou.

And yet, if Wu Qian wanted to show his hand and move against us, he had had countless opportunities since the moment we entered the city. This man had always been cautious and meticulous, and he still harbored some wariness toward us. After all, I was a royal commandery princess, and these five hundred elite guards were battle-hardened soldiers who had followed Prince Yuzhang through campaigns north and south.

Without having reached a location where all his preparations could be coordinated, I was confident Wu Qian would not dare to turn on us prematurely.

In those brief moments, a thousand thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant. Wu Qian, too, fell into a brooding silence.

“Since Your Highness is in such a mood for this, this official is happy to accompany you.” The dark and sullen expression on Wu Qian’s face broke once more into a reverential smile. “Your Highness, please.”

The great stone that had been suspended over my heart dropped, and I quietly let out a breath of relief. I gave a nod and a smile to Song Huai’an and turned to board the carriage.

The carriages and escort turned around and headed straight into the city.

I lifted the carriage curtain and looked back at the city walls behind us — blazing with lights, one could faintly make out soldiers coming and going on patrol.

On the road toward the lodge, the streets appeared much the same as they always had, yet I felt increasingly aware of a hidden undercurrent of strangeness — as though beneath a calm surface, a strange and sinister current was flowing in secret. Wu Qian had brought a ceremonial escort of only around a hundred men, but from the moment our procession set foot on the main road into the city, Wu Qian had urgently summoned a large contingent of soldiers to come, claiming that the city was crowded and disorderly, and that my safety must be strictly protected.

These words seemed perfectly reasonable on the surface, yet they only deepened my certainty that something was wrong. Given the habitual laxity of Huizhou’s garrison troops, had there been no prior preparations, they could never have been summoned so swiftly at a moment’s notice. The fact that they arrived in fully arrayed armor clearly showed they had already been under orders and standing at the ready. Wu Qian’s earlier insistence on sending Song Huai’an and the others to the post station first had plainly been a scheme to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Now that this scheme had failed, he had mobilized more troops — and the lodge ahead was likely already a net spread wide to catch us all in one fell swoop.

I clenched my fists, my heart pounding wildly, cold sweat covering my body.

In the past, my brother would always say I was quick-witted and cunning, that I lived up to the character “Xuan” in my name. Yet now, in this moment of crisis, the more urgent it became, the more my mind went blank. I wished I could empty every thought out of my head all at once. We were outnumbered, and Wu Qian was fully prepared and on guard — we had already fallen into a disadvantage on all fronts…

Once while hunting rabbits in the forbidden gardens, I had seen a fierce and cunning rabbit play dead to lull a hunting hawk into lowering its guard. When the hawk was unprepared, the rabbit would suddenly lash out with a violent kick, often injuring the unsuspecting hawk and escaping in the confusion. Father had said: to defeat the strong with the weak, to contend with the many using the few, there is no other way but to seize a precarious victory.

The decisive moment of victory lies in a single instant — grasp it and live, lose it and perish.

Through the carriage curtain, the lights outside were growing increasingly numerous — we were drawing near the bustling heart of the city’s market district. The ordinary people along the road, having no idea what was happening, saw the grand and imposing procession with its ceremonial escort spread like clouds, and rather than getting out of the way, surged up along the roadside to watch. This was the most lively hour of the evening in Huizhou — the city’s market stalls and taverns were already crowded with people…

A sudden jolt ran through me, and a flash of insight seemed to blaze across my mind.

— If one wants to flee and go into hiding, the easiest place to disappear is naturally into a crowd.

The moment this thought surfaced, I was stunned by it myself.

The hoofbeats grew increasingly urgent, drumming into my heart, as cold sweat soaked through my clothing.

This was the only chance at survival I could think of. Even if the cost was terrible, there was no other choice.

“Stop!” Through the carriage curtain, Yuxiu’s crisp voice rang out suddenly, bringing the carriage to a halt.

My heart tightened, but then I heard her call out in a clear voice, “Her Highness has suddenly taken ill — please hold the carriage for a moment.”

What was this girl up to? I frowned and leaned forward to look, only to see her half-lifting the hanging curtain, cleverly leaning in, winking at me with one eye while saying loudly, “Your Highness, how do you feel? Is it serious?”

I immediately understood, and called out in a louder voice, “This Princess has a bit of a headache — let the carriage pause for a moment.”

“General Song asked me to pass a message…” Yuxiu said urgently in a hushed voice, quickly lowering half the curtain and angling her body to block the view from outside. “When there are more people ahead, watch for the right moment to break out — do not panic.”

He had come to the same conclusion as I had! Hearing this, I was at once startled and overjoyed, my heart thumping even more frantically.

“Tell General Song — do not fight head-on. Breaking out is the priority. As long as one thread of survival remains, there will be a chance to gain victory.” I removed the blood jade pendant from my neck and pressed it firmly into Yuxiu’s palm, then whispered into her ear at a rapid pace, “Lanyue Manor in the southern outskirts of Huizhou — that is where my uncle once kept his secret agents. If things go smoothly, go there with this object — it bears the Wang Family insignia…”

Sounds of Wu Qian’s anxious inquiry came from outside, followed by Song Huai’an approaching the carriage.

I gave Yuxiu a push and said through gritted teeth, “Be very careful — do not let Wu Qian grow suspicious!”

Yuxiu’s sharp face had gone slightly pale, but her expression was still composed. She gave a silent nod and turned to go, the hanging curtain dropping closed behind her.

I could not see the reactions of those outside, only hear her clear, childlike voice, steady and calm as ever: “Her Highness is not seriously ill — she is simply tired from the road, and has instructed that the carriage proceed to the lodge as quickly as possible. Let us set off now…”

I had no idea how Yuxiu managed to pass a message to Song Huai’an right under Wu Qian’s nose. At this point I had no time to worry about such things — I could only hope that Song Huai’an would seize the right moment, strike decisively, and succeed on the first attempt. Even if there were casualties, I was determined that at least someone must break out of the city and report to Xiao Qi.

The large procession of carriages and escorts had already drawn the curious crowds lining the road, and the further we went, the more people surged together, nearly sealing the road so completely that not even water could pass through. Wu Qian personally led the ceremonial escorts to clear the way ahead, while Song Huai’an and five hundred elite guards followed closely behind my carriage… We had now reached the most bustling district in all of Huizhou. Lights blazed along both sides of the road, heads jostled in a dense mass.

This was the best possible moment, yet nothing stirred outside. I sat in the carriage utterly on edge, my nerves stretched to the breaking point, the sweat in my palms growing more and more. If they did not act soon… Suddenly a sharp roar split the air, like a thunderclap from a clear sky —

“Huizhou Governor Wu Qian has committed treason! The cavalry general of Prince Yuzhang’s forces, by royal command, is here to suppress the rebellion — seize Wu Qian!”

That roar was like a bolt of lightning striking down from a clear sky.

In an instant, chaos erupted. Five hundred iron cavalry drew their swords and blades, moving with the swiftness of a lightning strike.

Horses neighing, shouts, screams, and cries all burst out at once!

The surrounding bodyguards had not yet had time to react when the iron hooves of the cavalrymen were already upon them, and gleaming blades of steel slashed through the night.

Then Wu Qian’s voice rang out, utterly terrified, “Men! Come quickly — seize these rebels —”

The ordinary townspeople, caught completely off guard, were all thrown into panic and fear. Cries and wailing broke out as people fled in every direction. The once-bustling market street, lined with carriages flowing like a river, became a place of slaughter in an instant. The garrison troops of Huizhou, who in ordinary times lived in pampered ease, had no strength to withstand this fierce cavalry — they fell back again and again, cut down like withered grass beneath the iron hooves before they could even make out the formation against them… The city streets and lanes were narrow, and the large contingent of garrison troops further behind could not push forward in time, and were scattered further into confusion by the townspeople fleeing in terror, helpless and too far away to matter.

All around my carriage were Wu Qian’s personal bodyguards, who, the moment the chaos erupted, all fled in defeated retreat, with no time to spare for me. Yuxiu leaped up onto the carriage and stood in front of me, trembling all over like a sieve, yet still said to me, “Your Highness, do not be afraid — this servant is here to guard you!”

I fiercely pulled her to my side, and the two of us huddled tightly together. The chaotic clash of soldiers surrounded us, and the sound of killing shook the sky… I held my breath and could not move, my mind a complete blank. Images of my parents, family, and Xiao Qi kept flashing before my eyes…

Suddenly there was a sound of hoofbeats bearing down on us, rushing straight toward us!

I snapped my head up. A flash of blade light dazzled before my eyes as a rider swept in like a gust of wind, his horizontal blade lifting the hanging curtain of the imperial carriage.

Song Huai’an, his battle armor bathed in blood and his blade in hand, leaned down and reached his hand out to me. “Your Highness — get on the horse —”

I pulled Yuxiu with me, just reaching out my hand to him, when suddenly a sharp whistle pierced the air — a stray arrow shot from behind, grazing past his shoulder.

“Watch out!” He shoved me back into the carriage with one hand, and in the next moment countless arrows came raining down upon the horse’s hooves.

The large contingent of garrison troops had caught up from behind. The bowmen were loosing arrows like a downpour, advancing on us from all sides.

Song Huai’an raised his shield to protect himself, forced to rein in his horse and retreat three zhang. Some of the iron cavalry elite guards behind him had already been struck by arrows and tumbled from their horses, yet not a single one panicked or fled — their advance and retreat was orderly, holding formation to face the enemy.

With the large army upon them, if they did not leave now the operation would end in failure… And my carriage was already caught under the rain of arrows from the great army. As the arrow barrage eased for a moment, Song Huai’an was about to spur his horse toward me again.

I steeled my heart, and shouted at him, “You go first!”

Another volley of arrows came swarming like locusts. The scattered bodyguards charged forward again, and Song Huai’an, as though he had gone mad, held his shield before him, whipped back his blade to cut down the bodyguard in front of his horse, and came charging at the imperial carriage with no regard for anything else.

I picked up a long arrow that had fallen in front of the carriage shaft and pressed the arrowhead to my own throat, and declared without flinching, “Song Huai’an — this Princess commands you to withdraw immediately! Do not delay!”

Song Huai’an pulled his mount to a hard stop. The horse reared up, neighing furiously. The blood-soaked general’s eyes were about to burst from their sockets.

I raised my chin and met his glare without backing down.

“As… commanded!” Two words, bitten out like iron being severed, fell from his lips. Song Huai’an abruptly wheeled his horse around and issued a command to the cavalry behind him. The five hundred elite cavalrymen, arrayed as solid as an iron wall, simultaneously reined in and reared up their horses. The thunder of hooves shook the earth. They wheeled around, trampled over the fleeing and scattering bodyguards, and vanished into the depths of the city’s twisting, densely packed streets and lanes in a cloud of dust…

I suddenly lost all strength and slumped against the carriage door, softly collapsing.

Vast as Huizhou was, once these five hundred elite guards broke out and scattered in all directions to hide, they would be like drops of water merging into a lake — even Wu Qian might not be able to search all of Huizhou and find them in a matter of moments. What was more, my uncle’s secret agents were still lurking throughout the city — even if Wu Qian was the governor of Huizhou, the Wang Family’s eyes and ears were spread across the whole land, and were everywhere. Not even he could do anything about that.