The sun rose from the eastern horizon, its irresistible radiance piercing through clouds and mist, casting a dazzling golden reflection on the uneven rooftops of Nandu, then streaming through open windows to illuminate previously dim rooms.
Luo Xian’s hair was being styled into a dignified round bun by her maid, adorned with several elegant jade hairpins. She glanced at the morning light filtering in from the window, knowing the time had come. She gathered the exquisite jewelry on the table into a jewelry box and turned to hand it to her maid Xiao Yun, saying, “These are for you, along with everything else in this room. They’re all yours from now on.”
Xiao Yun held the heavy jewelry box in a daze, her face filled with confusion.
Luo Xian stood up, adjusted her dark blue clothes, washed her hands in a copper basin, then took incense from the cabinet and lit it before the ancestral tablet in the room. The smoke curled upward, drifting past her beautiful eyebrows and eyes. These were eyes that always contained gentle smiles, eyes that countless officials and nobles regarded as understanding flowers, eyes of a worldly woman who embraced all troubles.
But now these eyes no longer held their customary gentle smile and tender affection, resembling instead distant mountains shrouded in mist.
She held the incense in her hands, slowly knelt, and bowed deeply to the ancestral tablet. In a low voice, she said, “Father, your daughter is leaving.”
Xiao Yun stared at Luo Xian in bewilderment and softly asked, “Miss Luo Xian, where are you going?”
Luo Xian did not answer. She walked to the incense burner and placed the incense neatly inside. A commotion came from downstairs, and the door was suddenly flung open. A servant boy, sweating profusely and out of breath, gasped, “Miss Luo Xian… there’s a carriage downstairs to take you… it’s… it’s from the palace.”
Xiao Yun was greatly shocked, but Luo Xian merely nodded calmly. She picked up her bundle and walked out the door, pausing briefly at the threshold to turn back to Xiao Yun and say, “Home, back to Luo Province.”
In Harmony Hall, the officials were assembled in their positions for the morning court.
Luo Xian waited outside the grand doors, listening to the discussions and debates coming from the most solemn place in the world. Vermilion robes with various rank insignia mingled together. Among those vermilion robes, someone inconspicuously glanced back at the door, meeting her gaze for just a moment before smiling faintly and looking away.
The Duan family’s Third Young Master, Duan Xu, General Duan.
Luo Xian recalled the end of her second year of knowing Duan Xu, when he came to the Jade Algae Tower as usual, using the pretext of drinking to obtain intelligence from her. Swirling his wine cup, he suddenly asked if Miss Luo wanted to return to Luo Province.
Luo Province has long fallen into enemy hands; even if this servant wanted to return, it would be impossible.
What if Luo Province were recovered?
If Luo Province were recovered in this servant’s lifetime, this servant would return to Luo Province to pay respects to their ancestors, refine Tianluo, and drive out the barbarians.
Duan Xu then smiled. This young master was always fond of smiling, rarely speaking two sentences without his eyes curving into crescents. She suspected he was mocking her for overestimating herself. She was already familiar with such contempt and didn’t wish to argue.
But Duan Xu said I’m not doubting Miss Luo. A young lady who can be entrusted with important tasks by my father, handling intelligence from both the jianghu and the capital, is certainly no ordinary person. Hearing Miss Luo’s words, I only feel agreement and admiration. I wonder, should we turn this wish into reality?
She was very surprised but maintained her composure, saying that currently, Lord Duan, Prime Minister Du, and His Majesty had no northern ambitions.
They don’t, but my friend and I do. Luo Xian, do you want to help us reclaim Luo Province?
“When the Hu Qi people captured Luo Province, they slaughtered seven or eight out of ten civilians, and almost none of the Tianluo craftsmen survived. Years ago, the Minister of Rites, Duan Chengzhang, searched everywhere until he finally found descendants of the Tianluo craftsmen and the mining manual. Now that Luo Province has been recovered, please present the craftsman’s descendant and the manual to Your Majesty, to reopen the mines in Luo Province.”
From within the hall came the voice of someone presenting their case, who sounded somewhat advanced in years, speaking methodically and with authority.
Luo Xian thought that must be Prime Minister Du.
An elderly eunuch carrying a duster emerged from inside, addressing her in a squeaky yet friendly voice, “Miss Luo, please enter.”
Luo Xian nodded, lifted her skirt, and turned to step through the doorway, feeling countless eyes focusing on her. This magnificent hall had red-brown pillars as thick as a full embrace, intricately carved ceiling panels, high steps, various powerful officials below the dais, and the noblest middle-aged Son of Heaven dressed in yellow dragon-patterned robes on the dais. As a beauty renowned throughout Nandu, many court officials were familiar faces to her, yet she walked steadily to the center of the hall without looking sideways, knelt, and held up a yellowed book with curled edges high above her head.
“Your humble subject, daughter of the Luo family from Luo Province, whose five generations of ancestors were Tianluo mine craftsmen. My great-grandfather, Luo Fenghe, the supervisor of the Ten Streams Mine in Luo Province, died under Hu Qi’s butcher knives. Before his death, he set fire to the mine and recorded the secret method of refining Tianluo in writing, ordering my grandfather to escape south of the River He with the book, passing it down through generations until today. I present it to Your Majesty to celebrate the recovery of Luo Province and to console the countless wronged souls of Luo Province.”
Her voice was resonant as her chest lowered and her hands held the book high. Luo Xian’s fingers were long and beautiful, with calluses from years of playing musical instruments. These hands had killed, played music, and would later extract the finest Tianluo from raw stones, just as her ancestors had done for generations.
A eunuch took the book from her hands and presented it to the Emperor. She bowed to the ground and heard the Emperor speak leisurely: “The Luo family has been loyal and has made great contributions to the country, yet only you remain. Do you have any wishes?”
“Your subject only wishes to go to Luo Province and contribute her humble efforts to the mines.”
“Very well. We shall bestow upon you the title of County Princess, with the honorific name Hua Luo, and appoint you as an instructor at the official school in Luo Province.”
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.” Luo Xian knelt and bowed to the ground, then rose at the eunuch’s direction and left the hall, followed by the gazes of the assembly watching this legendary young woman. Duan Xu and Fang Xian Ye were no exception. As they withdrew their gaze, they exchanged a glance across the assembled officials, and Duan Xu nodded slightly with a smile.
Just a few days earlier, when he and Fang Xian Ye told Luo Xian that the time had come and Prime Minister Du would report her and the Tianluo mine matter to the Emperor, Fang Xian Ye had informed Luo Xian that he would also find a way to go to the Yun and Luo Provinces. He bowed to her and asked, would Miss Luo be willing to help me establish another Wen Sheng Pavilion in the Yun and Luo Provinces?
As the military classics say, “Combine the unorthodox and orthodox,” recovering the remaining fourteen provinces would require not only open confrontation but also covert assassinations and intelligence. Luo Xian was momentarily stunned, then smiled and bowed, saying, for the great affairs of the state and to expel the enemy invaders, I would face death without hesitation.
The Emperor on the dais turned his gaze to Fang Xian Ye and smiled faintly, “Minister Fang’s writings are exquisitely refined. I have heard that you are the foremost literary figure in Nandu, and even the Empress Dowager greatly enjoys your poetry and praises it ceaselessly. The sacrificial prayer used in the recent ceremony for Heaven was from Minister Fang’s hand, and yesterday there was an auspicious sign from Heaven. It seems your words have pleased the Heavens and should be generously rewarded. I grant you a thousand taels of gold, three chests of pearls from the Southern Sea, two screens of jade, and five bolts of cloud brocade.”
Fang Xian Ye stepped forward to bow in gratitude, saying clearly, “For my crude writings to receive Your Majesty’s appreciation is already a great fortune. How dare I ask for more rewards? I have one matter, and boldly request Your Majesty’s permission.”
“Speak.”
“I have heard that Your Majesty is considering candidates for the border inspector of Yun and Luo Provinces. I boldly recommend myself to ease Your Majesty’s burdens.”
Most of the court, including the Emperor, showed expressions of surprise. Prime Minister Du had already mastered the art of concealing his emotions, but Zheng An’s astonishment couldn’t be hidden. Everyone knew that this position would undoubtedly be his.
The Emperor played with his fingers as he looked toward Duke Pei, who stood silently to one side, then toward Prime Minister Du on the other side, saying casually, “Minister Fang has unique insight and careful consideration. I believe he can innovate, but he is still young. Minister Zheng, what do you think?”
Zheng An’s expression had returned to normal. He stepped forward and bowed, “Your Majesty, Minister Fang is indeed a talented youth, but unfortunately, he has never been to the Yun and Luo Provinces and doesn’t understand much about engineering works or horse administration. I fear Minister Fang may not be up to the task.”
“Minister Zheng is mistaken,” Fang Xian Ye straightened up, turned to face Zheng An, and said, “The six ministries of the court each have their responsibilities. Even regarding the financial matters of the Ministry of Revenue, the Prime Minister would not dare claim to understand better than Minister Wang of the Revenue Ministry. Governing a region has always been about four characteristics: knowing people and employing them well. Professional matters should be handled by professionals. Does Minister Zheng understand horse administration like the Director of the Imperial Stables or engineering works like the Minister of Works?”
Zheng An smiled coldly and said, “Minister Fang’s words are sharp, but the prerequisite for knowing people and employing them well is knowing people. Does Minister Fang know who all the talented individuals are who could assist with military and political affairs in the Yun and Luo Provinces?”
Fang Xian Ye also smiled lightly and said, “It seems Minister Zheng has already planned everything out, deciding who should fill each position in the Yun and Luo Provinces. Wouldn’t that mean you would have complete control over these provinces? The two ministers previously involved in the horse administration corruption case certainly understood horse administration, but once they harbored selfish intentions and lacked supervision, officials protected each other, allowing powerful local forces to encroach on pastures and falsely report horse numbers. Minister Zheng, please don’t repeat their mistakes.”
Zheng An never expected Fang Xian Ye would dare to bring up the horse administration corruption case and angrily exclaimed, “Fang Xian Ye! Stop these slanderous accusations!”
Fang Xian Ye ignored him, turned to face the Emperor, and prostrated himself, saying, “May Your Majesty discern clearly. I am willing to go to the Yun and Luo Provinces, not to use personal connections or old friends, but to select and employ local talents. Even Hu Qi people who wish to submit may be employed. Within the Dan Zhi borders, people have heard of Your Majesty’s benevolence; Han people look to the imperial army, and even the Hu Qi are willing to surrender—subduing others without fighting. Additionally, the grasslands in Yun Province are vast, unlike any in the interior, creating special circumstances. I request that Your Majesty appoint a Yun Province Pastoral Supervisor, equal in status to the Director of the Imperial Stables, who can report directly to Your Majesty without going through the border inspector. The same arrangement should be made for the Luo Province mines. I wish for border stability and the lasting peace of Great Liang.”
Duan Xu, standing behind the crowd, watched with a smiling face as Fang Xian Ye knelt on the ground. A few days earlier, when they had discussed today’s arguments, Luo Xian had been correct in saying that the Emperor had no northern ambitions. If the Hu Qi people hadn’t attacked so close to home, he wouldn’t have counterattacked north of the River He.
Even the campaign to take the Yun and Luo Provinces was due to the Horse administration corruption scandal growing too large. The Emperor feared that Dan Zhi would learn of Great Liang’s cavalry’s weakness and attack, so he hastily took the Yun and Luo Provinces to demonstrate strength.
The current Emperor, having passed middle age, was intent on preserving what had been achieved. Ultimately, building horse farms and mines was to display national power rather than to truly attack Dan Zhi. In persuading him, one couldn’t use bold words about achieving great deeds; it was better to suggest acquiring land without warfare or deploying troops.
On the other hand, there was an increasingly intense factional struggle in court. The fact that the factional struggle had reached its current state was naturally a result of the Emperor allowing it. He was happy for officials to fight internally, as this mutual protection and balance of power would not endanger his position. However, as the time to establish a Crown Prince approached, the factional struggle would eventually evolve into a succession struggle. He wanted them to compete, but not so intensely as to cause major chaos.
Duke Pei’s side had just suffered a major blow due to the Horse administration corruption case, and Prime Minister Du’s side was pressing their advantage. Naturally, the Emperor couldn’t allow Prime Minister Du to become too powerful.
Indeed, the Emperor smiled and said to Fang Xian Ye, “What Minister Fang says is right.”
Zheng An urgently said, “Your Majesty!”
But the Emperor waved his hand to stop his words and said, “That being the case, Zheng An shall be the Border Inspector, and Fang Xian Ye the Deputy Inspector, accompany County Princess Hua Luo to the Yun and Luo Provinces. Minister Fang’s suggestions about employing local talents and establishing the Yun Province Pastoral Supervisor and Luo Province Mine Supervisor shall be implemented as proposed.”
Fang Xian Ye smiled and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
You might still not defeat Zheng An.
During their discussion, Duan Xu had said that Zheng An was older with considerable experience, and the Emperor had already spoken with Prime Minister Du, so he wouldn’t change his mind on the spot.
The goal was to settle for second best, to be appointed Deputy Inspector, and prevent Zheng An from installing all his people in Yun and Luo. As long as he didn’t have complete control, and with Fang Xian Ye and Luo Xian’s help, they would eventually find opportunities to gradually marginalize him.
Fang Xian Ye returned to his position with a slight smile.
The morning court proceeded to several other matters. Hu Province reported bandit activities, and Duan Xu volunteered to raise troops to suppress the bandits in Hu Province, which the Emperor gladly approved.
As for me, I now want to build my army, trained from scratch according to my ideas.
Duan Xu had said this that day.
After rehearsing everything that day, it was already late at night. The sky was pitch black without stars or moon. Duan Xu leaned against the window and let out a long sigh. He turned his head to ask Fang Xian Ye, do you think this world can really become what we want it to be?
Fang Xian Ye was somewhat surprised, especially since it was initially Duan Xu who had convinced him. He was silent for a moment, then blew out the candle on the table and spoke in the darkness.
Whether it works out or not, let’s try to do it first. Walking through the depths of night, the dawn will eventually come.
After the morning court ended, the officials filed out through the doors. Duan Xu and Fang Xian Ye encountered each other in the narrow passage and walked out into the intense summer sunlight without acknowledging each other.
They appeared to be strangers, but their shadows overlapped on the ground, following them all the way.