The sky was high and clear, with northern geese flying south across the endless undulating sandy plains where golden poplar forests stretched without end.

Autumn beyond the frontier had a majestic and vast scenery quite different from within the pass.

On this day, along the ancient road of Ganzhou, a group of travelers approached from the distance. Several dozen mounted guards, though dressed as ordinary travelers, were all robust and imposing, escorting a few horse-drawn carriages lined up from front to back, proceeding toward their destination.

This entourage was none other than the Duke of Jin and his wife, along with their accompanying attendants, traveling to Suye City.

In the distance at the end of the horizon, one could faintly see a black shadow of city walls—that was Suye City, formerly the headquarters of the Longyou Military Governor, and now the residence of the Duke of Jin’s manor.

The border had been peaceful for more than a decade. Since the early years when Pei You’an had relocated the Military Governor’s office here, the advantageous geographical position and the court’s strong support had continuously attracted people from all directions to migrate here. The population increased year by year, making the city increasingly crowded, with city walls expanding several times. Now, Suye City was like a pearl adorning the desert sands, becoming the most prosperous city beyond the frontier. Various industries thrived within the city, merchants gathered, and if one didn’t leave the city gates to see the yellow sand, the city scene wouldn’t look much different from cities within the pass.

Three months ago, when the people heard the news that the Military Governor Pei, who had relocated the Governor’s office here more than a decade ago and created these years of peace, was returning once more—not only that, but this time he was coming with the title of Duke of Jin, and would henceforth establish his residence here—the entire city rejoiced, with citizens eagerly anticipating his arrival.

They hadn’t hurried on this journey. Pei You’an protected Jiafu, traveling by day and retiring early at night. When they encountered places with unique scenery, they would stay and wander for a day or two, enjoy the sights, and then continue on their way. Thus, having departed at the beginning of summer, it wasn’t until autumn that they finally arrived today.

Jiafu lifted the carriage curtain and gazed ahead.

They had been gone for more than a decade, and during that time, this place had undergone significant changes. Starting a few years ago, in addition to the permanent border trade locations, the annual spring fair had expanded to become both spring and autumn fairs.

As luck would have it, the day of their arrival coincided with the busiest days of the autumn fair. The eastern and western markets within the city couldn’t accommodate all the vendors, so the fair extended to outside the city gates.

As the carriages gradually approached the city, the road became crowded. Merchants leading camel caravans and travelers of various complexions and attire moved back and forth on the road. Seeing this entourage that came from within the pass, they all stopped to stare, their gazes filled with curiosity.

Perhaps because of Pei You’an, Jiafu had always felt a special affection for this city where she had lived for several years. Scenes from the past floated before her one by one, and she couldn’t help feeling a little excited, with all the fatigue from the journey vanishing.

She called to Pei You’an, who was riding beside the carriage, saying she wanted to get out and walk.

Pei You’an had originally been concerned about her weariness from the journey and wanted to enter the city quickly so she could rest. Seeing her looking at him with such expectation, he thought for a moment, then ordered the carriage to stop by the roadside, held Jiafu’s arm, and helped her out of the carriage.

Having sat in the carriage for most of the day, her legs were sore and stiff. Jiafu got out of the carriage, stretched her legs a bit, put on a pointed sun hat commonly worn by local women, and then accompanied Pei You’an, walking side by side toward the city gate.

On the flat ground on both sides of the road, temporary tents had been set up. Women carried water jugs to fetch water from the government water carts parked along the road to cook meals. Children laughed and played nearby, running in and out of the tents, their laughter carried by the wind, audible from far away. The market extended on both sides, almost as far as the eye could see. Merchants called out to sell their wares in front of their stalls and haggled loudly with customers. The scene was crowded with people bustling about, presenting a picture of prosperous abundance.

Ahead was an acrobatic performance stall where a man performed fire-eating followed by tightrope walking, attracting many onlookers.

Jiafu stopped by the road and watched for a while, remembering the scene from years ago when she had taken Ci’er to the fair, so similar to today. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years had passed, and Ci’er had grown up, but the memories seemed like yesterday, vividly clear in her mind, filling her with deep emotion.

“What are you thinking about?” Pei You’an asked her.

Jiafu snapped back to reality, shook her head, and smiled at him.

Pei You’an looked around and saw a crowd not far ahead, with shouts rising, appearing quite lively. He took Jiafu’s hand and led her over. When they got close, they found it was an archery competition platform.

The host was a Hu man who had drawn a line on the ground and hung a fine jade archer’s thumb ring with a thin rope in an open space dozens of steps away. The jade was white as mutton fat, quite valuable. He announced that anyone could try shooting, limited to one arrow each. If the arrow could pass through the thumb ring’s hole and pin it to the target behind, the jade ring would belong to them.

The Hu man himself stood behind the line first, drew his bow, nocked an arrow, aimed, and then shot. His archery skills were indeed superb; with one arrow, he shot through the hole and pinned the jade ring to the target set up behind it.

After the crowd cheered, seeing how easily he had shot, those with some archery skills couldn’t help but want to try. Even those who had never held a bow before were eager to participate, tempted by the valuable jade ring.

However, though it looked easy, it was extremely difficult, especially since there was only one chance. The thumb ring’s hole was only about the size of a thumb, just fitting an arrowhead. It was suspended in midair by a rope, swaying in the wind. At such a distance, shooting an arrow through the hole was incredibly challenging.

This stall had been set up for three days already. During those three days, no fewer than a hundred people had tried, but not one had even come close. As Pei You’an led Jiafu over to watch from the side, a group of military officers from the Suye Military Command happened to be on leave that day. Hearing that the Hu man had set up this challenge that no one could win and that the Hu man was proudly using words that showed contempt for the Wei people, they felt indignant and came together to try. However, in the end, still not one of them could hit the target.

The officer among them with the best archery skills shot an arrow that, perhaps affected by the wind, missed by just a tiny bit. The arrowhead failed to pass through the hole and accidentally shattered the jade ring, breaking it into two halves that fell to the ground.

The entire scene suddenly fell silent.

The Hu man said, “I’ve heard that among the Wei army, there are dedicated archer infantry and mounted archers who can supposedly shoot through a willow leaf at a hundred paces and win every battle. I admired them in my heart and took the opportunity of the autumn fair to come here and set up this platform, hoping to personally witness their skills, but I didn’t expect…”

He shook his head and ordered a servant to tie another identical jade ring to the empty rope, laughing loudly: “If it’s broken, it’s broken. We of the Zhamu tribe have everything we need! How could we begrudge a mere jade ring? You don’t need to compensate for it. Just go call people to come again. As long as someone can pin the ring to the target like I did, I will immediately give away the ring, pack up, and return to Zhamu, never to set foot in Wei territory again!”

Twelve years ago, Pei You’an had led the army to a great victory over the Hu people. Their royal court was destroyed, and they bowed to Wei. The late Emperor, for ease of governance, established more than twenty khanates in Hu territory according to tribal divisions, appointing khans to each. Using trade with Wei as a condition, allowed them to check and balance each other.

This method had indeed proven effective. The northern steppe now had numerous khanates, each suspicious of the others, and no tribe could unite the north and establish a unified khanate as before. However, after more than ten years, some tribes had begun to grow powerful. The Zhamu tribe was one of them. Their newly enthroned khan was ambitious and dreamed of reunifying the northern steppe to restore the former glory of the khanate.

Three months ago, the various khanates of the northern steppe received an imperial edict from the Great Wei court: the Duke of Jin would establish his residence in Suye City, and the khanates were commanded to send envoys to pay their respects. From now on, the Duke of Jin’s manor would replace the court in accepting tributes and performing the role of pacification. Now, the various envoys had already gathered in the city, accommodated in the diplomatic hostel, waiting only for the Duke of Jin to arrive for an audience.

The Zhamu tribe had naturally sent representatives as well.

The spectators, seeing this Hu man’s arrogant attitude and insults toward the Wei people, were all annoyed, and a chorus of boos erupted. The dozen or so military officers’ faces flushed red, the more hot-tempered ones about to rush forward, were immediately met by the Hu man’s attendants who surrounded them.

“This man is the Zhamu tribe’s master archer, who never misses. He came here with the Zhamu envoy a few days ago.”

Yang Yun had already inquired about it and reported to Pei You’an.

Pei You’an asked Jiafu to wait a moment, then walked forward, and patted the arms of the few officers, signaling them to step back. He then went up to the line, stopped, took a bow that was hanging nearby, nocked an arrow, drew the string with full force, aimed at the jade ring suspended in the air, and suddenly released the arrow.

As soon as he appeared, the entire area fell silent, countless eyes closely following his every move.

Jiafu knew that as a child, he had practiced archery with a master to strengthen his body, and his skill was quite remarkable. But even in such a setting, she was still nervous, watching with wide eyes as the arrow shot forth, flying straight ahead. Before she could even blink, the arrow had already pierced the target.

On the arrow shaft was suspended the jade thumb ring.

She immediately sighed in relief. After a brief silence, the spectators erupted into cheers, everyone smiling with joy, more pleased than if they had succeeded themselves.

The Hu man, seeing a middle-aged man who looked like a scholar emerges from the crowd, had not taken him seriously at all. He never expected this man’s archery skills to be so exquisite. After being stunned for a moment, he barely managed to suppress his frustration and was about to call someone to retrieve the jade ring when he saw the man nock another arrow. After the second shot, the thin rope holding the jade ring was cut in the middle, swaying incessantly in the wind.

The crowd erupted in cheers once more, with people looking at the archer and discussing excitedly.

The Hu man’s face turned red with embarrassment, though secretly alarmed. He stared at the man and asked, “Who are you?”

Pei You’an did not answer. He returned the bow and arrow and said to the officer who had missed earlier: “In archery, the highest level is not about continuing to practice technique, but about unifying mind and eye. With your proficiency and skill, pinning that jade ring to the target should not be difficult. Your failure came from being flustered under the public gaze. Go back and practice calming your mind. What difficulty is there in defeating this Hu man?”

The officer had already been impressed, and now hearing him speak this way, with the tone of a superior, he looked at Pei You’an in surprise, momentarily speechless.

“General Pei! You are General Pei!” Just then, another officer finally recognized Pei You’an and exclaimed in excitement, still addressing him by his old title.

Pei You’an smiled and nodded slightly: “It is indeed I, Pei.”

The officers knelt before him, and gradually, spectators who recognized Pei You’an also knelt.

Pei You’an asked the people to rise, walked past the dumbfounded Hu men, and returned to Jiafu’s side.

Jiafu glanced behind him and laughed softly: “It’s all Master Pei’s fault for showing off as soon as you arrive. Everyone recognizes you now. We can’t see the market anymore, so we should hurry into the city.”

Pei You’an smiled, took her back to the carriage, mounted his horse, and the entourage entered the city gate.

Soon, the Suye Military Command heard the news and hurried over to welcome them.

With citizens accompanying them all the way, the group finally arrived at the front gate of the former Military Governor’s mansion, now converted into the Duke’s manor.

Jiafu got out of the carriage and looked up at the newly painted lintel, pausing in her steps.

Pei You’an followed up from behind, gently grasping her hand underneath her sleeve, and said softly, “Let’s go in.”

Jiafu looked at the man beside her, saw him slightly lowering his face, smiling at her, slowly hooked her fingers around his hand that held hers beneath her sleeve, nodded, and followed him across the threshold, walking inside.