The Great Xia royal family originated as a nomadic tribe. A thousand years ago, just like the Dog Rong people, they spent their days galloping across the Red River Plain, living a nomadic life following water and grass. It wasn’t until the appearance of Pei Luo Zhen Huang, under whose leadership this fierce race gradually entered the vision of the orthodox clans of the east. They promoted culture and education, developed commerce, and expanded agriculture. After centuries of accumulation, the once-foreign regime had shed its rough exterior and become dignified and solemn. The formerly snow-covered barren lands gradually developed their flavor and depth under the hands of the Xia people. Moreover, compared to the weak Bian Tang and the extravagant Huai Song, the Great Xia displayed grandeur and dignity befitting a powerful nation.

At the same time, the grassland sentiment in the blood of the Great Xia Dynasty had not faded. Though they held little attachment to the land, they had an intense passion for power. The magnanimous tolerance of a great nation and their whale-like swallowing and annexation of others meant that culturally, they displayed a broad-minded attitude that embraced all streams of thought. The continuous integration and cohabitation of various ethnic groups over thousands of years made their cultural customs splendid and diverse, becoming a unique landscape on the continent.

The Sheng Jin Palace covered vast grounds, combining the distinct features of various ethnic groups from the Western Meng region. It had both the misty rain, flowing water, small bridges, and pavilions of the Jiangnan style, as well as the majestic, solemn, and imposing features of the northwest. The outer city was solid, with red walls and golden tiles, black ink-stone platforms, and very deep moats. It was heavily guarded with a tense atmosphere of drawn swords and readied bows. The middle city was where officials gathered to submit memorials. With red wooden palaces, golden gates and buildings, and the magnificent Xia Hua Sheng Palace, it was grand and imposing. The rear city was where the imperial consorts, princes, and princesses resided. With mountains, waters, grass, trees, pavilions, and arched bridges, every corner was a scenic spot, and every scene was exquisite. Water from the hot springs atop Cliff Wave Mountain was channeled through underground passages, decorating the rear city with green mountains, clear waters, lush flowers and plants, leisurely green bamboo, and lake and mountain scenery. Thus, the rear city of the Great Xia’s Sheng Jin Palace was also known as Little South Tang.

The Great Xia Dynasty, having risen from the grasslands, and due to their nomadic nature, held relatively higher respect for women’s status. This differed from Bian Tang and Huai Song. Over thousands of years, there have been many female generals and female scholars who served as officials in court. In the imperial harem, some empresses ruled from behind the curtain. They were also more tolerant regarding the separation of men and women. Therefore, within the rear city, apart from the emperor’s consorts and daughters, there were also many guards stationed there. Princes who had not been granted their fiefs also mostly lived there.

At this moment, in the Oriole Song Villa of the rear city, within a secluded bamboo forest, sat a young man dressed in black robes.

The young man was only about twenty years old, with handsome features, star-like eyes, a high, straight nose, and sword-like eyebrows. His jet-black hair hung down his back, loosely tied with a black satin ribbon. His black robe was elegant and luxurious, embroidered with a purple and gold qilin, with dark auspicious cloud patterns as borders, and lined with Huai Song Su silk. He wore soft leather deer-patterned boots with green cloud patterns carved on the soles, sitting comfortably and quietly at a small stone table. Beside him, incense burned and curled upward; on the table was an ancient zither. Several scrolls were scattered to one side, and next to a green jade wine pot was a crystal glass with twin dragons spitting pearls on both sides—a precious item.

Though it was winter, the underground fire of Cliff Wave Mountain provided warmth, and the surrounding hot springs created a quiet, warm place. A gust of fresh, cool breeze blew through the bamboo, making it feel even more leisurely and content.

The young man’s hands were like white jade, with long, slender fingers. He slowly picked up the crystal glass and raised it to his lips, but did not drink. His star-like eyes narrowed slightly, and without looking back, he said calmly: “Come out.”

“How annoying,” a delicate female voice immediately sounded. From the bamboo forest behind him emerged a charming young woman. “You find me every time, it’s no fun at all!”

The young woman was only eighteen or nineteen years old. She wore a lotus-colored gold-flecked jacket on top and a white butterfly-scattered clear gauze skirt below. Around her waist was a light cyan belt with green lily ornaments hanging from it. Her cloud-like hair was piled high, with tassels by her ears. A heart-shaped blood jade pendant hung at her brow, along with Dan orchid earrings and an agate necklace. Though elegant, she did not appear ostentatious in the slightest. As she walked, she took off her snow-white fur cape and said in a crisp tone: “Father Emperor still favors you the most. I just came from Lanshan Pavilion, and it was freezing there. Look at you—here the snow melts before it even touches the ground.”

The young man turned his head, his expression calm. With a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, he said: “It is His Majesty’s great favor.”

“Hmph,” the young woman snorted. “Why doesn’t he show such favor to me? I am Father Emperor’s daughter, after all.”

“Princess…”

“You’re calling me Princess again!” The young woman tossed her fur cape to a nearby servant and ran to the young man, exclaiming loudly.

The young man smiled helplessly and said: “Chun’er.”

“Don’t think you can get away with this,” Princess Chun sat on a stone stool opposite him, puffing her cheeks angrily as she said: “Tell me, why did you leave before the banquet was over? You made me abandon all the guests and chase you all the way here.”

The man replied with an unruffled smile: “I apologize, I had an urgent matter to attend to.”

“What matter could you possibly have?” the young woman shouted. Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized she had spoken rashly. Quickly, she carefully glanced at the man’s expression from the corner of her eye. Seeing no reaction from him, she hurriedly said: “Did you leave because Wei Shu You arrived? He just returned from the south, and I didn’t know he was coming. Don’t be angry with me.”

The man looked up and slowly shook his head: “The Princess need not worry. Yan Xun would not dare.”

“You’re calling me Princess again.” Chun’er frowned, suddenly stood up, grabbed the hem of Yan Xun’s robe, and said angrily: “Yan Xun, do you consider me your person or not?”

Yan Xun lowered his head, frowning as he looked at the young woman’s delicate white hand. His brow furrowed slightly, and he discreetly pulled his clothes free: “The Princess overthinks. The distinction between noble and commoner must still be observed.”

“Damn the distinction! We were so good when we were young. Do you remember when I was nine years old, you even took me to a brothel to fight? Now you can’t even call me by my nickname without being secretive.”

“In those days, this humble official was young and ignorant. I was reckless.”

“How annoying!” Chun’er smashed the wine pot on the ground and shouted: “I despise you!”

With that, she was about to turn and leave.

“Princess, please stay,” Yan Xun stood up and called out, handing her a box wrapped in light purple silk.

Chun’er raised an eyebrow: “What is this?”

“For the Princess’s birthday. Although it cannot be celebrated grandly because it falls in the same month as His Majesty’s, I still wish to express my sentiments. A small token, please accept it, Princess.”

Chun’er’s little face immediately brightened with joy. She opened the box with a smile and saw that it contained a section of a white rabbit’s tail. The young woman’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed loudly: “This is… this is Huan Huan’s tail?”

Yan Xun nodded and said: “A few days ago, I heard that Huan Huan bit your hand and was ordered to be beaten to death and thrown out by the Western Consort. You cried for a long time. So I ordered someone to intercept the rabbit outside the palace and cut off this piece of tail. Keep it as a memento. It’s not something valuable, please don’t take offense.”

The young woman’s eyes immediately became moist. She shook her head and said softly: “I’ve received too much gold, silver, and jewels. Only this is the best gift. Brother Xun, thank you. Chun’er is very happy.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the young woman’s cheeks immediately turned red. Holding the rabbit’s tail, she didn’t even bother to put on her fur cape before turning and running out of the bamboo forest.

Yan Xun continued standing in place, but the smile on his face gradually disappeared as the young woman’s figure receded.

“Young Master, Princess Chun Yu has left.”

With a swoosh, Yan Xun stripped off the outer robe that the young woman had just touched, threw it on the table, and turned to leave, leaving behind a few words in a low voice: “Burn it.”

“Yes.”

The servant responded solemnly, and by the time he looked up again, Yan Xun’s figure had already disappeared.