When Shen Xiling saw Qi Ying again, it was during an exceptionally warm March in Northern Wei.

In previous years at this time, Shangjing City would still be buffeted by cold winds. This year, for some unknown reason, spring had returned so early that even the polo grounds in the suburbs had opened earlier than usual.

Polo originally flourished in military camps—a game of striking balls with mallets while mounted on horseback. Since the previous dynasty, it had gradually become popular among noble families. Northern Wei’s culture was fierce and martial, having been founded through military might. Compared to Great Liang in Jiangzuo, polo was especially prevalent here. Thus, every spring when the ice and frost melted, the polo grounds reached their most favored season. Men loved to ride with mallets in fierce competition over a single ball, stretching muscles that had been cramped all winter long on the playing field. The ladies loved to don their flowing spring robes and gather under pavilions beside tables at the edge of the field to drink tea and chat—it was an indispensable grand event of Northern Wei’s spring season.

This year was especially different.

In recent years, the two nations of Wei and Liang had been embroiled in frequent warfare with no clear victor. There had been few major battles but constant skirmishes, which had only subsided in the second month. This latest conflict had also ended without a decisive winner. Since both sides had been locked in combat for many years with neither having the strength to annex and unify the other, both had grown somewhat weary and developed thoughts of making peace. This led to intermarriage between the imperial families to forge matrimonial alliances.

Great Liang’s emperor, Xiao Ziheng, was considered a new ruler, having ascended the throne only five years ago. He had a sister from the same mother, Xiao Ziyu, who was now Great Liang’s most noble princess. This time, she would be the one to marry far away to the Great Wei emperor.

“If you ask me about this matter, who this princess for the marriage alliance is doesn’t really matter,” said Lady Pingjing as she casually picked up a grape while chatting with the other officials’ wives under the pavilion beside the field in the cool breeze of early March. “What’s more interesting is the envoy who’s escorting her.”

The ladies around her all covered their mouths and laughed. Madam Zhong, wife of the Censor-in-Chief, joined in with a laugh: “It’s only because your marquis has such a gentle temperament. If it were someone else, who could tolerate their wife discussing other men so freely?”

Lady Pingjing was born with thick eyebrows and large eyes, naturally possessing a spirited and bold demeanor. Hearing this, she laughed so hard she couldn’t close her mouth and said to the women around her: “What’s wrong with me discussing him? Which woman in this world hasn’t discussed Great Liang’s Qi Ying? You all just discuss him in secret, yet you have the nerve to criticize me?”

Qi Ying, courtesy name Jingchen, was from the direct bloodline of the premier family Qi in Jiangzuo. His father Qi Zhang held one of Great Liang’s three highest ministerial positions and was rumored to be considering retirement, with the Qi clan now said to be under Qi Ying’s leadership. This young master had gained fame in his youth—at thirteen, he was personally selected as second place scholar by Great Liang’s former emperor, and by twenty-one, he had already risen to Deputy Director of Great Liang’s Privy Council, earning the title “Young Privy Councilor.” In recent years, with frequent conflicts between Wei and Liang, Qi Ying had single-handedly controlled the entire Privy Council. Three years ago, he had personally led troops in the Battle of Juanling, dealing Great Wei a crushing defeat that shocked the world—he was truly a legendary figure who could both lead armies and govern the state.

Though Lady Pingjing’s words were unrefined, she spoke the truth. What woman in the world hadn’t secretly discussed this great man? Even here in Great Wei, it was no different.

Another lady at the same table laughed and said: “That great man has long enjoyed fame. Now that he’s come to our Wei nation, we should certainly take a good look.”

“Exactly,” said Lady Pingjing, picking up another grape. “I heard that six years ago he came to our Shangjing, but at that time I was recovering from illness in Jizhou and had no chance to see him in person. Today I heard he’s also going to play polo on the field—I must observe him carefully.”

These remarks naturally drew more laughter. Madam Zhong shook her head with a smile and said: “You and your marquis are harmonious as qin and se, deeply in love. Even if you observe him as carefully as you wish, what could come of it? Your niece Yuan’er, on the other hand, is now of marriageable age—you should be observing for her sake. Why didn’t Yuan’er come today?”

“How did she not come?” Lady Pingjing pointed toward a distant ornate pavilion upon hearing this. “She’s sitting with the young ladies over there.”

Then she waved her hand and said: “You know my niece well enough—she’s single-mindedly determined to squeeze into Duke Yanguo’s mansion. Speaking of it makes me embarrassed for her.”

Madam Zhong covered her lips and laughed, glancing at another gentle and refined lady beside her, then chided Lady Pingjing: “Duke Yan’s third brother’s wife is sitting right here, and you’re speaking such nonsense?”

That lady was originally Qin Shi, the second house’s wife from Duke Yanguo’s mansion. Hearing this, she merely smiled and said nothing. Then another lady commented: “If you ask me, though Qi Jingchen is excellent, he’s not a good match for our Yuan’er.”

Others didn’t understand and asked: “Why is that?”

That lady drank a cup of wine, pursed her lips in a smile, and whispered: “Don’t you all know yet? This princess from Great Liang is already twenty-six years old. The reason she’s been delayed in marriage until now is because she’s been infatuated with Qi Jingchen since her youth. The two of them have been entangled in love and resentment for many years. It’s only now that Great Liang’s emperor wants his sister to marry our majesty that this great stick has separated the mandarin ducks. This Qi Jingchen is also a man of deep feeling—he actually requested imperial permission to personally escort the bride. With such unclear entanglements right before our eyes, how could we still push Yuan’er into that fire pit?”

At this point, everyone was shocked. One of the ladies said: “There’s actually such a strange affair?”

At first she didn’t believe it, but after pondering for a while, she gradually came to accept it, adding: “But now that you mention it, it does make sense. That Qi Ying is famous throughout the world and in the prime of success, yet he’s nearly thirty and still hasn’t taken a wife. So it’s because of this entanglement with the princess…”

Great Wei’s customs were open, and even among high-born noble families, they didn’t consider a woman’s romantic feelings before marriage to be scandalous. Even though this princess was marrying their emperor, they still didn’t find anything improper about her past with Qi Ying. However, once these secrets were revealed, everyone couldn’t help but feel stirred—partly feeling sympathy for the princess their emperor was about to marry, and even more sighing for Qi Ying, who had traveled to a foreign country to personally escort his beloved’s wedding. The group of noble ladies felt their hearts heavy with sorrow, and for a moment the gathering became somewhat somber.

It was Lady Pingjing who broke this somber mood, saying boldly: “I’ve heard this Qi Ying is held up as the model of Jiangzuo aristocratic families. Today I want to observe him carefully and see what this renowned figure actually looks like. As for the rest—whatever romantic accounts he may have with whomever—that’s none of my concern.”

Everyone laughed again upon hearing this, finding it reasonable, and their melancholy immediately faded.

Lady Pingjing was quite satisfied with this outcome. She craned her neck and looked around for a while, seeing that some of Great Wei’s young nobles were already warming up their horses on the field, but there was still no sign of the Great Liang people. She couldn’t help but grow impatient and asked: “What time is it now? Why haven’t they come yet?”

Madam Zhong handed her a cup of tea with a smile and said: “The honored seats on the high platform are still empty—His Majesty and the Empress haven’t arrived yet. The Liang envoys should be with His Majesty, so it should be soon.”

Lady Pingjing took the tea to moisten her throat, looked around, then glanced at Qin Shi and asked rather stiffly: “Why hasn’t the Duchess of Yanguo arrived yet?”

Though her tone was so stiff, Qin Shi wasn’t offended and smiled gently: “Elder brother has always cherished sister-in-law dearly. This morning sister-in-law had some headaches, so they called an imperial physician to examine her at home, which delayed their departure.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Pingjing snorted coldly and sneered: “For someone from a merchant background, she certainly has all the ailments of the wealthy.”

These words were clearly barbed and malicious, making everyone feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Two years ago, the old duke passed away, and his eldest son Gu Juhan inherited the title. This Gu Juhan was also a renowned minister of his generation—Northern Wei’s Grand General and Pillar of State. His ancestors had been founding heroes, and generations had served as pillars protecting the nation, commanding all of Great Wei’s military forces to face off against Great Liang from north to south. Both he and Qi Ying were young men in high positions, both renowned ministers navigating turbulent times, commonly known as “Southern Qi and Northern Gu.”

However, their Wei nation’s Grand General differed from that Liang nation’s Privy Councilor—he had no complex and secretive romantic entanglements. Five years ago, he had married a wife from a lowly merchant family, thus ending the hopes of all Great Wei’s noble daughters. After marriage, they were truly a devoted couple, deeply in love. The Duke of Yanguo, with all his honors as Pillar of State, didn’t even have a single concubine or chambermaid by his side—this truly made people admire that merchant woman’s methods.

Lady Pingjing’s niece, Xue Yuan, was the only daughter of Marquis Anding. From childhood, she had been infatuated with this newly appointed Duke of Yanguo. The two families had always been close, and all the noble families in Shangjing City could see clearly that everyone assumed this marriage was as good as settled. Unexpectedly, five years ago, the Pillar of State suddenly brought a merchant woman into his household, leaving all the nobles of Shangjing City stunned. Xue Yuan especially couldn’t bear such heartbreak—she had made such a scene that she nearly wanted to cut off her hair and become a nun in a temple. Though her parents had stopped her, over these years she remained unchanged in her devotion, refusing to marry anyone but General Gu. She had become a famous tale of unrequited love throughout Shangjing City.

Because of this, Lady Pingjing was particularly at odds with the Duchess of Yanguo. Whether at tea gatherings or poetry salons, she always showed disdain, and whenever the Duchess wasn’t present, she would constantly make sarcastic remarks and ridicule her in every way.

Her words had barely finished when Qin Shi hadn’t yet had time to respond, but they heard the noisy sounds of crowds. Looking into the distance, they saw everyone clustering around a man and woman walking together arm in arm.

That man was Duke of Yanguo, Gu Juhan. He was Wei nation’s famously handsome man. Before he married, he had been the dream lover of every young lady in Shangjing City. Even now, five years after marriage, when he rode across bridges there were still scenes of red sleeves beckoning from full buildings. Even at this moment, as he walked through the horse grounds toward the ornate pavilion with his wife, there were bold noble daughters casting flirtatious glances at him. His bearing was as upright as a pine tree. Since the Gu family was a military household and he had served in the army since childhood, he naturally appeared more martial than typical noble sons. Today, because he was going to play polo, he wore casual short robes, which added a touch more gentleness than his usual appearance in court or on battlefields.

The woman beside him was the Duchess of Yanguo, named Shen Xiling. When this merchant woman had appeared out of nowhere years ago, she had caused quite a stir in Shangjing City. Because she had crushed the hopes of noble daughters, she had always faced criticism. But no matter how much the noble ladies spoke ill of her, no one could ever deny her beauty. One could see that woman’s pair of bright eyes were luminous and spirited, her entire being radiating a jade-like noble bearing. Between her brows was a red beauty mark, like a goddess or flying celestial from Buddhist scriptures who had mistakenly fallen into the mortal world. Today she wore a blue-gray spring robe with a light-colored satin cloak draped over it. Her graceful figure could still be seen in her movements—she was truly, truly impossible to look away from.

The two of them together were like a pair of immortals from a painting. It was rumored that Gu Juhan extremely cherished his wife, and even after five years of marriage still doted on her greatly. Seeing them today, he indeed accompanied his wife slowly across the fragrant grass throughout their walk. Though not ostentatious, he clearly paid constant attention to his wife’s steps, walking half a step behind her—there could be no one more steady or considerate.

Qin Shi looked up and saw the two approaching, so she smiled politely at Lady Pingjing and said coolly: “It happens that elder brother and sister-in-law have arrived. Whatever Madam wishes to say, you might as well say it directly to elder brother and sister-in-law.”

Upon hearing this, Lady Pingjing frowned deeply and snorted coldly, but said nothing more.

In this short time, the Duke and Duchess had reached the pavilion. Qin Shi had already risen to greet them, and the other noble ladies dared not be negligent, all rising to receive them. Though Lady Pingjing was reluctant, considering that her family’s Marquis Pingjing still had to make his living under the Pillar of State, she had no choice but to rise as well.

Qin Shi stepped forward half a pace, greeted the Duke of Yanguo, then said to her stunningly beautiful sister-in-law: “Are you feeling better, sister-in-law? This morning’s headache was so severe—can you bear being outside in the wind?”

Shen Xiling had already greeted all the ladies, then answered her sister-in-law: “Thank you for always worrying about me. I’m much better now, it’s nothing serious.”

Her voice was clear and melodious, gentle and pleasant to hear. Lady Pingjing cursed “little harlot” under her breath, then heard the other ladies fawning and flattering: “We heard that today the General will personally take the field to compete with the Liang envoys. Such a loving couple shouldn’t miss this. Though this spring’s weather is warm, it’s still early spring after all, and the winds can be cold. Madam must take good care of your precious health.”

As they spoke, Shen Xiling had been helped by her husband to sit in the place of honor in the center of the pavilion. After thanking all the ladies, she said to the Duke of Yanguo: “There’s nothing for me to worry about here. This place is all women, so it’s inconvenient for you to stay—go quickly to the field. I just heard Shao Tang and the others calling for you.”

The noble ladies observed with their eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts, but their ears were sharp. They heard that powerful Pillar of State answer gently: “Alright, I’ll go now—don’t try to be strong. If you feel unwell, send someone to find me.”

His wife responded with several “mm-hmms” and urged him to leave. He seemed quite reluctant, instructing Qin Shi to look after his sister-in-law before finally rising to depart. On the field, noble sons who were usually on good terms with the Pillar of State were already calling to him, and generals under his command were saluting him. Servants brought him his horse, and the young Duke of Yanguo mounted in one fluid motion, already galloping with the other men on the field.

This scene truly stirred the hearts of the noble ladies watching from below the polo grounds, and even the married ladies felt somewhat envious, secretly resenting this merchant woman’s fortune as truly unprecedented throughout history. But with power trumping personal feelings, they really had no choice but to bow their heads, so they could only put on smiles and praise the Duke of Yanguo’s thoughtfulness and consideration.

However, the merchant woman didn’t seem particularly grateful. After responding with a few smiles, she turned to ask: “I could see everyone was chatting animatedly just now, but I seem to have spoiled the mood upon arriving. I wonder what the ladies were discussing—could you include me as well?”

“Where would you get such an idea, Duchess,” Madam Zhong laughed. “It was nothing more than household trivialities, and we happened to mention that envoy from Great Liang.”

“Oh?” Shen Xiling took a cup of hot tea from Qin Shi’s hands and held it in her palms, responding with neither too much nor too little interest, seeming to ask quite casually: “Qi Ying? What were you saying about him?”

When she asked this, the lady who had earlier revealed the secrets became quite excited and once again described in vivid detail and with glowing face all those affairs between him and the Great Liang princess. At the end, she didn’t forget to add another compliment: “Though the love, hatred, and entanglements between Qi Jingchen and the Great Liang princess can indeed be considered a remarkable affair, it still cannot compare to the deep affection between Madam and the General. Even that Great Liang princess would be envious.”