Now that Li Gu understood how much Xie Yuzhang valued Wang Shitou, he bore down on Wang Shitou with redoubled force, pouring knowledge into him whether Wang Shitou was ready or not. He also asked who among those around Wang Shitou were people he trusted, and Wang Shitou mentioned Li A’da, Zhao Niuwa, and the others. Whenever any of them could be spared, Li Gu had them come along as well — better to teach as much as could be taught.

By the time they reached Liangzhou, Wang Shitou and his brothers had heads crammed full of things that would need time to digest slowly.

Li Ming himself came out of the city to welcome the royal party, escorting Xie Yuzhang into Liangzhou.

When the carriage was still at a distance and could just make out the walls of Liangzhou, Xie Yuzhang gently lifted the curtain and gazed at this imposing city — the very place where Li Gu’s dragon lay in waiting before its ascent.

The last time she had come here, it had meant that her wretched fate was drawing ever closer. She had spent her days listlessly, seeing no one, attending no social engagements, never leaving the carriage or her room. She had not even attended the banquet Li Ming had prepared in her honor.

This time, at the outskirts of Liangzhou, Xie Yuzhang was helped down from the carriage by her maidservants and met Li Ming in person.

“Lord Li, we meet again.” Xie Yuzhang’s face was bright and smiling, without a trace of the exhaustion from traveling a thousand li, nor the grief of being married off to a distant land. She even teased Li Ming: “The Lord looks full of vitality, his complexion ruddy and glowing — so much finer than when you were in Yunjing. It truly shows how well the local air and water suit a person.”

Li Ming laughed heartily. “Your Highness’s words are auspicious indeed! This old minister still hopes to grow younger with each passing year.”

Xie Yuzhang smiled warmly.

Li Ming said, “This humble abode has been swept clean and stands ready to welcome Your Highness. This minister has laid on a banquet to receive you. My household also has a troupe of performers and musicians — Your Highness is accomplished in music and dance, and I humbly invite you to attend, appraise their talents, and offer a word of guidance, so as to honor this old minister.”

“Gladly,” Xie Yuzhang agreed at once, then said with mock solemnity: “Though I should note — I will not be dancing for you. My dancing is performed only for the eyes of the Imperial Father.”

Li Ming laughed again, genuinely delighted with this princess.

The Military Governor’s residence was the largest and most magnificent mansion in all of Liangzhou, and he had cleared out half the garden well in advance in preparation for Xie Yuzhang’s arrival. The guards and craftsmen naturally remained outside the city walls; the Princess’s officials and the delegation were all welcomed inside. Once this enormous crowd had all been settled, Li Ming could not help but sigh to his son: “What a fine young woman — how is it she couldn’t be kept in our family?”

If he had a daughter-in-law this clever and this beautiful, wouldn’t the grandchildren she bore be both handsome and bright?

Li Qi nodded vigorously, seething with frustration.

In her previous life, Xie Yuzhang had pleaded illness and not attended the welcome banquet Li Ming had prepared for her. In this life, Xie Yuzhang rested briefly, dressed magnificently, and appeared in the Military Governor of Hexi’s great banquet hall, dazzling and radiant.

The instant she stepped over the threshold, the raucous, lively hall fell utterly silent.

Amid the many eyes fixed upon her, Xie Yuzhang saw Li Gu at a glance. Perhaps for the first time, he had no need to avert his gaze or conceal himself — he could simply look at her intently, openly, just as everyone else was doing.

Xie Yuzhang smiled brilliantly.

The Fifth Prince and Prince Shou — one was her brother, one was her uncle — were naturally immune to Xie Yuzhang’s beauty. The two of them were the first to speak.

The Fifth Prince said, “Come on then — we’ve been waiting for you before starting.”

Prince Shou smiled amiably and said, “Baohua, you are the guest of honor today — you sit at the head.”

Xie Yuzhang stepped forward, swept a glance over the seating arrangement, and said, “That won’t do.”

Then she smiled and said, “I want to sit next to Elder Sister Li.”

There were no members of the Khanate delegation at this banquet, nor even any officials from the Court of State Ceremonial who were accompanying the party — only Prince Shou, the Fifth Prince, and Xie Yuzhang as guests, with the rest all being Li family members. It was a private gathering.

Besides Xie Yuzhang, the only other woman at the table was Li Ming’s daughter.

In the end, Prince Shou — as the senior in age and rank — was seated at the head. Xie Yuzhang and Li Ming’s daughter, Li Zhenzhen, sat side by side.

Li Zhenzhen was quite short in stature, her appearance so much like Li Ming’s and Li Qi’s that they seemed stamped from the same mold — it would be difficult to call her attractive. Li Ming’s first wife had long since passed away, childless during her lifetime, and this son and daughter had both been born of concubines. Those concubines were each and every one a beauty, yet Li Ming’s dominant genes had held firm — both children in looks and build took entirely after him.

Li Zhenzhen smiled and asked Xie Yuzhang, “Did you rest well? If anything is not to your liking, please tell me directly, Your Highness.”

Li Zhenzhen was in her twenties, already married, with one daughter, and her husband’s family was one of Hexi’s established noble clans. Though she was born of a concubine, as Li Ming’s only daughter she was the cherished child of heaven in Hexi. Her father’s power was great, and her husband’s family handled her with the utmost care. Spoiled by both her maternal and marital families, she had grown up with a bold and spirited temperament, living a thoroughly gratifying life.

When Xie Yuzhang was welcomed into the Li residence, it was Li Zhenzhen who had received her. Clearly, though Li Zhenzhen was already married, with Li Ming having taken no second wife, she still held authority over affairs in her father’s household — the many arrangements for receiving Xie Yuzhang, every detail from top to bottom, had been managed by her.

This banquet was prepared for Xie Yuzhang, and Li Zhenzhen had come specifically to keep her company. As the only two women at the table, it was entirely unsurprising for Xie Yuzhang to say she wanted to sit beside her.

The northwestern frontier had a bold and vigorous folk character, and often produced bold and spirited women. Li Zhenzhen, though a woman, raised her cup to Prince Shou and the Fifth Prince just as a man would, and the two had no choice but to respond in kind, drinking as they would with a male guest.

Li Zhenzhen also asked Xie Yuzhang, “Would Your Highness like some wine?”

Xie Yuzhang said, “I can only manage something light, like mulberry wine or pale yellow wine — the wines here are far too strong for me.”

Li Zhenzhen had been called back by her father to oversee the reception arrangements, repeatedly instructed to hold her temper and show proper respect to the Princess. She had assumed Princess Baohua would be the same spirited sort as herself — but upon meeting her, she discovered that this Princess was delicately beautiful and soft in manner, stirring an immediate urge to protect her. Yet upon closer acquaintance, she found that while Xie Yuzhang appeared gentle and delicate, her temperament was actually agreeable — she did not put on airs or make demands.

Li Zhenzhen liked Xie Yuzhang very much. She said, “Then I’ll have them bring some.”

She raised her voice and ordered the attendants at once: “Bring a jar of mulberry wine.”

The table was a small one — only three guests: Prince Shou, the Fifth Prince, and Xie Yuzhang; and on the host’s side: Li Ming, Li Zhenzhen, Li Qi, Li the Fifth Young Master, Li the Eighth Young Master, and Li Shiyi Lang, Li Gu. By seniority of rank, Li Gu sat at the very last seat.

Li Zhenzhen’s voice rang out and everyone looked over.

Li Gu suddenly spoke: “Elder Sister, Your Highness has only just arrived in Liangzhou — her stomach has not yet adjusted to the food and water here…”

Li Zhenzhen cut him off without ceremony: “All the more reason she should drink some wine. Wine is the best remedy for the gut — one bowl of wine, and any discomfort you have will sort itself right out!”

Li Gu had never quite known what to do about her, so he could only diplomatically advise: “Elder Sister speaks truly. Only, Her Highness is after all different from us — perhaps a little less would be wise.”

“Mind your own business — I know what I’m doing.” Li Zhenzhen waved him off with a laugh, then turned to Xie Yuzhang and said, “Look at little eleven here — back in the day, it was I who sorted out all his clothing and shoes. And now look at him, grown up and trying to manage me.”

Xie Yuzhang covered her smile with her sleeve, stole a glance at Li Gu, and — rare as it was — caught a flicker of genuine awkwardness on his face. Who would have thought that even a future Emperor had once had moments like this?

Afraid that in a few years’ time, when she saw him again, such moments would be gone forever — Xie Yuzhang kept her sleeve half-raised to shield her face, her smiling eyes curving into crescents, drinking in every moment she could.

Li Gu drained his cup and turned his head away, feeling strangely ill at ease.

“Look at him — blushing in front of Your Highness,” Li Zhenzhen murmured into Xie Yuzhang’s ear. “He’s not getting any younger, and I said just this year that I’d help find him a good match — and what does he do? Says something about how he has yet to make his name in the world, and refuses to even entertain the idea.”

Xie Yuzhang pressed her lips together and smiled. “Shiyi Lang is a fine, capable young man, and an adopted son of Lord Li — I doubt he’ll have any trouble finding a match.”

“Exactly what I said. I hear the ladies of Yunjing prefer the fair and delicate type — but here in Liangzhou, what they love is exactly someone like our Shiyi Lang.” Li Zhenzhen was tremendously proud of Li Gu. “You don’t know — how many Liangzhou girls dream of him.”

Xie Yuzhang raised her sleeve to cover her smile and looked over once more. Just at that moment, Li Gu — drinking his wine — glanced her way, and that look of hers, laced with mischief, caught him off guard. He choked on his wine and turned away, coughing several times.

Li Zhenzhen and Xie Yuzhang laughed together.

When the laughter died down, Li Zhenzhen said with a sigh, “I wonder which lucky girl will end up as our Shiyi Lang’s wife.” Entirely the manner of a devoted elder sister.

The mulberry wine had already been poured. Xie Yuzhang held her cup and lowered her eyes. “Indeed.” She raised the cup to her lips, shielding herself with her sleeve, and drank half of it down.

Li Zhenzhen, seeing her drink so freely, also raised her cup and drained it in one go — and hers was filled with the northwestern strong liquor that had only later spread in popularity to Yunjing.

Xie Yuzhang smiled warmly. “Elder Sister is wonderfully spirited.”

Life — how astonishing and unfathomable its reversals can be.

This Li Zhenzhen before her — so direct and decisive, so much the elder sister in bearing, so wholehearted in wanting to find a fine and beautiful match for Li Gu whom she regarded as her younger brother — how could she ever have imagined that she herself… would become Li Gu’s first legitimate wife?

Li Ming died under mysterious circumstances. Li Qi was killed by Li the Second Young Master. In a single night, Liangzhou was transformed. The twelve tigers tore each other apart in a chaotic struggle, with the Li clan’s family factions and Hexi’s established noble clans all entangled within — and in the span of a short time, blood flowed like rivers.

History would call it: the Hexi Upheaval.

In the end, the one who emerged victorious was Shiyi Lang, Li Gu.

Li Gu executed Li the Second, Third, Ninth, Tenth, and Twelfth Young Masters, wiped out the Li clan’s southern branch, slaughtered Hexi’s two great noble clans — the Huo family and the Wang family — then turned and married Li Zhenzhen, who had been widowed in the chaos of the upheaval, thus securing the northwest.

From that point forward, the dragon began its ascent to the nine heavens.

And Li Zhenzhen — among his three principal wives, she was given special treatment by virtue of being Li Ming’s daughter, managing the affairs of his inner household on Li Gu’s behalf. Later, as Li Gu began his conquest of the realm and his wings grew fully spread, she became the symbol of the core Hexi faction and was publicly recognized as his first and original principal wife.

But later, when Hexi’s party had grown too powerful, Li Gu, in order to maintain balance, ultimately did not enthrone Li Zhenzhen as Empress.

This Lady Li — now Imperial Noble Consort — relinquished her authority over Li Gu’s inner household after he enthroned Zhang Fen as his primary consort, and lived within Li Gu’s rear palace with the daughter she had from her first husband, keeping to herself day to day and spending her time in Buddhist devotions. But no one had better dare provoke her — provoke her and she would make a scene all the way before Li Gu himself.

Even as husband and wife, Li Gu continued to address her as “Elder Sister,” enfeoffed her daughter as a commandery princess, and treated the two of them with many special considerations. Seasonal gifts and tributes to her were often more lavish than those to Empress Zhang.

Empress Zhang would curse Li Zhenzhen behind her back as “that stumpy, ugly old woman” — yet to her face she had to tread carefully. After all, though they were a pair of widowed women, an Emperor stood behind them.

Xie Yuzhang raised her cup. “Elder Sister Li, I wouldn’t say we’ve known each other long enough to be bosom friends, but speaking with you puts me at ease. Baohua offers you this cup.”

Li Zhenzhen had always loved what was in her cup. She raised her own at once. “Your Highness, please.”

The two of them smiled at each other.

Broad sleeves masking half her face, Xie Yuzhang tilted her head and drained the cup.

This cup is for you, Lady Li — for how many times you quietly came to my rescue when Empress Zhang was making things difficult for me.

We owed each other nothing, shared only the chance acquaintance of a few days on this peace-offering journey. And yet in secret you took pity on me and protected me.

Baohua is deeply grateful.

Prince Shou and the Fifth Prince were engaged in conversation with Li Ming, but Li Gu’s attention kept being drawn, against his will, toward Li Zhenzhen and Xie Yuzhang.

Li Zhenzhen’s character was bold and fiery — when the two of them were together, he always felt a nagging worry.

Or rather — mostly a worry about Xie Yuzhang.

It was also that Xie Yuzhang appeared so delicate and finely wrought, always giving a sense of fragility. Especially when he thought of how she was about to leave the territory of Da Zhao and go to the grasslands, with their smell of blood and tallow — the thought settled on his heart like a weight.

Li Gu drained another cup of wine.

Xie Yuzhang’s voice suddenly rose. Li Gu looked up. Xie Yuzhang was addressing Li Ming.

“How is it that Seventh Young Master is not here?” she asked.

“Old Seven? He led a patrol out,” Li Ming said. “I hadn’t expected Your Highness would still be thinking of him. What a pity — he’s on duty and will miss the chance to see you this time.”

Xie Yuzhang sighed softly. “If we don’t see each other this time, then it will be a lifetime before we do, won’t it?”

For a moment the banquet hall went quiet. Li Gu felt his heart clench as though suddenly seized by something.

Even Li Ming — that old fox — paused before replying with a smile: “Your Highness, you are so young — why speak of lifetimes in the same breath? We’re not so far apart out here. If you want to see someone, we can always make it happen.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “Lord Li, you needn’t humor me — I am not a child.”

Yet her voice as she spoke was soft and gentle — she was clearly still a small, young girl, the sort that should have been kept safe in the inner chambers a few more years before being given away in marriage.

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere turning heavy and oppressive.

Li Zhenzhen wanted to say something to comfort her but did not know what to say. Her character had always been bold and her tongue sharp — and she had no idea how to offer comfort.

But Xie Yuzhang smiled. She turned to Li Ming with a coaxing, half-playful tone and said: “Since Seventh Young Master is not here — what a pity. Then Shiyi Lang must be the one to escort me! Having someone familiar to see me off will put my heart at ease.”

Li Ming exhaled with relief and said, “Of course, of course. This minister had already intended to send old eleven to escort you. Shiyi Lang — did you hear? This time, you are responsible for escorting Princess Baohua.”

Li Gu stood and made a formal salute with his hands: “This son humbly obeys.”

When he lowered his hands and turned to look again, Xie Yuzhang was already laughing and chatting with Li Zhenzhen, as though what had just unfolded had been entirely effortless and natural.

Was he overthinking things?

He must have been.