Life in this world lasts only a few short decades.

One must plan well for the future — but one must also live well in the present.

The way the Zhao Princess lived made Gu’erlin, who had married Tukuitang and been swallowed up among his many women, so envious her eyes turned red.

“Ptui! I curse her to never bear children!” she said to her maidservant.

The maidservant thought to herself: word was that when Baohua, the Khan’s consort, had married the Khan, she had already made an agreement with him that she would not bear children. She even drank a strange medicine concocted by Central Plains people, one that could prevent a woman from conceiving.

She was a pampered woman so delicate she could not even bear the pain of childbirth — something every woman was supposed to endure. Yet the Khan was not the least bit displeased, and doted on her all the same.

Gu’erlin stroked her swollen belly and said smugly, “This one is definitely another son!”

The maidservant immediately echoed, “Yes, yes, definitely another son.”

Gu’erlin said, “Before I was even married, the shaman of our tribe said I had the bearing of a son-bearer, that I would give birth to many valiant warriors.”

Yet Tukuitang already had several sons as old as Nini, a whole string of them big and small. Even if Gu’erlin bore another boy, how much could he hope to claim from his older brothers?

The maidservant worried. She could only hope Gu’erlin would keep bearing children, producing more and more sons — brothers banding together, winning through sheer numbers.

Gu’erlin had barely finished speaking when, in the bright spring light, the Zhao Princess came riding past with her maidservants and guards, splendidly dressed and galloping swiftly.

She had clearly seen Gu’erlin sunbathing here, yet still rode at such speed! She kicked up a great cloud of dust and horse dung particles that sent Gu’erlin into a fit of coughing!

“She did it on purpose!” Gu’erlin fumed.

Ever since Gu’erlin had tried to humiliate the Zhao Princess when the old Khan’s body was brought back and failed, and then the Zhao Princess had become the Khan’s consort, she had made a habit of bullying Gu’erlin whenever she saw her.

This had earned Xie Yuzhang a reputation for repaying every slight — and because of this reputation, no one dared provoke her, for fear of being repaid far worse than whatever offense they had intended.

When Gu’erlin complained, the Khan took Xie Yuzhang’s side. Not just the Khan — even Tukuitang took the Zhao Princess’s side, scolding Gu’erlin, “You stop hovering around Baohua. If she beats you for it, you deserve it.”

Xie Yuzhang had of course done it on purpose.

“This reputation of mine is useful,” she said. “It is always better for a person to be feared. Before anyone thinks of bullying you, they have to first weigh whether they dare.”

She also said, “I have already rejected both Tukuitang and Zhanshilu, but when you go out, you must take more people with you. I worry they might simply seize you first and deal with the consequences later — some tribes do practice bride-snatching. Things are somewhat better here at the royal court, far more civilized, but I fear someone might try to play underhanded tricks on me.”

In the past, Xie Yuzhang had lived near Zhadayali, who of course lived close to Wuwei. But the location of Xie Yuzhang’s section was quite clever — even men going to see Wuwei would not pass by her tent.

When Lin Fei went out, she was most often in Xie Yuzhang’s company. She went out alone mainly to visit Abaha.

Abaha, as the State Preceptor and Grand Shaman, was a figure among the upper ranks of the Khanate — yet he lived in a place that was… more remote than a dog’s kennel.

He was devoted to scholarship, compiling the history of the steppe, and loved quiet. Moreover, as Grand Shaman, he was accustomed to keeping his distance from the masses to maintain an air of mystery.

So for a long time, although the various princes all knew that the Zhao Princess’s maidservants were strikingly beautiful, none had noticed that among them was hidden one who was altogether different.

It was only after Wuwei inherited the Khan’s throne and Xie Yuzhang married him, moving to the heart of the settlement and being placed very close to the royal tent, that Lin Fei was finally noticed by several of the senior princes.

True to the habits of the Mobei people, they came directly to Xie Yuzhang to ask for her. Tukuitang had even generously offered six hundred sheep as a bride price — twice the three hundred that Zhanshilu had offered. This made plain that Tukuitang’s wealth and power were indeed second only to Wuwei among all the rest.

Of course, Xie Yuzhang refused.

“I know, I know,” Lin Fei said helplessly. “You’ve assigned so many guards to follow me that every time I go out there’s a great procession behind me. People think it’s you who has come out.”

“One can never be too careful,” Xie Yuzhang said. “From the moment I decided to go north as a peace offering, I made up my mind that I would protect you for the rest of my life, and never let any harm come to you.

Lin Fei felt a warmth well up in her heart, tinged with a bittersweet ache. But just as that ache was rising, Xie Yuzhang jabbed her on the head and said with feeling, “How perfectly I arranged it! Was there anywhere safer than the Duke of Xunguo’s residence? Was there?! No, there wasn’t!”

Jab, jab, jab!

Lin Fei: “……”

All the emotion got jabbed right out of her.

Lin Fei went to Abaha’s place. Abaha asked, “I hear both my nephews have been bewitched by you?”

Lin Fei kept her head down and ignored him.

“Tukuitang is a brave warrior, and what is more, he does not beat women — that puts him above Zhanshilu in that regard,” Abaha said. “Six hundred sheep is quite respectable. Even a princess from a small tribe would only get a little more than that.”

Lin Fei set down her brush. “I’m going back.”

Abaha asked, “You truly have no interest?”

Lin Fei said, “None.”

Abaha said, “Lin Fei, do not be too proud.”

Lin Fei gave him the most gracious and refined smile of a well-bred lady: “A young woman of good family, reflecting on herself day and night — how would she dare be reckless or arrogant?”

Abaha, however, said, “Stop putting on airs in front of me. You are even prouder than your princess.”

Lin Fei’s smile faded.

“My princess is not without pride,” she said lightly, “but she carries too much on her shoulders. Her love is vast and boundless — she has thrown herself to the tigers.”

Abaha said, “I knew it. You Central Plains women simply look down on the men of the steppe. It is only my old brother and foolish nephew who could be taken in by you.”

But Lin Fei said, “No — there is a man of the steppe I would look favorably upon.”

Abaha was startled. “Who have you set your eyes on?”

Lin Fei said, “If you were thirty years younger, I would be with you. Now you know where my standards are set.”

The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Abaha lowered his head and let out a long sigh. When he raised it again, he said with pity, “Then you shall spend your entire life alone.”

Lin Fei: “……”

It seemed like someone had just been telling me not to be too proud, hadn’t they?

Lin Fei returned to the main tent and told Xie Yuzhang, “Abaha told me not to worry — he will handle the matter.”

Xie Yuzhang asked, “What does he plan to do?”

She soon found out.

Abaha summoned his nephews and told them he intended to take Lin Fei as a student, warning them that none of them was to lay a hand on her.

Zhanshilu protested, “There has never been a Grand Shaman who takes a female student.”

Abaha said, “I am not making her a shaman. I am only making her my student.”

Zhanshilu said, “But she is a woman. A woman should serve men and bear them children — that is how it should be!”

Abaha flew into a rage.

“The whole steppe is full of women who can bear children — but how many are there who speak six tribal languages and can translate ancient texts with such precision and literary grace?! None! Besides myself, not even a man can do it!” he roared. “If you dare swell her belly and waste her time on bearing children, I will send you back to the Eternal Sky!”

At the thought of Lin Fei spending her time like other women — serving men, bearing children, raising them — and being unable to compile the history of the steppe with him, Abaha was beside himself with fury. He swung his massive solid wooden staff — as tall as a man — and brought it down on Zhanshilu!

Zhanshilu was caught completely off guard and took the blow. To avoid a second strike from the wrath of the Eternal Sky, he had no choice but to flee in sorry disarray.

Xie Yuzhang said, “Abaha is very old, but he can still ride and shoot, and walks at such a brisk pace he is faster than me. I have always wondered what he does with that great wooden staff when he leans on it all day — it looks quite heavy.”

Lin Fei said, “A shaman needs a staff. It makes him look far more formidable when he chants and prays.”

Xie Yuzhang understood at once.

Time moved slowly, yet flew by all the same.

After Lin Fei had found a woman to test the fluff from the cloud-blossom plant in Xie Yuzhang’s basin and confirmed it could indeed be spun into thread, they developed an interest in this flower beyond mere admiration.

Xie Yuzhang summoned gardeners and farmers, told them of this discovery, and asked them to find ways to cultivate the plant.

The gardeners and farmers each took seeds away, and also tried propagating it by cuttings, all hoping to claim the twenty sheep reward the Princess had promised.

This was a small matter — merely a way to pass time in daily life.

Before she knew it, Xie Yuzhang’s eighteenth birthday had passed as well. She calculated the time and said to Lin Fei, “The first imperial son should be born around now.”

Merchant caravans coming from the south brought an unceasing flow of news from the Central Plains. The tidings that arrived made the Zhao people increasingly anxious, yet filled Xie Yuzhang and Lin Fei with ever-growing anticipation.

In the blink of an eye, it was nearly the New Year of the steppe again. The weather had not yet warmed, and the grasslands remained bitterly cold.

At last, news arrived that Li Shiyi Lang of Hexi had taken Yunjing.

Li Shiyi Lang had not done as Huang Yungong had done — declaring himself Regent and wielding the Emperor like a puppet. Although he passed by Yunjing without entering, pressing south without pause, he ordered his men to place all members of the Xie imperial family under house arrest.

Though he had not yet ascended the throne, this act announced that Da Zhao existed in name only.

“Zhao has fallen!” The one most jubilant in the royal court was undoubtedly Gu’erlin, who was radiant with glee and wished she could throw a banquet to celebrate.

The maidservant said helplessly, “Even if Zhao has fallen, the Zhao Princess still has the Khan’s favor. Do not overdo it — what will you do if she gets angry and comes to bully you again?”

Gu’erlin stiffened, then muttered, “I know! Hmph!”

Xie Yuzhang and Lin Fei, however, looked at each other and sighed: “It truly has come ahead of schedule.”

Xie Yuzhang said, “He took Yunjing before the New Year — it should have been around the third month. News did not reach here until the end of the sixth month. Sulif, upon hearing it, led men to harass the border again. He died on the second foray.”

This terrifying news threw the Zhao people into extreme panic. Even so far from their homeland, there had always been something sustaining them in their hearts. Now, that pillar of faith had crumbled. Many surrounded the tent where Yuan Yu and the other household retainers worked, demanding Yuan Yu give them an explanation. Others wept on the spot.

After hearing Yuan Yu’s report, Xie Yuzhang said, “Understood. Gather everyone together — I will speak to them.”

Xie Yuzhang came to the settlement where her people lived, and nearly all the Zhao people had come. The crowd was packed so tightly not even water could pass through.

A small platform had long been built here for issuing commands and reading proclamations. Xie Yuzhang ascended the three steps up to it and looked out over a sea of heads pressing dark against the land, pair after pair of eyes filled with worry.

Her Highness the Princess stood there composedly — neither panicked nor troubled.

Her manner caused the Zhao people to misread the situation, thinking that the talk of the nation’s fall must surely be rumor.

But when the Princess opened her mouth, it was like a clap of thunder shattering stone.

“It is true,” she said. “As you have heard — Da Zhao has fallen.”

The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted in a great cry of grief.

A scholar sat on the ground and beat the earth, weeping aloud: “We have lost our country! We have become a people without a nation!”

Many people wore dazed expressions, tears streaming down their faces. They did not even know why they wept — only that something deep within them had collapsed, and they had no strength to hold themselves upright.

Then, in that moment, their Princess asked in return: “And so — what of it?”

From the front to the back, from the inner ranks to the outer, the sound of weeping gradually ceased. People looked toward the Princess.

Those who had not yet stopped crying were given a hard punch by the person beside them: “Stop crying, be quiet! Listen to what Her Highness has to say!”

The vast dark crowd fell silent. Countless pairs of eyes fixed upon the Princess.

Xie Yuzhang swept her gaze across these people.

In her past life, they had all scattered.

Some had died. Some had been seized and made slaves. Some had attached themselves to other Hu nobility as herdsmen. The ones who were strong, resilient, and fortunate enough had walked more than a thousand li back to Yunjing on their own, but there had been far too few of them.

“What does it matter that Da Zhao has fallen?” Xie Yuzhang drew a deep breath and called out with all her voice to her people, “Are we living now by virtue of a country a thousand li away?”

“Is not the grain we eat sown by our own hands?”

“Do not the fur coats on our backs come from our own flocks?”

“Is it not our own guards who protect us and keep us from being bullied by other tribes?”

The Princess stood in the wind, her cloak billowing and snapping behind her. It billowed open to reveal her slender figure.

Slender, yet unyielding.

Since coming to the steppe a thousand li from their homeland, every decision this young woman had made, every act she had taken, had never gone in the wrong direction. Even when she was very young, she had already understood how to lead and protect her people.

Now, she had grown up.

The wind carried her voice across the crowd and into every person’s ears.

“Yes, Da Zhao has fallen!”

“But as long as our hands can grip a hoe and a whip, we will have food to eat!”

“As long as we can grip a blade, we need not fear being bullied!”

“We were already people who left our homeland a thousand li behind. Living in a foreign land — we have always relied entirely on ourselves! What are you afraid of? I am not afraid — what are you afraid of?!”

“What is there to fear?!” she said. “You still have me!”

“I — the Zhao Princess, Xie Baohua!”

“As long as I live, you shall have roofs over your heads and grain in your bowls!”

“As long as I draw breath, I will not let our Zhao people be wronged by anyone!”

Countless pairs of eyes looked upon her.

The people of the steppe were fond of using the wolf as a metaphor.

The brave were wolves. The fierce were wolves. The merciless were wolves.

And the one before whom all submit — that was the alpha wolf of the pack.

Later, when these Zhao people told the old tales to their children and grandchildren, they swore solemnly: “I am not speaking nonsense. In that moment, we truly saw the shadow of a wolf upon the Princess.”

Not an ordinary wolf.

The alpha, they said — the one who leads the entire pack.