An Da Khan was old, a hero in his twilight years. In his later years, he only wanted to peacefully guard his young wife and infant son, no longer wishing to wage war.

Though Emperor Longqing was still young, his long-suppressed rebelliousness had erupted. Almost all his national policies were opposite to those of the deceased old emperor. When Emperor Jiajing closed mutual trade markets, he insisted on opening them.

However, after years of conflict between the two countries, many court ministers opposed peace negotiations, with voices of opposition everywhere. Grand Secretary Li Chunfang had a good-natured personality, and Emperor Longqing alone couldn’t withstand the enormous pressure. He thought of his teacher Gao Gong. After Gao Gong entered the cabinet, he competed with Grand Secretary Xu Jie, resulting in mutual destruction as both resigned and returned home to retire.

Now Emperor Longqing sorely missed teacher Gao Gong. When he was still Prince Yu, neglected and suppressed by his father, it was his teacher who stayed by his side, never abandoning him. So Emperor Longqing issued an edict inviting his teacher back to court to help suppress disobedient officials.

Gao Gong made a comeback. Grand Secretary Li Chunfang, knowing Gao Gong had the emperor’s favor, tactfully retired to his hometown, yielding the position of Grand Secretary. Gao Gong became the new Grand Secretary.

Gao Gong lived up to his name – he was particularly good at “pushing” (“gong” means push), pushing aside whoever disobeyed.

Whether lifting the sea ban or reopening mutual trade, Emperor Longqing’s policies ran counter to those of Emperor Jiajing and many previous Daming emperors, naturally causing many conservative ministers to oppose them. Gao Gong understood why Emperor Longqing had “retired and rehired” this old minister – he wanted to use his abilities to implement these new policies.

Gao Gong concurrently held the position of Minister of Personnel. Whoever disobeyed would be “pushed” aside. He demoted and exiled from the capital officials like Ye Mengxiong who opposed peace negotiations with An Da Khan and reopening mutual trade. Under his thunderous methods, opposition to peace negotiations ceased, and Daming and An Da Khan began exchanging envoys to negotiate cooperation details.

On the khan’s court side, similar to the Ming court, when An Da Khan initially announced peace negotiations, there were many opposing voices. However, various tribal leaders also supported mutual trade, such as A’duo Si, who had been deeply influenced by Ding Wu in recent years. The Ordos tribe longed to conduct legitimate trade with Daming.

An Da Khan’s eldest son Huang Jitai opposed peace negotiations – his lame leg was injured in wars with Daming, and he said his father was paying too much for an unfilial grandson like Bahan Naji.

This angered An Da Khan, who lashed his eldest son with a whip: “Bahan Naji is your nephew! His father was your third brother. Your third brother died young, leaving only one son. Instead of pitying him and bringing him home early, you’re cursing him!”

Whenever father and son argued, Third Madam would rush over to play the good person, kneeling to persuade An Da Khan to stop and not beat the child.

This disgusted Huang Jitai, who cursed Third Madam as hypocritical and false, resulting in… naturally being beaten even more severely by his father.

The more Huang Jitai behaved this way, the more disappointed An Da Khan became with him and the more he valued Third Madam. He entrusted all matters concerning peace negotiations with the Ming dynasty to Third Madam, pushing his eldest son aside. Gradually, he even handed military power to Third Madam.

Third Madam thus began to become an independent political figure. Tribal leaders who advocated peace negotiations and mutual trade flocked to Third Madam, hoping to get a share when formal mutual trade began.

Under the bright moon and sparse stars, at the Ming embassy in Fengcheng.

Several black shadows threw two pieces of meat to the guard dogs. After eating, the dogs returned to their kennels and slept soundly. The shadows quietly infiltrated the embassy, stealthily making their way to the Daming envoy’s quarters.

They poked through the window paper and blew sleeping smoke into the bedroom. After about the time for a cup of tea, feeling the people inside should be unconscious, they broke through the window, pulled back the bed curtains, and frantically stabbed at the human form in the bedding.

One stab down, the feel was wrong. Lighting a fire starter for a closer look, there was no blood on the knife. Looking at the pillow, it was a paper dummy!

This was a trap!

The assassins quickly tried to retreat, but it was too late. An iron net fell from the roof beams, catching them all. The assassination failed. The assassins quickly tried to take poison and commit suicide, but the iron net tightened like a cocoon, trapping them inside unable to move, and they were captured alive.

Wang Daxia and Lu Ying together pulled the rope, jumping down from the roof beams.

Wang Daxia yawned: “Good heavens, finally waited for you. I tied myself to the roof beams and slept for three nights. Why didn’t you come earlier!”

Assassins: “…”

Lu Ying ordered his subordinates to take the three assassins away for strict interrogation. He also asked Wang Daxia: “How is the envoy now?”

Wang Daxia yawned continuously: “Sleeping soundly in my cosmetics shop – Commander Lu, when will these days end? I’m protecting the Daming negotiation envoy outside, Caiwei is protecting Third Madam in the khan’s court. We husband and wife are only slightly better off than the Cowherd and Weaver Girl.”

Lu Ying said: “After the peace talks are finished, I’ll give you a long vacation.”

“Stop—” Wang Daxia held up his right hand. “This sounds familiar. Commander Lu said the same thing before my wedding. What was the result? Just painting a big pie. Less than a month after my wedding, I spent three years as a cosmetics shop owner in Fengcheng, rarely seeing Caiwei.”

“When I return this time, with promotions and honors, I’ll quit the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Caiwei and I will leave the capital, find a quiet place to open a cosmetics shop. Life is short – anyway we can make a living however. I can’t keep working for the Embroidered Uniform Guard without even caring for my family. Being married makes no difference from Commander Lu being single – it’s unfair to Caiwei.”

Lu Ying asked: “You really want to quit?”

Wang Daxia nodded: “I’ll quit. Ding Wu will return to Daming, going from covert to overt. He’ll become your new right hand.”

Lu Ying thought to himself: I once swore before my mother that I’d marry after breaking the White Lotus Sect… This time I’ll bring Ding Wu home to meet mother. If I must marry and spend my remaining years with a man, Ding Wu is my only choice.

Using Embroidered Uniform Guard methods, they pried open the assassins’ mouths by dawn. They were assassins bribed by An Da Khan’s eldest son Huang Jitai, aiming to assassinate the Daming envoy and sabotage peace negotiations between the two countries.

Lu Ying handed the assassins to Third Madam. Third Madam cut off the assassins’ right hands and sent them to Huang Jitai, telling him: “This is the last time I’ll cover for you. If you dare sabotage peace talks again, I’ll tell An Da Khan. The witnesses are in my hands. Bear all consequences yourself.”

Third Madam held Huang Jitai’s weakness, and he dared not act rashly again.

Thus, both countries began difficult peace negotiations while dealing with their internal conflicts. Lasting nearly a year, the two countries finally reached a peace agreement.

The two countries opened eleven cities for mutual trade at the border, jointly maintaining order and ceasing hostilities for peace.

An Da Khan submitted to Daming, and Emperor Longqing enfeoffed him as “Prince Shunyi.” His sons and various tribal leaders were enfeoffed as princes, commanders, and commanders of thousands, with corresponding Daming robes and caps bestowed according to their ranks.

Third Madam contributed most to the peace negotiations. Daming enfeoffed her as “Lady Zhongshun” and indicated that all eleven border mutual trade markets would be managed by Third Madam. Even Third Madam’s son Bu Ta Shi Li, still a nursing baby, was exceptionally enfeoffed as Assistant Commander.

An Da Khan summoned the Mongol Tatar tribal leaders, saying: “From today forth, whoever leads troops into the pass to commit crimes will have their forces reduced and tribal leadership stripped – there are plenty of people who want to be new leaders. Whoever privately disturbs the border and sabotages mutual trade will have their population, cattle, horses, and property seized and distributed to tribes that observe the peace agreement.”

A’duo Si of the Ordos tribe was the first to stand out supporting An Da Khan’s new policies. The various leaders, either moved by mutual trade benefits or pressured by An Da Khan’s authority, all echoed their agreement.

Thus, after over two hundred years of warfare, the border welcomed hard-won peace, historically known as the “Longqing Peace Treaty.” Unlike previous brief ceasefires, this peace would last for a very, very long time, just like the former Wang Xiaoxia.

After the two countries signed the peace agreement, Lu Ying escorted Bahan Naji and Hasi Tuya back, while An Da Khan personally escorted White Lotus Sect leaders like Zhao Quan and Li Zixin. The two groups exchanged “hostages” at the Datong border.

Cult Leader Zhao Quan’s hair had turned white, sitting dazedly in the prison cart like a walking corpse.

Seeing his grandfather, Bahan Naji ran over like a leopard, half-kneeling and embracing An Da Khan’s legs while crying. An Da Khan, thinking of his deceased third son, consolingly stroked Bahan Naji’s head. Blood being thicker than water, he immediately forgave their rebellious act of eloping to Daming.

An Da Khan, doting on his grandson, desperately wanted to keep him from thinking about returning to Daming. He pointed to the fertile Bansheng land behind him: “From now on, Bansheng belongs to Bahan Naji.”

Bansheng was the most fertile piece of meat on the grasslands. Since the White Lotus Sect’s collapse, many had eyed this fat prize, including eldest son Huang Jitai. An Da Khan had never relented, originally planning to give it to his unforgettable grandson Bahan Naji.

Now this prize was finally settled. Everyone was both surprised and felt it natural – truly the khan’s most beloved grandson. Even after betraying and fleeing to Daming, the khan didn’t blame him but instead gave double comfort.

What? Sitting in the prison cart like a wooden figure, Zhao Quan finally reacted: My Bansheng, which I painstakingly managed for over twenty years, actually goes to this unfilial grandson who betrayed and fled to Daming?

Is there any justice? My life’s work ends up being a wedding dress for such a creature?

For whom did I toil and struggle? Zhao Quan laughed wildly at the blue sky. My whole life has been so ridiculous – in the end, drawing water with a bamboo basket, gaining nothing.

Bahan Naji thanked his grandfather. From then on, he and Hasi Tuya governed Bansheng, becoming the wealthiest lords. Fourteen years later, Bahan Naji died in a hunting accident from falling off his horse. Having no heirs and with Third Madam’s support, Hasi Tuya inherited her husband’s territory, becoming the famous female lord of Bansheng.

Who doesn’t love a wealthy, powerful widow with land? Various tribal leaders fiercely competed for the widow Hasi Tuya, including Third Madam’s son Bu Ta Shi Li, who wanted to marry this female lord fifteen years his senior.

Ultimately, Hasi Tuya chose the strongest tribal leader – Che Li Ke, son of Huang Jitai who had become the second-generation Prince Shunyi. By then An Da Khan had died, and Third Madam had married her stepson Huang Jitai, but military and financial power remained firmly in Third Madam’s hands – Huang Jitai was merely a puppet.

Later, the second-generation Prince Shunyi Huang Jitai died. By rights, his eldest son Che Li Ke should become the third-generation Prince Shunyi, and his wife Hasi Tuya should be the new Lady Zhongshun.

However, the Daming court only recognized Third Madam. If Che Li Ke wanted Daming’s investiture, he had to divorce Hasi Tuya and then marry Third Madam.

Che Li Ke naturally chose to become the third-generation Prince Shunyi, divorced Hasi Tuya, and held a tent-sharing ceremony with Third Madam, becoming husband and wife. After remarrying her stepson, Third Madam married her step-grandson, remaining the powerful Lady Zhongshun, the uncrowned queen of the grasslands.

The divorced Hasi Tuya remained a sought-after prize because Bansheng still belonged to her. Third Madam’s biological son Bu Ta Shi Li competed a second time for this female lord fifteen years his senior. This time, he finally succeeded. The two even had a son.

Like Lady Zhongshun Third Madam, Hasi Tuya remarried twice, dedicating her life to peace between the two countries and maintaining border and mutual trade order. Hasi Tuya was ultimately enfeoffed by the Daming court as “Lady Zhongyi.”

Of course, these are stories for much later. The grassland tale ends here. Ding Wu finally fulfilled his vow of “not returning until the White Lotus Sect is broken,” escorting Cult Leader Zhao Quan and others back to the capital for trial, ultimately sentenced to death by a thousand cuts. Justice may be late, but it won’t be absent.

On execution day, the marketplace was packed with people. Citizens who had lost family in the Gengxu Rebellion twenty years earlier crowded the streets until they were impassable, with wailing that shook the heavens and people even in the trees.

Ding Wu was determined to personally witness Zhao Quan surviving 1,001 cuts while still breathing, then having his evil head severed by the executioner before feeling at ease. As a weak scholar, he couldn’t squeeze in, so Lu Ying rented a room near the marketplace for him to watch the execution from upstairs.

Seeing Zhao Quan’s head fall, Ding Wu closed the window. Ten years undercover, great revenge achieved – it was finally over.

Lu Ying asked him: “What are your plans now?”

Ding Wu said: “Go to Yunnan and bring father to the capital.” Emperor Longqing had already restored Ding Rukui’s reputation and official position, returning confiscated property and mansion for his comfortable retirement.

Lu Ying asked again: “And then? Do you… have any plans to marry?”

Lu Ying had unprecedentedly worn women’s clothing today and sincerely asked Wang Daxia for makeup techniques, determined to win over Ding Wu today.