Laughter never ceased in the hall, where the air was thick with the rich aromas of roasted meat, spices, and fine wine.
In the felt tent, Yuchi Damo’s expression remained cold as Yang Qian stood with the drawn sword against the guards, the atmosphere tense.
Yao Ying remained composed, not sparing a glance at the guards’ long sabers as she walked to Yuchi Damo’s front. “If Your Majesty truly wishes to please the Northern Rong, you need only shout a few times to summon Lady Yina’s guards.”
Yuchi Damo stared at Yao Ying without blinking, bloodshot eyes crimson. “Yina is merely a princess, without troops or power. Haidu Aling commands armies and has many followers. One day he will surely replace Khan Wahan. By offering the Princess to Haidu Aling, I stand to gain much more.”
Yao Ying smiled faintly: “Your Majesty, Khan Wahan still reigns. As you say, Lady Yina is just a princess, yet she can keep Your Majesty under house arrest. Isn’t that because Your Majesty fears her uncle Khan Wahan and thus endures in silence? Khan Wahan grows stronger with age, while Haidu Aling still lacks sufficient influence. Before their struggle is decided, knowing Your Majesty’s nature, you wouldn’t allow others to gain leverage over you.”
Yuchi Damo’s lips curved. “What leverage do I have to lose?”
Yao Ying said calmly: “If word reaches Khan Wahan’s ears that Your Majesty informed Haidu Aling, that becomes evidence of your secret collusion with Haidu Aling. Haidu Aling’s ambitions far exceed Khan Wahan’s. If he wins, Gaochang’s destruction would come in the blink of an eye. If Khan Wahan wins, he will surely be enraged at Your Majesty. How would Your Majesty protect yourself then?”
“No matter whom you inform, Your Majesty loses more than you gain. These years, Your Majesty has exhausted yourself in careful planning, enduring humiliation to preserve the whole, seeking nothing but stability for your domain. Surely you wouldn’t engage in such an unprofitable venture.”
Like Yang Qian, Yuchi Damo’s ancestral home was in Hexi. The Yuchi clan had produced many famous generals, and his grandfather had once served as the Governor of Guazhou. When the Central Plains fell into chaos, the Yuchi clan was forced to migrate west, taking refuge in Gaochang, where they married into prominent families and became the rulers of Gaochang.
Theirs was a family of military commanders, but unfortunately, Yuchi Damo and his father were physically frail and unsuited for martial training. The father and son couldn’t carry on the family’s martial legacy, tending toward timidity in their actions. Whenever someone led troops to attack Gaochang, they would immediately send beauties and gold to appease them, drawing frequent criticism.
Yuchi Damo, who survived in the cracks between powers, was extremely shrewd. He avoided entanglements, played the fool, feared everyone yet offended no one. He absolutely wouldn’t completely side with Haidu Aling while Khan Wahan’s position remained secure, especially since he believed his two children were still in Lady Yina’s hands.
Moreover, Tanmolouqie had proclaimed protection for her to all countries – he dared not offend Tanmolouqie.
As Yao Ying laid bare his thoughts one by one, Yuchi Damo’s expression darkened slightly. He threw off his cloak, sat up, and waved his hand.
The saber-wielding guards withdrew silently.
Yang Qian stood stunned for a moment, sheathed his sword, and frowned at Yuchi Damo: “Everything was fine – if Your Majesty had no intention of informing on us, why create such mystery?”
Yao Ying sat cross-legged and said: “Because Your Majesty wanted to test me, to see if I was worth risking anything for. If I had been frightened, Your Majesty would have gained the upper hand.”
She changed her tone, looking into Yuchi Damo’s brown eyes.
“May I ask Your Majesty, have I passed the test?”
Yuchi Damo met her gaze for a moment before his lips curved into a smile. “The Princess remained calm and composed. Damo admires this.”
Yao Ying spoke seriously: “I dare not accept such praise. Your Majesty bears humiliation and heavy burdens, as if being tempered in fierce flames. Yao Ying falls far short of Your Majesty.”
Yuchi Damo started, then smiled self-mockingly.
As a ruler, he knew Gaochang couldn’t withstand the Northern Rong’s armies. He had bowed his head in submission, set aside his first wife to marry Princess Yina, and allowed her to act willfully. Whenever Northern Rong envoys came demanding gold and treasure, he was extremely deferential, not daring to make a sound. The nobles and common people cursed him behind his back for his servile behavior, saying that as a mighty ruler, he was controlled by a mere woman.
His two children were ashamed of him and still wouldn’t forgive him for setting aside their mother.
Who could understand his difficulties?
Having lost the strong support of the Central Plains dynasty, Gaochang was destined to struggle for survival between greater powers. A pair of jade arms shared by thousands – this was Gaochang’s way of survival.
He knew that submitting to the Northern Rong meant dealing with their demands, bearing heavy taxes and levies, and being bled dry, while his people suffered under unbearable burdens.
He also knew many spirited young men in the city, like Yang Qian, who hoped he would lead them in resisting the Northern Rong. He was a son of the Yuchi family, the ruler – if he had sufficient troops and the Central Plains dynasty’s support, wouldn’t he too wish to ride forth in iron and steel to fight the Northern Rong to the death?
Reality had extinguished his anger and ambition.
The various Western Regions countries, dependent on oases for survival, could hardly support an army – they were just lambs awaiting slaughter before the Northern Rong. The only power that could stop the Northern Rong’s conquering advance was the royal court, prosperous since ancient times, with vast fertile grasslands watered by melting snow, clear trade routes to India, Persia, and Samarkand, and most importantly, the royal court’s Buddha’s Son, beloved by the people, divine in military matters, who could summon clouds of followers with a raise of his arm, deeply feared by Khan Wahan.
Gaochang had nothing – he dared not risk the lives of an entire city’s people!
Yuchi Damo’s eyes were blood-red as he lifted the gilt wine cup from the table and drained it in one gulp, the dark red liquid flowing down his pale neck to wet his inner clothes.
Though Princess Wenzhao was an outsider, she could speak directly to his hardships.
Years of pent-up bitterness slid down his throat with the cold wine. The grape wine was sweet, but his tongue tasted only bitterness and astringency.
Playing with the empty cup, he suddenly realized his train of thought had been disrupted by Yao Ying’s light words. His heart jolted as he steadied himself and asked languidly: “Has Great Wei unified the Central Plains?”
Yao Ying nodded: “Indeed.”
“The court hasn’t yet recovered Hexi?”
Yao Ying shook her head.
Yuchi Damo laughed coldly: “If the court cannot even recover Hexi, how can it speak of recovering the Western Regions? Princess Wenzhao can guarantee nothing to me – how dare I ally with Great Wei?”
Yao Ying sat formally and said: “I dare not – and do not wish to – deceive Your Majesty with false words. I can guarantee nothing to Your Majesty. I can only tell Your Majesty that once the Northern Rong grows strong enough to conquer the Western Regions, all tribes will become their slaves. The Wei Dynasty has the intention to recover Hexi, and has already allied with Hu tribes to recover Liangzhou…”
Hearing this, Yang Qian eagerly interrupted: “Your Majesty, Great Wei has unified the Central Plains. When the time is right, they will surely send troops to recover Hexi. Then we can coordinate from within and without – how could we not return east soon? This is a great opportunity to fulfill our aspirations!”
Yuchi Damo remained silent.
Yao Ying looked into his blood-red eyes: “Hasn’t Your Majesty already agreed to an alliance?”
Yuchi Damo leaned back against the armrest, his collar wide open: “The Princess misunderstands. My agreeing to meet the Princess doesn’t mean I agree to an alliance.”
Yao Ying smiled, “I haven’t misunderstood. Your Majesty has already agreed.”
Yuchi Damo laughed coldly, his gaze icy.
Yao Ying spoke slowly: “A Gaochang ruler once said: Eagles soar in the sky, pheasants fly through thickets, mice find shelter in holes – mighty dynasties have their way of living, and weak city-states have their way of survival. These words describe someone like Your Majesty Yuchi.”
Yuchi Damo raised an eyebrow.
Yao Ying continued: “Your Majesty can bend and straighten – able to endure humiliation when weak, but also able to transform into a fierce eagle soaring the skies with grand ambitions when strong.”
How could Yuchi Damo be friends with Yang Qian and quietly support his communications with the Central Plains if he were truly weak and without a fighting spirit?
“Furthermore, I dared risk coming to meet Your Majesty because of a letter.”
Yao Ying recited a letter word by word, ending with: “…swearing to return to our country, looking forward to the royal army.”
She was reciting a plea for help sent to Chang’an years ago, written personally by Gaochang’s previous ruler. At that time, the Emperor was of the Zhu family, and with rebellions erupting everywhere, the court could barely manage its affairs. The Zhu Emperor was busy fleeing south – how could he care about a cry for help from thousands of miles away?
After Li De ascended the throne, he had court officials circulate Yuchi’s letter.
At that time, he and his advisors believed the plea was too old to warrant attention. Having the officials circulate it served two purposes: first, to demonstrate the Zhu dynasty’s incompetence, and second, to hint at his desire to recover Hexi.
Yao Ying had heard Li Zhongqian mention that letter.
Generation after generation of Gaochang rulers had tried to contact the Central Plains, from Yuchi Damo’s grandfather to his father, and then to him. Though hope was faint, they still held onto it. Finally, Yang Qian and his group set out on the journey east. Over several decades, countless young men had followed one after another, all to request troops from the Central Plains.
Yang Qian’s bleached bones and ten-thousand-word letter had been discovered, but many more Yang Qian and letters remained forever buried beneath the flowing sands.
“Choking back tears, I ask the envoy – when will the six armies truly come?”
Yao Ying looked into Yuchi Damo’s eyes: “When the previous ruler didn’t even know if the Central Plains was unified, he still risked sending people to request aid, so determined was his wish to return east. At that time, the court had no attention to spare for the West. Now the Central Plains is unified, the Wei Dynasty’s forces are strong – as a descendant of the Yuchi family, how could Your Majesty refuse to ally with the Wei Dynasty?”
Hearing her recite the letter, Yang Qian became emotional, tears in his tiger-like eyes. His father had given him this name to remind him always that they had been forced to migrate to Gaochang. He must inherit his grandfather’s and father’s will, swearing to return to their homeland!
He looked at Yuchi Damo and said, each word distinct: “Damo, what are you still waiting for? All these years we’ve exhausted ourselves maintaining contact with the Central Plains – wasn’t it all to request the court to send troops?”
Yuchi Damo rested both hands on the armrest, his red hair loose, his posture relaxed, as if drunk. His brown eyes grew misty as he said carelessly: “I haven’t agreed to anything.”
Yang Qian’s temple throbbed: “You—”
Yao Ying smiled slightly, holding back the about-to-explode Yang Qian, as she met Yuchi Damo’s gaze.
Yuchi Damo was very cautious. These years he had tacitly allowed Yang Qian to contact righteous men in various places but never showed his face. If Yang Qian were discovered, he could deny involvement and use Yang Qian as a scapegoat.
This man offended neither Khan Wahan nor Haidu Aling nor would he offend Tanmolouqie or her. He maintained delicate cooperative relationships with everyone, leaning toward whichever force was strongest, always finding a way to survive no matter how he was pressed.
Therefore, one could cooperate with him, but never fully trust him.
Yao Ying said with a smile: “I understand. Your Majesty has agreed to nothing, and I haven’t met Your Majesty today.”
A flash of sharp intelligence crossed Yuchi Damo’s eyes.
Their eyes met, both understanding the other’s meaning.
“I hear the Princess is recruiting righteous armies, hiring merchant caravans, ransoming Hexi people sold into slavery…” Yuchi Damo said, “If there’s anything I can help with, the Princess can send word through Fourth Brother Yang.”
This meant she should contact him through Yang Qian.
Yao Ying nodded.
Yang Qian puffed up his chest and said: “I will take good care of the Princess!”
Yuchi Damo’s expression softened somewhat.
They discussed some matters about secretly training troops and passing messages, while outside the tent music played and dancing continued.
After some time, several whistles sounded outside the tent.
Yang Qian’s eyes signaled to Yao Ying that it was time to leave.
Yao Ying rose to take her leave, then as if suddenly remembering something, lowered her head and took out a small, smooth piece of jade from her sleeve, handing it to Yuchi Damo.
Yuchi Damo took the stone, his expression changing drastically as he jerked his head up, eyes wide, hands trembling slightly.
Yao Ying said softly: “Recently, my guards traveling along the Great Sea Road found some Northern Rong people pursuing a brother and sister. They intervened to save them. This jade was the young lady’s ornament.”
Yuchi Damo clenched his fists, his whole body shaking.
“Please rest assured, Your Majesty, they will be sent to the royal court and receive the best care. No one knows their identity. Lady Yina’s side probably thinks they died on the Great Sea Road.”
Yao Ying finished speaking and turned to leave.
“Princess.”
Yuchi Damo’s voice came from behind.
“Why is the Princess only telling me this now?”
Yao Ying turned back.
Yuchi Damo’s eyes narrowed as he carefully studied her expression in the dim light.
This piece of jade was his daughter’s – he couldn’t be mistaken.
Either Yina had wanted to kill his son and daughter and Princess Wenzhao had saved them, or the Princess had deliberately intercepted Yina’s people and saved the siblings to persuade him to agree to the alliance, framing Yina… Whatever the truth, he would rather his children be sent to the Buddha’s Son’s royal court.
When the children were sent away, he had thought he would never see them again in this life.
Why hadn’t Princess Wenzhao told him their whereabouts earlier after saving them?
Yao Ying smiled slightly, “Your Majesty’s bearing is so impressive that when I first saw you, I didn’t immediately recall.”
She had indeed sent people to save Yuchi Damo’s children, planning to use this to move him and reduce his concerns. However, mentioning the siblings right away would have seemed more like blackmail, so she hadn’t brought it up.
Whether Yuchi Damo agreed or not, the children had been saved, and she wouldn’t send them back to Lady Yina. It made no difference when she told him.
Yuchi Damo and Yang Qian hadn’t forgotten their homeland – this was admirable, and she was willing to show her sincerity.
Yao Ying turned and walked out.
Yuchi Damo gazed at her retreating figure, lost in thought for a moment.
As Yang Qian had said, he longed to restore connections with the Central Plains and escape their current situation of being bullied and trampled. Princess Wenzhao had come from the Central Plains and gained the Buddha’s Son’s favor – even without her asking, he would have taken the initiative to curry favor with her. However, he hadn’t wanted to expose his thoughts and had worried the Princess might be a delicate woman who only knew how to cry, so he had waited to meet her before deciding.
Now, a strong intuition suddenly rose in his heart – this risk would bring rewards far beyond his expectations.
…
Yao Ying walked out of the felt tent with Yang Qian beside her.
As they walked, they spoke quietly. Yao Ying said, “Tomorrow I’ll have Old Qi send some things to Fourth Brother’s residence for recruiting more righteous soldiers.”
Yang Qian nodded in agreement. He wasn’t skilled at managing affairs, and these years he had sold fields and estates to support the righteous army, sometimes running short. The Princess’s help would resolve his urgent needs.
The corridor was pitch dark, with only a soft layer of light from the hall’s flickering candles on the ground.
Several masked Hu women lifted their skirts as they passed through the corridor, chattering about something.
Yao Ying vaguely heard her title and paused, listening carefully.
“The Zhang family’s young lady’s twelve-colored dress was so beautiful today – where was the fabric from?”
“It must be fabric brought by the royal court merchants! They say Princess Wenzhao wore a twelve-colored dress when she danced for the Buddha’s Son. When she danced, the dress spread out like a blooming flower…”
“Yes, what Princess Wenzhao wore…”
The Hu women ran off giggling.
In the corner, Yao Ying’s lips twitched slightly.
Yang Qian stood beside her, scratching his head, his gaze bright as he asked softly: “Princess, are the rumors true?”
Yao Ying shook her head: “The Buddha’s Son protects me because of his compassionate nature, it has nothing to do with the rumors.”
She could guess Yang Qian’s thoughts – his heart set on rebellion, he wanted to persuade her to use her relationship with Tanmolouqie to get the royal court to send troops against the Northern Rong.
Disappointment showed slightly on Yang Qian’s face. The Buddha’s Son had proclaimed to all under heaven, and his sisters at home discussed the Buddha’s Son and the Princess daily – he had thought the rumors were true.
As the two turned a corner, a tall figure stood there, jade-green eyes sweeping over Yao Ying and Yang Qian, gaze sharp as a blade.
Yao Ying went to meet him.