Lead clouds hung low as the northern wind bit sharply, and goose-feather snow drifted everywhere, covering the ground in crystalline jade.

The Gaochang royal city was shrouded in a blanket of silver white.

Drum beats echoed as the city gates opened. A merchant caravan composed of camel and horse trains slowly moved out through the gate passage. Several large carts were loaded with goods, while Hu guards wearing felt hats and curved sabers patrolled both sides of the formation on horseback.

Yao Ying wore a snow-white cloak and boots, with a thick brocade-edged felt hat on her head and a windproof mask covering her face. Wrapped tightly from head to toe, she rode a jet-black steed, following distantly at the rear of the group. Exiting the city gate, she surveyed the scene – before she stretched an endless expanse of snow-covered plains.

The fierce wind howled as the caravan left the royal city, pressing forward against the wind and snow along the broad snowy path.

Yao Ying reined in her horse on high ground, her gaze searching all around until she found Su Dangu’s figure.

He rode alone at the very front of the group, far from everyone else. His black robes fluttered as his tall, straight silhouette stood cold and solitary, like a single magnificent peak among thousands of mountains.

Watching his cold, distant figure, Yao Ying felt that strange sensation well up in her heart again.

Since two nights ago, Su Dangu hadn’t spoken a single word to her.

When she needed to discuss matters with him, each time Yuanjue had to relay the messages.

Yesterday, wanting to speak with Su Dangu, she deliberately waited until nightfall, standing until her feet ached. Finally encountering him in the front corridor, she had just approached when he gave her a cold glance and walked away.

He wasn’t deliberately avoiding her – it was more like he suddenly didn’t recognize her anymore, his gaze cold as frost and snow when he looked at her.

Yao Ying stood rooted to the spot, completely bewildered.

Yuanjue’s smile was awkward as he tugged at the corner of his mouth, explaining that the Regent had always been this way, asking her not to take it to heart.

Yao Ying had smiled then, not asking further.

Yuanjue was lying.

Su Dangu wasn’t usually like this. Though he appeared cold and indifferent, ignoring everyone, whenever someone in the group faced danger, he would certainly step in to help. Even knowing she was testing his identity when she was sick, he still took careful care of her, tolerating her various small schemes, and urging her to take medicine. When she asked him for guidance, he patiently explained everything, holding nothing back.

He was like a towering snow peak on the horizon – silent and wordless, often disappearing in the sweeping dust, mist, and wind-blown snow, but she knew he was always there. No matter when she looked back, she could always see his tall, straight figure standing there, giving her an incomparable sense of security.

How could such a person suddenly change so drastically in temperament?

Yao Ying drew her cloak tighter, carefully thinking back. It seemed that night when she went to find Su Dangu in his room, he was already somewhat different.

Though cold then, at least he was willing to converse with her.

These past two days she had been busy as a spinning top, coming and going between the palace, Yang residence, and market districts, meeting wave after wave of people, reminding Old Qi to check the goods. Finally last night she had handled the most urgent matters. When she told Yuanjue they could return to the royal court, he let out a light sigh, showing an expression of relief.

Yao Ying understood – Yuanjue was as eager as she was to return to the royal city.

The reason wasn’t hard to guess: Su Dangu was too strange, perhaps only returning to the royal city would restore him.

The wind howled as her steed gave several impatient neighs. Yao Ying emerged from her deep thoughts, leaning down to pat the horse’s neck in reassurance.

She was waiting for someone.

Before long, the sound of galloping hooves came from the direction of the royal city as Yang Qian rode up on a chestnut horse.

“Princess!” Before his horse had fully stopped, he let go of the reins and cupped his hands toward Yao Ying, taking out a jewel-encrusted dagger. “Please accept this.”

Yao Ying recognized this as the dagger Yang Qian usually wore at his waist.

“This was left to you by your father?”

Yang Qian held out the dagger, declaring in a clear voice: “Father instructed me that if I could return to Central Plains one day, I should present this dagger to the emperor on his behalf, telling the emperor that even though he was forced to wear Hu clothing, speak Hu language, and follow Hu customs, he never forgot his homeland – in life or death, he remained a son of the Yang family of Hexi.”

He looked into Yao Ying’s eyes, his expression solemn.

“Today I present this dagger to the Princess.”

Yao Ying showed slight surprise.

Before she could voice her refusal, Yang Qian thrust both hands forward, his gaze blazing: “Princess, please keep this dagger for me. When I escort you back to Central Plains and recover Hexi, you can bestow it upon me again. I don’t know who the emperor of Central Plains is, or whether the great noble families of Chang’an still remember us displaced people. I only know that Princess Wenzhao is a comrade who fights alongside me!”

In the swirling snow, the pale daylight cast a faint glow on his young, determined face. Two flames seemed to burn fiercely in his eyes.

Passionate, resolute.

A surge of warmth flowed through Yao Ying’s heart. She removed her mask as bright laughter gradually spilled from her brows and eyes, like a trembling peony slowly opening its petals, radiating brilliant beauty.

She accepted the dagger, laughing: “Good! When we return to Central Plains, I must share a great drink with Fourth Brother!”

Yang Qian laughed heartily: “My capacity is as vast as rivers and seas – ten thousand cups of wine! When the time comes, Princess, don’t complain that I drink too much!”

“Is that a promise?”

“It’s a promise!”

They exchanged smiles and clapped hands.

Yang Qian gathered the reins, saying: “The King cannot come to see the Princess off – please forgive him.”

Yao Ying’s heart stirred. She glanced at the distant caravan and instinctively lowered her voice to ask: “Fourth Brother, do you know what alliance the King and the envoy from the royal court have reached?”

Su Dangu and Yuchi Damo must have met – what had they exchanged, what had they agreed to? Why was Yuchi Damo so secretive, keeping even Yang Qian in the dark?

Yang Qian shook his head, his gaze flickering twice as he also lowered his voice: “I asked the King, but he didn’t reveal a single word. Shall I ask him again? Is this matter of great importance?”

Yao Ying smiled: “I was just curious – Fourth Brother need not take it to heart.”

Yang Qian made a sound of acknowledgment and looked into the distance, his gaze falling on the personal guards waiting not far away.

The Princess had too few personal guards. He had chosen thirty household troops to serve as her guards – to avoid drawing attention, those household troops had to disguise themselves as self-sold slaves.

He had originally wanted to send more people to serve the Princess, but Yuchi Damo warned him that would arouse Lady Yina’s suspicion, so he had to abandon the idea.

Yang Qian clasped his hands tightly, saying in a deep voice: “Princess, right now Gaochang cannot protect you – you can only return to the Buddha’s Son’s royal court to await news. But please rest assured, I am secretly training volunteer forces, and each family’s household troops have been deployed to various tribes. When the time is right, the King can take back royal authority without anyone knowing, detaining Lady Yina. At that time, I will personally go to the royal court to bring you back. As soon as Zhang Jiu sends back news, we can set out for Central Plains.”

Yao Ying lowered her head to secure the dagger, smiling lightly: “Fourth Brother need not worry about me – I have personal guards for protection. Though our plan hasn’t gone wrong yet, we can’t guarantee Lady Yina won’t notice anything amiss. You and King Yuchi must be cautious.”

Yang Qian nodded in agreement, saying with slight dissatisfaction: “Damo is more cautious than anyone.”

Yao Ying didn’t respond to this.

Yang Qian was full of passionate fervor, desperate to rebel against the Northern Rong immediately and lead the volunteer army back to the Central Plains. He didn’t realize that with Gaochang’s current strength, raising the banner of rebellion would be like eggs striking stone – before they could escape Gaochang, the Northern Rong would send cavalry to intercept and kill them.

What they needed to do now was quietly build up strength while learning the Northern Rong’s troop deployments in various locations, continuously send messengers to contact Central Plains, deliver news as soon as possible, and then wait for the right opportunity.

The two discussed some trivial matters like how to maintain communication, recruit and train volunteer forces, and relocate the Hexi refugees scattered among various tribes, before waving goodbye.

The young man and woman – one relieved of a heavy burden and closer to the goal of returning to Central Plains, one seeing hope and more determined to lead her people east – were both filled with dreams of the future. Their eyes sparkled with vibrant spirit, without a trace of melancholy or sadness at parting.

Yao Ying gathered the reins, lightly kicking her horse’s belly. The steed galloped down the hillside at full speed.

Suddenly a clear, resonant sound rang out behind her.

Yao Ying looked back.

Yang Qian had somehow produced a pipa from his chest. He straightened his back and swept his fingers across the strings, producing a passionate sound like striking metal and stone.

Against the wind and snow, Yao Ying lay low on horseback, waving to Yang Qian as he played the pipa. With a radiant smile, she galloped away, her horse’s black mane like dark clouds, her snow-white cloak fluttering wildly.

Yang Qian watched her departing figure, his heart surging with heroic emotion as his fingers flew up and down, the pipa’s sound growing increasingly passionate and joyous.

Since childhood, he had been determined to recover his homeland, resolved even unto death. His family mocked him, friends ridiculed him, and elders shook their heads and sighed when they saw him… Now, he had finally met a friend who could understand his ambitions and aspirations.

The clattering pipa tune, like urgent rain, carried through the raging wind and snow, spreading far across the boundless snowy plains.

People in the caravan turned their heads curiously to look.

On the hillside, the nobleman in fine brocade clothes held his pipa, sending off his princess with a bold and passionate rendition of “The Song of Liangzhou.”

The Han and Hu people in the caravan all knew this tune. Hearing the familiar melody, they broke into smiles and softly hummed along.

Yuanjue looked around, letting out a light snort and rolling his eyes skyward.

Hoofbeats rang crisp and clear as snow splashed.

Yao Ying galloped at full speed, catching up to the caravan surrounded by her guards, approaching his side.

Yuanjue hurriedly composed himself, putting on a stern face.

Yao Ying didn’t slow down, galloping straight past him toward Su Dangu at the very front of the group.

Yuanjue froze for a moment before squeezing his horse’s belly to quickly follow.

Yao Ying pulled her reins tight, catching up to Su Dangu to ride beside him.

“General Su!”

She called out softly, her voice light and cheerful.

Su Dangu lowered his gaze, a thin layer of snow on his mask.

“General Su, why haven’t we seen the Buddha’s Son’s eagle today?”

Yao Ying looked up at him, making conversation. Having just galloped all the way here without her mask, her face was flushed from the wind, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath, her bright eyes sparkling.

Su Dangu remained silent, his jade eyes cold.

Yuanjue caught up to them, staring unblinkingly at Su Dangu to observe his reaction. His expression was tense, shoulders rigid, his right hand hovering stiffly over the sword at his waist.

Su Dangu moved slightly.

Yuanjue immediately gripped his sword, lips pressed tightly together, ready to spring into action at any moment.

Su Dangu turned his horse around and spurred it forward, leaving Yao Ying behind.

These days of interaction seemed like just a dream – to him, she was nothing but a stranger.

Yao Ying watched Su Dangu’s retreating figure without pursuing him.

Yuanjue let out a soft sigh of relief.

Yao Ying suddenly turned back, sweeping him with a glance. Her dark eyes were calm but scrutinizing.

Yuanjue felt his hair stand on end, scalp tingling. Clumsily grabbing his reins, he turned away, making a show of ordering the personal guards to stay alert.

After a long while, feeling Yao Ying’s gaze move away, he patted his chest in lingering fear.

The Princess was truly worthy of her title – that was terrifying just now.

…

The journey back to the royal court was peaceful and uneventful.

Passing the place where they had previously encountered bandits, Yao Ying had Xie Qing and others stay extra vigilant. The caravan members remembered this location and all drew their swords.

In the end, they didn’t encounter a single person, passing safely through the drifting dunes.

Yao Ying thought to herself: The bandits must have truly been frightened by Su Dangu and sought other ways to make a living.

Thinking of this, she looked around.

Su Dangu had disappeared somewhere.

Yao Ying frowned thoughtfully.

Leaving the uninhabited desert behind, other camel trains gradually appeared on the merchant road, occasional melodious camel bells carried on the wind.

That day, after the snow cleared, the bright sun shone high as brilliant rays of light reflected off the snowy plain.

The caravan traveled through the snow, stopping at a relay station to change horses when suddenly a joyful shout rang out from across the way.

Yao Ying dismounted and looked toward the sound.

In the sunlight, a tall, straight man walked toward her, removing his felt hat to reveal golden hair flying in the wind.

Behind her, Yuanjue excitedly went forward to meet him: “General Ashina!”