Na Zhan picked up a piece of pastry, took two sweet bites, and replied, “You’re a woman with a desire for power, but that desire includes responsibility and compassion for your people. You’re qualified to be queen.” He took another bite and continued, “Moreover, the desert is about to be engulfed in conflict. You’re connected to two of the forces involved. Do you think you can still avoid it?”
No one understood Huang Beishuang better than Na Zhan. This king, with his grand vision, deeply understood the feeling of governing for the people, and the willingness to sacrifice everything, just like her.
“Do you love me?” Huang Beishuang asked.
“No! You’re not my woman!” Na Zhan answered without hesitation.
“You won’t touch me?” she asked again.
“I won’t unless you initiate it,” he smiled.
“…” She fell silent.
“Agreed?”
“Agreed!”
There was no tenderness, yet there was an unspoken understanding between kindred spirits. Could a proposal be so plain? Was it because there was no love? With love, people become irrational and obsessed. Huang Beishuang looked at Na Zhan and smiled gently. In his presence, her mind was never blank.
I awake, for so many days, not seeing you, so I awoke because you weren’t in my dreams.
Drunk, for so many nights, not seeing you, so I got drunk because you weren’t by my side.
Cold wine on my lips, I know your pain still lingers,
So, I dare not even think of you…
Huang Beishuang, of the E’na Qi clan, titled Na Xiu. In the autumn of 331 CE, she entered Yunpei for a political marriage. Upon first sight, the King was pleased with her appearance and immediately bestowed the title of Frost Consort. Within four months, praising her wisdom, she was elevated to Empress in the Guanghan Palace and granted the title Guan Ying. In the deep winter of 331 CE, on the last day of the month, she was officially enthroned, and proclaimed to the world, with a great amnesty across three regions. Seven days later, to please her, the King brought over 7,000 people of the E’na Qi tribe from the Northern Desert, allocating them land and homes, earning a smile from the Empress.
The grand enthronement ceremony marked Huang Beishuang’s official entry onto the stage of desert history.
Give me long sleeves, and I shall dance gracefully!
If a person who has hurt another must also hurt themselves to find peace, it only shows an emotional dependency between the two. To maintain this dependency without dilution, people might do things they can’t understand, like Huang Beishuang now.
“Frost Consort, do you want to do this?” Ye Pei worriedly said, “What if someone sees? Won’t it become the laughingstock of the world?”
Huang Beishuang smiled, “Then let them laugh!” Her voice carried a hint of loneliness.
“Then I’ll do it!” Ye Pei nervously confirmed.
“Go ahead!”
“I’m doing it!” Ye Pei took a fine brush and dipped it in a small shell box on the tea table for a long time. The brush tip was stained with thick vermilion liquid, looking indescribably strange. She hesitated repeatedly before finally dotting a three-petal lotus on Huang Beishuang’s slender, lotus-white arm.
“Done. How does it feel?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Huang Beishuang carefully lowered her sleeve and said softly, “Silly girl, it’s not poison. How could it feel?”
Ye Pei sighed in relief, “To think such a thing exists in this world! Your servant is truly amazed!”
Huang Beishuang said, “Except for Mi Zan, women living in the chaotic yellow sands, where one woman marrying several men, or brothers sharing a wife, is normal, chastity isn’t very important. So no one would use the chastity mark!”
“His Majesty will be upset if he knows!” Ye Pei was very worried. “It would be terrible if people found out the queen is a virgin.”
“I’ll be careful not to let anyone find out, don’t worry! Besides, not everyone knows about the chastity mark.” Huang Beishuang smiled wryly, turning to look at the Jiema tree outside the window. It had grown taller. After spring, it would be full of white flowers.
By applying the chastity mark, was she trying to prove something? She didn’t know, only feeling an indescribable sense of hypocrisy and greed in her heart. She had never hated herself like this before.
“Zai Ping, bring me my flute!” Huang Beishuang walked to the window, lost in thought.
“The cold flute harms the spirit. Why don’t you rest well tonight?” Zai Ping replied.
Huang Beishuang sighed, “I can’t! I can’t calm down!”
“Why can’t you calm down?”
Unexpectedly, Na Zhan was already standing at the door, holding a chessboard. “If you can’t sleep, how about a game of chess?” He said, placing the board on the tea table.
Huang Beishuang was slightly stunned, “Your Majesty, I’m not good at chess!” Since becoming Empress, they had addressed each other as “you” and “I”.
Na Zhan smiled, “Don’t be too competitive! It’s just to relax. I’ll give you a three-piece advantage.” He had already set up the board, waiting for her to sit down.
Huang Beishuang sat down reluctantly, making the first move. “Your Majesty, aren’t you too confident? Giving me a three-piece advantage isn’t easy!”
With that, they both fell silent, focusing on the chessboard.
The room was very quiet. Two hours passed.
“How is it?” Na Zhan asked.