Ye Xiao was waiting for him. When he came out, Ye Xiao hurried forward to meet him, reporting that just a short time ago they had captured a spy sent by Baole Kingdom. Under interrogation, the spy had confessed that Baole’s king Tuo Gan was extremely wary of the Wulei Governor’s Office. Besides dispatching spies to gather information about the situation here, he was also actively requesting weapons and horses from the Dongdi Grand Commandant, and appeared to be planning an attack on Wulei in the near future.
The spy was of low rank, and that was all they had managed to extract from him—nothing else had been obtained for the moment. But this piece of information was critical, and it corroborated what Li Xuandu’s previously sent scouts had gathered.
An advance outpost of Baole Kingdom used to station troops had recently been seeing the accumulation of at least several thousand men, and in the past few days the signs suggested that the numbers were continuing to build.
Li Xuandu ordered that the Left and Right Marshals be summoned to the council hall. Zhang Shishan and Zhang Zhuo arrived quickly, heard Ye Xiao’s account, and Zhang Zhuo said: “The captured Shache crown prince confessed that the reason Shache chose to attack Yutan at that time was because it was Tuo Gan’s instruction. Tuo Gan gave them a considerable quantity of bows, blades, and horses. Tuo Gan wanted to destroy Yutan and isolate Your Highness—and now that his clever scheme has come to nothing, naturally he is desperate and cornered.”
Zhang Shishan continued: “Tuo Gan was nothing but a subject of Baole Kingdom—he was placed on the throne by the Dongdi, and it is by relying on the Dongdi that he has kept his seat. He is completely devoted to the Dongdi. The Dongdi Grand Commandant is extremely greedy—over the years, in addition to imposing heavy taxes, he has constantly demanded additional grain and fodder from Baole Kingdom, forcing corvée labor, and in the frozen winter months, his cavalry would enter Baole’s borders every now and then demanding to be fed and quartered—this was as commonplace as daily meals. From what I know, Baole Kingdom’s people have suffered greatly from exploitation these years and are deeply resentful of Tuo Gan. The year before last, when Tuo Gan went out on a journey, he encountered a popular uprising and nearly lost his life. When Your Highness first arrived and established the Governor’s Office, he was uncertain of the situation and dared not come at us directly. Now that the Yutan scheme has failed, he cannot sit still—he is likely to make a move. Our Governor’s Office must be on strict alert.”
As he spoke, he recalled the attack that had struck here many years before. The scene from that day was vivid in his memory, and his eyes grew heavy with grief.
Ye Xiao then rose and said: “Your Highness, I am willing to take men into Baole Kingdom and rescue the Crown Prince as soon as possible.”
Zhang Zhuo immediately competed: “I’ll go! Deputy Governor Ye, you are a newlywed—it would be better for you to stay and keep your wife company!”
Ye Xiao replied: “Let me go. Right Marshal, you stay and follow His Highness’s order—lead our brothers in defending the Governor’s Office!”
Zhang Zhuo shook his head: “Deputy Governor Ye, your rank is already higher than mine—why compete with me for this merit? Go back home and hold your new bride properly. I’ll go!”
Zhang Shishan then also stood up and said: “If Your Highness trusts me with this, I am willing to take charge. I have been to Baole’s capital Yan City several times and know the location where the Crown Prince is held—I can devise a plan to rescue him. What is more, I can speak the local language, unlike them—strangers in an unfamiliar place, moving about will not be easy.”
Li Xuandu raised one hand, silencing the clamor, and said: “I will go myself. Left Marshal Zhang will accompany me.”
Zhang Shishan immediately accepted the order.
Ye Xiao and Zhang Zhuo both jumped to their feet, speaking at exactly the same moment: “No!”
Zhang Zhuo had been competing with Ye Xiao for the assignment out of a desire for glory, but now hearing Li Xuandu say this, he was immediately alarmed.
He said: “That day I heard clearly—even the old Yutan King himself said that if his son comes back, good; if he truly cannot come back, he bears no grudge! Leave this to us—whether it is the Deputy Governor or myself, we will do our best. Your Highness, how can you put yourself in danger? Even the old King, if he knew, would certainly not agree!”
Li Xuandu smiled: “This is something I promised the Yutan King. He may not hold a grudge, but how can I go back on my word?”
He looked at Ye Xiao and Zhang Zhuo: “You two stay behind together and guard the Governor’s Office. The matter is settled!”
Rescuing the Crown Prince was no easy task to begin with—especially now that Tuo Gan was on guard. The difficulty had only grown greater. Leaving aside the danger, even getting the person out would be no simple thing. That was precisely why Ye Xiao had been unwilling to leave it in Zhang Zhuo’s hands and had put himself forward. Now hearing that Prince Qin himself planned to go, how could he possibly agree?
“Your Highness, forgive your subordinate—it is not that I refuse to follow Your Highness’s command. It is simply that this cannot be arranged this way! I beg Your Highness to reconsider! Your Highness is worth ten thousand lives and must not put yourself at risk!”
Li Xuandu asked: “If this were a battlefield engagement and I wished to lead troops, would you also consider it inadvisable on grounds of danger?”
Ye Xiao paused, and for a moment could find no answer.
“An old saying goes: ‘How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lair?’ I have long wanted to go into Baole in person to probe their strength. Furthermore…”
His expression grew grave.
“The Yutan King is a man of integrity, and Yutan is one of the rare kingdoms along the Western Regions route that has long remained steadfast without wavering, always standing on the side of our Li Dynasty. What is more, now that our strength is still weak, he does not calculate consequences—he agrees without hesitation to lend us his support. How can I allow him to lose his eldest son because of me? In rescuing the Crown Prince of Yutan, I am not rescuing one man—I am rescuing righteousness itself. I want those kingdoms that sit on the fence to see clearly: our Governor’s Office keeps its word and follows through on its commitments.”
“This mission must succeed. It cannot fail.”
“Do you all understand?”
Ye Xiao, Zhang Shishan, and Zhang Zhuo heard him out. A look of deep respect came over their faces. After a silence, they all replied together with reverence: “Your subordinates understand!”
Li Xuandu nodded: “I have little time left before Tuo Gan makes his move. I must rescue the Crown Prince before Tuo Gan’s attack comes, so that Yutan has no remaining worries—I will set out tomorrow.”
He needed to work out the details of tomorrow’s departure with Zhang Shishan, and arrange with Ye Xiao and Zhang Zhuo the coming defenses of Wulei. By the time tonight’s business was done, there was no knowing what hour it would be…
Li Xuandu suddenly thought of the woman in the rear quarters who might still be waiting for him to return. He glanced at the sky outside the window, walked out, and said a word to Zhang Ting, who was standing guard at the door—telling him to go pass a message to the Princess Consort that she need not wait for him tonight and should rest on her own.
The sky grew gradually darker.
Pu Zhu continued to wait for him. She waited until deep in the night, until at last he came back.
He looked at her. His expression showed a trace of guilt. He gathered her slender, graceful form into his arms and told her he would be leaving again in the morning. This time he was going to Baole Kingdom’s capital, Yan City—to bring back the Yutan Crown Prince who was being held there as a hostage.
She was silent, saying nothing.
Li Xuandu dipped his head and kissed her smooth forehead, quietly coaxing her: “Shuzhu, I know you are unhappy—it is not that I do not want to stay with you. Coming back only to leave again like this—I know. But this matter is of the utmost importance. The Crown Prince cannot be put at any risk; he must be brought back. This task will not be easy, and that is precisely why I have decided to go myself.”
Pu Zhu let him draw her into his arms and coax her in every way, without making a sound.
Li Xuandu grew a little anxious. He loosened his hold on her and studied her expression in the lamplight: “You haven’t really gone and gotten angry, have you?”
Pu Zhu lifted her head and finally spoke: “Your Highness, are you aware that in Baole Kingdom there is a female chieftain of the Frost clan?”
Li Xuandu was caught off guard. He had not expected this sudden question. Then he realized she did not seem to be actually angry, and quietly let out a breath. “I know—Zhang Shishan mentioned her before. He said the Frost clan is an old aristocratic family of Baole Kingdom. The current chieftain is a woman—shrewd and capable, with an iron hand, and immensely wealthy. Her power is enormous. Though she has retired from public affairs, one-third of Baole Kingdom’s soldiers still come from the Frost clan. The Dongdi originally intended to put her on the throne as Baole’s ruler, but she refused—and so it fell to Tuo Gan instead.”
“Why do you ask? Why this sudden question?”
Pu Zhu said: “Your Highness, have you considered bringing this Frost clan female chieftain over to your side?”
Li Xuandu was taken aback again, then burst out laughing: “If she could be won over, I would naturally welcome it. But that is simply not possible. I have heard the female chieftain’s methods toward her enemies are brutal; she also harbors deep hatred toward our Li Dynasty. Her position in Baole Kingdom is so entrenched that even Tuo Gan is wary of her. How could she possibly defect to me? Besides, I have no prior connection with the female chieftain—even if I had the intention, I would have no way in.”
“You need not overthink things. Rest assured—I will certainly come back safely.”
Li Xuandu raised his hand and gently stroked her hair in reassurance.
Pu Zhu shook her head. Her long hair, hanging at her shoulders, swayed like ripples on water: “Your Highness, listen to me—I am not overthinking. I genuinely believe it is worth trying. What you just said reminded me of something. My father’s journal mentioned this Frost clan female chieftain—she and my father were acquainted. When he was on his mission through the Western Regions, it seems he once saved the female chieftain’s life. She wished to repay him, but my father declined at the time.”
Li Xuandu was startled again. He looked at her: “Are you certain?”
Pu Zhu nodded: “It is true. The journal was vague on the details, but judging by my father’s words, the female chieftain is not a barbaric person. If I have understood it correctly, reading between the lines, my father actually had a rather high regard for her.”
“So I have an idea, Your Highness: why not first write her a letter and try to win the Frost clan female chieftain over? See how she responds. If she still remembers my father’s life-saving act from years ago, if she can see right from wrong and return to the fold of righteousness, would Your Highness not find everything far easier—whether rescuing the Crown Prince or making a move on Baole Kingdom?”
Having said all this, she noticed Li Xuandu was mulling it over in silence, and quickly added: “Your Highness, do not misread my intentions—I am not doubting Your Highness’s capabilities. I simply think that if we can achieve victory without shedding a drop of blood, and win with the smallest cost possible, why wouldn’t we?”
Li Xuandu looked at her, smiled, and shook his head: “Shuzhu, you are right. If the female chieftain is willing to return to the Li Dynasty again, I would welcome it more than anything. I will go write the letter at once.”
He went to the front council hall. Pu Zhu went with him. The two of them arrived, pushed open the door, and went in. After lighting the candles, she ground the ink for him and handed him the brush. Then she stood at his side, watching as he set his brush to paper and in one continuous flow wrote the letter from beginning to end. He gestured for her to sit down and, spreading the letter open, showed it to her: “Look it over—are there any additions or deletions to be made?”
Pu Zhu sat down on his lap, leaning back against him, and read through the letter from beginning to end. She thought for a moment, then took the brush from his hand, dipped it in ink, and at the very end beside his signature added a few characters: “Written also with reverence by the junior niece of the Pu clan, Shuzhu.” She set down the brush and tilted her head back to look up at him.
Li Xuandu’s calligraphy was bold and sweeping—vigorous and unfettered. Her calligraphy was graceful and elegant—fluid and lively. The two signatures set side by side were a perfect match, pleasing to the eye.
Li Xuandu glanced at the line she had added, and seeing her tilt her face up toward him, he smiled quietly and said, “What a clever little Pu Shuzhu, always knowing how to play to advantage!” He then took his private seal, had her hold it, and with his hand over hers, pressed the seal together with her at the end of the letter. Once the ink had dried, he sent someone to summon Zhang Shishan.
Zhang Shishan had been making preparations for the departure the next day, but the moment he received word that Prince Qin was summoning him, he hurried over. Seeing the Princess Consort was also present, he quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
Li Xuandu asked him if he knew where the Frost clan female chieftain was located.
Zhang Shishan nodded: “I know. The female chieftain lives in the Frost clan city, a little over a hundred li from Yan City. In the city there is an enormous fortress—legend has it the interior is like a labyrinth. It is said that enemies who once broke in were trapped inside, unable to find their way out for seven days and seven nights, and in the end died of hunger and thirst within its walls. Traveling from here, if you press on day and night, three or four days should be enough to get there.”
Li Xuandu told him that for the time being the original plan to set out the next morning was cancelled. Instead, he handed him the letter—sealed with red wax—and ordered him to take a few reliable men and set out together, delivering the letter secretly and as swiftly as possible to Frost clan city. He also instructed him that if the other party refused to accept it, there was no need to press—return immediately and prioritize safety above all.
Zhang Shishan, though not entirely sure of the purpose, followed the Prince’s instructions and carefully put the letter away. He then withdrew.
Knowing the letter was urgent, he set off that very night with a few men on swift horses, heading for Frost clan city—traveling through wind and rough weather, eating and sleeping on the road. Three days later, he arrived.
Frost clan city was not large, but under the Frost clan female chieftain’s governance, it was densely populated and its markets thriving. Along the narrow streets on both sides were goods from east and west: porcelain and white silk from the Central Plains; gold-plated plates and fat-bellied jugs from Kangju; rugs, camel-hair cloth, and sable furs from Persia; spices from India—a glittering abundance of everything, with merchants of every skin tone and hair color leading horses and camels throughout.
Having been here for nearly a decade, Zhang Shishan was naturally comfortable with the language. Disguised as a merchant, he located the Frost clan fortress, knocked on the gate, and following his instructions, said he carried a letter from a descendant of the Pu clan to pass along to the female chieftain, and asked them to please announce his presence.
The doorman was arrogant and looked him up and down before ordering him to wait, then shut the door.
When the door opened again, a man who looked like a steward—dressed in fine, elaborate clothing—came out, took the letter from him, told him to wait, and hurried inside.
Zhang Shishan waited for a long time. At last the door opened a third time. The steward came out once more—without a reply letter. He said only: “The Frost Madam commands you to pass the message: she trusts no one but herself. She wants to see the Pu woman first. Tell your master to bring her. Other matters to be discussed upon meeting.” With that, he tossed out a small pouch of gold leaves, and the door shut again.
The delivery of this letter had gone smoothly, all things considered.
Zhang Shishan set out on the return journey that same day, and several days later hurried back to Wulei.
When he arrived, Li Xuandu, Ye Xiao, Zhang Zhuo, and Yutan Crown Prince Wei Chishengde—who had arrived with a portion of his troops some days before—were all together in the hall discussing matters. When they saw him return, everyone fell silent.
He dared not delay and immediately recounted the whole process of delivering the letter and receiving the verbal reply, presenting the small pouch of gold leaves as well.
Li Xuandu listened, and his brows gradually drew together.
Ye Xiao and Zhang Zhuo already knew that the Princess Consort’s father had an old connection with the Frost clan female chieftain, and that Prince Qin had changed his plans to first send her a letter to try to win her over. These past few days they had both been watching eagerly for news. Now hearing the verbal reply come back, Zhang Zhuo grabbed the small pouch, untied it, and poured the gold leaves out with a clatter onto the table—several dozen of them, gleaming golden—and his eyes widened in astonishment: “The Western Regions really do hide remarkable people! Even an old woman—her generosity is extraordinary!” Having scattered all the gold leaves, he turned and said: “Your Highness, since that old woman trusts no one but the Princess Consort, send the Princess Consort to her quickly! If the Princess Consort can talk her around into joining our side, never mind rescuing a person or two—even going to take Yan City would be a great deal easier!”
He was a rough man, but not a foolish one.
War meant deaths. The more grueling the battle, the more men would die.
Before, luck had been with them and the dead had been the enemy. Who could say that next time the luck would not run out and the turn would come to comrades or himself?
The Baole Kingdom they now had to deal with was a truly formidable enemy—nothing like Shushu, Yumi, or Pishan, which could not even be compared to it. The Governor’s Office still had little foundation—in a direct clash, even adding Yutan and Shushu together, the disparity in forces would be glaring.
That didn’t mean victory was impossible—but the price of winning would not be light.
Now that such an opportunity had presented itself, it was naturally a wonderful thing.
The gazes of all present turned toward Li Xuandu at the head of the table. The council hall fell suddenly quiet.
The Frost clan female chieftain’s reply was an unexpected twist that Li Xuandu had not foreseen.
When he had sent the letter, he had anticipated two possible responses from her.
Either she had no interest at all—in which case, that was that. He would proceed with his original plan.
Or, if she had some inclination to make contact, naturally he would go in person to meet her face to face.
He had not expected the female chieftain to respond in this way.
He was silent for a moment, had just opened his mouth to speak, when a woman’s voice came in through the doorway: “Your Highness, I am willing to make the trip to Frost clan city!”
Li Xuandu looked up. He saw her push the door and enter.
Though Zhang Ting and Shen Qiao were standing guard outside, when she wished to enter, the two of them naturally would not stop her.
Li Xuandu’s expression shifted slightly, and he said at once: “That is out of the question. If she had any intention, she should be calling on me—I would go and meet her myself. She has deliberately avoided me and demanded you come instead. Her motives are suspect. Consider the matter closed. We proceed with the original plan.”
His tone carried a hint of sharpness.
Ye Xiao, hearing Prince Qin speak thus, quietly let out a sigh of relief.
He held the same view—he was not willing to let the Princess Consort take this risk.
Over there, Wei Chishengde also rose to his feet: “Your Highness speaks correctly. Though I have never met that female chieftain, I have heard she is no good person!”
Zhang Zhuo, who just a moment ago had been urging the Prince to quickly send the Princess Consort off, only now finally thought about her safety. His ears burned with embarrassment, and he quickly reversed himself, saying sheepishly: “Right, right—I was stupid just now, speaking without thinking…”
After Li Xuandu refused her, as if sensing something, he looked over at her, and his tone became gentler: “I still have matters here to attend to. Go back to the rear quarters for now.”
Pu Zhu said nothing more—yet she did not leave either. She remained standing at the doorway, looking at him.
He said nothing further either.
The two of them stood facing each other like that, looking at one another, both holding their lips firmly closed.
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
The remaining men exchanged glances.
Ye Xiao said he had other matters to attend to. Zhang Shishan said he was tired from traveling and wanted to rest. Wei Chishengde said he was going to check on the placement of the men he had brought. And finally, Zhang Zhuo, holding it in for a long while, said he desperately needed to relieve himself. One by one, they each found an excuse and slipped out.
In that vast council hall, only Li Xuandu and Pu Zhu remained.