The person who just a moment ago had existed only in her longing had appeared at her side as if by miracle.

For an instant Pu Zhu almost believed she was dreaming, but very quickly that strong embrace and that familiar scent reminded her — this was no dream; it was real. While she was thinking of Li Xuandu and yearning for Li Xuandu, he had come.

A sound welled up from her throat — a muffled, indistinct sound that was part joy, part grievance, and part something like a soft whimper — and she stretched out both arms and held him.

The two of them held each other tightly in the dim darkness of the night. He closed his eyes and breathed in greedily, in secret, the faint fragrance of her hair and skin. She too closed her eyes, her face pressed against his chest, quietly listening to his heartbeat. After a moment, she suddenly came back to her senses. She lifted her head from his chest and gestured for him not to move. She slipped free, got out of bed, flew quickly to the window, leaned out half her body and looked outside. The moonlight was clear as water; all was still and quiet in every direction, with nothing out of the ordinary. She hurried to close the window tight, went back, and lit the lamp. She turned around — Li Xuandu had already half-reclined against the bed’s headboard, legs crossed, looking at her with a smile, his posture entirely relaxed.

The tension inside her immediately eased considerably, though thinking of the look of disgust that had crossed the chieftess’s face when she spoke of him, she still did not dare let her guard down completely. She quickly climbed back onto the bed, knelt beside him, and asked in a low voice: “How did you get in? They said you forced your way to the middle of the labyrinth and then retreated.”

Li Xuandu replied with a grin: “If one road is blocked, can I not find another?”

Pu Zhu was baffled and could not follow his meaning.

Seeing her mouth slightly agape in a confused expression, Li Xuandu casually remarked: “I changed course and climbed up from the rear.”

The rear?

Then at last it dawned on her.

He had climbed up from the cliff behind the stronghold?

She inhaled sharply and grabbed his hand, her eyes going wide in shock: “The cliff? Heavens! Are you all right?”

“If something had gone wrong, would I be here with you now?”

His expression was not only relaxed but seemed to carry a hint of smug satisfaction.

“I will admit the labyrinth at the front is no easy thing to navigate — no wonder the Shuang Clan has such confidence in it. But to think that a sheer cliff behind the stronghold is enough to make the back door completely impregnable — that is rather too complacent.”

Pu Zhu stared at him, her heart pounding wildly. The terror subsided, and suddenly a surge of anger took its place. Without thinking, she raised her hand and struck him hard.

“How could you do something like that! Were you not afraid…”

That particular word she ultimately could not bring herself to say aloud, and swallowed it back hard. Yet she was truly too furious to contain herself. Seeing him still smiling, she balled her hand into a fist and pounded him with all her might. For a moment, blows like a shower of raindrops fell upon his shoulders and chest, each one producing a thudding sound.

Li Xuandu dodged her. As he dodged, he laughed.

“You’re still laughing!”

Pu Zhu grew angrier still, and he laughed all the harder — finally collapsing with laughter onto the pillow. Then, glancing up, he happened to see that the corners of her eyes had gone red. He was startled and finally stopped, ceased laughing, let her land a few more blows on him without resisting, and suddenly caught her by one wrist. With a gentle tug he pulled her into his arms.

In a fit of pique she twisted her body, refusing to let him hold her. He circled his arms around her, trapping her tightly so she could not move, and explained: “Zhuzhu, do not worry. I really am unharmed. The cliff face looks precipitous, but there are actually many crevices that can be used as handholds and footholds. I also came prepared — I had rope tied to my body, with the other end connected to an iron piton. Every few steps up, I would drive the piton into a crack in the cliff, so that even if I happened to slip, I would not fall all the way to the bottom. I made thorough preparations before going up, and absolutely did not dare gamble with my life…”

He paused, looking at her steadily, and said softly: “I was afraid the chieftess might have done something harmful to you — that is why I was so eager to see you as quickly as possible…”

Pu Zhu gradually grew quiet. She thought it over but was still frightened: “Even so, what you did was still far too dangerous!”

“The labyrinth at the front — the area was simply too large. I tried for two days and managed to memorize only half the route. That chieftess was absolutely determined not to let me see you and even had people shoot arrows at me. I heard she has a ruthless streak — she once impaled enemies on stakes and planted them in the ground. I thought that if I kept forcing my way through, I had no idea how long I might have to wrestle with her. So I simply changed my approach.”

Moved, Pu Zhu leaned gently against his chest and murmured: “Lady Shuang is not entirely what you imagine her to be. If it were not for her efforts back then, my father’s remains might not even be known to exist today…”

She recounted the whole story. “She has some misunderstanding of you — that is why she has been so antagonistic toward you. I can tell she is not an unreasonable person; I will explain things properly to her. Do not be impatient.”

Li Xuandu held her and said nothing.

Pu Zhu rested quietly in his arms for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and asked: “Were you injured on the way up?”

Li Xuandu met that pair of beautiful eyes full of concern and felt a faint sweetness stir inside him. He shook his head, then let out a sigh.

“What is the matter?” Pu Zhu pressed immediately.

“I am just exhausted. When I first got up here, my hands were trembling and I could barely stand steady. I had to rest for a long time before I recovered. When I crept inside, this place had too many twists and turns everywhere. I searched for ages. I had to catch a night watchman before I could find out where you were lodging. It was truly maddening…”

He frowned, muttering his complaints in a low voice.

Pu Zhu hurried to have him lie back and helped him rub his arms and massage his legs. He leaned sideways against the headboard, enjoying the attention, while looking around the room, sweeping his eyes over the gleaming golden decorations.

“This looks quite nice — better than what we have at ours. It seems Lady Shuang truly does dote on you considerably. Are you perhaps reluctant to leave? Are you thinking of staying?” His tone seemed to carry just a hint of jealousy.

Pu Zhu immediately shook her head.

“I do not believe you.”

He raised an eyebrow and cast her a sideways glance, a hint of dark amusement lurking in his eyes.

Pu Zhu bit her lip, slowly climbed over to him, cupped his face in both hands, and pressed her lips to his of her own accord.

He closed his eyes, continuing to enjoy the moment — then suddenly pulled her into his arms, rolled her across the bed several times, and finally pressed her beneath him, kissing her deeply.

Just as Pu Zhu was growing dizzy and enchanted by his kiss, she suddenly heard a clamor outside, as though several people were running in their direction.

She was startled. She opened her eyes and saw light flickering at the window outside — the kind of light from torches — and then the chieftess’s voice came through: “Li Xuandu’s fourth son! Come out!”

Li Xuandu paused, still lying on top of her.

Pu Zhu suppressed the anxiety inside her and hurried to reassure him: “Do not worry. I will be with you!” She climbed out of bed, swiftly dressed, and went to open the door. Outside in the courtyard stood several dozen armed guards, torches blazing, lighting the surroundings bright as day.

The chieftess stood below the steps at the door, her face cold.

Pu Zhu steadied herself, had just called out “My Lady” when the chieftess walked in past her, pushing open the door.

Pu Zhu turned around. Li Xuandu was still sitting on the edge of the bed, bent forward pulling on his boots. Once he had them on, he stood, straightened his robe, walked to stand before the chieftess, and bowed with respect: “You must be the honored chieftess of the Shuang Clan. I have heard of your great name for a long time. Just a moment ago Zhuzhu herself spoke of you most admiringly before me on numerous occasions. She holds you in the deepest esteem. I am Li Xuandu. I give you my sincere thanks for taking care of her these past days. Tonight I have come to take her home, and to express my heartfelt gratitude to the chieftess in person.”

The chieftess paid no heed to what he had said. Her eyes, filled with deep wariness and suspicion, fixed on him coldly as she asked: “How did you get in?”

Li Xuandu said: “The chieftess may set her mind at ease. The labyrinth of the Shuang Clan stronghold truly lives up to its reputation. My own wits are dull — I could not navigate it, and I feared your arrows too much to dare force my way through again. I had no choice but to seek an alternative route in order to take Zhuzhu home.”

The chieftess’s suspicion deepened.

“I take the liberty of reminding the Lady that the rocky cliff at the rear of the stronghold would also benefit from some proper defensive precautions in the future.”

The chieftess’s expression underwent a dramatic change.

She had been roused from sleep just a short while ago and informed that one of the stronghold’s guards had been bound and gagged and was found collapsed on the ground unconscious. It had given her no small shock.

The stronghold had a labyrinth at the front and sheer cliffs at the rear — impregnable as walls of bronze and iron. In all the years since its founding, nothing like this had ever happened, and tonight an outsider had actually broken in. How could she not be alarmed?

Her instinct had told her immediately it was Li Xuandu’s doing, but she could not fathom how he had managed it.

It had never occurred to her that the rear cliff, which she had never worried about for a single moment, could also be stripped of its defensive significance — with him breaching it so openly and boldly.

If he had harbored a different purpose, the stronghold would by now perhaps have been in serious trouble.

For a moment a cold sweat broke out on her back. She said furiously: “You, surnamed Li — what do you think this place is? Come and go as you please?”

Pu Zhu hastily stepped forward: “My Lady, please calm your anger. My husband intends no disrespect whatsoever toward you…”

The chieftess cut her off coldly: “Zhuzhu, there is no need for you to speak on his behalf. He entered this stronghold without my permission — what respect is there in that, or lack of it? Nor can I be said to deserve his so-called respect. Even if he is of noble birth in the Li Dynasty, I am afraid I must give offense! Men — seize him!”

The armed guards in the courtyard surged inside at the command. Li Xuandu did not retreat but instead stepped forward. He drew Pu Zhu away from the chieftess’s side, moved to stand in front of her, and said: “Lady Shuang, I do not understand — might I first ask you one thing? For what reason have you chosen to detain my wife against her wishes, preventing a husband and wife from being reunited?”

The chieftess was momentarily at a loss for words. After a pause, her expression growing more and more displeased, she paid no attention to Li Xuandu and looked only at Pu Zhu: “Zhuzhu — can you truly overlook what your father suffered in those years, and make a life as husband and wife with this man of the Li family?”

Pu Zhu felt every word strike her to the heart. She bit down on her teeth and was just about to speak when Li Xuandu had already turned his head toward her and gave her a slight smile — indicating she need not explain. He then turned to the chieftess: “Lady Shuang, I heard from Zhuzhu how it was you who went to great lengths to recover her father’s remains. I was deeply moved by this. Zhuzhu’s father is as my own father. Your act of righteousness is, to me, a profound grace. I owe you my bow of thanks.”

He finished speaking, then raised the hem of his robe, knelt before the chieftess, and kowtowed with full formality and reverence.

Pu Zhu was stunned. She had not imagined that a man of his standing would kneel before the chieftess on account of her father.

The chieftess was also greatly surprised. She stared at Li Xuandu kowtowing before her, her expression stiffening somewhat. When he finished the rite and rose, she came back to herself, frowned, and was about to make another cutting remark, but he had already said: “Lady Shuang, what just passed was done in my capacity as a son-in-law — I bowed to thank you for the great kindness of laying my father-in-law to rest in those years. Whether you accept it or not is your prerogative; for my part, it was something I had to express. My thanks for that grace are given. Now I have something else to say.”

His manner shifted.

“Whether Zhuzhu is willing to be my wife — that is a matter between the two of us, and in truth requires no explanation to outsiders. But you, my Lady, are different. Not only do you owe a debt of kindness to the two of us, you also did on behalf of my Li imperial house something that should have been done long ago. I, Li Xuandu, hold you in deep respect, and so I am willing to lay open my heart before you. Zhuzhu knows me and is willing to be my wife. And before you, Lady Shuang, I can also declare my purpose clearly: one day, I, Li Xuandu, will not only bring back my father-in-law’s loyal spirit and remains, but I will follow the very road my father-in-law once walked, and complete the unfinished wish of his heart. I speak with sincerity, and heaven and earth are my witness!”

His every word landed with weight and resolution.

The chieftess looked at him. After standing in silence for a long moment, she said stiffly: “Li Xuandu’s fourth son — your words are fine and easy enough. What can you offer as guarantee?”

Li Xuandu replied: “I dare not speak of guarantees — only of following my father-in-law’s example, step by step, and pressing forward without yielding!”

The chieftess at last had nothing more to say. She closed her lips and stood motionless.

Li Xuandu gave her a parting bow and took Pu Zhu’s hand. To the steward he said: “I am taking my wife home. Please, steward, show us the way.”

The steward looked to the chieftess. Seeing her standing perfectly still, with no further sign of opposition, he silently bent in a bow and turned to lead the way.

Pu Zhu followed Li Xuandu to the door, then turned back. The chieftess’s gaze rested on her retreating figure with a peculiar expression — part reluctance, part unwillingness, and as if threaded through with a trace of melancholy. Pu Zhu felt a warmth rise in her heart. She pulled free of Li Xuandu’s firm grip on her hand, ran back to the chieftess, and said softly: “My Lady, there is something I want you to know. At the very beginning, my husband was unwilling to let me come and meet you alone. It was I who insisted; he could not stop me, and so I came to this honored place and had the good fortune of meeting you. My Lady — do you know why I ignored my husband’s objections and came to your appointment?”

The chieftess murmured: “Why?”

“Because when my father recorded you in his journal, although there was no lengthy passage, he was unstinting in his praise. He wrote that you carried yourself with grace and bearing — a true heroine among women. His admiration was felt in every stroke of his brush. Any person praised so by my father must be extraordinary. It was as though I had known you through his accounts of you, and so I trusted you and came boldly to meet you.”

The chieftess stared at her in a daze.

Pu Zhu continued: “I know you have been good to me, and so I hope all the more that you will trust my husband. Did you not say that my father was waiting for a man from the Li Dynasty to one day bring him home? He is that man my father has been waiting for!”

She clasped the chieftess’s hand.

“Thank you for everything you did for my father, and for the care you have shown me. I will hold it in my heart always. I must go back with my husband now. Please take good care of yourself in the days ahead, my Lady!”

She gave the chieftess a warm smile, released her hand, and then walked toward Li Xuandu, who was waiting at the door. Together they continued onward and out.

The steward, holding a lantern, led the two of them through the labyrinth and all the way to the great gate of the stronghold.

Outside the gate, Zhang Ting and the others had been waiting with great anxiety. Finally seeing Prince Qin come out with the princess consort, they sighed with relief and hurried forward to greet them.

He took the reins of the horse Zhang Ting led up for him and lifted Pu Zhu onto the horse’s back, then swung up behind her himself. The two of them rode together, leaving the stronghold and Shuang Clan City behind them.

Several days prior, after he had taken Yan City and restored order within, he had not stationed the main force inside the city. He only ordered Ye Xiao to temporarily oversee the entire city, while the rest of the troops withdrew outside Yan City to wait in temporary encampment for further orders.

Tonight he had not originally planned to enter Yan City. He had intended to bring her back to the encampment. But on the road, he found the woman in his arms kept tilting her head up to look at him, and in the moonlight those eyes seemed to carry a tender, lingering gaze. Gradually his thoughts began to wander. Thinking of the rough and simple conditions at the camp, he changed his mind halfway — not going to the encampment, but riding straight into Yan City instead.

At the grey light of dawn breaking the darkness, he reined his horse to a stop before the great gates of the royal palace.

Ye Xiao’s deputy Shen Qiao had been posted to guard the palace. Seeing Prince Qin arrive with the princess consort quite unexpectedly, he was surprised, though he naturally asked nothing, and immediately opened what had until then been sealed and locked palace gates.

Li Xuandu took her by the hand and stepped into this royal palace, now empty and vast with only the two of them within it.

Gauze draperies wound about the beams, swaying slowly. Day gradually brightened. The two of them stayed inside for an entire day, seeing no one except for servants who came to bring them food. They remained until, exhausted to the core, they fell asleep in each other’s arms. They slept straight through to evening, and when the setting sun came pouring in slantwise through the window, they woke. Outside came the voice of Ye Xiao, saying there was a matter.

The steward of the Shuang Clan stronghold had come, bearing a message from the chieftess.

She was advising Li Xuandu to relocate the Protectorate to Baole Kingdom, as this would allow better control of the region. To express her support for the Protectorate, she was willing to offer the Shuang Clan stronghold as the seat of the Protectorate.

Li Xuandu and Pu Zhu exchanged a glance, both astonished. They were about to reply when the steward added: “The mistress also says that if one were to travel the length of the Western Regions, there would hardly be a more suitable place for a seat of governance than the Shuang Clan stronghold. Furthermore, this is also a small token of her affection for Her Highness the Princess Consort. She hopes Your Highness and Her Highness will not decline.”

The steward finished speaking, gave a respectful bow to the two of them, then took his leave.