Riding hard from the Northern Frontier to the Great Jin capital, Li Shuang took half the usual time, traveling day and night without rest.
Her early return to the capital caught everyone by surprise, even Great General Li Lan hadn’t expected it.
When Li Shuang arrived at the General’s mansion, Li Ting burst out from the residence faster than anyone else. Li Shuang had barely dismounted when Li Ting threw himself into her arms: “Sister! Father said you’d be coming home soon but I didn’t believe it! How did you return so quickly!”
Before Li Shuang could answer, the ever-imposing Li Lan appeared following Li Ting. The Great General was approaching fifty, his face inevitably marked with lines carved by time, yet these wrinkles didn’t make him appear old, but rather seemed to engrave the accumulated authority of years within them.
Separated for three years, Li Shuang had avoided returning to the capital, yet her heart had often thought of Li Lan.
Though she was only the General’s adopted daughter, Li Lan treated her no differently than Li Ting. He taught her horsemanship and archery, instructed her in military strategy, gave her opportunities to study and train alongside the capital’s nobility, and even supported her wish to serve as a general in the Northern Frontier, where she remained for three years.
Li Shuang could not help but feel grateful to Li Lan.
She pushed away the still-doting Li Ting and stepped forward to bow respectfully, her body bent low, nearly prostrating herself: “Father, your unfilial daughter has not returned for three years…”
Li Lan caught her arm and pulled her straight up: “After a few years away you’ve grown so formal with me? Unfilial? You helped this old man guard Great Jin’s borders. If you call that unfilial, then we should throw this boy Li Ting out!”
“That’s right, that’s right, Sister, don’t say such things or the old man might throw me out!” Li Ting joked from the side. The old general laughed and swatted his head, making Li Shuang smile despite herself.
But with pressing matters on her mind, Li Shuang’s smile quickly faded. “Father,” she called softly. Li Lan understood and nodded: “Come inside first and get settled. We can discuss other matters later.”
But Li Shuang shook her head: “Father, I have no time to delay.” Just thinking about that person suffering in prison now made it impossible for Li Shuang to find peace.
Hearing this, Li Lan lowered his gaze slightly: “What urgent matter?”
“I must enter the palace to seek an audience with His Majesty, to request fifty thousand troops.”
Mobilizing troops—Li Lan frowned, but seeing Li Shuang’s determined gaze, he pondered briefly: “You’ve always been steady since childhood, with reasons behind your decisions. I won’t question you, but you must consider—your return to the capital was by Imperial decree. If you have another request for His Majesty, have you thought about how to repay this favor?”
The implication couldn’t be clearer. Li Shuang was a good general, but Si Ma Yang wanted more from her than just being a general.
Li Shuang bowed her head: “Your daughter understands clearly.”
The moment she rode back to the capital from the Northern Frontier, she had already accepted all the consequences.
But even so, she still had to save him, even though she didn’t even know his name yet.
Li Lan ordered someone to escort Li Shuang to the palace. The imperial city remained unchanged, only the emperor was different now, making this palace very different from the one she had known as a child.
The world was always desolate, but Li Shuang had no time for such reflections. She finally met Si Ma Yang in the Imperial Study.
It wasn’t a public audience—what Li Shuang needed to request couldn’t be discussed before many court officials anyway.
Three months had passed since they last met when Si Ma Yang left the Northern Frontier while Li Shuang was still unconscious. Now seeing each other again, both fell silent at first. But compared to Li Shuang’s solemnity, Si Ma Yang’s dark pupils seemed to hold more emotion.
“Li Shuang.” Si Ma Yang finally spoke, breaking the uncomfortable silence in the Imperial Study. “You always surprise me.” He casually tossed aside the document in his hand and stood up. “I thought you wouldn’t return.” He walked around the desk to stand before Li Shuang, a rare smile touching his lips. “Now that you’ve come back, I won’t ever…” He reached out, moving to grasp Li Shuang’s arm.
Li Shuang’s gaze lowered slightly as she stepped back, dropping to one knee in a perfect military salute: “Your Majesty.”
Si Ma Yang’s hand froze in mid-air.
“Li Shuang dares to beg Your Majesty for one wish.”
As she spoke thus, Si Ma Yang remembered that day in the muddy cave, when he had promised Li Shuang that if she could escape the mud that day, he would grant her any one wish.
Whether she wanted to marry him or leave him, he gave Li Shuang this freedom of choice. Because at that moment, Li Shuang had chosen to sacrifice her life to save his.
This was his way of repaying her kindness, and also his deeply hidden guilt. Now Li Shuang brought this up as soon as they met…
She must want to leave, Si Ma Yang guessed in his heart, but still lowered his eyes to ask: “What do you wish for?”
“I beg Your Majesty to grant me fifty thousand troops to march on South Changshan.”
“March on South Changshan?” This was a completely unexpected request. Si Ma Yang narrowed his eyes slightly. “For what purpose?”
Li Shuang looked up at Si Ma Yang, her gaze neither humble nor proud. “I wish to save someone. He once risked his life to save the Changfeng Camp and Lu City in their time of need.” Li Shuang paused. “He also saved me from certain death. He has shown great kindness to the frontier and me…”
“The red-eyed man?” Si Ma Yang interrupted.
“Yes.”
Si Ma Yang fell silent for a moment: “Do you know his background?”
“No.”
“His name?”
“No.”
Si Ma Yang suddenly felt as if he didn’t recognize Li Shuang anymore. “You rushed back from the frontier just to ask this of me?”
“Yes.” Li Shuang lowered her head. “Your subject knows requesting troops is absurd, but I have no other way.”
The Imperial Study fell into a long silence. Si Ma Yang understood Li Shuang, so he knew what kind of determination lay behind her silence. She hadn’t mentioned leaving the capital or leaving him, but Li Shuang’s request made Si Ma Yang’s heart colder than if she had asked to leave.
When had Li Shuang ever been so reckless for just one person?
Exhausting all possibilities, using every resource, for someone whose name she didn’t even know.
Before, Li Shuang fought for the country, for their family, for the glory of the General’s mansion, and her achievements. But now, this request she spoke of seemed to have abandoned all of these things.
“Shuang’er, I won’t deceive you. If I grant you fifty thousand troops to march on South Changshan without reason, how can the court’s power balance be maintained…”
“I dare not trouble Your Majesty. The Gu tribe has long occupied South Changshan, using jianghu methods to oppress the common people, running rampant for years like bandits and thieves, a persistent ailment in the south that must be eliminated.”
Finding excuses for military action came easily to Li Shuang. The art of war is based on deception—she could spin tales as well as any oily court official. After providing the reason for military action, she continued, “Clearing out South Changshan would be the General’s mansion’s gift to Your Majesty. After the campaign, Li Shuang will return and hand over command of the fifty thousand troops, as well as the authority over Lu City’s garrison and the Changfeng Camp. From then on, Li Shuang will hold no military position, but be merely a maiden of the General’s mansion awaiting marriage.”
A maiden with military achievements waiting for marriage—even the Great General couldn’t decide who she would marry. Only the current emperor could determine her marriage.
At first glance, Li Shuang’s words seemed perfectly proper, but upon careful consideration, they contained hints of both enticement and threat. If he granted her fifty thousand troops, she would surrender her military authority, but if he didn’t—would she surrender that authority or not? Would the General’s mansion still have a maiden awaiting marriage?
Si Ma Yang stared into Li Shuang’s jet-black eyes, then suddenly curved his lips into a faint smile: “Very well.”
No need for explanations, understanding was enough.
Si Ma Yang did care for Li Shuang—they were childhood friends, shared romantic feelings, and she had saved his life. But he was also the ruler, and she was his subject. She had helped him catch cunning rabbits, and her family served as his hunting dogs.
Between them flowed undercurrents of interests, power games, and tactical maneuvers.
Si Ma Yang returned to his desk and picked up his brush. Before writing, he glanced again at Li Shuang kneeling in military salute before him. She wore red robes and silver armor, her face showing signs of exhaustion from her hurried journey, her hair slightly disheveled, yet her bearing remained like a green bamboo—forever resilient.
“Shuang’er.” Si Ma Yang began writing the imperial decree. “I only hope that one day, you won’t regret this.”
Li Shuang’s only response was to kneel respectfully on both knees, head bowed to her chest, hands raised above her head: “Your subject receives the decree.”
Li Shuang obtained fifty thousand troops to march on South Changshan on an appointed day to eliminate the Gu tribe. The court and the jianghu were shocked. This move came too suddenly, catching everyone by surprise.
For a time, common people discussed endlessly, speculating constantly.
Li Shuang made no response to any of it. Having received her orders, she made her preparations and led fifty thousand troops south to South Changshan. This time, she wasn’t going to war—she was going to save someone.