“Do not take this lightly.” Ming Huazhang seemed to sense the thoughts in their minds, and said with quiet gravity, “From the moment you chose this path, you chose to walk away from open conduct and clear conscience. If you leak your whereabouts and expose a mission prematurely, you are sending the comrades who carry out the order to their deaths. Even if the mission somehow succeeds regardless, you will be called to account by the Xuan Xiaowei upon your return. Never mind dying yourself — what about your families?”
That finally silenced everyone. Han Jie, noticing the heaviness of the atmosphere, smiled and said, “Lieutenant-General, they’ve only just arrived — they’re a nest of new fledglings, still in need of long cultivation. Don’t frighten them yet. I know each of you comes from a distinguished background and grew up hearing about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and integrity. But from this point on, there is one principle you must first correct in your minds.”
“Deceiving and lying to those around you is not a betrayal of trust — it is an act of responsibility. To disregard others’ lives in the name of one’s personal sense of integrity is the righteousness of a common man. To willingly endure misunderstanding, distortion, and even condemnation in service of a belief held in one’s heart — that is the true righteousness of one’s nation and family.”
When Han Jie finished, he let his gaze travel over the young men and women before him, and said with heartfelt sincerity: “Every one of you is a talent I personally sought out. It is my deepest wish that one day I will see you grow into pillars of this country.”
Ming Huashang made a wry face inwardly. Ming Huazhang had played the severe face; Han Jie was playing the kind one. After this orchestrated double-act, any dissatisfaction on their part would mark them as people without principle or integrity.
Ren Yao still had the feeling she’d been played. She asked, “So — everything about making us leave the Divine Capital — was that all just a test?”
“Of course not,” Han Jie said. “The Xuan Xiaowei is not so idle as to do something like that. Every cover story for your departure was carefully designed around your individual circumstances. Once you join the Xuan Xiaowei, you take on a second identity — but you must continue to play yourselves convincingly, without arousing suspicion. Ideally, your outward appearance should seem entirely unremarkable. Your reasons for leaving the capital are false, but your movements are real. Afterwards, agents will fabricate evidence of your presence in Chang’an and relay messages back to the Divine Capital on a regular schedule.”
Han Jie looked at Ren Yao. “Take Miss Ren, for example. Today in Luoyang, a young woman will enroll at a martial arts academy. She will seldom leave its grounds and be consumed by her training. The Xuan Xiaowei will see to it that this information reaches Old Madam Pingnan’s ears, apparently by chance. As for how you smooth things over with your grandmother in the future — that’s up to you.”
Ming Huashang understood. Luoyang would gain a young woman training in martial arts, and the Virtue and Achievement Temple would gain a new female Daoist. Those two women, however, would not be Ren Yao and Ming Huashang. As for Jiang Ling — his father, Marquis Jiang’an, had been the one to send him into the Xuan Xiaowei, so the Marquis surely already knew. He would pretend not to notice and would actively help Jiang Ling cover his tracks.
Ming Huashang couldn’t help saying, “This really is tremendous trouble.”
To her surprise, Han Jie nodded. “Correct. The cover story arranged for you is the most complicated of all. The Virtue and Achievement Temple has close ties to the capital, and simply maintaining your facade required a considerable deployment of manpower. A young lady of your comfortable circumstances, with parents who dote on you — making you disappear without anyone knowing or suspecting is exceedingly difficult.”
Ming Huazhang added in a cool aside, “Ordinarily, this sort of person would never be so foolish as to join the Xuan Xiaowei.”
Ming Huashang was struck dumb on the spot and quietly bowed her head, playing deaf. She hadn’t wanted to either — if she were the true daughter of the Zhenguo household, she’d have to be out of her mind to abandon a comfortable life of ease and come out here to suffer and face danger.
Jiang Ling counted on his fingers and calculated: “So to train three new recruits like us, you’re also dispatching three veteran operatives to pose as us, plus more people behind the scenes spreading false information. That doesn’t quite add up, does it?”
“Which is precisely why you must demonstrate capabilities that far surpass those of ordinary operatives, to justify all this effort.” Han Jie let his gaze sweep over the young faces below him, and smiled. “I have every confidence you will not disappoint me.”
Ming Huashang dared not look up, and quietly made a face. It seemed she was going to disappoint Han Jie after all. She had only entered the Xuan Xiaowei to secure her livelihood; now that her life’s greatest ambition had been realized, genuine hard work was not on the agenda. She’d muddle through, paddle her feet enough not to get kicked out, and call it a day.
Han Jie was unaware of what was passing through Ming Huashang’s mind at that moment. Still steeped in pleasant expectations, he said with gracious warmth: “In the last assessment, your performance far exceeded my expectations. I had anticipated that you’d assist the Lieutenant-General and do well enough not to create trouble — I never imagined you’d independently uncover the truth. So the Xuan Xiaowei has made an exception and accepted all three of you.”
Ming Huashang raised her eyebrows and asked quietly, “Does that mean in every assessment, truly only one person passes?”
“It depends on the choices you make,” Han Jie answered patiently, keeping his pleasant manner. “If each of you fights alone and eliminates the others, the last one standing passes and goes on to carry out solo missions. If you choose to cooperate and the mission fails, no individual merit is considered — everyone is eliminated together. Only in rare cases do new recruits complete a mission through collaboration, allowing everyone to advance together, after which they are treated as a single team by default and carry out missions together.”
“Since the Xuan Xiaowei was founded, only three groups of new recruits have advanced together,” Han Jie said, pointing across the room. “One group is your commander and Xie Jichuan. One group is a brother and sister. And the third group is the three of you.”
Han Jie stroked his beard and smiled slowly. “But the first two groups had already formed deep bonds before they came in. Only the three of you were, by any measure, complete strangers beforehand — yet you cooperated without reservation. That is truly a most sincere and open-hearted spirit.”
Xie Jichuan tilted his head and helpfully translated: “What General Han means is — you three are just the most naive.”
Ming Huashang opened her mouth and found she had absolutely nothing to say.
“There’s no need to put it so bluntly — it does no one any good.” Han Jie smiled. “You three are guileless. Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan, on the other hand, are perhaps excessively calculating. Placing you all together should balance things out nicely. From this point forward, the five of you form a single unit. Your unit name is Xuanwu.”
Ming Huashang blinked, struck by an indescribable sensation. Jiang Ling leaned over toward Ming Huashang and whispered, “Is he calling us tortoises?”
His voice was not particularly quiet. After he spoke, the entire room went briefly silent. Ming Huashang glanced up at the adults at the front of the room and shot Jiang Ling a discreet glare. “Read more books. The general is wishing us a long life.”
Ren Yao stiffened and turned away, attempting to give the impression she had never met either of these two people.
This was mortifying.
Han Jie’s smile was struggling to hold. “Xuanwu is the tortoise-serpent divine beast — so it’s not entirely being called a tortoise… That said, if you don’t like it, I can arrange an exchange of names with another unit.”
“There’s no need.” Ming Huazhang raised one slender hand, unhurried. “The significance of Xuanwu is fine. Let’s keep it.”
“Quite right,” said Xie Jichuan with a grin. “Longevity in this line of work — that’s a remarkably auspicious omen.”
Jiang Ling was still trying to register his objection to being a tortoise when Ming Huashang swiftly produced a piece of fruit and stuffed it into his mouth, cutting him off. Han Jie’s eye twitched, but he maintained his composure. “In the interest of security, each of you will take on a code name. From this point on, all communication within the Xuan Xiaowei uses only code names — real names are never to be spoken.”
Ming Huazhang said, “Very well. Xie Jichuan and I already have code names. I am called South Dipper; he is Dangerous Moon. Memorize these: if you ever see the six stars of the dipper or the image of a swallow, it means one of us left that marker.”
Jiang Ling made a curious sound and asked Xie Jichuan, “Your code name is Dangerous Moon — so why is your symbol a swallow instead of a moon?”
Ming Huashang at last understood how others must have felt when looking at her. Jiang Ling’s lack of literary education was genuinely painful to witness. She said under her breath, “Brother Xie’s code name comes from the name of the lunar lodge — Dangerous Lunar Swallow, hence the swallow.”
Jiang Ling said “oh” with an expression that suggested he had not fully understood. Xie Jichuan smiled at Ming Huashang. “Little sister truly knows me. Even your second elder brother guessed wrong at first — he thought it referred to ‘the old swallows of the Wang and Xie families.'”
She’d even outguessed Ming Huazhang? Before Ming Huashang had time to feel pleasantly flattered, Ming Huazhang interrupted coldly: “‘Little sister’ — is that what you’re calling her now?”
Xie Jichuan fixed Ming Huazhang with a long, indolent look. “You’re the only one uptight about it. Honestly, so dull.”
Ming Huashang stepped in hastily with a smile. “It’s nothing at all — Brother Xie can call me whatever he likes. Though, now that you mention it — Dangerous is the lodge of autumn, when all things wither and fall; it carries an image of destruction and withering. With the character for moon added to it, the whole thing is rather cold.”
Xie Jichuan lifted an eyebrow, and pinpoints of amusement lit up his eyes. “Huashang little sister really does understand me. I’ve half begun to wonder whether you were mixed up at birth and are actually my sister.”
Ming Huashang’s heart lurched. She lost control of her expression for an instant and nearly seemed to think Xie Jichuan knew something. Before she could recover, a brush came flying through the air with startling speed. Xie Jichuan leaned aside and caught it between two fingers, then smiled at the sender: “Jingzhan, you’re being unreasonable. You’re unhappy when I call her ‘little sister,’ and unhappy when I use her name — is it that no matter who draws near your second young miss, you’ll step in to block them?”
This sudden commotion drew everyone’s attention away, giving Ming Huashang a moment to rapidly smooth her expression. She smiled and said, “Never mind — from here on we’re all teammates, no need to stand on these empty formalities. Besides, I’ll be counting on Brother Xie to guide me. If he doesn’t mind, he can call me Changchang, the same as Jiang Ling and Ren Jiejie.”
Ming Huazhang’s face turned cold. “No.”
“Your own sister has agreed — what does it have to do with you?” Xie Jichuan gave Ming Huazhang a casual sideways look, then turned back to Ming Huashang with a warm smile. “Changchang is a lovely name — is it taken from the verse ‘how resplendent is that garment, how golden the blooms of the yun-grass’?”
Ming Huashang’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Brother Xie is so well-read — that’s exactly the poem.”
Han Jie was finding this all a bit hard to watch. He cleared his throat. “You’ll be eating, sleeping, and living together from here on out — there will be plenty of time to build bonds of friendship. Shall we perhaps finish the business at hand first?”
Ming Huashang quickly agreed and bowed her head dutifully to think of a code name. Ming Huazhang sat at the head of the table, narrowing his eyes slightly, glancing sidelong at Xie Jichuan.
Xie Jichuan noticed the look and blinked back at him with a smile.
In the end, Ren Yao’s code name became Seven Killings, her symbol a single spear. Jiang Ling’s code name became Golden Bull, his symbol a bull — the reasoning being simple and direct: wealth-gathering.
His taste remained refreshingly uncomplicated, direct, and prosperous.
In the blink of an eye, only Ming Huashang was left. She thought Jiang Ling’s approach to naming was actually quite sensible, and announced happily: “Then I’ll be called the Old Age Star.”
The room fell into silence.
Ming Huashang said, “The Old Age Star is such a fortunate name! Don’t you think it sounds nice?”
In principle, Ming Huashang could call herself whatever she liked — but the remaining members genuinely could not, in good conscience, say it sounded nice. Ming Huashang read the reluctance on their faces and suggested obligingly, “Then how about the Fortune Star? Or the Prosperity Star?”
Han Jie was beginning to seriously doubt his judgment in people. He took a deep breath, held his composure, and said, “All of those names are fine, but I have one that suits you better. You and Lieutenant-General Ming are a rare dragon-and-phoenix twin pair, and it so happens that both of you have entered the Xuan Xiaowei — such a fateful bond would be a shame to let pass. I’ve heard that the Lieutenant-General goes by the name ‘Jade Son of the Ming Family.’ What if the two of you, as brother and sister, took the code name Twin Jades — how does that sound?”
Ming Huashang thought the code name was splendid — dignified, valuable, and melodious. Her eyes brightened — but then landed on Ming Huazhang and paused: “But A’Xiong already has a code name.”
“It can be changed,” Han Jie said, looking at Ming Huazhang. “What do you think?”
A name was an inconsequential thing — all the more so a code name. Ming Huazhang said, “I have no objection. But won’t this create a risk of exposure?”
Dragon-and-phoenix twins were exceedingly rare in the capital, and they were the only such pair. If this code name were ever leaked, the danger to Ming Huashang would be fatal.
Han Jie smiled with layered meaning. “When the false is treated as real, the real becomes false — and that, precisely, is the best cover of all.”
Ming Huazhang considered it, found Han Jie’s reasoning sound, and agreed — the most obvious thing was, in fact, the most secure. Han Jie let out a quiet breath of relief. “You’ve all just arrived today — go and look over your quarters and familiarize yourselves with the grounds. Training begins tomorrow. Each of you has natural talent, but it is still raw and unrefined. Unpolished, no piece of jade can shine. Are there any questions?”
Han Jie asked that last question as pure courtesy — he was already halfway to rising from his seat. He had not expected anyone to actually raise a hand. He looked over, smiling. “Yes?”
Ming Huashang said quietly, “It’s nothing major. I just… wasn’t sure how the monthly stipend and compensation work.”
Han Jie at that moment genuinely began to doubt his ability to read people. He took a slow, steady breath and smiled. “The Xuan Xiaowei has its own system of ranks and grades — all compensation follows the same scale as official government posts. You, for example, have just entered the Xuan Xiaowei, which by convention places you at the ninth rank, upper grade. That means an annual stipend of fifty-five shi of rice, a monthly salary of one thousand and fifty coins, food allowance of two hundred and fifty, miscellaneous expenses of two hundred, garrison stipend of four hundred and seventeen, two qing of official farmland, and two household servants. If servants are declined, each may be converted to two hundred coins per month in cash. Beyond that, seasonal clothing and festival provisions follow the standard court allocations for the year, and any merit earned carries additional rewards.”
Han Jie finished this long recitation in a single breath, and smiled at Ming Huashang. “Any more questions?”
Ming Huashang’s brush was flying across paper. She looked down with deep satisfaction at the figures she’d recorded, folded the page carefully, and tucked it away. “No more questions. Thank you, General Han.”
In the end, it was the imperial court that one could truly rely on — stipend in rice and in land, all food and clothing and lodging covered, servants provided. Porridge at the winter solstice festival, ice in the summer heat, holiday supplements at every festival and new year — was this not more thoughtful than any husband?
This was the life she wanted to live for the rest of her days.
Han Jie gave Ming Huashang one quiet look, restrained himself from comment, flicked his sleeves, and rose. “If there’s nothing else, you can settle in and get acquainted — I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave.”
Ming Huashang said cheerfully, “Safe travels, General — mind the slippery paths!”
Jiang Ling stared at Ming Huashang’s fawning expression, utterly unable to comprehend it. “That stipend isn’t much — probably less than one outfit of yours costs. Are you really that happy?”
Ming Huashang shot him a look. “I earned this myself. How could it be the same?”
Jiang Ling was completely silenced. Xie Jichuan came to stand beside Ming Huashang, bent down to read the paper in her hands, and said, “Changchang little sister wrote every detail down — how remarkably thorough. To think — Changchang turns out to be such an ambitious young lady. It seems she won’t need Ming Huazhang to support her after all.”
“Xie Jichuan.” Ming Huazhang also rose smoothly, his face expressionless as he looked at him. “Out of consideration for Han Jie’s presence — not wanting to make a spectacle in front of others — I have held my tongue with you several times today. Are you truly not going to stop?”
“Changchang.” Xie Jichuan tugged at Ming Huashang’s sleeve. “Look at your second elder brother’s expression — it practically has ‘do not approach my sister’ written all over his face. What are you reaching for your blade for? Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
Ming Huashang quickly got between them. “Second Elder Brother, Second Elder Brother — Brother Xie is teasing. He also means well for you.”
Ming Huazhang was thoroughly done with Xie Jichuan, but Ming Huashang kept planting herself in front of him — fearing she’d be hurt if he used any real force — and so he’d been restrained by her this entire time. Meanwhile Xie Jichuan continued to push his luck with gleeful abandon, standing squarely behind Ming Huashang and laughing without a care in the world: “Exactly. This is between me and Changchang little sister. What does it have to do with you?”
Ming Huashang’s head ached the moment she heard Xie Jichuan’s voice. She quickly seized Ming Huazhang’s arm and physically hauled him toward the door: “A’Xiong, I spent all day climbing that mountain — I’m exhausted. Can you take me to find my quarters? Please?”
Jiang Ling made a sound of exaggerated disgust and shuddered. “Do you two always behave like this with each other?”
Ren Yao, if she was being honest, also found it a touch too saccharine — but since Jiang Ling had said so first, she was obligated to disagree. She shot Jiang Ling a look. “They’re siblings. What business is it of yours?”
Ming Huashang felt a little embarrassed. She’d always been used to acting endearingly with her brother, and hadn’t given it a second thought — but now, in front of so many people, she suddenly realized how little distance there was between herself and Ming Huazhang.
She still had her arms around Ming Huazhang’s arm and wasn’t sure whether to let go. Fortunately, Ming Huazhang maintained his usual air of bright refinement and flawless composure, and without the slightest trace of awkwardness he took her hand in his and said, “I’ll take you to rest.”
Ming Huashang looked up and met Ming Huazhang’s starlit eyes. Even while others were making him the subject of jokes, he remained as deep and still as still water, as steadfast as a high mountain. The conjectures of others became, in that moment, nothing but dirt — not worth a single stain upon him.
Ming Huashang’s heart settled. She made a quiet sound of agreement and let Ming Huazhang lead her outside.
The two of them stepped through the door and came face-to-face with someone at the garden entrance. Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang were coming out; the others were coming in — also a young man and a young woman.
The young man felt someone approaching and instinctively extended an arm to shield the girl behind him. “Careful, little sister.”
Ming Huashang reflexively looked up. The two pairs of eyes met across the threshold.
Ming Huashang looked at the young woman the young man had moved to shield — and her pupils contracted sharply.
Su Yuji?
Ming Huashang turned, almost in a daze, to look at the young man. He was not much older than she was, his clothes simple but clean. He stood straight-backed, with fine, clear features. Standing in the shade of the trees, he had the quality of cold pine and green cypress — a sharp, clean, unyielding resilience.
Ming Huashang knew who this was.
Nanny Su’s grandson. The true daughter’s family member who had been raised as a farmer’s kin. And Ming Huashang’s own true elder brother — Su Xingzhi.