“Young Lord Fourteen.” Yang Xinzhi warned behind him.
Li Yuangu calculated – they were four strong young men carrying weapons, all skilled in martial arts. What harm could come to them anywhere? Besides, there was no better way to find the people they were looking for. Might as well take the gamble.
As for the Pei siblings wanting his help with matters in Da’an Palace… he’d already dealt with enemy assassins trying to kill the emperor and his father, what else was there to worry about?
“Let’s go!” Once decided, he didn’t hesitate. Five people and two dogs followed the three Pei household members, leaving the “Lesser West Market” and heading west along the Wei River upstream.
Fortunately, the Pei estate truly wasn’t far – just a large mansion compound beside the official road outside the market town. They had set out around dinnertime, and it wasn’t completely dark when they entered through the mansion’s black-painted gate. The Pei siblings led Li Yuangu and Yang Xinzhi to the main hall for hospitality, while Lady Pei excused herself to retire to the back courtyard.
Upon entering the main gate, Master Pei had already ordered servants to “please ask Estate Manager Zhang to come to the main hall.” Li Yuangu found this slightly strange. The Pei siblings were from an official noble family, staying at their country estate – they were the masters. The estate manager who oversaw the estate, supervised farming, and handled rent collection and grain delivery was their servant. When masters summoned servants, since when did they use the word “please”?
After being seated in the main hall, the host spoke first:
“Yanna, that reckless child, has never known peace since young – bold yet rash, never once listening to me…”
In a side chamber of the Zoroastrian temple in Buzheng Ward, a balding Hu man sat cross-legged opposite Chai Yüluo and Wei Shubin, speaking Chinese calmly. His lips, barely visible beneath his thick beard, seemed to attempt a smile, but his deep-set green eyes held no joy, only traces of weariness and sorrow.
An Yanna was his eldest son. When his wife bore their first child, he was only fifteen or sixteen, still a child himself, and frequently away trading – how could he know how to be a father? Father and son argued whenever they met, and even after Yanna grew up and joined the trading caravans, their relationship hadn’t improved. Seven or eight years ago, before a trading expedition carrying spices from Persia to Gaochang, Yanna did something so terrible it nearly drove people mad. An San gave his eldest son a severe beating with a camel whip, left him at his uncle’s house to recover, and set off with his wife and other children.
Then his caravan encountered both a dust storm and defeated soldiers turned bandits in the great Western Regions desert. He escaped alone, losing all his camels, goods, servants, wife, and children – Yanna became his only blood relative left in the world.
Father and son took refuge under Kong Sumidi’s banner, gradually gaining trust and importance. An San originally had no rebellious intentions, following along loyally as Kong Sabao eagerly curried favor with the Heavenly Khagan and the Great Tang court. But An Yanna again displayed his rash and greedy nature, unable to resist the temptation of the Tuyuhun prince’s gold. The first time he led Tuyuhun assassins to sneak into the imperial gardens and burn a temple, Kong Sabao discovered it upon their return and flew into a rage. To protect both father and son, An San had to personally whip his son again.
Both father and son were experienced at this – the father raised the whip high but struck lightly, the son wailed dramatically as if mortally wounded, and though his back appeared terrifyingly bloody, the wounds were superficial, healing enough to leave the bed after two days of medicine. But if he had known what An Yanna would do after getting out of bed, he would have truly struck with his full strength, leaving his son paralyzed and unable to move for at least a month…
An San related all this softly with sighs, very much like a grieving, powerless old father. Wei Shubin felt sympathetic listening to him, but Chai Yüluo maintained a serious, calm expression, sitting formally upright, her emotions unmoved:
“Are you saying that after your son sneaked out while sick, he never returned? You never saw the Seventeenth Princess, Sangsai, or those Tuyuhun assassins again?”
“Things have come to this point – what else could I hide?” An San spread his hands. “Creating false identities to shelter Sangsai’s group was Kong Sabao’s idea; I was just following orders. Later when Kong Sabao left the capital, Sangsai refused advice and acted recklessly – I couldn’t stop them. Now I just want to find my wayward son and can’t show my face at Sabao’s residence anymore. We father and son will return to our old home in Zhaowu…”
“Master An, you’ve thought it all through,” the Daoist priestess mocked, “After An Yanna’s group committed such serious crimes, you think they can peacefully leave the frontier and return home? To enjoy the gold and silver treasures he earned from Tuyuhun?”
“I know this won’t be easy,” An San gave a strange half-smile, “I can only request help from my old friend, the Imperial Son-in-law Chai, to create official documents and passes. And trouble Young Lady Chai to escort us on our journey – not too far, just to… Dunhuang would suffice.”
Wei Shubin couldn’t help but snort. This balding An San was quite good at making arrangements.
Chai Yüluo’s expression changed at these words as she turned to look at the doorway. An San coughed on cue, and two Hu warriors wearing curved swords at their waists emerged from either side of the door, acknowledging in the Hu language.
“This… you’re taking us hostage?” Wei Shubin asked in shock. In the capital Chang’an, right under the Emperor’s feet, how could balding An San be so bold?
“Circumstances leave me no choice – please forgive the offense.” The Hu manager’s face showed sorrow again, but Wei Shubin no longer felt sympathy for him.
Chai Yüluo smiled softly, reaching out to pat the head of the hunting leopard lying beside her. A-Tun responded with a growl.
“Master An San, you and my father are old friends, and you’ve known me for how many years? Though I am just a woman, would I act so rashly and foolishly? When we two women entered your temple, did you think no one outside would know or be ready to support us? Let me tell you honestly – I already sent someone to inform my father at Princess Pingyang’s residence! And why do you think I brought a leopard? How many people on the streets would notice and remember a woman in men’s clothes carrying a leopard, passing through the wards and checkpoints? Not to mention the guards at the ward gates – when my people ask them, wouldn’t they know I entered your Zoroastrian temple in Buzheng Ward? And within this ward is the Right Wuhou Guard headquarters, which manages the capital’s security. By openly detaining imperial relatives, are you trying to bring the Great Tang army’s suppression? Even if you’re willing to sacrifice your life for your only son, if trouble starts at this temple and the Hu people riot – your Zhaowu Nine Surnames clan must have over ten thousand people in the capital now. Do you want them all to die with you?”
So this was the Daoist priestess’s intention to have Jing Xuan return to the Chai residence and bring A-Tun to the temple. Wei Shubin was enlightened and silently admired her planning.
Balding An San’s face alternated between pale and flushed. After an uncomfortable moment, he gritted his teeth:
“The Venerable Master speaks reason – I didn’t think it through. Therefore, I must ask the Venerable Master to voluntarily cooperate and persuade Imperial Son-in-law Chai to help ensure my father and son’s safety.”
“Voluntarily cooperate?” Had this Hu man lost his mind?
An San gave a vicious laugh, turning his gaze to Wei Shubin:
“This young lady is quite bold and quick-tongued, seems to be much favored and relied upon by the Venerable Master…”
Well… Wei Shubin sighed inwardly. She had been mistaken for Chai Yüluo’s maid again.
She had never entered the Zoroastrian temple before, nor personally dealt with these Hu merchants. When they entered the temple earlier, Chai Yüluo had only announced her own identity at the door, not mentioning Wei Shubin, so it was natural for these Hu people to take her as a maid. Now balding An San suddenly turned to her with a fierce look – presumably planning to use her, the “favored maid,” as leverage to threaten and intimidate Chai Yüluo.
After all, she was just a mere servant – even if she were tortured to death, the officials wouldn’t consider it a serious matter.
The Daoist priestess laughed:
“Master An San, good eye! This young lady indeed has my deep respect, and her birth father also has the current Tang Emperor’s deep respect…”
“Birth father?” An San’s thick eyebrows furrowed, sensing something amiss.
“Indeed,” Chai Yüluo smiled radiantly, “I know your people can’t keep track of all our dynasty’s officials and ministers’ titles and names – it doesn’t matter, you don’t care to inquire about them anyway. But this young lady’s honored father – you must have heard of him, An San. He’s the current Prime Minister and Imperial Secretary, the Heavenly Khagan’s most trusted direct minister, respected throughout the court – Wei Zheng, the Duke of Xuancheng!”
Hearing her father’s name, Wei Shubin habitually bowed her head in respect, so she didn’t see An San’s momentary expression. The middle-aged Hu merchant fell silent, and the room only echoed with Chai Yüluo’s lingering laughter:
“Young Lady Wei comes from a noble family of eastern Shandong, her conduct proper and dignified, not unbridled and loose-tongued like me – how could you mistake her for a servant? Haha! Minister Wei is now a powerful court official in high favor, wielding far more authority than my father who holds a sinecure while recovering from illness! Even our Great Tang’s Heavenly Khagan must show Minister Wei some tolerance and restraint. You, An San, want to lay hands on Minister Wei’s firstborn daughter, his precious pearl? Go ahead – you’ll bear the consequences yourself…”
An San’s deep-set green eyes looked Wei Shubin up and down, evaluating for a moment. Seeming to believe Chai Yüluo’s words, he deflated into silence. After the Daoist priestess finished laughing, she caught her breath and proposed in a serious tone:
“Manager An, I can voluntarily cooperate and ensure your father and son’s safety.”
“Oh?” The balding Hu man raised his eyebrows.
“—On the condition that you return the Great Tang’s Seventeenth Princess to me, safe and sound, pure and healthy. I guarantee to escort you, father and son, out of Chang’an City. After that, it depends on your abilities.”
Wei Shubin found these terms reasonable. Though Chang’an’s city exits were strictly guarded, making it difficult for An San and his son to leave, once outside they could avoid official roads and checkpoints, taking rural routes to reach the Western Regions beyond Tang borders. While this journey would be arduous and dangerous for ordinary people, Hu merchants should have such capabilities.
“How many times must I say it – I don’t know where Yanna is,” An San’s voice grew thick, “Much less your Seventeenth Princess — I’ve never even seen her, let alone know if she’s really with my son!”
Chai Yüluo examined the Hu merchant with that shrewd gaze Wei Shubin had seen before, her long lashes fluttering twice before she decisively nodded:
“Fine, I believe these words! Let’s cooperate like this: I’ll inform my father that I’m voluntarily staying here with Lady Wei to ‘study Hu medicine and herbs’, serving as your hostages. Within three days, you’ll inquire among the Hu merchant groups in Chang’an about the news of your son and my Seventeenth Aunt, and bring them back. Hand Seventeenth Aunt over to me, and you father and son can take your belongings and leave.”
An Yanna, a Hu man of distinctive appearance, traveling with a young girl, would be noticeable anywhere. On cold spring nights, having to care for a delicate young lady’s meals and sleep, hiding outdoors would be unsuitable. The most likely shelter would be with familiar clansmen. Having An San search for his son’s hiding place was currently the most feasible approach, possibly more effective than the imperial guard’s citywide search.
Moreover, they didn’t want news of “the Seventeenth Princess being abducted” to spread – the consequences would be too severe, far beyond what they could control.
After brief consideration, An San readily agreed:
“Alright, let’s do it! My apologies to Ladies Chai and Wei for staying here a few days. I’ll have people serve you well — if it doesn’t work out in the end, by Mazda above, you’ll just have to accompany us father and son on our journey to the Bridge of Judgment!”
He rose and took his leave. By now night had fallen deeply, and both women were exhausted. The room’s partition had a bed, not narrow, more than enough for two women to sleep, even with a fat leopard added.
The two women loosened their belts and removed A-Tun’s collar and leash. Wei Shubin asked: “Sister Yü, what did An San mean about Mazda and what bridge… who does he want to meet?”
“Mazda is the great deity, the Zoroastrian god the Hu merchants worship,” Chai Yüluo smiled wearily, collapsing onto the bed. “Balding An San means that if in the end he and his son can’t escape death, they’ll take us down with them… Let’s sleep, lie on the inner side.”
Wei Shubin followed her example, removing only her outer male robe and boots, and keeping on her undergarments and stockings. She understood Chai Yüluo was arranging this to protect her. The Daoist priestess pulled a dagger from her boot and tucked it under her pillow. Wei Shubin also felt the short knife in her bosom – both brought from Purple Void Temple. After the women lay down, A-Tun leaped up to snuggle beside Chai Yüluo, lying at the outer edge of the bed with a growl.
“Sister Yü, does your chest still hurt?” Wei Shubin asked guiltily. The Purple Void Temple master had truly risked her life for her and the Seventeenth Princess.
“It’s manageable,” the older woman beside her sighed, “No worse than this morning – that’s a sign of improvement. Should be fine after resting here a couple of days.”
“Are we staying here?” This seemed improper no matter how she thought about it. A pile of troubles waited for them to resolve outside, and the Hu Zoroastrian temple was mysterious and dangerous. Wei Shubin felt she might not be able to sleep tonight, though she was truly exhausted to the bone.
“You don’t want to stay here?” Chai Yüluo laughed softly. “Well then, think carefully – can you find us a safer place?”
Wei Shubin was suddenly struck with realization as if lightning flashed before her eyes.
They came here not just to “risk themselves to rescue the Seventeenth Princess.” They also came to avoid trouble.
In the Da’an Palace incident, they were key figures who would certainly be sought for questioning by investigators. They could neither tell the truth and implicate the Li Yuangu siblings nor was it advisable to lie to the emperor. The only solution was to hide and buy time first, then after finding the Seventeenth Princess, discuss thoroughly with Li Yuangu and others how to resolve the aftermath.
To hide, they couldn’t go to Prince Wu’s mansion, Purple Void Temple, or Princess Pingyang’s residence – palace messengers would look in those places first. The Zoroastrian temple rarely had Han Chinese visitors, relatively isolated. The foreign assassins who caused trouble at Da’an Palace weren’t the same clan as these merchants, and investigators wouldn’t search the temple within half a day… Yes, as long as balding An San and the other Hu people truly had no intention to harm them, they were safer here than anywhere else outside.
Through Chai Yüluo’s prone body, the fat-hunting leopard breathed softly at the bedside.
“But Sister Yü… we brought A-Tun… wouldn’t that make it easy for the Wuhou Guard to find us?”
If Chai household people could learn their whereabouts by questioning the Buzheng Ward gate guards, wouldn’t the palace investigators’ messengers do the same? They had also been registered to pass through Fanglin Gate leaving the imperial gardens and leaving records. If palace messengers entered the city through Fanglin Gate and asked around…
“They don’t know we have the leopard. Jing Xuan hasn’t returned to my home either – I told her to find lodging nearby and send someone to meet us at the temple tomorrow…”
Chai Yüluo’s response was mumbled, very sleepy. Wei Shubin recalled their journey from Purple Void Temple into the city, realizing indeed, the guards didn’t know they had A-Tun as such a conspicuous marker to trace.
When they passed through Fanglin Gate, the three women and leopard were all hidden in the carriage, only Chai Yüluo showing her face to greet the guards. After entering the city they had found a secluded spot to abandon the carriage and switch to horses – unlikely any guards saw them riding with a leopard.
So if palace messengers couldn’t find them at the Chai residence, they could only query checkpoints about whether they’d seen women in carriages or on horseback… of which there must be thousands in Chang’an…
Wei Shubin didn’t know when she fell asleep, but she slept quite deeply, waking when the sun was already high. She was alone – Chai Yüluo was talking with someone in the outer room, voices faintly reaching through the curtain.
Hurriedly rising to wash and dress, putting on her outer robe, Wei Shubin walked out of the bedroom to find some bread and cheese for breakfast laid out on the low table. Chai Yüluo’s bowl and plates had leftover food – she sat cross-legged on the floor, intently listening to a woman speaking beside the dining table.
The woman was a Hu courtesan, with yellow hair and a high nose, strikingly beautiful but wearing a worried expression, speaking with a slightly stiff accent:
“…just let Young Lord Yang know, that’s all – whether he wants it or not, it’s his decision. This slave is deeply grateful.”
“Young Lord Yang?” Wei Shubin walked to the dining table, asking as she sat down to prepare breakfast.
“Ah, A-Fen, you’re awake?” Chai Yüluo looked up at her with a smile. “You’ll never guess what this beauty is saying! She was ordered to serve Yang Routa for a night recently, and now…”
“This slave,” the yellow-haired Hu courtesan bit her lip tearfully, “might be… carrying Young Lord Yang’s child.”