Chang’an was bustling with preparations for the year-end ceremony, which had become the court’s primary focus. Small nations had begun arriving in the capital one after another.

The Court of State Ceremonials received these small nations. However, with so many arriving, they found themselves short-staffed.

Because of this, the Department of State Affairs dispatched Yan Shang, a department director, along with other minor officials from various ministries, to assist at the Court of State Ceremonials.

Yan Shang was quite pleased with this arrangement.

He hadn’t had many important duties at the Department of State Affairs anyway, mostly writing documents and doing odd jobs. The real power never reached his level.

At the Court of State Ceremonials, however, being from the Department of State Affairs meant he could do something meaningful, like receiving foreign envoys.

The Court had a well-established protocol for receiving foreign envoys, and Yan Shang only needed to follow these procedures.

However, one day after arriving at the Court, Yan Shang found several officials arguing in a circle. He approached and asked, “Has something happened?”

The Court officials turned to see the young director sent from the Department of State Affairs.

They had a good impression of Yan Shang because, despite coming from the Department of State Affairs, he showed none of their typical arrogance of treating other department officials as subordinates.

Usually, when given tasks by the Court’s Director, Yan Shang would help quietly without interfering or speaking out of turn.

This humble attitude had endeared him to the Court.

Now, seeing Yan Shang’s inquiry about their dispute, they sighed and explained: “We have a small problem. We had an official who specialized in the languages of the Southern Barbarians. But two months ago, his father passed away, so naturally he had to resign and return home for mourning. Now we have no one to handle the Southern Barbarian languages, and no replacement has been found.

“We reported this to the Court Director. He kept saying he would find someone. But two months have passed, and no suitable person has been found.

“We can’t just pick someone from the marketplace who happens to speak the Wu Barbarian language, can we? That wouldn’t do at all!”

While the Great Wei’s civilian exchanges were open, and there would certainly be people who could speak the Wu Barbarian language, the Court needed someone cultured, a scholar who could both speak and write… ordinary civilians wouldn’t suffice.

Yan Shang paused, then asked, “Haven’t we been at odds with the Southern Barbarians? Aren’t they still at war? Do you mean the Wu Barbarians? Has the war with them ended?”

The questioned official replied wearily: “We don’t know either. The Wu Barbarians haven’t been added to the list of nations coming to pay tribute. They probably won’t come. But we must be prepared just in case. If they really send envoys and they can’t speak our Great Wei’s official language, and none of us can communicate properly… where would our great nation’s face be then?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes, deep in thought.

Another official saw their worried expressions and laughed.

When everyone’s attention turned to him, he said with a meaningful smile: “Why say no one can speak the Wu Barbarian language? What about our Princess who married into…”

Yan Shang suddenly interrupted him: “Sir!”

The official who was about to suggest asking Princess Danyang for help was startled by Yan Shang’s sudden outburst. He glared disapprovingly and snapped, “What is it?”

Yan Shang said gently, “Look, you’re all busy arranging accommodations and receiving other small nations. Why not let me learn the language of the Wu Barbarians, who may or may not come?”

Everyone stared at him in surprise: “You?”

Yan Shang said, “I don’t have much to do anyway. I can go to the West Market to find some Wu Barbarians and learn their language. Whether they send envoys or not, we should be prepared, shouldn’t we?”

They still had doubts: “There are only two months until the ceremony. Can you manage?”

Yan Shang lowered his eyes bashfully and said, “My residence happens to be next to Princess Danyang’s manor…”

Everyone suddenly understood and accepted this explanation. Being neighbors with Princess Danyang would indeed make learning the Wu Barbarian language much more convenient.

So, the Court of State Ceremonials entrusted this matter to Yan Shang, and he finally had something meaningful to do.

Yan Shang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he certainly didn’t want these officials asking Mu Wanyao for help, making her teach people the Wu Barbarian language.

Though he still didn’t know the details, since Mu Wanyao had a poor relationship with her former husband… this political marriage probably wasn’t a pleasant experience.

He tried his best not to stir up her unpleasant memories—

But learning the Wu Barbarian language wasn’t the only thing keeping Yan Shang busy these days.

Some envoys from the visiting small nations loved martial arts and wanted to compete with Great Wei’s warriors. The Court of State Ceremonials naturally arranged for Wei generals and warriors to receive these envoys, but they also needed Court officials to accompany them.

Yan Shang was assigned to accompany one such small nation.

Following these envoys all day, even though he was a civil official, Yan Shang couldn’t avoid joining them in horseback riding and watching martial arts demonstrations.

After several days, Yan Shang’s whole body ached. Following these people, he had even learned archery.

After a month, he could even shoot arrows while riding horseback.

Yan Shang smiled wryly, thinking how delighted his elder brother would be if he knew he could now shoot arrows.

After such busy days—studying Wu Barbarian language at the Court in the mornings, spending afternoons running around Chang’an’s martial arts halls and accompanying foreign envoys in horsemanship and archery—when Yan Shang returned to his residence at night, he was truly exhausted.

And under such exhaustion, during meals, his household servants would serve only a bowl of clear water, a flatbread, and a small dish of vegetables.

Even Yan Shang was stunned at the sight.

He looked up at Yunshu and said, “…Am I this poor now? Can I only eat this much daily?”

Yunshu protested loudly: “Isn’t this your own doing? When your salary was just paid, you went to Longshou Temple, donated money to the children in the infirmary, gave money to the temple to help poor families, then paid the monthly rent owed to Princess Danyang, and paid our monthly wages… There was no money left!

“We advised you that day too. But you said you were used to hardship, coming from a small place in Lingnan, and didn’t need to live luxuriously in Chang’an, that having a few flatbreads each day would be fine… You’re so kind-hearted, what could we say? I’m even surprised we can afford flatbread now!”

Yan Shang: “…”

His face reddened as he said, “Even if it was my mistake, you don’t need to remember it in such detail, do you?”

Yunshu maintained a righteous expression, though inwardly feeling smug, thinking that he had practiced this speech for a long time. Finally being able to say it to the young master… what a relief!

Yan Shang had just realized he had become this poor. He rolled up his sleeves with a sigh and soaked the hard flatbread in clear water, eating it despite its bland taste. But after a few bites, he couldn’t swallow anymore.

He wondered if he was being too pitiful…

Worked so diligently for the court every day, yet he had ended up like this?

Yan Shang put down the bread and lowered his eyes: “…Need to think of a solution.”—

It was getting dark, and Mu Wanyao had just returned to the ward on horseback before the gates closed.

She had been in the palace today, competing with Prince Jin’s mother, Consort Xian, over the authority to arrange the ceremony. Mu Wanyao had gained the upper hand and sent a message south at noon.

She planned to use the influence of the Li family of Jinling to transport a three-person-high stone inscribed with the emperor’s merits from the south to Chang’an.

It was said this great stone had been excavated from the ground… naturally, no one believed it, but everyone pretended to believe.

The Li family of the south could still help with such matters. As Mu Wanyao gradually strengthened her influence in Chang’an, she also needed to make use of the Li family.

Entering the alley, while Mu Wanyao was feeling pleased with herself, she saw Yan Shang sitting on the steps outside his residence, lost in thought.

It was quite rare to see the beautiful youth looking like a “waiting wife.”

Mu Wanyao tilted her head to look at him several times, seeing him still lost in his daze.

Mu Wanyao ignored him and was about to enter her residence when Yunshu pushed Yan Shang, finally bringing him back to his senses.

Yan Shang: “Ahem… Your Highness has just returned?”

Mu Wanyao glanced at him.

Yan Shang: “Has Your Highness had dinner yet?”

Mu Wanyao looked at him sideways: “Are you inviting me?”

Yan Shang started, then blushed: “…I meant, could I dine at Your Highness’s residence?”

Mu Wanyao: …Is this your way of seeking favor? Seeking favor with such a lack of dignity?

She snorted: “Do as you please.”

Yan Shang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking at least one meal was now guaranteed—

Wu Barbarian King Meng Zaishi had spent two years annexing the Chi Barbarians.

Now among the five tribes of the Southern Barbarians, only four remained.

Contemporary with Meng Zaishi was the Southern Barbarian King Bule.

While Meng Zaishi’s abilities were only celebrated within the Wu Barbarians, Southern Barbarian King Bule’s great talents were renowned throughout all the Southern Barbarians.

This young Southern Barbarian King was brave and skilled in warfare. Since ascending to the throne, he had fought campaigns north and south, and over the years, several Southern Barbarian tribes had gradually come under his command.

This king was still not satisfied, planning to unite the five tribes into one, believing this would create the true Southern Barbarians.

Only then could they establish an empire as magnificent as the Great Wei.

Compared to the legendary young Southern Barbarian King Bule, Wu Barbarian King Meng Zaishi was so low-key as to be almost unnoticeable.

If the Chi Barbarians hadn’t been absorbed by the Wu Barbarians, if the Chi Barbarians hadn’t completely disappeared, even the Southern Barbarian King wouldn’t have noticed such a formidable ruler among his subordinates.

Moreover, unlike the Wu Barbarians’ pro-Wei stance, Southern Barbarian King Bule deeply resented and despised the Great Wei. He believed it was the women, jewels, and culture from Great Wei that had weakened and corrupted the Southern Barbarians’ strength.

Now the Southern Barbarian people had become weak warriors, unlike before, actually preferring to live in houses rather than tents, preferring to settle rather than nomadically roam… all this was caused by the weakness spread from Great Wei.

Thus, the Southern Barbarian King had always disliked the Wu Barbarians’ marriage alliance with Great Wei.

Though previously he disliked it but lacked the power to oppose it, now that Southern Barbarian King Bule was gradually unifying the Southern Barbarians’ voice, he could interfere with the close relationship between the Wu Barbarians and Great Wei.

When Meng Zaishi destroyed the Chi Barbarians overnight, he should have faced questioning from the Southern Barbarian King.

But when the Southern Barbarian King sent envoys, instead of questioning, they were pleasant and directly granted the Chi Barbarians’ territory to the Wu Barbarians.

The Wu Barbarian people relaxed.

After settling the envoys, several officials close to their king followed Meng Zaishi to observe the Great Wei’s border defenses from a height, discussing the Southern Barbarian King’s land grant.

Everyone said: “We were worried about the Southern Barbarian King’s reproach before, but now it seems King Bule is still reasonable.”

They all gazed at their king’s tall, imposing figure, wondering privately how their ruler compared in capability to the militarily successful Southern Barbarian King.

In the dusky twilight, Meng Zaishi stood before his subjects and sneered at their words.

His subordinates showed fearful expressions and dared not speak.

The Wu Barbarians originally had no subjects, but after Meng Zaishi abolished slavery, he followed Great Wei’s example and gave his subordinates titles like general and minister.

It was all for show, and now these subordinates put on airs, acting like masters when Meng Zaishi wasn’t around.

But when Meng Zaishi was present, they always felt somewhat inferior and uneasy.

Meng Zaishi said lazily: “How is Bule reasonable? He simply doesn’t think giving me the Chi Barbarians’ territory is any great matter. Besides, I’ve already conquered the Chi Barbarians, what else could he do? Come fight me? The unrest in the northern Southern Barbarians isn’t settled yet, he has no energy to fight me. And if he doesn’t come personally, those troops he sends… I don’t take them seriously.”

The subordinates relaxed, knowing their ruler was truly remarkable.

They asked in surprise: “Why doesn’t King Bule consider giving the Chi Barbarians to our king a big matter? After all, it’s the territory of one of the five tribes, why is King Bule so unconcerned?”

Meng Zaishi crossed his arms and replied: “Perhaps for two reasons. One is that Bule knows he can’t spare the effort now, so giving the Chi Barbarians to me doesn’t matter. When he can spare the effort, he plans to unify not just the Chi Barbarians, but the Wu Barbarians as well. Now that I’ve destroyed the Chi Barbarians, he probably thinks I’ve saved him a step, making things easier for him.”

After a pause, in the howling night wind, they stood at the height and saw their young Wu Barbarian king speaking confidently, the scar that crossed half his face looking particularly fierce.

Hearing how the Southern Barbarian King looked down on their ruler, the subordinates were all angry: “Too much! We spent two years annexing the Chi Barbarians, yet he treats conquering the Wu Barbarians as if it were ‘reaching into a bag.’ He doesn’t take us seriously at all!”

Meng Zaishi said mockingly: “The second reason is even more interesting. Just like you now, you can use phrases like ‘reaching into a bag’ that come from Great Wei, but in the Southern Barbarians that Bule wants to unify, no one could say such things. We learn about Great Wei’s culture and advanced techniques, but Bule looks down on this. He thinks Great Wei is weak and incompetent, and that they should bow to him as king. He believes the Wu Barbarians who have learned Great Wei’s culture are no longer true Southern Barbarians.

“He only knows how to fight. He gave me the Chi Barbarians’ territory because even if he had it, he wouldn’t know what to do with it. He has no idea how to govern; these lands and people are only useful to him as military strength, what else could they do?”

Meng Zaishi smiled, the scar on his face making him look even more sinister: “Since it’s useless to him, he might as well give the Chi Barbarians to me and earn my goodwill. When he destroys us Wu Barbarians in the future, he’ll have justification.”

The subordinates all nodded, saying they understood now.

Then they became smug, thinking King Bule’s actions were very unwise. Looking back, when their previous king was alive, his decision to ally with Great Wei through marriage despite opposition had proven correct.

They looked down on the Southern Barbarian King now, thinking the Southern Barbarians were backward, and the Wu Barbarians had left their backwardness behind.

They gazed joyfully at Meng Zaishi’s back, thinking this was all thanks to their ruler. Though the previous king had arranged the marriage alliance, besides trade with Great Wei, there wasn’t much else.

It wasn’t until this king’s ascension three years ago that they gradually shed their former ignorance.

The subordinates asked: “Then Your Majesty, by letting the Southern Barbarian King’s envoys stay, are you planning to discuss going to Great Wei to pay respects to the Great Wei Emperor? Has Your Majesty decided to send someone?”

Meng Zaishi asked in return: “Who should we send?”

Everyone offered different suggestions.

Meng Zaishi said: “None of your suggestions are good. Let me propose someone.”

The subordinates quickly fell silent to listen.

They heard Meng Zaishi laugh, turn to face them, and point to himself: “What do you think about me?”

Everyone was stunned, hearing their king say again: “What do you think about me making a trip to Great Wei?”

After being stunned for a long while, they came to their senses and began involuntarily praising the Wu Barbarian King: “Your Majesty shows such respect to the Great Wei Emperor! The Great Wei Emperor will be pleased!

“Your Majesty is the hero of the Wu Barbarians! The high-soaring eagle! A star in the heavens!”

Meng Zaishi remained silent. Following their praise, his gaze moved up from the brightly lit Great Wei border defenses below the mountains to the vast starry sky above.

Meng Zaishi said quietly: “I’ve heard a legend. They say only heroes become stars in the sky after death. But in this world, who truly deserves to be called a hero?”

The starry expanse was boundless, time flowing ever onward.

He thought again of Princess Danyang, Mu Wanyao—

It was a month before the Wu Barbarian uprising.

The previous Wu Barbarian King had been wounded by arrows on the battlefield and returned to the royal court to be cared for by Queen Mu Wanyao. Mu Wanyao very earnestly cared for her husband, yet the more she cared for him, the worse the old Wu Barbarian King’s wounds became.

The previous Wu Barbarian King felt his life drawing to an end. In his final days, he had come to love this wife from Great Wei. He didn’t think this Great Wei princess would harm him, and the court’s witch doctors had also praised the Great Wei princess’s attentiveness.

The previous Wu Barbarian King sadly felt heaven was reclaiming his life, and he began to establish his successor.

He directly passed over his disliked eldest son Meng Zaishi, born to a minor serving girl from another tribe, wanting to pass the throne to his favorite youngest son.

The previous Wu Barbarian King, fearing the Great Wei princess would be displeased, held her hand and said: “Don’t be sad. If you had a son, I would make him king.”

The Great Wei princess wept as she replied: “Your Majesty overwhelms me with kindness. As your wife, how could I care about such things?”

The previous Wu Barbarian King always found his wife’s cultured way of speaking difficult to understand. He said: “Don’t worry, I will make good arrangements for you.”

His arrangement for the Great Wei princess was that after his death, the new Wu Barbarian King who succeeded him would marry this Great Wei princess again.

However, when the Wu Barbarian King was gravely ill, the Great Wei princess quietly left the royal tent one night and secretly met with Meng Zaishi, the eldest son whom the Wu Barbarian King disliked.

The two rode horses far from the royal court, drinking and making merry.

Speaking of how the Wu Barbarian King was near death, the princess couldn’t help but smile.

Meng Zaishi said: “In our Wu Barbarian legend, everyone becomes a star in the sky after death. Father will always be watching us like this. Are you afraid?”

Mu Wanyao started, then laughed.

She said: “If I dared to kill him while he was alive, why would I fear a dead man?”

She propped her burning cheek on her hand, turning to look at Meng Zaishi.

Her eyes blinked gently, that uniquely gentle beauty of Great Wei women making her different from any woman Meng Zaishi had ever seen.

Great Wei women always seemed more delicate compared to Wu Barbarian women.

But beyond that delicacy, two years of life among the Wu Barbarians had added a certain hardness to Mu Wanyao. Thus she became both cold and gentle, both alluring and aloof.

When Mu Wanyao gazed at Meng Zaishi, her eyes flowing with charm, Meng Zaishi couldn’t help but lean closer to look at her beautiful eyes.

Meng Zaishi suddenly asked her: “How did you kill my father?”

Mu Wanyao said with a smile: “Guess.”

Meng Zaishi came to his senses, thoughtful: “Was it just the arrow wounds? The witch doctors said you followed all their instructions and didn’t do anything unusual.”

Mu Wanyao smiled particularly cunningly.

Meng Zaishi gripped her chin, half-smiling: “Little princess, you’re being mischievous again. Alright, tell me what you want this time?”

Mu Wanyao: “Hmm, after your father dies, they want me to marry your brother. I don’t want to marry him. I want you to give me some Wu Barbarian warriors to help me kill people that night and escape from his side.”

Meng Zaishi looked at her deeply: “You won’t be able to escape.”

Mu Wanyao said casually: “What does it matter to you? This is my condition anyway. Give me the warriors, and I’ll tell you the answer.”

Meng Zaishi looked at her for a moment, then agreed. At the time, he only thought Mu Wanyao simply didn’t want to marry again; how could he have known she would use the warriors he provided to create misunderstandings with the new Wu Barbarian King, eliminating both sides at once?

That night, Meng Zaishi was probably drunk and didn’t think too deeply about Mu Wanyao’s intentions.

He easily agreed to give her the men and saw her turn her palm upward, her delicate jade-white palm gesturing toward herself, indicating Meng Zaishi should lean in to listen.

Her languid charm, in Meng Zaishi’s eyes, left him seeing only her fingers and eyes.

His gaze darkened, and he casually leaned in, suddenly pulling this slightly drunk woman into his arms.

She still giggled: “Of course, it was the arrow wounds. But before your father went to war, I specifically went to look at the arrows you use in battle. I asked around, not just yours, but even the enemy uses the same kind of arrows. They’re all waste arrows, splattered with blood repeatedly, with rust scraped off.

“I don’t understand warfare or martial arts. But I know that these worn-out iron crossbow bolts, once they enter the body, easily cause death. Haha, these arrows themselves are already full of poison. During the treatment afterward, I just had to delay a bit, and with your father’s poor health, it was very easy for him to perish.

“So simple! Why would I need to do anything special?”

Meng Zaishi was shocked, then asked her: “How did you know all this? Is this also something you can read about in your Great Wei books?”

She mumbled incoherently, no longer answering him.

She was very drunk now, her eyes flowing like water, misty. Leaning on his shoulder, she looked up at the stars in the sky and suddenly said: “Actually, in our Great Wei, we also have sayings about people becoming stars in the sky after death.”

Meng Zaishi raised his head with her to look at the starlight above.

His deep eyes looked down at her clear pupils, loving them so much he wanted to bite those enchanting eyes.

He said slowly: “Then after I die, will I meet the little princess in the sky?”

Mu Wanyao started, then shook her head.

Meng Zaishi’s body turned ice-cold, thinking she meant she didn’t want to meet him in the sky.

But then he heard Mu Wanyao say dreamily: “However, in our Great Wei’s saying, only heroes become stars in the sky.

“In this world, who is truly a hero?”

Meng Zaishi looked at her, took her hand, and brought it to his lips. He said: “Then I shall become such a hero so that even after I die, the little princess can see me in the sky.”

He asked her: “Do you want me to die?”

Meng Zaishi’s burning palm pressed against her delicate white neck. Hearing his words, she shook her head.

She just leaned on his shoulder, face upturned, eyes staring straight at him.

She seemed to take a moment to understand his words. Then she gently lowered her upper eyelids, then quickly opened them wide.

These bewitching cat-like eyes perfectly illustrated the meaning of “eyes like spring water.” Vivid, yet not flirtatious.

No man could resist such a gaze.

She never answered his question in the end, and he didn’t ask again.

Meng Zaishi held her tightly in his arms, his kisses falling continuously on her face as he whispered: “Little princess… when I become king, I’ll make you the queen. Stay here forever, alright?”

Later he would learn that she had indeed wanted him to die.