The clatter of hoofbeats broke the silence. Shao Yao turned toward the sound, and the fierce edge visible all over her melted away. She pressed her lips together in a pout — she felt aggrieved beyond measure.

Hua Zhi dismounted, stretched out her hand, and Shao Yao obediently came over and took it, leaning against her shoulder without a word.

Hua Zhi patted her on the back, then raised her voice. “General Wu.”

Wu Yong, who had come along, was both exasperated and worried, terrified that the Regent’s protective wife and husband would say something along the lines of “the wedding is off” — and now every step he took toward them felt weighted and heavy.

“Yinshan Pass is a vital border stronghold and has always been a place where one’s worth is proven through skill. Though Shao Yao is a woman, she once went to a border pass at a moment of great peril for Daqing and held an entire garrison. Now that she has come here to Yinshan Pass, let her abide by Yinshan Pass’s rules — let the hands do the speaking.”

Hua Zhi met Shao Yao’s bright and eager gaze and smiled. “So please allow General Wu to exchange a few moves with Shao Yao. There is no need to hold back — it would hardly look well for General Wu to be defeated in a matter of two or three blows, now would it?”

“This…”

“Let everyone see whether our Daqing’s He Le Commandery Princess — setting aside that exalted title — is worthy of General Wu.” Without sparing any further attention for Wu Yong, Hua Zhi straightened Shao Yao’s collar with a calm and unhurried hand. “Go. When it comes to other people’s husbands, one must mind the limits. But this man is yours — don’t hesitate to strike with a heavier hand. You have medical skills, after all — you can always fix whatever you break.”

She paused, then added with a smile, “Don’t hit the face.”

Wu Yong: “…”

The crowd: “…”

Shao Yao coyly nuzzled against Hua Zhi, then leapt onto the training ground again and crooked a finger at Wu Yong.

Wu Yong was both helplessly amused and exasperated. He had seen people show support before, but never quite like this. Even so, he did not refuse the suggestion. As Wang Fei had said — at Yinshan Pass, it was strength that did the talking. If Shao Yao had the ability to silence everyone, that would be more effective than any other approach.

He removed his outer robe and stepped up onto the training ground, then selected a weapon he was comfortable with from a rack along the side. When the watching soldiers saw the long saber in his hand, they knew the general was serious. The long whip was a weapon suited for ranged combat; the long saber could be used at range just the same, as well as in close quarters.

Shao Yao made the first move — her long whip shot forward as though alive, bearing down on Wu Yong. Wu Yong dropped into a backbend to avoid it, and his saber swept upward in a counter. Back and forth they went, blow for blow, evenly matched.

Hua Zhi drew close to her husband and murmured, “Who will win?”

Gu Yanxi kept a straight face, suppressing his laughter. Where had the boldness gone that had sent Shao Yao out onto that ground? He had not thought to wonder at the time whether Shao Yao could actually win — and that version of Hua Zhi had truly made him want to give his very life for her, if only he could have someone guard him with such wholehearted devotion.

“Which of the two has the upper hand doesn’t matter. What matters is that this bout has no winner or loser.”

“A draw?”

“They both understand.”

Hua Zhi watched the two of them fighting at full intensity and gave a slow nod. It went without saying for Wu Yong — he dared not strike to injure her. As for Shao Yao, her mind was clear as a mirror, and she knew full well what outcome served everyone best. To integrate herself into Yinshan Pass through this sort of contest was, indeed, a little unexpected — yet it suited Shao Yao perfectly. She had no use for the tangled maneuvering of the inner quarters. Subduing people by force was the most direct way.

The two of them fought in a match that could not be resolved, and the crowd below gradually forgot that this same person had just sent them rolling across the ground one by one. Cheers rang out without end. The worry Hua Zhi had been carrying and unable to set down was suddenly lifted. This place — it truly was right for Shao Yao.

Just as Gu Yanxi had predicted, the two fought to a draw. Shao Yao was clearly in high spirits, and went calling out for Hua Zhi as she launched herself over, wiping a whole forehead’s worth of sweat onto Hua Zhi’s shoulder. Gu Yanxi gave her a light flick on the forehead and pulled her away, helping Hua Zhi put her clothes back in order.

“Heh heh.” Shao Yao grinned foolishly and sidled over to Hua Zhi’s other side, gripping her hand and refusing to let go.

Hua Zhi could see she was genuinely happy. Her expression toward Wu Yong, who was walking over, became somewhat warmer. “Shao Yao was impetuous. Please offer the others an apology on her behalf.”

Wu Yong was about to respond with something along the lines of “it is of no matter,” when he heard Wang Fei add, “Times like this will likely come again in the future, so please ask everyone to get used to having a commander’s wife who is fond of getting physical.”

Wu Yong: “…”

The crowd: “…”

Shao Yao bared her teeth at the assembled soldiers, chin lifted slightly — a little smug, a little uninhibited — and somehow not particularly unlikeable.

Gu Yanxi gave a light cough, draped his arm around Hua Zhi’s shoulder, and turned to go. “Let’s head back.”

The party of three had arrived suddenly and left just as quickly. Only then did the others press around Wu Yong on all sides. “General, that was He Le Commandery Princess?”

“General, that was really an imperial Commandery Princess?”

“General, did you go easy on her?”

“General…”

“Enough!” Wu Yong swept them all with a fierce look. “Yes, that is He Le Commandery Princess. Did you think she was some pampered flower? She spent years in the Seven Watchers Bureau, where she learned medicine and the use of poisons. When the southern Xinyu Pass was on the verge of falling, she took command in a moment of crisis and held it — and she captured the sovereign of Yan and an array of his royal kin, trading them for vast quantities of grain. Her contributions are not one bit less than mine. She married me by coming down to my level. It was I who rose above my station to have her — don’t act as though she had no other choice but to come here to Yinshan Pass.”

Everyone exchanged glances. “General, what has happened?”

“Go ask the women in your quarters.” Wu Yong swung up onto his horse. He had his own mess to go and clean up.

Afterward, Hua Zhi never did ask Wu Yong how he had handled the matter. In fact, she had never raised the issue from beginning to end.

The twelfth day of the eighth month — auspicious day, favorable for weddings.

At first light, Hua Zhi personally attended to Shao Yao’s dressing and adornment. With several deft-handed maids to assist, Shao Yao on this day radiated a dazzling brilliance.

“By convention, we cannot follow along. From the moment you step through this door, a new chapter of your life begins.” Hua Zhi held her face carefully and touched up the color at her left eyebrow. “You have been on your own for a long time. Going forward, you will have to grow accustomed to sharing your life with someone else — even if it means he will take up half the bed, half the meals, half the wardrobe, even half the training room. And yet in return, he can also accompany you to sleep, accompany you to eat, and spar with you.”

She set down the eyebrow brush and picked up the rouge. “I hope he can walk alongside you for a very long time. This road is so long — having someone beside you means you will not feel so alone.”

“What if he gives up partway and stops walking with me?” Shao Yao asked in a muffled voice, holding her mouth half open.

“He can’t bear to. He has spent time in a life of comfort and ease — he knows how rare a woman like you is. There is no one like you to be found again in all the world. Home is wherever you know it to be — but Shao Yao, remember this: when things are hard, don’t be too quick to say you want to give up. Don’t always think of the retreat you have available to you. In the world of feelings, there is no room for that kind of hesitation and wavering. Do you understand?”

“I understand. I will be like you, Hua Zhi.” She would not shrink away. She would not lack even the courage to fight for what she wanted. Shao Yao stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Hua Zhi’s waist, leaning in. This gentle person — it would be nearly half a year before she could see her again.

Hua Zhi patted her on the back and sighed inwardly. The concern she was pouring into all of this was truly a mother’s heart.

That day, husband and wife both wore ceremonial attire — matching colors, dignified and magnificent.

For the first time, Hua Zhi received Shao Yao’s formal bow. She watched the bride in her brilliant red wedding dress, led out step by step by a length of red silk toward the door, and her mind drifted back — Shao Yao had come to the estate wearing a veiled hat to tend to her injuries, and that had been only four years ago, yet it felt as though they had known each other for a whole lifetime.

She was getting married now. She had gotten married. That spirited, restless girl had gotten married too. When they returned to the capital, Hua Zhi would need to start making arrangements for the maids’ marriages as well.

All of their lives were about to enter another stage. Fortunately, the people beside them remained.

P.S.: Aiming to wrap it up in two or three more chapters. I’m working on the opening of the new book — the opening of Cherishing Hua Zhi went through seven or eight drafts, and this new book has already broken that record. It is agony.