Beside the official road, bamboo groves grew lush and green.

A magnificent and dignified enormous carriage stopped on the official road, followed by two rows of agile guards carrying swords and bows. In front of the carriage squatted a smiling young scholar. Two steps away stood an imposing, tall, handsome, and dignified noble young master.

By the bamboo grove squatted a young girl dressed as a local native. Half-standing before her was a young master in fine clothes and jade crown. The young girl had clear brows and beautiful eyes, simple and natural. The young master in fine clothes was even more outstanding—beautiful and lovely, difficult to describe or paint.

The young girl was so shy her face flushed completely red. She buried her face in her arms, not daring to speak.

“Just now I heard them call you A Xiu, so miss is called A Xiu, right? Earlier at the market, you kept looking at me. I’m not a heartless person—how could I disappoint such a beauty’s intentions?” The young master looked exactly like a wastrel molesting a respectable woman. “Miss, did you sprain your ankle? Why don’t I escort you home? Come, come, let me help you up. Don’t hide, miss, miss…”

A Xiu’s face reddened with shyness. “Don’t, don’t, you shouldn’t…”

The young master became even more enthusiastic. “Little miss, don’t reject me so coldly! How old are you this year? Where do you live? Are you betrothed to anyone?”

A Xiu gathered her courage and raised her face. “No, no… not yet… Do you, do you like me?”

The young master’s brows opened with delight. “Of course! Miss is so beautiful—am I made of stone?”

A Xiu could barely contain her shyness. Bashfully she said, “Actually, actually you’re also very good-looking…”

The young scholar on the carriage said expressionlessly, “Are you really not going to stop her? She’s getting more and more skilled at flirting with young ladies. If this continues and the young lady takes it seriously, what then? Are you really going to marry her?”

The noble young master’s lips curved in a smile. “Let’s give her a little lesson this time, so she stops flirting with every cat and dog all day long.”

The young scholar’s face grew bitter. “I’m just worried she’ll use my name to cause trouble again! I sit at home and disaster falls from the sky!”

The noble young master glanced at him sideways. “You clearly escaped because your family was forcing you to marry. Why blame it on Shaoshang? And that divination about your destined match being far away…”

The young scholar’s gaze swept over and he grabbed the noble young master’s sleeve. “Quick, look! Your wife is about to take a wife!”

The noble young master immediately looked toward the bamboo grove.

A Xiu, squatting on the ground, timidly pulled on the young master’s sleeve. “…Do you, do you really like me?”

The young master had an ominous feeling. “Uh, well, that, like you of course, but…”

A Xiu’s eyes filled with joy. “Then, then I’ll have my father come propose marriage.”

The young scholar froze. “Why is her father coming to propose? Shouldn’t the man’s side go propose? Oh, the local tribes here probably have different customs.”

The noble young master stared at A Xiu’s neck, his expression revealing faint doubt.

The young master was frightened and waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no, no! This won’t do! This absolutely won’t do!”

A Xiu looked about to cry. “Are you from a high Han family and look down on us natives? My father is the local chieftain leader. Go back and ask your elders—maybe they’ll agree to our match.”

The young master laughed awkwardly. “How could I look down on you! Your father is a chieftain? Well, well… It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with the young lady, but rather, but rather…” She thought she couldn’t offend the local great chieftain leader, so she steeled her heart. “It’s because I’m a woman! I’m a woman disguised as a man! If you don’t believe me, look at my ears!”

She tried hard to show A Xiu the tiny holes in her earlobes. But who knew—

“I know that.” A Xiu seemed very puzzled. “I already knew you were a woman.”

“Ah?!” Shaoshang’s expression looked like she’d been stepped on by an ox.

A Xiu raised her head to look up. “You Han women who come here all love to wear men’s clothing. I’ve seen it since childhood. At the market, I could tell at a glance you were a woman.”

Shaoshang was too embarrassed to respond. “Haha, hehe, so that’s how it is…” Suddenly puzzled again. “Since you knew I was a woman, why did you want your father to propose marriage?”

A Xiu smiled like spring flowers, suddenly standing up—actually half a head taller than Shaoshang. “Because I’m a man! Couldn’t you tell? Everyone here knows. Why are you joking and pretending not to know? If you don’t believe me, look!” With that, she swiftly pulled open her robe, revealing a flat chest.

Shaoshang gaped, staring dumbly at A Xiu’s lean, thin chest.

Over there, Shao Gong had already done a headfirst dive off the carriage. Huo Buyi’s face was iron-black as he charged over with several swift strides.

In the end, this farce concluded with A Xiu’s tearful sobbing, Shaoshang’s embarrassed consoling, and newly appointed Regional Inspector Huo Buyi’s overwhelming jealousy.

A Xiu’s real name was Xiu Zhu. He was the only son of the local greatest tribal chieftain leader.

Before A Xiu was born, the great chieftain had already lost several sons to early death. A Xiu’s birth was also difficult labor. Though finally born, his body was weak. The great chieftain could only seek help from the clan’s great priest. The great priest expertly went through the motions of killing chickens and sprinkling dog’s blood, finally reaching a conclusion: dress him as a girl until age fifteen, and the evil spirits would spare this child.

A Xiu really wanted to complain. He felt his family’s great priest had too easy a job. Han people’s shamans at least danced exorcism dances and drew demon-dispelling talismans, but his family’s great priest, over all these years, whenever asked about children’s weak health, always handled it the same way—just raise them as girls.

Under this uniform treatment method, not only did A Xiu wear women’s clothing before age fifteen, but so did Brother A Yong next door, Brother A Gang from the back mountain, Uncle A Meng from the front forest, and two cousins from his maternal grandfather’s family—all grew up dressed as girls.

So A Xiu never suffered bullying for wearing women’s clothing as a child, nor did he develop a daughter’s temperament. Though he wore women’s clothing, he received all the same training boys should have—hunting, fishing, and so on—without exception.

Complaints aside, A Xiu ultimately grew up safely and healthily, so the great priest remained highly virtuous and respected.

One month before A Xiu’s fifteenth birthday, he encountered a woman disguised as a man at the market—a Han girl. That girl had a bright, radiant smile, brilliant as stars. A Xiu was captivated at first sight. If Brother A Yong, who’d just changed back to men’s clothing, hadn’t pulled him along, he couldn’t have walked away.

But who knew, who knew… A Xiu couldn’t help feeling sorrowful—that girl was actually the new Regional Inspector’s wife! Wuwuwuwu, heaven was truly too unkind to him. He needed to find the great priest to divine and change his fate. Wuwuwuwu!

This matter was soon known by A Xiu’s father, the great chieftain, who specifically dragged him to the Regional Inspector’s residence to apologize. Then A Xiu saw the Regional Inspector’s wife dressed in noble lady’s attire looking embarrassed. After returning home, he cried another storm, sobbing complaints to his mother that his father definitely didn’t love him anymore—actually rubbing salt in his wounds!

His father, whose ears had been twisted red by his mother, had no choice but to come talk with him in the middle of the night.

“A Xiu, what do you think of the newly arrived Regional Inspector Huo?”

A Xiu bit his tear-soaked sleeve and said resentfully, “Not much.” But the Regional Inspector’s wife was very good. “He looks fierce.” He wondered if he would bully the Regional Inspector’s wife.

The great chieftain said displeased, “A Xiu, you’re almost fifteen years old. Stop throwing childish tantrums, or how will you inherit my position in the future?”

A Xiu rubbed his tear-reddened eyes. While hiccupping from crying, he recounted everything he’d seen and heard in the Han city these past days.

The newly arrived Regional Inspector was surnamed Huo. Reportedly, he was the Han Emperor’s adopted son. Though young, he’d campaigned north and south earning much merit. Not yet thirty, he’d already become a frontier official commanding a region. Before entering the territory where A Xiu grew up, Regional Inspector Huo already had a fierce reputation. It was said that when suppressing bandits in western provinces, he essentially leveled mountain after mountain. Wherever he passed, not a blade of grass grew.

A Xiu’s father was unconcerned. “The bandits in the western provinces have occupied mountains as kings for decades. Counting from the previous dynasty’s great chaos, they’ve passed down two or three generations. Fathers, sons, grandsons accustomed to being kings and tyrants—they can’t be easily pacified. Moreover, to truly pacify them, the court would have to offer great rewards and guard against whether they truly surrender or turn to rebellion afterward. Since this Regional Inspector Huo excels at warfare, why waste the effort? After the first few waves of fierce bandits are destroyed or subdued, those who come later to pacify them will have it much easier.”

Later, when Regional Inspector Huo’s officials truly entered this area, A Xiu discovered the rumors might not be reliable, because the new Regional Inspector’s governance was both resolute and flexible—clearing bandits, encouraging farming, building waterworks, even naturalizing the numerous natives—all proceeded like water wearing through stone, quietly and imperceptibly.

People like them, natives hidden in deep mountains and dense forests, though life was hard and they chronically lacked salt and medicine, because of deep wariness toward Han people, they never dared step forward. But under the new Regional Inspector’s subtle influence, even A Xiu’s father, such a stubborn great chieftain, quickly couldn’t restrain himself.

A Xiu didn’t know what his father discussed with Regional Inspector Huo, but in the end he agreed to persuade the chieftains of surrounding tribes to send their family children to the official school in the regional seat to learn Han writing, poetry, moral principles and propriety.

A Xiu was naturally among them. Moreover, as the only son of the greatest chieftain, he was a key focus of the court’s attention. A Xiu secretly hoped the Regional Inspector’s wife could come “pay much attention” to him. Unfortunately, the one who paid much attention to him was only the Regional Inspector himself~~

Before going, his father told A Xiu that the great Han officials would certainly try to win over chieftain family children like them. He should learn to read the situation—neither be completely fooled by Han ways, nor be stubborn and obstinate without knowing compliance.

A Xiu felt his father was overthinking. That new Regional Inspector looked unfavorably on him. On the first day entering the official school, the new Regional Inspector dragged him to the training grounds for “tempering.” The Regional Inspector didn’t use Han cavalry and archery methods, only practicing local wrestling with him—then A Xiu was thrown into dizziness eighteen times, stars filling the sky, not knowing east from west.

A Xiu had only changed out of women’s clothing a few days prior. He cried his heart out on the spot. That black-hearted, heavy-handed Regional Inspector Huo probably felt he’d vented his anger. Laughing heartily, he pulled him to bandage his wounds. That night, Regional Inspector Huo brought two jars of wine and grabbed him by the neck to drink on the rooftop.

“Your father is the most prestigious great chieftain locally, famously wary and resentful of Han people. Do you know why your father was willing to be the first to come down the mountain and approach the court this time?”

Though Regional Inspector Huo was over ten years older than A Xiu, when he smiled he looked especially young and refined—like a handsome older brother. A Xiu unwillingly acknowledged in his heart that he and the Regional Inspector’s wife were actually quite well-matched.

“I don’t know.” A Xiu shook his head, holding his wine jar.

Regional Inspector Huo sighed. “The great chieftain did it for you.”

A Xiu’s mouth dropped open.

“Your Weng Xi Bo Kan family has been chieftains on this land for nearly a hundred years. About twenty-some years ago, the tyrannical emperor’s officials from the previous dynasty imposed harsh taxes and oppressed natives, even kidnapping you to make into slaves. So your grandfather, who had considerable prestige at the time, led surrounding numerous tribes in resistance together.”

A Xiu’s cheeks flushed red with joy. “I know this! In the end we won! The bad emperor’s dog officials were all driven away by grandfather, then everyone elected my father as great chieftain!”

“You won, yes. But do you know how many people your family lost?”

Regional Inspector Huo’s body emanated the clear scent of wine, faintly carrying the breath of distant ice and snow. A Xiu didn’t understand—they were clearly drinking the same wine, so why did Regional Inspector Huo’s scent smell so good?

“Every family and tribe had deaths, but your family died the most. Your grandfather’s dozen-plus sons died until only your father and your uncle remained. Your uncle was also crippled.” Regional Inspector Huo’s expression seemed half-smiling, his eyes incredibly bright.

A Xiu had been drinking somewhat hazily, but at these words suddenly sobered. “Uncle, uncle never married or had children. Father only has me as a son. Then, then, then…” He shook his head violently. “It won’t happen. Everyone respects father very much. The story of grandfather leading everyone to resist the bad emperor is still sung in the tribe!”

Regional Inspector Huo said, “Even without the previous dynasty’s tyrannical emperor’s oppression, your tribes wouldn’t necessarily be peaceful. Fighting over land, women, and livestock is common. What happens to defeated chieftains—I need not say.”

A Xiu woodenly took another drink—of course he knew. The ballads also sang of this. Defeated chieftains directly killed were actually fortunate. What was feared was if the other side held victory ceremonies, then at the ceremony gouged eyes, carved bones, flayed skin, and so on.

“Your father hopes you can inherit his position. Even if you cannot inherit, he hopes you can live peacefully and safely. But you’ve been weak since childhood, with an even weaker temperament, and you love to cry…”

A Xiu shot up, shouting loudly, “I don’t love to cry!” As he spoke, his eyes moistened again.

Because he stood too hastily, he nearly forgot he was on a rooftop and almost fell. Regional Inspector Huo lightly supported him with one hand.

A Xiu sat down dejectedly. He understood. His father was getting old and worried his son’s future position would be unstable with no support, so he wanted to borrow the court’s power to control the situation.

He looked again at Regional Inspector Huo—saw his broad shoulders, vigorous waist, determined and decisive gaze. His body seemed to contain infinite strength. Anyone seeing him would naturally feel he could be relied upon—this was what a true man should be.

After this late-night conversation, Regional Inspector Huo seemed somewhat more at ease with A Xiu. So he allowed A Xiu to move freely in his residence and personally taught him reading and managing affairs. Naturally, A Xiu saw the Regional Inspector’s wife again.

Though the Regional Inspector’s wife was young, she was very skilled at managing affairs. That great residence was managed by her in perfect order. The atmosphere in the residence was light and pleasant yet airtight—unlike the great Han officials’ homes A Xiu had visited before, which were either chaotically dizzying or coldly like mute walking corpses.

The little maids in the Regional Inspector’s residence said the Regional Inspector’s wife had previously served as Palace Secretary, managing an entire palace—naturally she was capable.

A Xiu especially liked the Regional Inspector’s wife’s tone of speech—both formidable and playful. Even when scolding people, he could listen all day.

Regional Inspector Huo’s teaching was very strict. Several times A Xiu couldn’t bear it, but to avoid crying he forcefully pinched his own arm. This matter was learned by the Regional Inspector’s wife, who came smiling to find him.

“A Xiu, do you know? You always remind me of an old friend—my cousin’s husband. He also loved to cry since childhood. Well, actually he still cried when grown—he cried heartily on the day he married my cousin. My infuriating full brother used to especially love bullying him.”

“But now, you know where he is? He took my cousin west to the Western Regions, saying he wanted to see the distant high mountains and deserts. As he walks, he also sends things back.” The Regional Inspector’s wife’s cheeks were pink and powdery, her beautiful eyes gentle.

“Recently I just received a family letter. Because the desert moves, many previous survey maps can no longer be used, but he brought the court newly drawn sheepskin maps. He also said in future he’ll bring back novel grain varieties and mineral sand. Now when people speak of him, they all praise him. No one looks down on him anymore. True heroes don’t necessarily have to be cold and hard as ice blocks. As long as the will is there and the mind is resolute, being sentimental doesn’t make one less of a man.”

A Xiu knew the Regional Inspector’s wife was consoling him, but he felt these words were very right.

His greatest wish now was to become his parents’ support, not let his family worry, and become a great chieftain like his grandfather. For this wish, he was willing to endure any hardship!

A Xiu became increasingly free in the Regional Inspector’s residence, showing that Regional Inspector Huo increasingly trusted him. But this also brought A Xiu a small trouble—because he would occasionally happen upon the Regional Inspector couple’s intimate behavior.

Actually, native customs were open. A Xiu had been accustomed since childhood to seeing young men and women kissing and caressing together. But somehow, seeing the Regional Inspector couple being affectionate still made his face flush and heart race. The same actions—when Brother A Yong and his sweetheart did them, it was like livestock rushing urgently, and A Xiu was too lazy to even look. But when the Regional Inspector couple did them, there was an indescribable tender affection and lingering intimacy.

One day, Regional Inspector Huo was taking A Xiu to the military camp outside the city. At that time, the sky hadn’t yet brightened. The Regional Inspector’s wife came out hazily to see him off with her hair loose, brows and eyes soft and charming, her snow-white lotus feet bare. Seeing this, the Regional Inspector embraced her, and the two kissed.

The Regional Inspector’s wife kissed along her husband’s chin to his slender neck, nibbled his Adam’s apple once, finally kissing into the Regional Inspector’s open robe at his chest. Regional Inspector Huo was tall and strong. With a lift of his arms, he raised his wife entirely, kissing her earlobes and the hollow of her neck, then lower…

A Xiu had just walked to the courtyard entrance. Seeing this on the spot, his face flushed crimson. He tumbled out of the courtyard—even his sleepiness was shamed away.

Another time, the wife personally shaved and cleaned the Regional Inspector’s face. A Xiu sat cross-legged in the corridor reciting texts, occasionally turning back to see the wife tenderly caressing the Regional Inspector’s face and neck. The Regional Inspector had one hand resting on his wife’s slender waist. The two gazed at each other, endless affection flowing between them.

A Xiu finished reciting and went back. Walking away, he suddenly thought—the Regional Inspector had one hand on his wife’s waist, but where was the other hand? A Xiu tried hard to recall. The wife’s summer robe was very loose, especially the sleeves. Aiyaya, the Regional Inspector’s other hand seemed to have reached into his wife’s sleeve…

Which idiot told him all Han people were reserved and restrained?! It was all lies!

There was also the Regional Inspector wife’s cheerful, playful full brother, Young Master Cheng. Even though A Xiu had already worked very hard not to cry, he insisted on teasing him to continue crying. Later, when this Young Master Cheng went to learn astrology from an elder living in seclusion in the neighboring commandery’s mountains, he fell in love at first sight with the elder’s granddaughter who planned to cultivate immortality. After much chaos, though Young Master Cheng finally got his wish, A Xiu also got his revenge.

When A Xiu could write a complete family letter in Han characters, the Regional Inspector’s wife was diagnosed as pregnant. Regional Inspector Huo froze on the spot. His handsome, dignified face inexplicably shed tears.

“Shaoshang, I, I…” Regional Inspector Huo, cast in steel and iron, held his wife and choked, unable to speak.

The Regional Inspector’s wife gently embraced her husband’s head to her bosom. “I know, I know everything… In the future you’ll have many, many flesh and blood relations. You’ll never be alone again.”

Regional Inspector Huo raised his head, his handsome eyes clear and transparent, smiling through tears. “No. From the moment I met you, I was no longer alone.”

Though he didn’t know the reason, A Xiu’s heart also felt sour. So he cried.

He felt the Regional Inspector couple’s marriage must have come with much bitterness and difficulty. That they could finally become husband and wife was truly wonderful.

A Xiu studied beside Regional Inspector Huo for many years. He personally watched the Regional Inspector’s wife become pregnant, give birth, raise children. The great Emperor far away sent long caravans of things and attending physicians trip after trip. The Regional Inspector couple occasionally returned to the capital to report on duties and visit family, receive titles and ranks, many rewards… over and over.

Just as the Regional Inspector’s wife said, Regional Inspector Huo truly had several flesh and blood relations. Though each was more mischievous than the last, each better at angering people, being lively and bustling every day was truly good.

Later still, news came from the capital that the Emperor was gravely ill. The Regional Inspector couple immediately set out with their children to return—unexpectedly, once gone, they never returned.

Half a year later, A Xiu heard the old Emperor had passed and a new Emperor ascended. Regional Inspector Huo was appointed to a very great and important official position. He could no longer return to be Regional Inspector.

Even later, A Xiu truly became a prestigious great chieftain like his grandfather, but he never saw the Regional Inspector couple again.

Over ten-plus years, A Xiu gained a wife and bore many children to his parents’ complete satisfaction. Originally A Xiu planned when his father’s health improved to visit the Regional Inspector couple in the capital—they had also expressed in letters their great anticipation of reunion.

However, man’s plans are no match for heaven’s. In helping the court suppress a neighboring chieftain who intended to claim territory and harm the people, A Xiu was gravely wounded. Brother A Yong and Brother A Gang swore at his sickbed they would properly assist his children. The current Regional Inspector was A Xiu’s friend of many years. Tearfully he promised the court would definitely watch over all his family.

On his deathbed, A Xiu felt he had nothing much to worry about. He only wished he could see the Regional Inspector couple once more.

He wanted to tell them he revered them both, very, very much. In his heart, he’d long secretly regarded them as his closest brother and sister.

Thank you for teaching him love and courage, responsibility and duty. Truly the greatest fortune.