He Zhong discovered that something was going on between Daoist Qiu and their Marquis when he returned from a trip to Juanfu.

Since that parting at the Penglai Residence last time, Xia Xiuyan hadn’t shown his face again. On the day of departure, Qiu Xinran was picked up by Gao Yang outside the city. Still drowsy, she climbed onto her horse and only then saw the man sitting on horseback at the front of the procession. Gao Yang led her to Xia Xiuyan’s side. Before he could speak, He Zhong beside them called out first: “Why is Daoist Qiu here too?”

“She’s going with us,” Xia Xiuyan explained. “She killed Su Ya, and Mai Ni wants to meet her.”

“That makes sense,” He Zhong deeply agreed. “If it were me, I’d also want to meet the woman who could shoot Su Ya dead with one arrow.”

Qiu Xinran was amused by his solemn manner. When she turned her head and her gaze met Xia Xiuyan’s, she saw he was also looking at her and smiling, which suddenly made her feel a bit embarrassed.

Juanfu wasn’t far from Yuzhou—a round trip of only five or six days. Qiu Xinran’s riding skills were ordinary, so she followed behind, falling back a few steps alongside He Zhong.

Not having seen him for several days, He Zhong’s expression carried some melancholy. Qiu Xinran guessed it should be because Zhang Hui had gone to Qingzhou with Zhang Rong. When she asked, it was indeed the case.

“But it’s not just because of that.” Rarely having someone in the know to complain to, He Zhong immediately opened up. “Qingzhou isn’t far from Yuzhou. Even traveling back and forth between the two places isn’t difficult. Brother Rong and I have been battlefield comrades for so many years—I’m not worried about losing contact and never seeing him again.”

“If that’s the case, what is the Vice General still worried about?”

“Recently I’ve seen the Marquis staying in the military camp all day handling military affairs, to the point where he doesn’t even return to the Marquis’s residence. Though he’s always been diligent, these past few days have been truly abnormal. Thinking it over, it should still be related to Miss Zhang leaving these past few days.” As He Zhong spoke, he sighed.

Qiu Xinran paused: “You mean the Marquis likes Miss Zhang?”

“Miss Zhang is beautiful and has a good temperament. Who wouldn’t like such a young lady? It’s only human nature for the Marquis to like her.”

“Have you asked your Marquis about this?”

“How would the Marquis tell me about such things?” He Zhong said gloomily.

“I think the Vice General needn’t think too much about it,” Qiu Xinran tactfully advised. “Things may not be as you imagine.”

Seeing she didn’t believe him, He Zhong became earnest: “You didn’t see the Marquis’s expression those few days when news came that Brother Rong was leaving! But then after just a couple days, I heard he went to the Penglai Residence and came back reeking of alcohol, yet his mood suddenly improved.” Speaking of this, he suddenly paused: “Do you know about peach blossom wine?”

Seeing the other party nod, He Zhong slapped his thigh while on horseback: “I suspect he went to find Miss Zhang that day!”

As he spoke, he became sad again and sighed: “After Miss Zhang left, sometimes when I go to the Marquis’s study, I often see him sitting at his desk in a daze, then suddenly laughing while looking out the window. Tell me… could the two of them already be together?”

Hearing this whole speech from him, Qiu Xinran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, yet there was a trace of sweetness in her heart. Her tone couldn’t help but lighten: “Perhaps the Marquis’s sweetheart isn’t Miss Zhang?”

“Who else could be a young lady around the Marquis? It can’t be Gao Yue, can it?” He Zhong looked at her incredulously, then suddenly remembered her feelings for the Marquis. Instantly understanding, he felt a sense of fellow sufferers and instead consoled her: “Matters of the heart truly can’t be forced. I advise you to let it go and not fixate on what’s before you.”

Qiu Xinran was choked by his words, feeling that with He Zhong’s ability to read people, things between him and Zhang Hui would indeed face many difficulties.

In the afternoon they stopped at a town near Juanfu, before the sun had set. This was Qiu Xinran’s first time beyond the passes, and she found everything novel. After settling her luggage and seeing that Xia Xiuyan was still in his room discussing with Gao Yang and the others about tomorrow’s visit to the royal court, she left the post station alone to go to the market.

She had been somewhat worried that her Han Chinese attire might attract attention, but upon reaching the market, she found quite a few merchants from Dali, just as Keya had said—after the wars ended, the border had become much more peaceful and trade was gradually flourishing. Though her Han Chinese outfit walking among them attracted many gazes, no one found it strange.

People came and went in the market. A child with a candied skewer in his hand ran past her and tripped, sitting on the ground and bursting into loud tears. Qiu Xinran crouched down to help him up and reached out to dust off his clothes. The boy looked at the candied skewer in his hand now covered with dust and cried with hiccupping sobs. Qiu Xinran happened to have a craving too, so she looked around, took his hand, and led him to a nearby candy stall to buy two more skewers. Only when the little boy received the candied skewer did he stop crying and smile through his tears.

The taste of this candied skewer wasn’t much different from those within the passes—just trying something novel. The boy licked the candied skewer, then without explanation pulled her to a flower-selling stall. Behind the stall stood a Diyue youth, probably the boy’s older brother. Qiu Xinran saw the boy go in and say many words, even showing him the candied skewer in his hand. The youth looked over with slight surprise and smiled at her gratefully. Qiu Xinran waved her hand and was about to turn and leave when the boy came running out again, pulling out a flower from the stall and handing it to her, apparently as a return gift.

Qiu Xinran was startled and shook her head at him, but the boy still stubbornly extended his hand. Just as she was hesitating, someone behind her already reached out to take the flower for her. She looked back in surprise to discover Xia Xiuyan standing behind her at some unknown time.

The man took out silver from his money pouch and handed it to the flower-selling boy. The boy shook his head and said something with some wariness while looking at him.

Xia Xiuyan laughed, bent down, and also answered him in the Diyue language. This was Qiu Xinran’s first time knowing he could speak this language, and she couldn’t help but look at him with some surprise. The boy unhappily asked a question. Xia Xiuyan raised his eye corners and looked at him arrogantly, reaching out to grasp the hand of the woman beside him. Qiu Xinran looked over in confusion but didn’t pull away. The boy’s gaze swept back and forth between the two of them. Finally, reluctantly, he handed the flower over to him, took the coins from his hand, and ran back behind the stall to hug his brother’s leg.

The youth at the flower stall nodded apologetically at them and said something. Xia Xiuyan smiled and nodded back, apparently thanking him, then led her away.

“What did the Marquis just say to him?” After they’d walked some distance, Qiu Xinran couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Xia Xiuyan turned his head to glance at her, then with a smile at the corners of his lips turned to look ahead, saying nonchalantly: “I told him that in Dali, only men give flowers to their own women.”

Qiu Xinran was startled, her face involuntarily heating up: “Then what did he ask you?”

“He asked if I was your lover.”

After saying this, seeing Qiu Xinran didn’t ask further, he turned his head deliberately: “Why aren’t you asking what the stall owner said at the end?”

Qiu Xinran’s instinct told her she shouldn’t ask, but looking at the smiling eyes of the person beside her, she couldn’t help but ask: “What did he say?”

“He praised you as a beauty. I said indeed so, and thanked him on your behalf as well.”

This was the first time Qiu Xinran had been praised as a beauty. She widened her eyes slightly: “You really said such shameless words?”

Xia Xiuyan couldn’t help but laugh heartily, gripping her hand tightly and pulling her into his embrace: “I only feel he didn’t say nearly enough—he really could have said much more.”

This time Qiu Xinran’s ears also reddened. When Xia Xiuyan used to speak sarcastically and wouldn’t talk properly, he was impossible to handle; but when he sincerely spoke kind words, he was equally impossible to handle.

But in a flash, he started settling accounts with her again: “In an unfamiliar place, you dare to run out alone?”

Qiu Xinran defended herself: “This town isn’t large—I wouldn’t get lost outside.”

“Do you think every Diyue person is warm and hospitable? Though the royal court and Dali are now on good terms, the war has just ended. Much hatred cannot be easily resolved in a short time.” Xia Xiuyan glanced at the flower in her hand. “You’re doing well—first thing you do is provoke a ‘romantic debt.'”

This accusation was too severe. Qiu Xinran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling this person was extremely childish. So she also put on a stern face: “I’ve heard rumors in the military that the Marquis pines for Miss Zhang, unable to eat or drink since she left the camp.”

Xia Xiuyan was rarely caught off guard by her words and frowned: “Where did you hear such baseless rumors?”

Seeing him take it seriously, Qiu Xinran suppressed her laughter and walked forward without looking back: “Everyone in the military knows—do I need to go to the trouble of inquiring?”

Xia Xiuyan stood in place. After a while, he realized she’d teased him thoroughly. He gritted his teeth but also laughed in exasperation.

The next day on the road, He Zhong couldn’t figure out for half the day why he’d suddenly been assigned to guard the prison cart at the rear. Fortunately, they weren’t far from Juanfu. After traveling for most of the day, before even entering the city they encountered the procession that had come out to welcome the Marquis Dingbei.

The current king was the grandson of old King Hulun, still young in years. But to have survived the brutal struggle for power and entered the royal court as its master, he should still have some capability. The young King Hulun clearly placed great importance on this meeting. Not only had he sent people outside the city to welcome them early, but when Xia Xiuyan arrived at the royal court, he personally came out to receive him.

The king held a banquet at the royal court to host the envoys from Dali. Today Qiu Xinran had changed into Daoist attire, wearing a lotus crown on her head, holding a horsetail whisk, dressed in a snow-blue robe.

During the meal, He Zhong sat beside her, quite curious: “Why is Daoist dressed like this today?”

Qiu Xinran said: “Among the envoys there’s a woman without official position—I’m afraid of inviting criticism. Changing into the clothes of someone outside worldly affairs can block some discussion.”

He Zhong hadn’t expected her to think so thoroughly and was somewhat moved: “It’s hard on you to think of everything for the Marquis, yet he cannot appreciate it. It’s truly his loss.”

Qiu Xinran smiled with pursed lips: “Vice General He speaks truly.”

As the two were talking below, they suddenly heard the surroundings grow quiet. When Qiu Xinran looked up, she discovered that King Hulun and the Marquis Dingbei seated at the head were looking in this direction. Gao Yang reminded from the side: “Miss Qiu is the one who shot Su Ya dead that day.”

Qiu Xinran hurriedly rose and stepped forward. Those around, seeing that the one who killed Su Ya was actually a delicate woman, couldn’t help but break into whispered discussions.

“It’s really this little girl who killed Su Ya?” A Diyue minister across spoke up skeptically. Stroking his beard, he said arrogantly, “Could it be that the Marquis Dingbei deliberately found a little girl to humiliate Diyue?”

Diyue and Dali had a long-standing grudge. Now with diplomatic relations between the two nations, commoners might feel fortunate for the rare peace, but for many in the royal court, they weren’t pleased to see such a scene.

The young King Hulun’s brow furrowed. Many on the Dali side also felt displeased. The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat delicate for a moment. But Qiu Xinran calmly turned and cupped her hands toward the minister who had just spoken mockingly, performing a Daoist salute, and said with a slight smile: “My drawing my bow to shoot Su Ya dead can only prove that women of Dali also have courage not inferior to men. Moreover, Su Ya betrayed the royal court and was already a traitor to Diyue. How can killing him be called the Marquis Dingbei deliberately trying to humiliate Diyue?”

The minister hadn’t expected this woman to have such an eloquent tongue, not only showing no panic but daring to contradict him publicly. He was momentarily speechless. Qiu Xinran turned again to bow to King Hulun: “I once saw Diyue soldiers in Yuzhou. They were simple and kind, getting along well with the locals, but because of the war had no choice but to leave their homeland far behind. Dali respects brave warriors and also sympathizes with the common people living amid the flames of war. Therefore, though the Marquis Dingbei slew Qi Kedan, he sent the warriors deceived by him back to their homeland, hoping for border peace so the people of both nations can be spared the ravages of war. I hope the King can see Dali’s sincerity.”

“Of course,” the young King Hulun looked appreciatively at the woman in the hall who was neither humble nor arrogant. “This is also my hope.”

He noticed her unusual attire and asked curiously: “I’ve never seen anyone else wear such clothes. Does it represent something?”

Qiu Xinran hesitated slightly before answering: “These are my sect’s garments. In the Central Plains, I divine fortunes for people as a Daoist.” Seeing the person on the seat look confused, she changed her explanation: “The King can understand that I am a diviner who performs fortune-telling for people.”

The minister who had just missed his chance to retort called out loudly again: “Dali actually sent a diviner to the royal court?”

“Tukat,” King Hulun finally reprimanded him in a low, displeased voice. “You should not be so discourteous to our guests.” After saying this, he apologized to the man beside him with a face full of regret: “I hope the Marquis Dingbei can forgive his rashness.”

Xia Xiuyan said blandly: “Ignorance is not a crime.” He glanced at Tukat sitting below swallowing his grievances, and said slowly: “Lord Tukat perhaps hasn’t heard of Miss Qiu’s reputation. She once divined for the Emperor in the palace. No one in all of Chang’an doesn’t know her name. Many people are willing to spend a fortune to have her divine for them. And when I came to Yuzhou back then, it was precisely because she divined that I could bring victory to Dali.”

He seemed merely to be calmly recounting a very ordinary matter, but anyone could hear his displeasure—otherwise he wouldn’t have brought up the sensitive topic of Diyue’s defeat seven years ago in the royal court. The gazes people in the hall directed at Qiu Xinran changed in that instant, while Qiu Xinran tried her best to put on an air of breezy indifference, as if she’d heard such praise thousands upon thousands of times.

King Hulun’s gaze at her also carried some surprise. He couldn’t help but joke: “If that’s the case, I’m somewhat tempted to keep her at the royal court to see whether she or our national teacher is more remarkable.”

“I’m afraid that won’t do.” Xia Xiuyan held his wine cup, his gaze burning as he looked at her and said something, but this time he used the Diyue language.

Qiu Xinran looked up at him in confusion, initially thinking Xia Xiuyan should have replied with a joke, but soon she discovered that the gazes people around directed at her had changed again, their shock seeming even heavier. Even Gao Yang standing beside Xia Xiuyan looked over at her quite surprised.

“My apologies, I didn’t know.” After his surprise, the young King Hulun turned his head, smiled, and raised his cup to her from afar to express his apology.

Qiu Xinran forced a calm expression on her face as she smiled and nodded at him, while retreating to her seat in complete bewilderment: “What did the Marquis just say? Did you understand?” She turned her head to quietly ask He Zhong beside her. Turning her head, she only then discovered that since just now, he’d been staring at her as if he’d seen a ghost.

“He said…” He Zhong’s dark face flushed bright red. After a long while, he finally squeezed out an incredulous sentence from his throat: “He said… you are his wife.”