Character Index
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla's godfather.
The Shopkeeper: A spy from the Khaganate, he heads the intelligence operations in the capital. His name is unknown to anyone except his direct superior in the Khaganate.
The Merchant: A spy from the Khaganate, his name is yet unknown to anyone other than his direct superior, the shopkeeper.
Housekeeper Li: Formerly Matron Li, a loyal servant who has cared for Wenyuan since his birth.
Qiu Yun: A serving girl being trained to serve Kayla personally. Introduced this chapter.
Princess Ashina: A daughter of the Khagan and a princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, about to enter a political marriage with Kayla.
Zhou Mingda: The Sixth Princess. She is wheelchair bound and in ill health, and has thus never married. She is nonetheless treated with great care due to being the result of a political marriage between the Emperor and the daughter of a steppe tribe chieftain who guards the Northern borders.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Lord of the Liang clan, Kayla's supporter and former retainer.
Zhou Kuang: The Third Prince, one of the primary contenders for the throne.
Ke Yongqian: Hu Qing's retainer, formerly Kayla's retainer.
Jialuo: Serving girl of Princess Mingda, introduced this chapter.
Cao Shuyi: The Third Princess Consort, wife of Kuang and mother of Chenqian.
Zhou Yunqi: The Fifth Prince, currently not participating in court politics.
Yao Gongzhuo: Minister of War, the Third Prince's supporter.
Zhang Dingyong: Right Secretariat of Justice, the Third Prince's supporter.
Governor Huang: Governor of Shengzhou. Potential ally for Kayla to court.
General Yan: Military commander of the Xiazhou outpost. Potential ally for Kayla to court. Introduced this chapter and mentioned (not by name) by Kuang in a previous chapter.
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Wei Guang lifted the letter on his desk with a strange sense of foreboding. Wenyuan wasn’t in nearly good enough a mood for a young man who had just been blessed with extraordinary favor, nor was his mood heavy enough to signify there was something wrong.
The last time they had spoken, only a night before, Wei Guang had noticed that his godson seemed different. Something seemed to have settled down inside the young man. Whereas there was a chronic unease akin to a nervous fluttering just beneath the skin before, there was now a sense of satisfied sturdiness to Wenyuan’s demeanor that wouldn’t be noticeable to most.
Perhaps the latest promotion was finally enough assurance to soothe the young man’s paranoia, or heal some hitherto unseen wound from a childhood dominated by the Grand Duke’s cruelty. Though Wei Guang was glad for the young man, he also knew in his bones that this meant more trouble.
Wei Guang shook his head, turning his attention to the letter. His brow grew increasingly furrowed as he read through it. Wei Guang tossed the scroll aside, shaking his head.
Does he have so much spare time? The letter itself was full of wordy pleasantries that more-or-less focused on repeatedly emphasizing Wei Guang’s duties to Wenyuan as a godfather and an ally, with a few subtle jabs here and there pointing out that Wenyuan has never betrayed Wei Guang’s trust, though the opposite wasn’t true.
Despite the relatively innocuous albeit irritating contents of the letter, Wei Guang had an inexplicable feeling that he was in for a headache.
Not so far from his residence, the Khaganate’s spymaster was one step ahead, already in the throes of a stress-induced migraine. The shopkeeper glumly downed a cup of wine, glancing unhappily at his younger colleague.
“It’s really not that big of a deal,” the merchant insisted. “So Lord Zhao isn’t about to go bankrupt–that’s not the end of the world or anything.” He reached for the wine bottle to pour himself out a cup, but the shopkeeper moved the bottle out of reach, shooting the younger man a glare.
“Don’t be so stingy,” the merchant complained.
“Do you think this is the time to be drinking?” The shopkeeper snapped. “We’ve lost an excellent opportunity that may very well have been our only one! Security in the capital will only get tighter once the princess arrives!”
“You’re also drinking,” the merchant shot back accusingly. “And so what? That’s only in the capital. We still have plenty of opportunities to make a move while he’s en route to the border. Not to mention that the Princess would be on our side!”
The shopkeeper shook his head, refilling his cup.
“Anyways, the merchants I contacted before,” the merchant said casually. “Do you want me to kill them? Lord Zhao won’t be needing the money any time soon.”
“No, keep them around a while longer, we may need them yet,” the shopkeeper replied. “But take whatever measures you need to keep them unsuspecting. If any of them turn out to be too curious, then just do as you see fit.”
“Sounds good,” the merchant said, mentally making note of one particularly rotund fellow that he would be getting rid of. “Just in case we don’t manage to compromise Lord Zhao’s position before he returns to the capital, we need to start setting up a trap. We can’t just sit around waiting for advantageous circumstances to come around while that guy gets promoted, not when fortune seems to be on his side. There’s got to be something, right? Maybe seduce him with a pretty little palace maid?”
“Traps of that kind won’t work,” the shopkeeper said in annoyance.
“You never know, everyone has some folly to exploit,” the merchant shot back. “Whether it’s lust, money, power, or fame, there’s always something.”
“That may be true, but lust certainly isn’t going to be the one,” the shopkeeper replied. “I’ll think of something eventually, but it’s unlikely we can make do with our current resources.”
The merchant rolled his eyes. “Oh please, he might become a bigger fish, but the net will pull him in all the same. If you won’t come up with something, I will.”
The shopkeeper didn’t reply, downing his words in another gulp of wine.
A bigger fish requires a better fisherman, the shopkeeper thought to himself, glancing over the younger man. Certainly one more skilled than him.
After refusing the merchant’s request to lead a new initiative, the shopkeeper sent the man away. Alone in the store, he shuffled into the backroom and took out a communication device from inside an empty jar. It was not the device he usually used to send reports and intel to his superiors, but a smaller one that could only connect to a single place–the Khagan’s palace.
To his relief, the message he sent before the merchant’s arrival had received a response.
“Your request has been approved. The girl will arrive with the Princess’ entourage, do not initiate contact unless ordered to.”
The short message filled him with relief. Knowing that things would work out, the shopkeeper hid the device away and went to sleep with a satisfied smile.
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Kayla stood still as Housekeeper Li arranged her robes. Only a single serving maid helped the older woman, who had taken it upon herself to handle Kayla’s attire for the time being.
“Until that girl is good enough to take care of things on her own,” Housekeeper Li had said in a tone that didn’t brook argument. Kayla was happy to go along with it. Like it or not, the robes of the elite were designed to require help putting on. Kayla could manage herself, but this was much easier.
“There we go,” Housekeeper Li said, sounding very pleased with herself as she finished fastening a jade pendant to Kayla’s belt loop.
“Thank you,” Kayla said.
Housekeeper Li beamed at her handiwork. “You look wonderful, my lord. The Sixth Princess will surely be pleased.”
“She’s my cousin,” Kayla pointed out.
“Everyone has a love for beauty,” Housekeeper Li replied. “The princess will at least appreciate the effort.”
Behind her, the serving girl’s eyes crinkled with a withheld smile. Qiu Yun was a good-natured seventeen-year-old with a remarkably plain figure and face, a deliberate choice on Housekeeper Li’s part to avoid any potential suspicions or jealousy in Princess Ashina. Given Qiu Yun’s upbeat personality, Kayla thought she would like the new serving-girl just fine.
After a hectic week, it was finally the day of the Third Princess Consort’s gathering. It was time to make a deal with the Sixth Princess.
Kayla didn’t think it would be very difficult–the steppe tribes were naturally predisposed to ally with Kayla, given her upcoming marriage with the Khaganate.
That being said, she is from the Imperial Family, and none of them are oil-saving lamps. There’s no telling what might happen.
Little had been said of Princess Mingda in the novel, and little was known of her in the capital or the palace. Though her presence loomed like a scepter in the background of any discussions of the North, the princess herself was practically invisible. The only time Mingda had gained any attention had been when she’d arranged Captain Jiang’s marriage to a palace maid.
“Lord Liang also needs to look his best, I’m presenting him to the Third Prince today,” Kayla said, her mind flitting to Hu Qing.
“Please be assured, my lord. The maid I sent to serve him is very capable and reliable,” Housekeeper Li replied.
“Excellent, if you’re the one giving such praise, then I have nothing to worry about,” Kayla said. Housekeeper Li and Qiu Yun sent her off at the gates, bowing in perfect unison as the carriage pulled away. Kayla’s carriage stopped halfway to Kuang’s villa for Hu Qing to join her. He arrived a moment later, and gaily abandoned his own carriage to jump into hers. His horsemen glanced at each other in bewilderment until Ke Yongqian brusquely ordered them to continue on, following behind Kayla’s carriage.
“You look nice,” Kayla said. Hu Qing smoothed down the layers of brocade with a small grimace.
“These robes aren’t half as comfortable as they look,” Hu Qing complained. “Why does there need to be so many layers?”
“Just because,” Kayla replied. “How are the servants I sent you? If there are any that you don’t like, just send them back, I’ll take care of the firing process.”
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“They’re all excellent,” Hu Qing said with a note of glee in his voice. “It’s worth it just to see the looks on the faces of the older servants–they seemed to think that they couldn’t be replaced, but now that they know otherwise, they’ve pulled their tails in.”
Kayla smiled at the thought. Now that her own position was secure, Hu Qing’s Lordship was also secure. Like it or not, the Liang clan would have to come to terms with that.
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Princess Mingda sat with her back ramrod straight, still and statuesque as her attendants combed through her silky hair. The Sixth Princess took more after her mother than her father, her steppe tribe lineage evident at a glance through her brown hair and hazel eyes. She was a strikingly beautiful woman, her looks accentuated by a glacial countenance that filled people with a vague sense of awe, and it was often whispered among the servants that the princess would have easily had her pick of husbands if not for her disability.
The attendants finished fixing the princess’ elaborate hairdo, the final ornaments sliding into place. They stepped back, bowing demurely as the princess examined their work in the mirror. Finally, Mingda gave a nod of approval and dismissed them all with a wave. The attendants left the room as silently as they had entered, leaving Mingda alone with her personal serving girl.
Jialuo, who had been personally selected by Mingda’s maternal grandfather and sent to the palace from the plains, was the isolated princess’ most favored servant and closest confidante. After so many years of being privy to the Princess' inner world, Jialuo could accurately assess what Mingda was thinking beneath that icy expression.
“You don’t seem very excited for the gathering,” Jialuo remarked.
Mingda let out a soft huff. “And why should I? Allying with Zhao Wenyuan is a foregone conclusion for myself and my clansmen, but the opposite is also true. This is just a formality to openly reach the conclusion that we have all come to in private.”
“Nonetheless,” Jialuo replied. “Lord Zhao has made a show of goodwill before, hasn’t he? At least it shows that he won’t take your cooperation for granted.”
“I know that,” Mingda said in a low voice.
In what seemed to be a split-second, her cool detachedness shattered away. Mingda’s eyes flashed with unbridled fury as she bared her teeth in a snarl.
“But then why?! Why does he not reach out to me himself but rather go through Third Brother for a meeting? Does he think I’m not capable of dealing with him?! That brat is looking down me!”
Jialuo didn’t even blink, unfazed by the sudden outburst.
“I’m sure that’s not the case,” Jialuo assured her. “I doubt he wanted to make you lose face. Perhaps he just thought it would be impolite to approach you directly as someone younger in age, and that it would demonstrate more respect to go through someone senior to both of you.”
“My Third Brother doesn’t even see me as a player,” Mingda spat out the words resentfully. “He’s just like Father and Grandmother in that regard–all I am to him is a docile doll who only passes along messages!”
“Then it’s your chance to prove otherwise, my princess. This is an unprecedented opportunity,” Jialuo reminded her, reaching out to straighten the hair ornaments that had come askew in Mingda’s burst of anger.
“Try as I might, there’s nothing I can do if Zhao Wenyuan refuses to acknowledge me!” Mingda cried out.
A look of staunch determination came over Jialuo’s face. “He will, my princess. I promise that.”
“You can’t hurt him,” Mingda warned her with a note of exasperation. “Threatening him is off the table too. Father favors that boy like he does no other, if we were to try anything untoward, we’re the ones who will suffer.”
Jialuo ground her jaw mulishly.
"Jialuo," Mingda said in a warning tone.
Jialuo didn’t reply, letting out a deep sigh. Mingda echoed it. Jialuo sighed again in response. The two glanced at each other for a moment and burst into laughter, the unpleasantness already fading away.
“Alright, let’s go meet this cousin of mine then,” Mingda said cheerily, as unbothered as though she had never been angry.
Jialuo pushed the wheelchair out of the room, Mingda’s expression instantaneously shifting back into a cool and composed mask. The serving girls and guards bowed politely, none of their eyes meeting Mingda’s as the princess went down the hall.
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Cao Shuyi greeted Kayla and Hu Qing at the entrance to their villa, a beautiful smile on her face.
“Cousin-in-law, Lord Liang, thank you for joining us today,” Cao Shuyi said sweetly. Kayla and Hu Qing politely gave their greetings and followed the Princess Consort in. The villa was spacious and beautiful, exquisitely decorated under Cao Shuyi’s instructions.
“Lord Liang, how do you like the place?” Cao Shuyi asked.
“It is very beautiful, I’m truly honored to be here, Your Highness,” Hu Qing replied humbly.
“No need to be so formal, this is just a casual gathering. My husband and the Fifth Prince are already in the pavilion with Minister Yao and Right Secretariat Zhang. Lord Liang, would you care to join them?” Cao Shuyi asked. Hu Qing glanced slightly at Kayla before bowing his head.
“With pleasure, Your Highness.” He followed a pretty serving-girl down the corridor and disappeared into the garden.
“Cousin-in-law, the Sixth Princess is also here today, would you like to come greet her with me?” Cao Shuyi asked, turning towards Kayla.
“Gladly, Your Highness. I have been looking forward to this gathering,” Kayla said.
“How kind of you to say! This way please,” Cao Shuyi said warmly. The two began to walk further into the villa, Kayla half a step behind Cao Shuyi.
“On behalf of my husband and I, allow me to congratulate you in advance on both your promotion and your post,” Cao Shuyi said with a smile. “We would have scheduled a celebration for you, but with your trip to the North coming up, we didn’t want to impose on your time.”
Kayla bowed her head slightly. “Thank you very much, Your Highness.”
“The border region is much cooler than here, I prepared a lined cape for your journey to ward off the cold. I’ll have it sent over to your household before your departure,” Cao Shuyi said. “Fifth Cousin’s letter of recommendation for Governor Huang and my husband’s letter of recommendation for General Yan will also be delivered to you shortly.”
General Yan? I remember that name…wasn’t he the one stationed at Xiazhou? It seems I’ll owe Kuang quite the debt for this.
“I’m truly grateful for the thoughtfulness and assistance.” Kayla bowed her head further.
“It is only what we should do,” Cao Shuyi said. “Here we are now, the Sixth Princess is waiting.”
The two of them stopped before a door, Cao Shuyi lightly knocking upon its frame.
“Your Highness, I have brought Lord Zhao,” Cao Shuyi called.
“Come in.” A cool voice cut through the air. It was low for a woman’s voice, and had a penetrating quality to it that sent a small thrill of surprise through Kayla’s spine.
Kayla politely opened the door for Cao Shuyi, allowing the mistress of the house to step in first.
“Cao Shuyi humbly greets Her Highness,” Cao Shuyi bowed.
“Zhao Wenyuan humbly greets Her Highness,” Kayla said, quickly following suit.
“Please be at ease.”
Kayla raised her head, coming face to face with a stunning woman with the iciest countenance she had ever seen.
“So this is the cousin I’ve heard so much about,” Mingda said. “I have been looking forward to meeting you.”
“It is an honor, Your Highness,” Kayla said. Cao Shuyi remained where she was, a polite smile firmly in place.
So she’s going to watch us the whole time?
“I wished to speak with you after learning about your engagement to Princess Ashina of the Khaganate. This is an extremely significant matter for the stability of both nations, as well as to the prosperity of the border region, where my maternal clan has long resided. The steppe tribes of the North will be looking towards you for the security of the peace agreement,” Mingda said. The words were spoken so formally that Mingda might as well have been reading off a script, but with the princess’ piercing gaze and cold voice, it came off even stiffer.
“Not at all, I’m the one who will be looking towards you for guidance,” Kayla replied, not much better herself.
Mingda’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Then I look forward to a long and fruitful friendship between our two clans.”
“I am deeply honored,” Kayla said. The two exchanged a stiff, formal smile. “I will be greatly indebted if I could have the support of your clan when I venture to the border this time.”
“You have our support far beyond that,” Mingda replied. “We greatly anticipate the success of your union with Princess Ashina.”
“Of course,” Kayla said. Mingda gave one more smile as a placeholder, and the conversation was over.
Wait, is that it? It’s over? That was fast, Kayla thought in surprise. I suppose it was just a formality since our interests are already naturally aligned, but still.
She turned towards Cao Shuyi with a smile. “It’s been so long since I’ve had the chance to come to such a wonderful gathering. Thank you for putting this together, Your Highness.”
“Goodness, you’re too polite,” Cao Shuyi said pleasantly, hiding her own surprise at how quickly that had ended. “We’re all family after all, it’s only natural for me to do my best. I also prepared some light entertainment over at the pavilion, would the two of you like to partake?”
“Gladly,” Mingda said, Kayla echoing the sentiment. Cao Shuyi gave them a smile and led them over to the waterside pavilion, summoning a servant to push Mingda’s wheelchair.
A troupe of tastefully dressed women were dancing a more artistic rendition of a folk dance in the pavilion, the pale blue of their robes reflecting the water below. Unfortunately for them, Kuang and Yunqi were more interested in talking with Hu Qing than watching the performance, but the ladies made a lovely backdrop for the conversation. The three of them gave their greetings as Kayla’s group came to join them. In the seats around them, the Third Prince’s supporters stood up to greet them with formal bows.
After getting dragged into a lengthy conversation with Zhang Dingyong and Yao Gongzhuo, Kayla managed to excuse herself and slipped outside. She stilled for a moment but wasn’t too surprised to see that Mingda was already waiting for her in the shade of a tree near the pavilion, a tall and sturdy woman from the steppe tribes standing behind the wheelchair.
Ha, I knew it. There was no way she would make an actual deal with Cao Shuyi watching.
“My princess,” Kayla greeted her. The tall serving girl bowed slightly and stepped away, leaving the two of them alone.
“Wenyuan, will you take me around the garden please?” Mingda asked.
“Gladly,” Kayla replied. She stepped forward to take the handles of the wheelchair, changing its direction with ease. The two of them slipped away, with few eyes noticing their departure.
“You’re rather good at this,” Mingda remarked.
“Pardon?”
“At handling my chair,” Mingda said. “You’re very good for a first-timer.”
Kayla wasn’t actually a first-timer, having wheeled around her college roommate for a while after the other girl had broken her leg in a drunken tumble down a stairwell.
“Thank you, I hope that it is comfortable enough,” Kayla said.
“It is.” Mingda glanced at Kayla over her shoulder. “Now, shall we get down to business? I want to make a deal with you.”
Kayla stilled for a moment. “Gladly. May I ask if you wish to discuss a personal deal or one involving your clan?”
“A deal for both,” Mingda replied with a harsh surety in her voice. “I’ll cut straight to the point. I will give you the full support of my maternal clan’s network in the North in exchange for access to your network in the capital.”
Kayla found herself pleasantly surprised by the blunt proposal.
Now here’s someone who I can actually talk business with, no ruffles, no going in circles, Kayla thought with satisfaction.
“Expanding your influence in the capital,” Kayla murmured thoughtfully.
“Yes,” Mingda agreed. “We would both benefit from it, would we not? If needed, my clan can produce a hostage to remain in your household.”
Kayla breathed in sharply. “You would go that far? What exactly are you aiming for, my princess?”
Mingda turned towards Kayla slightly, her teeth baring into a terrifying smile.
“We’ve had enough of not having a say in the country’s future, Wenyuan. We want the power to represent our own interests and be taken seriously for it, and for that, we need you. And in exchange, we’ll become your strongest supporters, whether it’s as your sword or as your shield. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, cousin. I recommend you consider it carefully.”
Kayla mulled it over for a moment, weighing the benefits against the risks
Jesus Christ, I really like her.
She met Mingda’s eyes, smiling back.
“A shared pool of clientele, is it? You’re certainly full of interesting ideas, Your Highness.”
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Cultural Notes
爱美之心人皆有之/The love of beauty is held in the hearts of all: A quote from the Ancient Chinese classic The Analects.
不是省油的灯/Not an oil-saving lamp: A Chinese saying that means someone is not easy to deal with.
Shengzhou: An Ancient Chinese administrative province in Northern China that bordered the Turkic Khaganate and was eventually rendered defunct in later dynasties.
Xiazhou: An Ancient Chinese administrative province in Northern China that bordered the Turkic Khaganate and was eventually rendered defunct in later dynasties. To the west of Shengzhou.
Steppe Tribes: The term steppe tribes in this story refers to the Tiele people, a tribal confederation of Turkish origins that resided in the north and to the north of China and also in Central Asia. When referenced in-story, the steppe tribes refers specifically to the twelve tribes, including the Uyghur, who had received titles from the court. These tribes, especially the Uyghur, played significant roles in military expeditions and conflicts with countries to the North and also in Central Asia. The Sixth Princess' maternal grandfather would be the chief of the Uyghur tribe, with the rank of commander-in-chief/都督.
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