Character Index
Sun Ruhui: Left Secretariat of Justice and Kayla's supporter.
Yue Wuxuan: Former governor of Anling County. Deceased.
Tabuyir: Senior Investigator of the Imperial Investigation Bureau. Supports Kayla, and as of her promotion, now her subordinate.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Lord of the Liang clan, formerly Kayla's retainer. Going north ahead of the delegation to negotiate partnerships on Kayla's behalf.
Captain Jiang: A captain of the Imperial Guard. Managed to get married thanks to the Sixth Princess (and Kayla).
Zhao Chao: Kayla's bodyguard, recommended to her by Hu Qing.
Tao Qian: Kayla's bodyguard, recommended to her by Hu Qing.
Ke Yongqian: Hu Qing's guard and retainer, formerly worked for Kayla along with Hu Qing.
Right Secretary An: Right Secretariat of the Ministry of Rites (in charge of diplomacy). He came as the second-highest ranking official of the Ministry, as the Minister has a bad back.
Derin: Princess Ashina's personal attendant, has taken care of the Princess since childhood. Appeared as an unnamed attendant in previous chapters.
Kulun: A tarkhan serving the Khagan, in charge of escorting Princess Ashina to the capital of Luoyang (see Cultural Notes). Introduced this chapter.
Princess Ashina: Princess of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Kayla's bride-to-be.
Celik: Formerly known as The Shopkeeper, spymaster of the Turkic spy network in Luoyang.
Emre: Formerly known as The Merchant, a Turkic spy in Luoyang.
Isik: A guard assigned to Princess Ashina to serve her after she arrives in Luoyang. Appeared as an unnamed guard when Princess Ashina slipped out to the capital to see Wenyuan for herself.
Shegui: Khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate (see cultural notes).
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The delegation proceeded Northwards at a steady pace, the looming Taihang Mountains casting its shadow over them. They were moving quickly for such a large delegation, helped along by the fact that as an official diplomatic party, they had the right of way on the road.
Kayla watched the landscape go by with a careful eye. The Taihang Mountains were beautiful. The majestic peaks overlapped, half-obscured by clouds and mist that drew the eye upwards towards the fleeting glimpses of the mountains in their full glory. In the mornings, the sun cast long blue shadows over the roads at the foot of the mountains.
The state of the provinces was a different story. The towns and villages along the major trade routes weren’t impoverished, but certainly weren’t doing too well either. Wealth disparities that disappeared under the bright lights and marvels of the capital emerged starkly in the smaller towns where less resources were available.
Even if they’re not trade hubs, they should be seeing at least some trickle-off from the merchants traveling along the roads, even if it’s just by providing lodging and food.
Kayla glanced at a woman in the field stop for a break, wiping the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. She shifted the baby swaddled to her back and grimaced. The carriage went forward and the woman quickly faded into a speck in the distance.
The prominent local clans are definitely cooperating with local administration to monopolize business, Kayla concluded. If it’s like this even along such a major route, how much worse is it elsewhere?
She hadn’t met many officials along the way, given the speed at which they were going and the sparse stops in-between, but it was clear that the central government’s surveillance was far too lax. If the locality was lucky enough to have officials like Sun Ruhui or the deceased Governor Yue, it could easily flourish, but the country was too large to run on the virtue of individuals. There was a knock on her window. Kayla opened it, greeting Tabuyir politely.
“Director, we’ll be arriving in Taiyuan by nightfall,” Tabuyir announced.
“Wonderful, thank you for telling me,” Kayla replied politely. Tabuyir bowed his head and rode back to the front.
Then Hu Qing will be leaving tomorrow, Kayla noted, glancing in his direction. Hu Qing cut a good figure on horseback. Dressed in high-quality robes, his infuriating cockiness came across as the prideful self-assurance of a noble. For anyone who didn’t know how he behaved in private, Hu Qing looked no different from the young master of a General’s family.
Hu Qing caught her eye and brought his horse over. Kayla poked her head out the window.
“Director,” he greeted her cheerfully.
“Hu Qing, we’re arriving in Taiyuan by nightfall. When do you want to head out?” Kayla asked.
“I’ll leave ahead of you guys tomorrow morning then,” Hu Qing replied. “I’ve already spoken to Captain Jiang and Tabuyir, but I’ll leave notifying the Right Secretariat to you.”
“Of course, I’ll handle it,” Kayla promised. “Do you feel ready? It’s alright if you need more time.”
Hu Qing smiled broadly. “I’m fine. Everything’s already prepared, I just need to make some final arrangements with Zhao Chao and Tao Qian.”
“Alright then,” Kayla said.
Hu Qing rode next to the carriage until they stopped for a lunch break, upon which he promptly disappeared along with Ke Yongqian and Kayla’s bodyguards.
“Director, Lord Liang…” Tabuyir said softly, glancing in the direction they had left.
“It’s fine,” Kayla replied. “I’m going to speak to Right Secretariat An for a bit.”
“Understood,” Tabuyir said, stepping away to give orders to his men. Kayla nodded at the officials stretching out their legs beneath a tree, and headed over to Right Secretariat An.
“Duke Zhao, the weather here is lovely, isn’t it?” Right Secretariat An greeted her jovially, patting at his sweating face with a handkerchief.
“Indeed. Right Secretariat An, there’s something I need to speak about with you,” Kayla said. “It’s about Lord Liang.”
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Hu Qing stopped at a clearing, his three companions spreading out to stand before him.
“What did you want to talk about?” Zhao Chao asked. “Is this about your going North?”
“Hold on a second,” Hu Qing said. He glanced up sharply, directly meeting the eyes of the Investigator watching him from a tree. He scanned the area, making eye contact with another Investigator hidden at a different position.
“Thank you for keeping an eye out for us,” Hu Qing called out, raising his voice. “We’re just having a little chat here, there’s no need to stand guard. Please don’t let us take up your time.”
He gave them a broad smile. The two Investigators glanced at each other uneasily for a moment before silently taking their leave, the tree branches barely rustling.
“They’re really good,” Ke Yongqian remarked, watching them to make sure they left.
“Yeah, I think Senior Investigator Tabuyir brought his best men,” Tao Qian agreed. He turned his attention back to Hu Qing. “So what did you want to talk about?”
“I’ll get straight to the point. I’m going north with Ke Yongqian ahead of you guys. While I’m gone, you all better do your best,” Hu Qing said.
“Yeah, of course,” Zhao Chao said, sounding a little offended. Hu Qing fixed him with a stare.
“There’s only you and Tao Qian left,” he stressed the words. “So keep your eyes on the Duke with everything you’ve got, alright?”
“Sure, but should we be expecting something?” Tao Qian asked.
“The hell are you talking about? Do I look like a seer?” Hu Qing shot back. “I don’t know, that’s why I’m telling you guys to be careful.”
“We will, we will, of course we will,” Zhao Chao jumped in with a placating smile. “Between us and the security detail, the Duke will be completely fine, so don’t worry.”
Hu Qing gave him an incredulous look. “The security detail? You’re kidding me, right? Those guys are loyal to their own superiors, not to our lord. Whether or not the Duke is able to safely make it to the border is entirely your responsibility. Do you understand?”
Tao Qian and Zhao Chao exchanged an uneasy look with each other. “Yes,” they replied.
“Remember, the Duke is useless in a fight,” Hu Qing emphasized. “Completely useless. It’s up to you guys to make sure he doesn’t get killed or maimed.”
“Don’t worry, we know that,” Tao Qian assured him.
“Good.” Hu Qing patted him on the shoulder. “I’m leaving it in your hands.”
Tao Qian and Zhao Chao nodded in unison.
Satisfied with their response, Hu Qing turned to head back to the post station, the other three trailing behind him.
“You two head back first,” Ke Yongqian said. Hu Qing glanced at him quizzically, but slowed his pace to a stop. Zhao Chao and Tao Qian nodded and left them alone.
“What’s the matter?” Hu Qing asked.
“About going North…I have no objections, but have you reached an understanding with Lord Zhao about how to divide responsibility if you fail?” Ke Yongqian asked.
“What are you talking about? That's not going to happen,” Hu Qing scoffed.
Ke Yongqian frowned. “My lord, we can’t be certain of that. You’d be left in a beholden position if anything goes wrong unless you negotiate an agreement ahead of time.”
“That’s not necessary, Yongqian,” Hu Qing said. “Out of everyone, the Duke trusts me the most, but he doesn’t rely on me much. If I want that to change, then this is my chance.”
Ke Yongqian let out a sharp sigh. “Well, if you insist, then there’s nothing more that I can say. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Ah, come on now,” Hu Qing huffed.
The two began walking again, pausing briefly as the sun split the clouds over the mountain range, displaying them in their full splendor.
“Ask around for me while we’re in the North, and see what kind of skills and knowledge generals need to have,” Hu Qing said. Ke Yongqian paused, staring at Hu Qing in shock. The young man didn’t glance back at him, turning a sweeping gaze over the mountain range.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Planning to become a commander?” Ke Yongqian asked, keeping the disbelief out of his voice.
“Not just myself, you’re also going to start preparing,” Hu Qing replied. “There will be an opportunity soon. Just wait and see. Reorganizing the military is a must, but who’s going to fill the vacuum of the commanders after they’re shuffled out of power? If there’s a war or a rebellion, we’d be stuck between remobilizing disgruntled officers who’d been offended by the court or using greenhorns who lack the ability to handle a battle. We need to be ready far in advance if we want to grab onto the chance when the time comes.”
Ke Yongqian kept an incredulous look from reaching his face. “There will be plenty of people sticking their necks out for that chance,” he pointed out. “And they’d likely come from solid backgrounds and have more experience. The Emperor may have given you a military position, but it’s just a ceremonial title. You might be better off focusing your energy elsewhere.”
Hu Qing shook his head. “No, the opportunity will definitely open up to me,” he said with such confidence that Ke Yongqian was taken aback.
Hu Qing glanced at Ke Yongqian with a smile. “Do you think I was given a military position just so the Duke would have an extra guard on this trip?”
Ke Yongqian chose not to reply. It did sound like something the Emperor would do, given the levels of affection he had for his nephew.
“Making me, a Lord that the Duke established almost single-handedly and would be beholden to him on a personal level, a martial official at a time when the military is about to lose its greatest source of promotions?” Hu Qing chuckled. “I didn’t think that much about it at first, but it all became clear to me after I spoke with the Duke. I’m perfectly positioned to step up once the chance arises. I just need to be prepared for it.”
Ke Yongqian didn’t reply. It sounded ridiculous, like the fanciful daydreams of a cocky urchin, but he was well-aware of how absurd the world of politics could get.
If that really happens…
Hu Qing’s voice cut into his thoughts. “We need to succeed,” Hu Qing said plainly.
Ke Yongqian looked at the firm resolution in Hu Qing’s eyes and let out a soft sigh.
“As you wish, my lord,” he replied.
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Princess Ashina’s envoy came to a stop on the plains in the late afternoon. They moved at a steady pace that would have been considered fast by Wu standards, but was leisurely by Turkic ones. The attendants and soldiers quickly got to work setting up camp for the evening. Princess Ashina got down from her carriage and entered her tent once it had been prepared.
Her closest personal attendant gave out orders to the others, preparing everything in a quick and efficient manner. When she paused for breath, a secretary approached her.
“Derin-hanim,” he greeted her.
“Sir Secretary,” she replied with a nod.
The well-groomed young secretary was of Wu descent from his mother’s side, with fine features that looked more Han than Turkic.
“Derin-hanim, the esteemed Kulun-tarkhan requests an audience with Her Highness,” the secretary said politely. Derin bowed her head slightly.
“Please wait here, I will announce his arrival,” Derin replied.
She slipped back into the tent. Ashina glanced over, her face lighting up at the sight of her closest attendant.
“My princess, Kulun-tarkhan requests an audience,” Derin said.
“Kulun-tarkhan?” Ashina scrunched her face up in confusion.
Kulun was the most trusted of her father’s tarkhan. He was of mixed Turkic and Sogdian descent, and spoke several languages as fluently as though they were his native tongue. She had often seen him from afar, but rarely spoke with him outside of greetings and formalities.
Even now that the tarkhan was charged with escorting her to the border safely, he maintained a respectful distance from her at all times, though he had intricately arranged every detail of the trip to maximize Ashina’s comfort.
Though she had no idea what he wanted from her, she was hardly inclined to refuse.
“Show him in,” Ashina ordered.
Derin bowed and left the tent. Within moments, the opening of the tent was drawn back to let in a handsome middle-aged man with gray streaks in his hair.
“Kulun-tarkhan,” Ashina greeted him. “To what do I owe the honor of your visit?”
“My princess, I am honored to be in your presence. I have come to speak with you about the Turkic agents in Luoyang,” Kulun said, cutting straight to the point.
Ashina nodded, having expected this for some time now.
“Please take a look at this roster,” Kulun said, presenting the scroll to her with a small bow. Ashina took it from his hands.
“Kindly refrain from making copies of this, I will come by again to ensure this document is destroyed before we reach the border,” Kulun said politely.
“So this Celik is the spymaster?” Ashina said, glancing over the roster.
“Indeed. He operates from a small teashop in the market district,” Kulun said.
“And this merchant, Emre, is he the second in command then?”
“Not officially, all agents operate on a need-to-know basis, save for the spymaster,” Kulun said. “But Emre is one of our most capable agents.”
Ashina nodded thoughtfully. “When will I meet them?”
“You will not meet them, Your Highness. They must remain out of sight in order to complete their jobs, and thus cannot be seen to interact with you. However, please be assured that these men will protect you once you arrive in Luoyang,” Kulun said.
Ashina glanced up at him with a frown. “So they won’t be under my command at all?”
He shook his head. “No, Your Highness. They directly serve your father the Khagan, but they are loyal men who would gladly put their lives on the line for your sake. They will also be responsible for communicating important information to you through intermediaries, and conveying instructions should your assistance be needed.”
“In what?” Ashina asked, growing increasingly confused.
“In protecting the interests of the Khaganate,” Kulun replied. “Please be assured that they will not place you in any kind of danger or allow you to be implicated, even if they were unfortunate enough to be captured.”
Ashina stared him down, her eyes narrowing. Her frustration had been mounting since before she’d left home, and had festered over the course of the long journey.
“Kulun-tarkhan, you are deeply trusted by my father the Khagan. More so than myself, you surely understand his intentions more clearly–just what am I to do in the Wu Dynasty? I am crossing the border within days to spend the rest of my life alone in a foreign country, and yet you would deny me the knowledge of why?” Ashina asked.
Kulun lowered his eyes. “I understand your unease, my princess, but please be assured. Your safety will be provided for, and you certainly will not be alone. To that end, the Khagan has sent Isik Baghatur, one of the bravest warriors under his command, as the head of your personal guard to serve you henceforth. Your Highness’ role is one of honor and prestige in assuring peace between our two nations, you only need worry about producing an heir as soon as possible.”
Ashina pressed her lips into a thin line of displeasure.
“An heir…” Ashina murmured, unable to keep a frown off her face.
“A child will cement the agreement between our two countries more so than any treaties on paper, my princess. Only when there is a high enough stake will both sides genuinely feel reassured and allow peace to blossom,” Kulun explained, somewhat apologetically.
“I will do my duty,” Ashina said flatly. She met his eyes with a sharp look. “I just want to know why. We’re going to war against Shegui Khagan, are we not?”
Kulun stilled for a moment before bowing his head slightly.
“I cannot say, my princess. But please be assured that all of the Khagan’s actions are in the interests of the Khaganate and its people, as well as for your future,” Kulun replied, his tone firm but respectful. “To that end, we are all duty-bound to obey him. Even yourself and your husband will not be exempt.”
Ashina’s face twisted in consternation. “You–”
“I apologize if I’ve upset you. Your Highness must be tired from the journey, I will leave you to rest then,” Kulun said, a note of regret in his voice.
Ashina tensed up as he bowed and turned to leave.
“I don’t think my husband will go along with Father’s plans! And…and I don’t think I can make him. Father needs to understand that!” Ashina blurted out, the vulnerable fear of a young girl peeking through in her voice.
Kulun turned back towards her, his eyes softening with sympathy.
“There is no need to worry, my princess. The Khagan would not place you in such a position. The cooperation of your husband-to-be will be dealt with before you arrive in the Wu Dynasty,” he assured her gently.
“Taken care of?” Ashina’s fear melted away into a look of unease. “What do you mean?”
“I cannot say, but there is no need for any concern,” Kulun bowed his head respectfully. “Please do not let it cause you undue worry.”
He hastily excused himself and left before Ashina could press him for more answers. Disgruntled and even more confused than when he had entered, Ashina leaned back in her chair, curling in on herself.
Her attendant came in, having sent off the khagan properly, and stopped short on seeing Ashina’s expression.
“What’s the matter, my princess?” Derin asked, hurrying over to the princess’ side.
“I want to go home,” Ashina said petulantly. She looked up and met Derin’s worried gaze, her eyes skittering away.
“Just jesting,” Ashina added on unconvincingly. She opened the roster in her lap again, showing it to Derin. “We need to memorize this before we cross the border.”
With a heavy heart, Derin nodded and sat down at Ashina’s side, holding the scroll open for the princess.
The pearl of the Khagan’s palm, this flower of the plains, just how can she endure spending the rest of her life in the walls of a foreign city? Ignoring the pangs in her heart, Derin turned her attention to memorizing the names of the agents.
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At the crack of dawn, Hu Qing and Ke Yongqian were already preparing to depart. They had been welcomed enthusiastically in Taiyuan with a banquet hosted by the local Governor, but of the entire delegation, only the officials from the Ministry of Rites had actually become inebriated.
Hu Qing and Ke Yongqian swung onto their horses, having packed lightly for their journey.
“Be careful,” Kayla said. She was used to getting up at ungodly hours, and had no problem crawling out of bed before the sun had come up. Tabuyir and two of his Investigators stood a short distance away, keeping watch on her safety.
Hu Qing nodded at Kayla.
“Don't worry, I’ll take care of things properly,” Hu Qing said confidently.
“Sure. Ke Yongqian, keep an eye out for your lord, alright?” Kayla said to him.
“Of course,” Ke Yongqian replied.
“Then we’re off!” Hu Qing waved and took off at a gallop. Ke Yongqian bowed his head at Kayla and quickly followed suit. Small plumes of dust came up off the road as the two faded into the distance.
An old peddler watched the scene from afar, quietly leaving without anyone taking notice. His aging face and remarkably civilian status made him almost invisible to the delegations’ guards. He shuffled home and took out a communication talisman, hands shaking as he tore it apart. It caught fire as it activated, burning to ashes on the ground.
The peddler sighed, grabbing a broom to sweep it away. He had no idea what any of it meant, but the money had been too good to pass up. Ten silver just to tear up a talisman…a talisman for what? He shook his head, setting away his useless ponderings. It didn’t have anything to do with him.
Miles away, a man glanced up as his communication device displayed a notification. A feral smile slowly spread over his face, his eyes lighting up with a malicious glint.
“Finally,” he said, sweeping his eyes over his companions. “It’s time to make our move.”
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Cultural Notes
太行山/Taihang Mountains: A mountain range in China. Kayla's party is following a path that passes by the west of the mountain range. It is famously featured in the poem 行路难/Difficult Path by the Tang Dynasty poet 李白/Li Bai/Li the White (he was Asian) in the lines, "欲渡黄河冰塞川，将登太行雪满山。/I wish to cross the Yellow River but it is clogged with ice, I prepare to climb the Taihang but the mountains are covered in snow." This poem is well-known for its portrayal of the poet's frustration at the state of the court and his own unfulfilled ambitions.
青黄不接/Between green and yellow: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to be in a transition phase where the old (persons/practices/etc) are outdated and the new are too inexperienced/untested/etc. It originally refers to when the new crops haven't matured yet, but the old crops have already been eaten.
受制于人/Be beholden to another: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to be beholden to someone, with the connotation that the relationship is coercive and dominating.
良家子弟/Sons of good families: An Ancient Chinese proverb and concept referring to the emphasis placed upon one's familial background and ancestry.
Sogdia: An Ancient Iranian civilization that eventually came under the rule of the Sassanian Empire of Iran, and later the Western Turkic Khaganate. Sogdians played an important role in the Silk Road, and a significant population of Sogdians also lived in Ancient China, where many became officials during the Tang Dynasty.
Names and titles of Turkic characters: The Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates were ruled by Gokturks (Blue Turks/Celestial Turks), which has far fewer (translated) surviving records than Turkic Khaganates/Empires that came after them. However, there are records of them in Persian and Chinese records. The titles used in this story are historically attributed to the Gokturks, but some of the names and non-governmental titles are pulled from the Ottoman Empire because there's not enough material to go off of. For example, I have no proof as to whether the names Derin, Celik, Emre, and Isik were used in this time period. Also, the title hanim (lady/Mrs./madam) is taken from modern Turkish forms of address and usage in the Ottoman Empire. The following are historically recorded as being used in the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganates:
-Tarkhan: A title for high-ranking ministers/military commanders. Holders of this title did not have to belong to the ruling clan, and records have that they were permitted to enter the Khagan's yurt without prior appointment. They also had privileges such as being exempt from taxes. I'll elaborate as needed in future Cultural Notes.
-Baghatur: An honorific title meaning hero or valiant warrior. Though scholars are not quite sure how early this came into use, it was recorded as early as the 7th century by Sui Dynasty (dynasty prior to the Tang Dynasty) historians.
-Shegui Khagan: Named after an actual Western Turkic Khagan.
掌上明珠/Bright pearl on one's palm: An Ancient Chinese proverb originating from the Jin Dynasty (dynasty after the Three Kingdoms era), originally used to refer to a young woman who is as precious as a shining pearl to her lover, but later developed to mean one's precious children. Eventually, by the Mongolian-ruled Yuan Dynasty, it had come to almost exclusively represent the beloved daughters of a family.