Following the recent death of Emperor Tianchen, by protocol, Princess Huaqi’s wedding should have been postponed. Yet, with Xiao Chiye’s betrayal in Qudu and the city relying on Qidong, the Empress Dowager and the cabinet deliberated repeatedly and ultimately decided to proceed, marrying Hua Xiangyi in July.
This time, the Empress Dowager spared no effort; the dowry she prepared for Hua Xiangyi was more than extravagant. The Ministry of Rites arranged everything according to the princess’s status, and the escort was personally led by Han Cheng. The number of maids and attendants accompanying her was countless.
As Hua Xiangyi ascended the carriage, ready to depart, the Empress Dowager hurried after her two steps, nearly calling out, but she maintained her composure. Holding the hand of Aunt Liulang and letting Dongzhu jostle at her side, she whispered, “My child…”
The escort proceeded out of Qudu, following the Duan City road south toward Qidong, passing near Chazhou. Han Cheng, initially worried about bandits, had brought the Eight Battalions for protection, but the journey remained uneventful. Luo Mu even sent a congratulatory gift along the way. They continued south, where Qi Zhuyin had already been waiting within Qidong territory.
“Speaking of Qi Zhuyin,” Han Cheng rode beside the carriage, speaking through the curtain to Hua Xiangyi, “you’ve yet to meet her, correct?”
A soft hum came from inside.
Han Cheng, ever fond of his own authority, perked up. “Let me explain a bit. Though she is a woman, Qi Zhuyin is not easy to get along with. Having lived primarily in the inner court, you may not know her ferocious demeanor when she entered the capital each year. During the Xian De period, the Ministry of Revenue was strained; to secure Qidong’s military funds, she even blocked Minister Wei’s sedan chair with her personal guard. But since the ministry could not provide the silver, she mingled with the streetwise rogues of Qudu.”
Hua Xiangyi had only glimpsed Qi Zhuyin behind a screen during an official banquet full of men. Qi Zhuyin had been relatively inconspicuous early on in Qidong, before Qi Shiyu handed over the command insignia. Everyone had speculated about her from among her brothers. After the rescue of Qi Shiyu, she was initially barred from entering the capital. The court cited “pending review of her military achievements,” delaying her months. Near the time of investiture, she caused the Yulong Terrace incident. Even with the Empress Dowager’s intervention, she only inherited Qi Shiyu’s command, not his title. In short, every campaign she fought was to accumulate prestige for Qidong, not for herself. Without marriage, she would retire as merely “a Qi daughter,” while her brothers could secure their inheritance simply by producing heirs.
Han Cheng continued talking, but Hua Xiangyi inside the carriage appeared to sleep. Growing bored, he finally fell silent.
By the hour of You, a red streak appeared on the horizon. Heat waves rolled across the plains, hooves thundered, and rows of cavalry in red lined the road like a long dragon. The military banners of Qidong whipped in the wind. Yellow dust blew into Han Cheng’s face.
Qi Wei was the first to dismount, waving a banner and shouting, “Welcome—the bride!”
The cavalry behind dismounted in unison, kneeling on one knee, their armor clanging as they lifted their arms. They shouted together, “We welcome the lady!”
The roar startled the palace maids accompanying the carriage from Qudu. Even Han Cheng nearly clutched his chest. He brushed off the dust, frowning. “Where is the Grand Marshal…”
The red-clad figure approached the carriage. Before Han Cheng could intervene, Qi Zhuyin tilted the curtain aside and peered inside.
Hua Xiangyi, still without her veil and wearing a golden phoenix crown, was stunned by the sight, her heart racing, unsure of Qi Zhuyin’s intentions.
“Yo,” Qi Zhuyin greeted, “young lady.”
Han Cheng panicked, hurried to cover the curtain, scolding, “We haven’t even reached Cang County. How can the Grand Marshal lift the princess’s curtain so freely?”
“Just a glance,” Qi Zhuyin said, retracting her hand, “you’ve rested how many times on the road? By schedule, you should have arrived yesterday.”
Han Cheng followed her horse, saying, “The journey was long. Rushing could lead to accidents. I thought the Grand Marshal would meet you south of Chazhou, but he did not.”
“I just rode back from the border. Time is short,” Qi Zhuyin replied, turning to Han Cheng. “Why did you dismount?”
Scanning the area, Han Cheng said, “It’s already the hour of You; we should be here…”
Qi Zhuyin pointed east with her riding crop. “Ride a bit further. By the hour of Hai, you’ll reach Ce County. From there, the road to Cang County is smoother. Mount up.”
Exhausted, Han Cheng continued to follow, while Qi Zhuyin rode ahead. Qi Wei mounted from the other side, surrounding the escort with cavalry and politely saying, “Commanding officer, let’s move.”
Even Han Cheng, powerful in Qudu, had no jurisdiction over military or civil departments here. While the Jinyiwei could assert authority in Qudu and elsewhere, Qi Zhuyin had no reason to fear them. She was the military commander of five Qidong counties; this was her territory. The Empress Dowager, dependent on Qidong’s forces, also had to yield.
Han Cheng’s resentment was silent, but his face remained courteous; he smiled and rode on.
Hua Xiangyi, recovering from her startled glance, still felt her heart flutter. She tilted her head to peek through the curtain and saw Qi Zhuyin’s riding figure ahead.
Tall and imposing, Qi Zhuyin had evidently dressed for riding. She did not wear the voluminous Qudu-style cloud bun, yet her hair was neat and stylish.
She was beautiful.
Hua Xiangyi wanted to continue observing her, but Qi Zhuyin suddenly turned her head.
Xiao Chiye congratulated politely but still prepared gifts. Xiao Jiming on the other side was doing the same. Their relations with Qidong were not bad; even now, despite the delicacy of the moment, old bonds remained, especially with Qi Zhuyin.
Princess Huaqi’s wedding symbolized the Empress Dowager’s temporary victory in Qudu’s political struggle. The cabinet needed to stabilize the heir to continue maneuvering. At this moment, Xue Xiuzhuo acted wisely, petitioning to negotiate with the cabinet and returning Jiang Qing Shan to Juexi, securing Qudu’s granaries.
Yao Wenyu sat in the four-wheeled carriage, pushed by Qiao Tianya. Recent weather in Cizhou had been poor; autumn rains approached, and the outskirts appeared bleak. Having not seen the sun for days, Yao Wenyu seemed like exposed jade.
“As expected,” Shen Zechuan observed the frost-laden landscape, “he did return Jiang Qing Shan to Juexi.”
“I thought that, even to restrain Cizhou, Jiang Qing Shan should have been sent to Huaizhou,” Zhou Gui, unusually well-dressed today, replied. Wiping sweat, he added, “Luoxia Pass is adjacent to Quancheng, Xue’s old home; he must have concerns, yet he truly returned him to Juexi.”
Yao Wenyu, holding a cat in his sleeve, said, “Due to the geographic positions, such concerns are natural. Considering the current situation, Xue Xiuzhuo returning Jiang Qing Shan to Juexi favors him the most.”
Shen Zechuan stomped on fallen leaves, deep in thought.
If Jiang Qing Shan had gone to Huaizhou, he could have pressured Cizhou and blocked the Cizhou-Huai trade route, while securing Quancheng and coordinating pressure on Luoxia Pass—advantageous to Libei. Yao Wenyu noted that Xue Xiuzhuo chose Juexi instead, prioritizing his strategy over local gains.
“Returning Jiang Qing Shan to Juexi,” Shen Zechuan said solemnly, “shows why he is formidable. This move not only controls Libei and Zhongbo’s food supplies, it also signals Xue has no personal interests. Unlike others, he seeks broader aims.”
“Jiang Qing Shan is capable and effective; rumors of intolerance are false,” Yao Wenyu said, stroking the cat. “Juexi, with thirteen cities, two states, and two ports, is now the granary of the Great Zhou. Xi’s business flourishes there; the waterways of the Di family also pass through. Anyone visiting Juexi would see its prosperity is no accident. Jiang Qing Shan is broad-minded, uses talent regardless of lineage, decisive in major matters, yet discerning in minor ones. He neither spares what must be controlled nor regrets leniency when warranted. With such governance, recovery after Xian De’s disasters was inevitable. Xue Xiuzhuo values him for shared vision and competence.”
Zhou Gui nodded. “I’d heard of their achievements. When Yuan Fu recommended Xue Xiuzhuo to the Court of Justice, there was no opposition.”
Yao Wenyu continued, “Do you recall the Grand Tutor’s intentions?”
Shen Zechuan recited flawlessly: “Manage the Great Zhou’s census, measure all farmland, consolidate regional taxes, restore the treasury.”
Yao Wenyu gazed at distant mountains. “That’s what Xue Xiuzhuo aims to do. The Grand Tutor had the support of officials like Kong Qiu and Cen Yu, while Xue has practical support under Jiang Qing Shan. He is not isolated.”
But could the Great Zhou achieve this now?
Qi Huilian spent years implementing land registration. The Eastern Palace was framed for rebellion because the registration revealed encroachments. In Qudu, aristocrats had seized farmland; enforcement meant land return, legal penalties, and tax responsibility. Killing the Crown Prince could halt reforms. Hai Liangyi taught Li Jianheng for the same reason: to ensure he wielded power and could implement change top-down.
Li Jianheng failed.
Xue Xiuzhuo realized this earlier, abandoning hope in Li Jianheng and the Li family. He needed a new emperor: one who would sit quietly, not meddle with the cabinet, remain neutral in aristocratic and scholarly conflicts, and not favor border generals. He found Li Jianting.
Yet such planning is slow, and Qudu constantly shifts. Shen Zechuan is a variable. In Qudu, he is merely a pawn, disposable once Xue removes Xi Hongxuan and Wei Huaigu—like Xiao Chiye, eliminated in a downpour. Xue’s lack of personal desire makes him frightening. Even though Xue Xiuyi mocked his elder brother repeatedly, Xue spared him, viewing him as irrelevant—alive or dead, like dust.
He would kill Qi Huilian, the Grand Tutor, and Yao Wenyu, a prodigy. Both were given choices but refused. A strategist not useful to him must be removed; leaving them free is like gifting a famous sword to others—only death eliminates future threats.
A lone wild goose crossed the sky. Frost and mist rose, and the cold deepened. Qiao Tianya draped a cloak over Yao Wenyu as they remained in the forest.
Shen Zechuan tapped his folded fan against his palm, eyes tracking the migrating goose. “Perhaps Xue Xiuzhuo never expected the Great Zhou to collapse so quickly. No one can predict everything. Lu Guangbai in the military supply crisis is a variable. Qidong, losing Lu Guangbai, missed capturing Ce’an. Qudu shifted from siege to release.”
Fate is unpredictable. Not just Lu Guangbai, but Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye, Yao Wenyu, and countless nameless others were freed from their constraints. In chaos, anyone can fight for survival. Some cling to remnants; others break through with force.
This is the era of traitors and rebels.
Thick fog rose, and rain began. Fei Sheng held an umbrella over Shen Zechuan as they turned their horses home. Autumn had finally arrived in Cizhou. The wind tugged at Shen Zechuan’s sleeve, nearly blowing away his blue scarf. As he held it, leaves swirled past, golden and brittle, falling at Xiao Chiye’s feet.
Goujin rode in, waving a small flag. “The mountain path ahead has collapsed, master! We’re trapped here!”
Xiao Chiye mounted swiftly. Wu Ziyu emerged from behind. Braving the rain, he reported, “Chaohui’s troops haven’t arrived. Ten li beyond is Tuda Dragon Banner; Hansen’s cavalry is nearby!”
“The grain carts are too heavy,” Dan Taihu wiped rain from his face. “Unless we abandon supplies and take a detour, we’ll encounter Hansen’s cavalry tonight.”
“Combat provisions are insufficient,” Chen Yang urged, face red from cold. “We can stay, but master must move.”
Following prior orders, Xiao Chiye’s route from the Great Border to the north was to pass the former camp’s mountain path, supplying Chaohui, then provide Xiao Fangxu with reinforcements. They should have been met by Chaohui’s three battalions here, but the army never arrived. Heavy rain prevented reconnaissance; Xiao Chiye was effectively blind.
His eyes, however, remained icy calm. Rain ran down his cheeks as he commanded in the din, “Turn direction. We’ll head to Tuda Dragon Banner.”