Khanate Court.
Wei Caiwei returned to San Niangzi with the Longqing Emperor's secret letter and said, "...There are also clothing, jewelry, and other gifts bestowed by Empress Chen, but they're too conspicuous to bring in."
San Niangzi showed no interest in the finery. She read the secret letter three times before finally believing the Great Ming Emperor truly intended to cooperate with her for peaceful mutual trade—this was what she genuinely desired.
Committing every word to memory, she returned the letter to Wei Caiwei. "For safety, store it at the Rouge and Powder Shop first. Those stepsons are watching me like hawks—I cannot afford a misstep."
Wei Caiwei agreed. Seizing San Niangzi's buoyant mood, she added, "Hastuya has cried herself unconscious, unwilling to remarry Ados. Tomorrow she'll be sent to Ados' grand tent."
San Niangzi's exhilaration plummeted into despair. Hastuya's plight forced her to recall the scene she'd struggled to forget for seven years: like Hastuya, she had been preparing her trousseau when summoned by Anda Khan, losing her virginity on a white tiger skin. Too terrified to resist, she'd been like a frightened bird clutched in someone's palm—a slight squeeze could have crushed her.
Before power, she was insignificant. Apart from accepting reality, only death remained. Yet it wasn't her fault—why should she die?
Hastuya was treading her old path. She would gradually accept it.
San Niangzi said, "Every woman comes this way—learning to coexist with pain, to reconcile with it. If she holds on persistently, she might, if fortunate, rise against the wind and conquer her suffering. But for now, she can do nothing but accept fate's arrangement."
Wei Caiwei replied, "She's merely a fourteen-year-old girl untouched by the world—of course she cannot resist. But someone has grown strong enough to help her avoid retreading that bitter road, if only she's willing to act."
San Niangzi smiled wryly. "You mean me, don't you? I'm sorry, but I lack the power to overturn Anda Khan's decision now. Though I wish to help, I'm unable."
"No need for the Hatun to persuade Anda Khan. You need only do this..." Wei Caiwei leaned close to whisper her plan. "Anda Khan won't suspect you. Moreover, this benefits you as well. Ba Han Naji will be grateful and become your capable ally. Given his lineage and martial prowess, he'll suppress unruly clansmen in the future. With few supporters at the Khanate Court now, winning Ba Han Naji to your side is the perfect opportunity."
Wei Caiwei appealed to both emotion and ambition, swaying San Niangzi's heart.
San Niangzi asked, "Why are you doing this? Mobilizing such effort for a foreign woman unrelated to you? I recall you've never even spoken to her."
Wei Caiwei explained, "My closest interest in Hastuya is that she bought many items from my husband's cosmetics shop. I help her out of womanly compassion—we women are always treated as objects, shuffled around at will. I... I actually had an elder sister who..."
She struggled to continue. "She was seized by a wicked man. I watched her die on the childbirth bed. I was very young then—powerless to do anything."Upon hearing this, San Niangzi instinctively covered her large belly, feeling it tighten in waves. She was filled with terror at the thought of dying on the childbirth bed.
Wei Caiwei said, "When the hare dies, the fox mourns. Hearing Hastuya's helpless cries, I thought of my sister and how wonderful it would have been if someone had saved her back then? If one day, I were also treated as an object and gifted to some man, what would I do? We grieve for our own kind, so I wanted to help. Since I have the ability, why not do it?"
San Niangzi asked, "Just because she is a woman?"
Wei Caiwei bowed her head and said, "Just because she is a woman."
San Niangzi replied, "Alright, I will do as you say."
By nightfall, Hastuya had cried herself to exhaustion, allowing herself to be manipulated like a puppet as she tried on the wedding dress for the next day. Her parents had already entered the palace, jointly persuading her to accept Anda Khan's arrangement and not seek death, lest she implicate her family.
Like San Niangzi seven years ago, Hastuya was painfully deciding to accept reality.
Ba Han Naji was still unconscious. Using the pretext of examining his injuries, Wei Caiwei secretly fed him the antidote and used acupuncture to wake him.
The moment Ba Han Naji opened his eyes, he was about to roar, but Wei Caiwei covered his mouth and whispered in his ear, "If you want to marry Hastuya, keep quiet."
Ba Han Naji remembered her—she was the personal female physician by San Niangzi's side, the Gynecological Master He Daifu from Datong, who was said to have been forcibly abducted to the Khanate Court by his grandfather, Anda Khan.
Does she want to escape with us? Ba Han Naji nodded.
Wei Caiwei untied the ropes binding his hands and feet. "I sympathize with you and Hastuya and am willing to help you, this star-crossed couple, escape from here. But you must think clearly: once you leave, you may never return. There's no turning back once the arrow is released."
Ba Han Naji asked, "What does He Daifu mean? Are you asking me to betray my country?"
Wei Caiwei said, "You know Ding Yuanpan and should be aware of his background. He came to the Khanate Court and sought refuge with Anda Khan because his family was treated unfairly by the Ming court, and his entire family perished. But human hearts are complex. Though he repeatedly claims to hate the Great Ming, he has not actually done anything harmful to it, and Anda Khan has always treated him with respect. You are of noble birth, a descendant of the Golden Family. If you go to the Great Ming, they will definitely not mistreat you but will host you as an honored guest, treating you with the courtesy due to a commandery prince."
"No," Ba Han Naji shook his head immediately. "I would rather die than betray my grandfather. Wealth and honor are not what I desire."
"But tomorrow morning, Hastuya will be sent to Ados's tent to bear children for Ados. You, covered in whip wounds, are trapped here and can do nothing." Wei Caiwei said:
"Take Hastuya and flee to the Great Ming first. This is a temporary measure. After this matter fades, you two can have children in the Great Ming. The child will be Anda Khan's great-grandson. When you return holding the child, Anda Khan will forgive you for the sake of his great-grandson."Ba Han Naji hesitated. Wei Caiwei said, "Hastuya has cried all her tears for you. Will you just stand by and watch her enter Ados' tent? Once she goes in, there's no turning back. Look at San Niangzi now—it's as if she's lost her memory, as if Ados never existed in this world. Do you want Hastuya to look at you that way in the future? A coward who can't even protect his own woman? A useless fool laughed at by the grasslands for seven years!"
"I am no coward!" Ba Han Naji growled softly. "He Daifu, how do you plan to help us? You're just a physician—how can you possibly smuggle two living people out of the Khanate Court? And safely escape Fengcheng?"
After all, Ba Han Naji was only eighteen, full of youthful vigor—precisely the age to risk everything for love. Accustomed to being spoiled by Anda Khan and getting whatever he wanted, he was determined to have Hastuya. He couldn't accept his betrothed bearing another man's child, couldn't endure the slightest setback. With Wei Caiwei's provocation, he immediately made his decision.
Wei Caiwei unfolded a map of the Khanate Court. "What you need to do is trust me..."
As Wei Caiwei laid out her plan, Ba Han Naji's confidence in escaping grew when he learned that even San Niangzi was willing to support him and Hastuya. He immediately gave Wei Caiwei a wolf tooth carving he carried as a token, saying, "I have several childhood companions who are utterly loyal. Show them this token, and they'll help me escape."
Wei Caiwei took the wolf tooth. "Hastuya didn't misjudge you. You're a real man."
Ba Han Naji became even more resolute in his decision to elope with Hastuya.
At midnight, the palace where San Niangzi resided suddenly caught fire. Fanned by the wind, the flames spread rapidly. Moreover, fireworks were set off above the burning palace—blossoming white lotuses.
Such fireworks had always been used in various White Lotus Sect celebrations. The fire in the Khanate Court was clearly seen as the White Lotus Sect's retaliation for the last bit of grain seized by Anda Khan.
As San Niangzi and others fled the palace, Anda Khan, fearing the fire would spread, ordered most of the court guards to fight the flames. Only two guards remained to watch Ba Han Naji and Hastuya, both of whom were knocked unconscious and stripped of their uniforms by Ba Han Naji's companions.
The lovebirds changed into the guards' uniforms and, amid the chaos, were smuggled out of the Khanate Court by Ding Wu, arriving at the Rouge and Powder Shop. There, they burned the uniforms to destroy evidence and hid in the shop.
San Niangzi, agitated by the commotion, went into labor. All of Anda Khan's attention was focused on his young wife's delivery, leaving him no time to inquire about his grandson's whereabouts. It wasn't until daybreak when the bound and gagged guards were discovered that he realized his grandson had eloped with Hastuya!
With San Niangzi's painful screams during contractions on one side and news of his most beloved grandson escaping amid the chaos on the other, Anda Khan paced anxiously like an ant on a hot griddle. "Why hasn't she given birth yet? Lock down the entire city! Everyone passing through the four city gates must be thoroughly inspected. Unless they've grown wings, there's no way two living people can escape! Also, arrest all members of the White Lotus Sect and interrogate them about who ordered the fire at Zhongjin Khatun's palace last night!"
The White Lotus Sect firmly shouldered the blame—a case of making use of worthless scapegoats.
At that moment, a maid timidly asked, "Hastuya has already fled, but Ados' envoy sent to fetch the bride is still waiting outside the palace."All the vexing matters had piled up at once. Hastuya was gone—should that woman replace her? As Anda Khan pondered, Ding Wu stepped forward to share his lord’s burden. "Great Khan, this humble servant is willing to seek out Ados and persuade him to abandon this marriage."
Just then, San Niangzi cried out in pain again, further fraying Anda Khan’s nerves. "Go quickly. It would be best if you can convince him to give it up. He already has eight wives yet remains unsatisfied."
As Ding Wu left the city as Anda Khan’s envoy, Wang Daxia deliberately positioned his carriage ahead of him. At the southern gate, every person had to disembark for inspection, with even chests being opened and rummaged through—security was exceptionally tight.
When it was Wang Daxia’s turn, a pair of pale hands drew back the carriage curtain, their nails delicately stained red with henna. Then emerged a face as radiant as a lotus flower, with fiery red lips, jet-black hair, and snow-white skin.
Her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, as if a thousand hairpins had been crammed onto her head. A fox fur scarf encircled her neck, its lush fur accentuating her even more voluptuous bust, nearly the size of honeydews. Her full chest made her slender waist appear all the more fragile, as if it might buckle under the weight.
The guards at the gate stared, spellbound, unconsciously licking their lips. "D-dismount. We need to inspect."
"Oh my, you even want to frisk me?" Wang Daxia produced a green peacock feather fan, covering half his face while eyeing the guards disdainfully. "If you want to touch me and take advantage, just say it outright. You foul men don’t need to hide behind excuses."
The guards hurriedly explained, "Boss Ximen, we don’t search women. Please step down so we can inspect the carriage. If there are any chests, please open them as well."
The flirtatious Boss Ximen of the Rouge and Powder Shop was "renowned" throughout Fengcheng—almost no one was unaware of him. The guards recognized him.
Wang Daxia’s expression soured. "Pah! Coveting my beauty and now trying to steal my silver? Shameless!"
The guards insisted, "This is the Great Khan’s order. Please cooperate, Boss."
Ding Wu, a few steps behind Wang Daxia, urged his horse forward and produced his Rhinoceros Horn Token as proof of identity. "What’s going on? You’re blocking the road. I’m on a mission for Anda Khan and need to leave the city immediately. Make way!"
The guards hastily cleared the path, allowing Ding Wu to pass through the gate first.
"Judge Ding!" Wang Daxia in the carriage pretended to coincidentally encounter his rumored lover.
Ding Wu glanced back and saw the dazzling beauty. "What a coincidence, you’re leaving the city too?"
Wang Daxia skillfully played the coquette. "How else could fate bring me and Judge Ding together, meeting like this? Judge Ding, these foul soldiers want to search me—"
The guards protested, "We do not!" Everyone in Fengcheng knew about the affair between Boss Ximen of the Rouge and Powder Shop and Judge Ding, with rumors even spreading that Boss Ximen had miscarried Ding’s child. The guards hurriedly distanced themselves.
Ding Wu told the guards, "I vouch with my official position that Boss Ximen is an honest merchant who would never harbor fugitives. Let her leave the city with me. If any issues arise later, I’ll take responsibility."
"If you don’t believe it, let Judge Ding personally search me to show you." Wang Daxia lowered his feather fan and swayed his two honeydews as he approached, startling Ding Wu into stepping back repeatedly: Why are you adding scenes? This wasn’t in the plan!
The guards quickly interjected, "That won’t be necessary! We trust Judge Ding. Please, both of you, proceed."Ding Wu, who had always maintained a courteous demeanor, said, "Thank you." He then departed the city together with Wang Daxia's carriage.
Inside the carriage were Ba Han Naji and Hastuya, dressed in Han Chinese attire. Wang Daxia was to escort them to Datong to seek refuge with the Ming dynasty.
As the two parties traveled together and were about to part ways at a fork in the road, Ados spotted Ding Wu from afar, along with the carriage behind him. He faintly glimpsed a woman dressed in red with a red veil sitting in the carriage and mistook her for his bride. He promptly led his men over to welcome the bridal party.
Wang Daxia, who was driving the carriage toward Datong, found himself surrounded by Ados's wedding procession.
When Ados had fallen in love with Hastuya at first sight the previous day, she had also been wearing red. Wang Daxia, who had always favored red attire and wore a red veil to conceal his Adam's apple, was seated on the carriage shaft driving the horses. Ados mistook him for Hastuya.
"Look! There is my bride, driving a carriage full of dowry to marry me!" Overjoyed, Ados spurred his horse forward. As he galloped past the carriage, he stretched out his arms and swept Wang Daxia right off the carriage shaft onto his horse!
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