Qiluо silk hаd thе аbsolute аbilitу tо mаkе the Jun family еvеn more рrominent, but shе соuldn't роssiblу keeр appearing in men's сlоthing forеver, соuld shе? If shе werе tо tаkе оver thе family business аs Jun Fеifan, thаt would mean shе would havе to live аs а mаn fоr thе rеst оf her life, unаblе to mаrrу аnd beаr childrеn. Вut if she werе tо return tо her true identitу as a womаn... shе wоuld inevitаbly have tо find а husbаnd. Yet in this еrа, whаt mаn wоuld аllow his wifе tо engаge in businеss? Even if hе marriеd intо thе familу, hе wоuld dеmand absolutе authority and refusе any interfеrencе from а wоman. Just likе his second son-in-law—a scholar who knew nothing about business, who studied diligently and planned to take the imperial exams, yet still forbade his wife from interfering in commercial affairs. And his second daughter, Xiu Kun, obediently focused on serving her husband, not daring to touch the account books again. Now, the young couple lived in the Jun family's villa, awaiting the arrival of their first child. His second son-in-law was a bit rigid-minded, but at least he had integrity and cherished his wife. However, Qiluo would surely not want such a marriage!
And recently, Qiluo was once again disguising herself as a man to lead a caravan through the Silk Road to Western Xia for trade.
Jun Chengliu sat in his study, filled with worry. A bowl of lotus seed soup on the table had already gone cold. As autumn neared its end, there were signs of snowfall—this year's winter had come unusually early! He couldn't help but sigh again. It was said that three months ago, a caravan carrying gold, silver, and silk disappeared after passing beyond the Great Wall. In the Helan Mountains area, scattered clothing and corpses had been seen... Rumors spoke of a group of ruthless Yellow Sand Bandits who had claimed that area as their territory.
That region was originally a lawless zone, where Han and non-Han peoples intermingled, and it was also home to the Great Song's most dreaded enemy—the Liao People. Throughout history, even when nations were at war, they did not deliberately massacre civilians. However, in an era of constant conflict, it was inevitable that some displaced people would gather to form bandits seeking unearned gains. The imperial court was unlikely to intervene easily.
Thinking back to yesterday's secret meeting with Lord Ma, the Minister of War, Jun Chengliu's heart grew even heavier. Of course, he hoped for the Great Song's lasting peace and stability, unwilling to see the hard-won tranquility disrupted by war once again. But after all, wasn't that a matter for the state? He was merely a law-abiding, honest, and kind-hearted merchant! For twenty or thirty years, his generosity, kindness, and charitable deeds were not done to pray for a son from heaven, nor to earn others' gratitude. Beyond praying for peace under heaven, he simply wished for his three beloved daughters to find happy homes.If we escort the merchant caravan out of Jiayu Pass under official pretense, would it be good or not? True, under official escort, perhaps bandits would not dare to act recklessly, but what if it attracts the attention of the Liao Kingdom? Those ruthless Khitan are the nightmare of the Great Song people! Of course, beyond Jiayu Pass should be the territory of Western Xia, but in the Helan Mountain region, there are also Liao people present! Although the sphere of influence of the Great Liao is mostly in the north, the tense atmosphere between Liao and Song has made both nations wary. According to Lord Ma's analysis, it is unlikely that the Liao Kingdom has deployed any strong military forces in the northwestern region of the Great Song, and therefore, he guarantees that Qiluo silk will be one hundred percent safe on this journey. Moreover, there will be soldiers for protection! Yet, why does he always feel uneasy? He has never been one to worry unnecessarily, but...
"Father, were you looking for me?" A deep, clear voice came from the doorway; appearing simultaneously with the voice was a graceful and handsome young man. His skin was fair, his demeanor noble, so beautiful that women would feel ashamed in comparison; a pair of bold, thick eyebrows emphasized a resolute and strong presence, adding a masculine touch to an overly beautiful face. This kind of handsome, fair appearance is common everywhere in Jiangnan, and even though he is too beautiful, it would not make anyone suspect whether he is a woman in disguise. Everyone knows that Jun Feifan is the future heir of the Jun family and a great merchant whom everyone vies to curry favor with. He possesses rich experience and exceptional talent, making people no longer care about his humble origins. Since he turned eighteen, many have sought to arrange marriages with him, from princes and nobles to renowned ladies, with matchmakers almost breaking down the doors of the Jun family. Amid such prosperity, who could imagine that this Jun Feifan—such a handsome man—is actually a woman!
Jun Chengliu felt both proud and worried; though fifty years old is not yet decrepit, he had already grown gray hair—what worried and made him proud was this eldest daughter, long past the age of marriage!
"Lord Ma came to see me yesterday."
"To chat about daily matters? He probably doesn’t have time for that." Jun Qiluo sat beside her father, took hot tea from a servant, and poured a cup of fragrant tea for her father. After dismissing everyone, amidst the curling tea fragrance, she gazed through the mist at the worry in her father’s eyes. Just like four years ago when she first insisted on leading a merchant caravan along the Silk Road, that time her father’s hair turned white with anxiety, but she still insisted on going and eventually returned safely, bringing back beautiful carpets, silks, furs, and other goods not found in the Central Plains, as well as a large fortune earned from her first hands-on business venture.
"Recently, a group of unknown bandits has been rampant in the Helan Mountains area. Therefore, Lord Ma hopes that for this westward journey, we can use a wedding as a cover, disguising the merchant caravan as a festive procession to avoid attracting attention. On one hand, it can prevent drawing the notice of the Liao people and bandits; on the other hand, it can also ensure your safety." Jun Chengliu carefully explained Lord Ma’s intentions.A prolonged standoff with the Liao Kingdom was no solution to the problem, yet Great Song lacked the strength to confront the Liao People head-on. Especially after General Yang was left with only one son, Great Song had no trustworthy generals left to lead troops into battle. Now, they had no choice but to ally with Western Xia to attack Great Liao. This plan was still uncertain, so naturally, it could not be carried out openly or with too much fanfare, lest it draw Great Liao’s attention. Lord Ma had initially considered secretly sending some martial arts experts to deliver the message, but he feared they might be robbed by bandits along the way. Sending Great Song soldiers, on the other hand, would be too conspicuous and would surely arouse suspicion. In the end, Lord Ma and Prince Zhaoping jointly decided to announce the marriage of his daughter, Princess Yunhui, as a cover for secretly delivering confidential documents. Of course, it would not be the real princess but a skilled martial arts woman disguised as the bride. As for the escort, they could legitimately dispatch the Imperial Guard, which would not attract undue attention. Moreover, traveling with a group of merchants for trade would further avoid suspicion.
On the surface, this plan seemed flawless. However, what was originally a simple journey along the Silk Road now carried political risks, making it far from worthwhile. Not only would they have to guard against bandits, but they would also have to be wary of the Liao People. If the plan were exposed, Great Song would certainly deny any involvement. Even more alarming was that the confidential documents had to be hidden on Qiluo, as Lord Ma trusted her and no one else.
"Is that so?" Qiluo frowned slightly, lost in thought. She understood the risks involved better than anyone! But if this could eliminate the Khitan, that long-standing threat, in one fell swoop, wouldn’t it be a cause for celebration? Yet, would things unfold so smoothly? The current Great Liao was at its peak, completely reversing the plundering and destructive policies of Yelü Deguang. Not only did they have the wise and far-sighted Empress Xiao, but also Yelü Longxu, who governed with virtue and ability, causing Han People outside the border to willingly submit, and the minister Han Derang, who assisted in governing the state. Was this truly the opportune moment to annihilate them in one stroke? Back when General Yang Ye and his seven sons were renowned on the battlefield, they had still been utterly defeated by the Liao army, proving that the strength of the Liao Kingdom should not be underestimated. But they couldn’t continue like this forever! The secession of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun had already placed Great Song in a defensive position. If they could seize this chance to turn their fate around, every subject of Great Song should do their utmost.
Once her mind was made up, she immediately said, "Do I need to go to Bianjing?"
"Can’t you just not go?" Jun Chengliu roared. He was beginning to regret teaching her to read and write! Although illiteracy might have buried her talents, at least she wouldn’t have to live this life of constant danger. If Qiluo was unwilling, he could immediately refuse Lord Ma’s request.
"Father, I’ll be fine! I’ve gone out so many times before, and haven’t I always returned safely? Besides, this time there will be highly skilled Imperial Guards accompanying me. It’s just delivering a letter! If this succeeds, our lives will be more stable in the future." Since she had already decided to inherit her father’s business, she had to experience every kind of trial firsthand."Qiluo silk! Return to being a girl! From now on, let there be no more Jun Feifan!" He could not bear the consequences of any misfortune, and the more he thought about it, the more panicked he became. Yes, his daughter had practiced martial arts for two years, but that only made her physically stronger, not as delicate as other girls. If she truly encountered ruthless bandits or those more terrifying than demons—the Liao army—she would still be nothing but a lamb to the slaughter.
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