Love and Crown

The situation in Jianghuai had been calm for a while, but as the weather grew colder and relief supplies dwindled, tensions began to rise once more.

The weather turned increasingly frigid, yet the conflict at Shanhai Pass remained deadlocked. Nearly 100,000 soldiers from the Twenty-Four Imperial Guards defending the capital had already been deployed to the front lines at Shanhai Pass, yet there was still no certainty of a decisive victory against Kumoer’s forces. The troops could only fortify themselves within the pass’s walls, holding their ground defensively.

One thing was certain: if these 100,000 soldiers failed to hold Shanhai Pass, the capital would lose its last line of defense, leaving it exposed to the Jurchen cavalry.

The lights in the Hall of Mental Cultivation burned through the night every day. Since that night when I truly began serving the emperor, Xiao Huan had not summoned me again.

As the cold deepened, I grew too lazy to leave the Palace of Gathered Elegance, spending my days idly indoors.

Another half-month passed in this manner. One day, as I absentmindedly fiddled with the foot warmer in my room, Xiaoshan entered and said, “Miss, someone from Yikun Palace has come to invite you. Consort De wishes for you to join her in admiring some antiques.”

“That woman?” I had been too preoccupied to pay attention to Xing Yiyong lately and had nearly forgotten about her. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, I replied languidly, “Help me change later.”

I had the palace maids style my hair into a fallen horse bun, dressed in a fitted pink gauze dress that accentuated my waist, and draped a red fox cape over my shoulders. Only then did I allow the maid from Yikun Palace to lead the way.

I had initially intended to bring Jiao Yan along, but for some reason, Xiaoshan couldn’t find her anywhere. Assuming she had gone off with Ying again, I didn’t dwell on it.

Xing Yiyong was a composed and ambitious woman—that had always been my assessment of her.

When someone is composed, their actions are rarely swayed by emotions. When they are ambitious, they act with extreme caution.

In this regard, I trusted Xing Yiyong implicitly. So when the maid she sent informed me midway that Consort De had changed the meeting location to Yanchun Pavilion, I merely touched the soft sword hidden at my waist and followed her without hesitation.

Yanchun Pavilion was close to the imperial gardens. Aside from the occasional gathering of concubines admiring flowers, it was usually quiet and deserted.

Stepping into the pavilion’s square hall, my vision blurred momentarily as my eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden dimness. In that instant, a sharp pain shot through my waist, and my hands were seized and twisted behind my back. Before I could turn to see what was happening, my cheek was pressed against the icy floor.

Simultaneously, muffled cries sounded outside, followed by the splatter of blood on the floor and the dull thuds of bodies collapsing. Most of the eunuchs and maids I had brought with me were likely already dead.

The boxwood doors of Yanchun Pavilion swung shut swiftly. Before me appeared two pairs of shoes—vastly different from one another. One pair was made of satin, embroidered with blooming peonies and adorned with vibrant red tassels. The other was plain hemp cloth with no embellishments.

“See? I told you. With her level of skill, subduing her is easy. No need to waste my incense.” The voice was sweet and crisp, yet carried an underlying chill, like the clinking of icicles.

“I just wanted to be cautious,” came Xing Yiyong’s voice. Following the ornate embroidered shoes upward, I met her expressionless face.

Though being looked down upon was unpleasant, I still managed a smile. “Good morning, Sister De Fei.”

“Silence!” Xing Yiyong’s usually serene face twisted into something vicious as she kicked me squarely in the abdomen. “You wretched woman!”She must have often used this move to abuse the little maids in her palace—this kick hurt so much I hissed through gritted teeth.

"I told you not to do such unnecessary things. You women are always so tedious." The one wearing hemp shoes was indeed Ying. She bent down to look at me. "We meet again, Empress."

Ying hadn’t changed into warmer clothes and was still wearing that thin white robe. She narrowed her bright eyes and smiled. "Actually, I’ve thought about it—if only you weren’t the Empress."

"So even if I weren’t the Empress, some other woman in my place would still be unlucky today?" I seized the opening in her words, swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth, and forced a smile.

"That’s not wrong. Finding a woman my brother likes is too troublesome, so we decided to just take his wife instead. After all, if his wife is kidnapped, the result is the same." Ying, guileless as ever, continued without hesitation. She actually referred to Xiao Huan as "brother."

"Don’t waste words on her," Xing Yiyong snapped in a low voice, then ordered the black-clad man pinning me down, "She has a weapon hidden at her waist. Remove it first."

They even knew about the sword at my waist?

The man casually drew the soft sword from my belt, seemingly weighing it in his hand before speaking in a cold voice, "So this is Yang Liu Feng."

Yang Liu Feng was the name of my soft sword. My Master had given it to me before his passing, claiming it was a renowned blade passed down through generations. This man even knew its name.

I chuckled and said to Ying, "Finding a woman your brother likes may be hard, but finding one he dislikes is easy. The one standing beside you right now—I dare say she’s definitely one he can’t stand."

"Bitch!" Xing Yiyong aimed another kick at my abdomen. Her aim was as precise as ever—just how much hatred did she harbor for me?

"You think I care for that man?" After the kick, Xing Yiyong lost her temper as I’d hoped, shouting incoherently, "Who is he? Just a useless man who can’t even hold onto power. What of the Xiao family’s empire? Sooner or later, it’ll be trampled to dust beneath iron hooves! And you—who do you think you are? Flaunting your status as Empress in front of me every day? To hell with your late Emperor’s imperial edict! To hell with your Grand Secretary! I’ll wait and watch as the Great Wu’s dynasty changes hands tomorrow, as that man turns to ashes—then let’s see if you can still call yourself Empress!"

"So… your father, Xing Yu, has sided with Kumoer and plans to rebel?" Finally catching the information I wanted, I took a sharp breath. This woman had never trained in martial arts, yet her kicks were vicious—it seemed those who usually prattled on about poetry and etiquette were the most terrifying when they turned cruel.

"What if you know?" Riding high on her outburst, Xing Yiyong crouched, yanking my hair to force me to meet her eyes. "Empress, aren’t you clever and scheming? Hurry and report what you’ve pried from my mouth to that man! Let me make it even clearer for you—my father has already planted traitors at Shanhai Pass. The gates will soon be thrown open to let the Jurchens in. And right now, we’re going to kill that man. Go ahead—warn him! Tell him to prepare his defenses!"

Ignoring the nearly deranged Xing Yiyong, I turned to Ying. "You’re going to kill Xiao Huan?"Ying nodded with a smile, her words still innocent: "Yes, my Fireproof Robe was finished last night. Once I change into it, I can go kill him."

Though I didn’t want to dampen their spirits, I sighed and said, "No, you can’t kill him."

"Stop bluffing." Xing Yiyong’s face, too close to mine, twisted into something utterly grotesque. "Do you really think saying that will stop that man from dying?"

I turned my face away, avoiding the flecks of spit from her mouth. "Not bluffing—just knowing you’re absolutely incapable of killing him. Here’s some advice: if things go south later, don’t fight to the death. Run. He won’t chase you down—he’ll leave you a way out."

"Ha," Xing Yiyong sneered, yanking my hair and shaking my head. "Your Majesty, instead of worrying about us, you should think harder about your own fate."

"Either you kill me, or someone rescues me. What else is there?" I laughed.

"You’re so naive, Your Majesty," Xing Yiyong cackled wildly now. "Have you ever considered what would happen if we delivered you to Kumoer’s army as a camp whore for the Jurchens? Don’t you think that would truly humiliate the Xiao Clan of Great Wu? The Empress of Great Wu, reduced to a plaything for soldiers—even Emperor Taizong would die of shame in the ancestral temple!"

"Assuming you can even smuggle me out of the Forbidden Palace. The Escort Battalion isn’t full of incompetents. Do you really think you can manage that?" I scoffed.

"We’ve discussed it—we can," Ying chimed in, then turned to the black-clad man restraining me. "With Xiao Changzai here, getting you out of the palace will be easy."

"Hmm, it’s possible," the man behind me spoke again. His voice was deep, betraying his age, yet oddly refined, as if every word carried a faint trace of amusement. "Actually, I just thought—wouldn’t it be better to use your Puppet Incense to control this woman and have her kill your brother?"

"Really?" Ying seemed to trust him implicitly, immediately considering it. "That would save effort, and the odds of success seem higher."

"It won’t work. Xiao Huan knows I carry a sword. He’s always on guard against me—there’s no way it’ll succeed," I retorted coldly.

"Oh? I’ve heard that the heirloom sword of the Xiao Clan’s Vermilion Bird Branch is called King Wind, the unrivaled blade of emperors. And the only sword that can counter King Wind is the Heartless Sword, Yang Liu Feng. Isn’t your sword Yang Liu Feng?" the man mused casually.

For him to know such obscure rumors so clearly—he might truly be a formidable opponent.

"That still depends on whose hand Yang Liu Feng is in," I said as calmly as I could, sneering.

"Regardless of who wields it, something this amusing is worth a try," the man replied, ignoring me. "Little Ying, use the incense on her. Make her kill Xiao Huan."

Ying nodded and reached into her pocket.

"Wait! Didn’t we agree? We’re sending this woman to the Jurchens as a camp whore!" Xing Yiyong clearly disliked the idea and stood to argue with Ying."You're such a troublesome woman," Ying frowned unhappily. "I ignored all your nonsense earlier, no wonder my brother dislikes you. If you don't step aside, I'll deal with you too."

Xing Yiyong was so furious she began to stammer: "You... what did you just say..."

Seizing this moment, I glanced at the silent figure standing in the corner and elbowed the person holding me in the ribs. Then I snatched up Yang Liu Feng from the ground and thrust the sword at that person: "Jiao Yan! I've treated you well, why are you doing this to me?"

The person who had been turning her face away was indeed Jiao Yan. She hastily blocked my sword with her own blade, saying: "No... Your Majesty..."

"I'll kill you, you little wretch!" I shouted, delivering another strike. Jiao Yan's martial arts were never strong, and her swordsmanship was particularly clumsy. Now, with tears in her eyes, she stood frozen with her blade, barely able to defend herself. The three others seemed unwilling to interfere in this master-servant dispute and merely watched with their hands behind their backs.

Just as Yang Liu Feng reached Jiao Yan's throat, I suddenly withdrew the force from the blade. The Soft Sword drooped limply. I tossed Yang Liu Feng aside, grabbed Jiao Yan's knife, and plunged it deep into my own shoulder.

Xing Yiyong and Jiao Yan both cried out in shock.

Gripping the blade, I sneered: "I've thought about killing Xiao Huan one day, but I won't let you manipulate me into doing it. If he's to die, it'll be by my own hand!"

"I never expected you to do this," said the man who had been holding my shoulder earlier, laughing as he approached. It was the first time I saw his face—ghostly pale, as if weeping despite his smile. "Who knows whether marrying such a woman was a blessing or a curse for him."

"That's none of your concern," I retorted coldly. I wasn't someone of strong will, and as blood dripped from the blade onto the ground, my vision began to blur.

"Your Majesty... I didn't want to... Master wouldn't let me warn you... Your Majesty..." Jiao Yan clutched the knife, unsure whether to pull it out or let go, sobbing as she called to me.

I smiled at her: "I understand. I don't blame you. And don't resent Xiao Huan anymore. Though he's the emperor, there are many things beyond his control."

"How could you do this? You vain, greedy woman, how could you sacrifice yourself for him?" Xing Yiyong suddenly rushed over and grabbed my shoulders, nearly screaming the words.

In her tear-filled eyes, I saw profound despair—the kind that borders on madness. Was it because she had once hoped that she now despaired so deeply?

Her hatred for me must stem from her love for Xiao Huan. She fell for him without realizing it, and without realizing it, she became crazed for him.

Was this for Xiao Huan? No. I simply lacked the courage to end everything.

Suddenly, a hand covered my nose from behind. The scent, sweet as a dream, instantly clouded my mind.

The last thing I heard was Jiao Yan's cry: "Your Majesty..."

Don't call me Your Majesty anymore. Perhaps from now on, I'll no longer be the empress.

I awoke to the creaking of cart wheels, my vision filled with endless golden grasslands.The grass rippled in the wind, with a few straight poplar trees standing quietly on the prairie. The vast sky stretched endlessly, and distant green mountains formed a continuous line on the horizon, giving off a somewhat desolate autumn atmosphere.

This was a slow-moving carriage. I didn't know how long it would take to reach Shanhai Pass at this pace, though the pass wasn't actually far from the capital. A fast horse delivering battle reports could make the round trip in about a day.

I lay sideways on the open carriage, the wound on my left shoulder no longer painful but tingling slightly. A hand was gently pressing there, applying medicine.

I wasn't in a hurry to see who was treating my wound. Instead, I first looked down at my attire—a set of coarse linen clothes.

When I lifted my head again, the clip-clop of the old horse's hooves, the endless grassland, and the autumn wind all felt strikingly vivid. I had truly left the Forbidden Palace.

For a moment, I even curled my lips into a faint smile.

"Awake?" It was the voice of the black-clad man who had abducted me from Yanchun Pavilion. He sat on the carriage shaft, turned around to tend to my wound while the old horse plodded leisurely along the packed earthen road without guidance.

"A woman letting a strange man undo her clothes and touch her skin—shouldn't you be screaming and pushing me away?" he asked with a chuckle as he applied the medicine.

"Scream for what? Out here in the wilderness, no one would hear me anyway. Why bother pretending to be demure? Besides, pushing you away now would pull at my wound and hurt. Do you think I'm that stupid?" I licked my slightly chapped lips.

"Seems you're quite afraid of pain. If you're so afraid, why stab yourself with a sword? Did you really not want to hurt that person so badly?" he asked with a smile.

"You've misunderstood. I just didn't want to be killed by that person's own hand. Did you really think such a petty trick could kill him? In the end, I'd just be dragged down with you—not worth it." I spoke leisurely, squinting slightly in the pale sunlight, enjoying this lazy moment.

"Just an emperor who knows martial arts and the Fire Manipulation Art, and with a weak constitution at that. Why are you so confident in him? Is he really that hard to deal with?" Seemingly intrigued, he laughed as he asked.

I wasn't sure how to answer him. "Looks like you've wanted to kill Xiao Huan for more than a year or two. Have you really never figured out his background?"

"Some things remain unclear. You know the Xiao family excels at feigning profundity," he said with a grin.

"Well said." I curled my arm to prop up my head, making myself more comfortable. "But surely you've heard of that mysteriously renowned figure from last autumn—Xiao Yuncong?"

"You mean the one who single-handedly took the Overcoming Evil Sword from the world's top swordsman Wen Yuxian, challenged the four great Jiangnan manors at the Tiger Hill Assembly, defeated the Four Guardians of the Azure Jade Sect, and forced the sect to sign a twenty-year truce with the Jiangnan Martial World? Truly a young hero who dazzled the realm for a time. But after that, this young master Xiao vanished without a trace, leaving behind only legends for later generations to admire. How could I not know? Storytellers in the capital's teahouses and taverns still relish recounting those tales." He spoke slowly, his tone genuinely nostalgic."That Xiao Yuncong is just an alias of Xiao Huan. Before the Tiger Hill Assembly, countless people wanted him dead, yet couldn’t even touch a single hair on his head. And you think you can kill him with just a Fireproof Robe and a few sticks of incense? What a joke," I shook my head. "Though, I’m surprised someone actually turned that incident into a storytelling tale."

"Some people are born to be revered. No matter how much they try to hide their brilliance, it will inevitably shine through," the man said lightly with a smile. After applying the medicine, he took out a roll of gauze and carefully bandaged my wound.

I scoffed. Now that we were outside the Forbidden Palace, I spoke more freely. "Who would revere that guy? He usually puts on such a righteous front, but he’s terrified of bitterness—just mention medicine, and his face turns green with fear."

"You know him so well? Did you learn this after becoming his wife, or were you already familiar with him before?" he asked with a chuckle.

"Same difference," I brushed it off casually before asking, "You seem skilled in martial arts too. Why not join Ying in assassinating Xiao Huan? Wouldn’t that increase your chances?"

"Ah," he smiled. "The two of us can’t cross swords."

"Suit yourself," I yawned lazily, then looked up at him with a grin. "Hey, big brother, how about doing me a favor? Don’t send me to Kumoer’s army to be a camp follower. Since there’s no one else around, just quietly let me go and tell everyone I died on the way. Once I’m free, I swear I’ll disappear completely. I can take care of myself—I’ll never show my face in the capital again. Deal?"

"In situations like this, shouldn’t you be begging me to kill you to spare you the humiliation?" he teased.

"Life isn’t something you give up so easily," I sighed. "If you won’t agree, forget it."

He finished bandaging my wound, turned to take the reins, and urged the horse forward. The carriage sped up.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly chuckled. "I can’t let you go, but I do have another way to help you. How about that?"

"Whatever," I murmured, half-closing my eyes as the vast autumn scenery rolled past. Moments like this, where I didn’t have to think about anything, were truly blissful.

I really did despise the Forbidden Palace. Leaving that place—or rather, leaving Xiao Huan—filled me with an indescribable longing.

The carriage swayed along and arrived at Shanhai Pass by dusk.

By all accounts, when Xing Yiyong staged his coup in the palace, Xing Yu’s inside man at Shanhai Pass should have already defected with his troops. Yet when we arrived, the towering walls of the pass still flew the Great Wu’s black-and-red flame banner, not the golden dragon flag of the Chengjin Kingdom. In the distance, smoke signals rose continuously—it seemed the battle was still raging.

With a crack of the whip, the old horse whinnied in pain and charged toward the battlefield ahead.

"Wait, what are you doing?" I cried. "They’re fighting like mad over there—are we just rushing to our deaths?"

"If we don’t take advantage of the chaos before the battle ends, do you really think we’ll make it past the pass once the dust settles?" He laughed. "Little girl, are you afraid of dead bodies?"

I hesitated, then quickly said, "No."

"Good." No sooner had he spoken than a Jurchen cavalryman came galloping toward us. The fighting had been fierce for hours, and without even questioning who we were, the warrior roared and swung his blade at us.The steeds beyond the pass were robust and mighty, and the Jurchen cavalry excelled at short-distance raids. In an instant, gleaming sabers were upon us.

"Hold onto the cart!" I was about to crouch and cover my head on the cart floor when the man barked sharply.

The Jurchen cavalry and the battered carriage passed each other in a flash. A few drops of warm blood splattered onto my face, and something tumbled beneath the wheels—vaguely the shape of a helmeted head.

I quickly looked up. The head of the Jurchen cavalryman on the horse behind us had already vanished, leaving only a torso gripping a broadsword. A mist of blood sprayed from the severed neck as the headless body remained in a charging stance, still clutching its weapon.

"Don't stare. You'll see plenty more of this later," the man chuckled, his laughter carrying an eerie delight. In his hand was a blood-dripping longsword—my very own Yang Liu Feng.

With another crack of the whip, the old horse pulled the carriage forward, its wheels crushing corpses as we lurched ahead. Three more cavalrymen brandishing spears charged toward us. These were armored in black steel—warriors of the Great Wu.

I rushed to pull at him: "These are Great Wu's cavalry! Are you going to kill them too?"

"My little girl, 'our Great Wu'? Do you still think you belong to the Great Wu?" With a mocking laugh, he suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist. "Get ready—we're switching horses."

"Halt! Who goes there?" Seeing commoners approaching, the three cavalrymen shouted first instead of attacking immediately.

But in that brief moment, the man's sword flashed like a screen of light, piercing one rider's throat. Kicking the corpse aside, he leaped onto the freed horse, pulling me up with him.

The remaining two cavalrymen shouted and charged at the sudden turn of events.

The man didn't linger for battle. With a slight dip of his head, he dodged their strikes and spurred the horse forward, leaving them far behind.

Fearing he might turn back to kill the two Great Wu riders, I grabbed the reins: "We have the horse—let's go!"

"Very well, as Her Majesty the Empress commands," he laughed while steering the horse. "I forgot to tell you—my name is Gui Wuchang."

"Gui Wuchang?"

"Yes. Life is fickle, and the path home is elusive. I hope you remember this name." He pressed a bloodied broadsword into my hands. "Hold tight. Don't drop it."

Unsure of his intentions, I gripped the hilt tightly.

By then, we had already reached Shanhai Pass.

The battle at the pass was brutal. Half-open gates lay before a field of corpses, and the fortress interior was piled with bodies waist-high. The moat ran red with blood and floating corpses.

Ignoring the clashing forces, Gui Wuchang urged the horse through the gaps straight to the pass.

The Great Wu soldiers still held the pass's tower. Spotting our approach, they rained arrows down like meteors. Gui Wuchang swung Yang Liu Feng in a gleaming arc, deflecting every shaft.

But no matter his skill, he could only protect himself and me. Before we reached the gate, our chestnut steed let out a pained whinny and collapsed, sending us tumbling forward.

I landed on a corpse, my hands sticky with blood. Lifting my head, I collided with a dead soldier's helmet—his hollow, lifeless eyes staring back at me.

I screamed. Before I could rise, Gui Wuchang shoved me aside: "Find a way to survive."

He brought me to this hellhole and now tells me to survive? No time to curse him—I raised the broadsword just as a blade flashed beside me. Without thinking, I swung.The blade clashed with a resounding clang against the heavy weapon, sending a numbing shock through my arm. The wind howled in my ears as I looked up to see a pair of gray, hawk-like eyes gazing down at me from above.

Countless arrows were deflected around me. Before me stood a pure black steed, upon which sat a young man clad in golden armor. He swung his long blade effortlessly, deflecting the hail of arrows while glancing down at me.

Beneath the steel helmet, his face was sharply defined, with thin lips curled into a mocking smile and thick brows that arched toward his temples. An air of undeniable authority radiated from him. Even as he laughed amidst the storm of arrows, it felt as though the world already lay beneath his horse’s hooves.

"Great Khan, this is the Empress of Great Wu," Gui Wuchang called out, having already leaped down to the city gate, dodging stray arrows with leisurely ease.

Great Khan? Could this young man really be Kumoer? I had always imagined him as a grizzled old man with a beard, never expecting someone so young. Judging by his face alone, he couldn’t be much older than Xiao Huan.

"That Han emperor’s woman?" Kumoer seemed intrigued, leaning even lower, his smile widening. "Woman, your swordsmanship isn’t bad."

"Great Khan," an officer called out, fending off arrows as he rode closer. "Our casualties have surpassed half. Nightfall approaches—should we continue the assault?"

Kumoer’s hawk-like eyes narrowed abruptly. "Qi Chengliang, that fox... We’re done here." With that, he reached down and seized my arm.

I struggled to break free, but his grip immobilized me, sending a sharp pain through half my body.

Dragging me onto his horse, he let out a triumphant laugh. "At least we didn’t leave empty-handed. Retreat!"

The officer acknowledged the order, pulling a horn from his waist and blowing an uneven sequence of notes. The Jurchen cavalry, locked in fierce combat, swiftly turned their horses and withdrew.

Gui Wuchang mounted a warhorse as well, following the retreating Jurchens. Despite their withdrawal, the cavalry maintained disciplined order, showing no signs of disarray.

Trapped on Kumoer’s horse, I watched as the walls of Shanhai Pass grew smaller in the distance. Only then did it truly sink in—I had left Great Wu behind.

Before I could dwell on it, the Jurchen Camp soon came into view. Nestled in the mountain valley, white tents sprawled like stars across the landscape. As evening fell, campfires flickered between the tents, and wisps of cooking smoke curled upward.

At a glance, the Jurchen Camp stretched endlessly through the valley, a testament to their boast of a 400,000-strong army—no mere exaggeration.

Kumoer’s command tent stood grand and opulent at the heart of the camp. Still gripping my arm, he dismounted and strode inside, tossing me onto a wolf-skin rug.

Removing his helmet, he ignored me and settled into the tiger-skin chair at the head of the tent, offering Gui Wuchang a smile. "Following your strategy this time, we nearly took Shanhai Pass in one strike. Pity the Han were prepared—that traitor was exposed by Qi Chengliang before he could defect. Though we exploited their internal strife to reach the city walls, we still couldn’t breach them."“Great Khan need not worry. The Han people have grown complacent in their long peace, their fighting spirit long dissipated. It is only a matter of time before Your Highness breaches Shanhai Pass and marches straight to the Han capital. Even if we fail this time, success will surely come next.” Gui Wuchang remarked leisurely from the side. He seemed highly respected by Kumoer, as he neither bowed nor showed formal deference in front of the other soldiers, his demeanor casual.

“The master speaks wisely.” Kumoer laughed heartily, showing no concern over the recent setback. “Nor have we returned empty-handed. The master has brought us the Han emperor’s woman. Tonight, we shall make her a camp slave for our Jurchen warriors to enjoy—let us humiliate that Han emperor and vent our anger.”

Tonight? So soon? I was about to groan in despair when Gui Wuchang chuckled beside me. “Great Khan, if I may, I advise against making this woman a camp prostitute.”

“What does the master suggest?” Kumoer valued Gui Wuchang’s counsel and quickly pressed for his opinion.

“The Han pride themselves on ruling through literature and propriety, placing great emphasis on hierarchy and status. This woman is the empress of a nation, a figure of utmost dignity. If Your Highness were to make her a common camp whore, the Han people, upon hearing of it, would be incensed and fight back with redoubled fury.” As he spoke, Gui Wuchang glanced at me meaningfully.

Having endured Kumoer’s rough handling without daring to resist, I was already seething. I glared back at him fiercely.

“Then what does the master propose we do with this woman?” Kumoer asked with a smile.

“Why not take her as a concubine, Great Khan? Toy with her at your leisure. Would that not be a far greater insult to the Han emperor?” Gui Wuchang replied with a faint smile.

So this was his idea of helping me? Making me Kumoer’s concubine? I’d rather die—was this any better than being a camp prostitute? At least then I’d be shared among many, not just Kumoer alone!

“An excellent suggestion.” Kumoer, already intrigued, rose from his tiger-skin chair and approached me. He brushed aside the disheveled hair from my face and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

If Xiao Huan’s unfathomable eyes always left me feeling unmoored, Kumoer’s hawk-like gray eyes filled me with unease. Suppressing my fear, I mustered a coy smile.

Seemingly surprised by my reaction, Kumoer chuckled. “A woman like a rose. Master Gui, I like this proposal.”

You like it—I don’t! Fighting the urge to slap his hand away, I caught Gui Wuchang’s amused expression from the corner of my eye.

Suddenly, I understood why he had handed me that broadsword and pushed me into the hail of arrows. When he shoved me aside, he must have known Kumoer was nearby—he had planned from the start for Kumoer to notice me amid the chaos!

With that realization, I wrapped my arms around Kumoer’s neck and cooed in my most seductive voice, “Great Khan, after such a long journey and with this wound on my shoulder, I’m exhausted.”

“You’re injured?” Kumoer touched my shoulder, where blood had indeed seeped through, then lifted me into his arms and ordered his attendant, “Chi Ku, summon He Du with the wound salve.”

The officer who had earlier asked Kumoer whether to retreat at Shanhai Pass had remained by his side since. Now, upon receiving the order, he withdrew—evidently, this Chi Ku was Kumoer’s trusted aide.

Kumoer’s great tent was divided by a curtain. Beyond it lay his private quarters, furnished with bedding. He carried me inside and placed me on the large bed at the center.I clung to his shoulders with a coquettish smile. "Great Khan, you're so kind to me. Look, I'm injured. Surely you wouldn't make me accompany you tonight?"

Kumoer suddenly chuckled, pressing his lips close to my ear. "You're clever, woman. As you Han people say, 'knowing how to adapt to circumstances.' After teasing me like that earlier, did you think you could just walk away?"

His breath tickled my ear. I crossed my arms over my chest, blocking his advance, forcing a smile. "Great Khan, why say such things? Do you prefer seeing me weep and beg for death?"

"We Jurchens have an old saying: if you want to hunt a tiger, you must be patient." Kumoer suddenly moved his lips from my ear to my cheek, then kissed my mouth. "I want to hunt a tiger, so I can wait."

A few light coughs came from behind the screen, and an old military doctor with a goatee emerged carrying a medicine chest. Kumoer stood and moved to sit in a nearby armchair.

I lowered my head, feeling my face burn. I must be blushing—me, who had never once flushed when kissing or sharing intimacy with Xiao Huan, was now blushing.

I stole a quick glance at Kumoer. The young Great Khan sat with his arms crossed, his eagle-sharp eyes gazing into some distant unknown.

I wiped my lips with the back of my hand—the ones he had kissed. Strangely, I didn't dislike the feeling of kissing this man from another tribe.