By the side of the official road, a lush bamboo grove swayed gently.
On the road itself stood an imposing and elegant carriage, followed by two rows of agile guards armed with swords and bows. At the front of the carriage squatted a young scholar with a cheerful grin, while two steps away stood a tall, handsome, and dignified nobleman.
At the edge of the bamboo grove crouched a young girl dressed in local tribal attire. Before her stood a young nobleman adorned in fine robes and a jade crown. The girl was fair and naturally charming, but the noble youth surpassed her in beauty—his delicate features were beyond description.
The girl blushed furiously, burying her face in her arms, too shy to speak.
"I heard them call you A-Xiu just now, so your name is A-Xiu, isn't it? Back at the market, you couldn’t stop looking at me. I’m not an unfeeling man—how could I ignore such a lovely maiden’s attention?" The young nobleman was the very picture of a rogue teasing an innocent girl. "Did you twist your ankle? Let me escort you home. Come now, let me help you—don’t shy away, miss, miss..."
A-Xiu’s face burned redder. "N-no, please don’t..."
The young nobleman grew even more enthusiastic. "Don’t push me away, little miss. How old are you? Where do you live? Are you betrothed?"
Summoning her courage, A-Xiu lifted her face. "N-no, not yet... D-do you... like me?"
The young nobleman beamed. "Of course! How could anyone with a heart resist such a pretty maiden?"
Overcome with shyness, A-Xiu stammered, "Actually... you’re very handsome too..."
Inside the carriage, the young scholar remarked expressionlessly, "Aren’t you going to stop her? She’s getting better at flirting with girls. What if this one takes it seriously? Are you really going to marry her?"
The nobleman smiled faintly. "Let her learn her lesson this time. It’ll teach her not to go around stirring up trouble."
The scholar sighed. "I’m just worried she’ll use my name again! Trouble always finds me even when I’m minding my own business!"
The nobleman shot him a sidelong glance. "You’re the one who ran away from an arranged marriage. Don’t blame Shao Shang for it—and don’t pretend some divination told you your fate lies far away..."
The scholar’s eyes flickered, and he tugged at the nobleman’s sleeve. "Look, look! Your new bride is about to take a bride of her own!"
The nobleman immediately turned his gaze toward the bamboo grove.
Crouched on the ground, A-Xiu timidly tugged at the young nobleman’s sleeve. "...Do you really like me?"
The young nobleman began to sense danger. "Well, uh, of course I do, but..."
A-Xiu’s eyes sparkled with joy. "Then... I’ll ask my father to propose the match."
The scholar blinked in surprise. "Why is her father the one proposing? Shouldn’t the man’s family make the offer? Ah, perhaps the local tribes have different customs."
The nobleman studied A-Xiu’s neck, his expression tinged with suspicion.
The young nobleman panicked, waving his hands frantically. "No, no, that won’t do! Absolutely not!"
A-Xiu’s eyes welled with tears. "Are you looking down on us tribal folk because you’re from a noble Han family? My father is the local chieftain. If you ask your elders, maybe they’ll agree to our marriage!"The young nobleman chuckled awkwardly, "How could I look down on you? Your father is the chieftain! It's just... it's not that I have any dissatisfaction with you, but rather..." Realizing she shouldn't offend the local chieftain, she steeled herself and blurted out, "It's because I'm actually a woman! I'm disguised as a man! Look at my ears if you don't believe me!"
She desperately pointed to the tiny holes in her earlobes for A-Xiu to see. But then—
"I know," A-Xiu replied, looking puzzled. "I've known you're a woman all along."
"What?!" Shao Shang's expression looked like she'd been stepped on by an ox.
A-Xiu gazed upward, "Han women who come here always like to dress as men. I've seen it since childhood—I recognized you as a woman the moment I saw you at the market."
Shao Shang was too embarrassed to respond, "Ah... haha, I see..." Then another thought struck her, "Wait, if you knew I was a woman, why did you ask your father to propose marriage?"
A-Xiu smiled like spring blossoms and suddenly stood up—towering half a head taller than Shao Shang. "Because I'm a man! Couldn't you tell? Everyone here knows. Why pretend you don't? Look if you don't believe me!" With that, he yanked open his robe, revealing a flat, slender chest.
Shao Shang gaped, staring dumbfounded at A-Xiu's thin frame.
Meanwhile, Shaogong tumbled headfirst off the carriage, while Huo Bu Yi's face darkened like iron as he rushed forward.
In the end, the farce concluded with A-Xiu's tearful sobbing, Shao Shang's awkward attempts at comfort, and the new governor Huo Bu Yi's overwhelming jealousy.
A-Xiu's real name was Xiu-Zhu, the only son of the region's most powerful chieftain.
Before Xiu-Zhu's birth, the chieftain had lost several children. Xiu-Zhu himself was born after a difficult labor and grew up frail. Desperate, the chieftain sought help from the tribe's high priest. After the usual rituals—slaughtering chickens and splashing dog blood—the priest concluded: "Dress the child as a girl until he turns fifteen, and evil spirits will spare him."
Xiu-Zhu often wanted to complain. He thought their high priest had it too easy—at least Han shamans performed exorcism dances and drew talismans. Their priest, however, had one solution for every sickly child: "Raise them as girls."
Under this universal remedy, not only was Xiu-Zhu dressed as a girl until fifteen, but so were A-Yong next door, A-Gang from the back hills, Uncle A-Meng from the front woods, and even two cousins from his grandfather's household.
Thus, Xiu-Zhu never suffered bullying or developed feminine tendencies from wearing girls' clothes. Despite the attire, they still underwent all the traditional male training—hunting, fishing, and more.
Complaints aside, Xiu-Zhu grew up healthy, so the high priest remained revered.
One month before Xiu-Zhu turned fifteen, he met a Han girl disguised as a man at the market. Her radiant smile and starry eyes captivated him instantly—if not for A-Yong (who had just switched back to male attire) pulling him away, he would have been rooted to the spot.
But then... but then... Xiu-Zhu's heart ached. That girl turned out to be the new governor's wife! Wailing, he lamented how unfair heaven had been. He resolved to visit the high priest for a fortune-telling session to change his fate—still sobbing all the while!This matter was soon discovered by A-Xiu's father, the great chieftain, who specifically dragged him to the Prefectural Governor's residence to apologize. There, A-Xiu saw the Governor's wife dressed in noble attire with an awkward expression. Upon returning home, he burst into another round of sobbing, tearfully complaining to his mother that his father must not love him anymore—how could he rub salt in his wounds like this!
With his ears reddened from his mother's pinching, the chieftain had no choice but to seek him out for a heart-to-heart talk late at night.
"A-Xiu, what do you think of the newly appointed Prefectural Governor Huo?"
Biting his tear-drenched sleeve, A-Xiu grumbled, "Not much." But the Governor's wife was nice—"She looks fierce." He wondered if she might bully the Governor's wife.
The great chieftain frowned. "A-Xiu, you'll soon be fifteen. Stop acting like a child, or how will you ever inherit my position?"
Rubbing his tear-swollen eyes and hiccuping between sobs, A-Xiu recounted everything he had seen and heard in the Han people's city over the past days.
The new Governor, surnamed Huo, was said to be the adopted son of the Han Emperor. Despite his youth, he had already distinguished himself in battles across the land, rising to become a High-ranking regional official before the age of thirty. Even before arriving in the territory where A-Xiu lived, Governor Huo had earned a fearsome reputation. It was said that during his campaign against bandits in the western prefectures, he had flattened mountain strongholds one after another, leaving no trace of life in his wake.
A-Xiu's father, however, was unimpressed. "The bandits in the western prefectures have ruled the mountains for decades, passing down their dominance for two or three generations since the chaos of the previous dynasty. They're accustomed to calling themselves kings—fathers, sons, and grandsons alike. They can't be easily pacified. And even if they were, the court would have to pay a steep price and remain wary of whether their surrender was genuine or just a prelude to rebellion. Since Governor Huo excels in warfare, why bother with such efforts? Once the first waves of hardened bandits are crushed or subdued, pacifying the rest will be much smoother."
Later, when Governor Huo's officials truly arrived, A-Xiu realized the rumors might not be accurate. The new Governor's governance was both resolute and gentle—eliminating bandits, encouraging farming, building irrigation systems, and even assimilating the numerous indigenous people, all carried out with subtle persistence, like water wearing away stone.
For indigenous people like them, hidden deep in the mountains and forests, life was harsh, with chronic shortages of salt and medicine. Yet their deep-seated wariness of the Han people had kept them from venturing out. Under Governor Huo's quiet influence, even conservative chieftains like A-Xiu's father soon found it hard to resist.
No one knew what A-Xiu's father discussed with Governor Huo, but in the end, he agreed to persuade chieftains of neighboring clans to send their children to the official school in the prefectural capital to learn Han writing, poetry, ethics, and rituals.
A-Xiu was naturally among them, and as the only son of the most powerful chieftain, he was a key focus of the imperial court's attention. Secretly, A-Xiu hoped the Governor's wife would "pay special attention" to him. Unfortunately, the only one who paid him extra attention was the Governor himself.
Before leaving, his father had warned A-Xiu that Han officials would inevitably try to win over the chieftains' children. He was to learn to read the situation—neither falling entirely for the Han people's ways nor stubbornly refusing to show respect.A-Xiu thought his father was overthinking it. The new prefect already had it out for him. On his very first day at the official school, the new prefect dragged him to the training grounds for some 'practical experience'. The prefect didn't bother with Han-style horseback archery, opting instead for local wrestling—and promptly sent A-Xiu tumbling head over heels eighteen times, until he saw stars and couldn't tell north from south.
Having only recently switched out of women's clothing, A-Xiu burst into tears right then and there. The ruthless Prefect Huo, probably satisfied with having vented his anger, laughed heartily and pulled him along to bandage his wounds. That night, Prefect Huo brought two jars of wine, grabbed him by the collar, and hauled him up to the rooftop to drink.
"Your father is the most respected chieftain in the region, famously wary and hostile toward Han people. Do you know why he was willing to be the first to come down from the mountains and approach the imperial court this time?"
Though Prefect Huo was over a decade older than A-Xiu, his laughter made him seem youthful and refined, like a handsome older brother. A-Xiu grudgingly admitted to himself that the prefect and his wife actually made a good match.
"I don't know," A-Xiu shook his head, cradling the wine jar.
Prefect Huo sighed. "The chieftain did it for you."
A-Xiu's mouth fell open.
"Your Wengxi Bokan Family has been chieftains of this land for nearly a century. About twenty years ago, the corrupt officials of the previous dynasty, under Emperor Li, imposed exorbitant taxes, oppressed the local people, and even abducted them as slaves. So your grandfather, who was highly respected at the time, led the surrounding tribes in rebellion."
A-Xiu's cheeks flushed with pride. "I know this part! In the end, we won. Grandfather drove out all the bad emperor's lackeys, and everyone elected my father as the great chieftain!"
"You did win. But do you know how many people your family lost?"
Prefect Huo carried the crisp scent of wine, faintly mingled with the chill of distant snow. A-Xiu didn't understand why, even though they were drinking the same wine, Prefect Huo's presence smelled so pleasant.
"Every family and clan lost people, but yours suffered the most. Of your grandfather's dozen or so sons, only your father and your uncle survived—and your uncle was left crippled." Prefect Huo's lips quirked in a half-smile, his eyes impossibly bright.
A-Xiu, who had been growing pleasantly tipsy, suddenly sobered up. "Uncle... Uncle never married or had children. My father only has me as his son. Then, then..." He shook his head violently. "No, that can't be! Everyone respects my father deeply. The songs about Grandfather leading the fight against the bad emperor are still sung in our tribe today!"
Prefect Huo said, "Even without Emperor Li's tyranny, your tribes weren't exactly living in peace. Fighting over land, women, and livestock was common. You don't need me to tell you what happens to defeated chieftains."
A-Xiu numbly took another sip of wine—of course he knew. Those outcomes were also sung about in the ballads. A defeated chieftain being killed outright was considered lucky. The real fear was the victor holding a triumph ceremony, where they might gouge out eyes, carve bones, or flay skin.
"Your father wants you to inherit his position. And if you can't, he at least wants you to live safely. But you've been frail since childhood, with an even fraiter temperament—prone to tears..."
A-Xiu shot to his feet. "I am not prone to tears!" he shouted, even as his eyes welled up again.
In his haste, he nearly forgot they were on a rooftop and almost toppled off. Prefect Huo caught him effortlessly with one hand.A-Xiu slumped into his seat. He understood now—his father, growing older, worried about his son's unstable future position and lack of support, so he sought to rely on the imperial court's power to control the situation.
He looked again at Prefect Huo, whose broad shoulders, agile waist, and resolute gaze seemed to radiate an inexhaustible strength. Anyone who saw him would instinctively feel a sense of reliability—this was what a true man should be like.
After their late-night conversation, Prefect Huo seemed somewhat reassured about A-Xiu and allowed him to come and go freely within his residence, personally teaching him to read and manage affairs. Naturally, A-Xiu saw the prefect's wife again.
Though young, the prefect's wife was highly capable in managing household affairs. The large residence was kept in perfect order under her care, with a light and cheerful atmosphere that was also meticulous—unlike the homes of other Han officials A-Xiu had visited, which were either chaotic and dizzying or cold and lifeless like silent corpses.
A young maid in the prefect's residence mentioned that the prefect's wife had once served as a palace stewardess, overseeing an entire palace—no wonder she was so skilled.
A-Xiu particularly loved the way the prefect's wife spoke—sharp yet playful. Even her scolding was something he could listen to all day.
Prefect Huo's teaching was strict. On several occasions, A-Xiu struggled to endure it, pinching his own arm hard to keep from crying. When the prefect's wife found out, she came to him with a smile.
"Did you know, A-Xiu, you always remind me of an old friend—my cousin's son-in-law. He also loved to cry as a child. Well, truth be told, he still cried even as an adult—he sobbed hard on the day he married my cousin. My infuriating brother used to love bullying him."
"But now, do you know where he is? He took my cousin to the Western Regions, saying he wanted to see the distant mountains and deserts. As he traveled, he kept sending things back." The prefect's wife's cheeks flushed pink, her gentle eyes sparkling.
"Recently, I received a letter from home. Because the desert shifts, many of the old topographical maps were no longer usable, but he brought the court newly drawn maps on sheepskin and even promised to bring back exotic seeds and minerals. Now, when people speak of him, they all praise him—no one looks down on him anymore. A true hero doesn’t have to be cold and hard as ice. As long as one’s will is strong and heart steadfast, being tender-hearted doesn’t make one any less of a man."
A-Xiu knew the prefect's wife was comforting him, but he felt her words rang true.
His greatest wish now was to become his parents' pillar of support, to ease their worries, and to become as remarkable a chieftain as his grandfather. For this dream, he was willing to endure any hardship!
A-Xiu grew increasingly free in the prefect's residence, a sign of Prefect Huo's growing trust in him. But this also brought him a small dilemma—he kept stumbling upon the prefect and his wife in intimate moments.
The local customs were open, and A-Xiu had grown up seeing young men and women kissing and touching without restraint. Yet, for some reason, witnessing the prefect and his wife's affection still made his heart race and his face flush. The same actions, when performed by A-Yong and his lover, seemed crude and frantic, something A-Xiu couldn’t be bothered to watch. But when the prefect and his wife did them, it was filled with an indescribable tenderness and lingering sweetness.One day, the Governor of Huo Prefecture was preparing to take A-Xiu to the military camp outside the city. The sky was still dark, and the Governor's wife, her hair disheveled, drowsily came out to see him off. Her delicate features were soft and charming, her bare feet as white as lotus blossoms. Upon seeing her, the Governor embraced her, and the two kissed passionately.
The Governor's wife trailed kisses from her husband's chin down his long neck, playfully nibbling at his Adam's apple before finally pressing her lips to his exposed chest where his robe had loosened. The Governor, tall and strong, lifted his wife effortlessly with his powerful arms, kissing her earlobes and the hollow of her neck, then moving lower...
A-Xiu had just reached the courtyard entrance when he witnessed this scene, his face burning with embarrassment. He scrambled out of the courtyard in a flustered rush, his drowsiness completely gone from sheer mortification.
On another occasion, the Governor's wife personally shaved her husband's beard and washed his face. A-Xiu sat cross-legged on the veranda, reciting his lessons, occasionally glancing back. He saw the wife tenderly caressing the Governor's face and neck, while the Governor rested one hand on her slender waist. Their eyes met, brimming with unspoken affection.
After finishing his recitation, A-Xiu left. As he walked away, he suddenly wondered: the Governor had one hand on his wife's waist—but where was the other hand? He tried to recall. The wife's summer robe was loose, especially the sleeves. Oh dear... it seemed the Governor's other hand had slipped inside her sleeve...
—Who was the fool who told him the Han people were reserved and restrained?! It was all lies!
Then there was the Governor's wife's cheerful and mischievous elder brother, Cheng Gongzi. No matter how hard A-Xiu tried not to cry, Cheng Gongzi would always find a way to tease him into tears. Later, when Cheng Gongzi went to study astrology with an old recluse in the mountains of the neighboring commandery, he fell in love at first sight with the man's granddaughter, who aspired to cultivate immortality. The ensuing chaos was like chickens flying and dogs leaping. Though Cheng Gongzi eventually got his wish, A-Xiu also managed to exact his revenge.
By the time A-Xiu could write a complete letter home in Chinese, the Governor's wife was diagnosed as pregnant. The Governor of Huo stood frozen in shock, his handsome and dignified face inexplicably streaked with tears.
"Shao Shang, I... I..." The usually iron-willed Governor choked up, holding his wife tightly.
The Governor's wife gently cradled her husband's head against her chest. "I know, I understand... From now on, you'll have many flesh and blood kin. You'll never be alone again."
The Governor lifted his head, his clear eyes glistening with tears as he smiled. "No, from the moment I met you, I was never alone again."
Though he didn't understand why, A-Xiu's heart also ached with emotion, and he cried.
He felt that the Governor and his wife's union must have come at great cost, through immense hardship. That they could finally be together was truly wonderful.
A-Xiu spent many years learning under the Governor of Huo. He witnessed the Governor's wife's pregnancy, childbirth, and the raising of their children. The distant Emperor sent long processions of carriages bearing gifts and Imperial Physicians time and again. The Governor and his wife frequently returned to the Capital City to report on their duties and visit family, receiving titles and countless rewards... The cycle repeated.
Just as the Governor's wife had said, the Governor of Huo indeed gained many flesh-and-blood relatives. Though each child was more mischievous and exasperating than the last, the household was always lively and full of joy—truly wonderful.
Later, news arrived from the Capital City that the Emperor was gravely ill. The Governor and his wife immediately set off with their children to return—unexpectedly, they never came back.
Six months later, A-Xiu heard that the old Emperor had passed away, and a new Emperor had ascended the throne. The Governor of Huo was appointed to a high and crucial position, making it impossible for him to return to his post as Governor.Years later, A-Xiu truly became a great chieftain as prestigious as his grandfather, but he never saw the Governor and his wife again.
Over a decade, A-Xiu took a wife and had many children who satisfied his parents. He had planned to visit the Governor and his wife in the Capital City once his father's health improved—they had also expressed in letters how eagerly they looked forward to their reunion.
However, man proposes, but Heaven disposes. While aiding the imperial court in suppressing a neighboring chieftain who sought to carve out his own territory and harm the people, A-Xiu suffered severe injuries. A-Yong and A-Gang swore by his sickbed that they would faithfully assist his children. The current Governor, a longtime friend of A-Xiu, tearfully assured him that the court would watch over all his family members.
In his final moments, A-Xiu felt there was nothing left to cling to—except perhaps one last chance to see Governor Huo and his wife again.
He wanted to tell them how deeply he revered them, how very, very much he adored them; in his heart, he had long secretly regarded them as his own beloved elder brother and sister.
Thank you, he wished to say, for teaching him love and courage, duty and responsibility. What immeasurable fortune that had been.
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