"Fourteenth Brother," the elder brother's calm voice seemed to pierce through time and space, striking straight into his heart, "go back and hurry with your preparations. In a few days, you'll be setting off for Gaochang."
"Set off... for what?" Li Yuangui looked up blankly.
"Gaochang," the Son of Heaven frowned. "Originally, I didn't want to rush this. At the very least, I wanted to wait until the Supreme Emperor was laid to rest in his mausoleum so you could fulfill your filial duties before heading beyond the frontier. But yesterday, another battle report came from Tuyuhun..."
"Is Duke Yaoshi having difficulties?" Li Yuangui guessed.
The Emperor shook his head: "Quite the opposite—it's going too well. After the great victory at Kushan, Li Jing divided his forces to pursue the main Tuyuhun army. He himself led Xue Wanjun and Li Daliang along the northern route, achieving successive victories at Mantoushan, Niuxindui, and Chishuiyuan, slaying their Famous King and capturing numerous livestock. Now, He Li and the Xue brothers are chasing Murong Fu-yun deep into the desert. On the southern route, Hou Junji and Li Daoxong led their troops through uninhabited lands for over two thousand li, encountering summer frost. They traversed the Poluozhen Valley, where there was no water—men ate ice and horses consumed snow—and also achieved a great victory over Tuyuhun's chancellor, King Sky Pillar, at either Wuhai or Chihai. I heard they even captured Fu Yun's queen alive, along with several of his children. Ah..."
This string of triumphant news was delivered matter-of-factly, yet while Li Yuangui felt his blood boiling with excitement upon hearing it, the Emperor's tone carried far more worry than joy. The young prince asked in surprise, "If that's the case, why is Your Majesty concerned?"
"Divided forces!" The Emperor struck the table. "The enemy is on home ground while we're strangers in unfamiliar territory, surrounded by people not of our kind. Li Jing doesn't have many troops to begin with, yet he dares to split them up, separated by thousands of li! If anything happens, there's no way for the separated forces to support each other! Troop losses aren't being replenished, supplies and equipment can't be delivered—just tens of thousands of men, running wild across the vast wilderness of Qinghai! With fierce barbarians within and powerful neighbors watching like tigers from without, waiting for an opening to pounce and pick off our forces piece by piece—what an obvious strategy! If I were Gaochang to the north or Tubo to the south, I wouldn't let such an opportunity slip! The only reason I'm not completely panicked is because Li Jing is in command—he's careful and experienced, he must have countermeasures prepared. If it were anyone else, I'd be on horseback racing to Fuqi City right now!"
Li Yuangui lowered his head in thought, then suddenly understood: "So I must depart earlier for Gaochang, to... stabilize the Qu royal family, prevent them from rashly sending troops into Tuyuhun to exploit our vulnerability and attack our forces..."
In other words, he would have to leave in a few days to become the son-in-law of the King of Gaochang.
Wei Shufen gazed at him quietly, her eyes as clear as autumn water. There was no sign of obstruction, no resentment, no indignation—only understanding and fortitude in those limpid depths so close at hand.
Their clasped hands tightened.
You'll wait for me, I know. And I will never fail you. For all eternity, my devotion will not waver.
"There's one more thing," the Emperor said, utterly unconcerned about how hateful it was to interrupt the young couple, "several months ago, Fourteenth Brother, ahem!"
Li Yuangui hurriedly tore his gaze away from Wei Shufen's face and turned it toward his elder brother."Several months ago, I tasked you with finding the only son left behind in the Central Plains by the Great Ning King of Tuyuhun. How goes that search?" The Son of Heaven looked at his younger brother with a half-smile. "Li Jing's battle report also mentioned that Murong Fu-yun fled the capital Fuqi City with his wife, while the Great Ning King Murong Shun, who remained behind, surrendered with his people. As the rightful heir to the khanship, his succession should be straightforward. The only issue now is that he has no sons, making his tribesmen uneasy about future instability. This task was assigned to you long ago—have you spared any time for it amidst your romantic pursuits?"
Li Yuangui was left speechless, choking on his breath. Wei Shufen also shifted slightly, releasing his hand, her face flushing crimson.
"Your Majesty... I have already reported that the High Truth Master and Wei Niangzi located the former Sui Empress Xiao and personally heard her recount how Murong Shun's first wife and young son perished in Shandong during the Sui chaos. Their remains must have long turned to dust..."
"That won't do," the Emperor said matter-of-factly. "Such a conclusion is something I could deduce offhand. Do you think I witnessed less of the Sui chaos than you? When I assign you a task, I expect useful results. A flippant 'they're gone, I can't do anything' won't suffice. Why else would I specially appoint you, Prince Wu, for this duty?"
Was this... a directive for Li Yuangui to find a fake prince, train him, collude with Murong Shun's envoy, and send him to Tuyuhun?
Frustrated, Li Yuangui glanced at his elder brother and then at Wei Shufen beside him. Suddenly struck by inspiration, he kowtowed and said:
"I accept Your Majesty's command. However, training—ahem, locating Murong Shun's son may seem simple at first, as finding a youth of suitable age in Chang'an isn't difficult. But upon closer examination, it requires considerable effort. A boy from a wealthy, influential family wouldn't be suitable—his kin might boast among officials and leak the secret. The best candidate would be a talented, ambitious youth from a humble but respectable background, willing to venture beyond the frontier for the nation's glory. Only if he consents willingly can the ruse succeed. Yet those from poor families often lack refinement and comportment. With time running short, we'd need substantial funds to groom him—lavish him with luxury, accustom him to opulence—so he can convincingly pass as nobility before Murong Shun and his people. The Great Ning King's envoy would also require bribes..."
"Cut to the chase—you want money!" the Emperor interrupted impatiently. "How much?"
Li Yuangui kept his gaze steady. "Thirty thousand bolts of silk should suffice."
Wei Shufen inhaled softly. The Emperor shot a glance at the chancellor's eldest daughter, then after a tense pause, burst into laughter:
"You little rogue! Is this for official expenses or to fund your future father-in-law's betrothal gifts? Even when our late Supreme Emperor was alive, I never saw you this filial! Fine, fine..."
After laughing heartily, the Emperor made his decision:
"Since we're being generous, let's do it properly. You'll still handle those two tasks: prepare Murong Shun's 'son,' and I'll reward you with thirty thousand bolts of silk. Then, uncover the truth behind Princess Linfen's death and deliver the culprit to me, and I'll add another twenty thousand. That should be enough, no? Don't say your elder brother is stingy or only bullies his younger siblings!"
Li Yuangui was overjoyed, and even Wei Shufen's face lit up with happiness. They exchanged a smile. Yet Li Yuangui knew his imperial brother too well to let his guard down. After a moment of calm consideration, he bowed again and continued..."I receive Your Majesty's decree. However, my departure date has been changed repeatedly, and I dare not guarantee I can complete these two tasks before heading to the frontier—I beg Your Majesty to consider my circumstances and set a deadline, say before autumn this year—even if I must leave before then, I will entrust the tasks to capable and reliable individuals. I stake my life and family on their completion."
As he mentioned "capable and reliable individuals," his gaze unconsciously shifted to Wei Shufen again. The young woman responded with a gentle smile, clearly grateful for his praise and trust, which warmed his heart.
Perhaps he still lacked composure, letting his emotions show too plainly, for the Emperor behind the imperial desk chuckled once more. Laughing, the ruler said, "You, Fourteenth Young Master, are quite meticulous, planning everything in advance. What are you afraid of—"
I'm afraid that as soon as I agree to complete these tasks, Your Majesty will exile me to the Western Regions tomorrow and then punish me for incompetence—it's not like you're above such tricks—Li Yuangui retorted silently in his heart.
"—Then it's settled, before autumn. These tasks are assigned to you, Prince Wu. Just report the results—I don't care what help you enlist privately. Don't rush to thank me yet. Let me be blunt: if autumn arrives and neither task is completed, what then?"
"Then..." Li Yuangui frowned and scratched the back of his head. "I... owe Your Majesty fifty thousand bolts of silk?"
After all, he already had an indenture with Kang Su-mi. If fifty thousand bolts couldn't clear his debt, what difference would another fifty thousand make? When lice swarm, they stop biting; when debts pile high, they stop troubling.
But the Son of Heaven of the Great Tang was no foreign merchant and scoffed at the suggestion: "Get lost! Do I look like someone short on money?"
"Then..."
"As mentioned earlier, the Tuyuhun victory requires much appeasement. For Tuyuhun itself, send a young prince and let Yaoshi and Murong Shun collaborate on solutions. For Gaochang in the north, you'll marry their princess for alliance. Then there's Tubo in the south, also negotiating marriage ties with our Great Tang—the palace must prepare another peace-making princess. If you fail in your tasks..."
The Emperor's gaze turned to Wei Shufen as he smiled faintly.
Li Yuangui and his companion were instantly terrified out of their wits.
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