The sky was a tapestry of countless stars, with a pale, hazy moon hanging low against the deep blue canopy.
Mingshao and I found ourselves walking along the banks of the Xunfang River on the west side of the city. In the quiet of the night, the gentle babbling of the water sounded exceptionally soft. During last year’s Autumn Festival, Wuxiu and I had come here. Back then, the groves on both banks had been touched by frost, turning the leaves into a vibrant mosaic of red and gold—a truly enchanting sight from afar.
I took a deep breath. The riverside air was cool, carrying the damp scent of green grass. For days, my mind had felt like a jumbled mess of paste, but only now did it finally begin to clear, bit by bit. A sense of calm settled over me.
"There’s going to be a gale tomorrow." I squinted up at the moon, its edges blurred by a misty ring, and sighed softly. "I’ve always hated windy days."
Mingshao stopped as well, looking up at the sky. "Do you remember when we were on the grasslands? It was night then, too, when I first met you."
The image of the boundless, beautiful grasslands under the moonlight flickered in my mind. After a moment’s thought, I couldn't help but let out a giggle. "You still haven't thanked me. I heard everything back then—Gulita, the chieftain’s daughter, was practically forcing you into marriage."
Mentioning this made Mingshao look a bit sheepish.
"Weren't you especially grateful to this 'young hero' back then?" I leaned in, preening with self-satisfaction. "Didn't you think such a dashing young gentleman had saved you so opportunely that you were ready to go through fire and water to repay me?"
Mingshao deliberately tilted his head, feigning deep thought. "At the time, I thought you were a bit of a busybody. But then, I suppose all young women have that trait, so it wasn't too surprising."
I froze, looking at him with half-belief. "No way. I was dressed as a man then."
Mingshao shook his head, looking at me with mock pity. "Don't you know that men and women carry different scents? Do you remember how close you were to me?"
I had been a bit tipsy that day; such details had likely vanished by the next morning. How was I supposed to remember now?
Seeing me shake my head, Mingshao took two steps closer and tapped his own shoulder. "Your arm was propped right here. You tell me—how close was that?"
It was, perhaps, a bit too close. Looking at his face from such proximity gave me a dizzying sensation. I instinctively took a step back, stammering, "That... that was a lapse in judgment due to the wine. I wasn't trying to take advantage of you on purpose."
Mingshao let out a soft laugh and reached out, drawing me into his arms. Just as I was about to push him away, his voice came, low and tender. "Don't move. Please... don't move."
My hands were still pressed against his chest; I could feel the steady thrum of his heart beneath his robes. His chin rested atop my head, enveloping me entirely in his presence.
"Mingshao..." I called his name, but the sound of my own voice startled me. I never knew I could sound so soft. A hazy, drunken warmth welled up from the depths of my heart, making me feel as though I needed something to lean on, as if I were truly intoxicated.
"Xixia," his voice remained gentle, yet it carried a slight tremor, as if the night had stripped away his hardened shell to reveal the vulnerability hidden within. "You will never know how relieved I was when my father told me you were the woman I was to marry." At this, he held me tighter. "You don't know how lucky I felt that you were one and the same."
Mingshao lowered his head, gazing deeply into my eyes. Even in the dim light, his eyes shimmered like rippling water, and within that radiance lay something mysterious—a pull so strong it was impossible to look away. I felt a weak urge to retreat, to flee from this mysterious power, but just as I lifted my head, a soft kiss fell upon my lips. It was cool, soft, and as gentle as spring waters, causing my consciousness to blur in an instant.
I didn't understand how it happened, nor did I know when it ended. By the time my senses returned, my head was resting against his chest, and my arms were wrapped around his supple waist. His heartbeat echoed in my ear, one throb after another; it felt as though no other sound in the world could be more enchanting.
The sky was still filled with stars and that hazy, pale moon; the Xunfang River still flowed beneath our feet; yet everything seemed different.
I wanted to see his face, but before I could lift my head from his chest, Mingshao’s arms tightened around me, as if he wanted to embed me into his very being. There was a hint of sorrow in this embrace, sparking a sudden, uneasy premonition. The Mingshao I knew was always composed and self-assured; he had never seemed... afraid of something like this.
Anxiety gripped my heart for no reason.
Mingshao’s hand tenderly stroked my hair, his touch so light it made me itch. Then, a deep sigh brushed against my ear. "Wait for me, Xixia. Wait for me to return."
That dark premonition surged again. I instinctively clung tighter to his waist.
Mingshao gently cupped my face, resting his forehead against mine. "I had planned not to tell you. But I couldn't bring myself to keep it from you. Xixia, I will soon be joining the Yantian army to set out for the campaign against Great Chu."
His words were like a bomb, jolting me awake instantly.
"How can it be so soon..." I desperately tried to see his expression, but he only pulled me deeper into his embrace.
"The last war with Great Chu was seventeen years ago," Mingshao said, his voice turning calm as he kissed my temple. "We were victorious then. This time, they seek revenge. Several small-scale skirmishes have already broken out at the Qizhou border. I heard their commander this time is the Fourth Prince, Yi Kai. He is well-versed in military strategy and highly cunning. Moreover, Great Chu is throwing the strength of their entire nation into this war. I fear it won't be an easy victory."
My heart sank bit by bit.
"I only just found out. As a member of the imperial family, it is my duty to protect my country. But the thought of not being able to see you... I suddenly lost my composure."
His words startled me, and I immediately protested, "What do you mean 'not see me'—can't you just come back once the war is over?"
Something soft brushed the top of my head—Mingshao’s lips, it seemed. A strange bitterness welled up in my heart; it turned out I felt the same. The mere thought of not being able to see him left me drained of all strength.
Why hadn't I realized it before? If I had realized sooner...
If I...
Hot, stinging tears spilled from my eyes, quickly absorbed by Mingshao’s robes. I leaned against him, unmoving, my mind looping over a single thought: *How much time do we have left?*
"Preparations for war have actually been underway for a while. The appointment of the Grand Councilor at Lutai is scheduled for after the Crown Prince’s wedding. At that time, my uncle’s personal guard and the 230,000 elite troops from the Lutai Camp outside the capital will set out." As if sensing my thoughts, Mingshao whispered, "There’s probably about half a month to a month left. However, there is much to prepare, so I won't have free time every day like before."
I repeated his words blankly, "A month?" What was a month enough for? You could get a driver's license, take a crash course in cooking, or go on a solo trip to Tibet...
"We must see each other every day," I said urgently. "On odd days I'll find you, on even days you find me..." I couldn't finish the sentence.
Because his cool, soft lips blocked all the words in my heart.
***
Although the court had issued no formal announcement regarding the war with Great Chu, all sorts of rumors were already circulating among the people. Some said the citizens of Qizhou had been evacuated and the city had become a military camp; others said the Great Chu army was stationed only sixty *li* away; still others claimed the two armies had already clashed, with casualties numbering in the thousands...
Influenced by these rumors, unscrupulous merchants began hoarding goods. Basic necessities like cloth and grain began to skyrocket in price. Even after the court issued two edicts, they couldn't stop the wave of hoarding and panic buying. Consequently, the Ministry of Justice's primary daily task became the struggle against these illegal traders.
In this atmosphere of unease, the wedding of Crown Prince Mingde arrived. According to imperial tradition, the Crown Princess and the Side Consort entered the palace on the same day. However, the Crown Princess’s sixteen-bearer bridal sedan entered through the Main East Gate, while the Side Consort’s eight-bearer sedan entered through the Nanhua Gate. Furthermore, during the ceremony, the Side Consort had to stand behind the Crown Princess.
That day, I rode *Love You for Ten Thousand Years*, escorting Wuxiu’s bridal sedan all the way to the Nanhua Gate. Along the way, I kept wondering what Wuxiu was feeling inside that sedan. That sparkling look in her eyes when she first told me the Empress Dowager had selected her for the candidacy had never reappeared after she learned she was chosen as a Side Consort. I imagined she must be very nervous; after all, from now on, she would not only have to face the man she loved but also a woman she did not.
As Wuxiu’s bridal sedan vanished behind the towering palace gates, I felt a profound sense of loss. I had once sworn to protect her, to not let other women bully her, yet now, I couldn't even enter the place where she lived.
While I was staring blankly at the palace walls, I saw the two brothers, Mingshao and Mingdi, stepping out of a carriage. Behind them was a familiar face—Mingrui. Hadn't they said he had returned to Bingzhou? When did he get back?
Upon seeing me, Mingrui was the first to shout, "Xixia!"
I was in my uniform, so seeing these princes and noble sons, I naturally had to dismount and greet them with proper etiquette.
Mingshao looked at my expression knowingly and said with a slight smile, "Has the Side Consort’s sedan already gone in?"
I nodded. Mingrui leaned in to examine my face, asking with concern, "You look pale. I heard you were injured. How are you now?"
I quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Little Prince. My injury is of no consequence."
Mingrui frowned slightly and said with a half-smile, "Why are you being so formal with me? I brought several bottles of excellent ointment for external injuries this time; I'll send them to you another day."
I thanked him again. Judging by their attire, they were naturally heading into the palace for the wedding feast. With their exceptional appearances, their presence together immediately drew a lot of attention. I didn't want to be part of such a spectacle, so I quickly excused myself, claiming I had official business, and bid the young lords farewell.
Mingshao looked at me and, seemingly at random, held up three fingers. This was a hint that today was the third—an odd-numbered day. It was my turn to go find him. I wasn't sure if I was being paranoid, but I felt like everyone was watching me.
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, I turned and left in a hurry. Behind me, I heard Mingshao’s soft chuckle and Mingrui’s puzzled voice: "Why is she running off so fast all of a sudden?"
I didn't dare look back, jumping onto my big black horse and trotting back to the Ministry.
***
A gentle night breeze blew; the season had passed the Autumn Festival, and the weather was growing cooler by the day. Sitting in the tree, there was even a hint of a chill. Looking out through the gaps in the canopy above, the little stars were bright and twinkling, as if every one of them was winking at me.
By the time Mingshao, dressed in black night-traveler's gear, leaped into the tree, I had already taken a short nap on a thick horizontal branch.
"Why are you so late today?" I was curious what could have kept him.
Mingshao moved my head onto his lap and let out a long sigh. "My mother went into the palace and was kept for dinner by the Empress Dowager. I was a bit worried, so I waited until she returned before sneaking out."
Hearing him mention the palace, I sat up abruptly. "Did the Princess Consort see my sister Wuxiu?"
Mingshao nodded. "My mother said when she went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince’s two consorts were there as well. As expected, the lady from Lord Ji’s manor is of superior grace and beauty."
"Did Wuxiu say anything?" I grabbed his sleeve. "Did she look happy?"
Mingshao said helplessly, "She didn't know I would be relaying this to you, and in the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber, who would dare speak so much?"
I sighed. Poor Wuxiu—she had a whole crowd of mothers-in-law to deal with, plus a great-grandmother-in-law whom I had just offended. I hoped Heaven would protect her and that the Empress Dowager, for the Crown Prince’s sake, wouldn't make life difficult for her.
"Don't worry about her," Mingshao said, pulling me into his arms to comfort me. "The Crown Prince should be very fond of her, after all, she was his own choice."
I shook my head. "What use is that? Once he ascends the throne and becomes Emperor, with a whole harem of concubines, will he still like her as he does now?"
Mingshao probably didn't know what to say to that, so he just held my shoulders, rocking me back and forth.
"Mingshao," I sat up straight and said very seriously, "You’d better think this through. If you truly marry me, you are not allowed to take concubines. Not a single one."
Mingshao burst out laughing, reaching out to gently pinch my nose. "Where did this come from all of a sudden?"
I brushed his hand away, trying my best to look stern. "I can only have one husband, and my husband can only have me as his wife. If you take a concubine, I’ll divorce you and marry someone else."
Mingshao laughed again. "If you really marry me, do you think any other family’s daughter would dare marry into the Prince of Jing’s manor?"
What did that mean? It didn't sound like a compliment.
"Are you calling me a tigress?" I finally realized what he meant. Flushed with mock indignation, I lunged forward to pinch both his ears. Mingshao laughed heartily, quickly leaping to another branch.
A few birds were startled awake by our commotion and flew off chirping.
Mingshao finally caught both my hands and pulled me down to sit again.
"Rest a bit, stop playing." He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. "I have a question for you, too."
I sat up straight and looked him seriously in the eye, secretly guessing what he would ask. My background? My master? My martial arts? When I would marry him? What requirements I had for the wedding?
My heart began to thud.
Mingshao squeezed my hand, signaling me to pay attention. My face felt a bit hot, and I couldn't help but lower my gaze.
"You just said 'tigress,'" Mingshao asked curiously. "What is a 'tigress'?"
Eh? I looked up in shock, doubting my own ears.
Thinking I hadn't heard him clearly, Mingshao asked again, "What is a tigress?"
My face turned red again, but this time it was from exasperation. I bit down hard on his wrist. Just as he let out an "Ouch!", I took the opportunity to give him a kick, saying fiercely, "This is what a tigress is. Understand?!"
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 寻芳河 | Xunfang River | Literally "River of Seeking Fragrance." |
| 古丽塔 | Gulita | A female name, likely of nomadic/grassland origin. |
| 大楚国 | Great Chu State | A rival nation to Yantian. |
| 易凯 | Yi Kai | The Fourth Prince of Great Chu. |
| 录台 | Lutai | A location/military camp near the capital. |
| 南华门 | Nanhua Gate | South Prosperity Gate; a side gate of the palace. |
| 母老虎 | Tigress | A common Chinese idiom for a fierce, bossy, or shrewish woman. |
| 休了你 | Divorce you / Repudiate you | In an ancient context, usually the husband "divorces" the wife, but Xixia uses it boldly. |
