"Grappling is a specialized form of combat. Once a move is executed, the opponent’s strength is rendered useless; their fists, feet, elbows, hips, and hands are all immobilized." My gaze swept across their faces, satisfied by their rapt attention. "Grappling forces the body's joints and muscles to extend beyond their limits or twist in the opposite direction, causing dislocation and unbearable pain. It leaves the opponent with no room to counterattack, subduing them through skillful leverage..."
I beckoned Zhu Bao to step forward and assist with the demonstration. Ever since I had given this lad a drubbing, his attitude toward me had shifted; he always seemed a bit indignant. Naturally, I had to give him ample opportunity for "revenge." Seeing him rubbing his palms together in anticipation, a smile instinctively tugged at the corners of my mouth, though I quickly suppressed it.
"When first initiating a technique, as soon as your hands seize the opponent's upper limb joints, you must swiftly step in and lock their lead foot. An opponent who is seized will invariably try to change their stance, and that change must begin with the feet. Tripping or blocking the foot serves to seal their movement, prevent transitions, and disrupt the balance between their lower body's center of gravity and its support points. This allows the full effectiveness of the grappling technique to be realized. By applying the integrated strength of the entire body—moving hands and feet in unison—you can subdue your opponent more effectively." As I spoke, I considered whether to actually pop his joint out of place, but after a moment's hesitation, I released him.
My hand had been clamped right on his joint; Zhu Bao clearly understood what I had intended to do. Seeing me release him so easily, an expression of surprise crossed his face.
I stepped back and signaled for them to begin practicing in pairs.
The Kingdom of Yantian was not a nation that particularly exalted martial prowess. In truth, one of the drawbacks of an agrarian society is an overemphasis on literary pursuits. Furthermore, because the country had enjoyed years of relative peace, many of these young men from noble families had only learned a few sets of basic boxing for health and fitness. While they could brandish weapons with some flair, most of what they displayed was mere window dressing. To train them to the standards of a special tactical unit, I would need to improve their physical strength, coordination, flexibility, and sensory acuity—not to mention adding a significant amount of actual combat sparring.
Just as I was thinking this, a clear, youthful voice called out from behind me: "Xi Xia!"
I didn't need to turn around to know it was Ming Hua. He was running toward me from the entrance of the drill field. Having not seen him for several months, he seemed to have grown a bit taller. He ran with his arms wide open, darting across the field and throwing himself straight into my arms.
I caught him and held him close. I had been back for several days but hadn't gone to see him yet; seeing how he was still as attached to me as ever, I felt a pang of guilt.
Ming Hua nuzzled into my chest for a moment before looking up with his bright, clear eyes, pouting his small lips. "You’re so unfair! You came back and didn't even visit me. I was going to host a welcome feast for you, but now I won't!"
I ruffled his hair. "Don't you have to go to the academy every day to study? If you knew I was back, you wouldn't focus on your lessons."
Ming Hua hooked his arms around my neck, protesting, "But the Emperor promised that you would teach me martial arts!"
I pinched his nose, feeling a bit conflicted. "But I'm here in the mornings, while you're in class. In the afternoons, I have to report for duty at the Imperial Study. How about this: this afternoon is horsemanship; you can join them and learn the basics first."
Ming Hua wrinkled his face, looking quite displeased. I quickly changed the subject. "How did you know I was back?"
Ming Hua pointed behind him. "I saw him. He said he was sent by the Consort to find you, so I followed along."
The "him" Ming Hua referred to was Eunuch Liu, who was currently tottering across the drill field. He was one of Wu Xiu’s attendants. Seeing him, I quickly let go of Ming Hua and went to meet him.
"Master Xi looks to be in high spirits," Eunuch Liu said. He was in his forties with a kind face, and he began smiling from a distance. "Her Ladyship has been thinking of Master Xi and sent me to deliver a message. She requests Master Xi’s company for the midday meal."
I hurriedly agreed, reaching into my robe to find a piece of silver to tip him. To my surprise, my hand found nothing; I then remembered that since entering the palace, my food and lodging were provided by the state, and I hadn't carried any money on me.
Seeing my hand go into my robe, Eunuch Liu chuckled. "Master Xi, please do not stand on ceremony with this old servant. If I were to truly accept a reward from you, I fear I would face Her Ladyship’s rod upon my return." With a bow, he waddled away.
Ming Hua was squirming restlessly in my arms. I looked up to see my team members peeking over with strange expressions. It seemed the authoritative image I had worked so hard to build had been thoroughly dismantled by this little brat.
I pinched his cheek and sighed. How was I supposed to keep a straight face with this kid?
***
Crimson fruits, glistening like fresh droplets of blood, were piled upon a jade plate carved into the shape of a lotus leaf. The mere sight of them was enough to whet the appetite.
Wu Xiu picked up a single fruit with her delicate, fair hand and held it to my lips, smiling. "These are Ying fruits, a tribute from the Island Kingdom of Nanwan. We don't have these here."
I unceremoniously swallowed it. Not only did it look somewhat like a grape, but the taste was also quite similar.
As I ate, I looked at her. She was dressed in a water-green spring robe with a pearl necklace that complemented her skin, which looked as smooth as congealed fat. I smiled and said, "Compared to you, I’m hardly fit to be seen. No wonder you’re always picking on me."
Wu Xiu shot me a look, but a faint smile played on her lips.
"Tell me, what is it?" I asked. "I just came from the drill field and I'm covered in sweat. I haven't even changed my clothes."
Wu Xiu shook her head helplessly. "You can wash up here."
It was a tempting suggestion, but... it went against etiquette.
Wu Xiu tapped me with a finger. "Thinking too much, aren't you? If you don't want to wash, that's fine, but you have to report to the Emperor this afternoon. If you eat here and then go back to your own quarters to tidy up, I'm afraid you won't make it in time."
I thought about it. "Fine. Then have someone go to my room and fetch my clothes. Attendant Su knows where my changes of clothes are kept."
"Attendant Su?" Wu Xiu paused, a strange look flickering in her eyes. Upon closer inspection, however, she regained her previous composure and clapped her hands for a maid to lead me in for a bath.
Attendant Su knew I had to report to the Imperial Study in the afternoon, so she naturally sent my armor. To be honest, having her around made my life much more convenient. Any socks or belts I couldn't find, she could locate instantly; her efficiency was truly staggering. The problem was that every time I saw her, I felt like there were thorns in my back. Conversely, her attitude was far more composed than mine. Whenever she saw my discomfort, she would offer a polite smile and reassure me: "Once the Emperor gives the order, this Su woman will surely vanish from Master Xi’s sight."
I removed the large towel from my head and tied my damp hair into a ponytail. When I emerged, the midday meal was already laid out. There were no servants in the bedchamber except for Ying Xia, likely to keep me from feeling awkward.
Wu Xiu was sitting by the table, lost in thought, only snapping out of it when I sat down beside her.
"Hungry?" A forced smile appeared on her face as she reached out to serve me. "Eat more."
I had only taken two bites when I looked up to see her holding her chopsticks mid-air, staring at me intently as if trying to discern something unusual on my face. She looked deeply troubled.
"I'm starving," I sighed. "With that expression on your face, are you worried I'm eating too much of your food?"
Wu Xiu gave a strained smile and made a slight gesture. Ying Xia obediently withdrew. Seeing this setup, I knew she truly had something private to discuss.
I tried to comfort her. "You and the child are safe and sound; everything is fine. Don't always look so gloomy."
Wu Xiu set down her chopsticks with elegant precision, but her eyes were turbulent. "The Emperor... sent Attendant Su to serve you?"
As soon as she mentioned Attendant Su, I felt a wave of frustration myself. I picked up a chicken leg and bit into it fiercely.
Wu Xiu’s expression shifted unpredictably as she murmured to herself, "He actually sent Attendant Su... It seems... it’s all true."
Seeing the suppressed resentment in her features, I knew she was overthinking things. I quickly put down the half-eaten chicken leg to reassure her. "Sister, don't misunderstand."
A bitter smile touched Wu Xiu’s lips, but her tone suddenly turned icy. "There is no misunderstanding. He truly has his sights set on my younger sister."
The chicken leg in my hand clattered onto the table. I looked at the leg, then at her, frowning in displeasure. "Since when did you become so suspicious? I am your sister; do you even doubt me?"
Wu Xiu seemed to be looking at me, yet her gaze also seemed to pass through me toward something else. Her expression was slightly dazed. "In the spring, he said he wanted to plant more flowers in the gardens and asked what we liked. The Empress said she liked butterfly flowers. I said I had no particular preference, only that my siblings back home liked Pink Bells. He pressed me, asking if it was Xi Xia who liked Pink Bells. When I saw that his study was surrounded by Pink Bells, I already had a premonition..."
I picked up a napkin to wipe my mouth and stood up to leave. Such talk irritated me, and her current state irritated me even more. This was not the Wu Xiu I knew.
"Third Sister!" The voice from behind me suddenly became shrill. "You know it in your own heart, don't you? I wonder, what are your plans now?"
I didn't turn around, because I realized my own expression and tone had become uncontrollably cold. I didn't want her to see me like this. "Your Ladyship is overthinking. The relationship between Xi Xia and the Emperor is merely that of sovereign and subject. I have never overstepped my bounds."
Wu Xiu froze, murmuring, "Even if you have no intention..."
"What does Your Ladyship want me to do?" I asked flatly. "Take a blade and fight my way out of the palace?"
She froze again, finally noticing that my attitude toward her had shifted. She seemed to let out a couple of cold laughs. "I am your elder sister. We are blood. No matter what you want from me..."
I lowered my eyes, unwilling to engage in such a pointless argument. Perhaps it was just the pregnancy making her overly sensitive.
As I turned to leave, she stepped in front of me, a mocking smile appearing on her lips. "Look at my dull wit. You don't even need to ask me—with just a glance from you, he would bring anything to your feet, wouldn't he?"
I looked at her as if she were a monster. When had she become like this?
"His jade pendant, given to you; the person who served him for over twenty years, also given to you," Wu Xiu leaned in, her mocking smile deepening. "Ji Wuchao, you truly are resourceful."
If anyone else had spoken to me like that, I think I would have been tempted to throttle them.
I clenched my fists, and the question I had been suppressing for days suddenly surged to the forefront of my mind. Since the veil had been torn, I might as well tear it completely.
I gazed at her coldly, my voice so low only the two of us could hear. "I heard the Emperor visits Your Ladyship’s palace every night. So I suspect that the incident with the jade hairpin was intentional, wasn't it?"
A flash of terror vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the look Wu Xiu gave me became increasingly foreign. She paced back and forth before me as if flaunting her figure, then tilted her head and laughed abruptly. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. You guessed correctly. Do you know why I did it? Because I want that woman in the Central Palace to know that I am the one favored—that in all things, the Emperor stands by my side."
My heart gave a sudden, sharp throb of pain. But the maid who had conspired with her in that act was likely already on the road to the yellow springs. When had her heart become so hardened?
Wu Xiu pulled back her flamboyant smile, her eyes filling with mockery once more. "You don't know yet, but that jade hairpin really was a gift from the Empress, and Hong'er really was her dowry maid—she was simply won over by me. That hairpin was soaked in medicine before it was sent. As for what kind of medicine, you have no need to know. I was merely striking back in my own small way..."
I listened quietly to her sharp voice. I never knew that when Wu Xiu raised her voice, it could be so piercing. Like a needle, it could stab straight into one's heart.
I felt a sense of profound loss. It was like a pearl I had wanted to cherish, only to find it had turned into a clod of earth when I took it out again. Beyond the shock, there was mostly disappointment.
Her features were more exquisite and beautiful than ever, her attire more magnificent than ever, but I knew clearly that the distance between us was greater than it had ever been. I knew she was no longer Wu Xiu; the woman before me was merely Noble Consort Chen.
My gaze remained on her face, searching for something familiar, but my feet began to move backward uncontrollably. Step by step, I moved further and further away from her.
From nearby came Ying Xia’s startled cry: "Third Miss!"
I turned and ran out.
I ran all the way to the drill field. At midday, the field was deserted. The scorching sun turned the ground a pale white. Above my head was the increasingly dense green shade, with dazzling sunlight dancing in the gaps between the leaves.
I seemed to be thinking of many things, yet also nothing at all. I just stood there, dazed.
After an unknown amount of time, the low hum of voices drifted from the distance. My team members entered in small groups. When they saw me, they looked at each other before quickly forming a line in front of me.
Their skin was tanned dark, radiating the heat that only comes from the sun. Their eyes were as clear as unpolluted spring water, and even their focused gazes seemed transparent—free of impurities, free of schemes.
I pushed back the sob that was rising in my chest, forcing my voice to remain as calm as usual. I said, "Everyone, sit in the shade. Let's review the hand signals I taught you."
Special tactical units have a set of specialized hand signals, numbering as many as forty or fifty. For example, the left hand clutching one's own neck means "hostage"; the left hand grasping the right wrist means "suspect"; the thumb and index finger extended at a 90-degree angle represents a "handgun"; the left hand touching the chin means "man"; and the left hand making an "OK" sign means "secure." During missions, there are many scenarios where silence is mandatory, so communicating through hand signals is vital.
Because I was in a different time and place, I had modified many of them.
"I hope that once the coordination between you reaches a certain level of unspoken understanding, you will be able to understand each other's meaning with just a glance." At this, they exchanged a few exaggerated "glances" and burst into laughter.
That hearty laughter seemed to clear much of the gloom from my heart. I looked at the sky, wondering why Shen Pei hadn't appeared yet.
"Did Commander Shen say whether he was coming to class this afternoon?" I asked them.
Zhu Bao chimed in first. "Captain Shen went to inspect the horses. He'll be late."
Before he could finish, another man stood up. He had handsome features and a diagonal scar on his temple. His name was Shi Yun; Shen Pei had mentioned he was excellent with hidden weapons. He said with a slight smile, "Captain Xi, could we spar a bit with hidden weapons?"
I nodded. "You want to challenge me?"
His face reddened slightly, and he scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. The others around him began to hoot and jeer.
"Fine," I said. "How do you want to do it?"
Before he could speak, Zhu Bao shouted, "I bet on Shi Yun winning!" He didn't forget to give me a provocative look. I curled my lip at him; this petty guy was still hoping Shi Yun would avenge him.
I said, "Then how about this: if I win, every one of you does two hundred push-ups."
Zhu Bao lifted his chin defiantly. "And if Shi Yun wins?" Beside him, Zhu Mo, likely thinking his brother was being too forward, reached out to pull him back.
I smiled at him to show I didn't mind. "If Shi Yun wins, I'll buy you all drinks. You choose the place."
They began to cheer and hoot again, crowding around Shi Yun to encourage him. Amidst the commotion, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of several figures in the distance, under the corridor outside the drill field. The one in front wore a pale gold robe, holding a folding fan before his eyes as he looked toward us.
He must have come to demand an explanation for why I hadn't appeared before him at the appointed time. But today, I truly didn't want to see him. If I saw him, I feared I wouldn't be able to control the resentment in my heart—was it not he who had turned Wu Xiu into what she was now?
I calmly withdrew my gaze. Regardless, everything here was just a dream in my life, one that would soon settle into the deepest recesses of my memory. It would be best never to think of it again. Once summer arrived, it would all be over.
I counted the days. As someone who was incredibly sensitive to heat, I had never looked forward to summer—and I never imagined that because of Ming Shao, summer could actually be something to anticipate.
Zhu Bao and the others gathered around Shi Yun and me, craning their necks toward the sky, shouting like a rowdy crowd: "There are exactly two birds. One for each of you. Hit the eyes."
Shi Yun’s projectiles were exquisite butterfly darts. They shimmered like silver in his hand for a moment before flashing out like a streak of light. I followed suit, releasing my short blades.
Two poor birds fell straight from the sky. Zhu Bao and the others rushed over, and then a thunderous cheer erupted from the group. I thought Shi Yun had won and was about to pat his shoulder and say, "It looks like you won..."
But then Zhu Bao led the group in a rush to surround Shi Yun and me. It turned out both darts had hit the left eyes. It was a draw.
I patted Shi Yun’s shoulder and praised him. "Compared to a blade, butterfly darts are much harder to master. Your skill is impressive."
Shi Yun seemed a bit shy and gave a bashful smile. Before he could turn his head back, a large hand, like a bear's paw, patted my shoulder. "Captain, your hidden weapon skills are incredible too. I'm convinced!"
I turned to look at Zhu Bao’s bright, smiling face, then at the grinning team members around me. My heart felt a warm glow.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
擒拿 | Qin Na / Grappling | A Chinese martial arts technique focused on joint locks and pressure points.
校场 | Drill field / Training grounds | The area used for military training.
南丸岛国 | Island Kingdom of Nanwan | A fictional or specific tributary state.
颖果 | Ying fruit | A type of fruit mentioned as tribute, similar to grapes.
蝴蝶镖 | Butterfly darts | A type of hidden weapon (shuriken) shaped like a butterfly.
俯地挺身 | Push-ups | A physical exercise.
阿罗王 | King A-Luo | A deity associated with the underworld/afterlife in the novel's lore.
