November 29th, Chang'an.
At Penglai Residence, Shen Tingjiao wore a purple robe with white fox fur lining the collar and cuffs, a contrast that made his skin appear as if carved from ice and jade. The waiter recognized him instantly and, without needing to be called, served several of his favorite small dishes. As he poured the wine, he asked almost out of habit, "Prince, shall I put this on the Head of the Yin Family’s tab as usual?"
The young Prince Shen nodded, also out of habit.
"Right away!" The waiter finished pouring the wine with great enthusiasm. "Please, enjoy your drink, Your Highness."
Prince Shen waited on the second floor for a long while. Outside, officers were searching everywhere, but everyone knew he was merely fleeing a marriage. Once he was caught and brought back, he would still be a prince of the realm; consequently, no one dared to actually harass him.
Before long, a woman dressed in tight-fitting short robes and carrying a long spear came striding up the stairs. Upon seeing her, Prince Shen’s face lit up with joy. "Lingxiao!"
The woman turned at the sound of his voice and reached him in a few steps. Without a word, she slammed her spear onto the table, the force of it startling the other diners. "Does the King truly intend to betroth you to Yin Zhuli? What is she supposed to be? Nothing but a lowly merchant, yet she dares to steal my man!"
Prince Shen lowered his brows slightly. "Zhuli is a good person, but my heart belongs only to you. I share only a brotherly bond with her; how could I possibly take her as my wife?"
Qu Lingxiao was not angered by his words. The two of them had been thick as thieves since childhood; she knew him better than anyone. "Tingjiao, my father is currently fighting in the Northwest. Let us go find him together."
Prince Shen lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before finally making up his mind. "Regardless of where we go, we must escape Chang'an first. The mere thought of marrying Zhuli gives me the sensation of marrying my Royal Brother; it makes my skin crawl."
Qu Lingxiao was the tiger-daughter of a general’s house. She had loved martial arts since she was a child and possessed a temperament not unlike a boy’s. She immediately grabbed him. "Let’s go!"
She had come on horseback. Upon exiting Penglai Residence, she pulled Shen Tingjiao onto the horse and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Tingjiao, sit tight!"
The horses of the Great General’s estate were steeds chosen from among hundreds. They immediately galloped forward like the wind. While Shen Tingjiao was agonizing over how to pass through the gates of Chang'an, Qu Lingxiao held the reins in her left hand against his waist and gripped her spear in her right. The spearhead, forged from black gold, scraped against the ground, sending up sparks.
The guards at Chang'an’s West Gate were caught off guard by the aggressive approach of the pair on a single horse. As the horse drew closer, the gate captain found himself in a difficult position upon recognizing the eldest Miss Qu. He did not dare block her, yet he feared the repercussions of letting her go. After a frantic moment of indecision, he reluctantly raised his spear to bar the way. His spear was no match for Miss Qu; with a flick of her own weapon, she sent his spear flying far into the distance.
Miss Qu did not linger for a fight and immediately galloped out of the West Gate.
By then, Yin Zhuli had already received word from the staff at Penglai Residence that the young Prince and Miss Qu were heading toward the West Gate. She took only her attendant, Tan Yue, and gave chase on horseback. Great Steward Hao, feeling uneasy, followed them on his own horse. Ten miles outside the city, Yin Zhuli’s group encountered King Shen Tingyao, who was traveling in simple attire.
The Yin family of Fugui City shared a historical connection with the current royal family. During the previous dynasty, Emperor Shengwu of Northern Zhao had been incompetent and decadent, leading to a corrupt court dominated by treacherous officials. The Yin family’s immense wealth had made them a target; they were framed by enemies, and Emperor Shengwu had decreed the execution of their entire clan. The head of the family at the time, Yin Biwu, escaped and sought help from the late King, Shen Wanyan. He revealed one of the Yin family’s hidden treasures and provided massive funding for Shen Wanyan to raise an army. Within six months, the world had changed, and the Da Xing Dynasty was established.
After the founding of Da Xing, the national treasury was empty and the country was in need of reconstruction. The Yin family, however, remained unaffected by the change in dynasties and quickly became the preeminent merchants of the realm. When the people of Da Xing spoke of Fugui City, they usually had only one description: "They are so poor they have nothing but money."
Thus, Yin Zhuli had naturally met Shen Tingyao before. She flipped off her horse and bowed to the simply dressed, low-profile monarch. "This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty."
Behind her, Great Steward Hao and Tan Yue naturally dismounted and bowed as well. Shen Tingyao studied her closely. She had left in a hurry, wearing a deep purple robe with her long hair tied loosely behind her head. A purple silk ribbon fluttered alongside her dark tresses. Her features lacked the gentle grace of typical women, possessing instead a sharp, heroic spirit.
Receiving no response, Yin Zhuli remained kneeling as he scrutinized her. After a long while, he spoke softly. "Rise. There are no outsiders here; there is no need for the Head of the Yin Family to be so formal."
Yin Zhuli smiled on the surface, but inwardly she scoffed. *If you felt that way, why didn't you say so earlier?* While she was grumbling to herself, she heard Shen Tingyao continue, "Is the Head of the Yin Family also here to chase after my worthless brother?"
Her smile deepened. She had managed the Yin family business for some time now and was well-versed in the art of social performance; thus, her smile appeared more genuine than gold. "This commoner simply does not wish for the Ninth Prince to go mine coal in Shandong. With his physique, he would be collecting wages for doing nothing."
Shen Tingyao laughed. He bore a striking resemblance to Shen Tingjiao, though his beauty was tempered by a coldness that discouraged approach. "Since our goals are the same, why not travel together?"
Yin Zhuli bowed, her posture respectful. "It is this commoner’s honor."
As they rode together, Yin Zhuli trailed half a horse-length behind him. Before long, they saw hoofprints leading toward the Northwest. A wicked smile played on Shen Tingyao’s lips. "Once they are caught, the man is yours, and the woman is mine."
Yin Zhuli understood his purpose for coming and naturally had no objections. "This commoner obeys the decree."
Shen Tingyao reined in his horse to slow down, riding side-by-side with her. "Once you marry into the Shen family, you will no longer be an outsider. There is no need for such restraint."
Yin Zhuli nodded slightly. Shen Tingyao’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he looked out toward the wilderness. It was late autumn; the fields were bare of crops, the autumn wind was bleak, and the sky was a uniform gray. Looking ahead, it seemed as though the earth and sky were one. "Tell me, what is the difference between me and Tingjiao?"
Yin Zhuli knew that he also had feelings for Qu Lingxiao. She replied with a faint smile, "Your Majesty may not know, but women are prone to pitying the weak."
Shen Tingyao scoffed. "As the sovereign of a nation, I cannot be as fragile as Tingjiao."
The smile on Yin Zhuli’s lips deepened. "Your Majesty also does not know; women are prone to adoring the strong."
"Adoring the strong?" Shen Tingyao squeezed his horse’s flanks and accelerated.
Sure enough, after a short gallop, they spotted Qu Lingxiao and Shen Tingjiao resting by the roadside. Shen Tingjiao had been born with a weak constitution, and though Qu Lingxiao was the daughter of a general, she had ultimately been raised in luxury. Throughout their journey, they hadn't even thought to use a diversion. It was no wonder they were caught so easily.
Seeing Shen Tingyao arrive in person, neither of them dared to be impudent and knelt before him. Shen Tingyao did not dismount. He stared at Miss Qu’s spear from a distance for a long while before saying, "Rise." He reached out, and an attendant hurried to hand him a long halberd. He weighed it in his hand before saying in a low voice, "Qu Lingxiao, if you can defeat the halberd in my hand, I will let the two of you leave."
From atop her horse, Qu Lingxiao looked up. She had grown up under the protective wing of the Great General and did not fear this monarch excessively. "Is Your Majesty serious?"
Shen Tingyao swung the halberd to the side, his voice possessing the calm steadiness of a ruler. "Come."
In contrast, Shen Tingjiao looked like a cicada silenced by winter in his brother's presence, kneeling obediently on the ground. Yin Zhuli, Tan Yue, and Hao Jian watched the battle from a distance. Tan Yue scoffed, "This King has exhausted his schemes just to marry Qu Lingxiao, so why was he looking at our Head like that just now? That Qu Lingxiao is crude and savage; I don't see a single good thing about her."
Yin Zhuli smiled but said nothing. It was Great Steward Hao who spoke from his horse, fiddling with his golden abacus. "You don't understand. Qu Lingxiao actually has no merits, but she has a good fate. Great General Qu Tianji holds sixty percent of Da Xing’s military power; the King must marry her to secure his loyalty. As for why he was looking at our Head... there is a reason for that too. Think about it—our Head controls no small amount of money and grain. His reign is titled 'Clear Peace,' but the truth is that the entire country is as 'clear' and 'poor' as can be. If he weren't marrying Qu Lingxiao, he would certainly be marrying our Head."
Tan Yue was a martial prodigy, but as Tang Yin described him—he lacked a bit of brains. He didn't understand. "He is the King; why doesn't he just marry both?"
Great Steward Hao tapped him on the head with the abacus. "Stupid. If he married both, who would be the Queen? Both women have fierce temperaments. If they started fighting out of jealousy, he’d never have a moment's peace!"
He was about to say more when he saw Shen Tingyao knock the spear from Qu Lingxiao’s hand. The King gripped his saddle with his left hand, his body hanging off the side of the horse, and swept his halberd at the legs of Qu Lingxiao’s mount. Qu Lingxiao cried out in alarm as she tumbled from her horse.
However, she had fallen countless times since childhood, so she landed safely. Shen Tingyao did not go to help her, merely watching her coldly for a moment. "Well?"
Qu Lingxiao was distressed for her beloved horse, and seeing his haughty manner, she bit her lip, on the verge of tears. Shen Tingyao pulled the reins and spurred his horse. As the horse galloped past her, he leaned down, scooped her up onto his mount, and rode away.
Caught off guard, Qu Lingxiao let out a faint cry of "Tingjiao!"
Shen Tingjiao remained kneeling obediently on the ground. Yin Zhuli rode up to
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