Volume One, Chapter 15: General, May I Borrow Your Sword?

The young man was dressed in garments as white as snow, his hair tied back with a silk ribbon. Yet, his features were delicate and almost feminine, with a small red mole between his brows that only enhanced his unparalleled charm.

“What is your name?” Princess Changning regarded the gentle youth before her with the scrutiny of an examiner.

“My humble name might sully the princess’s ears; please grant me a name,” the young man responded with some restraint.

Princess Changning hummed thoughtfully.

She then turned to another youth, clad in a blue robe. His eyebrows bore a natural arrogance, a faint smirk at the corner of his lips, exuding the effortless grace of a wandering swordsman.

“And you, what is your name?”

“I am a disciple of the Li Fire Sword Sect. I don’t even know my original family name. I used to follow my master’s surname, Li, and my given name is Mo. Please, princess, grant me a name,” he replied.

“Mmm,” the princess murmured, stroking her chin. “From now on, you will follow me. My mother’s family name is Song, so you shall both take the name Song. You shall be Song Yu,” she said, nodding at the first youth.

She then asked Li Mo whether he wished to keep his original name or be called Song Mo.

The youth’s expression darkened slightly, and in a low voice he said, “My senior brothers from the sect have been hunting me. I intended to change my name and identity. From this day forth, I shall be Song Mo.”

Princess Changning’s interest was piqued. With a smile, she asked, “Oh? Why are your senior brothers after you?”

Song Mo’s gaze dimmed further. “I was my master’s favored disciple, but after my master passed away, the eldest senior brother seized the sect leader’s token and sword manual. Together with other senior brothers, they attacked me, forcing me to flee.”

The princess raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you fight back?”

Song Mo shook his head with a sigh. “Only my uncle and younger disciples are kind-hearted toward me. They were drugged and unable to help reclaim the token. Since the token fell into the eldest brother’s hands, none of the sect’s disciples dare oppose him.”

Princess Changning’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, she smiled. “If you are a direct disciple, do you know the secret sword manual? If so, write it down for me to see.”

Song Mo paused a moment then nodded, saying he knew the Li Fire Sword Sect’s secret manual. He sat upright by the desk, beginning to transcribe the manual word by word.

Then she smiled faintly and asked, “Song Yu, I heard you come from a scholarly family?”

Song Yu quickly replied, “Yes, princess. When I was four, my grandfather was implicated in a crime, and our family fell into ruin. That is why I ended up in the theater.”

“Good.” The princess pointed at the desk. “Go, copy the Diamond Sutra ninety-nine times.”

Song Yu dared not question further and quickly sat by the desk to begin copying the sutra.

His focused eyes and elegant handwriting earned a slight nod from Princess Changning.

Her standards for selecting people were high: appearance was paramount, followed by literary talent or martial skill, and then a few other special abilities.

These two were comparable to the loyal and charming youths of her previous life.

Princess Changning reclined against a large pillow, watching the two young men frown and bite their lips deep in thought, feeling quite pleased.

After two incense sticks had burned, Song Yu rubbed his aching wrist and timidly asked, “Princess… are we your male attendants?”

At this, the princess was momentarily stunned, then burst into a joyous laugh, unable to speak.

After laughing for a while, she approached Song Mo’s desk and took two sheets of writing from him.

“Your sect also has the Li Fire Sword?” she asked, making a graceful sword pose from the manual.

“Yes, princess, but the Li Fire Sword has been lost for decades. My master only saw it in his childhood,” Song Mo replied.

“Oh? How did it get lost?” the princess asked in puzzlement.

“The Li Fire Sword is the heirloom of our sect leaders, said to have belonged to the ancient tribal chief Li Qing, one of the legendary artifacts,” Song Mo recalled with a hint of sorrow. “When it reached my master’s master, the sect fought the Tianyu Sect in a martial contest, and since then, the sword vanished.”

“Has no one searched for it?” the princess asked inexplicably.

“We have tried. At that time, my master was not yet the leader. His master and two uncles went to the contest. Both uncles were crippled in battle, and after the defeat, my master’s master refused to speak. My master was too young to know the details and cannot begin the search,” Song Mo shook his head regretfully, sighing deeply.

“That is indeed strange, to simply vanish without a trace,” Princess Changning mused, sharing the melancholy.

“We should ask the Tianyu Sect,” Qing Luan couldn’t help but interject. The princess was lenient with them, accustomed to the maids’ casual chatter.

“It’s not easy to ask,” Song Mo said awkwardly.

“Why not?” Qing Luan asked with curiosity.

“The Tianyu Sect is made entirely of women. When they don’t come out, no one can enter their sect. We asked once, but they were completely uncooperative, all claiming ignorance,” Song Mo’s expression turned uneasy.

“Princess, is there truly a sect composed entirely of women?” Qiu Tao asked, unable to contain her surprise.

Princess Changning nodded. “It’s quite rare indeed.”

Everyone sighed, marveling at the strange wonders of the world.

“The caravan has been halted for three quarters of an hour. This old servant wonders, does the princess wish to dine?” Outside, Eunuch Xu quietly asked Qiuli.

Qiuli drew the curtain and entered the Phoenix Carriage’s inner chamber to consult Qing Luan.

Qing Luan ordered Qiuli to bring in the food box and told Song Mo and Song Yu to continue their writing in the outer room.

“Before you know it, it’s nearly midnight. Princess, Bai Yunfeng and the others roasted a chicken, and our cook prepared some porridge and two side dishes. Would you like to have a little something?” Qing Luan crouched down and placed the tray on the kang bed, arranging the dishes.

Princess Changning had spent the whole day in activities—praying to Guanyin, climbing trees, bandit hunting, then drinking and feasting late into the night—and was not hungry.

Persuaded by Qing Luan, she reluctantly drank half a bowl of porridge, ate a couple of bites of vegetables, and a piece of chicken.

“You two take this back and eat. The porridge and roast chicken are a reward for Song Mo and Song Yu. They shall continue writing tomorrow.”

Princess Changning was still pondering the Tianyu Sect’s affair when she suddenly smiled.

“Qing Luan, summon Xu Hai.”

“Yes, princess.” Qing Luan had just delivered the food box to Song Mo and Song Yu and, upon leaving the carriage, immediately called for Xu Hai.

“Xu Hai, when we reach Binzhou City, buy two sets of clothes, and also…”

“Yes, princess. I will handle it as soon as we arrive,” Xu Hai wiped his sweat and descended from the carriage.

Song Mo and Song Yu returned to their carriage with the princess’s gift of food boxes. The respectful demeanor of the eunuchs and maids around them still felt unfamiliar.

After lunch, there was usually a pause before setting off again. The marriage envoy and craftsmen strolled about in small groups, chatting leisurely.

Gu Han was busy fetching a bucket of water from the nearby stream, diligently brushing the horse’s coat as if it were filthy. The horse was growing restless after so much brushing.

No one knew how many times he had brushed when a red figure appeared beside him.

“The general’s horse has such a good temper, it never kicks!” Princess Changning remarked.

Gu Han had been so focused on brushing he hadn’t noticed when the princess approached.

He frowned slightly and said coolly, “Princess, are you taking a walk?”

“No, I want to borrow your sword,” Princess Changning said, reaching out to touch the sword’s hilt at Gu Han’s waist.

Gu Han, who had been bent over, straightened up and looked at the princess with a hint of confusion.

“Is that alright? Are you okay with someone else touching your sword? Or should I use your deputy general’s?” The princess’s soft voice made Gu Han furrow his brows even more.