11. The Envoy

She thought it was time to cry and beg for mercy, yet the girl glanced over there too, and strangely enough, calmed down. However, her voice was low; if one could only hear it without seeing her face, one might think she was very afraid. "Lian Ba Zi, I never expected you to care so much about me... Actually, I’m curious—what exactly did I do to offend you? Was it just because back at the Marquis Wu'an’s residence, you took my place and got to perform before His Majesty? If so, you should be the one apologizing to me."

Lian Qiao’s expression shifted. "What nonsense are you spouting? That opportunity was rightfully mine. If you hadn’t suddenly appeared, how could the Marquis have—"

She actually dared to bring this up! The near loss of that chance had long been a grudge in Lian Qiao’s heart. After using tricks to push her aside, she no longer wanted to see her and targeted her at every turn, wishing she could just get rid of her completely.

Unable to bear it any longer, she barked sharply, "All of you, get her out of here! Tonight, everyone will see exactly what kind of shameless woman she is—and what her treacherous lover looks like!"

The other beauties exchanged looks—some disdainful, some gleeful—and all eyes turned to that spot. Lian Qiao’s gaze lingered, but suddenly her heart skipped a beat. Shinian’s behavior was too strange, and that silhouette... seemed oddly familiar...

“Oh? You want to see what kind of face I have?”

At that thought, the man in the shadows suddenly turned around. In the pale moonlight, clad in black robes and jade crown, his handsome face smiled gently at her.

Lian Qiao was stunned.

She stared at him in disbelief for a long moment before her legs wobbled. “Y-Your Majesty... Your humble servant pays respects...”

A commotion erupted within the hall.

No one here had ever seen the Emperor, nor expected him to appear. They had been suspicious when they heard Liu Che’s words earlier, thinking they’d misheard, but now that Lian Qiao said so too, there was no doubt.

The man before them was the supreme sovereign they longed for in their private chambers but never hoped to meet!

“Thud.”

“Thud.”

Kneeling spread like a tide throughout the hall, everyone murmuring “May the Emperor be safe.” Liu Che’s gaze swept over the fearful crowd before settling on the one person still standing.

Shinian looked at him blankly, as if utterly unprepared. Suddenly, Liu Che’s mischievous side surfaced, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Well? Didn’t Lady Shinian want to see His Majesty? Now that you have, do you have anything to say?”

This man!

Fearful she couldn’t keep up the act, Shinian bowed her head and knelt as well. Seeing her obedience, Liu Che thought of the girl’s impassioned speech earlier and felt an inexplicable tenderness. He even voluntarily explained, “I did not mean to keep it from you.”

Hearing the warmth in his tone, her heart fluttered violently. When had His Majesty ever spoken to anyone like this? And how did he know Shinian? Was he here at the Secret Court because of her?

They had long known each other. Considering all the times she had made things difficult for Shinian and now this, with His Majesty’s temperament, what fate awaited her...

Desperately, she raised her eyes and met Liu Che’s gaze. Those eyes had once looked upon her with admiration, but now held only cold disdain. “I did not know Lian Ba Zi had such skills. It seems this Secret Court will need a thorough cleansing.”

The next day, the entire harem knew that the newly favored Lian Clan’s Ba Zi had incurred the Emperor’s wrath and was ordered into the punishment chamber. In the past, such a punishment might have sparked gossip since the Emperor rarely punished concubines personally, but now, no one cared about Lian Ba Zi’s fate. Everyone’s attention was focused elsewhere.

Rumor had it the Emperor favored a young attendant in the Secret Court and had taken to secret midnight rendezvous, causing the court staff to mistake the visitor for a villain. Lian Ba Zi’s downfall was linked to this affair.

Envy, jealousy, and above all, curiosity spread like wildfire. Everyone wanted to know what kind of incomparable beauty Lady Shinian was, to have driven the emperor to such reckless behavior.

Inside the Secret Court, the "peerless beauty" Lady Shinian closed her door, shutting out prying eyes, and leaned against it with a long sigh.

These days had been quite eventful. The scene that night had shocked everyone—witnessing the Emperor leave her chambers at night was unprecedented, even during Lian Qiao’s prime. No one doubted she would soon leave this place and soar like a phoenix. Before that, winning her favor had become the priority.

---

Suddenly, Shinian became the Secret Court’s most sought-after figure, overwhelmed daily by scheming courtiers—quite exhausting. Yet, thinking of Lian Qiao’s downfall lightened her mood. Even in that situation, she remembered to reveal Lian Qiao’s tricks to steal her place—a truly conniving act!

Served her right. Who asked her to bully Su Geng and try to destroy me?

She returned inside and sat casually. Thinking of Su Geng, she worried—what were they up to? Were they even contacting her?

Her finger brushed something on the table. She paused, discovering a sheet of paper. Bamboo slips and silk scrolls were common in this era; such paper was unheard of. Almost instantly, she realized what had happened.

“The sky of the liberated zone belongs to the people; you have finally arrived!”

Excited, she unfolded it, but her vision blackened. The pristine sheet was filled with vigorous penmanship—all in English!

What a trap—she’d only passed the intermediate level in English! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

No wonder they left the letter there so casually, not fearing prying eyes. After two deep breaths, guessing and deducing, it took her half an hour to finish reading this not-so-long letter. She collapsed to the floor as exhausted as a student after a tough exam, murmuring to the sky, “Interns deserve pay, right? When I go back, I’m definitely asking for a raise. This is a work injury!”

Though she had made a scene at the Secret Court that night, Liu Che had not sought her out afterward. She was curious what kept him busy, but her questions were soon answered.

News from the previous dynasty: After months of journey, the Xiongnu envoy finally arrived in Chang’an.

On the day the Xiongnu entered the city, Chancellor Xu Chang led a welcoming party at the outskirts. That evening, the Emperor hosted a banquet at Weiyang Palace to honor the envoys. Officials attended, as did the Grand Empress Dowager Dou, Empress Chen, and some concubines.

As night fell, the bright moon cast a silvery glow over the majestic palace. Inside the front hall of Weiyang Palace, wine flowed freely and music filled the air. Han and Xiongnu sat on opposite sides; above on the ninth tier were the Emperor, Empress, and Grand Empress Dowager, with concubines seated further back.

Shinian sat behind a beaded curtain, sipping lightly.

She had been pondering how to ask Liu Che to let her attend the banquet, only to find he had sent for her himself. Yet, perhaps too busy, he never spoke to her directly, and she did not approach him.

Her gaze moved forward. For this formal event, Liu Che wore his most solemn ceremonial robes: black garment, vermilion skirt, white silk belt, yellow kneecap cover, shoulders embroidered with sun, moon, and dragon patterns, back adorned with mountains, rivers, and stars. His crown bore twelve hanging jewels, shimmering and masking the precious royal visage.

She had never seen him like this—this distant, unfamiliar Liu Che made it hard to connect him with the man who once helped her climb walls.

Sensing her gaze, Liu Che turned his head and met her eyes. His face was expressionless at first, but after a moment, he smiled faintly.

Her heart skipped, and she looked away, noticing a richly adorned woman sitting beside him. Unlike the gentle Wei Zifu, this woman had pale skin, red lips, dark eyes, and a proud, dazzling gaze—truly breathtaking.

She was the Empress, Chen Ajiao.

So this was the famed beauty hidden in the Golden House! She truly was stunning...

Liu Che still smiled at her, but Shinian’s heart burned with indignation. With Chen Ajiao and Wei Zifu, Liu Che had ruined two fairy-like ladies—truly worse than a beast!

Suddenly, the girl’s expression fell, confusing Liu Che. Before he could ask why, the music ceased, and a rugged man with loose hair and left-collar robe stepped forward, holding a bronze wine vessel and kneeling on one knee.

“Great Han Emperor, I, Geshtu, offer you a toast, wishing you to soar like the eagle on the grasslands, healthy and long-lived.”

This was the leader of the Xiongnu envoys. Liu Che raised his cup politely. “Thank you, envoy.”

Geshtu drained his cup with a smile. “Our marriage alliance between Xiongnu and Han is a beautiful story, destined to be praised in history for a thousand years.”

“Let us hope so.”

---

Geshtu glanced toward the concubines’ corner. “Which princess is this? Why is she not here to greet us?”

Liu Che’s brow twitched. “These are my consorts; there is no princess.”

“So the princess is not present tonight?”

“Exactly.”

Geshtu frowned in displeasure. The Grand Empress Dowager smiled and said, “Envoy, you misunderstand. Our Han customs differ from the Xiongnu’s. The princess, as a bride-to-be, is not permitted to appear publicly.”

“When will we see the princess then?”

“By the day of departure, as per tradition...”

Geshtu firmly rejected this. “Absolutely not! Without seeing clearly, how can we know if she meets the Khan’s standards? What if you send someone else at random?”

At this lavish feast, with officials and the royal family present, he was so brazen. Yet the Grand Empress Dowager dared not show anger. “Envoy speaks jest. Our princess is carefully chosen, beautiful and noble; she would never be replaced casually.”

Geshtu replied, “That’s hard to say, given the example of Princess Changling remains.”

Shinian’s keen ears caught this, and she whispered, “Who is Princess Changling?”

Beside her, a servant surnamed Zhao recognized her as the recently prominent Lady Shinian and whispered, “She was the late emperor’s daughter, married off to the Xiongnu. She died within two months. Officially, it was illness, but everyone says the Khan found her insufficiently beautiful and executed her in anger...”

Shinian gasped.

Upon hearing “Princess Changling,” Liu Che’s face darkened. Geshtu seemed unaware and raised his head proudly. “Before departure, the Khan instructed me to look carefully. A hero deserves a beauty; our Khan is a hero of the steppes and must marry a Han beauty. Such tragedies as with Princess Changling must never happen again.”

Shinian felt her lungs might burst in fury. Was he human? A Han princess represented the nation’s honor. They executed her for not being beautiful enough, yet dared to come again demanding a bride, openly speaking of it in the Han court!

They were trampling Han’s dignity underfoot!

“Your Majesty, please do not blame Geshtu for his boldness. We all know your so-called princess is not a true princess. Without noble blood, other standards naturally grow strict. If you truly cherish a peerless beauty, perhaps one of your sisters could be selected for marriage, which the Khan would welcome.” Geshtu pondered. “I recall you have three sisters: Princess Yangxin, Princess Nangong, and Princess Longlü...”

“Clang!”

Liu Che abruptly overturned his cup and slammed the table, rising like a lion ready to pounce, eyes blazing with thunderous rage.

Behind the twelve hanging jewels, he fixed Geshtu with a cold stare.

Geshtu, mid-speech, instinctively recoiled under that gaze. When he recovered, fury flared. A horse-riding, falcon-hunting man of the steppes, this little Han emperor dared to show him attitude!

Straightening, Geshtu retorted coldly, “Does Your Majesty take issue with the Khan’s demands?”

The hall grew tense beyond measure; ministers fell silent as if frozen. Just when it seemed the welcoming banquet would be ruined, the Grand Empress Dowager sipped her drink and calmly said, “Emperor, sit down.”

Liu Che did not move.

She repeated firmly, “I command you to sit down!”