Chapter Four – Smoke and Shadows
1836 Words
Zuo Yanxi reclined half-sideways on the tiger-pelt armchair Liu Yan had arranged for her. The chair, carved from ancient wood, was wide and sturdy, padded with thick tiger fur across the back. Designed to seat the broad frames of military men, it was far too large for her—three of her could have easily fit. But at the moment, she treated it as if it were her private chaise, lounging like she was born to it.
Improper as the posture was, both Tu Long and Liu Yan couldn’t help but admire her elegance and the startling beauty she exuded. But more than that, they were struck by her quiet command, a presence that seemed to dominate the room without ever raising her voice.
Zuo Yanxi appeared perfectly at ease, her body finally free from the jostling of the carriage. She let out a contented sigh. "Shan’er, I’m thirsty..." she murmured, voice sweet and spoiled like a pampered cat.
Apparently, she could be coquettish with anyone.
Liu Yan, watching from the side, was both bewildered and amused—what a peculiar princess she was. Even Tu Long looked dazed.
Shan’er, however, was unfazed, smiling as she brought over a cup of plain water.
Tu Long quickly stepped forward. "We don’t have much here, but I did bring some excellent tea—perhaps Her Highness would—"
“No need, Lord Tu,” Shan’er answered with a polite smile. “Ever since her recovery, Her Highness only drinks water.”
“Mm… so bitter…” Zuo Yanxi squinted, her smile delicate. “Don’t you think so, Lord Tu?”
She turned that smiling gaze on him. Tu Long’s heart gave an awkward lurch, palms suddenly slick with sweat. “I… Your Highness, I… I suppose…”
Seeing Tu Long flustered, Liu Yan swooped in to rescue him. “Captain Tu’s been drinking strong tea for years—he probably can’t taste bitterness anymore! Your Highness, please rest. We’ll take our leave now.” He tugged Tu Long by the sleeve and ushered him out of the tent.
Outside, Tu Long finally let out a long breath.
“Why, big brother,” Liu Yan teased, “is that a blush I see?”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Tu Long blurted, flustered.
“No need to be so worked up…” Liu Yan chuckled. “Seems our princess is quite the force, isn’t she? Bitter, Lord Tu?”
“Enough already,” Tu Long grumbled, clearly unwilling to argue further. He had to admit: one smile from her and his composure shattered.
Liu Yan wasn’t immune either. Zuo Yanxi’s beauty was enough to silence anyone, but what truly unnerved them was the clarity in her gaze—like she could see right through you. Liu Yan couldn’t help but sigh: Such a woman should belong to heaven, not this world.
“Liu Yan.”
“Huh?” Liu Yan blinked, pulled from his thoughts.
Tu Long straightened, voice serious. “Gather the personal guards in your tent. We’ll begin with what Her Highness ordered us to do—step by step.”
“Got it. I’m on it,” Liu Yan replied, already heading toward the ranks.
Tu Long stayed behind, recalling the detailed instructions Zuo Yanxi had given him inside the carriage. She had explained everything there to avoid being overheard in camp. He had been impressed by her cleverness—each step well calculated—and now held deep respect for her. The anger he once felt over the Emperor forcing the prince to marry her was beginning to feel… misplaced. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.
He glanced toward the shrubbery beyond the camp and muttered to himself, “Well then, time to catch some birds…”
—
Zuo Yanxi had taken over Tu Long’s command tent. Eight trusted guards stood outside, ensuring her safety.
Inside, Ping’er busied herself tidying up, trying to make the spartan space somewhat livable. Shan’er stood behind Zuo Yanxi, massaging her shoulders with practiced ease.
“Your Highness,” she asked curiously, “why did you send Lord Tu to catch birds?”
Zuo Yanxi half-closed her eyes, clearly enjoying the massage. “To stir things up. Let the guilty reveal themselves.”
“Oh?” Ping’er paused, intrigued. “Birds are that useful?”
Zuo Yanxi chuckled. “Not as useful as you two. Now hurry up—I’m getting sleepy.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” both maids replied, laughing.
—
That night, the camp fell into chaos. Rumors spread that someone had poisoned the provisions. Dead birds had been found near the supply carts. Fear swept through the soldiers like wildfire.
The panic lasted nearly the whole night before finally calming.
Not long after, a figure approached Zuo Yanxi’s tent. It was Tu Long.
“Tu Long requests an audience with Her Highness. I hope I’m not disturbing her rest.”
Ping’er lifted the curtain with a smile. “Her Highness anticipated there’d be trouble tonight. She turned in early and has been waiting for you. Please come in.”
Tu Long marveled again at her foresight as he stepped inside.
Zuo Yanxi wore her usual pale blue robe, her long hair loose over her shoulders. Over the robe, she had added a silver-white cloak—spring might’ve come, but the nights still held a chill.
As Tu Long entered, she rose slightly from her seat and asked gently, “How did it go?”
“Exactly as Your Highness predicted. During the commotion, a group of soldiers gathered in secret. Liu Yan captured them. Under interrogation, they confessed to plotting the sabotage of our provisions.”
“Who was their leader?” she asked.
“He escaped during the arrest,” Tu Long replied with a touch of shame.
“Oh? Escaped, did he…” Zuo Yanxi fell silent for a moment. “Then we likely won’t get anything on the real mastermind.”
“No, Your Highness,” Tu Long admitted. Even under pressure, the captives said nothing more.
“No matter. Don’t trouble yourself. Have them sent to the capital for the Emperor to deal with.” She closed her eyes again. “Let Liu Yan handle it. Once he’s done, have him catch up with the rest of the army.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Tu Long bowed and turned to leave.
“Wait,” she said.
“Yes?”
Zuo Yanxi sighed. “I had hoped to set off for home first thing in the morning…” She stood slowly and walked toward him.
Tu Long tensed. “Do you have concerns, Your Highness?”
She sighed again. “But now that the leader has escaped, he’s surely informed his master. They’ll act soon. If I travel alone, I might be ambushed.”
“We—the Guard—will escort you!” Tu Long immediately dropped to one knee.
But Zuo Yanxi shook her head gently. This was only a guess for now. But if she was right—and the mastermind was the Prime Minister himself—a mere twenty guards wouldn’t be enough. “We may have thwarted their hidden blade,” she murmured, “but their open spear is still to come.”
“You mean…”
“If I’m right, they’ll send a hundred elite assassins to kill me. They’ll also try to intercept the supply lines.”
“A mere hundred? We have seven thousand soldiers,” Tu Long scoffed.
“Seven thousand men, but no general to command them. Besides…”
“Besides?” he prompted.
“The troops march in a single line. If the front is forced to loop back to rescue the middle, the delay will cripple us.”
“Then what does Your Highness propose?” Tu Long asked earnestly.
“We divide into seven teams. Each a thousand strong, each with its share of provisions. Two of your guards will escort each unit. Of the remaining four, two will deliver the traitors to the capital. The last two will protect me. Thoughts?”
“Wouldn’t splitting up the army be… risky?” Tu Long hesitated.
“Not at all. Smaller units move faster, which means faster arrival at Xiao Prefecture. It also scatters the enemy’s forces—if they don’t know which group I’m in, they can’t target me. If provisions are spread out, they can’t cut us off entirely.”
Tu Long still worried for her safety. “You’re going with the army, then?”
Zuo Yanxi frowned slightly, looking a touch resigned. “Lord Tu, it’s not my first choice. But under the circumstances…”
“Your guidance is a blessing to us all, Your Highness!” Tu Long bowed low.
That made her laugh. In truth, she had no desire to go—just thinking about the bumpy roads made her want to cry. But if you start something, you might as well see it through.
“Please summon the rest of the guards. I’ll explain the plan myself.”
“At once,” Tu Long said, departing the tent.
Zuo Yanxi sighed. Great. I’ve just volunteered myself into more trouble. But as her two lovely maids helped her back onto the couch, she grinned. Well, maybe not all bad…
The guards admired her deeply. Not only had her strategy worked, but even their leaders showed her deference equal to that of the prince himself. When they entered the tent and saw her, they were even more stunned by her beauty, her enchanting voice, the allure in every glance.
Who could resist a woman like this?
All twenty knelt before her and declared in unison, “We await Your Highness’s command.”
Zuo Yanxi narrowed her sparkling eyes, lips curving into a sly smile.
—
Meanwhile, chaos had broken loose in Xiao Prefecture.
A small town with a river running just outside its walls, Xiao Prefecture had come under siege. Enemy forces from Xilan had poisoned the river upstream, and most of the city’s soldiers had fallen ill. Now, the Xilan army was attacking with full force. Lin Yizhi had led a charge out to meet them, but with poisoned troops and broken morale, the defenders barely held the wall.
Zhao Xun, stationed atop the city gate, oversaw the defense with rising panic. Then, out of nowhere, he spotted soldiers emerging from the southern hillside—bearing unfamiliar banners.
“Reinforcements? Already?” he gasped.
It was the first of the thousand-man units, led by two of the guards. They plunged into battle immediately, giving the defenders new hope.
Then, more banners crested the hills—another wave had arrived.
The Xilan troops fell into disarray and began to retreat.
Zhao Xun grinned and threw open the gates, welcoming the reinforcements in. Four of the guards stepped forward to explain everything. Recognizing them as members of Lin Yizhi’s personal guard, Zhao Xun quickly ushered them into his command tent.
“So the princess…”
- Writer
