Chapter 1: Welcoming into the Manor

    Princess Yong’an, the daughter of Yan Wang, has an unclear history. Hardly anyone knows her identity; judging by her appearance alone would not suffice, but her demeanor does carry a certain dignified air, though it is far from the women in the royal family.

    Now, Princess Yong’an of the Yan Region found herself tied and hanging from a large tree branch, her body covered in mud and leaves. Li Xuanlong had taken his revenge by tying her shoes around the young girl’s neck, hoping to provoke her to cry, but instead, she smiled in gratitude.

    “Thank you. If I lose these shoes again, my brother will grumble for three days and three nights.”

    “How can I be sure that you are the real princess?”

    Chen Taohua shrugged, "Eyes that see not their worth; I can only feel helpless."

    Her unusually calm demeanor aroused his suspicion. Li Xuanlong circled the young girl, her squinty eyes, black dirty hands, and some teeth went missing making it difficult to identify her as royalty. Even the servant children in his manor seemed more presentable. But then something decisive happened: as Li Xuanlong leaned to smell her neck and chest, he yanked at her shirt.

    “Prince!” Zhu Zi protested but noticed a fragrant sachet fall from her shirt. The embroidery and the unique fragrance were exclusive to the palace.

    “So, Yan Wang has been hiding you all along to perpetuate the war with the Li Region,” Li Xuanlong picked up the sachet and twirled the girl’s small dagger, cursing her parents while Chen Taohua tried to kick, though it was futile.

    “Commander Li is as foolish as the rumors say. When has the Yan Region ever started a war?”

    “Little girl... The weak are prey to the strong; don’t you understand this simple truth? Yan Wang’s refusal to exchange the princess already shows his intentions clearly... What now, can’t argue with that, can you? Nobility doesn’t sit close to the roof[1]. Little one, did you learn your lesson?”

    “Don’t call me little girl. My name is Chen Taohua. Remember that, Commander Li.”

    “I’m fifteen this year.”

    “So what...”

    “It means I’m an adult now... It’s right for me to call you little girl,” they glared at each other as someone who did not have a good impression of the other, seriously arguing about who the child here. Zhu Zi and the soldiers all cursed under their breath, thinking these two were just as childish. Thousands of soldiers got dizzy from dealing with these two mad children. It might be better for them to bundle those two together and stomp them into the ground.

    Chen Taohua, seeming older than her years, sighed and spoke patiently, “Talking to you is like pouring water on a duck’s back; it’s useless. Give me back my dagger! It was a reminder of my father.”

    “A reminder? Didn’t Yan Sanqi say you were Princess Yong’an, or didn’t I know that Yan Wang would die so soon?”

    “Bad mouth! How dare you curse my father?!”

    The handsome young man massaged his temples gently, uncertain if he was losing his mind or if she was insane. Was her father dead or not?

    His sharp face turned up, looking at the sun setting up above his head; too much time had passed. The Yan troops were likely tightening their encirclement on the hill. The nobleman pondered while tossing Chen Taohua’s dagger. The blade was so blunt it couldn’t even cut a thread on the first attempt. Those small limbs? As slow and sluggish as she was in movement, how could someone so impetuous think a seven-year-old could assassinate a commander of three thousand with just a blunt dagger?

    The tall, dignified figure stood up to his full height and observed the Yan troops. Seeing Yan Sanqi so agitated, he could believe that this dumb little girl was indeed a princess. The dignified figure spoke teasingly while sharpening that dagger, restoring its original sharpness. Though the small dagger looked worn on the outside, its metal was robust and engraved with the character, its meaning was a son.

    "Your mother must have raised you as a boy, how pitiful indeed. She didn't want to marry you off to the Li Region so badly that she brainwashed a child into thinking he was a boy."

    "Commander Li, if you don't know me well enough, don't make wild guesses. The more you talk, the more foolish you look in my eyes."

    Hearing the child insult him did not anger Li Xuanlong; he crossed his arms and remained still. Compared to his little sister..., Li Xuanlong immediately thanked heaven. Fanning was a well-behaved and gentle child, unlike this stern-faced, dumb little girl before him. He considered her an odd creature, if she wasn't mad, then she was certainly very brave.

    "It’s a pity that you're brainless."

    "You too," the young princess retorted calmly. "Why would someone bring only five thousand troops to attack my brother's city? Now you're left with only three thousand. A novice commander like you shouldn’t hope to escape. Just surrender, and I will personally plead with my brother to spare your men."

    "Child, oh, child, war isn't just about the number of troops."

    The fifteen-year-old young man smirked, poking the girl's forehead repeatedly. He enjoyed the fight, so he didn't mind that his opponent was only a seven-year-old.

    "I may have underestimated that your brother would ambush us beyond my calculations. It would be easier if I used you to break through... Tell me, why did you make the effort to climb up this hill?"

    "A novice commander like you wouldn't understand," Chen Taohua scowled, her chubby cheeks flushing red. "Why do you people from Li Region always like to invade Yan Region so much!"

    "You're just a child, what would you understand?"

    Li Xuanlong teased back since her small red lips called him a novice commander repeatedly. Then, he spun the girl around, letting the rope unwind and spinning Chen Taohua around before playfully placing a pingguo fruit[2] on her head.

    "What are you going to do?"

    "I get bored easily... I always need to find something to do to cure my boredom. One thing I enjoy is..."

    The tall and formidable figure drew his bow to its full extent without aiming. The arrow shot through the pingguo, as precise as if placed by hand. Chen Taohua remained unflinching, not even blinking in fear, or crying out. Instead, she boldly criticized that such skill was nothing impressive, prompting the young man with sharp features to laugh.

    "Good spirit! Now, what if we try this?"

    Li Xuanlong found teasing the child immensely amusing. As he blindfolded himself, Chen Taohua’s face turned pale because he not only covered his eyes but also turned around to shoot.

    "My aim isn’t very steady, so don’t move."

    The prince drew the bowstring to its limit and released the arrow swiftly, too fast for anyone to see. His valiant stance sent the arrow flying far and powerfully, cleaving through the air like lightning, striking precisely in the middle of the first arrow stuck in the pingguo, splitting it into two halves, barely missing her head. Even someone as daring as Chen Taohua had to shout in protest.

    "This time I'll blindfold myself and shoot while jumping backward."

    "Scream!! You maniac! You are a despicable vile lowlife! Brother, help me!"

    His younger sister's scream enraged Yan Sanqi, and upon receiving the message from the other side, Zhu Zi hurried forward to report. "Prince! The general Yan Sanqi proposes a trade."

    "Order them to retreat back into the city, or I'll use this little girl’s head instead of the pingguo."

    "Yes, Your Highness." Li Xuanlong's purpose shifted from initially planning to break through and join his brother's royal army to now seeing the princess as an advantage that could turn the tide. Thus, Li Xuanlong decided to bide his time waiting for his brother to jointly strike a decisive blow against this strategic city.

    "What do you think?"

    The dignified figure turned back to the girl, unable to resist pinching her red cheeks that resembled peach blossoms. If this little girl was a boy, he might have considered taking her back to Li Region. But since she was a girl, he wondered what use she could be, cluttering up the palace.

    "I admire your bravery for coming up here to negotiate peace with me, but you forgot to prepare an escape route for yourself, and even caused trouble for your brother. Such a tiny brain, really pitiable."

    Chen Taohua turned her face away, refusing to respond, indicating he had guessed correctly. Kids are indeed kids, thinking shallowly. Li Xuanlong then began a stern lecture, though he wasn't sure why he felt compelled to do so. "You may be brave and think nothing in this world scares you. Let me tell you, those who think like you often die prematurely."

    "It sounds like you’re talking about yourself," Chen Taohua retorted, tilting her head and countering. The prince tried not to care, suppressed his anger, and continued,

    "If you really succeed, do you think you’d escape from my remaining soldiers? Charging into an enemy camp and getting captured isn’t strategy, little girl, it’s called being foolish."

    "How much older are you than me? We’re both naive children," the little princess said, her eyes red, her lips pressed tightly. "Don’t you have parents, or don’t your soldiers have families?"

    "What does that have to do with anything?"

    "You all are good at nothing but killing. Don't you ever think about how each battle not only takes soldiers' lives but also their families? When you walk through the streets of Li Region and see orphaned children, do you feel anything? You might think I'm foolish for coming here alone, but I'd rather not be a clever person who orders others to die like you."

    The kid spoke choppy but firmly. The soldiers of the Li Region listened and then went silent. Li Xuanlong crossed his arms and listened before leaning in to knock the girl's forehead forcefully.

    "If you still think this way, then go home. Don't come to the battlefield to show off. A girl like you should be learning needlework instead. Shoo, shoo."

    "Hey!"

    "Who asked a child like you to play the heroine? If you think of becoming a soldier, if you think of involving yourself in war, but go into battle unprepared, you shouldn't even bother coming out. Go home. It's as simple as that, and if you can't understand even this, then what kind of reason do you want to hear from me? Going to war is the honor of every soldier. The land you tread on, the water you drink, the food you eat, they didn’t just fall from the sky; it’s people like me including your brother who have shed blood and guarded these with their lives. Remember that."

    Princess Yong’an went silent, not crying at all but instead, her eyes grew fiercer, which oddly attracted Li Xuanlong. He instantly knew this princess hadn’t grown up in a palace and must have faced considerable hardships. That was why her beautiful eyes sparkled like a diamond. The young girl pondered Li Xuanlong's words, then laughed sharply and bit back,

    "Shed blood? You stupid commander, speak so grandly. As far as I see, you rush towards death and lead your subordinates to the same end. Such words won’t even fool a child like me."

    The girl fought unflinchingly.

    "If I fight, I will do so with intellect. A warrior who doesn't understand the lay of the land, knows no strategy, doesn't know how to use people, and doesn’t plan—it’s called being thick-skulled. If you think delaying until your brother's main army arrives will save you, others can think of that too. My brother must have already prepared a counterstrategy. In my view... a great and intelligent general will find ways to win with the least losses! Remember that!"

    Li Xuanlong stared intensely at Chen Taohua, eyes locked in a fierce gaze-off. What an irritatingly presumptuous child, daring to insult him as a foolish and incompetent general. Frustrated, he pulled the arrow from the pingguo and unsheathed his shiny sword.

    "P... Prince. Prince, she is just a child. She might speak without consideration for manners. Please, don’t strike a kid," Zhu Zi tried to stop him.

    "Step back."

    Li Xuanlong stood defiantly with his sharp sword in hand, the small eyes showing no fear. The young man then raised his sword high and cut the rope tied to the tree in one swift motion. The girl's body thumped to the ground, her bottom hitting hard, and Li Xuanlong’s brow furrowed deeper because Chen Taohua didn’t even whimper, tough to an unlovable extent.

    "I'm thinking of the agreement of our ancestors between the two regions."

    He pointed a rough finger at Chen Taohua. "Princesses are meant to be married off to the royal families of the opposing states. This long-standing agreement has yet to be fulfilled. If Li Region has to lose Fanning to have you come here, I will personally object to it to the utmost."

    Chen Taohua shrugged. "That’s your concern. For me, it’s more than worth it. I hear Li Wang is as handsome as a carved deity and far smarter than a foolish prince like you. Imagine... if I were to marry Li Wang, I would be the principal consort. Ah... this pointless long-standing war would finally end. It’s all gains for me."

    The mere thought of having to bow down to this little girl as a sister-in-law made Li Xuanlong feel like he was about to faint.

    "Don't even dream, little girl. I’ll kill you first."

    Chen Taohua heard this and laughed heartily. "Go ahead and try. I won’t resist. My life has been spared from death once already; I’m not afraid to die. It’s just a pity for the reputation of a novice commander like you. To lead your first campaign with such bravery and to execute a defenseless girl—it’ll be a legacy for your descendants to remember. Respect. Respect. Respect."

    "You!"

    Li Xuanlong was experiencing a headache for the first time because of a young girl. His jaw clenched before he relaxed and smiled wryly. "I have a much easier way. If Yan Region really sends you for an exchange, don’t expect to be seated as Li Wang’s principal consort, because I’ll personally accept a little devil like you into my manor."

    The young girl looked at him like he was a monster. "I wouldn’t marry a fool like you."

    "Don’t get ahead of yourself. I didn’t say I’d take you as a wife. It just so happens I need someone to work in the garden. Someone tough and brainless like you would be perfect. I’m sure I can make you wish for death daily."

    Chen Taohua glanced at the person who had boldly declared he would take her into his manor as a servant, sighed, and remained expressionless as if to convey that if she were afraid of death, she wouldn’t have come here alone. His threats seemed utterly pointless to her. Chen Taohua calmly put on the shoes that had been hanging around her neck, contradicting his expectation that she would scream and wail. Just this small reaction made Li Xuanlong feel utterly defeated.

    The tall, dignified figure held his forehead for a moment, not understanding himself. Why did he even offer to take this sharp-tongued girl into his manor?

    "Enough, talking to you is a waste of time. Even though I'm not a fortune teller, I predict that anyone who marries you is doomed to misfortune." His rough hand, hardened from handling weapons, grabbed the girl's collar before he issued an order to Zhu Zi.

    "Inform them that I will withdraw the troops. Make sure that the Yan Region troops do not follow."

    This proposal was swiftly accepted amidst a cloud of dust raised by thousands of hooves and armor reflecting the sunlight. Chen Taohua would never forget the stern, cold expression of this man. He made her mount the same horse, his strong hand gripping her small waist, and they galloped past the wooded mountains, moving further away from Yan Region territory.

    The young girl sat quietly, her hands firmly grasping the horse's mane, her eyes focused forward. Li Xuanlong glanced at her periodically, wondering if this child was too cold-hearted or simply too frightened to speak. Sometimes, he felt like he was conversing with a queen, but in the next moment, she seemed just a tiny child, and they were bickering about who was the bigger fool. He couldn’t help but engage in nonsensical banter with her.

    The young man was deep in thought, his dark eyes suddenly intense as he tilted his head slightly to narrowly avoid a Yan soldier's arrow. The Yan troops appeared on the horizon, a curtain of sandy dust raised by ten thousand cavalrymen, their blades directed at the enemy, roaring while riding close behind.

    "Pick up the pace! I’ll cover the rear. Zhu Zi, lead the front."

    "But Prince..."

    "Go!"

    Zhu Zi looked troubled but spurred his horse to replace the prince's position. Meanwhile, Li Xuanlong and some guards ran counter to the trajectory of the arrows to protect the rear infantry, raising shields to block the arrows and shooting back.

    "Hold on tight. Your brother has sent his men to play with me. Even though you’re a hostage, he doesn’t care about you at all. Quite ruthless indeed."

    "If I were second brother, I'd do the same. But I wouldn’t let you ride off with a tail between your legs. I’d have burned you on that hill."

    His sharp eyes glanced at the little girl before returning to the path ahead, his warm hand pressing her small head against his chest. "You're not adorable at all, are you? You'll surely make a survivor [3]as a warrior."

    "Commander Li is right," Chen Taohua responded with a pleased smile.

    "Stop talking so much. Hold on to the horse tightly, and hurry."

    His rough hand pressed the girl’s head down low to dodge another volley of arrows. Li Xuanlong lured the Yan army to pursue him to allow his three thousand troops to escape. But the person leading the chase was one of the Celestial Generals, making it a particularly tough job for Li Xuanlong.

    The speed of the horse and the gusting wind tugged at the young princess's hair until it came loose, flying untidily. However, Chen Taohua didn't care as her eyes were wide open, fixated on Li Xuanlong's archery skills as he rode at full speed. He fired three arrows at a time, each shot precisely and swiftly despite the horse galloping on a path filled with gravel and stones.

    "Can you ride a horse?" he asked.

    "Yes."

    "Then handle it," he said, tossing the reins to her before focusing back on his shooting, hitting his targets flawlessly. Chen Taohua tried to thwart him by making the horse veer unpredictably left and right, but Li Xuanlong's arrows still found their marks in the chests of Yan soldiers. Having seen her three older brothers' archery skills extensively, she had to reassess this fifteen-year-old commander for his exceptional skill. Anyone can gain Swordsmanship and horse-riding skills, but such mastery of the bow was rare. Li Xuanlong managed to eliminate all the ambushers set by Yan Sanqi, clearing the way for his infantry to catch up with the cavalry.

    "Focus on controlling the horse," Li Xuanlong twisted the girl's neck to make her pay attention to the reins. A misstep could break their necks.

    "You’re good. Respect, respect."

    "Just realizing that now? In Li Region, no one can match my archery."

    "Oh really? All the braggarts I meet say the same thing. It's a pity..."

    "It’s a pity you’re brainless," the girl didn’t finish her sentence as Li Xuanlong, still entangled in shooting his bow, split his focus to retort, having been called a fool countless times by her. But as he listened, he grew indifferent and no longer flared up as he once did.

    "Hey! I really could not leave you unattended."

    Li Xuanlong felt the horse slowing down, so he shot the arrows, taking down all the horses following behind, He then took up the reins to steer because the mischievous girl seemed about to turn the horse around. The handsome young man pulled the small body against his robust chest, knocked her head with a thump, and threatened to destroy that knife, making the little princess finally yield.

    "Watch out! The cliff!"

    The little girl cried out, and Li Xuanlong was also startled, but it was too close to stop, so he urged the horse to leap over the cliff. The horse, Feilong, was an exceptional warhorse, powerful and enduring, capable of running thousands of leagues without tiring. It soared over the gorge like a dragon taking flight.

    As they were crossing over the chasm, Chen Taohua felt as if she were floating above life and death, before everything around her moved at lightning speed again. Feilong leaped with all its might, its hooves just touching the edge of the opposite cliff.

    "That was thrilling!"

    The valiant figure shouted like a winner, but the horse landed too forcefully on a small ledge on the cliff, the fragile rock unable to withstand the weight and thus cracking. Both rider and horse tumbled down into the abyss below.

    "Little one... can you swim?"

    He still had a sense of humor, asking her. Chen Taohua's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide in panic, her hands frantically trying to grasp something, anything, but failing.

    As a child, she had asked her mother if humans could fly like birds. Her mother had laughed and shaken her head, but now, Chen Taohua was flying, her whole body suspended in the air before plunging into the turbulent river below. The muddy water swept the prince of Li and the princess of Yan apart, each thrown in different directions.

[1] It means that those of high status should not stay in dangerous places; they should be cautious of danger.

[2] Apple

[3] An idiom refers to someone remaining unmarried. Chen Taohua didn't know and thought he was complimenting her, so she smiled in response, truly living up to being called a foolish child.