Chapter 15
One day, while I was secretly writing and drawing inside Pei Yao’s tent, someone lifted a corner of the flap and tossed in a cloth pouch. I picked it up and found several gold beads inside.
I put away my brush and ink and lifted the flap. A tall man was walking away. His clothes were plain, but his bearing was anything but ordinary.
Curious about his purpose, I called him back. When he turned, I recognized one of Yeon Namdon’s servants. I asked who he was and why he was giving me gold beads.
Seeing no one around, he came back and explained that he was Namdon’s younger half brother, born to a concubine. He pitied me and wanted to help.
That surprised me.
In the heartland, a concubine’s son ranked below a wife’s son, but who ever made him serve as his brother’s servant?
At my surprise, he smiled bitterly. Under Goguryeo law, he said, a mother did not rise through her son; a son inherited his mother’s low status. His father might be a powerful minister, but his mother was a slave, so he had to be a servant too.
A concubine’s son could never marry a noblewoman. All his life he remained as lowly as dirt.
I ventured that I had heard the Turks did things differently and respected strength above all. The Tang distinguished between children of wives and concubines too, but sons and daughters born to concubines were still nobles, rather than slaves.
He fell silent for a long time. At last he said, “In that case, it is just as well if you wish to stay with Prince Ashina. But I have a favor I hardly dare ask. Will you consider it?”
Very curious, I asked what the favor was.
“The gold beads are all yours. I only ask that you help Princess Gao Chan a little when you meet her. She is only sixteen, yet she must travel to the far northern steppe to marry a khagan in his fifties. She must be miserable. With you nearby, she would at least have one more companion.”
He seemed to know nothing of his elder brother’s conspiracy with Pei Yao. His gaze drifted into the distance, full of sorrow.
I was about to answer when an angry shout came from behind. “What miserable slave dares covet my precious pearl?”
Turning, I saw Pei Yao storm over and seize the man’s collar.
An idea struck me. I suddenly stood and clapped, laughing. “Kill him! Kill him!”
Both men stared. Pei Yao raised his brows, unable to fathom my purpose. The servant grew paler, hurt filling his eyes.
“You Turkic dog, kill this Goguryeo man! He’s Yeon Namdon’s brother. Kill him, and you won’t have to fetch that Goguryeo princess!”
I clapped and laughed as I spoke.
Pei Yao loosened his grip and released him. The servant did not flee, but knelt to await punishment.
I curled my lip and turned toward the tent. Pei Yao abruptly caught my collar, and I lost my footing and fell into his arms. He tipped his chin toward the kneeling servant. “How do you know he’s Namdon’s brother?”
I answered with reckless defiance. “He told me.”
Pei Yao ground his teeth. “Don’t think you can flirt with everyone just because I spoil you.”
I thrust out my neck. “Kill me, then, if you dare!”
He stamped his foot, looking driven beyond endurance, then turned to the servant and roared, “Get lost!”
The man looked up in disbelief and remained motionless. I hurriedly made faces at him, mouthing that he should leave.
He seemed to understand. Without another word, he rose, bowed, and walked away.
Inside the tent, I explained everything. The man seemed deeply concerned for the Goguryeo princess about to marry into the Turkic royal house. He was probably her sweetheart, kept apart from her by his low status as a concubine’s son.
Pei Yao looked at the gold beads the servant had given me and sank into thought.
He was to fetch the bride the next day. I could not accompany him into the city. His plan was to send me to join our army before it attacked Pyongyang.
I did not want to leave him, but there was no other choice. We discussed the details until everything was settled, then held each other, reluctant to part.
What I never expected was that my identity would be exposed at this very moment.