Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Many years later, Pei Ning would recall our first meeting.

He said that what shocked him most at the time was the scar on my face.

I laughed. “Why? Does my ugliness frighten the General?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. Your Ladyship is a celestial beauty; a single flaw cannot obscure your jade-like radiance. I was merely surprised. There should be many ointments in the palace to remove scars. Even if Your Ladyship accidentally cut your face, there should have been a way to heal it.”

I waved a hand dismissively. “I didn’t want to go to such trouble. Besides, a scar is not something shameful. It records the injuries we have suffered and reminds us of the hatred yet unavenged. It is a memory and a badge of honor. Don’t you agree, General?”

Pei Ning fell silent for a moment, his eyes suddenly reddening.

On his own face, there was a similarly striking scar. It didn’t come from any enemy, but from the dynasty he once served-

In his early years, General Pei had been framed by treacherous officials and subjected to the punishment of tattooing, with the characters for ‘criminal official’ etched into his face.

That mark would accompany him for life.

The officials at court didn’t speak of it openly, but they mocked him for it in secret.

My words just now seemed to be about the scar on my own face, but in reality, I was offering him comfort.

Of course, I had investigated Pei Ning.

He was a former subordinate of Old General Xu Chifei. After being framed by treacherous officials, he had fled to the wilderness and lived as a bandit. Later, he accepted the imperial court’s amnesty. Because there were no capable generals in the Northern Frontier, his bravery and skill in battle allowed him to climb the ranks to the position of General. He had frequently used the excuse that ‘a general in the field need not obey every imperial command’ to defy the Emperor’s edicts.

This man’s loyalty was not to the Emperor, but to the people.

This man, who had been both a prisoner and a bandit, possessed the heart of a great general that had never been extinguished. He could not bear to see the people of the frontier suffer the hardships of war.

Therefore, he was definitely the person I was looking for.

I called for Pei’er to bring out the Ganjiang-Moye Sword and presented it to Pei Ning with both hands.

“Old General Xu was my maternal grandfather. When I was a child, I often heard him speak of the prowess of his lieutenant, Pei Ning. He said that at eight, Pei Ning slaughtered a wolf king; at nine, he went to the battlefield; and at thirteen, he rode alone into a nest of horse bandits, killed their leader with a single arrow, and rescued one hundred and twenty-seven people.

“Now that the Northern Frontier is guarded by the General, my grandfather’s soul in heaven must be at peace. On his behalf, I present this sword to the General.”

Pei Ning lightly stroked the blade, tears shimmering in his eyes.

When he followed Old General Xu, he was but a half-grown youth. Now, tempered by the wind and frost of the Northern Frontier, that youth had become a resolute and taciturn young man.

But some memories branded into the blood do not change.

“The hundred thousand soldiers of my Northern Frontier recognize military orders, not imperial ones.” Pei Ning knelt on one knee. “This sword is our military order. To see this sword is to see our Lord.”

That night, Bi Tao received the Emperor’s favor in the palace.

And I, outside the palace, won the hearts of a hundred thousand soldiers.

***

That evening, after Pei Ning left, Fu Shouqian ground ink for me.

When Fu Shouqian lowered his gaze, his eyelashes were long and fine, like raven feathers.

He asked softly, “Does Your Ladyship like General Pei very much?”

I glanced at him. “What makes you say that?”

Fu Shouqian’s jade-white wrist trembled slightly, the ink rippling in the stone. “Pei Ning is a young general who shakes the Northern Frontier. He is sharp and handsome. Since ancient times, beauties have always admired heroes.”

I said solemnly, “He is like you-both of you are my right and left hands.”

The corners of Fu Shouqian’s eyes curved as he lowered his head to continue grinding ink.

I watched him. “Happy now?”

Fu Shouqian kept his head down, avoiding my gaze. “I do not understand Your Ladyship’s meaning.”

I scoffed. “Fake eunuch.”

***

After a few jests, we quickly returned to business.

Fu Shouqian asked me if I had inflicted the scar on myself intentionally.

“No, but I kept it intentionally.” I touched my cheek. “I know that Pei Ning’s tattoo is the pain of his life. At a time like this, having a scar on my face becomes my advantage.”

A scholar will die for the one who understands him. When facing true talent, offering gold, silver, and treasures is not as effective as offering a sincere heart.

“Plus, I also want to fuel Bi Tao’s arrogance.”

Fu Shouqian understood. “If Your Ladyship indulges her, she will treat others with even more reckless pride. In the long run, someone will eventually come to deal with her. The harder they fight in the palace, the deeper we can hide.”

A trace of worry flashed in his eyes. “It’s just that Consort Bi is currently at the height of her power. If she gives birth to an imperial heir, the others in the harem will be too far behind her to put up much of a fight.”

I smiled and dipped my brush in the ink.

“Don’t worry. My sister isn’t the only one who can give birth to an imperial heir.”