On the fourth day in Xianyang, a heavy snowfall suddenly began. Within a single night, the entire city was blanketed in snow.
Longgu Buwang had never seen snow this heavy before. The flakes falling from the sky were nothing like the light, drifting snow he was used to. These came down thick and fast, each flake seeming to carry weight as it pelted the ground. The plum blossoms in the courtyard were battered off their branches, only to be buried beneath the snow in an instant.
Inside, the brazier glowed with a comforting warmth. Longgu Buwang cracked open the window and peered outside.
Wrapped in a woolen cloak, Song Chuyi leaned against the window, occasionally stealing a glance through the narrow gap.
“The State of Wei probably doesn’t get snow like this,” she remarked suddenly.
Longgu Buwang paused in surprise. “Are you thinking of your friend who went missing?”
Thinking of him? It seemed she had never really worried about anyone. Song Chuyi stroked White Blade’s fur beneath her hand, narrowing her eyes as she gazed outside without answering.
Yet Longgu Buwang’s words had brought Zhao Yilou to mind. He had no warm clothing or anything else to protect him from the cold. If he were caught outside in a blizzard like this, his chances of survival would be slim indeed.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of someone rapping on the door brought Song Chuyi back to her senses.
“Come in.”
Ji Yu pushed open the door, covered head to toe in snow. After turning to close it behind him, he walked up to Song Chuyi and bowed with cupped hands.
“Sir, we’ve been waiting for four days already. Why hasn’t the Lord of Qin summoned us yet?”
“With such heavy snow, travelling is hardly possible. Let’s wait patiently for another two days,” Song Chuyi replied.
She would not press Bai Ping unless absolutely necessary. Though the State of Wey was small, it was hardly likely that they would simply forget the envoys of an entire state.
After spending some time with Song Chuyi, Ji Yu had grown more confident in her abilities. Every aspect of the plan was in her hands; all he had to do was follow her orders and oversee its execution. He therefore asked no further questions.
Night was falling.
The massive gates of Xianyang were slowly closing when the sound of hoofbeats suddenly rang out across the snow. The guards atop the city walls looked into the distance and saw, through the vast expanse of swirling snow, more than a hundred cavalrymen advancing in formation along the main road. In no time, they had drawn close to the city gates.
A shout carried from afar, mingling with the howling wind and snow.
“General Sima returns to the city!”
One glance was enough for the guards on the walls to recognize the Black Armored Cavalry. They immediately called out, “General Sima is returning! Lower the drawbridge!”
Most major cities had moats dug around the outside of their walls, with bridges that could be raised and lowered by manpower. Xianyang was no exception.
Two squads of soldiers unfastened the iron chains from the gate tower and slowly lowered the thick, sturdy wooden bridge.
The bridge struck the ground with a deep, thunderous boom, sending the surrounding snowflakes billowing into the air.
The Black Armored Cavalry thundered across the bridge, leaving a trail of hoofprints in the snow, though the falling flakes soon buried them.
The cavalry rode straight down the main thoroughfare and did not stop until they reached the gates of Xianyang Palace. Then, astonishingly, they rode straight through the palace gates and halted in front of the main hall.
The general at their head dismounted in one swift, practiced movement, tossed his riding crop to a guard behind him, and strode up the steps.
An elderly minister, well over sixty, had been waiting at the top of the steps for some time, holding an umbrella. The moment he saw the newcomer, he hurriedly bowed in greeting. But before he could speak, the general cut him off in a cold voice. “Summon the court assembly.”
The minister froze for a moment, then his face lit up with delight. He promptly answered, “Yes, sir!” and hurried down the steps, disappearing into the heavy snowfall.
The wind and snow grew ever fiercer.
As Song Chuyi gazed at the snow swirling across the sky, she thought she could hear the distant sound of drums. Her hand paused momentarily as she stroked White Blade’s fur, and a smile spread across her lips.
“Listen.”
Longgu Buwang set down his bamboo slips and tilted his head, listening carefully. “The court drums.”
“It shouldn’t be long before we can meet the Lord of Qin,” Song Chuyi said.
“How can you tell?” Longgu Buwang asked in puzzlement.
Song Chuyi lifted her tea and took a sip. “At present, there is only one matter in the State of Qin that would prompt the Lord to summon a court assembly in the evening.”
“Lord Shang!” Longgu Buwang blurted out.
Song Chuyi greatly admired the ruthless decisiveness of Qin’s new ruler.
She remembered that, upon ascending the throne, he had first ordered Shang Yang’s execution without the slightest hesitation, winning the support of Qin’s old aristocratic clans and consolidating his position. Once he had firmly secured power in his own hands, he immediately declared that he would not repeal Lord Shang’s new laws. This provoked a rebellion among the old clans, which the young ruler crushed with an iron fist. The speed and decisiveness of his response were astonishing.
This would be the moment when the new ruler, a mere nineteen years of age, first shook the entire State of Qin.
“Sir, Protocol Officer Bai has arrived,” Ji Huan announced from outside.
Song Chuyi adjusted the woolen cloak around her shoulders and sat up straight. “Please show him in.”
Outside, Bai Ping arrived at the door, removed his bamboo hat and straw rain cape, and straightened his official robes and headdress before pushing the door open and entering.
Song Chuyi rose to her feet. The two exchanged silent bows, and only then did she speak. “Please, Protocol Officer Bai, have a seat.”
Bai Ping thanked her and settled into a suitable place on the mat, kneeling with his legs folded beneath him. With a faint smile, he said, “His Lordship intends to receive your delegation in an hour. I wonder if that would cause you any inconvenience?”
It was merely a polite formality. What inconvenience could possibly take precedence over diplomatic relations between two states?
Song Chuyi smiled faintly. “Not at all. But may I ask why the Lord of Qin has chosen to receive me in the evening?”
Watching Song Chuyi’s expression, Longgu Buwang couldn’t help rolling his eyes inwardly. She was obviously asking a question to which she already knew the answer, yet she looked so genuinely puzzled that anyone would have thought her innocent of the fact.
“His Lordship has only just finished attending to state affairs. Upon learning that you have been waiting for some time, he immediately arranged a banquet to welcome you,” Protocol Officer Bai replied.
Longgu Buwang thought to himself, Well, here’s another one who can lie without even blinking.
Song Chuyi straightened up. “I am deeply grateful for the Lord of Qin’s generous hospitality.”
“Then I shall leave you to your preparations. I have arranged for a fragrant hot spring bath for you to enjoy.” Bai Ping bowed with cupped hands and took his leave.
After watching Bai Ping depart, Longgu Buwang turned to Song Chuyi. “Sir, let’s bathe together. It’s been ages since I’ve had a hot spring bath.”
Song Chuyi gave a dry cough. She was still trying to think of an excuse to refuse when Longgu Buwang cast a knowing glance at her crotch and grinned.
“I’ll go prepare some clothes… Sir, don’t tell me you’re afraid yours is smaller than mine, so you don’t dare?”
With that, he darted out like a gust of wind.
“Buwang, honestly…” Song Chuyi rubbed her temples.
Seeing that there was no way to salvage the situation, she fell silent for two seconds before springing into action like a startled rabbit. She snatched two garments from the chest and dashed off to the bathing room in a flash.
The courtyard had a large bathing pool, supplied with hot water every day, and the bathing room was kept wonderfully warm. Song Chuyi therefore bathed daily, wishing she could make up for all the days she had gone without a proper bath while travelling. As a result, she was hardly dirty at all and needed only a quick rinse in the fragrant bathwater.
The servants and maids throughout the courtyard stared in astonishment at the figure sprinting past them. Items slipped from the person’s hands and scattered across the ground, while a snow wolf followed close behind, trampling everything in its path. Bringing up the rear were two trembling maids, hurriedly picking up the scattered belongings.
Song Chuyi waited until White Blade had rushed into the bathing room after her, then bolted the door from the inside. She swiftly stripped off her clothes and jumped into the pool.
Meanwhile, Longgu Buwang was eagerly waiting for the maids to prepare his bathing clothes. He had soaked in hot springs almost every day back in the State of Wey, so that alone was hardly enough to excite him. As for the real reason behind his unusual enthusiasm, he hadn’t the slightest awareness of it. All he knew was that he couldn’t wait to find Song Chuyi.
Humming a little tune, Longgu Buwang made his way over with two personal maids following behind, each carrying a bundle of clothes. When he reached Song Chuyi’s room and saw that the door stood wide open, he poked his head inside.
“Sir, I’m ready!”
There was no answer.
Longgu Buwang stepped inside with one foot. “Sir?”
“Ahem. Buwang.”
To his surprise, Song Chuyi’s voice came from behind him.
Longgu Buwang turned around and was struck speechless at the sight of Song Chuyi in a white, wide-sleeved robe, her long black hair hanging damply down her back.
“You…”
“You’re too slow, young man.” Song Chuyi draped the towel in her hand over her shoulder and patted him on the shoulder. “There’s more than one pool in the bathing room. Hurry up and get in before Bairen wreaks havoc on all of them.”
“I…” Longgu Buwang racked his brains, trying to recall what had happened. Had he suffered a brief bout of amnesia? Otherwise, how could things have progressed so quickly?
“Oh, right.” Song Chuyi turned back to remind him. “Tell the maids to dry White Blade’s fur.”
“Oh.” Longgu Buwang nodded blankly and led the maids into the bathing room.
White Blade was splashing about merrily in one of the largest pools. Longgu Buwang glanced at the wolf and instinctively raised his arms, allowing the maids to help him out of his clothes.
Longgu Buwang was naturally not as powerfully built as a grown man, but his figure was well-proportioned. His skin was a healthy wheat color, and his muscles were beginning to take shape. Every part of him radiated the vigorous vitality of youth.
As he stepped into the bathing pool beside White Blade’s, an image of Song Chuyi with her long hair hanging loose inexplicably came to mind. Somehow, she had looked far more beautiful than usual.
He was still lost in thought when a sudden splash erupted in front of him. The two maids cried out in alarm and hurriedly scrambled out of the way.
White Blade had leapt into Longgu Buwang’s pool and splashed about a few times before climbing out again and jumping back into the larger pool.
Longgu Buwang’s face turned livid. After a few moments of stunned silence, he suddenly roared, “Someone! Bring me a fresh bath! You filthy beast!”
Inside her room, Song Chuyi sat holding a book while a maid from the State of Qin wrung the water out of her hair. Hearing the commotion, she burst into unrestrained laughter.
Once she’d finished laughing, she remembered that none of the maids would dare go near White Blade. She called out, “Jian, go dry White Blade off and bring him back here to warm up by the fire.”
Jian acknowledged the order and went off at once.
Once her hair was dry, Song Chuyi dismissed the maid and summoned Ning Ya. As she dressed, she explained the finer details of what she wanted her to do.
By the time everything was ready, Longgu Buwang finally came in, still dripping wet and wearing a rather sour expression.
“If you don’t hurry up and get ready, we’ll be late,” Song Chuyi remarked leisurely, leaning against the backrest.
Longgu Buwang sat down without a word, and the maids immediately stepped forward to help him dress and tidy his appearance. After a long while, he finally complained in a wounded voice, “White Blade bullied me.”
Song Chuyi struggled to suppress her laughter before offering some consolation. “I’ll punish him when we return from the banquet.”
“You’d better keep your word,” Longgu Buwang said, furrowing his brows.
Song Chuyi nodded solemnly.
“Sir.” Ji Yu and Ji Huan had already changed into their armor.
“There’s still time.” Song Chuyi’s bath had taken no more than a quarter of an hour. “Tell Zi Zhao to bathe and change. She doesn’t need makeup or an elaborate hairstyle. Have her wear a light jade-green robe.”
Song Chuyi understood the Lord of Qin’s tastes. Heavy makeup and elaborate cosmetics would only put him off.
Longgu Buwang finished getting ready soon afterwards.
Song Chuyi gave a few brief instructions, then sat quietly and waited for Zi Zhao.
After waiting for half an hour, Zi Zhao’s graceful figure appeared in the doorway. She wore a light jade-green robe that accentuated her delicate curves to perfection. She was neither vulgar nor coquettish; instead, her refined elegance carried an irresistible allure.
The three men in the room stared at her without blinking.
“Skin like ice, bones like jade,” Song Chuyi praised.
Ji Yu was the first to come back to his senses. “Sir, Protocol Officer Bai has been waiting for some time. We should depart.”
Song Chuyi was looking forward to meeting the Lord of Qin. Yet, as her anticipation grew, her gaze became ever more composed. “Very well.”
