Chapter Sixteen: You Belong to Me

Li Xiuning stood atop the city wall, gazing at the distant encampment of the Western Qin army, her expression cold and detached.

These days, the Tang Dynasty was beset by troubles. In the east, Wang Shichong’s armies pressed menacingly from Luoyang, eyes brimming with ambition. To the west, Xue Ju of Western Qin advanced relentlessly, capturing towns and fortresses, sweeping all obstacles before him.

Was the Tang Dynasty truly on the verge of its decline?

For a fleeting moment, Li Xiuning’s mind wandered.

“Your Highness!”

“Ah!” Li Xiuning turned to see Chen Ying approaching, holding a blackened sphere in his hands, offering her a gentle smile.

She suddenly realized that Chen Ying was strikingly handsome. Just as men admired beautiful women, Li Xiuning, as a woman, did not shy away from appreciating a handsome man—especially those deep, enigmatic eyes of his, drawing her in with an inexplicable allure.

“Your Highness,” Chen Ying said, “you haven’t touched a drop of water since morning. Aren’t you hungry?”

Surprised, Li Xiuning asked, “Is that something to eat?”

“Of course,” Chen Ying replied. Cradling the black ball in his left hand, he made a fist with his right and struck it hard. Instantly, the air was filled with an enticing aroma.

“What is this...?” she inquired.

“It’s called Beggar’s Chicken.”

Li Xiuning frowned in confusion. “Beggar’s Chicken? Why such a peculiar name?”

“There’s a story,” Chen Ying improvised. “Long ago, a beggar wandered into a village in Changshu County. One day, he happened upon a chicken and wanted to cook it, but he had neither cookware nor spices. At the foot of Mount Yu, he killed the bird, removed its innards, and, without plucking it, covered it in yellow clay and straw. He then baked it in a fire. As the clay hardened and cracked, the feathers came away with the shell, revealing the tender meat beneath. Later, the chef at Wangjiang Tower in Jiangnan refined the method and named the dish Beggar’s Chicken, in honor of its humble creator. It may not look appealing, but the taste is extraordinary, Your Highness. Please, try some.”

Peeling away the blackened clay, Chen Ying revealed the succulent white meat within. He tore off a steaming drumstick and offered it to her.

“Ah!” Li Xiuning reached for the drumstick, but hadn’t anticipated how hot it would be—his hands showed no sign of discomfort, but hers instantly recoiled with a little cry.

“Just blow on it—it won’t hurt then,” Chen Ying said hurriedly, setting the Beggar’s Chicken atop a crenellation of the wall. He had only peeled away half the clay, so it was still quite clean.

He gently took Li Xiuning’s hand, bringing it to his lips to blow soothingly. By all rights, such an act would have been both bold and improper.

Yet Li Xiuning did not object.

To her, Chen Ying was a man shrouded in mysteries. Her gaze upon him grew only more complex.

A strange thought suddenly flashed through her mind: if only her betrothed, Chai Shao, were half as considerate as this man...

Li Xiuning was startled by her own thought, her face flushing crimson to the roots of her neck.

Ma Sanbao, witnessing her embarrassment, seemed to understand something, his own expression turning to one of shock.

Chen Ying, oblivious to the change in Li Xiuning, blew gently on her hand a dozen times before asking softly, “Is that better?”

She nodded.

He then picked up the Beggar’s Chicken again, tearing off another piece of drumstick and, with surprising tenderness, brought it to her lips.

Almost as if compelled, Li Xiuning parted her lips and accepted the bite.

Meanwhile, Ma Sanbao discreetly ushered away the Princess of Pingyang’s guards and the Jingyang militia who lingered nearby.

Once they were out of earshot, Ma Sanbao lowered his voice, threatening, “I don’t care what you think you saw. If you know what’s good for you, pretend you saw nothing. Anyone who gossips will have my fists to answer to—don’t make me regret letting you live.”

The soldiers blanched, nodding frantically.

...

The Western Qin army, contrary to expectation, launched no fresh attacks. Each day, they merely sent a hundred mounted men to parade and posture below the city walls.

By the third day, Chen Ying sensed something was amiss.

He instructed Zhang Huaiwei to send a dozen sharp-witted Jingyang militia to sneak toward the Western Qin camp and see what was happening. To their astonishment, the enemy had vanished without a trace.

Puzzled, Chen Ying couldn’t understand it. The Western Qin had suffered setbacks, but there was no real reason for a full retreat. With more reinforcements, they might well have taken Jingyang.

Still perplexed, he made his way to the temporary residence of the Princess of Pingyang.

As he approached the courtyard, he ran into Ma Sanbao.

“Chief Steward Chen, just the man I was looking for!” Ma Sanbao said.

“You were looking for me? What’s the matter?”

“An envoy from Chang’an has arrived!” Ma Sanbao replied. “His Majesty has sent a decree for you.”

This envoy was not the winged angel of Western myth, but the imperial messenger—a position usually filled by a minor palace eunuch or attendant.

Chen Ying followed Ma Sanbao into the princess’s temporary quarters, finding the front courtyard already prepared with an incense altar. Standing before it was a middle-aged eunuch, pale and beardless.

Below the altar, Li Xiuning, Xue Wanche, and other officers stood respectfully, their postures solemn.

As soon as Chen Ying entered, the envoy barked, “By the emperor’s command, Chen Ying, receive the decree!”

At these words, Chen Ying hurriedly dropped to both knees, as he had seen done in television dramas.

Li Xiuning and Xue Wanche exchanged puzzled glances.

Ma Sanbao whispered, “Chief Steward Chen, there’s no need to kneel—just bow.”

Chen Ying’s face burned with embarrassment, cursing inwardly, “Damn those television dramas for leading me astray!”

The envoy cleared his throat, unfolded the imperial edict, and intoned:

“By decree of the Emperor of the Great Tang: In times of peace, we govern with civility; in times of chaos, with martial strength. Now, as commanders return victorious from Jingyang, bringing peace to the realm, we recognize virtue and reward merit. The commoner Chen Ying has shown distinguished loyalty and courage, dispelling the enemy, comforting the people, and proving himself a pillar of the nation, worthy of great responsibility. We hereby appoint him General of Pacifying the Frontier and Commander of the Garrison, to defend the border and serve the empire. Let this be known to all, within and without... Thus decreed!”

Chen Ying accepted the decree with both hands, neither elated nor dejected, his demeanor one of humble reverence.

To Li Xiuning, his bearing signaled steadiness, modesty, a sense of propriety—a man of genuine potential.

In truth, Chen Ying was utterly bewildered. His grasp of classical Chinese was so weak that the meaning of the edict was mostly lost on him.

The Jingyang militia crowded around to offer their congratulations.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Chief Steward Chen!”

“Well done, General Chen!”

After a long while, Chen Ying finally collected himself. He noticed that Li Xiuning also held a bright yellow scroll—evidently, Li Yuan had sent her an imperial decree as well.

She said, “Hand over Jingyang’s defense to Xue Wanche. Once the handover is complete, you will return to Chang’an with me.”

“Ah... back... back to Chang’an?” Chen Ying stammered. “Isn’t there some way I might avoid returning?”

He hadn’t forgotten that, because Su Hu once tried to humiliate him, he had been forced to injure Su Hu. Though it was Chen Ying’s predecessor who struck the blow, he was certain the debt would fall on his own head.

Li Xiuning, puzzled, asked, “Why?”

After some thought, Chen Ying decided not to reveal the details of his conflict with Su Hu. Instead, he fabricated, “To be honest, Your Highness, I am an escaped slave of County Magistrate Su Hu of Wannian. If I return to Chang’an, he will never let this rest.”

“Su Hu, you say?” Li Xiuning replied, unconcerned. “What do you fear? Now that you are under my protection, he wouldn’t dare act recklessly.”