Chapter Fourteen: The Grand Alliance Ceremony of the Five Kingdoms—A General's Tears

"General, General Mo, Grand General Mo, wait for me!" A young woman, breathless, hurried after a figure clad in silver armor, sword in hand, as he strode toward the city gates.

Her name was Bai Jiu, second daughter of Master Bai Tiankuo of the Southern Sheng Kingdom—a notorious tomboy since childhood.

"General, you’ve only just returned from the barracks. Instead of going home to rest or entering the palace to see the Emperor, you wander off to this desolate place. Why? General!" Bai Jiu quickened her pace to block his path, her expression making it clear she wouldn’t let him pass without an explanation.

The general glanced at her, shifting his sword from his left hand to his right, and simply walked around her, continuing on without a word.

Bai Jiu’s mouth twitched in frustration. She wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve, forced a grin, and hurried after him. "General, where are we going?"

Even if she were braver by tenfold, she wouldn’t dare act up in front of this man—for it would be no different from courting death.

"Just visiting an old friend," the general replied coolly. Though his face remained impassive, his eyes grew distant and shadowed.

At last, the taciturn general spoke, and Bai Jiu’s tongue was unleashed. "An old friend? General, this place is as bleak as a mass grave. Your friend has quite the taste—"

The general halted at that, fixing her with a frosty glare. Bai Jiu sensed danger and hastily changed her tune.

"Quite… quite the eye for scenery! Look at these emerald hills, lush greenery, bees and butterflies dancing, birds singing, even the little path is poetic… It’s a veritable paradise, that’s what it is!"

She surreptitiously wiped the cold sweat from her palm.

The rest of their journey passed in silence.

"General, why have we stopped?"

"We’re here."

"Here? There’s no house… not a soul in sight. Just a solitary grave up ahead… Don’t tell me your friend is—"

"Yes."

Doubt clouded Bai Jiu’s face as she approached the tomb. Upon reading the inscription, her expression grew heavy and she silently stepped aside.

The general said nothing. He knelt and carefully cleared the weeds from the grave. After a long time, he sat against the headstone and closed his eyes.

Her father and the general were old friends. Though she was a girl, she’d trailed after Mo Ziqiu since she could remember, always hoping he’d take her as a disciple. But the general never accepted apprentices.

There was no one in the tomb—only a cenotaph.

Bai Jiu had never met the woman buried here, but she’d heard her name a hundred times over.

They ought to have been the envy of all, a couple worthy of storybooks. Yet fate was cruel, and happiness eluded them. The beauty died young; the general remained silent and withdrawn through the years. Such is destiny—enough to make one gnash one’s teeth in despair.

His beloved was Qingru, a woman from the Northern Xiao Kingdom. She’d been his heart’s joy in his youth.

It was said that, impoverished and destitute, her parents refused to let her marry him. Before Qingru could wed, he left in anger.

Years later, when he returned to Northern Xiao, she was gone. Her family home was overrun with weeds and bore the marks of decay.

People said, "After her parents died, she was so heartbroken she followed soon after."

What happened next, only her father might know.

Not yet seventeen, Bai Jiu watched a single tear trace down the still-handsome face of Mo Ziqiu and felt a pang of sorrow.

She crouched nearby, uncharacteristically quiet—like a child caught in the wrong.

As dusk fell, the general slowly opened his eyes, picked up his sword, and said to Bai Jiu, "Jiu’er, it’s time to go home."

"Oh," she replied softly.

"Why aren’t you moving?" Mo Ziqiu had walked a few steps before noticing she hadn’t followed. He turned and asked.

She pouted, rubbing her legs, and mumbled, "My legs are numb…and ache a bit."

Mo Ziqiu had forgotten she was but a young girl—after such a long walk and who knows how long squatting, it was no wonder.

So he walked over, turned his back to her, and knelt down, his voice gentle. "I’ll carry you. Next time you follow me out, I won’t be so indulgent."

"I won’t stop. The more you see, the more you remember." Bai Jiu stuck out her tongue behind his back.

"General, won’t you take me as your student? I really can fight—ask my elder sister if you don’t believe me!"

"Better to learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from your sister than swordplay from me."

"I don’t want to. When I grow up, I’ll defend the country and keep the peace. General, please, just take me as your student." She swung back and forth on his back as she spoke.

The general ignored her and quickened his pace, letting her chatter on.

Two hours later, they reached the Bai residence.

"We’re here." He set Bai Jiu down.

"General, won’t you come in and rest a while?" Bai Jiu asked, puzzled.

"In armor, it’s hardly appropriate."

"No need to stand on ceremony, General. Please, come in." A woman in splendid attire emerged from within, her face beaming.

Mo Ziqiu hesitated, then nodded his assent.

"Mother, where are you going?" Bai Jiu tugged her mother’s sleeve.

"I’m not going anywhere, just came to see if you’d returned." She stroked Bai Jiu’s head lovingly.

"The general went to see Qingru, didn’t he?"

"Yes."

"Mother, walk slowly. My feet hurt."

"Alright, you little rascal. You never let me rest easy."

The three entered together, chatting as they crossed the front courtyard into the main hall.

Bai Tiankuo, Bai Cheng, and Bai Qingye sat around a table laden with delicacies.

"Father, I think General Mo has come. I heard his voice," remarked Bai Cheng.

"I’ll go take a look," said Bai Tiankuo, delighted. He hadn’t seen Mo Ziqiu in ages, and hurried out to greet him.

Soon, Bai Tiankuo returned with Mo Ziqiu, both smiling and talking.

"General, please sit," Bai Cheng and Bai Qingye stood to salute him.

Mo Ziqiu squeezed Bai Cheng’s arm, smiling, "Cheng’er, you’ve grown more robust and handsome."

"Hmph, he spends his days idling with other young rakes. Ziqiu, you must help teach him some discipline," Bai Tiankuo chided, exasperated.

Bai Cheng dared not protest.

"You’re too harsh on them," the general said, clapping Bai Tiankuo on the shoulder as he sat.

"Enough talk, let’s eat before the food gets cold," Madam Bai handed chopsticks to Bai Tiankuo, smiling.

"General, here you are," Bai Qingye offered a pair to Mo Ziqiu.

"Thoughtful as ever, Qingye," Mo Ziqiu accepted them.

"Of my three children, Qingye is the sweetest," Madam Bai and Bai Tiankuo exchanged a smile.

"Father, Mother, you always favor Sister. What’s wrong with me and Brother?" Bai Jiu muttered, shoveling rice into her mouth, looking aggrieved.

"My fault, Jiu’er is a good girl," Madam Bai said soothingly.

"That’s better," Bai Jiu grinned, and everyone around her laughed.

After dinner, Mo Ziqiu and Bai Tiankuo lingered in the study to chat.

"The Five Kingdoms Alliance ceremony draws near. His Majesty intends for you to accompany the Fifth Prince," Bai Tiankuo said.

Mo Ziqiu fell silent.

In the distance, a shrill voice rang out, "Master Bai, receive the imperial edict!"

The decree had come too abruptly. Bai Tiankuo hurried to gather his family and Mo Ziqiu to receive it.

When all had knelt, the eunuch unrolled the scroll and read aloud:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Having heard that Master Bai’s eldest daughter, Bai Qingye, is gentle, accomplished, and of admirable beauty, the Empress and I are greatly pleased. The Fifth Prince, Fuhua, is of marriageable age and must have a worthy bride. Bai Qingye is as yet unmarried, and together with the Fifth Prince, they are a match made in heaven. To fulfill this union, we bestow her as consort to the Fifth Prince. All ceremonies will be arranged by the Ministry of Rites, and an auspicious date will be chosen for the wedding. Let it be known to all. Thus decreed."

A royal betrothal.

Before Bai Tiankuo could react, the eunuch continued, "Congratulations, Master Bai. And look, General Mo is here too."

Mo Ziqiu nodded without a word.

Bai Tiankuo accepted the decree with confusion but bowed and ordered a servant to bring silver for the eunuch.

The eunuch weighed the reward with a broad smile. "No trouble at all—just my duty. I’ll take my leave."

"Safe travels, sir."

When the eunuch had departed, Bai Tiankuo sighed deeply.

"This should be a joyous event. Why do you look so troubled?" Mo Ziqiu asked.

Bai Qingye, meanwhile, fretted and stamped her feet.

Bai Tiankuo dismissed the servants and spoke softly. "You’ve been away in the army and may not have heard. The Fifth Prince is indeed talented, but in recent years, his affairs with courtesans are well known, and he recently executed Qin Gun in anger… He is ruthless by nature. I fear Qingye may suffer in the future."

"The Fifth Prince is severe, but he is forthright. He wouldn’t harm a woman. Besides, the decree has been issued—how could you refuse?" Mo Ziqiu glanced at the edict in Bai Tiankuo’s hands, trying to reassure him.

Bai Tiankuo nodded. "True enough. You didn’t enter the palace today—did you go to see her…?"

"Yes." Mo Ziqiu gazed into the distance, lost in thought.