Xiong Shaoqing pointed at the stage, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Shijie, look! He Wenxiu and Wang Lanying’s reunion—Jun Xiao and the others performed it to perfection!”
Liu Hanyue’s eyes were fixed intently on the stage, her rims moist with tears, deeply moved by the unfolding story.
Xiong Shaoqing leaned a little closer to her.
“Shijie, Chen Yunxiao’s costume and singing are incredible—she truly sings out the devotion of a wife for her husband.”
Liu Hanyue raised her hand, lightly wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes. A gentle smile curved her lips as she looked at Xiong Shaoqing, her gaze soft and tender.
After several songs, the performance came to an end. Xiong Shaoqing deftly drew out five taels of silver from her sleeve as a reward. Seeing this, Liu Hanyue also took out the same amount from her pouch to support the brilliant performance.
“It’s getting late,” Liu Hanyue said as she looked toward the setting sun, “we should head back to camp.”
The two walked slowly along the street. Passing a stall, the aroma of roasted meat drifted over.
Xiong Shaoqing’s eyes lit up, and she pointed.
“Shijie, this grilled meat looks special—should we try some?”
Liu Hanyue wasn’t particularly hungry, but seeing the expectation in her junior’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse and nodded. They sat at the stall, watching the vendor roast skewered meat over the charcoal. Soon, the fragrance grew even stronger.
“Shijie, try this.” Xiong Shaoqing handed her a freshly grilled lamb skewer.
Liu Hanyue took a bite. The juices burst in her mouth, the spiciness and aroma blending and dancing on her tongue. Her eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
“It’s delicious. Crispy outside, tender inside, just the right amount of spice—it suits my taste.”
“As long as you like it.” Xiong Shaoqing smiled, eating her own skewer.
Drawn in by the flavor, Liu Hanyue unknowingly ate quite a bit. By the end her stomach was uncomfortably full, and she thought to herself with a wry smile that she would have to take one of her digestive pills later.
She couldn’t help but recall, amused, how back in Yongning Prefecture when she and Shaoqing visited food stalls, she also failed to resist temptation.
When they were about to leave, Xiong Shaoqing asked the vendor to roast more skewers to take away.
“That’s for little glutton Xu Jing, isn’t it?” Liu Hanyue teased.
“Not just Xu Jing—Huang Yu too.” Xiong Shaoqing grinned. Wherever she went, she always thought of sharing food with her friends.
Liu Hanyue sighed softly.
“You’re so good to your friends, always wanting to share whenever you find something tasty.”
“Food is better when everyone enjoys it together.”
Afterward, she hired a carriage, and the two returned to Xuanbing Camp.
As the carriage rolled out of the city, Liu Hanyue glanced at the roasted meat in Shaoqing’s hands. A tinge of envy welled in her heart—her junior had so many friends, always surrounded by warmth.
She, though a princess of noble birth, was often lonely. Aside from Fuqu, who was a maid in name but more like a sister, she had few true companions. The thought brought a faint sadness to her face.
Xiong Shaoqing seemed to notice, her brows lifting slightly as she said sincerely:
“Shijie, eating with you makes me happy.”
Hearing the truth in her tone, Liu Hanyue felt her heart warm. She thought: My junior truly cares for me. Otherwise, she would never have risked her life to save me.
“Shijie, you’re returning to Yongning Prefecture tomorrow… I really can’t bear to part with you.” Shaoqing’s lips pressed together, her eyes tinged with sorrow.
Liu Hanyue met her wistful gaze and gently consoled her.
“This parting is so that our next meeting will be even better.”
Night fell. Stars glimmered, and the moon hung above. The carriage stopped at the stone gates of Xuanbing Camp, wheels leaving shallow tracks in the snow.
They alighted. A cold wind swept past, whirling a few dead leaves before the gate.
Xiong Shaoqing lowered her gaze to the roasted meat in her hand.
“Shijie, go back to the quarters first—I’ll bring this to Huang Yu.”
Liu Hanyue nodded, watching her depart.
Inside the quarters, the candle flames wavered. Before long, Xiong Shaoqing returned and sat opposite Liu Hanyue.
Her eyes were steady, her tone calm but serious.
“Shijie, I really admire how composed you always are in the face of trouble.”
Liu Hanyue smiled faintly, eyes full of appreciation.
“And I admire your optimism and resilience.”
The candlelight flickered across their faces, as if time itself had stilled.
They talked on—from past to future, from poetry and songs to curious anecdotes.
Unknowingly, the candles melted low, yet the flame still burned bright.
Though the night grew deep, neither felt sleepy, as if the long hours belonged only to them.
By the third watch, Liu Hanyue spoke softly.
“Shimei, it’s late. We should rest.”
“Alright. You too, Shijie.” Shaoqing’s eyes shimmered with drowsiness, like starlight on the verge of fading.
Her lips parted slightly, as if to stifle it, but in the end she couldn’t hold back a yawn.
Liu Hanyue watched her lie lazily upon the couch, weariness plain on her face, and for some reason found her endearingly cute.
Before long, the two drifted into sleep.
At dawn, golden light like scattered foil fell over Xuanbing Camp, with mist floating like veils around it.
Fenhe and Qinglian were already awake, carefully checking the luggage that the maids had packed earlier, ensuring nothing was overlooked.
When daylight spread, Liu Hanyue stepped out, wrapped in fox fur and a silver cloak, looking all the more dignified and elegant.
In the training yard, all the women soldiers of Xuanbing Camp stood in neat formation, solemn and upright.
“Respectfully sending off Her Highness the Princess!” Lin Jingmo called out. The cry rolled like thunder, echoed by every soldier as they bowed.
Xiong Shaoqing kept her head lowered, silently thinking: Shijie, safe journey.
Time passed swiftly. About half a month later, Liu Hanyue returned to Yongning Prefecture. Without even washing away the dust of travel, she rode directly to the palace.
Inside the resplendent halls, she hurried across the grand gates and entered the magnificent audience chamber.
There, Empress Ye Jinyu sat upon the dragon throne. The sight of her mother steadied Liu Hanyue’s heart, though she knew what she must report would stir no small storm.
After dismissing the attendants, Liu Hanyue stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with a steady yet urgent voice:
“Mother, reliable sources confirm that Zhuoguang has allied with Xiqu. Their aim is to strike against you on next year’s Shuguo Founding Day ceremony.”
The empress’s expression remained calm, but her brows knit tightly in thought.
Liu Hanyue admired her mother’s composure, yet she knew a great danger loomed.
After a pause, Ye Jinyu said slowly:
“There are still nearly twelve months before that day. This is the time for us to prepare.”
Liu Hanyue understood. The Empress was already considering countermeasures, and the establishment of the Patrol Camp would be the top priority.
The Patrol Camp, founded at the start of the empress’s reign, was an elite defense force stationed close to the capital for rapid response. Unlike Xuanbing Camp, it admitted both men and women of great skill.
To build this force, Ye Jinyu had spent heavily to recruit talent. Already numbering 3,123, each soldier was capable of fighting ten men at once.
“Mother, though they’re all fine warriors, none of them will submit to another,” Liu Hanyue said gravely. “The previous appointed leader was undermined by rivals and unable to command effectively.”
The empress narrowed her eyes in thought, then nodded.
“The leader of the Patrol Camp must be more than strong in martial skill. They must command respect, possess true authority, and have the wisdom to unite the troops as one.”
“Mother, I have someone in mind who can take on this role,” Liu Hanyue said respectfully.
Ye Jinyu looked at her with curiosity.
“Oh? Who?”
“Xiong Shaoqing. She is not only highly skilled but also has the bearing of a true commander.” Liu Hanyue’s voice was firm, her mind flashing back to Shaoqing’s heroic figure on the battlefield.
“When I was ambushed at Xuanbing Camp, it was she who risked her life to save me. Without her, I would already be dead.
“Moreover, in the Battle of Ningyuan Town, she and Huang Yu slew the Xiqu commander Erlenggu. With such merits, she deserves to be transferred from Xuanbing Camp to the Patrol Camp with honor.”
The empress’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, though her brows furrowed slightly.
“She is still young—not yet eighteen. The elites of the Patrol Camp are all arrogant, proud men and women. To lead them will be no easy task.”
Liu Hanyue’s gaze was resolute. She bowed slightly, her tone gentle but unwavering.
“Mother, age should not be the measure. The last leader was older, yet he failed to command respect.
“In past dynasties, there were eighteen-year-old generals who stormed battlefields undefeated. Heroes should not be judged by origin or age. Xiong Shaoqing has both courage and wisdom—she is fully capable.”
She finished, silently praying her mother would agree, for she had absolute faith in Shaoqing.
Ye Jinyu leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp, fingers tapping the armrest in thought. At last, a trace of satisfaction appeared on her face.
“Hanyue, your judgment is sound, and your reasoning well-placed.”
Leaning back, her imperial authority returned.
“Still, the commander of the Patrol Camp is a position of utmost importance, tied to the safety of the capital. I must thoroughly investigate her background.”
At this, Liu Hanyue froze. She knew full well that with her mother’s ability, the truth about the falsified household records would be uncovered.
So she dropped to her knees at once, solemnly confessing—