Peace Order

He put away the water bag, looking at the sky. The empire’s northwest frontier was replaced by Duke Li of Ying Country. The current Duke Li possesses the appearance of a dragon and phoenix. It is said that in their youth, he was kindred spirits with Emperor Qin, and the plan to defeat the Tuyuhun was a joint effort between them.

Later, when Emperor Qin went westward to open up the territory, the two punished the Shatuo nation together, leading the thirty-six tribes of the Western Regions’ hundred-thousand-strong army. Afterwards, Duke Li, while pacifying the realm, repeatedly established military exploits—battling Lu Youxian, securing the southwest, defeating Chen Country, exterminating the Turkic, and finally waging a great war against Ying Country, all achieving countless merits.

But it’s been three years since the world was pacified.

After Emperor Qin’s grand wedding, Duke Li stationed himself at the frontier of the Western Regions and hadn’t entered the capital for years, only sending gifts annually. Regarding this, the Western Regions and the Central Plains began to have different voices—Duke Li holds significant military power; he’s also a top general and about the same age as Emperor Qin.

Now he only guards the frontier and doesn’t enter the capital to pay respects.

Both inside and outside the court, there are concerns. Even young colonels within his Xuanjia Army have some confusion, with people’s minds unsteady; Tu Shengyuan, knowing such reasons, simply sneered, shaking his clothes to rid of the fine sand.

Shi Yisong lamented, "The world has just been peaceful for three years, and Duke Li’s forces are strong. I genuinely hope there won’t be wars again."

Tu Shengyuan softly cursed, "Damn wars, don’t speak nonsense."

Shi Yisong was surprised.

Tu Shengyuan licked his lips and said, "Duke Li, Emperor Qin, heh..." His gaze flickered, "Even the strongest and bravest of men have things they fear. Is it the meeting they dread, or the fear of being rejected if they make a request?"

"Tsk tsk tsk."

"Only hate that I can’t be on the side watching, it would definitely go well with a drink, could be made into a tale and spread for a hundred years."

Shi Yisong asked, "Old man, what are you talking about?"

Tu Shengyuan smacked his lips and said, "Didn’t say anything, I just said, the current Emperor Qin does owe a lot."

Shi Yisong said, "The emperor is rich with the Four Seas as his domain, what debts could there be?"

Tu Shengyuan replied, "The debts of the heart and feelings."

Shi Yisong asked, "Heart?"

Tu Shengyuan smiled the smile storytellers often have, pleased:

"Throughout the ages, only the ’debt of love’ is hard to resolve."

He looked at the sky, the sandstorm gradually stopped, the blue sky distant, a golden streak of light flashed, a bird with golden-tinted wings darted across the sky like a sword, swept across the land, and finally landed in the Duke Mansion of the Western Regions.

On the high tower that once overlooked heaven and earth, stood a tall and beautiful woman with hands behind her back, extraordinarily handsome, with a gold-red vertical mark in the center of her brow, black hair hanging down her temples, and eyes tranquil, an absolute grandeur.

Changsun Wuchou climbed the tower, looked at the woman’s back, sighed, and said:

"Duke."

Li Zhaowen slightly turned her eyes, the martial arts of the Eighth Layer Heaven, giving her an appearance as if several years haven’t changed, a top martial artist, long-lived, the Martial Arts Legend, life could extend over five hundred years, compared to the past, only this demeanor is more dignified.

"Have the letters and gifts to the capital city been taken?"

Changsun Wuchou replied, "Those with intentions of stirring unrest at the frontier, heads have been sent to the capital, as proof that the borders are secure. Yet, Duke, do you really not wish to go to the capital?"

Li Zhaowen quietly answered, "Why should I go?"

Changsun Wuchou was silent.

This tall woman, even taller than ordinary men, stood calmly with her hands behind her back, possessing the demeanor of a state duke, a contemporary great general, combined with otherworldly beauty, creating a unique charm, her eyes plain and tranquil, detached from herself, said:

"He and I, were once young confidants, challenged Tuyuhun, secured the southwest, defeated Chen Country, subdued the Turkic, only on the battlefield, we fought side by side, braving arrows and forming ranks, the friendship could not be said to be shallow. Yet, in this world, perhaps there is ultimately an order of arrival."

"Miss Xue accompanied him in his youth, Shaking Light followed him in the martial world."

"And at that time, I had my eyes set on the world."

Li Zhaowen pinched her temple hair with her fingers, suddenly self-mocking, said:

"My feelings with him ultimately are not purely man and woman love, I am Li Zhaowen, also considered a conqueror of the world, I was born in the Western Regions, battled in the Western Regions, also ought to guard here for the world."

"I once thought of going to the empire’s capital, however—"

Li Zhaowen’s voice paused, the faint streaming light behind her, golden phoenix spread its wings, majestic and composed, making Li Zhaowen’s hair reflect a slight gold, her eyes gradually took on a regal demeanor, said:

"But a phoenix cannot be caged, the vast world of the Western Regions is my true home."

"I adore you, but love this world even more."

"His Majesty should also know."

"In guarding the frontier for the world and people, versus accompanying him in the palace, Li Zhaowen will always choose the former."

Li Zhaowen could still slightly smile.

Yet such a smile carried a hint of loneliness.

As if seeing the youthful feelings in her chest, seeing that in the end, this body that was once a young girl’s past, was now slain by the matured stateswoman, the great general guarding the borders for the world.

The ability to restrain emotions is the mark of maturity; perhaps in this life, it was merely a youthful meeting, fighting side by side, this heart adoring you, then monarch and subject parted, gradually going further away, in another year, just a call of His Majesty, a call of my lord.

In the annals of history, how will one see you, how will one see me?

Amidst countless histories, countless words, how many will know I once loved you.

Changsun Wuchou’s temples had a streak of white hair:

"Is this the reason you don’t go to the capital?"

Li Zhaowen said, "No."

Changsun Wuchou was stunned, "Then why haven’t you gone for three years..."

Li Zhaowen turned to look at the vast world of the Western Regions, her eyes recollecting on her youthful days with Li Guanyi on a boat in Jiangnan, playing and then laughing together, holding a tea cup, plainly said:

"I’m afraid if I go, I won’t have the courage to leave again."

"It’s better not to go."

Changsun Wuchou was silent.

Li Zhaowen exhaled, suddenly turned her eyes, ’playfully’ smiled and said: "You used to hear about matters between me and His Majesty, often with your hand on your chest, pretending a stomach ache, why not do so today?"

Changsun Wuchou said, "Because I have a remedy for that."

Li Zhaowen said, "Oh?"

Changsun Wuchou took out a scroll from his bosom, holding it with both hands, stepped forward three steps:

"The emperor’s decree, leading guards on a tour of the Western Regions."

"He will arrive not long from now!"

The cup in Li Zhaowen’s hand unconsciously fell to the ground.

[In the spring of the third year of Taiping, the emperor toured the Western Regions, accompanied by the Historian.]

———"Historical Chronicles·First Annals"