"What an exhausting day!" Mingshen declared, strolling into the commander's tent at the Nanmen army camp. "I swear sometimes training missions are more tiring than actual battles, because people spend too much energy fussing over tiny details that don't actually make any substantive difference to things."

"Did you send another batch of scouts to check the training ground and its vicinity like I told you to?" Zhenghuan asked, looking up from the map of the border and its neighbouring desert that he had been studying. "What did they say?"

Zhenghuan had tried to convince the general to shift the training mission, but because he was unable to substantiate his request, the general refused, citing the need to keep to schedule in order to maintain discipline within the camp. General Du was typically inflexible that way, which sometimes grated on Zhenghuan's nerves. However, he knew better than to defy the general, who was still his superior first and father second.

Although he still didn't know why Zi-ning was so adamant that there was danger in the upcoming mission, he still chose to trust her regardless. The best he could do now was to ensure that the checks were thorough, and that any potential hazards were rooted out before the mission began.

Mingshen shook his head. "Nothing. Everything is as it should be, no sightings of any of the Eagle Warrior's men anywhere," he replied. "Why do you seem so worried about this particular mission? It's only routine training."

"No particular reason. Just have a gut feeling that something might go wrong, that's all. It never hurts to be careful."

"It'll be fine. The men have completed their armour and equipment checks and gone to rest for the night. They should be on track to set off at dawn as planned. Are you going along?"

Zhenghuan was technically not a commander at the Nanmen camp, so he was not obliged to participate in any of their military exercises, but as the Shadow Lord, he could pretty much do anything he wanted.

He took another look at the map. The border had been relatively peaceful lately, so there really was no good reason to be suspicious of anything. He wondered if it was because of the tiny seed of doubt that Zi-ning had planted in his mind, but there was a sense of uneasiness gnawing away at the back of his mind.

Eventually, he shook his head. "No, it's fine. The king's messenger should be arriving tomorrow, so I should be around to receive him. Send someone you trust along with the battalions who are participating in the exercise and inform me immediately if something crops up."

"Sure thing," Mingshen said. He picked up a handful of melon seeds from a small bowl on the table and began popping them into his mouth one by one. "By the way, I received an update from the intelligence network about that girl you asked me to investigate—Yuchi Ling-er. She's staying at the Silver Moon inn, booked a room for an entire month so it doesn't look like she's going anywhere soon. Other than taking on various odd jobs around town, there's nothing special about her. Doesn't seem to even have any friends—except for Han Yongxing, who has gone looking for her twice on his days off but she's turned him away both times. Ah, unrequited love."

Mingshen sighed dramatically, pretending to drive a stake through his heart.

"Do you want me to continue keeping tabs on her?"

Zhenghuan pondered for a moment, then he nodded. "There's something about this girl that feels very familiar, but I can't quite place my finger on it," he murmured.

He was certain he had never seen that face before, yet he could not shake the feeling of familiarity—why?

#

Bright and early the next morning, the king's messenger arrived from Huangcheng as expected. When the official reached the Anyang city gates, word had been sent to the Du manor and the entire household gathered at the front hall ready to receive this honoured guest. Zi-ning had also been told to come, since the edict that was being delivered had everything to do with her.

To her surprise, the messenger was someone that she knew.

"Shengwu-ge?"

How had she completely lost track of time and forgotten that the imperial examinations for the year had come and gone? Based on her past memories, Bai Shengwu, her good friend Zhenzhu's older brother, would top the examinations this year and be given a post in the imperial court. She could not remember exactly what ministry he had joined and what position he had been given, but this was only the start of Shengwu's meteoric rise through government.

Bai Shengwu gave her a little smile, then he cleared his throat. Retrieving a golden scroll from the right sleeve of his maroon court robes, he said, "Han Zi-ning, Du Zhenghuan, kneel to receive the king's edict."

Zi-ning and Zhenghuan promptly did as they were told.

"By decree of King Shunde, for the aid rendered to the city of Zhuiya, resulting in the saving of countless innocent lives, Du Zhenghuan, the Shadow Lord, is to be promoted to general of the first rank, and to be given the fiefdom of Shengzhou. The Shadow Lord will henceforth also adopt the title of Lord of Shengzhou. Han Zi-ning, daughter of Han Hao, is to be given the title of Princess of the third rank, and to be given a hundred taels of gold and ten bolts of silk for her contributions." Shengwu closed the scroll, glancing down at Zhenghuan and Zi-ning. "Lord Du, Princess—you may now give thanks to the king."

Princess of the third rank?

Zi-ning could hardly believe her own ears. The king had already granted her a special edict allowing her to ask one request of him as and when she deemed fit, which was already more than what she had hoped for—but to be bestowed the title of princess?

A princess of the third rank was a title typically given to the daughters of dukes and lords who had their own fiefdoms, and it was almost unheard of for someone who did not come from a long family line of nobility to be granted such a title. With this title, she would be free to enter and leave the royal palace at whim, and be ranked above all the wives and daughters of court officials.

"Zi-ning," Zhenghuan whispered, forcing her to snap out of her daze.

She quickly brought her forehead to the ground in a deep bow. "I give my humble thanks to His Majesty," she recited.

"It's nice to see you again, Zi-ning," Shengwu said, reaching out to lift Zi-ning's elbow and help her back up to her feet.

"Shengwu-ge, congratulations on your excellent result in the imperial examination, and for your new appointment," she said, returning his greeting with a bright smile. It was most welcome to see a familiar face so far away from home. Although he was rather aloof, Shengwu had always been a doting brother to Zhenzhu, and he had always be kind to her as well.

"I'm only a fourth rank official in the Ministry of Protocol, hardly anything to shout about," he replied.

"For now." If only Shengwu knew how his life would change entirely within a year, and that he would eventually become the most powerful official in the royal court.

Shengwu turned to General Du, bowing respectfully. "General, thank you for your hospitality. The king has asked me to bring back a report about the border situation, so I shall have to trouble you to provide me with the necessary."

"Not at all," General Du said, waving a hand dismissively. "The report will take a few days to complete. In the meantime, you are welcome to stay here at the manor."

"Here? There are so many women in the household, surely it wouldn't be appropriate for Official Bai to stay," Zhenghuan interrupted, sounding a little salty.

Zi-ning glowered at him, immediately realising what the petty man was on about. Du Zhenghuan was a pot of vinegar through and through.

"Nonsense! I don't hear you complaining when Mingshen stays over," General Du scolded. "There's plenty of guest rooms in the manor that are separate from the women's quarters." Turning to one of the family stewards, the general quickly gave instructions to prepare a suitable room for Shengwu.

"Bai-daren, you seem to be on very close terms with Zi-ning," Enling said. She tossed Zi-ning a look of disdain. "But then again, Han Zi-ning seems to be close to many different men, hmm?"

Shengwu glanced at the girl, a slight frown appearing upon his forehead. Zi-ning knew immediately that Shengwu had developed a poor first impression of the girl, because he had always been a stickler for propriety and what Enling was insinuating would be grossly out of line by his standards.

"Zi-ning is my younger sister's good friend and our families have been acquainted for many years. There is nothing between us that isn't above board. Also, I would suggest you speak more respectfully when you address the princess, else I shall have to report this behaviour to the king," he said coldly.

Lady Du immediately grabbed Enling by the arm and pulled her backwards, smiling apologetically at the young official. "Enling is only a child. She has been too sheltered and likes to speak her mind, but she means no offence," she said quickly. "Please, you have travelled a long way to reach here and you must be tired. The room should already be ready. I'll have the steward show you the way."

Shengwu's stern gaze continued to bear down upon Enling for another second, then he scoffed and turned away, shifting his attention back to Zi-ning. "Have you already met Yongxing? Hopefully I'll also have the chance to meet him while I'm here. It's been a long time since your brother and I have had a good chat," he said.

"Yongxing will be out on a training mission over the next few days. I'm not sure when he'll be back," Zi-ning replied, a hint of worry in her voice. Zhenghuan had told her that he was unable to get the training mission postponed, which meant that her brother had to participate in the exercise just as he had in her previous life. Even with Zhenghuan keeping watch, she still could not help but fear what was to come.

"Ah I see. Well, we shall just leave it up to fate then. I will have to return to the capital once the report is ready. You can come with me. It will be much safer for you that way."

"That won't be necessary," Zhenghuan interrupted once again, this time looking far grumpier than he was before. "You are on official duty and must not dally. I can arrange for Zi-ning to be escorted back to the capital when the time comes."

Shengwu arched a curious brow in Zhenghuan's direction, then he shot Zi-ning a knowing look. Zi-ning sighed inwardly, wishing that this entire interaction would end so that she would not have to deal with a jealous, possessive general, who had absolutely no reason to be acting this way.

"Right, that is very generous of you, my lord," Shengwu said, nodding in acknowledgement. Then, he leaned over and whispered in Zi-ning's ear, "While I'm here, maybe I can assess to see if he's suitable for you?"

"Shengwu-ge!" Zi-ning exclaimed, shocked by what he was suggesting.

Patting her on the shoulder, Shengwu chuckled, then he turned to follow the steward to his allocated room. After his departure, the Du family dispersed quickly from the front hall, everyone lost in their own thoughts about the morning's developments.