The following day, Xinyue woke before the sun rose. She sat on the floor in the lotus position, focused on her breath, calling the cultivation from the pit of her stomach, her eyes closed. The magic spread over her through the different cultivation points in her body. The process calmed her down as she mentally prepared for the day ahead.

  “General, it is time to set out.” Haoran’s voice came from just outside the tent, interrupting Xinyue’s practice.

  Xinyue opened her eyes and took in one more breath through her nose before she got up from where she was sitting. She fiddled with her armor and face covering, making sure everything was in its place.

  “Coming.” Xinyue made her way out of the tent to see Zixin and Haoran already waiting for her.

  Haoran’s lanky frame was almost the same height as Zixin’s, they stood together whispering right outside the tent. Xinyue couldn’t make out a lot of what they were talking about, but did catch the term ‘Crown Prince’ being thrown around. Haoran was scowling, his eyebrows drawn together, while Zixin smiled, his eyes soft as he looked at the other man.

  “I know you enjoy taunting me, but this isn’t the time. The General is being disrespected.” Haoran spit out the words.

  “But is there anything we can do about it?” Zixin shrugged, his palms up to the sky, like he was waiting for the heavens to open and give them a solution. “Why stress, Haoran? There isn’t anything we can do, we have to continue.”

  “That’s always what you say.”

  “And I’ll say it again.” Zixin poked at Haoran’s cheek, and the other man swatted his hand away.

  “Can you be serious?”

  “I’m always serious.”

  “Serious about pushing me to an early death from rage.”

  Xinyue cleared her throat.

  “General.” Both men turned and saluted. Haoran’s ears were a bright red, but Zixin wore his cheeky smile.

  “Haoran, Zixin.” Xinyue addressed the men one at a time with a nod for each one. She pushed down her amusement at their antics. “We need to go to General Yichen’s tent to set off for the mountain.”

  “General, are you seriously going to call him that?” Haoran asked, his tone angry. He had not forgotten about yesterday, and what he felt were blatant insults to the General.

  Xinyue’s eyes softened at Haoran’s question. “What choice do we have? Besides, it’s not the worst thing in the world.”

  “Yes, General, but-“

  “The General said it was fine. Stop fussing.” Zixin gave Haoran a light kick. “Let’s go mingle with the other soldiers.”

  “You mean, pretend to be friendly so you can weasel your way into their good graces to dig up information?” Haoran scowled. He hated Zixin’s way of gathering intel.

  Zixin shrugged. “That’s one way to look at it.”

  Xinyue turned on her heel and walked to the Crown Prince’s tent; the footsteps behind her let her know that her subordinates were following. Well, the footsteps and their persistent bickering, but Xinyue chose to ignore them.

  Barely any servants were awake, and the calmness of the camp soothed Xinyue’s nerves. Her reverie and enjoyment were soon halted when she saw the shiny, bright gold armor of the Crown Prince.

  “General Xinyue.” The man greeted her with a nod, Hongyi and Bowen just behind him on either side.

  “General Yichen.” The greeting felt foreign and unfamiliar to Xinyue, but she ignored these feelings. “Hongyi and Bowen.”

  “General.” Both saluted, Hongyi with a bright smile and Bowen with a straight face. Both were dressed in simple armor with blue hair ribbons tying their hair into matching topknots.

  The Crown Prince tilted his head to the side when Xinyue greeted his subordinates. It wasn’t a particularly standard practice for high-ranking officials to do. “General Xinyue, if you treat all subordinates in such a fashion, it would be difficult to tell rank.”

  “Respect for all life and reverence for humanity were taught to me in the temple. It is a lesson I took seriously.” Xinyue’s explanation held little emotion.

  “Ah, I see. You must have taken the temple’s teachings seriously.” General Yichen furrowed his brows. “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why did you take the teachings that seriously?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, they also preached about the mercy of the Heavens. After all you’ve seen, do you believe the Heavens to be merciful? For the Gods to care about our blight?”

  “I am not a member of the temple, so I can not answer for them. But I can answer for myself, I don’t presume to know the Gods’ plans or their will. I only know that I have seen great strife but also great sacrifice and love.”

  General Yichen shook his head, seemingly dissatisfied with her answer. He furrowed his brow for a second before it smoothed out again. “I see.” With that short and abrupt response, he turned to the side and called to a servant nearby.

  As he talked to the servant, Haoran couldn’t help but comment. “General, do you not find General Yichen a bit strange?” He said this in a whisper so no one could hear him.

  “Hm.” Xinyue made a noncommittal sound. On the one hand, she found him strange, but on the other, she thought of him as more intriguing than anything else. He was like a storm of emotion and action; he never did what was expected of him, but rather acted according to his whims. Every time Xinyue tried to label the man as one thing or another, he surprised her by acting totally different from what she expected.

  “General.” Hongyi came over to the small group, his hands out in a salute. His hair was neatly brushed back into a topknot, the blue ribbon was tied carefully around his hair. He had obviously made a great effort to look nice, with a pleasant smell of lemon grass wafting from the perfume pouch he kept at his waist. “General Yichen wishes to set off.”

  He sounded almost overly polite, different than how he was yesterday. He motioned over to where General Yichen stood; horses were ready and their saddles packed to take the party up the mountain. Xinyue glanced around at the other soldiers; there were at most twenty others, a small number, especially compared to what was at their camp.

  “I see, thank you, Hongyi.” Xinyue nodded and walked over to where General Yichen was waiting for her. She heard the shuffling footsteps of Zixin and Haoran behind her as they pattered along after her. They were whispering amongst themselves again, and Xinyue glanced back to see Zixin pulling Haoran along by his arm.

  “General Yichen, we’re about to set off?” Xinyue tamped down on the thrill of excitement that flowed through her at the prospect of going somewhere new.

  “Yes, I just discussed some logistics with one of the scouts who had the temple previously. It should take us only a few hours to reach where the temple is perched on the mountain. He said it was an easy ride, but the problem is with the temple itself, or rather the people in the temple. They’re unlikely to speak to outsiders.” General Yichen sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face.

  There wasn’t much that they could do if the temple didn’t want to speak to them. Even if all temples were part of the kingdom and under the king’s authority, there was some level of respect that each temple had to be granted by law, mainly because they couldn’t prove the temple had any part in the bandits.

  “Alright, then we should get going.” General Xinyue took her horse’s lead and walked back to the saddle. She swung herself up and put her feet in the stirrups before General Yichen had a chance to reply.

  General Yichen’s dimple flashed as he grinned up at her from where he stood. “I wouldn’t want to displease the General of Wu.” He followed suit on getting up on his horse.

  General Yichen nodded at Hongyi, who gave the command, “Move out!”

  Together, the generals and their troops moved up the mountain path. It wound its way up the mountain, but it was not well-maintained with dips and holes in the dirt. The trees loomed over them, and the foliage rustled in the breeze. It was silent as they clopped through the forest, the generals in front with Hongyi, Haoran, Bowen, and Zixin just behind them.

  Xinyue maintained the comfortable silence until a thought suddenly occurred to her. “General Yichen, have you been this far north before? In the mountains?” It was the first time Xinyue had been this north. It was colder than the other places she had been, and she could see that the mountain peaks were coated in snow.

  “Mm. On occasion.” General Yichen shrugged.

  “Then you must have seen some of the magical creatures?” Xinyue’s interest was piqued. Magical creatures were said to hide and roam in the forests of the north. She had heard about them was she was still a child in the temple, but had never been so privileged as to have seen one.

  “Ah, yes.” General Yichen paused, thinking of what to say next. “They’re not as benevolent as they are in legends. Nor are they as malicious. The stories were made up by people who don’t understand the creatures.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “But you do?”

  “Of course not. I am a person.” General Yichen shrugged, and the right corner of his mouth lifted. He was amused by this line of question, that someone of the General’s standing would ask such a thing, curious about children’s stories. “If you are asking because you want to see a spirit tiger, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”

  “Why do you think I want to see that animal?” Xinyue’s head tilted to the side slightly.

  “Isn’t that the animal connected to the Wu Royal family? Your family?”

  “Ah, the General is mistaken.” Xinyue bowed her head a bit. “I am a representative of the Wu Royal family, but I am not a member of the Royal family or court.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” General Yichen sneered. “So, you can be sent to war instead of your sisters, but you are not considered a Princess of Wu?”

  “Yes, General.” Xinyue was resigned and spoke with no emotion in her voice. She knew her position in the Wu Kingdom was widely known by most. It was one of the reasons why she had to fight harder for respect wherever she went.

  “I thought whoever told me that was mistaken, or at least didn’t understand the situation.” General Yichen pursed his lips at what Xinyue affirmed to be true. He had heard about her situation before, but hearing it from the mouth of the person it was affecting felt different. It felt more real somehow.

  “They were not mistaken, General Yichen.”

  “That means you have no power at court.”

  “Now you are mistaken, General.” With those words, Yichen turned his head to face her. Xinyue didn’t glance at him; she sat with her back straight and facing forward, a pillar of marble. “I have the power I have earned through my position as the General of Wu.”

  In that moment, as he stared at the unflinching figure of the General of Wu, Yichen gained some understanding. “I see. So, being sent to the battlefield didn’t hinder you, but rather, helped you. You have gained far more liberties than what would have been offered to you in the Wu Capital.”

  “Yes.” Xinyue saw no point in lying. She had worked tirelessly, devoted her whole life, to survival. Those who have power survive. Xinyue was not ashamed of the choices she made or the benefits that came from them.

  “Don’t you ever think it’s unfair? That they have a life of luxury, while you’re fighting their battles.” Yichen’s voice almost sounded mocking, but who he was mocking, the Royals of Wu or himself, Xinyue wasn’t sure of.

  “Will that change anything?”

  “What?”

  “Me thinking that it’s unfair.” Xinyue shrugged. “I could rage and scream into the wind. To hold resentment and an untold amount of anger, but it wouldn’t change anything. If anything, I am grateful.”

  “Grateful?” Yichen’s brows scrunched up.

  “Yes, grateful for the opportunity to be more than I was and to become more than I am today.” Xinyue nodded. “I have learned cultivation and martial arts, to read, and to write, which is far more than any other illegitimate child benefits from.”

  Hongyi from behind the generals couldn’t hold back the gasp at hearing the general call herself such a thing. The other soldiers had been listening to the generals’ conversation the whole time, but had tried to be as silent as possible throughout the interaction.

  “My apologies, General Xinyue.” Hongyi turned a bright red as he realized everyone had turned to stare at him. Haoran was particularly angry with Hongyi’s reaction, and glared daggers in Hongyi’s direction.

  “It’s alright. I understand why you might be surprised.” Xinyue turned to face forward again, not a hair out of place as she moved a low-hanging branch out of her way. “But the rumors are true.”

  Much to the Wu Queen’s displeasure, the story of the illegitimate daughter of the Wu King becoming the God of War was too scandalous a tale for the gossip news not to report on.

  “So, you’re…?” Hongyi pried into the matter, a resolute look on his face. He wanted the General to bluster, to feel a bit embarrassed about her current situation. Maybe even to lie about her origins.

  “I’m the illegitimate granddaughter of the Grand General and the illegitimate daughter of the King of Wu, yes. Neither consider me their flesh and blood. The Queen of Wu and the Grand Preceptor of Wu probably want me dead due to my direct relation to the King. It is why I am a representative, and not a recognized member of the Royal family.” Xinyue watched as a hawk took to flight in the sky, swooping grandiosely. She ignored what must have been the shocked faces of her companions. She knew that it was one thing to speculate such a thing, versus to have it confirmed by the person whom the very gossip was about. Xinyue waited a few seconds more before continuing. “I must have made you uncomfortable, Hongyi. You stopped talking.”

  “Um, I-, Um-“ Hongyi stuttered from behind her. Xinyue had stolen his glib tongue, and he had nothing more to say. Bowen from beside him shook his head at the man.

  “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him speechless.” General Yichen remarked wryly from beside her.

  “Did you not want me to answer your question?” Xinyue glanced at the man who had wanted to speak openly about such private matters, but Hongyi didn’t meet her eyes. Xinyue had shocked him.

  “No, I did, thank you, General Xinyue.” A blush was on his cheeks, and he looked to Bowen for backup, but Bowen avoided direct eye contact with him.

  “Are there any more questions I can answer for you?”

  “Um, no?” Hongyi squeaked out.

  “Don’t you want to know if the King of Wu truly loved my mother? Isn’t that what all the gossip columns talk about?” Xinyue went on. “Yes, I suppose he did. Or still does. I’m not quite sure, I haven’t been to the capital since I was sent to the temple.”

  “I am positive, General Xinyue, that I have no more questions,” Hongyi answered, flustered. He had wanted the General to become embarrassed, or at least to feel a little less inadequate compared to his general, but instead he was the one red in the face.

  Haoran smirked as he trotted along on his horse, happy that Hongyi had been thwarted.

  Zixin remarked, “Hongyi, you must have plenty of time to read the gossip columns; I’m quite jealous.” He cast a downtrodden look and sighed dramatically.

  “Oh? Why would you be jealous?” Hongyi jumped at the opportunity for the conversation to change and to no longer be the focus of discussion. He forced a smile at the soldier, thankful for the respite.

  “I’m constantly being told to work on my knife skills and sword form. I envy how much leisure time your General gives you.” Zixin smiled warmly and waved at General Yichen.

  Hongyi’s smile fell as he realized what Zixin had done.

  “Yes, he must have too much time on his hands; I’ll be sure to rectify that.” General Yichen smiled, playing along with Zixin. “I will work on a new practice routine for Hongyi.”

  “That isn’t necessary!” Hongyi yelped.

  “Just yesterday, you were saying you wanted to be as good at the spear as our General,” Bowen added to the conversation. "It was around the time you were reading that novel…What was the name? Do you remember Zixin?”

  “Hmm…Something about a lord and a concubine? Or was that the book from the night before?” Zixin answered, grinning.

  Xinyue and the rest of the camp had spotted Hongyi slacking off, hiding from General Yichen several times. He hid behind tents. In the dining hall. Anywhere where he thought General Yichen couldn’t find him. Normally, he was reading something scandalous, that no man of his station should be caught reading.

  Hongyi groaned as the soldiers held in their laughter.

  Xinyue smiled to herself as the conversation and jokes between the soldiers continued. Now that the awkward conversation about her origins was out of the way, the journey could proceed comfortably.

  “General Xinyue.” Xinyue turned to glance at Yichen, the banter between their subordinates still happening behind them.

  “Yes, General Yichen?”

  “I hope that we get along going forward.” The man was looking at her with a certain indescribable emotion. Xinyue couldn’t guess what it was. Not yet.

  “As do I.”

  There was a slight pause in the conversation between the two generals.

  Until General Yichen broke it with a solemn announcement.

  “We’re almost at the temple.” Even as General Yichen spoke, the temple came into view. All of the soldiers stopped in their tracks to take it in.

  They could see it on a slope in their path, it was beautiful on its perch. Almost precarious and off balance, the temple was poised on the face of the mountain. It was made of pagodas that seemed to be stacked on top of each other. The walls of the temple gleamed a brilliant white, with their dark thatched roofs contrasting against them. Fog and clouds seemed to swirl around it, making it look mystical. It was a truly brilliant sight to behold.

  “Less time than I had thought.” General Yichen clicked his tongue, causing his horse to start forward, and the convoy was one again on the move again.