The Princess's Substitute - Chapter 4

The days on the grassland were short and the nights long. If the grass had not begun turning yellow, I would have had no idea how long we had been in Northern Qiang.

Before we came, I had heard the Qiang were as savage as demons. To me, they seemed less frightening than the soldiers who came to our village to seize laborers.

The Qiang fought wars too. Their eldest prince, Zhe Yuanji, had not appeared since the welcome feast. They said he had taken troops east to put down unrest.

The ordinary Qiang hated war as well. Once the men marched off, the women had to care for the old and young while also herding and hunting.

The princess was horrified to see Saihan going into the mountains to hunt deer herself. “You’re a prince’s consort. How can you behave like that?”

Saihan stared at her. “Winter’s nearly here. If I don’t kill a few more deer, where will I get felt blankets to keep us warm?”

“Have the servants do it. Or ask Zhe Du,” the princess said, still baffled.

Saihan gave her a sidelong look and remarked acidly on the exquisite delicacy of Liang’s princesses.

The princess had no interest in quarreling with her. There was only one thing she cared about each day: the letters.

At first, the Qiang opened and inspected them. Once they found nothing but endless complaints between her and the Noble Consort, they stopped bothering.

Qiqige, the Northern Qiang woman official whom the Noble Consort had bribed, took the opportunity to offer her services delivering them.

She laid a letter on the princess’s table. The princess swept it aside impatiently. “Mother keeps telling me to be patient. When exactly is she bringing me home?”

Chunlan sighed openly, barely stopping short of asking why the princess was still dreaming.

“Her Ladyship says that Your Highness is now Queen of Northern Qiang. If Liang demands your return, it would be breaking its word and the marriage agreement.” Qiqige faltered. “Once the khan passes away, she will work with the court officials to find a way to have Northern Qiang return you.”

The princess stamped her feet. That was plainly not the answer she wanted. “What about Zhilin? He must have a way, mustn’t he?”

Qiqige looked more uncomfortable still. “Lord Du has been busy with his official duties. He hasn’t replied.”

After Qiqige left, the princess began smashing things in her tent again.

“Look on the bright side. The old khan might die soon,” I said to comfort her.

It was not an empty reassurance. Before subjecting me to his attentions, the khan always drank deer blood. When we first arrived, one bowl had been enough. Lately he needed three.

His hair had gone from gray to completely white. By day he complained of cold; at night he said he was hot.

I was not the only one who had noticed.

Saihan brought deer blood and red sage root more and more often. Zhe Du never missed his daily visit to inquire after his father’s health.

The way husband and wife watched the khan reminded me of vultures circling a dying man.

There were five kingdoms north of Great Liang. Northern Qiang had the largest territory and the greatest strength.

Saihan’s homeland, Western Liang, was the weakest. It lay between Liang and Northern Qiang.

Only the continuing conflict between the two larger powers allowed Western Liang to survive in the gap.

They said it was Saihan who had urged the khan to burn the previous Liang princess after she angered him.

“It’s not that simple,” Chunlan said with a dry laugh. “It depends who takes the throne after he dies.”

Northern Qiang did not follow a rule of succession favoring the eldest son or the son of the principal wife. The khan’s decree decided it.

Brave and capable, Zhe Yuanji clearly had his father’s esteem. But the khan also trusted and doted on his younger son, Zhe Du.

“I’ve heard Zhe Yuanji favors peace and Zhe Du wants war. Is that what worries you?” I asked Chunlan.

She glanced at the princess, then held her tongue.

The princess seemed not to hear a word we said. She was staring at a jade hairpin Du Zhilin had given her.

On the day the first snow fell, the khan took to his sickbed and never rose again.

Zhe Yuanji returned with news of victory just after his father drew his last breath.

“Father didn’t leave a single word! On what grounds does Zhe Yuanji take the throne?” Zhe Du shouted, his neck rigid.

He had few supporters, but enough to hold Zhe Yuanji off for a time.

Inside Northern Qiang, everyone schemed against everyone else. Outside, the four neighboring kingdoms watched like hungry predators.

“It’s fun, watching a fire from the other side of the river,” Dongmei said. She could not understand Chunlan’s anxiety.

Chunlan tapped her forehead. “You little fool. Be careful it doesn’t spread to us.”

“The princess will be a carefree queen dowager now. What fire could reach her?” Dongmei was less concerned than ever.