Volume One, Chapter 11: Murder and Arson with a Golden Waistband

Princess Changning breathed a sigh of relief, her spirits lifted as she stepped out of the imperial carriage. Her skirt fluttered gracefully, and she gazed with satisfaction upon the gradually quieting scene outside.

Gu Han glanced back to see Princess Changning smiling radiantly like a blooming flower. A shadow deepened in his eyes, an uneasy premonition stirring in his heart.

Upon hearing the eunuch Xu’s words, Gu Han pondered briefly before hastening toward the carriage, holding firm to his purpose. The maid lifted the curtain to reveal Princess Changning leisurely playing with a round fan.

“Your Highness!” Gu Han lowered his voice, though his anger was barely concealed. “If we burn nearly a hundred bodies outright, it could cause a wildfire. What if it spirals out of control?”

Princess Changning regarded him with a half-smile, half-smirk. “General, we haven’t yet left Bianzhou Prefecture. Beyond here lies Binzhou, which no longer falls under Liu Hanzhang’s jurisdiction.”

Gu Han studied her carefully. She appeared carefree and delighted, as if discussing some outing rather than matters of murder and arson.

Rising, Changning strolled to the carriage’s side, her slender fingers pointing toward a distant valley. “Look at that valley, surrounded by sheer cliffs and barren of trees. Dig a large pit, throw the assassins in, set it ablaze, and let it burn three days and nights. That’ll make Liu Hanzhang sweat!”

Gu Han was taken aback for a moment, casting her a sidelong glance. The anger on his face gave way to an expression of complex bewilderment.

This princess was not only bold and meticulous but also full of mischievous schemes.

Rubbing his temples, he sighed helplessly. “Your Highness, your command is noted. I will obey.”

In the end, Gu Han ordered a deputy general to lead men in digging the pit and moving the bodies, while he and the escort slowly advanced ahead.

Meanwhile, Princess Changning inside the carriage continued to leisurely nibble on peanut candy and sip phoenix jujube tea, watching toward the valley through the curtain with a faint, secretive smile curling her lips.

The procession reached the boundary between two prefectures as the moon hung low among the willows.

What a cunning itinerary—arriving under the cover of darkness and tempest, only to encounter a band of mountain brigands.

Not far off, the bandits burst out from the woods, emboldened by their numbers, shouting loudly and issuing a string of coded threats: “This mountain belongs to us! Princess, stay here! Gold and silver—”

Before they could finish, Gu Han drew his sword and charged forward, his guards close behind. In the flash of blades and steel, one by one the bandits fell, their shouts turning swiftly to desperate howls.

“Spare some alive!” Eunuch Xu ran up, wiping sweat with a cloth, panting heavily. “The princess wishes to question them.”

Gu Han halted his sword and coldly glanced at the remaining two bandits, signaling his men to stop.

The two bandits dropped their weapons, trembling as they knelt on the ground.

---

“Troublesome,” Gu Han thought wearily, catching sight of Princess Changning stepping gracefully from the carriage.

Today, she wore a charming outfit in vivid hues, like a butterfly oblivious to danger.

Approaching, she brushed a stray lock from her forehead with a casual air, her expression relaxed as though watching a lively drama.

“General,” she glanced at Gu Han with a teasing, indifferent tone, “Bind these bandits. I’ll go have a chat with their leader.”

Gu Han frowned slightly and asked sternly, “Your Highness, why must you handle this personally?”

“Didn’t you hear what they shouted?” she replied lightly, a playful glint in her eyes. “They claimed they’d abduct me. If they think so highly of me, I ought to meet them, don’t you think?”

He closed his eyes briefly to suppress his irritation, responding coldly, “Your Highness, I will deal with this. There is no need for you to take risks.”

Waving his hand, he had his men tie up the bandits, then followed Princess Changning to a secluded spot.

She smiled mischievously and continued with a light tone, “I was wondering why we didn’t take the water route south from the capital. Why detour through Bianzhou Prefecture? It seems, General, you arranged this journey to make it more interesting for me?”

Gu Han remained silent for a moment, uncertain of her intent. Was she merely teasing or deliberately probing?

Though the morning’s visit to Guanyin Mountain was her idea and delayed their schedule, between the assassins and bandits, if the princess complained, he would indeed be blamed for poor planning.

Sheathing his sword, he replied calmly, “I dare not presume, Your Highness. A direct water route would bypass Bianzhou and Binzhou Prefectures. They submitted memorials early this morning to prepare for your arrival. The itinerary was discussed by the Privy Council and the Ministry of Personnel, with several options presented. I was entrusted with the final choice, which the emperor approved. This route allows us to fully traverse the prefectures along the way.”

“Oh? It seems I misjudged you, General. So you just couldn’t bear to be without me!” The princess’s lips curved slyly, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

Gu Han was momentarily taken aback, then glared at her smiling face, annoyed. “Your Highness, watch your words.”

“I merely follow protocol and would not want you to misunderstand,” he said, regaining his composure.

Princess Changning responded with a soft “Oh,” then turned and ordered, “General, I’ll be back soon.”

“If Your Highness insists on going, I shall accompany you,” Gu Han said, following behind as she mounted her horse.

“Suit yourself!” she tossed a carefree glance back at him.

Unexplainably, Gu Han felt she was doing this on purpose, but he quickly collected himself, mounted his horse, and gave chase.

---

Hearing the sound of hooves behind her, Princess Changning raised an eyebrow, flicked her horse’s flank, and spurred it forward at a gallop.

Soon, the two rode into the bandits’ camp. The sentries at the gate, seeing them accompanied by three or four bound men, were so frightened their legs wobbled, and they scrambled inside to report.

Inside the meeting hall, the bandit leader was enjoying drinks with his second-in-command and several comrades when they looked up at the commotion.

“What is it?” the leader asked.

“The third and fourth commanders have returned!” the sentry panted.

The leader frowned, setting down his cup. “If they’re back, let them in.”

He rose just as the curtain was lifted, revealing Gu Han and Princess Changning entering with two tightly bound bandits in tow—obviously the captured third and fourth commanders.

The leader was stunned, his gaze shifting from Gu Han’s stern face to Princess Changning. He froze.

Mouth agape, he descended from his dais and finally managed to stammer, “You… you are Princess Changning?”

Hearing this, the princess’s lips curled into a smile. Elegantly, she approached the steps and seated herself upon the tiger-skin throne.

Casually stroking the tiger’s head, she spoke arrogantly, “What is it? You recognize me?”

The leader nodded dumbly. “I recognize you! Who doesn’t know the princess’s name…”

“Enough flattery,” she interrupted, waving her hand and glancing at the kneeling captives. “Tell me, which scheming dog gave the order to kidnap me?”

The leader instinctively looked toward a short, thin man with two little mustaches standing beside him.

The man shrank back nervously, clasping his hands. “I am the second commander of the camp. This matter… was my greed. I heard the princess’s dowry was abundant, so—”

Before he could finish, Princess Changning had already risen, stepped down from the dais, and in her hand held a sharp sword.

With a swift flash of steel, before the second commander could react, she pierced him through, and he collapsed to the ground.