A delectable scent wafted through the dining hall. This evening’s dinner was called edible bird’s nest. It was created by edible-nest swiftlets, also known as white-nest swiftlets, which was a small bird of the swift family. The bird nests were prized in the Shang Kingdom for their high nutritional value and rich Qi, but they also had a very robust flavor and were bursting with umami.

“I had no idea your chefs knew how to prepare edible bird’s nests,” Emperor Hou Jun said as he ladeled some of the soup on his spoon and took a sip. He sighed contently and slowly set the spoon back in his bowl. “Delicious.”

“I remember the first time you had me try it and fell in love with the taste. Once I became the head of the Wu Clan, I ordered my chefs to begin work on replicating that dish,” Father said. He was smiling. A genuine, full-faced smile.

How rare.

“They did a good job. The flavor is slightly different from what I’m used to in the palace, however.”

“Mmm. We were unable to procure some of the ingredients and had to substitute them with a suitable equivalent.”

“I see. Yes, that makes sense. The tast is different, but it is still delectable.”

The emperor and Father were sitting side by side at the head table near the very back of the room. Mother and Aunt Taohua were also with them, as were Wu Meiying, Hou Jingshu, and Wu Jian himself. He had no idea why they were letting him sit at the head of the table, but the elders who normally sat there did not look happy. Only Elder Wu Jinsu seemed content sitting at one of the other tables arrayed around the room.

Wu Jian looked at the soup in his porcelain bowl. It appeared somewhat milky and translucent. The off-white color had several spices and herbs mixed in. He had never seen anything quite like it, though he knew what it was.

“Quite the extravagant meal we’re having,” Wu Meiying said as she slowly sipped the soup. A smile appeared on her face as she scooped up some more.

“I’m not sure I can eat this. Isn’t edible bird’s nest made from bird spit?” asked Wu Jian.

“Yes, but you shouldn’t let that bother you.” The one who answered him was not Wu Meiying, but Hou Jingshu, who sat on his other side. “Not only is it delicious, but edible bird’s nest is said to slow aging, prevent lung disease, and improve your complexion. It is also rich in chi and can help you achieve a breakthrough in your cultivation. Children who consume it regularly before they come of age are said to have an easier time breaking through to the Hunger Realm.”

“It also boosts a person’s sex drive,” Wu Meiying added.

Hou Jingshu, who had just placed her spoon in her mouth, coughed several times as the soup went down the wrong pipe. Wu Jian gently patted her back and gave her some water. The girl gratefully grabbed the glass and took a long swig, sighing upon finishing. She glared at Wu Meiying after setting the cup down.

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“Do what on purpose?”

“Say that just as I was putting food into my mouth?”

“Of course not. You’re just imagining things.”

Because he was between them, Wu Jian was stuck listening to the pair banter, though he didn’t mind. They seemed to get along for the most part. Well, he hoped that was the case.

He looked back down at his soup. He still hadn’t taken a bite. Was this stuff really as delicious as Hou Jingshu said? He didn’t see how it could be, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying the meal, so he scrunched up his courage and ladeled his spoon with some soup and herbs, then brought it to his mouth.

“Like Hou Jingshu said, edible bird’s nest is also said to stimulate a cultivator’s chi,” Wu Meiying added as he took his first bite. “This is the primary reason why it’s considered a delicacy and so rare. Many rich and powerful cultivators will pay millions of quan for them.”

Wu Jian’s eyes opened wide as the soup’s flavor hit his tongue. The umami from the herbs perfectly blended with the rich flavor of the soup, neither overpowering nor being overpowered by the other flavors, but complementing each other in perfect harmony. He had never tasted anything quite like it. Now he could understand why this was considered a delicacy.

It was truly delicious.

“Yes, that is true,” Hou Jingshu said. She took another sip of her soup. “There are many cultivators who are willing to pay hefty sums of money for edible bird’s nests, but thanks to how many people try to get their hands on them, this type of food is very rare. Even I have only eaten it maybe twice in my entire life.” She smiled as she brought the spoon to her lips once more. “This will make it the third time.”

Wu Jian looked at the other tables after Hou Jingshu spoke and noticed they were the only ones eating this particular dish. Everyone else was having peking duck. It was not as rare nor as delicious as edible bird’s nest soup. He could only conclude there wasn’t enough of this to go around.

Which begged the question of why he and Wu Meiying were being allowed to eat it while the elders of the Wu Clan were not.

“Will you be staying the night, Brother Jun?” asked Father.

Emperor Hou Jun shook his head. “I am afraid I cannot. I have been away from the palace for too long and need to get back before my sons do something irreversibly damaging. They have been getting a lot more reckless as of late. I need to remind them that I am still in charge.”

It sounded like there was trouble in the Imperial Capital, though that was none of Wu Jian’s business. Matters of the Imperial Capital felt like a far removed issue that had nothing to do with the people out here in the countryside. That said, he was curious to know why the emperor of all people was here. What was he doing out in the middle of nowhere like this? And why did he and Father refer to each other as “Brother”? So much about this situation didn’t make sense.

Father is obviously close with the Emperor. I know he joined the Imperial Shang Army at one point. Is that where they became so close? The army?

“That is unfortunate, but I do understand,” Father said with a nod.

“If you have to leave right away, at least let us prepare some tieguanyin for the road,” Mother said.

Father sighed as mother spoke out of turn, but he didn’t reprimand her, something that Emperor Hou Jun didn’t fail to notice. Wu Jian watched curiously as a mild, amused smile appeared on his face. However, like any good ruler, he did not say whatever he was thinking and responded with a small nod.

“I would love some. Hmm. Edible bird’s nest soup and tieguanyin are not things I expected to see so far from the capital. You certainly aren’t stingy, Brother Yōushì.”

“The tieguanyin is personally cultivated by my wife.” Father placed a hand on Mother’s lower back. “She is very talented in the cultivation of plants and is good at distilling. The tieguanyin she prepares is made with ginseng berries.”

“Oh ho. So you are even cultivating ginseng berries here. Very nice. I cannot wait to partake during the trip back home.”

Wu Jian once more found himself curious as he listened to Father’s conversation with the emperor. What exactly was going on here? Why had the emperor of the Shang Kingdom come all this way if he was just going to leave after having dinner? Surely, it couldn’t be that he simply wanted to visit Father.

He didn’t find out until after dinner. Once everyone had their fill of food and drink, several servants came to clear away the dishes, and Father stood to his feet. He didn’t say anything. However, his very actions caused everyone who had been chatting to stop and look at him.

“Everyone, I am sure you are wondering why his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Hou Jun, has come to visit our out of the way clan. The reason has to do with his daughter and the future of the Wu Clan.”

Those words caused another stir amongst the Wu clansmen. While no one said anything, everyone looked at Hou Jingshu, who, to her credit, did not respond to their looks. She remained calm and poised, with her back straight and her bearing regal. Wu Jian was honestly impressed that she could remain so calm under all those stares. Then again, she was probably used to it.

At this point in time, Emperor Hou Jun stood to his feet and smiled.

“As Brother Yōushì pointed out, I am here because of my daughter. It pleases me to announce that I am wedding my daughter to Brother Yōushì’s youngest son and heir to the Wu Clan, Wu Jian!”

A silence so all-encompassing that even the cicadas stopped chirping fell over the dining hall. Eyes widened, mouths fell to the floor, and the world itself seemed to come to a standstill.

“… Huh?” Within this silence, Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu made confused people sounds.

***

Dinner ended and the evening sky was painted a red that slowly gradated to dark velvet. Hou Jingshu stood by her father’s carriage. Father was giving her an aggrieved smile as she stared at him with tear-filled eyes.

“I see you are still upset with me,” he said.

She could have railed at him, could have yelled and told him that of course she was upset, but she felt like even that would be giving him a victory. She did not appreciate being left here. Hou Jingshu did not like that Father was making all of her choices without even consulting her.

“I know you don’t like this, but please… this is for your own safety.”

“Hmph.”

Hou Jingshu turned her head, crossed her arms, and huffed. She had nothing to say to this man.

Father sighed. “I guess… I cannot blame you for acting this way, but I wish you would be a little more understanding of my position…”

Hou Jingshu faltered; she couldn’t be mad at him when he spoke like that, of duty and responsibility. She understood that as the Emperor of a nation, the needs of the nation outweighed everything else. That he was doing something selfish like sending her away for her own protection was a testament to his love for her.

“I… I do understand,” she said at last. “I know you are just doing this to protect me, but I feel like every choice is being made for me.”

“That is what it means to be the Imperial Princess,” Father said. “I know you do not like it, but everything I have ever done was to protect you. Maybe if your mother were still alive, things would be different. She was much stronger than me, but… well, anyway, I am sorry things are turning out like this. Please, do your best to bear with it.”

Hou Jingshu sighed. “I can’t promise anything.”

“I suppose not.”

Father reached into his pocket, knelt down, and removed an object—a necklace, which he placed around her neck. Dangling from the end was a very small pendant made from a precious stone. Hou Jingshu looked at it in shock.

“Isn’t this…?”

Nodding, Father said, “This necklace belonged to your mother. That stone is from a piece of ten million year old Jade. It is a national treasure that emperors have been infusing with chi ever since it was discovered. Keep it with you.”

“O-okay. I will…” Hou Jingshu mumbled as she let the precious stone rest on the palm of her hand. It was cool to the touch but not unpleasantly so.

With a soft smile, Father leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Hou Jingshu let it happen without saying anything. Her father stood, placed a hand on her head, as if to ruffle her hair one more time, then turned and entered the carriage.

“Farewell, my precious daughter. I hope you live a long, happy, peaceful life.”

The driver cracked the reins, the horses winnied before taking off with a trot, and Hou Jingshu watched it leave with tears in her eyes.

Someone came up behind her. It was Wu Yōushì’s first wife. What was her name again? Wu Ailin? Wu Ai? It began with an A, but Hou Jingshu was in such a state of confusion that she couldn’t remember.

The woman knelt before her and used a handkerchief to wipe away the tears. Such a motherly gesture would have normally bothered her, but the woman was so soft and gentle that she couldn’t bring herself to get angry.

“I’m sure this is hard on you, but please rest assured that we of the Wu Clan will do everything within our power to make you happy.”

“Th-thank you,” Hou Jingshu sniffled.

“Come on. Let me show you where you’ll be staying.”

Tender smile still in place, the woman took Hou Jingshu’s hand and guided her into the compound. Hou Jingshu took one last look at the road her father’s carriage had disappeared from before the gates shut, sealing her inside like a bird trapped in a cage.