THE NEXT MORNING, Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu set off from Qiemo to the Western Khaganate's capital in Suyab, where Apa Khagan awaited.
Gao Yi had offered to personally see them off, but Cui Buqu declined. They were still a group of only four, with a heavy responsibility. Making a spectacle of their departure was inadvisable. The upheaval in Qiemo had exposed their identities; they'd gained a new enemy in the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai, and the issue of Fo'er remained unresolved. Their journey through the mountains would be long and arduous, and escorting Jinlian safely back to the Göktürk court, they expected, would be rife with challenges.
Yet it wasn't so. They departed Qiemo and arrived in Kucha, where they rested a few days before continuing toward Suyab near Mount Sanmi. As they reached the foot of the mountains, they could see the Göktürk wolf riders galloping in the distance—these were the lands of the capital. The entire journey had been uneventful, devoid of any danger.
Even Jinlian felt things were going rather too smoothly. She turned to Cui Buqu. "Has Fo'er given up on killing me?"
"Until we stand before Apa Khagan, it's too early to say. Tell me, what's Apa Khagan like?"
The Zuoyue Bureau had its own information channels, but they couldn't compare to Jinlian, who lived at Apa Khagan's side. Few in the world knew Apa better than she did.
There was a long silence before Jinlian answered: "He's actually a bit of a buffoon."
Cui Buqu raised a brow.
Those in the Zuoyue Bureau had heard much about Apa Khagan, mostly from people around him. The most common assessment was that Apa Khagan was mistrustful, calculating, and envious of others. Other testimony came from Han prisoners of war who had narrowly escaped the jaws of death and returned to the Central Plains. In their words, he was a bloodthirsty demon who loved only battle.
Jinlian had said nothing about Apa Khagan on their way here. But at Cui Buqu's prompting, she began to speak. "There are many Göktürk tribes, so there are likewise many khagans. Think of the Spring and Autumn or Warring States periods of your Central Plains—the nations are scattered and independent, and skirmishes between tribes are common. The khagan today might be replaced with a new one tomorrow, and no one would bat an eye. But with Ishbara's rise, he's demonstrated his intent to annex the surrounding tribes and unify the Göktürks. Apa Khagan, too, is aware of this. There are plenty of ways to kill without drawing a blade, and the people at Apa Khagan's side are constantly changing."
Cui Buqu nodded. He'd heard this as well.
Jinlian sighed. "The khagan has a wild imagination. Before I left for the Central Plains, he asked me to train a group of female bodyguards for him. He said women are more loyal and reliable than men, so they could keep him safe in my absence."
Feng Xiao gave her a strange look. "Is your khagan a lustful man?"
"Everyone loves beauty, from kings to commoners. Why should the khagan be an exception?" she asked.
Though Jinlian Khatun retained her charm, her brow and eyes were marked by wind and frost. However greatly she was valued for her insight and assistance, she was ultimately still his concubine and worried his favor would fade along with her beauty. A good portion of this endeavor had likely been Jinlian's idea in the first place. She'd taken the initiative to court the Sui dynasty on Apa Khagan's behalf at great risk to her own safety. Training these female guards might secure his affection, and they would also serve as her eyes and ears.
With this, Cui Buqu had a rough picture: Apa Khagan was a man of middling talent with an appetite for beautiful women and deep suspicion toward others.
Both the Eastern and Western Khaganates were home to many tribes, each occupying their own territories. When Ishbara had emerged as a dominant force, Apa Khagan had never considered how to overcome him; instead, he'd waffled between Ishbara and the Sui dynasty. Even if he'd once harbored some small ambition, time had worn it away. Persuading a man like him to join the Sui dynasty shouldn't be difficult, provided he was too thoroughly cowed to consider betrayal. The meeting between the eight tribes would convene in just a few days. Cui Buqu would see they made good use of it.
He was still thinking when a group of the riders galloped over and intercepted them. The Göktürk soldier at their head seemed surprised to see Jinlian; he quickly dismounted to pay his respects with a bow.
Jinlian nodded back. She sat high atop her horse, lofty and arrogant, devoid of the warmth she'd shown Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao on their journey.
But after exchanging a few words with the patrol, Jinlian frowned in anger. She raised her voice with questions, and the Göktürks saluted and apologized, yet still surrounded Cui Buqu and the rest, drawing their long sabers. It certainly didn't look like they had come to welcome distinguished guests.
Cui Buqu translated for Feng Xiao and Qiao Xian: "They're arresting us. Jinlian said we're her honored guests from the Central Plains and asked them to report to the khagan. They said the khagan had issued an order: no Central Plainsmen may enter the encampment."
Jinlian's face was dark with fury. If the Sui envoy she'd toiled to bring all this way took offense at this treatment and became their enemies instead, not only would her long journey have been in vain, she'd have forfeited her honor and good word.
Neither Cui Buqu nor Feng Xiao were easygoing men. If the Göktürks slighted them, they might wreak untold havoc. Duan Qihu's fate was fresh in Jinlian's mind—she had no similar death wish.
She turned to Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao. "I must apologize sincerely to both of you; I had no idea the khagan would give such an order. Even on pain of death, I swear you'll suffer no humiliation. Please wait here. I'll speak to the khagan myself, then personally return to invite you in!"
"Before the khatun leaves, tell us: has the khagan always treated Central Plainsmen with such wariness?" Cui Buqu asked.
Jinlian shook her head. "I traveled to the Central Plains with the khagan's express approval. You saw the letter yourself; it was no forgery."
"In that case, something must have happened after you left to change the khagan's mind. Khatun, your sincerity is plain to us all. We will wait for you here."
Jinlian had feared his censure; now she breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly apologized once more and turned to scold the soldiers, to their evident displeasure. They eyed Cui Buqu and the others, then nodded reluctantly, apparently agreeing to leave them be. With Jinlian riding snugly in their midst, they returned to the khagan's court.
***
An hour later, Cui Buqu, Feng Xiao, and Qiao Xian spied soldiers cantering toward them. Their faces were unfamiliar—this was a different group from before, and Jinlian was not among them.
"Was there a mutiny?" Feng Xiao mused. "Do you think the old khagan died and a new one took his place, so the alliance was voided and Jinlian lost her authority?"
"The Jiejian Bureau receives intelligence from every corner of the land. Does Deputy Chief Feng really need to ask me this question?"
Feng Xiao shrugged. "Hundreds of documents fly back and forth in the Jiejian Bureau every day. I'm not like Daoist Master Cui, who remembers anything he reads once. Things slip through the cracks. I had planned to return to the capital after dealing with the Khotanese envoy. How was I to know you'd abduct me instead?"
He deftly shifted the blame to Cui Buqu.
"Apa Khagan has two sons," said Cui Buqu. "His eldest, Yixun, was born to his first khatun. As for his second, Ade, his mother is unknown. She was likely from a humble background and passed away long ago. The Göktürks value strength above all; it's not uncommon for sons to usurp their fathers or a younger brother to depose the elder. But Apa Khagan is a cautious man. As far as I know, neither son holds much power. You see how he values Jinlian though she's borne him no sons—I find that very telling."
"So neither of his sons pose a threat," said Feng Xiao.
"I wouldn't say that. They say Apa dotes on his younger son and scorns his eldest. He believes his eldest cowardly, lacking the wolf-like nature of the Göktürks."
They fell silent as the Göktürk group reached them, splitting in two and encircling Cui Buqu's party. The leader barked out orders in Turkic, his expression ferocious.
Cui Buqu remained cool and indifferent as he replied in kind. After the brief exchange, Feng Xiao heard Cui Buqu's rapid whisper: "Defeat them but don't kill them. Grab the leader; we're charging straight into the capital!"
"Just the three of us? Are we not sheep wandering into a den of wolves?"
"With Deputy Chief Feng here, who else qualifies as a wolf?" Cui Buqu hissed.
Feng Xiao burst into laughter. "Now that's what I like to hear!"
The last word was scarcely out of his mouth before he appeared in front of a Göktürk soldier. Startled, the soldier yanked back on the reins, his horse's hooves rearing to trample Feng Xiao to death. As if Feng Xiao would give him the chance—his figure flickered, and the soldier screamed. In a blink, he'd tumbled from the saddle.
Qiao Xian waited until she saw him move to follow suit. She was no less valiant than he, but she also had to protect Cui Buqu.
These Göktürk soldiers might be strong enough to plunder ordinary folk of the Central Plains, but they were no match for Feng Xiao or Qiao Xian. Within minutes, the entire group was strewn across the ground, their leader dangling in Feng Xiao's grasp like a helpless chick.
"Now, let's go cause some mayhem!" Deputy Chief Feng was bubbling over with enthusiasm, as if a chaos-free world were his only fear.
Things should go much more smoothly with a few hostages in hand. And it happened that the leader of this group was no common soldier, but a yabghu, a position of similar status to a prime minister or general. Keeping a tight grip on their captive, the group proceeded toward the encampment to request a meeting with the khagan. Those who met them were shocked and enraged, but there was nothing they could do but rush ahead and report.
Not half an hour later they stood within the royal yurt, facing the illustrious Apa Khagan.
The khagan was between forty and fifty years of age, his beard full and his black hair streaked with white. Perhaps it was due to age that he hunched in his seat and had a habit of squinting when he looked at people.
Jinlian, who stood at his side, shone with a hundredfold more vigor and spirit. If she'd become khagan of the Western Khaganate instead, perhaps Cui Buqu's group wouldn't have encountered so many problems. But it was the way of the world that men came first. No matter how lofty Jinlian's aspirations, she could achieve them only through Apa.
"Central Plainsmen! Why do you hold my minister hostage?" Apa Khagan snarled, watching them through narrowed eyes.
Göktürk princes and officials filled the khagan's spacious yurt. Save for Jinlian, all glared balefully at the group in the center. Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao glimpsed an old acquaintance among them. Fo'er sat right beneath Apa Khagan, eyeing them expressionlessly.
A woman with Han features poured wine for the nobles in the yurt, her head and lashes lowered. She dared not risk a glance up.
"Ah—!"
A sudden cry of pain cut the tense atmosphere; the Han slave had been kicked in the stomach and sent flying. She groaned on the ground, then struggled, trembling, to stand, terrified of provoking the nobleman who'd kicked her again.
"Lowly bastards from the Central Plains. I'll crush you like ants!" growled the young Göktürk noble who'd kicked her. He glanced at Cui Buqu, his smile full of malice.
Jinlian hadn't been captured as they'd assumed. She'd changed into fresh robes, her dress stately and without flaw. But a hint of anxiety hovered around her eyes when she looked at them, as if she had much to say but couldn't speak.
Perhaps this will be a bit more challenging than expected, Cui Buqu thought.