"Old Pan, pass the word — the army holds where it stands... And send someone to tell that Gaoli crown prince that this prince is willing to see him."

Pan Yucheng nodded and went to carry it out.

Ning Chen turned to Tantai Qingyue. "A marriage alliance is standard politics for pellet-sized countries like yours, huddling together to keep warm. Jin Dongxing asked for your hand. Why didn't you marry him?" (TL Note: 抱團取暖, "to huddle together for warmth" — a set phrase for weak parties banding together out of necessity rather than affection. The raw writes the homophone 報.)

Tantai Qingyue's voice was cool. "I did not want to!"

Ning Chen looked surprised. "Royals get to pick who they marry?"

Tantai Qingyue said proudly, "Others cannot. I can."

Ning Chen gave her a thumbs-up. "I get it. You were waiting for me."

Her eyes, clear as autumn water, filled with disdain.

Shameless as ever, Ning Chen went on. "The way I see it, you and me — a talented man, a beautiful woman, a perfect match... People always say, better Ning Chen's concubine than another man's wife. You got lucky, hitching yourself to me." (TL Note: 郎才女貌, "the man's talent, the woman's beauty" — the stock Chinese formula for a perfectly matched couple.)

Behind her veil, the corner of Tantai Qingyue's mouth twitched. Which shameless 'people' would that be?

Down in the city, runners tore through the streets passing on Ning Chen's order.

The Southern Frontier Army stopped, held its ground, and waited on orders.

Word reached Jin Dongxing at the same time: Ning Chen would see him.

Jin Dongxing came with only Jin Kuan and a few personal bodyguards.

At the foot of the wall Jin Kuan and the others were turned back, and Jin Dongxing climbed to the gate tower alone to meet Ning Chen.

Ning Chen looked down at Jin Dongxing coming up the steps and turned to Tantai Qingyue. "This crown prince of the Gaoli Kingdom was born with a good skin on him, I'll give him that."

Jin Dongxing was tall and slender, a…