The wind was colder in the north, biting through the cloak Li Wei wore as he rode steadily into the rebel-held city. The stone walls of the Northern Territory towered above him—once a home to peace, now a land shadowed by old blood and fragile truces.
Upon arrival, he dismounted and politely asked for Mo Shan Shan. The locals, unaware of his identity, guided him toward the inner quarters of the estate where she was recovering.
When he entered the courtyard, he found her seated beside General Liang. Her face was lit by the northern sun, but the moment her eyes caught his, a flicker of surprise—and then, disappointment—shadowed her expression.
"Li Wei?" she said, rising quickly to her feet.
The general turned in his seat, giving a respectful nod to the new guest. "Welcome. You must have traveled far."
But Mo Shan Shan was already walking away. Her expression hardened. "You should've told me… about my parents," she said bitterly, her voice tight with emotion.
Without waiting for his reply, she disappeared into the house and slammed the door behind her.
General Liang exhaled slowly and turned back to Li Wei. "She's… spirited," he said with a half-smile. "But tell me, who is she really?"
Li Wei lowered his hood and looked the general in the eye. "Before I answer that, I want to ask who you are."
"I am General Liang. I was appointed by a prince from the Capital. He promised us a future—independence, freedom—if we supported the movement against the crown," Liang answered honestly.
Li Wei folded his arms. "I see. And which prince made such a promise?"
Without hesitation, General Liang named the two princes from the royal court—both known rivals of Lu Bai and Li Wei.
Li Wei gave a small nod. "I suspected as much."
General Liang tilted his head. "You're not surprised?"
"No," Li Wei replied. "But you should be. Those two princes—when they no longer see value in your cause—they will turn on you without a second thought."
Li Wei stepped forward, lowering his voice with sharp intensity. "You say you want a future for your people? Then pull back your forces. Let me speak with the king. There's a chance—however slim—that we can avoid war. But you must stand down for now."
General Liang frowned but didn't interrupt.
"And as for Mo Shan Shan…" Li Wei paused, letting the words settle. "She's not just a girl from the South. Her father was the general who first led the Northern army during the rebellion. The man your people still speak of in hushed tones—he died in the King's invasion. She is his daughter."
General Liang's eyes widened, stunned.
"I didn't know," he muttered. "No one told us…"
"Well, now you do." Li Wei stood tall. "Treat her with respect. Her past is tied to both your people and the crown."
General Liang bowed slightly. "Thank you, Prince Li Wei. You've given me much to consider."
The following morning, Li Wei rose early. He intended to speak with Mo Shan Shan again—to explain, to rebuild the trust that had frayed between them.
But her room was empty.
A maid informed him that she had gone outside before dawn. Li Wei followed her trail into the village streets and found her among the people—helping an elderly man with a broken cart, handing bread to children, gently tending to a woman with an injured arm.
She wore a smile now. A quiet one, but genuine. The coldness from the day before had melted under her compassion for her people.
Li Wei approached silently, then spoke softly. "You've settled in already."
Mo Shan Shan turned, offering a faint smile. "These people… they've lost so much. It's hard to stay angry when you see how much they need help."
Li Wei joined her side. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about your family sooner. Lu Bai made me promise to protect you first, not confuse you."
Mo Shan Shan sighed and looked at the horizon. "I understand now. There's so much pain in the past. I can't change it. But I can choose what I do with it."
She looked back at him with determined eyes. "What about Lu Bai? Is he safe?"
Li Wei hesitated. "Not exactly. The king found out you're in the North. He placed Lu Bai under house arrest—guards surrounding his estate, no contact with the outside world."
Mo Shan Shan's heart twisted. "What?"
"He's doing it to protect you," Li Wei added quickly. "He knew the king would react this way."
Mo Shan Shan stepped back, furious. "Then I'm going back."
"Mo Shan Shan—"
"I have to go!" she snapped. "He suffered for me. I can't let him carry this alone."
Li Wei tried to reason with her, but the fire in her eyes burned with conviction. She turned and marched back toward the estate to pack.
Realizing he couldn't stop her, Li Wei signaled to one of his shadow spies hidden among the trees. "Follow her," he ordered. "Make sure she reaches the Capital safely. And if anything happens—protect her at all costs."
The spy bowed and disappeared into the shadows.
As Mo Shan Shan prepared for her journey south, the Northern wind howled behind her. She wasn't just a runaway or a servant girl anymore. She was the daughter of a fallen general, walking straight into the heart of the kingdom that had broken her family—and the only place where answers still waited.