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1
Wu Zixu stood on the battlefield, his eyes scanning the troops gathered before him. As the Grand Chancellor of Ng, he had seen his fair share of battles, but there was something different about this one. He could feel the tension in the air, the anticipation of the soldiers waiting to be given their orders.
As he was about to speak, a woman on horseback rode up to him. She was dressed in full armor, and her long black hair flowed behind her. Wu Zixu didn't recognize her at first, but as she dismounted from her horse, he realized who she was – Princess Tengyu.
“What are you doing here, Your Highness?” Wu Zixu demanded, his voice cold and unyielding.
“I'm leading the troops,” Tengyu replied, her voice just as cool as Wu Zixu's. “My father appointed me as general of this army.”
Wu Zixu raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had heard of Tengyu's military prowess, but he had never expected her to be leading troops in battle. Despite his initial surprise, Wu Zixu kept his composure and asked, “Are you sure you're ready for this? War is not a game.”
Tengyu's eyes flashed with anger at the implication that she wasn't capable of leading troops. “I am more than capable of leading this army,” she replied, her tone icy. “My father trusted me with this task, and I will not disappoint him.”
Wu Zixu could sense the tension between them, but he knew better than to argue with a princess. He gave her a curt nod before turning back to the troops and giving them their orders.
As the battle raged on, Wu Zixu couldn't help but keep an eye on Tengyu. Despite her cocky attitude, he couldn't deny that she was a skilled general. He watched as she led her troops fearlessly into battle, her black hair flying behind her.
After the battle was won, Wu Zixu approached Tengyu. “Your Highness fought well today,” he said, his tone surprisingly soft.
Tengyu looked at him in surprise, her guard momentarily dropping. “Thank you,” she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
Wu Zixu couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the young princess. Despite her arrogance, he couldn't deny that she was a skilled warrior. Perhaps she wasn't as foolish as he had initially thought.
As they parted ways, Wu Zixu couldn't help but wonder what other surprises Tengyu had up her sleeve.
2
The storm had hit them hard, and the once formidable army of Ng was now reduced to a ragged and bedraggled group of soldiers trudging through the muddy terrain. Wu Zixu and Tengyu, both of whom had never experienced such dire circumstances before, were leading the retreat from the front.
As they trudged on, Tengyu realized that they needed to mislead the enemy to buy the main force some time to regroup. She proposed a plan to lead a small troop and stay behind to divert the enemy's attention, while the rest of the army retreated. Wu Zixu, however, was against it.
“We can't afford to risk more lives,” he said, trying to reason with her.
“We can't afford to let the enemy catch up to us either,” Tengyu retorted. “We need to mislead them, and this is the only way.”
Their discussion quickly turned into a heated argument, with neither willing to give in. Wu Zixu felt a strange pang in his chest as he argued with her. He knew it was not the time to talk about feelings, but he couldn't shake off the thought of losing her.
“We need to stick to the original plan,” Wu Zixu said, trying to bring some impersonal reason to his argument. “Retreat, regroup, and come back stronger.”
Tengyu abruptly stood up from the discussion, “I am going through with my plan,” she declared, “I can't let the enemy catch up to us.”
Wu Zixu watched her leave, with a sinking feeling in his gut. He knew there was no stopping her when she had made up her mind.
As they retreated, the weather slowly cleared up, Tengyu and her troops were nowhere to be seen. Wu Zixu was worried sick, and he knew that he needed to keep moving. He had a job to do, and he couldn't afford to lose focus.
With a heavy heart, Wu Zixu led the main force to safety, all the while thinking about Tengyu and her troops. He knew that they would have to face the enemy alone, and the thought of her being in danger made him feel uneasy.
As they reached the safe zone, Wu Zixu turned back, looking for any sign of Tengyu and her troops. But there was nothing. He knew that he had to keep moving, but the worry for Tengyu was weighing heavily on his mind.
3
Wu Zixu received the report that Tengyu's horse had returned alone, with an empty saddle and bloodstains. He felt his heart drop and his hands start to shake. He knew he couldn't fall apart, the army was depending on him. He took a deep breath, swallowed his emotions, and gave the order to continue the retreat.
As they retreated, they encountered the old enemy. Despite Tengyu's efforts, the enemy was still too powerful. Wu Zixu felt the weight of despair creeping up on him. He knew he had to keep his calm and wits about him to honor Tengyu's sacrifice.
The battlefield was gruesome and chaotic. Wu Zixu was fighting with all his might, his sword flashing in the sun. He thought of Tengyu often, and what could have been, but he forced himself to focus on the battle at hand.
Days passed, and the fighting continued, with no end in sight. The soldiers were exhausted and morale was low. Wu Zixu struggled to keep them going, but he knew they couldn't give up.
Finally, on the fourth day of the battle, the enemy formation disrupted from the side and rear. A small troop cut into the enemy's belly like a knife, which lead by a knight that have a head hang from their saddle.
Wu Zixu saw an opportunity and maneuvered his army to cooperate with the surprise attack troop. Together, they defeated the enemy in one fell swoop.
As the dust settled, Wu Zixu saw a figure knelt on the ground, supportted themselves with a sword and surrounded by enemy corpses. It was Tengyu, the realization was like a punch to his chest. She was alive but heavily wounded. Wu Zixu ran to her, tears streaming down his face. He knelt beside her and held her hand. He knew then, more than ever before, that he loved her. But he also knew that they still had a battle to win.
With Tengyu's help, they regrouped and attacked the enemy from all sides. The battle was long and hard, but they emerged victorious.
As the sun began to set, Wu Zixu took Tengyu in his arms, and they watched as their army celebrated their victory. They both knew that their love for each other had helped them win, but they also knew that they had a long road ahead of them.
4
Wu Zixu entered Tengyu's room, holding a tray with herbs and medicine. “How are you feeling?” he asked softly.
Tengyu looked up at him with tired eyes. “I'm fine,” she said, but Wu Zixu knew she was lying. She had been quiet and withdrawn ever since they returned to the capital.
He sat down next to her and started to prepare the medicine. “You don't have to pretend to be strong all the time,” he said. “We all know what you did for us.”
Tengyu sighed. “I know, but I just can't shake this feeling of... I don't know, guilt maybe? It's like I have this weight on my shoulders that won't go away.”
Wu Zixu looked at her with concern. “What can I do to help?”
Tengyu smiled weakly. “Just keep being you,” she said. “You're always so steady and reliable. It's comforting.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was a messenger from the court, summoning Tengyu and Wu Zixu to a meeting.
As they entered the court, they could feel the tension in the air. The emissaries from the enemy country were demanding the return of their prince's missing wife, whom they claimed had been captured during the recent battle.
King Helu was outraged at the demand. “There was no such marriage arrangement!” he bellowed.
But the emissaries insisted that Tengyu was already married to their prince, and that she must be returned to them to ensure the peace treaty.
Wu Zixu's blood boiled with anger. “These emissaries are spreading lies and rumors!” he exclaimed. “They should all be punished!”
Tengyu stood up calmly, and silence fell over the court. “What the emissaries say is true,” she said.
Wu Zixu felt as though the world had stopped spinning. He had no idea what Tengyu was about to say next.
“But,” she said to the emissaries, “as you can see in this box, the head inside belongs to your prince.”
The emissaries were stunned into silence. Tengyu continued, “Yes, you made me married to your prince. But after the first night, I killed him, drank up his blood and fed his remains to the dogs.”
The court erupted into chaos. The emissaries started shouting, demanding that Tengyu be handed over to them. But Wu Zixu had had enough. With a snarl, he drew his sword and charged at the emissaries, guards and soldiers joined the fray.
Tengyu stayed where she was, watching with a cool detachment as Wu Zixu cut down anyone who came near her.
Eventually, the dust settled and the emissaries lay dead on the floor. King Helu looked at Tengyu with a mixture of pride and concern.
“You killed a prince and brought his head back as a trophy?” he asked incredulously.
Tengyu shrugged. “That's what he deserved.”
“You have shown great courage and bravery, my daughter,” Helu said. “You have also proven your loyalty to your country. Ng is proud of you.”
Tengyu looked relieved and grateful, but Wu Zixu could see the weight lifting off her shoulders. He knew that she would still have to live with the memories of what had happened, but for now, they had won a great victory for Ng.
5
The grand banquet hall was adorned with colorful tapestries and dazzling chandeliers, and the tables were filled with exotic dishes and expensive wines. The sound of music and laughter filled the air as Tengyu stood out amongst the crowd, wearing a magnificent silk dress embroidered with gold threads. Wu Zixu was not far behind, looking dashing in his imperial robes.
Despite the merriment around them, Tengyu was feeling down. Wu Zixu couldn't help but notice the worried expression on her face.
“What's wrong, Tengyu?” he asked.
“It's nothing,” she replied, avoiding his gaze.
Wu Zixu's heart sank. He knew her well enough to know when something was troubling her.
As the night wore on, Tengyu's restlessness grew until she excused herself from the banquet. Wu Zixu's heart clenched with anxiety as he watched her leave the room, the same feeling he experienced during the battle when Tengyu went missing.
After a few minutes, Wu Zixu's worry took over, and he rushed out to search for Tengyu. He found her on the balcony, standing in the moonlight and gazing at the city below. Wu Zixu approached her, then he heard Tengyu spoke up.
“I don't know what to do, Father,” Tengyu said, her voice heavy with emotion. “I feel like a failure for not being able to protect myself.”
Helu put a comforting arm around her shoulder. “You've done more for our kingdom than any princess could ever hope to do. Your bravery has brought honor to our people.”
Wu Zixu's heart burst with emotion, and he rushed in with pounding heart, “Tengyu, I... I have a proposal for you. Will you marry me?” He immediately panicked at what he had just said, and Tengyu looked at him in surprise, her eyes shining with amusement.
“Did you just propose to me, Chancellor Wu?” she asked, teasingly.
“I...I...yes, I did. I mean, if Your Highness would have me, of course,” Wu Zixu stammered. “I'm sorry, my lady. It's too sudden. I shouldn't have said things like that.”
Tengyu looked at Wu Zixu with surprise, then a small smile appeared on her face. “Zixu, you are always so serious. I didn't know you had it in you,” she said, teasingly.
Wu Zixu felt his face flush with embarrassment. “I'm sorry, my lady. That's not in accordance with etiquette,” he repeated.
Tengyu chuckled softly. “It's alright, Zixu. I'm not offended. But before I answer, I need to tell you something,” she said, her eyes glistening with mischief.
Wu Zixu felt his heart skip a beat. “What is it, Your Highness?” he asked, nervously.
“You're cute when you panic.” she said, grinning.
Wu Zixu couldn't help but smile at her playful nature. “if you would have me,” he replied, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. “I will protect you for the rest of your life-“he started to stammer again,“what I mean is, we could be a strong team and-”
Tengyu interrupted him, a small smile on her face. “I accept your proposal, Chancellor. I think we would make a great team.”
“Ah, my favorite chancellor and my favorite daughter! What a joyous occasion!” Helu said, his voice full of mirth as he walked up to them.“Ng could not have a better couple to lead our kingdom forward. Congratulations to you both!”
Wu Zixu and Tengyu turned to him, their hands clasped. Helu grinned at them, clapping his hands together.
“Now, let us celebrate this union properly!” he said, leading them back into the banquet hall.
The rest of the night was filled with revelry and joy as Wu Zixu and Tengyu's engagement was celebrated. Helu was the life of the party, telling stories and jokes and making sure everyone was having a good time.
As the night came to a close, King Helu pulled Wu zixu aside and said with a smile, “You've made me a very happy man today, my friend.”
Wu zixu couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, and as he looked over at Tengyu, he knew that he had found his true love and that they would live happily ever after.
In the end, Tengyu and Wu Zixu were married in a grand ceremony, with King Helu presiding over the proceedings. Ng prospered under their leadership, and their love continued to blossom and thrive. The memory of Tengyu's bravery on the battlefield lived on, and she was forever celebrated as a hero of Ng.