chapter 5

A week after the imperial decree was announced, Minister Li Zhaoxian entered the Imperial Palace.

By the time he returned, the entire manor had already heard the news.

The Li family had been granted one extra month.

Officially, the reason was simple.

Li Yujin, the heir of the Li family, had suffered an accident while climbing a tree. A branch had broken beneath him, leaving an ugly wound across his face. The Emperor had allowed the young heir an additional month to recover before joining the army.

Unofficially, everyone in the Li Manor knew the truth.

Li Yujin had never fallen from a tree.

Li Mei was simply being given more time to prepare.

Her father was talking to someone about it 

"One month."

Li Mei stared at her father.

"One whole month?"

"Be grateful," said Li Zhaoxian.

"I spent considerable effort obtaining it."

Li Mei rolled her eyes.

"How generous."

"Spend less time talking and more time training.".ke.

The next morning began before sunrise.

"Your legs are weak!" the instructor barked.

Li Mei nearly dropped her wooden sword.

"Good morning to you too."

"That's why you skid every time you hit the dummy. Dig your heels into the ground. Pretend you're standing on the edge of a cliff."

Li Mei adjusted her stance.

"Like this?"

"No."

She swung.

The dummy shook.

"No."

She swung again.

The dummy shook harder.

"Still no."

Li Mei lowered the sword.

"Do you know any words besides no?"

"Yes."

The instructor folded his arms.

"Terrible."

Days passed.

Training became her life.

Every morning started with sword practice.

Every afternoon was spent studying military strategy.

Every evening ended with bruises.

One afternoon, Li Mei entered the study.

A stack of books immediately landed in front of her.

Thud.

Dust flew everywhere.

Li Mei stared at the pile.

"There are enough books here to build a wall."

The instructor sat down.

"Study military strategy."

"There are seven books."

"There are eight."

The instructor placed another book on top.

"There. Now there are eight."

Li Mei groaned.

A week later, Li Mei sat on a stool while a servant wrapped bandages around her hands.

The instructor tossed a bottle toward her.

She caught it.

"You must stay alive and bring glory to our household."

Li Mei raised an eyebrow.

"Since when did you start caring?"

"I don't."

The instructor opened his fan.

"But if you die too quickly, all my effort will be wasted."

"You're very encouraging."

"I know."

Another month of training passed quickly.

The bruises on Li Mei's palms became calluses.

Her footing improved.

Her sword strikes became stronger.

At least strong enough that the instructor stopped calling them embarrassing.

One afternoon, she managed to break the wooden sword 

The wooden figure crashed into the dirt.

Li Mei stared.

The instructor stared.

The servant stared.

The instructor said " At least you have broke  one sword " 

"I look at him coldly"

The instructor nodded.

"It  took you four months."

Li Mei immediately wanted to hit him with the dummy.

Fifteen days before departure, the instructor stood beside her desk.

She was sorting military reports.

"If you are captured, do not reveal that you are a girl."

Li Mei nodded.

"I know."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

The instructor pointed at her.

"If the enemy discovers your identity, it will ruin the Li family's reputation."

"You're worried about the Li family?"

"No."

He paused.

"You'll have bigger problems."

Li Mei understood exactly what he meant.

For once, she did not joke.

"I understand."

The instructor nodded.

"Good."

The final month passed.

Soon, departure day arrived.

Unlike the other noble heirs, Li Mei would not leave with a grand procession.

The others had already departed weeks ago.

Her destination was a military camp several days away, where she would join the rest of the army.

Before dawn, servants hurried through the manor preparing supplies.

Li Mei stepped into the courtyard.

For the first time, she noticed a wooden box resting on the table.

Her father stood beside it.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Li Mei lifted the lid.

Inside rested a silver mask.

She frowned.

"A mask?"

"If you don't wear it, people will notice that you are not Li Yujin."

Li Mei picked it up.

The metal was surprisingly light.

"You could have told everyone your heir was ugly."

Her father ignored her.

"I told the Emperor that the fall left a scar on your face."

"So that was the excuse."

"It bought you an extra month."

Li Mei looked at the mask for a long moment.

Then she placed it over her face.

The cool metal settled against her skin.

From a distance, she no longer looked like Li Mei.

She looked like the mysterious heir of the Li family.

Exactly as intended.

Outside the gates, her horse was already waiting.

Xiren stood nearby.

"Try not to get yourself killed, Miss."

Li Mei laughed.

"I'll do my best."

The instructor approached.

For once, he wasn't carrying a book.

Or a training sword.

Or another impossible assignment.

"Remember."

Li Mei tightened the reins.

"Retreat when necessary?"

"No."

The instructor shook his head.

"Survive."

For once, there was no sarcasm in his voice.

"The dead don't get revenge."

Li Mei stared at him.

Then a slow smile appeared beneath the mask.

"That's actually good advice."

"I know."

"Did you spend all night thinking of it?"

The instructor pointed toward the road.

"Leave before I change my mind and make you study another book."

Li Mei laughed.

With one pull of the reins, the horse began moving.

The gates of the Li Manor slowly opened.

A new road stretched before her.

Somewhere ahead, the army of Yue was waiting.

And for the first time in years, I was riding toward something unknown.

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