Chapter 11 — The General's Wild Daughter

The mother finally burst into laughter through her tears.

"Your Majesty, please do not spoil this child so."

The Emperor smiled and replied, "I do not call it spoiling, but rather following the natural flow of things. A general's household giving birth to a fierce daughter is hardly anything less than a blessing."

The mother lowered her gaze. She did not argue, but I knew in her heart she still felt a lingering reluctance. Before we left the palace, the Empress once again sent attendants to deliver pastries, along with a small embroidered pouch. Inside lay a safety amulet and two sweet plums. Her Majesty said that a little girl with courage must also be granted a touch of sweetness. I immediately shared one with my mother. She held it on her tongue, the sweetness so profound that the corners of her eyes curved upward. On the way back to the manor, father did not ride his horse but instead climbed into the carriage with us. The compartment was not wide. The moment he settled in, the hem of mother's skirt was pushed aside. She playfully scolded, "What are you doing in here?"

Father answered, "To keep watch over the two of you."

Though her lips chagrined him, her hand secretly reached out to tug at his sleeve. I sat right in the middle, looking from mother to father. "Father, the Emperor said I am a fierce daughter."

Mother immediately covered my mouth. "He did not tell you to learn how to be a wild beast."

Father chuckled softly. I gently removed mother's hand. "Then does mother like a fierce daughter?"

The carriage suddenly fell silent. Mother looked at me, and after a long moment, she softly stroked my cheek. "Mother loves An Ninh."

"But mother will also be afraid."

I wanted to say more, but outside the carriage, the sudden neighing of horses rang through the air. The carriage lurched violently. With one hand, father steadied mother, while with the other, he pressed me tightly against his chest. Outside, the chief guard roared in a thunderous voice, "Caltrops on the road! Ambush!"

Mother's expression changed instantly. Safe within the solid embrace of my father, I heard an extremely faint footstep landing softly upon the roof of the carriage.

The footsteps on the carriage roof were as light as a falling autumn leaf. Yet father’s gaze shifted instantly. He pressed mother and me deeper into the corner of the carriage, his voice dropping to a low, stern whisper, "Do not make a sound."

Mother held me so tightly that even her breathing grew shallow. I held my breath as well, though my eyes remained wide open. The guards outside were already clashing with the assassins. The fierce arc of a blade swept past the wooden wall of the carriage, and with a sharp thud, something pierced straight through the wood. Mother’s hand trembled. I reached out and gently touched her wrist, whispering, "Mother, do not be afraid."

She looked down at me, the rims of her eyes burning red, yet she still covered my mouth. The person on the roof moved slowly. One inch. Two inches. Father stared fixedly at the ceiling, his hands empty. Because he had entered the palace that day, court etiquette required him to leave his weapons behind. Inside the carriage, there was only a food box, a round silk fan, and a spare hair ribbon mother had brought for me. I glanced at the food box. Mother immediately shot me a warning look—do not throw it. I had no choice but to look at the fan, but mother quickly hid it behind her back. At that very moment, the corners of father's lips curved upward in a cold smile.

Immediately after, the roof of the carriage was violently slashed open by a sharp blade. A hand reached inside, clutching a dagger that thrust directly toward mother’s shoulder. Father instantly seized the wrist, twisting it downward with bone-crushing force. A muffled groan echoed from above. But at the same time, the curtain on the opposite side was pulled back, and a man dressed in black lunged into the carriage. Mother was holding me, placing us closest to the exit. The assassin saw me, a fierce and murderous light flashing in his eyes. Mother tried to push me behind her, but the compartment was far too cramped. I do not know where I suddenly found the strength, but I grabbed the food box and shoved it straight outward. This time, I did not throw it. I remembered mother saying I must not throw things, so I pushed it.

The lid of the box popped open with a loud clatter. The osmanthus cakes, preserved plums, and soft pastries inside splattered all over the assassin's face. He froze in sheer bewilderment. I immediately screamed at the top of my lungs, "Father!"

Father kicked the carriage door wide open, sending both the assassin and the remnants of the pastries tumbling out into the dirt. Mother looked down at me, astonished. "Didn't you just say you didn't throw it?"

I felt deeply aggrieved. "I pushed it."

Mother was momentarily rendered speechless. Half the body of the man on the roof had been dragged down by father, and the arriving guards swiftly struck the back of his neck with the pommels of their swords. The sounds of fighting gradually faded into the distance. Yet father’s expression remained grim and unrelaxed. He lifted the carriage curtain to inspect the road ahead. The caltrops were scattered across the ground, and the alley walls on both sides were far too narrow; this was no impromptu mugging. They had been waiting for us all along.

The commander of the guards knelt before the carriage to confess his failure. Father’s voice was chillingly cold. "Take them alive."

The commander replied, "Reporting to the General, we have captured two alive."

Hearing that prisoners had been taken, mother instinctively covered my ears. Noticing this, father softened his tone slightly. "Let us return to the manor first."

Mother shook her head. "Are there more men waiting along the road?"

Father fell silent for a moment. He could not guarantee it. I tugged gently at mother’s sleeve. "Shall we go back to the palace?"

Father looked at me. I added, "The Emperor's place has very tall walls."

Mother was momentarily stunned. A flicker of deep approval danced in father’s eyes. He instantly ordered the guards to turn the carriage around, heading straight back to the palace gates to request an escort from the imperial guards. Mother pulled me into her arms and finally could not resist kissing my forehead. "An Ninh is truly clever."

I was so happy my tail was practically wagging in the air. Father added sternly, "Do not become arrogant simply because of this."

I instantly tucked my tail back in. When we returned to the palace gates, the garrison soldiers on duty were utterly terrified. Father explained the situation clearly, causing the commander of the imperial guards to turn pale with shock; he immediately dispatched messengers to report the incident. In less time than it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the chief eunuch serving the Emperor personally hurried out. He announced that by imperial decree, the General's wife and young daughter were to temporarily lodge in the inner hall of the palace.

Father had to leave once more to interrogate the captured assassins. Mother gripped his sleeve tightly. "Must you go again?"

Father spoke in a low, reassuring voice, "I will return very soon."

Mother’s eyes were filled with profound anxiety. I reached out and caught the other sleeve of his robe. "Father."

Father crouched down to my eye level. "Are you afraid?"

I shook my head. "Please do not get hurt."

Father’s expression softened completely. He gently ruffled my hair. "I promise you."

After thinking for a moment, I reached into my pocket and pressed the imperial jade talisman the Emperor had gifted me into his palm. "Wear this."

Father stared at the small piece of jade, speechless for a long time. Mother’s tears threatened to fall once again. Father carefully tied the jade pendant to his belt. "Very well."

The inner hall was laid with thick, plush carpets, warmed by bronze braziers, and attended by court maids bearing bowls of warm milk and delicate pastries. Yet mother had no appetite whatsoever. She sat quietly by the window, gazing out toward the distant palace walls. I leaned against her knees, looking out with her. After a long silence, I asked, "Mother, do you regret giving birth to me?"

Mother immediately lowered her gaze. "What kind of nonsense are you speaking?"

I clutched the hem of my garment. "I always make you cry."

The rims of mother’s eyes grew burning red. She pulled me into her arms, holding me fiercely tight. "Mother cries because I am afraid. It is not because I do not love you."

I murmured softly, "But I am not like the daughter you hoped for."

She remained silent for a long while. "That is true."

My heart instantly sank. But then she gently kissed the crown of my head. "Yet you are my An Ninh. You do not need to grow into the image I dreamed of. It is simply that I have not yet learned how not to be afraid."

I did not fully understand all her words, but I understood that she loved me. So I reached up and kissed her cheek. "I will teach you."

Mother was startled. "Teach me what?"

I answered with utmost seriousness, "I will teach you how to be brave."

Mother finally smiled. That smile was like flowers blooming after a spring rain. "Very well. Then mother shall teach you something as well."

"What is it?"

"True bravery is not always about rushing blindly to the front lines. Sometimes, protecting yourself well is the only way to protect mother."

I pondered her words for a long time before nodding. "I will learn."

By dusk, father had not yet returned. The Empress sent attendants with dinner, and even dispatched a young prince to keep me company. It was the very same boy who had failed to draw the bow yesterday. He stood at the threshold, looking at me awkwardly. "I did not come to visit you. I was merely following her Majesty's orders."

I nodded. "Oh."

He endured his hesitation for a moment before blurting out, "Are you going to shoot arrows again today?"

Mother immediately shot me a stern look. I hastily shook my head. "I will not shoot."

The young prince looked somewhat disappointed. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small wooden bow. "Then... will you teach me how to draw it?"

Mother’s smile froze instantly. Just as I was about to reply, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the hall. A guard knelt at the doorway.

"My Lady, the interrogation is complete. The mastermind behind tonight's ambush was not aiming for the General... but for the young miss."