They departed early the following day. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, and the air actually felt cool and fresh for once. The only sound was the steady thud of the horses' hooves hitting the dirt road.
Xiao Zhi sat quietly next to Ruhan, her hands resting in her lap. This new carriage was solid and didn't rattle as much as the fancy one the bandits had stolen, which she actually preferred. She spent the time staring out the window, watching the grassland finally start to change, even greener than before.
After a while, she spoke softly. "It's strange. I thought Tughril would be nothing but desert."
Ruhan glanced at her. "That's what most outsiders think. But there is more here than sand."
They fell into a comfortable silence. The road grew busier the closer they got to the capital. She could see some farmers pushing carts, soldiers patrolling in pairs, and merchants carrying bundles of bright fabrics and spices.
When the first tall walls of the capital appeared, Xiao Zhi leaned forward, her eyes widening in mesmeration. She had already been surprised by the border city, with its lively markets and strong-built homes. But the capital was something else entirely.
The streets were wider and full of people. The houses were not made of plain mudbrick but decorated with painted patterns and carved wood. Colorful flags hung between rooftops, and the air buzzed with voices, music, and laughter from deeper inside the city.
"This isn't what I pictured," Xiao Zhi said as the carriage rolled along the main avenue.
Ruhan smiled faintly. "Tughril has always been more than people think. We don't just fight wars. We build. We trade. We live."
At the city's center stood the Khan's palace. It rose high above the rest of the city, its walls carved with flowing patterns and lined with dark wood beams. Banners of crimson and gold fluttered above the gates, each marked with a black falcon.
When the carriage stopped at the front steps, rows of guards stood waiting, their armor shining in the morning sun.
The captain stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Eunuch Ruhan. Welcome home."
Xiao Zhi blinked, a little surprised by the title. In Hua, he had been Envoy Ruhan, a man of status and honor. At the border, he was Lord Ruhan, respected and admired. But here, in this grand palace, he was simply Eunuch Ruhan.
Ruhan nodded. "Thank you. I am here with the Hua Princess, as commanded."
The captain turned to Xiao Zhi and bowed again, his tone respectful. "Welcome, Princess. The Khan awaits you."
They followed him inside.
The main hall was massive, but it looked different from the Hua Palace. There were no jade pillars here. Instead, rough stone pillars rose from the floor, solid and plain. The palace walls were made of what she guessed was desert sand and clay. The air carried a faint scent of incense and warm stone. Torches burned along the walls, their flames flickering across the tall pillars.
At the far end, the Great Khan was waiting.
He looked every bit the part of a desert king, dressed in deep red and black silk robes trimmed with thick, dark fur. But Xiao Zhi couldn't look away from his face. Or rather, where his face should have been. He was wearing a dark metal mask that covered everything except his eyes. The surface was etched with weird, swirling markings that looked both beautiful and terrifying.
When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and had a metallic ring to it, slightly distorted by the mask.
"Welcome, Princess Lian Zhi. You've crossed the sands and made it here in one piece. Princess of Hua, you honor our land."
Xiao Zhi bowed quickly, unsure what to say. The sound of his voice sent a faint chill down her spine.
Beside the throne stood a woman, graceful and composed. Her dark hair was streaked with silver, and her fur-lined robe flowed behind her as she stepped forward.
"I am the Khatun Dowager," she said, her voice as smooth as silk. "Welcome, Princess. I hope your journey through the sands wasn't too hard on you."
Xiao Zhi felt a different kind of chill. If the Khan was intimidating because of his mask, this woman was intimidating because she looked like she could read every thought in Xiao Zhi's head. She looked like a queen who could whisper a single word and have the entire court move exactly as she wished.
"It was long," Xiao Zhi replied carefully, "but I was well cared for."
The Dowager gave a small smile and gestured to the man standing below the throne. "Allow me to introduce my son, Prince Kabil."
The man who stepped forward was not what Xiao Zhi expected. She had imagined a warlord, grim and proud. Instead, Kabil stood tall and broad-shouldered, with strong features and calm, steady eyes. His skin was sun-darkened, his dark hair tied loosely at the back.
"Welcome to Tughril," he said, his voice low and even. "I hope our city does not frighten you."
"It does not," Xiao Zhi said quickly. "It is beautiful. I have never seen anything like it."
He smiled slightly. "Then you will have much to explore."
Ruhan bowed deeply. "Your Majesty. Your Highness. The Princess has endured much on this journey. I request permission for her to rest."
The Dowager nodded. "Of course. There will be a banquet tonight to welcome her properly. Until then, she may rest."
Ruhan led Xiao Zhi away from the throne room. They passed through long corridors held up by thick wooden beams, the walls carved and painted with scenes of desert life. Xiao Zhi kept glancing around as they walked. Everything felt unfamiliar compared to Hua, but she found that she liked it.
When they reached her chambers, four maids were already waiting, bowing so low she felt a little awkward. The way servants bow is different in Tughril.
"Princess, your room is ready," one said quietly and politely.
Xiao Zhi stepped inside. The room was big and cozy, with thick woven carpets, brass lamps, and bright-colored drapes. It wasn't the jade and silk of her Hua chambers, but it had its own charm.
"It's beautiful," she said quietly, tracing the edge of a carved wooden chest. "Different, but I like it."
Ruhan stayed by the door, watching her. "Get some rest, Princess. The banquet starts at sundown."
She nodded, but as he turned away, she hesitated. "Ruhan…"
He met her gaze, his expression calm.
She wanted to ask about the Khan's mask, the tension in the hall, or the way the Dowager had studied her so carefully. But instead, she said softly, "You will be there tonight, right?"
Ruhan's mouth curved slightly. "I will."
She watched him leave, his footsteps fading down the corridor. The room felt too quiet once he was gone.
She stood by the window, looking out over the palace. From up here, the palace looked peaceful and beautiful, yet beneath that beauty, she felt something else.
Something she could not quite name.