My name is Wei Qing, and I want to fight the Xiongnu.

It's clear that Cao Shen held this young slave in very high regard.

......

Not long after Liu Yangxin left, Aqing, who had sharpened his knife, came down from the mountaintop, carrying a large bundle of firewood on his back.

He casually tossed the firewood in front of the mud-brick house and asked Cao Can, "Uncle Cao, was that noble lady from the Han Dynasty?"

"how do you know?"

Ah Qing recalled earnestly, "I once saw a princess wearing clothes made of the same fabric as hers."

Cao Shen laughed: "Princess? How could that be? What would a princess do in our poor, remote place?"

“Send them to the Xiongnu for a marriage alliance, and they will pass through our territory along the passageway to the Xiongnu barbarian territory.”

Upon hearing Aqing's answer, Cao Shen could no longer laugh.

Marriage alliances... Yes, to avoid invasions by the Xiongnu barbarians, the Han Dynasty would send a princess to marry the Xiongnu chieftain every few years.

Cao Shen explained to A Qing, "Actually, she wasn't a princess. At most, she was a princess, or even a palace maid who was given the title of princess and then sent to marry a foreign ruler."

Aqing didn't understand: "A real princess and a fake princess are both princesses, is there a difference?"

Cao Shen was speechless when asked. Was there a difference? Perhaps there was?

"Uncle Cao, please find someone else to chop firewood."

"why?"

Aqing took out the jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Cao Can, saying, "That nobleman gave me this jade pendant, saying it was worth five thousand gold pieces. With this money, I can redeem myself and I want to go to Chang'an."

What are you going to Chang'an for?

Cao Shen knew that A Qing seemed very interested in Chang'an. In his spare time, he would often stare blankly to the south and ask Cao Shen some questions about Chang'an.

Cao Shen used to think that A Qing simply longed for the magnificent capital, but now it seems that's not the case.

After thinking about it seriously for a long time, Aqing solemnly said to Cao Can, "I remember Uncle Cao saying that there is a Taixue Academy in Chang'an, which has many geniuses from the Xiongnu barbarians. I want to go to Chang'an and kill them."

Cao Shen: "..."

Aqing's answer left Cao Shen somewhat speechless, both amused and exasperated.

But thinking about it, it does fit Aqing's personality quite well.

Cao Can reminded A Qing: "Private fights are not allowed in the Imperial Academy, let alone murder."

"Then kill them secretly."

"Killing them secretly is also not allowed."

"Then let's wait until they leave the Imperial Academy."

Hearing Aqing's insistence, Cao Can said nothing more, only telling Aqing to wait at the door while he went back to the mud-brick house to find something.

Before long, Cao Can came out carrying a worn-out sword in both hands: "Since you are going to Chang'an, take this sword with you."

A sword?

Aqing took the sword from Cao Can and examined it for a while. She found that the sword was utterly unremarkable in terms of both the materials used and the craftsmanship. In addition, it had not been properly protected for many years, and the scabbard and hilt had developed green patina.

He tried to pull it out several times, but the sword seemed to be completely rusted and he couldn't pull it out no matter what he did.

"Uncle Cao, what kind of sword is this?"

Looking at the worn-out sword, Cao Can said with deep nostalgia, "This was once the sword of an old friend. Taking it to Chang'an might be of help to you. Of course... it might also bring you a lot of trouble, and even take your life."

In short, the sword is now in your hands. Whether you keep it, throw it away, or sell it is up to you.

Also, you were right about something you said earlier; that noble lady was indeed a princess. Didn't you want to go to Chang'an? You can go with her.”

Ah Qing carefully sheathed her sword, then quickly asked, "Can she send me to the Imperial Academy?"

"Yes, but you need to know one thing: there are factions within the royal family. This princess's faction is at odds with the Empress Dowager. If you use her influence to enter the Imperial Academy, you will naturally be labeled as her, and then someone will definitely target you."

Aqing laughed: "Uncle Cao, what you're saying is a bit self-deceptive. I'm a slave. If a slave goes to the Imperial Academy, how can I not be targeted?"

The Imperial Academy of Chang'an was personally established by Xiao He, the first prime minister of the Han Dynasty, to educate the most talented people in the country.

The original intention was that anyone, regardless of social status or wealth, could be admitted to the academy as long as they had talent.

But there are geniuses among commoners and those from humble backgrounds, and there are also geniuses among nobles. Moreover, nobles not only have geniuses but also resources and connections!

A noble genius can cultivate and study for eight hours a day. Even if a commoner genius doesn't eat, drink, sleep, or rest, can he still cultivate for thirteen hours a day?

Even if someone is exceptionally talented, capable of drawing inferences from one instance and understanding ten things from one, the most one thing one could do is to have them marry into the family.

Over time, the resources controlled by the nobility increased, making it increasingly difficult for children from poor families to rise to prominence.

As a result, those who can enter the Imperial Academy are basically either rich or noble.

Or rather, they are about to become rich and powerful.

But whether they are commoners or nobles, they are all human beings.

Who is Wei Qing?

They were slaves.

Slaves are not considered human beings.

Even if they were stripped of their citizenship, they would never be considered human in the eyes of the nobles, at least not one of their own.

Aqing was well aware of her identity; even if she were to pledge allegiance to a particular faction, she would be unable to integrate into it.

Since that's the case, why think so much? Just do it!

Chapter Three: His surname is Wei, his given name is Qing, and his courtesy name is Zhongqing.

As evening fell, Liu Yangxin landed on the mountaintop in his phoenix carriage, where Aqing had been waiting for a long time.

He didn't have much to prepare, just two knives: a nicked woodcutter's knife and a rusty sword that Cao Can had given him to carry, as well as a tattered cloth bag.

Liu Yangxin stepped out of the phoenix carriage, looked at A Qing's attire, and chuckled.

Liu Yangxin was naturally beautiful, and her long-term high position had cultivated a graceful and noble temperament, making her every smile and gesture exude a captivating charm.

Unfortunately, she ran into a blockhead. Ah Qing looked down at her own attire.

His patched linen clothes and trousers, paired with tattered straw sandals that revealed all ten toes, certainly suited his status as a slave.

"There are no suitable clothes for you on the phoenix carriage. Let's wait until we get to Chang'an."

Liu Yangxin didn't care how long it had been since Aqing had taken a bath. He reached out and gently took Aqing's slender fingers, beckoning him to enter the Phoenix Chariot.

It is unknown what kind of mysterious means were used, but the interior of the phoenix carriage was extremely spacious, with not only soft couches for resting, but also desks, tables, and four maids who also served as guards.

After Aqing stepped into the phoenix carriage, the two phoenixes pulling the carriage flapped their wings and took flight, and the phoenix carriage soared into the sky.

However, Aqing inside the carriage felt no bumps or swaying at all, as if she were standing on flat ground.

"Come, sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Aqing observed the layout inside the carriage, and then, without any awareness of being a slave, sat down next to Liu Yangxin.

Upon seeing this, the four maids frowned in unison. This slave was so ungrateful!

If His Highness asks you to sit, will you sit?

As expected, having grown up in the countryside, he truly doesn't understand the ways of the world.

Aqing is not ignorant of human relationships, nor is she lacking in insight or understanding.

If someone's mind is truly filled with nothing but fighting and killing, how could Cao Can value them so highly?

Aqing felt inexplicably relaxed in front of Liu Yangxin.

Could it be influenced by a dream?

I always felt that I didn't need to be too reserved in front of this prince.

Liu Yangxin didn't mind and continued to scrutinize A Qing intently.

When they met at the meeting, Liu Yangxin and A Qing were just casual acquaintances. Liu Yangxin had a feeling that this young man was somewhat special, but he didn't think much of it and didn't observe him carefully.

After his conversation with Cao Can, Liu Yangxin clearly paid more attention to A Qing.

In particular, it was discovered that this young man, who came from a slave background, was quite handsome.

Perhaps due to years of sun exposure or manual labor, her skin appeared somewhat dark, and her palms were calloused, but her features were delicate and her figure was well-proportioned.

Those eyes were sharp and discerning, revealing not a trace of cowardice or fear, but rather an air of unwavering confidence.

Perhaps lured by the prophecy of the divine physiognomist, Liu Yangxin found himself increasingly pleasing to the eye as he looked at the slave boy who was seven or eight years younger than him.

The maidservant very considerately brought over a fruit platter, snacks, and tea, and gently placed them on the table.

Liu Yangxin gently pushed the fruit plate in front of Aqing and said, "My name is Liu Yangxin. I am engaged to the former Marquis of Pingyang, so you can also call me Liu Pingyang, or Princess Pingyang. What about you?"

Aqing didn't stand on ceremony. Without even washing his hands, he grabbed the fruit directly from the plate. Many of the fruits were ones he had never even heard of.

In Pingyang County, the only fruit available is pears, and that's only in the summer.

As he ate, he replied, "Me? My name is Aqing. Uncle Cao gave me a courtesy name, Zhongqing."

"Aqing? Zhongqing? What's your surname?"

“I have no surname. I am an illegitimate child. My father doesn’t acknowledge me, so I have no surname. I am also a slave, so I don’t need a surname.”

"An illegitimate child? What's your mother's surname?"

"My mother? My mother's surname is Wei, right? Oh, Your Highness, you just said you married the Marquis of Pingyang. My mother is in the Pingyang Prefecture. I also have three older sisters. How are they?"

"Surname Wei?"

It is true that Liu Yangxin was engaged to Cao Shou, the Marquis of Pingyang, but unfortunately, Cao Shou passed away before she could marry him.

She later planned to remarry Xiahou Po, but the same thing happened again; the engagement was just finalized when the man suddenly died.

People might not dare to say it out loud, but behind Liu Yangxin's back they would still say that he was a jinx and a jinx.

To avoid suspicion, Liu Yangxin rarely inquired about the situation in Pingyang Prefecture, and was even less aware of which slaves were surnamed Wei.