The training grounds of the imperial palace buzzed with activity, the clang of swords and the rhythmic stomp of boots filling the crisp morning air. Soldiers moved in perfect synchronization, their discipline evident in every movement. But today, there was a noticeable ripple of unease among them.
"Princess Xiuying, here to train?"
"It must be a joke. She's just a girl."
"General Han won't go easy on her, royal or not."
The whispers grew louder as Lu Xiuying stepped onto the grounds. Dressed in a practical training uniform of dark blue and tied-back hair, she stood tall, her golden eyes gleaming with determination.
At the center of the commotion stood General Han, a grizzled veteran with a long beard and sharp eyes that had seen countless battles. He had been personally ordered by Emperor Lu Chiyue to oversee the princess's training, a command he had accepted with great reluctance.
"Your Highness," General Han said, his voice gruff as he approached her. "You've come to train with soldiers, but this isn't embroidery class. Out here, there's no special treatment, no exceptions. If you're not ready to bleed and sweat like everyone else, go back to the palace."
Xiuying didn't flinch. Instead, she met his stern gaze with a steady one of her own. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't prepared, General."
Her words sparked a ripple of surprise among the soldiers. General Han grunted, clearly unimpressed, and gestured to the obstacle course behind him.
"Let's see if you mean it," he said. "Run the course. Twice."
The obstacle course was no mere exercise. It was a grueling gauntlet designed to push seasoned soldiers to their limits: climbing walls, crawling under low beams, leaping over ditches, and sprinting through uneven terrain.
Xiuying took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The first wall was a challenge, her hands slipping against the rough wood. She fell twice before managing to hoist herself over, her palms scraped and raw. By the time she reached the ditches, her legs were trembling, and sweat dripped into her eyes.
But she didn't stop.
"Not bad for a first attempt," one soldier muttered as she dragged herself across the finish line, her chest heaving.
"Still standing?" General Han asked, his arms crossed.
Xiuying wiped the sweat from her brow and straightened. "Still standing, General."
The old soldier narrowed his eyes, clearly searching for signs of weakness. When he found none, he barked, "Good. Now go again."
By the end of the second run, Xiuying was utterly exhausted, her limbs screaming in protest. But she didn't complain, didn't ask for a break. She simply bowed her head and said, "Thank you for the training, General."
Unbeknownst to Xiuying, Lu Chiyue had been watching from a distance, concealed behind a screen of trees. His golden eyes softened as he watched his sister stumble and push herself to her feet again.
"She's serious about this," he murmured to himself.
When evening came, a carriage arrived at the training grounds, sent by the emperor himself to bring Xiuying back to the palace. As she climbed in, bruised and weary, Lu Chiyue greeted her with a warm smile.
"How was your first day?" he asked.
"Tough," she admitted, sinking into the cushioned seat. "But I loved every moment of it."
Lu Chiyue chuckled. "That's good to hear. Dinner is waiting. Let's go home."
The second day began with weapons. General Han handed Xiuying a training sword, its weight foreign in her hands.
"Show me what you can do," he said, stepping back to watch.
Xiuying squared her shoulders and fell into the stance she had practiced countless times in private. Her strikes were quick and precise, though her footwork betrayed her inexperience.
"Decent form," General Han said gruffly. "But you're too stiff. Loosen up, or you'll tire yourself out."
The hours that followed were brutal. The soldiers sparred with her one by one, each exposing new weaknesses for her to correct. By the end of the day, her arms felt like lead, and her muscles ached in places she didn't know existed.
"Good effort," General Han said as she finished her last sparring session.
Coming from him, it almost felt like praise.
On the third day, Xiuying was introduced to the mental aspect of warfare. General Han placed her in charge of a mock skirmish, pitting her against a group of seasoned soldiers.
"You're outnumbered and outflanked," he said, pointing at the map. "How will you defend your position?"
Xiuying studied the map intently, her mind racing. After a moment, she began issuing commands to her "troops."
The simulation didn't go perfectly—her left flank collapsed, and she lost more than half her forces—but her creativity impressed even the skeptical soldiers.
"She's got potential," one of them admitted as they packed up the board.
Day four was pure endurance training. Xiuying ran laps around the training grounds, lifted heavy sacks of sand, and practiced hand-to-hand combat. General Han's voice boomed across the field, urging her to keep going.
"Faster, Princess! You'll never survive on the battlefield at this pace!"
By the end of the day, Xiuying collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. But when General Han approached, she looked up at him with a tired but triumphant grin.
"I didn't quit," she said.
"No, you didn't," he agreed, his voice softer than usual.
On the fifth day, Xiuying participated in her first mock combat exercise, fighting alongside the soldiers she had trained with all week. Her performance was far from flawless, but her determination inspired her comrades to fight harder.
By the end of the exercise, she was covered in dirt and bruises, but her golden eyes sparkled with pride.
By the sixth day, even General Han's initial skepticism had begun to waver. He watched as Xiuying sparred with one of the senior soldiers, her movements sharp and decisive.
"She's improved," he muttered to himself.
When the session ended, he approached her. "Princess Xiuying," he said, his tone uncharacteristically formal.
She looked up, surprised. "Yes, General?"
"You've earned my respect this week," he said simply. "You have the heart of a warrior."
Xiuying's eyes widened, and for a moment, she was too stunned to respond. Then she bowed deeply, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, General. That means everything to me."
The final day of her first week ended with an impromptu celebration. At dinner, her siblings teased her about her bruises and sore muscles, but their pride was evident in their smiles.
"Look at our warrior princess," Lu Lingyu said, grinning as he handed her a piece of chicken. "Don't punch me if I take the last dumpling."
"I might," Xiuying retorted, though her laughter gave her away.
Lu Chiyue watched the scene with a warm smile. Seeing his sister so happy and confident filled him with pride.
"You've done well, Xiuying," he said as the meal wound down.
"Thank you, Brother Emperor," she replied, her golden eyes shining.
As the family dispersed for the evening, Lu Chiyue lingered in the dining hall, reflecting on the week.
His sister's determination had not only impressed the soldiers but also inspired him. The future of the DaLu Dynasty might be uncertain, but with people like Xiuying by his side, he felt hope for what lay ahead.