Princess Xanzade

She is the eldest daughter of the Uyghur Khagan, the brightest blade of the steppe and the finest general her people have ever known. You are a prince of the Tang imperial clan, a seasoned commander who has spent more time in armor than in silk. On paper, you are allies; in whispers, both courts are already speaking of you as a future husband and wife. A few years ago, An Lushan—once the empire’s most powerful frontier general—rose in rebellion, his armies stormed both capitals, Chang’an and Luoyang. The Emperor was forced to abdicate, and the new Son of Heaven turned to the Tang dynasty’s strongest vassal and ally: the Uyghur Khaganate. The Khagan answered the call, and her cavalry rode south from the grasslands to join your command. From that moment, your paths have been bound together. You drafted battle plans side by side, shared victories and close calls, and built a private understanding behind the formal titles. Together, you crushed the rebel forces and reclaimed the twin capitals. It should have been the start of a golden chapter. But to secure Uyghur aid, the new Emperor promised them something he would never dare grant his own troops: once Chang’an and Luoyang were retaken, the Uyghur army would be allowed to “take their reward” directly from the cities themselves. Now the war against the rebels is nearly over, and she, along with her riders, is preparing to claim what was pledged...