Proofread by Claire.KK

Lu Zhishan first met Mu Nanzhi on the ceremony of her first birthday. That year was also the fourth year of Jiasheng (the reign title), and the young prince was only fourteen years old.

As the emperor's eldest son of Dali Empire, Lu Zhishan received great favor from his father Lu Mingwei, even though his mother was just a concubine who died early. The little prince was so clever that he began schooling at age four. He was the only son of Lu Mingwei at that time and Lu Mingwei invited the most prestigious scholar to be his teacher. Lu Zhishan loved martial arts when he was little, so Lu Mingwei raised dozens of martial art masters to teach his son all kinds of martial arts. When Lu Zhishan was ten years old, Lu Mingwei ascended the throne. Empress Xu and the highest-ranking concubine nee Wan successively gave birth to princes, but Lu Mingwei still loved him the same. All people praised that their eldest prince was handsome and chivalrous, taking after his father most.

At the age of fourteen, Lu Zhishan was tired with staying in the capital. In the square palace Lu Zhishan could only see a square part of sky. It only cost him no more than an hour to get the west part of the city from the east part by riding a horse. Compared with listening to those old people reciting ancient books all the time, Lu Zhishan preferred to go out to see the whole world himself. He then expressed his idea to his father and tried hard to persuade him. Half a month had passed when his father finally agreed him to follow the senior general Zhao Jingting to take part in the army training in Khyaagta.

"Shan'er, take the chance to improve yourself. Learn to manage the vast territory of our country for me." Lu Mingwei told him clearly when no one was around. He held his son's hand tightly and said these words slowly, being a bit worried for his son's leaving.

"I will not let you down, father." Lu Zhishan made a hard kowtow to his father. Tears instantly fell down from his face as soon as he turned around. He knew his father was not willing to let him go. In fact, he had the same feeling with him.

It was not until he came out of the capital did Lu Zhishan realize how large the world was. He had only seen the mountains and rivers on the geomantic omen map before. But now he could see what they were actually like and the memory in his mind gradually became lively too. Passing the Yan Mountain, deserts, the great grassland as well as the Yellow River, Lu Zhishan used his own feet to measure the territory of Dali Empire. Lu Zhishan was so proud as the great land just belonged to his family.

Lu Zhishan concealed his identity and just dressed himself as an ordinary soldier. No one except Zhao Jingting to know the young boy whose face was also covered with dust was actually the most favored son of their emperor. On the road, Lu Zhishan just had meals and slept with the most inferior soldiers and had never complained about the meager food. As a prince, he was neither spoiled nor arrogant; instead, he was so kind and got along well with others. He didn't say a word when his feet were suffered with bleeding blisters. He just punctured them and directly fell asleep. Zhao Jingting could see that the young prince really liked the life in army. He couldn't help signing with feeling as he appreciated that the young prince was really unusual and he would definitely turn to be a great person.

They set out in a hot summer, but it had already become a cool autumn when they arrived at Khyaagta. The autumn of the north area was great. Euphrates poplars, white birches, yellow sand as well as dark green grasses looked rather attractive.

After trained for the whole three months in Khyaagta, Lu Zhishan met a group of people who were going to present gifts from the capital to Northern Di. They were just having a rest a Qiaketu. Lu Zhishan casually asked the reason why they were going to Northern Di. Then he was told that Princess Duanhui Heshuo who was married to Northern Di for peace gave birth to a boy and a girl. The birth ceremony will be held four days later. So his father send people to present gifts to congratulate them.

Lu Zhishan still remembered Princess Duanhui Heshuo. Actually, he remembered her deeply. That was because the southwest border of Dali Empire was not peaceful when Lu Mingwei ascended the throne. Both Tubo (former Tibet) and Siam cast covetous eyes on the land. In this case, Lu Mingwei arranged great armed forces in that area, and the peace of the north border was crucial. At that time, the king of Northern Di happened to ask to marry a princess of Dali. All officers took a breath in relief hearing the news. However, Lu Mingwei had no daughter but an unmarried sister called Lu Minglan. Her mother was only a concubine of the former emperor. If she kept staying in Dali, she could only be married to a moderate family, which couldn't be regarded as a successful life. So Lu Minglan finally be arranged for the peace-oriented marriage.