Chapter 3: The General and the Ghost of Chang'an
The name had been dormant for what felt like a lifetime. But the instant she heard it, a long-lost image flashed into Shunyin’s mind, pulling with it the distant, glittering memories of her childhood. She had been a true noble lady then, in Chang'an City . Her father was not only the hereditary Duke of Mi but also the powerful Minister of War . Her mother, from the prestigious Zheng family of Xingyang , held the title of Lady of the County . The Feng family’s glory was virtually limitless. When she was nine, the family welcomed a guest. The Duke of Wuwei in Liangzhou , an old friend of her father, had sent his adopted son to the capital to study for the imperial exams . The young man was to stay at the Feng residence. The Feng siblings buzzed with speculation. They admired the legendary heroes of Hexi, and their father, a military man, had instilled in them a respect for the brave. They wondered aloud what the Duke of Wuwei's talented adopted son would look like. Some sug...
