A/N: Hope you are still safe and that these crazy times can end.

Here is the new chapter.

Sam galloped along with Lord Joon towards Tiqui in one of the usual trips around the Northwest Province. Along with the regular escort, the two traveled through the extensive grasslands of the empire's northern reaches as Joon visited various imperial officials, landed lords, and army officers posted to several points along the boundaries with the steppes.

After the two stopped for the night at the home of Salik Hong, Lord of Keizyo, Sam was treated to the usual hospitality of lords in the empire. There was a feast, music, good conversations, and dancers of both genders. It was also the first time that Sam was looked after by a woman wearing elaborate robes and covered in heavy white powder on her face. He was not unfamiliar with how women freshened themselves everyday, as it was normal for women back in Westeros to whiten their face and rouge their cheeks. But this woman had so much powder on her face that it looked completely pale white, paler than the Valyrians of old from what Sam knew.

The woman, like others who served Joon, Lord Hong, and the other male guests, showed skill at different arts of the empire. She could play various instruments and perform beautiful renditions classical YiTish music. When the occasions arose, she could put on a dancing performance and entrance those with lovely poetry. Sam learned that poetry in YiTi was called haiku and this woman, whose name was Eunsoo, came up with one that Sam would remember for a long time:

"Near break of the day
where a narrow, soft bed blew
enjoying the wind"

There was something simplistic and yet so rhythmic about that haiku. Sam was only inclined to read books, not create words from scratch, which made him rethink everything he thought he knew about life and the world. There were so many things that he couldn't know from books alone, and learning how to craft a verse such as the haiku was something that would take time for Sam to learn.

He then remembered when Adjutant Dae made him that offer to get him a permanent post in the empire in exchange for Quartermaster Shin's intelligence reports in their unedited form. He talked it over with Benjen, who shook his head.

"And you said that you needed time to make a decision?"

"Yes, Benjen," Sam answered.

"Not giving a straight answer to a complicated question… smart," Benjen nodded approvingly. "As you probably understand, you cannot trust what Adjutant Dae is offering you. Nothing good can come from what he wants with those intelligence reports, even though I find working with Quartermaster Shin incredibly tiresome."

"What confuses me is how… threatened Adjutant Dae felt when he talked about the quartermaster being a commoner. I should have expected it, since highborns don't usually occupy the same space as a lowborn. However, he seemed to have taken great offense at that, even though the adjutant comes from a family with a title and a close connection with the Prime Minister," Sam divulged to Benjen.

"You haven't been paying attention to your lessons, Sam," Benjen lightly scolded. "He's from a merchant family, just like my lieutenant."

"I would assume that given their ability to make coin, merchants would have some status in the empire," Sam forgot a significant detail about how society worked in Yi-Ti.

Benjen sighed. "Right, I sometimes forgot, but this is not one of those days. Do you remember why our tutor emphasized the difference between commoners and merchants?"

Sam scratched his head, trying to remember what was taught. Finally, it came back to him. "Even though merchants can earn more coin, they are below the commoners."

Benjen grinned. "Now you remember."

Society in Yi-Ti was arranged differently from how it was in Westeros. While there were still lords ruling over the land and commoners working it, the merchants were ranked lower than commoners. The reason for this peculiar arrangement was because Yi-Ti followed a line of thought that had arranged society into four categories. At the top were the those with titles and estates, and those who attained positions in the empire through the examination system, all of whom were below the imperial family. Below them were the commoners who worked the land and they were seen as essential to harmony since the empire largely depended on farming and thus had to remain where they were. Below the commoners were the artisans and craftsmen, who contributed to society by building structures, making goods, and other activities deemed essential to harmony but were not treated with the same regard as farming commoners since they had no land that the empire could tax. That is a strange reason to treat them lesser.

At the bottom were the merchants. The empire acknowledged them as having crucial roles in the economy, but they were seen as grave threats to harmony due to their ability to gain massive incomes, manipulate or take over certain parts of the economy, and potentially exploit the farming commoners. That was probably the most confusing aspect for Sam. In Westeros, people with land, coin, or both would be treated with much regard and especially lords paramount had both to spare. Coin made the world go round, but that apparently gave reason for whoever created such a strange arrangement to treat the coin earners with much disrepute.

"And Kang Shin is technically ranked higher than Adjutant Dae despite his family not possessing significant estates and titles," Sam realized. "The only reason the adjutant can claim to be above the quartermaster is that his father has a lordship."

"Correct," Benjen nodded. "And that has to make you think. What did the adjutant's family do for the prime minister that would allow them to possess such a privilege? If I had to choose, I would say that the adjutant's father purchased the lordship from YiTish court and pleased the right person."

"But the uncertainty that came with his former position is still there," Sam understood further. "Maybe that's why he wants those intelligence reports. He seeks to undermine the quartermaster, because he resents that he is ranked above him in the army and had the superior position at birth."

"That's a strong possibility," Benjen assessed. "Lieutenant Lim told me that the only way for merchants to progress in the empire is to take the examinations, either join the army or obtain a position at court, and move up from there. If all ended well, then they would be allowed to remain in the top category while using their mercantile income to purchase land, keeps, and other types of property that would be associated with nobility. From there, the merchant family can start new generations where they could eventually gain a title. That's the exact plan that Lieutenant Lim's family has in mind. Already, he told me that his father obtained five thousand acres in the south, which is quite something since land and property in the southern provinces are very hard to get due to their prices."

"You seem to know very much about the merchants," Sam became astonished at how knowledgeable Jon's uncle had revealed himself to be.

"Well, Lieutenant Lim is from a merchant family and he revealed a lot of things to me," Benjen shrugged. "However, I'm being careful as to how much I tell him. Just because he tells me some important information about his family doesn't mean that I will return his gesture. He might be a fair officer, but his first concerns are all to himself, and his family is an important part of that."

"And are you sure that this is not simply prejudice against the lieutenant because he snitched on the previous officers?" Sam noticed the slight hints of disdain Benjen held for his subordinate.

"I don't feel sorry for what happened to my predecessor and the lieutenant was right to inform Lord Joon. However, he didn't do it because he was concerned about the troops. He did it to save his own skin because the other officers were planning to kill him. He might say more things in his defense, but why didn't he do so before the yapian problem got out of control?" Benjen pointed out.

Sam shared Benjen's disdain for snitches, considering that the Redwyne twins told his father that he was not taken to the sword when he visited the Arbor, and that servants at Horn Hill informed his father of him spending time in the library, which prompted the Tarly lord to either force him to the training yard or give him more rebukes. But considering the situation from Lieutenant Lim's perspective, Sam had some understanding to what he felt. Either he informed the general or he would die, similar to what his father had threatened him with. Despite the appearances, people here in this land are becoming more like those in Westeros, more than I would be comfortable with.

Sam reflected briefly on when he turned down Adjutant Dae's offer, who had reacted badly as expected and threatened him some more, before he returned to the present. Eunsoo sat down next to Sam and started to pour tea in his cup.

"Where are you from, my lord?" Eunsoo asked in guanhua.

"Westeros, the Reach kingdom," Sam replied in guanhua, his hold on the tongue having improved the most out of Jon and Benjen.

"Tell me what it is like over there," she finished pouring Sam's tea.

"What would you like to know?" Sam knew that this woman was trying to make conversation with him and decided to indulge her.

"Tell me of this… Reach kingdom."

Sam told Eunsoo about the long history behind the kingdom that had been founded by the Gardener kings, who had descended from the legendary Garth Gardener, and how many houses including his own can claim descent from such a figure. He then talked about how Aegon's Conquest wiped out the Gardeners before they were replaced by the Tyrells and thus beginning a new chapter for the Reach. Afterwards, Sam talked about how rich the Reach kingdom was, with its vast harvests and fine wines.

"Your home seems quite… eventful," Eunsoo noted.

"Not exactly," Sam admitted. "There are many knights in the Reach and much knowledge can be found in Oldtown, but besides that, it's just another land."

"Can the same thing not be said of the empire?" Eunsoo asked.

"Possibly, but from what I know, men could work their way up here in society if they give enough effort and meet the right people," Sam answered.

"And people in Westeros can't do that?"

"You could, but it's just incredibly difficult. For commoners, you can get a knighthood at the most if you do something quite heroic. Other than that, highborns such as myself enjoy most of the benefits the Seven Kingdoms offer."

"Why did you choose to come here then? It seems that you have had a good life in this Reach," Sam's eyes darkened at Eunsoo's word. "Or not. But what do you have to complain it? You have it easier than most people in the world."

Sam sighed. "Sometimes, that's not a good thing."

"Only those who haven't come to terms with who they are would say that."

Sam blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"I don't know about your family, but it seems as if you were not living up to expectations. The way I see it, many will fail at they're expected to do, but only a few succeed at being who they are. You cannot deny that your life experiences have been valuable into shaping how you view the world, even if they do contain pain. Every moment matters, and that's something that I was able to realize," Eunsoo said.

"And this is the life you chose?" Sam had to ask.

"Yes," Eunsoo answered confidently. "Most married women in the empire have to be meek and submissive. But as a hostess, I can be as expressive and unrestrained as I want, so long as the guests are pleased. That's more than what most women can hope to get."

Sam listened intently as he learned something new yet again. Most women would balk at the idea of serving others, but here was a woman who embraced it. And what she had said about married women was painfully true, as his own mother was not strong enough to do anything to stop his father's incessant rebukes and force-training sessions.

Sam drank his tea, which had become cold. "This is good," he said, attempting to switch the topic.

Eunsoo looked ready to say more, but chose not to and smiled as she poured him another cup of tea.

Looking at her soft black hair, round brown eyes, small nose, and lips that were neither thick nor thin, Sam felt a certain… attraction to this woman. "Eunsoo, are you married?"

Eunsoo looked at him, taken aback. "Why do you ask, my lord?"

"A pretty woman like yourself, I'm sure that any man would be fortunate to have you as their wife," Sam meant that.

Eunsoo blushed slightly. "Why, thank you. But I would ask that you don't have any ideas. I already have a good life as it is and I don't need anything else."

"You don't have a husband?" Sam asked rhetorically.

"And don't need one. Besides, you're not the first man to have asked me for my hand."

Sam shook his head quickly. "No, no, no. You misunderstand—"

Eunsoo smiled smugly. "Don't try to deny it, my lord. I've seen that look on many guests and I know what you are thinking. But as I said, I don't need anything else. And you only see what you want to see, not what is really there."

Sam's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Many men like a certain idea of a woman, but when that idea is stripped away, men lash out like babes. Trust me, I've seen my share of men shouting at me because they didn't expect me to have a mind of my own out of all things," Eunsoo rolled her eyes. "And I don't see you being any different."

"You don't know me very well." Sam wasn't appreciating how uncomfortable Eunsoo was making him.

"I don't need to," she shook her head. "Plus, you wouldn't like me anyway given time. I've seen things that a boy like yourself couldn't stomach, so… I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay, but also, try to keep it in control."

"What in control?" Sam laughed nervously.

"Your cock, and how you control it would mean the difference between you saving it for the right person or you being whoremonger. Something to think about."

As Sam and Joon left Lord Hong's keep the next morning, he thought about what Eunsoo told him. It was true that he didn't know very much about women and what she said made him incredibly uncomfortable, but at the same time, did he become that way because it was the truth?

As much as his father was hard on him and even stated clearly that he was not fit to wield Heartsbane, he was devoted to his wife and never took another woman into his bed. Unfortunately, not all lords in Westeros had his father's sense of propriety and Sam lost count of how many times he had met those carrying the name "Flowers." And what Eunsoo said about him controlling his cock made sense, perhaps too much, since she was basically criticizing how many men judge their manhood.

"I see you have that woman on your mind, Lord Tarly," Joon observed as Tiqui came within sight. Sam nodded. "Don't let whatever she said get to you. Most women like her have the ability to be act however they wish, but those like your Eunsoo have been shunned and abused by others for their entire lives. So, do you really think that what she told you can be counted as wisdom?"

Now that Joon mentioned it, Sam did sense a hint of bitterness when Eunsoo described how men became disappointed when their expectations were not met. "Possibly, but should we discount their opinions because they're bitter?" Sam asked.

"People who have something to grind against others are not exactly the most reliable types," Joon said. "Take for example your King Robert. He had such hatred for your Prince Rhaegar because he did something that many disapproved of. But once he killed Rhaegar, what happened afterwards? He stumbled onto your Iron Throne, ruled your realm like one would run a brothel, and then started to behave like any other pimp. He got his revenge, but was it worth it in in the end?"

"No," Sam couldn't deny Joon's logic yet again.

"That answer is even more distressing given what I had just learned about Daeron. And I have to ask myself if he has anything to grind against those that killed his father, both of them? It's certainly powerful motivation, but if that is his only one, then he's doomed to repeat the same mistakes as the ones who came before him."

"What are you suggesting, my lord?" Sam asked.

"If Jon wants to take proper vengeance, he has to show himself worthy of being a ruler. He must learn how to make decisions, understand strategy, and learn how powerful people deal with each other. Otherwise, he's not going to be of use to anyone."

"My lord, may I ask why do you care whether Jon becomes such a person?" Sam had to know.

Joon took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I guess… when I saw him emerge bare from that cave with that dragon on his shoulder, I began to see what Lord Benjen said about us having a purpose in the world. Daeron's a good boy, but he must be shown the right direction if he wishes to return home in strength and in good condition. Just like you, Lord Tarly, Daeron has much to learn about how the world really works and possibly, your arrival was determined by the gods."

When Sam saw Jon and Joon return, with the red dragon he aptly called Meleys at his side, he never felt more reverent in his life. His visits to the sept had been devoid of meaning now that he looked back on it, while he could gain some comfort in front of the Old Gods. But seeing a dragon return to the world was something that he never would have dreamed of seeing. And Jon talked about three others further west, which were all with Daenerys Targaryen. Things are starting to change, truly.

"So… will this mean that you will support Jon's claim?" Sam asked hopefully.

Joon shook his head. "As I said, the Targaryen name means nothing here and it wouldn't be prudent of me to support the claim of a scion of a deposed dynasty. However, given that his only relative is just as lost as in these lands as he is, I will do what I can. But also understand this: a baby dragon cannot be a secret forever and soon, someone with more nefarious intentions might seek him out and that could put my family at risk."

"So, are you saying…" Sam already knew what Joon was going to promise.

"If I had to choose between protecting you three and protecting my family, I will not hesitate to let you three be fed to the beasts. I might like you three and I do enjoy all of your company, but know that I would choose my family over anything else."

Sam was struck at how brutally honest their host was, but if he had to admit, he would think the same thing also. As much as I dislike it, father does love his children. Just not me. "Understood, my lord."

"Good," and the two rode the rest of the short way to Tiqui without another word.

This time, they would conduct all of their official business in the magistrate's compound. As people lined up to pay their taxes and Sam recorded each amount in the books, the magistrate and Joon shared a cup of tea, despite the latter's dislike for him.

The magistrate, the same one they had met those few moons ago and who Jon faced down, still assumed that Sam didn't understand guanhua well, so he spoke so loud that Sam could hear from across the courtyard. "My lord, why do you keep these white devils in your castle?" the magistrate asked.

Joon put down his cup. "That's none of your concern, magistrate. And be careful of your tone."

The magistrate put his hands up in deference. "My apologies, my lord. However, I have to ask. Why keep these men in your house, especially since they don't know how to respect those authority?"

"You are referring to that boy with the white wolf?"

"If you can call it that," the magistrate scoffed. "That boy showed disrespect for our laws and not only did you not punish him, you allowed that Chogo whore under your roof."

"Spare me your complaints, magistrate. I had more than my share after my cavalry commander protested my decision. And what I say to you are the same words that I said to him: 'I don't have to tell you of matters pertaining to my household.'"

The magistrate swallowed. "Of course, my lord. It's not my business to know. But at the same time, such disrespect to how our laws are followed cannot go without punishment."

"And he was," Joon answered briskly.

"No, I mean that I must submit a complaint to the capital regarding this incident. I'm sure that the court would send someone to investigate the matter and that your white guest would be punished accordingly," the magistrate said.

"And you would circumvent my authority in that way?" Joon narrowed his eyes.

"I sent the complaint just yesterday," the magistrate admitted.

Joon took the teacup and threw at the magistrate's face while he stood up in anger. The magistrate fell down and held his cheek while he cried out in pain, catching the attention of everyone, including Sam who was shocked at their host's sudden violence.

"You bastard!" Joon roared. "How dare you do such a thing without my permission!"

The magistrate struggled to get off of his fat ass, but eventually he did while still cupping his bloody cheek. "That boy embarrassed me in my own trial! Personally, I don't care what reasons you have for sheltering these white devils, but that boy should understand that there are consequences to those trying to be a hero for all wretches."

"That was not your decision to make! And you dare interfere with my personal affairs?" Joon looked ready to give the magistrate a good beating.

The magistrate gulped in fear, but stood his ground. "You should be thankful, my lord. I will remove the white devil from your house and get to see the boy get his comeuppance. Even you can't stop the investigator from doing what he will come to do." Joon picked up the table and threw it over to the side, shattering the fine ceramic pots and cups in the process. "My lord, that was a good tea set. I might have to ask you pay for them, around 200 silver taels I believe."

Joon stepped forward and was very tempted to give the magistrate to punch the magistrate. However, he forced himself to calm down as he saw the onlookers in the courtyard witnessing the scene. He had to keep up appearances after all as the province's governor.

"Perhaps you haven't realized that it's your word against mine," Joon stated as he allowed his anger to flow out of him. "I wonder what the investigator might think if he sees that you can afford such nice tea sets and could have such luxurious decorations in your house."

"What?" The magistrate stammered.

"You should know that the Chogo and Goi were at war for thousands of years and that it's only natural that they would come to blows with each other," Joon continued. "The investigator might not take too kindly on how you treated a woman, Chogo or not. And considering how often you surround yourself with dancers and other types of female company in your daily feasts, things are not looking too good for you, since someone of your position should be a shining example for the community to follow."

The magistrate started to sweat profusely. "Sam," Joon called out to him. "How much does he spend on his nightly feasts?"

"Each?" Sam wanted clarification, which Joon gave him. "From what I can recollect… 1000 silver taels a night." Whispers erupted amongst the onlookers, whose dislike for their magistrate turned to hatred.

"The investigator will be very curious as to where you get the coin to pay for your feasts," Joon turned to the magistrate, who grew paler. "So you see, you interfere with my affairs, I will ruin your life. You ever thought about that, you fool?"

The magistrate's lips trembled as Joon walked back to Sam. "Are we done here, Lord Tarly?"

"Yes, my lord," Sam replied as he and others begin to pack up their books.

"Good. We're going back to Kushiro."

As they returned to their host's castle, Sam became more impressed at Joon. He had managed to retake the advantage over the magistrate after the onlookers witnessed his outburst and turned the magistrate's threats around. It really hammered home to Sam as to why Lord Joon and the Kitara family were the ruling lords of the province, as opposed to other lords like Lord Hong.

Thinking back on the magistrate, Sam was shocked at how much he spent on his feasts. One thousand taels was more than enough to pay for good food, good drink, and the female company that Joon referred to. Now wonder he is so large in the middle, thought Sam. Which made him think on his own situation. While he ate much, he would never do so at the expense of others or to satiate an enormous craving. At the same time, that's the assumption that his father made whenever he commented on his size. I'm not like the magistrate, but apparently appearances count.

More days passed as Sam thought on how he could differentiate himself from the magistrate. As they neared Kushiro, they passed by the fields under the personal control of the Kitara family. Much of the produce that came from these fields were wheat, millet, and soybeans, while the grasslands closer to Kushiro helped raise herds of cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and fowls. Rice couldn't be grown this far north, with the wetter climates in the southern provinces being more suitable for their cultivation, and Joon spent part of his annual income procuring many sacks of rice from the south each month. Still, the fields of the Kitara family allowed Joon, his wife, and his children to live comfortably and have coin in reserve.

Passing through the wheat field, Sam looked about before finding Jon. He had to get used to him wearing a straw conical hat, a simple tunic and trousers, and holding a sickle to cut through the wheat. This is something to remember. Farmer Jon, secretly a Targaryen, toiling in the fields, mused Sam.

Joon stopped his horse, as he looked at Jon. "You doing alright there, Daeron?"

Noticing Joon, Jon looked up, his conical hat failing to conceal his sweaty face and garments and how his face strained from the pain of toiling in the fields. "Doing alright here, my lord."

"Good," Joon nodded. "You must taste bitter for tasting sweet. And this is how most people have to live, so learn."

"If that's the case, why aren't you in the fields with me?" Jon asked.

"I did my time and I became better for it," Joon responded. "Time for you to do yours." And Joon galloped forward, Kushiro not far away.

"I am tempted to help you, but as you can see," Sam pointed to his large farm. "I'm not made for farming."

Jon sighed. "It's all right. I'll see you tonight." Sam bobbed his head before following Joon.


This was the new routine that Jon had followed for the past three moons. After waking up and having his morning meal, he would report to Hoon Ti for his combat training while he would spend the rest of the afternoon helping the Kitara family's tenants cultivate their last few harvests before autumn and finally winter set in. After the afternoon was complete, Jon would return to Kushiro, eat his evening meal, and enter Lord Joon's solar for private sessions before going to bed.

Jon initially had doubts on how farming could teach him how to be a better ruler, which is what Lord Joon had decided to do after seeing him and Meleys on his shoulder. Abbot Cao then told him before they left the monastery a few words.

"The gods have a plan for you, Daeron Targaryen," the elderly abbot said of his encounter with the dragon being in the cave. "But as this being said, the gods do not help those who don't help themselves. So before you can claim the mantle of responsibility that your ancestors took on, you must learn many things."

"Such as?" Jon asked.

"First, you must learn to be humble. Too many times have people been ruled by those who took their own subjects for granted, and the results have been terrible. Never view yourselves as above them, but at the same time, don't beg for their loyalty." Jon nodded.

"Second, learn to be maneuver through the dangers of life, and there will be plenty of them in the years to come. There are many things that Joon could pass on to you, but also learn how to survive on your own. Yourself is sometimes the best teacher." Jon was confused but nodded anyway.

"Finally, never assume that you can do everything by yourself. You might be the most gifted person in the world, but that means nothing without other people to help you. Take the time you have now to make allies, develop your networks, find people who will be willing to help you. But also find those who will challenge you. Never take people who just say 'yes.'"

Jon swallowed. "I will try to remember—"

"No, don't say that," the abbot shook his head. "You do or do not. There is no try in the maze of life."

It was a long process for Jon to at least comprehend what the abbot was saying, and he doubted that he truly understood his words. However, with Meleys being born, he knew that he had to keep looking forward and start changing himself. It was the reason why Jon accepted Joon's new daily routine for him without question.

With all the training Hoon Ti subjected him to and all of the blisters and pain in his muscles from the wheat farming, Jon would return home at night as if he was about to collapse. He barely could remain awake, as Joon would teach him the basics of strategy and tactics while making him read of the daily reports received of the happenings at court. When Jon was about to drift into sleep, Joon slammed the table.

"You're wasting my time!" he barked. "You're a Targaryen, but you must act like one." What was more frustrating was that Joon stopped speaking to Jon in the common tongue, using only the three tongues alternatively.

"I'm sorry, my lord," Jon offered in guanhua.

"To offer no excuse is better than giving a bad one," Joon replied coldly. "I will test you on this and I expect you to perform fully. Failure to do that will come with penalties. Understand?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Then stop trying to sleep and pay attention." Jon had to remember that their host had great knowledge of war and of court politics, so he needed to learn as much as he could and forced himself to say awake.

This went on for three moons, but eventually, Jon's mind and body got used to and adapted to the stresses of each day. One morning, Jon woke up and saw his reflection in their room's polished metal. He had started to feel less tired and more able when he woke up, which perplexed him since he was constantly feeling sluggish. The results of it all were shocking to say the least.

Jon's hair was the same as it had been, raven curls at shoulder length raven. But he had adopted a Yi-Tish topknot in order to make the training sessions with Hoon Ti and his afternoons in the fields easier for him to handle and only took it off when he went to bed. His beard was a little thicker but still neatly trimmed.

But what really shocked him was how much his body changed in the course of the past three moons when Joon decided to intensify his regime.

Jon noticed that he had grown slightly taller during their time in the empire, although Benjen still remained the tallest. His beard hid a sharp jawline that had taken shape during those past moons and his neck and shoulders looked firmer. His arms looked leaner and more built than before, which must've been the result of the hard training and strenuous work in the wheat fields alongside the different food in Yi-Ti.

Gliding his hand along his torso, Jon felt his chest and abdominals become even denser, as whatever fat that he had must've been burnt away through the past moons. The same could be said of his legs, which looked thinner but was also firm.

But just as important, he saw that his eyes had a different focus to them and his face spoke determination. It was a far cry from how he lived at Winterfell from long ago, if that was what it felt like.

Jon had become more toned and more focused in the last three moons, something that he didn't know was possible when he first came to these shores. Very interesting, Jon noted.

Besides Benjen and Sam, Jon wasn't the only one who had begun to appreciate how his hard work altered his appearance, if the looks he would get in Kushiro were anything to go by.

Jon might have taken his looks more into stride as he started to shed his bastard mind away, but he was still occupied with his usual brooding. But while the servant girls and Lord Joon's daughters were nervous around him when he first came to Kushiro, they started to have a hard time resisting stealing glances at him whenever he walked by. They initially feared him when Jon returned with Meleys, as Meleys was kept in the kennels and fed regularly while being allowed to fly around the castle, the household began to tolerate her presence when she didn't threaten them with dragonfire.

Deciding to take the first step, Jon began to respond to whenever the servant girls giggled around him. Mustering his best guanhua, he would compliment their hair or their eyes before moving on, not noticing how they were in shock at the simple fact that he talked to them.

For Komo and Karasa, Jon had to be more careful. Even though Jon could see that they were pretty, Joon might not react well if he approached them as he did with the servant girls. So, he kept his distance and only approached them if they asked for help such as their calligraphy or getting certain objects for them. Jon wasn't naïve, but he decided to indulge them.

But that was not enough, as Lord Joon pulled him aside and scolded him. "I want you to spend more time training, not being near my daughters."

"I apologize for any misunderstandings—"

"Don't apologize. Just do it. For each time you talk to them inappropriately, I will deduct ten taels from your stipend. Clear?"

Jon sighed as he rubbed his head. "Yes."

As for Chanhee, she asked Lord Joon if she could earn her keep by working in the fields with Jon, which he agreed to. But as Jon toiled away with the sickle, he noticed Chanhee steal glances at him from behind. While she did so before, it became more common. Ghost watched the entire thing and licked Jon's hand afterwards, but he knew that his direwolf was teasing him about Chanhee.

Jon was not one to admit any sign of affection, but he had to admit that he had grown… rather fond of Chanhee. They started to talk more often in the grasslands around Kushiro and really enjoy each other's company. He didn't know if he felt any hint of love, whatever that was to him, regarding Chanhee, but he did feel a connection with the Chogo woman.

As Jon and Chanhee sat on the dirt during their break from the fields, with Ghost by his side, Chanhee inquired about the dragon. "So it's true? You come from dragons?"

Jon exhaled. "Yes. That's true."

Chanhee nodded. "So… you're not going to be here forever."

Jon could see a hint of sadness in her voice. "Eventually, I have to go home."

Chanhee cleared her throat. "I know. But it's just that… if you do, I'm going to miss you."

Jon turned to look at her. "I will miss you too."

Suddenly, Chanhee pulled him in for a quick peck on his lips. Jon was shocked.

"I'm sorry," Chanhee said as she stood up. "I need to go."

Jon grabbed her arm. "Chanhee, what's wrong?"

"I shouldn't have," she shook her head. "I'm a Chogo woman and you're a white devil. It won't work."

"What won't work?"

"Any union between us, marriage, children, all of it," Chanhee was on the verge of tears. "I should have known better. But knowing that just makes it hurt."

"Slow down, Chanhee. You're thinking too far," Jon tried to calm her down.

"You're the first person to respect me and the first man that I can have something with. But we're worlds apart. It will never work," she tried to reason with him.

"Chanhee, I like what we have right now," he tried to reassure her. "Regarding that other stuff, we can talk it over later."

"No, I must stop it before it becomes too strong," Chanhee brushed him off, but he could tell that it was painful for her to do so. "I will see you back at Kushiro," she said before sitting at another place and not talking to him.

Jon was surprised at how Chanhee acted. The whole thing was confusing for him and it all happened too quickly for him to really think about it. But he wasn't going to let his bond with Chanhee be so abruptly ended.

It also made things more conflicted for Jon. He had something with Chanhee, but he also had something with his aunt, Daenerys. He couldn't tell if he did feel strong affections for her, but she was family and there was nothing in the world that Jon wouldn't give in order to help her. We're the only ones left. It's no surprise that we have a connection.

However, Jon only met his aunt through those visions and he could actually see Chanhee. It was as if his heart was being drawn to two places at once. Gods, why must I feel this now, when I must be focused on becoming more of a Targaryen?

But such thoughts had to be set aside as Jon returned to Kushiro and ate evening meals. Immediately, the family, Sam, and Benjen noticed the awkwardness between he and Chanhee, which prompted small smiles from Komo and Karasa. Sam and Benjen were more sympathetic, as they both knew who she was to him. But Jon willed himself to focus on his meal and his upcoming evening session with Lord Joon.

After their meal was done, which consisted of a bowl of rice, eggs and beef fried on a stone surface, and baechi, Jon showed up to Lord Joon's solar. Sitting down in front of their host, he picked up the text that all army officers had to study and memorize by heart. That evening, he and Lord Joon were going over what that famed general said about spies:

Thus, what enables the wise sovereign and the good general to strike and conquer, and achieve things beyond the reach of ordinary men, is foreknowledge.

Now this foreknowledge cannot be elicited from spirits. It cannot be obtained inductively from experience, nor by any deductive calculation.

Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.

Hence the use of spies, of whom there are five classes: Local spies, inward spies, converted spies, doomed spies, and surviving spies.

When these five kinds of spy are all at work, none can discover the secret system. This is called "divine manipulation of the threads." It is the sovereign's most precious faculty.

Having local spies means employing the services of the inhabitants of a district.

Having inward spies, making use of officials of the enemy.

Having converted spies, getting hold of the enemy's spies and using them for our own purposes.

Having doomed spies, doing certain things openly for purposes of deception, and allowing our spies to know of them and report them to the enemy.

Surviving, finally, are those who bring back news from the enemy's camp.

"Now, from those words alone, which do you think is the most important type of spy?" Joon asked in nihongo.

Jon mustered up his best nihongo. "He says that all of them are important."

"Elaborate."

"Well, all of them serve different purposes, but they are as crucial to getting foreknowledge as the other," Jon explained. "We need local spies because they can give us the lay of the land. We need inward spies because we have to have an understanding of what the enemy is thinking and planning at the top level. We need converted spies since the enemy still thinks they're spying for them, and thus we can damage their networks in the long term. Doomed spies are a bit tricky, but they're important because they create the illusion that the enemy is successfully getting from us while we know what to pass on to them. As for surviving spies, they're the ones we send out for short missions like rangings and get information on the enemy quickly."

Joon nodded in approval. "Very good. But judging from what you've just read, which is the most difficult to accomplish?"

"If I had to pick, possibly the doomed spies."

"Why?"

"It's difficult to deceive someone, but more so when you deceive them and not act naturally. Sometimes, the best way to respond in that situation is not to respond, although I must admit that I am still having some difficulty understanding that," Jon admitted.

"Lies are hard to accomplish by even the most effective manipulators. But the best lies are rooted in the truth. When the truth and lies become confused with each other, that's when you know that the person will very likely be persuaded," Joon explained.

Jon exhaled. "I don't know if I can be effective at lying."

"Whether with military men or at court, people don't say what they mean all the time. And that's when you have to put yourself in their boots. What do they want to protect so much that they will resort to lying and deception? That's the question you want to answer," Joon outlined.

Before Jon could answer back, they felt a knock on the screen door. "Who is it?" Joon switched back to guanhua.

"Husband." Hearing his wife's voice, Joon gestured for Jon to open it. Making way for Lady Myung, she handed him a red envelope with golden characters.

Joon's eyes widened at that envelope. The shock was evident on his face, as he snatched the envelope, opened it, and read the contents. Jon kept looking at Joon as he went out of the solar, leaving Myung and Jon.

"What is that letter?" Jon asked Lady Myung.

"Red and gold means that it's from the emperor himself," she explained. Jon stared back at the envelope.

"And that usually means something bad has happened?"

"Most likely," Lady Myung nodded.

Jon picked up the letter and gave it to Lady Myung, who translated the distinct court dialect that he didn't understand.

"To the Governor of the Northwest Province,

The emperor's son, the Crown Prince Simung Bu, was tasked with the subjugation and incorporation into the empire a confederation of Jogos Nhai tribes that have started to resist our rule. One hundred thousand troops from the southern provinces were provided to the Crown Prince and victory was certain. However, either by the will of the gods or incompetence among the officers of the Crown Prince's troops, they were wiped out and the Crown Prince has been captured by the Jogos Nhai.

The Crown Prince must be recovered at all costs, but we shall not resort to negotiation. Therefore, by the power invested in me by the emperor, I order you to assemble all available troops and recall all former soldiers back to active duty. You will work in concert with the Northeast Province and the select troops from the Five Forts to recover him by force. Once all forces have been mobilized, await further instructions.

The situation for the empire has never been more uncertain, so we must act accordingly to ensure that thousands of years of our dynasty will not end ignobly.

Ten thousand years to His Augustness and the azure dynasty! Long live the emperor!

Signed,

Hudam Shu

Prime Minister of the Golden Empire

Jon was stunned. One hundred thousand men wiped out and the crown prince captured? That would explain why Joon rushed out of the solar so quickly.

Just then, he returned to the solar. "Daeron, we're leaving in the morning."

"What's going on?"

"I assume you have read the letter." Jon nodded. "I'm giving you your Valyrian steel swords. Ready yourself, for tomorrow we prepare for battle." And Joon left again.

Jon was shocked once more, but it quickly faded as he told Benjen what was going on and he too prepared. As one of Joon's brigade commanders, he would most certainly see battle.

The next morning, Jon and Benjen rode out with Lord Joon to headquarters while Sam helped write the messages to be sent to all over the province. As for Chanhee, she wanted to come, only for Joon to refuse. However, Jon asked him, "She might know where the Jogos Nhai might be located in the steppes."

"I do, my lord," Chanhee nodded. "The Chogo have fought them for thousands of years, but we know where each other is located at all time. I can help you."

Joon blustered in frustration before saying, "Get a horse. Quickly!"

The four went out of the castle towards headquarters, while Jon and Chanhee were still tense after their argument. However, he had to prepare himself.

Only over a year and now I'm seeing battle? I pray to the gods that they protect me, Jon hoped as headquarters came into view.

A/N: A lot to cover in this chapter, including more knowledge about Yi-Ti itself.

Jon is becoming more confident in himself, but we have our first conflict between him and Chanhee. And just to clarify, he might have seen Dany, but they don't have romantic feelings for each other yet. That comes later. For now, Jon is having that Ygritte bond with Chanhee, but it's more equal and more, dare I say, sweeter than in canon.

And now, we have our next major event in the Yi-Ti besides Meleys' birth, and this will kick the plot forward. Stay tuned!