Because those who cultivate the Tao possess a mindset unlike that of ordinary people, Princess Xijun adapted to life and culture in the Kingdom of Wusun with astonishing speed. Even before departing for the marriage alliance, she had already mastered the Wusun language and gained a thorough understanding of the local culture. (The Wusun were a nomadic people who lived in yurts and relied primarily on meat and dairy products as their staple foods.) She had prepared herself as thoroughly as possible.
The only thing that surprised Princess Xijun was that shortly after the marriage alliance delegation arrived in Wusun, the Xiongnu ruler, Wuwei Chanyu, learned that the King of Wusun had formed both a marriage alliance and a political alliance with the Han Dynasty. Feeling immediately threatened, he urgently dispatched a noblewoman known as Dangyu Juci to Wusun for a marriage alliance as well.
"Dangyu" was the surname of a noble clan within the Xiongnu, while "Juci" was a title referring to a princess or noble lady. Dangyu Juci was not the daughter of Wuwei Chanyu (of the Luandi clan), but rather a noblewoman selected from among the aristocracy to marry into Wusun. Her true mission, however, was to serve as a spy, closely monitoring the King's every move.
From the perspective of King Liejiaomi of Wusun, both women were spies. The only difference was that Princess Xijun, who had come from the Han Dynasty through the marriage alliance, had been sent by Emperor Wu of Han to keep watch over him.
Even so, there had to be a distinction in rank between the two princesses. In Wusun, the king's principal consorts were divided into the Left Consort and the Right Consort, with the Left Consort holding the higher status.
The King of Wusun found himself in a difficult position. Both the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu were powerful states. Which princess should receive the higher rank?
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