The capital city.

Princess Chaoyang's Residence.

Chaoyang lay listlessly on the chaise longue. Next month, the Mongol Kingdom would send an envoy to propose marriage. She wondered which prince she would marry. Would she marry the old emperor of the Mongol Kingdom?

Chaoyang was actually quite scared. Since birth, she had always lived in the capital and had never been outside of it. The Meng and Yin kingdoms had been at war for many years, and she knew she would face obstacles everywhere if she married into the kingdom. Chaoyang thought desperately. Even so, she never thought of running away from the marriage or not going to the marriage alliance, because she was a princess. From childhood, she had been surrounded by fine clothes and delicacies, with all kinds of silks and satins. This was what she had received as a member of the royal family, something that others could never have in their entire lives. Since she had enjoyed the benefits that her status brought her, she should also bear all the consequences that her status brought her, whether good or bad.

With a tick, Chaoyang noticed the movement coming from the window. She immediately stood up alertly, ran to the bedside, pulled a dagger from under her pillow, gripped it tightly in her hand, and cautiously walked towards the window.

Suddenly, a red figure jumped in through the window, startling Chaoyang so much that she took several steps back. She tried to scream, but the man in red quickly covered her mouth.

Chaoyang had just started struggling fiercely when she saw who it was. She rolled her eyes speechlessly. What was he doing here? She glared at him, signaling him to let go of her hand. After confirming that she wasn't scared, the man in red slowly lowered his hand.

Chaoyang said irritably, "Qin Si, what are you doing at the Princess's residence tonight? Sneaking around like that!"

Qin Si moved his lips and said in a low voice, "I've come to apologize to you. I'm sorry, I misunderstood you and said those things."

Every night when he thinks about what he said, he wants to sit up and slap himself. He deserves to die!

Chaoyang said nonchalantly, "It's nothing, I didn't take it to heart."

Qin Si immediately deflated; the words he was about to say were cut off by Chao Yang's single sentence. Undeterred, he asked, "Are you really going to marry into a foreign power?"

Chaoyang didn't understand why he asked that question, since it was already a done deal.

She nodded, the meaning of which was quite clear.

Qin Si said somewhat angrily, "The Yin Kingdom has so many generals and so many men, yet they choose to send you, a woman, for a political marriage. The Meng Kingdom and the Yin Kingdom have been at war for many years. How will things be good for you after you go there? The emperor of the Yin Kingdom is truly incompetent!"

When Chaoyang heard the other person bring up his father, the emperor, he said with displeasure, "You are not allowed to talk about my father like that."

Qin Si retorted with exasperation, "He's already sent you to marry a foreign ruler, and you're still defending him like this? His actions are tantamount to sending you to your death, don't you understand?" His breathing became rapid as he spoke.

Chaoyang paused for a moment, then said calmly, "This is my fate, Qin Si. Besides, sacrificing myself for a few years of peace between Yin and Meng means that the people will no longer suffer from the ravages of war in the coming years, and Yin can also recuperate. Isn't that fair? I even feel like I've gained something. By sacrificing myself, everyone can be happy."

Qin Si spoke up, "And what about you? You'll die, understand?"

Chaoyang smiled and said cheerfully, "Qin Si, thank you, I understand. Thank you for coming to see me tonight, I'm very grateful. But this is what I should bear, or rather, what I should have borne long ago. My eldest brother protected me before, and I'm sorry to him. Now I can finally bear the consequences myself, and I will no longer be a burden to anyone." Chaoyang said with a sigh of relief. In fact, she felt very guilty. Every time she saw her eldest brother, she felt overwhelmed with guilt. Her eldest brother probably knew this, so he didn't want to let himself have any wild thoughts and stayed in Yunzhou City, not returning to the capital for many years.

Qin Si clenched his fist. He wanted to say something, but seeing Chaoyang's relieved and relaxed expression, he ultimately didn't say anything.

Chaoyang looked at Qin Si's handsome face, which was lowered and focused. He had sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, and a little baby fat on his cheeks. He was almost too beautiful.

She took a deep breath and finally blurted out what had been on her mind. She said in a forcedly casual tone, "Qin Si, I used to really like you, so I used to go to my sister-in-law's hot pot restaurant all the time. You probably didn't know that, but it's all over now. I won't bother you anymore. I'm going to get married, haha." At the end, Chaoyang gave a dry laugh.

Only when she voiced her feelings would she feel no regrets, and she would no longer think of him. She could finally go through with the marriage alliance with a clear conscience, and even if the outcome was terrible, she would not regret it.

After hearing Chaoyang's words, Qin Si didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected this girl to be so honest, speaking so frankly. Actually, he sensed that Chaoyang had feelings for him.

Her affection was never concealed from the beginning; it was so blatant that it was impossible to resist.

Qin Si thought for a moment and said, "I can feel it." Actually, it would be a lie to say that he couldn't feel it; how could someone sitting next to a stove not feel anything?

Chaoyang smiled and said, "I've finally said it. Now that I've said it, I'm finally at peace with myself and can let it go."

The little princess, who dares to love and hate, is both pitiful and endearing.

Qin Si suddenly said, "Can't you not go for the marriage alliance?"

Chaoyang felt that Qin Si was acting strangely. He didn't like her, yet he was trying to stop her from getting married! She said irritably, "No, I can be a princess. A princess has to fulfill her responsibilities. If I don't go for the marriage, the two countries will continue to be at war. A princess must protect her people. This is a principle that my father taught us since we were young."

Qin Si thought for a moment, then asked, "So you can only go to the Meng Kingdom for a marriage alliance? How about the Ye Kingdom? You can marry into the Ye Kingdom, yes, the Ye Kingdom." Qin Si was somewhat pleased; he seemed to have thought of a solution.

Chaoyang sensed that he wasn't feeling well, and his mind wasn't working properly either. With the Yin and Meng kingdoms at war, why was she going to the Ye kingdom for a marriage alliance? Besides, she didn't know anyone from the Ye kingdom!

Chaoyang said somewhat speechlessly, "Well, there has to be someone from the Night Kingdom who's willing to marry me. Right now, I'm a hot potato. Who would dare to marry me?"

Qin Si's lips curled slightly as he smiled and said, "Little princess, I'm leaving now. I've thought of a way."

Chaoyang watched, utterly bewildered, as he cheerfully climbed over the window. It was completely inexplicable.

Qin Si didn't know what his feelings were for Chaoyang, and he didn't dare to think about it too deeply, afraid of getting the answer he couldn't face. Right now, he just wanted Chaoyang to not go on the marriage alliance.

It seems he needs to go back.