Chapter 43 "Let this Khan have a good taste of this..."

These words shocked the entire room.

So it's no wonder they didn't kill her at the inn; it was just in case someone witnessed the murder, and then their plan to substitute her for someone else wouldn't be able to proceed.

The Cao family had no right to do this alone. Her marriage was a matter of diplomatic relations between two countries, and for the Cao family, there was no direct and significant benefit; on the contrary, the risks were extremely high. The only explanation was that the Third Prince wanted to use this opportunity of the princess's marriage to vie for the position of Crown Prince.

Now that Bian Chen is dead, his subordinates are leaderless and will likely scatter like birds and beasts. Jiang Fushi asked, "Besides you, who else in the post station is a spy for the Cao family?"

“Lord Li Wei… no, Li Wei’s other men never returned after the failed operation. Now, in the post station, I… I am the only one left.” The eunuch kowtowed in fear.

"Where is the place where the substitutes are trained?"

“I know… I know…” He dared not hide it, “In Yongjiafang in the south of the city, there is a house with a sign that reads ‘Wang’s Cloth Shop’, and people… people are kept in the cellar in the backyard.”

Jiang Fushi glanced at Mu Yun. Mu Yun immediately understood, and promptly gathered two skilled fighters, who rushed out the door like a gust of wind, heading straight for the cloth shop.

Less than half an hour later, Mu Yun returned, carrying on his shoulder a human figure tightly wrapped in black cloth, struggling constantly. It was the "fake princess" who had almost been replaced.

Seeing that the key witness had arrived, Jiang Fushi felt reassured. She called Qingdai to bring her pen and ink, spread out the letter paper under the lamp, pondered for a moment, and then wrote the letter. She carefully sealed the letter and solemnly handed it to Muyun.

"This letter is of great importance. Please be sure to deliver it to Lou Bingling, the daughter of Grand Commandant Lou, in your own hands."

"yes!"

After two whole days of turmoil, Jiang Fushi was so exhausted that her whole body ached and she could barely stand. Now that everything had settled down, she remembered to check on the wounded. Rongrong, who had been injured earlier, had her forehead properly bandaged and was fast asleep. Zisu only had some superficial injuries and was in good spirits.

She was slightly relieved and was about to go back to her room to rest when she saw Zhan Xiao walking towards her. His clothes, which had been covered in blood, had been changed into a clean and neat outfit. His fox fur coat was nowhere to be seen, and his dark hair was slightly damp, carrying a cool, refreshing scent, as if he had just taken a quick bath.

He told her, "The surrounding area has been prepared, Your Highness can rest assured."

Jiang Fushi nodded slightly, and the last trace of unease in her heart quietly dissipated. She leaned against the soft couch by the window, gazing at his departing figure in a daze.

The letter was ostensibly addressed to Lou Bingling, but in reality, it was meant to be delivered through her to Xie Zhiyao, with whom she had a close relationship.

The Third Prince's crimes of forming cliques with the Cao family and undermining the peace treaty are a matter of national importance, threatening the very foundation of the state. Although the Eldest Princess has power and connections, she ultimately has no real foothold in the court and cannot directly impeach him. The only hope lies with the pens of the Hanlin Academy's faction of upright officials.

Xie Zhiyao, as a Hanlin Compiler, held a prestigious and respectable position. If he could join forces with the Censor to bring this matter to the Emperor's attention under the guise of "upholding the national system and purifying the court," it would truly attract the Emperor's attention and deliver a fatal blow to the Third Prince's faction.

Hopefully, he will remember his past kindness and lend her a hand in this matter.

She stared intently, curious, only to see Zhan Xiao's figure flash by, turning the corner of the corridor and disappearing from her sight.

Suspicious, she immediately turned around and went downstairs, quietly following them.

Zhan Xiao took out a small scroll of paper from the copper tube beside the eagle's claw. On the paper were two short sentences:

"Brother Zhan, it is a pleasure to hear that you are well after many years. I am very pleased to hear that you are doing well. I have heard about what happened before, and I will do my best to fulfill your request and live up to your expectations."

The signature is a "Su" character written in a flowing, elegant style.

After reading it, Zhan Xiao burned the paper over the candle flame.

Just then, a soft voice came from behind: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Fushi stood in the shadows of the corridor, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry, while Zhan Xiao remained expressionless: "A letter from an old friend."

"oh……"

What old friend would write to him in the middle of the night? Could it be a confidante? But he's so aloof; he doesn't seem like the type to exchange intimate letters with a woman. Oh well, perhaps it's just an old friend he met while traveling the world.

She turned and went back to the room, catching a glimpse of a tall shadow beside her.

Zhan Xiao's lightness skill was superb, and his steps were silent. She could only judge that he had silently followed her by the shadowy silhouette in the dim light of the corridor. The moment she closed the door, his figure froze outside the door, like a tall figure gazing at the endless night sky.

Sometimes she felt that Zhan Xiao seemed to be hiding many heavy thoughts in his heart, but he never showed them on his face. This inscrutable nature made her feel a little annoyed for no reason, but drowsiness soon came over her, and as she thought about it, she fell into a deep sleep.

...

The following day, after reorganization and rest, the marriage procession set off again.

After five days of continuous travel, the carriages finally entered "Luoyun City." This was the last important border town where Dasheng and Qiongle met.

As it is located at the border of two countries, the local customs and culture of this small town have taken on a somewhat exotic flavor, and rare medicinal herbs that are hard to find within Dasheng are occasionally traded in the market.

When Jiang Fushi arrived here as a princess sent for a political marriage, the local people lined the streets to welcome her, and even the shops on both sides of the street hung colorful silks. The local prefect and the garrison general specially set up a welcoming table at the city gate, holding a gift book in their hands, and respectfully asked: "Your Highness Yong'an has had a long journey. Your Majesty has prepared an official post station. Please move to rest, so that your Majesty can have a welcome feast to wash away the dust of your journey."

She politely declined the tedious social engagements, saying only, "I would like to take a stroll. Would you mind visiting the medicinal herb market in the city?"

“Why not? Your Highness, please follow me.” The prefect readily agreed and personally led the way.

The market was lined with pharmacies, and the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs and plants. She carefully scanned each stall, her main concern being whether they had the 'Nine-Star Flower' that could cure Zhanxiao's cold poison.

As expected, such a precious medicine was hard to find in this remote border market.

That day in Misty Valley, she accidentally fell under the influence of her own concoction of "Mind-Bending Powder," resulting in a complete blank of her memory of the previous days. Although she intuitively felt that nothing serious had happened, she was still uneasy.

Now that we have obtained the 'dove feather', we can begin to develop an antidote. Even if it only restores fragmented memories, it's better than carrying a mystery in our hearts.

Night falls.

Jiang Fushi asked Rongrong to find a pestle, a porcelain bowl, filter paper, and several commonly used auxiliary medicines.

Developing an antidote is no quick process. First, the 'dove feathers' must be carefully dried, then ground into an extremely fine powder along with several other auxiliary ingredients. Finally, the powder is mixed with honey and condensed into pills. It takes two to three days to complete the final product.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. She left the cubicle that had been temporarily used as a pharmacy and felt the temperature gradually dropping. Fortunately, the clouds were thin tonight, and it wasn't snowing.

Leaning against the vermilion railing on the second floor, she stared intently at the figure practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard below. Lost in thought, she faintly heard the sounds of children playing outside the window.

She didn't pay attention at first, until the sound got closer and closer, seemingly coming towards her courtyard.

They peered out from outside the courtyard gate, pushing and shoving each other, but none of them were willing to go forward first. Their eyes gleamed in the twilight, looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and timidity.

The guards were about to step forward to drive them away when Jiang Fushi gently waved her hand, signaling them to step back. Then she put on a fox fur coat and came down from upstairs to the courtyard gate.

"You...have you come to see me?"

The children nodded in unison, clutching tightly in their hands several freshly picked white wildflowers still covered in soil.

One of the bolder girls was pushed forward by her companions. Her face was flushed, but her voice was clear and earnest: "My mother said that Her Highness sacrificed herself to marry into Qiongle so that the people on the border could live in peace. So we made this wreath, hoping it will protect Her Highness and ensure a safe journey."

Jiang Fushi smiled calmly, bent down slightly, and let the girl tiptoe to gently place a wildflower wreath with the fragrance of grass and trees in her hair.

These children don't understand the complex political maneuvering and conspiracies behind this marriage, but their pure hearts can sense that a princess's journey has brought them this peaceful night of playing in the streets.

Looking into their innocent and sincere eyes, Jiang Fushi felt a mix of emotions. The wreath seemed to weigh a ton, making her heart ache, yet strangely bringing her a sense of comfort.

The children's wishes were fulfilled, and they ran off laughing and playing, restoring tranquility to the courtyard.

Zhan Xiao had already sheathed his sword at some point and silently came to her side, his gaze falling on the flower wreath in her hair.

She smiled and asked him, "Does it look good?"

Zhan Xiao's gaze was earnest: "It looks good, Your Highness. It looks very good on you."

Jiang Fushi blushed slightly at his praise and couldn't help but lower her head, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

This man, who was usually as cold as ice and spoke little, spoke words that were both direct and passionate.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a chill and also shattering the fleeting joy.

The momentary joy vanished, and Jiang Fushi's smile faded. She looked up in the direction of Qiong Le, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Tomorrow, she will step into the territory of Qiongle.

The night wind was exceptionally crisp, carrying the unique dryness of the border town, causing the floral wreath in her hair to sway gently, and the night dew on the petals fell onto her shoulders, bringing a slight chill.

"It's getting windy, Your Highness, be careful not to catch a cold." Zhan Xiao's voice sounded from beside her, calmer and clearer than the wind. He stepped to the side, subtly shielding her from most of the cold wind. "Let's go back."

Jiang Fushi didn't look at him, but gazed at the desolate wasteland shrouded in ink, and responded very softly, "Mm."

It will take three more days to travel from Qiongle to the royal court.

On the evening of the third day, Jiang Fushi's carriage finally arrived at the Qiongle Royal Court.

She was placed in a separate courtyard called "Welcoming Garden," which, although considered the best guesthouse in the royal court, was furnished with the ruggedness and simplicity of a foreign tribe, quite different from the exquisite elegance of the Dasheng.

Next, the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Rites and the officials from Qiongle engaged in a complicated handover and negotiation of the ceremonial procedures.

However, the negotiations did not go smoothly. The Kyungle official was arrogant and, citing "Kyungle rules," unilaterally reduced the wedding ceremony to a minimum, insisting that the princess wear Kyungle attire and perform the Kyungle ceremony at the wedding.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites were naturally indignant at the harsh treatment of Princess Dasheng's ceremonial procession. They argued their case several times, but were met with the arrogant attitude of "since you have entered our country, you should follow our customs."

In addition, there were many inconveniences in terms of food. Dasheng mainly ate rice, while Qiongle usually ate beef, mutton and cheese. The food delivered was not only greasy, but also often undercooked and difficult to swallow.

Qiong Lefang's show of force began with his changes to Jiang Fushi's diet and daily life, causing her to not eat properly for several days and to lose some weight.

Two days passed like this.

That morning, Jiang Fushi had just gotten up and finished washing up when she was about to look through medical books to pass the time. She saw Rongrong with red eyes and trembling steps as she brought in tea, clearly having secretly cried.

"Your Highness is such a noble person, yet they treat him with such disrespect and contempt..." The little maid's voice choked with sobs, "This servant truly feels wronged on Your Highness's behalf!"

Jiang Fushi simply smiled calmly.

She had anticipated these situations before she arrived.

Kynle was a victorious nation, while she was merely a "gift" sent by the defeated nation, so the other party naturally had the right to make things difficult for her at will.

This has nothing to do with right or wrong, it's just a naked display of strength and weakness.

Moreover, this is only the beginning. She and Khan Qiongle have not yet held their wedding ceremony. It is said that Khan Aomu is currently not at the royal court and will not return for three days.

That's the official explanation, but everyone knows it's just a deliberate act of disrespect.

Otherwise, why would the Khan happen to be out just as the princess arrived for the marriage alliance? It was merely to give the Great Sheng a warning and completely humiliate the princess.

She was at the mercy of others, like a fish on a chopping board. What could Jiang Fushi do? She had long since learned not to waste her energy on trivial matters.

All she could think about was how to heal Zhan Xiao's injuries. She couldn't rest easy until the poison in his marrow was removed. Unconsciously, his safety had become extremely important to her, to the point that just thinking about him possibly leaving because of his injuries would cause her a sharp pain in her heart.

This feeling became increasingly clear and piercing as the date of her involuntary wedding approached, almost suffocating her.

As night fell, she lay on the unfamiliar bed, the rug beneath her rough and hard, the air thick with the lingering smell of cattle and sheep. All of this made her toss and turn, her very being resisting this place from the depths of her bones.

Unexpectedly, around midnight, a commotion of footsteps and shouts suddenly arose outside the courtyard. Immediately, a maid rushed in to report: The Khan has arrived and wants to visit the princess who is to be married off!

Upon receiving the news, Qingdai and Rongrong quickly helped Jiang Fushi put on an outer robe and hastily tidied her hair.

Just as I stood still in the hall, barely managing to maintain my composure, Ao Mu, reeking of alcohol and dust, strode in, his dark figure almost blocking the entire doorway.

Jiang Fushi curtsied slightly, meeting his scrutinizing gaze with neither arrogance nor servility.

The Khan before me, who reigns supreme over the grasslands, is over fifty years old. His temples are streaked with gray, and a hideous scar runs from his forehead to his chin, making his eyes look like those of an old, hungry wolf, full of power and ferocity.

"So you're Princess Yong'an?" Ao Mu's gaze swept over her face and body. "I'd like to see what kind of person the Emperor of Dasheng has sent."

He slowly paced half a step around Jiang Fushi and let out a sneer without any politeness: "Tsk, so thin, I wonder if she can withstand the wind and snow of our grasslands and the rules of this Khan's tent."

Jiang Fushi's fingertips curled slightly inside her sleeve, but her voice remained calm and even: "Thank you for your concern, Khan. The character of a daughter of the Great Sheng Dynasty cannot be judged by her size."

Ao Mu sneered, raised the riding whip in his hand, and lightly flicked a strand of her hair with the cold tip of the whip, bringing it to his nose to smell. His eyes were cloudy and full of possessiveness: "She smells quite nice. I just wonder how many days this delicate skin can stay by my side."

Suddenly, a silent killing intent spread throughout the room, chilling everyone to the bone. Ao Mu felt a shiver run through his body, and the effects of the alcohol wore off considerably.

He abruptly released his grip and warily glanced around. Behind Princess Yong'an stood a man, his figure hidden in the shadows of the corner of the hall, radiating a chilling aura, like a drawn blade.

Ao Mu's pupils suddenly contracted.

He hadn't even noticed when this person had appeared. The murderous aura emanating from him made even a seasoned warrior like himself feel a tightness in his chest. He couldn't help but restrain his frivolousness and said in a deep voice, "Who are you? How dare you be so insolent before me!"

Seeing that the man was dressed in ordinary guard uniform, Ao Mu paused, snorted, and looked at Jiang Fushi: "What, I haven't even married you yet, and this beast dares to bare his teeth just because I touched one of my own people?"

These words were truly malicious, insulting both Zhan Xiao and Jiang Fushi, who was a princess sent for a political marriage.

Jiang Fushi's eyes suddenly turned cold: "Khan, be careful what you say."

"This is a bodyguard of my Great Sheng, fulfilling his duty and eager to protect his lord. This is an act of loyalty and righteousness. If the Khan were to be angered by loyalty and righteousness, wouldn't that discourage all the warriors of the world?"

Ao Mu stared at her for a moment, his face twitching, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! What a sharp-tongued princess!"

His laughter abruptly stopped, and he glared at her fiercely: "I'm actually... getting more and more excited for our wedding night."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to leave with his attendants.

Exhausted by Ao Mu's outburst in the middle of the night, Jiang Fushi trembled slightly and looked at Zhan Xiao, whose face was solemn.

He remained calm and composed, but she knew in her heart that it was Zhan Xiao's undisguised killing intent that had forced Ao Mu back, preventing him from truly pushing his luck.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, waved to everyone, and said wearily, "Go and rest."

Everyone silently withdrew, leaving only her and him in the corner of the room. The air was so quiet that the faint sound of the lamp wick popping could be heard.

That night, he still stood guard outside her door on the porch. Through the hazy silk gauze on the door, he could see his dark figure standing tall like a pine tree. The night was deep, and the long sword in his hand rested quietly on his shoulder, reflecting a faint light.

The next day.

Ao Mu issued a royal decree, ordering the marriage to take place in three days, and told Jiang Fushi to prepare.

She didn't really need to prepare anything; she was already there, and when the wedding would take place was just a matter of Ao Mu's word. The officials of the Ministry of Rites and the officials of Qiongle, however, were extremely busy, with preparations underway inside and outside the royal court.

Jiang Fushi was indifferent to this.

Instead, he focused more on studying medical principles, repeatedly reviewing the medical books he had brought while pondering how to cure the poison of Zhanxiao's cold marrow.

However, after so many days of research, she realized more and more clearly that the only way to eradicate the cold poison that Zhan Xiao was afflicted with was to seek help from the legendary 'Nine Star Flower', otherwise there was no other way.

However, the Nine Star Flower is hard to find. For nearly a hundred years, it has only appeared briefly in pharmacopoeias and legends. Now, it is unknown where it is in the world or whether it has already disappeared.

Thinking of this, she felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart. Since there was nothing she could do about it for the time being, she decided to put the matter aside for now. Besides, the antidote for the 'mind-bending powder' she had made a few days ago had already dried, so at least one thing could be moved forward.

On her wedding day, she allowed her maids to do her hair and makeup, and put on the magnificent but heavy wedding gown. Before the veil fell, she dismissed everyone around her, and swallowed the pills with warm water.

Initially, there were no unusual symptoms or significant sensations in my body.

She sat upright in front of the mirror, taking one last look at the unfamiliar yet magnificent reflection, letting the heavy phoenix crown press down on her head, the red veil obscuring all vision.

The wedding custom in Qiongle is that the groom must ride a horse to the bride's residence at sunset, and welcome her back to his golden tent amidst cheers from the crowd. He will then hold a ceremony to worship the heavens in front of the tent and drink the nuptial wine together.

Perhaps to continue humiliating Dasheng, or perhaps because he didn't take this marriage alliance seriously at all, Ao Mu did not personally carry out the ceremony. Qionglefang didn't even send a proper wedding procession, only sending a few servants to accompany them perfunctorily.

Jiang Fushi sat on the simply decorated horse, with no lively wedding procession behind her, and only Zhan Xiao holding the reins in front of her.

He walked steadily, step by step, leading her to the Khan's golden tent in the center of the royal court.

Looking down, she could see Zhan Xiao's well-defined knuckles and his hand tightly gripping the reins, and tears welled up in her eyes for no apparent reason. She tried to hold them back, but a few tears still slipped down her cheeks, soaking the bright red fabric of her wedding dress at her knees.

Outside the golden tent, red silk banners proclaiming great joy were displayed, standing out starkly against the vast grassland.

Two maids from the Qiongle Palace helped Jiang Fushi down from her horse and escorted her to the bridal chamber.

The red candle in the room crackled and burned until half of it was stubbed out and dripping with wax, but Ao Mu did not appear. She sat alone by the bed, feeling no relief, only a deliberate sense of humiliation at being ignored, and a heavy premonition of an impending storm.

At the same time, she vaguely felt a warm current rising in her abdomen, mixed with a slight dizziness, which must be the medicine starting to take effect. But no matter how hard she tried to recall, her memory of Misty Valley remained blank.

After an unknown amount of time, heavy, unsteady footsteps came from outside the door, accompanied by Ao Mu's rough, drunken ramblings.

Jiang Fushi clenched her fists tightly, her heart pounding with fear.

"Bang!"

Ao Mu suddenly pushed the door open.

He reeked of alcohol, swaying as he sat down next to Jiang Fushi, muttering incoherently through his steaming breath, "Let this Khan have a good taste... of the Great Sheng Princess's flavor..."

Jiang Fushi closed her eyes in despair...

Outside the tent.

A man dressed in a dark purple robe with dark patterns, his face mostly covered by a silver mask, appeared in the passageway outside the tent, holding a long sword. A guard who spotted him opened his mouth to call out, but before he could utter a single syllable, a sharp flash of sword light slit his throat, and he fell to the ground silently.

He didn't stop, his sword flashing like a rainbow, killing all those who tried to stop him with a single strike. Blood instantly stained the ground red, and corpses fell silently. In the night, his robes were covered with crimson bloodstains.

Author's Note: [Cat's paw]

The next chapter is the climax of this story and is very important. It is recommended not to skip ahead, as it may cause confusion in the later plot.

[Hugs] Thank you again for your support, everyone!