Chapter 132

A few days later.

Da Zhou and Northern Xinjiang reached an agreement.

The decree for Zhiyi's marriage was finally issued.

She was going to be the queen of the new royal court, and the Ministry of Rites prepared everything the princess would need, such as guards, maids, and other necessary supplies.

Xia Fuyang was appointed as the chief guard and escorted the princess all the way. After escorting the princess to her marriage, he needed to stay at the border.

-

Xia Fuyang arrived in the capital half a month later.

He completed the handover of his soldiers and resigned as the captain of Xianghe County, taking only a dozen brothers with him.

These people all planned to go to the northern border with him.

After meeting the emperor and officially receiving the mission, Xia Fuyang went to the private room of Ruyi Tower to keep the appointment.

He looked very haggard, he hadn't even bothered to shave, and his eyes were full of red bloodshot.

Xi Zixing and Qu Dubian were both in the private room.

Xi Zixing: "Hurry up and sit down and take a rest."

He poured Xia Fuyang a cup of tea.

Qu Watanabe: "You look like you haven't slept well for a long time."

Xia Fuyang smiled bitterly, "You are the same, we are the same."

One has to watch his elder sister marry in Northern Xinjiang, while the other suddenly hears the tragic news that his father is seriously injured and unable to lead the army.

Xi Zixing looked at the two of them and sighed again and again in his heart.

The atmosphere among the trio was unusually dull.

Qu Dubian perked up, "I have an idea. Although the marriage is inevitable, it will give Sister more room to maneuver in the northern border. But it's full of uncertainty."

"I don't know if it's feasible, I want to hear your opinions."

Xi Zixing: "You say."

Qu Watanabe: "Do you remember Agumudo?"

Xia Fuyang nodded: "I remember. Agumuduo was the successor chosen by the previous royal court, but he has been expelled from the royal court and reduced to a tribe."

Qu Dubian: "Northern Xinjiang generally does not exterminate defeated tribes because of the struggle for the royal court. It only kills direct descendants. This is the unspoken rule of the Northern Xinjiang grassland. Agumuduo is not dead, and the old people of the old royal court are still there. As long as he calls for the slogan of rebuilding the second royal court and rules separately from the war-loving lineage of King Kuru, chaos will reappear in Northern Xinjiang."

"However, if Agumduo shouts out the slogan of the Second Royal Court, he will most likely be attacked by everyone. After all, there are many loyal supporters of the Royal Court in the Northern Frontier. Moreover, if he stays honest, he can still survive. If he shouts out the slogan, he will be completely hostile to King Kuru, and the fight will really end to the death," Xi Zixing pondered and analyzed one by one.

"This is a gamble, a gamble on human nature, luck, and strength."

First, in order to survive, Agumudo might have retreated under the rule of King Kuru and was unwilling to take risks; second, even if Agumudo was willing, the fire would not start if he was not strong enough or had bad luck.

But if the bet wins.

After a few years, two royal courts gradually formed in the northern border. From the separation of tribes to the confrontation between the two camps, the fighting would only get more and more fierce.

The more trouble we create for the new king, the easier it will be to contain Princess Zhiyi since she is in the northern border.

Xia Fuyang: "It's not like you to bet on a person from Northern Xinjiang who you met once a few years ago."

Qu Dubian shook his head: "He is just the best choice. Without him, we can only use other less effective means to ignite internal conflicts in Northern Xinjiang."

He doesn't want to gamble unless it's necessary.

Xia Fuyang: "I will tell Xu Hou your idea after I arrive in Northern Xinjiang."

Qu Dubian: "Do you know when the marriage team will set off?" Before Xia Fuyang returned to Beijing, there was no specific date for the marriage.

Xia Fuyang: "Mid-December."

That's just over a month left.

I can’t wait until the marriage team arrives before telling grandpa.

-

Fifteen days later.

Northern border.

In the main city, inside the military tent.

Lang Qing opened the curtain and came in, "My Lord, a letter from the Madam."

"Bring it here, bring it here."

Xia Hong lay on the bed, weakly watching Xu Jin open the letter.

"A letter from my sister-in-law?"

Xu Jin nodded: "Yeah."

He and Wu Siwan have their own exclusive way of communicating, which is a little more complicated and slower on the road, but safe.

"Don't move," Xu Jin glared, "Don't you know how badly you've been injured? The poison from the hidden arrow is from the northern border, and the doctors here can only suppress it. Wait for your son to come, and after you've explained everything, go to the capital to recuperate."

Xia Hong lay on the pillow.

Xu Jin opened the letter and glanced at it, "Huh."

It was written by my grandson.

He immediately perked up his attention and read every line carefully, his brows furrowed deeper the more he read.

Xia Hong: "What's wrong?"

Xu Jin: "Oh, it's nothing. Your sister-in-law burned her hand while cooking a few days ago. I'm worried." He folded the envelope and stuffed it into his clothes. "I won't say any more corny words. I'll go back and read it slowly."

Lang Qing coughed lightly a few times.

Xu Jin: "You go down first."

When they were the only two people left in the tent, Xu Jincai asked, "Can you still use the secret line that can contact Agumuduo?"

Xia Hong: "After Princess Xiang passed away, the royal court rebelled and some people died. For safety reasons, I cut off the old lines that were originally used. Only by contacting the other party can we rebuild."

Xu Jin: "Then I'll think of another way."

-

Until a week before the marriage.

Qu Watanabe finally received a simple reply from his grandfather from his grandmother.

He has passed a lot of information to Agumu, but whether the other party agrees or not depends on the future situation in the northern border.

Qu Dubian has not lived in the prince's residence recently, but has been living in the Marquis Chijian's mansion. He asked for a long vacation from Tutor Fang, who did not say anything. When Emperor Chongzhao found out, he did not say anything either and let him live wherever he wanted.

Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, is there good news in the letter?"

Qu Watanabe: “No news.”

"However, I have to find a way to establish my own communication line in the Northern Frontier. The court's communication line is useless, and my grandmother's is too slow."

As he was speaking, a servant came in to report.

"Young Master, Master Xie Lishan from the Xie family wants to see you."

He is the person who has been getting along well with my sister during this period.

Qu Watanabe thought: "Let him in."

Xie Lishan saluted: "Your Highness."

He looked much thinner, but still maintained a certain respectability.

Qu Watanabe: "Just tell me if you have something to say."

Xie Lishan: "I resigned."

Qu Dubian observed his expression and was inspired, "You did it for my sister? But the list of accompanying personnel for this trip has been finalized. Even if you resign, you can't go with them."

Xie Lishan took a deep breath and said, "I know Your Highness must have a way. Even if I can be an attendant or a guard, I am willing to follow the princess to the Northern Frontier."

"I am not talented, but Uncle Xie also praised me for my quick wit, so maybe I can help."

Qu Dubian usually thought that this person's eyes were not eyes and his nose was not a nose. This was the first time he looked at the other person seriously.

"You are from the second branch of the Xie family. Do your family agree?"

Xie Lishan: "I have been trying to convince my family during this period. Fortunately, I am not the eldest son in the family. I have my brother to support me, so I have more freedom."

But from then on, his family would not give him any help.

Qu Watanabe: "Do you know martial arts?"

Xie Lishan: "Among the six arts of a gentleman, horseback archery is the best."

Qu Watanabe: "You are not as good as the guards, and you are not a woman, so you can't serve me closely. You are average in all aspects. You can't help me around my sister."

Xie Lishan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I..."

"If you really want to help her, I have another way."

Xie Lishan said seriously: "You go ahead."

Qu Dubian: "Both Northern Frontier and Great Zhou have captured each other's people and used them as slaves. These slaves were controlled and oppressed, but they were the closest to the royal court."

"I need eyes and tongues that can grow in the royal court and report back any news from within the Northern Frontier as much as possible."

Xie Lishan bowed his head and said, "I will be your eyes and tongue in the royal court."

Qu Watanabe did not respond immediately.

"After just a few months of getting along, can you really do this for your sister?"

Xie Lishan: "Not just a few months."

Talking about Zhiyi, his calmness faded a little, and he became a little immature: "The princess often goes to Xie's house to play with Yuanniang. We are in the same private school, but she doesn't know that I am watching her."

Qu Watanabe asked the last question: "Why did you look for me?"

Xie Lishan was silent for a few seconds. "The news that you and His Majesty had a falling out in the Purple Palace has spread. After the news of Northern Xinjiang's marriage proposal came, you were the only one who dared to contradict His Majesty for the princess."

"You might die, or you might not even get close to the royal court."

Xie Lishan looked straight at the young prince in front of him.

"I will die with no regrets."

After a moment, Qu Dubian said, "Okay. Tomorrow at noon, a caravan of 100 people will set out from Jingxi. You follow them, and I will arrange the rest."

Xie Lishan: "Thank you!"

He was determined not to step into a dead end filled with pain and suffering, but to go to a romantic appointment.

After Xie Lisheng left, Qu Dubian did not return to his room in the Marquis' Mansion.

He sat cross-legged on the stone table in the yard.

In addition to the simulator, all other useful forces and connections were intertwined in his mind.

Ye Xiaoyuan put a piece of clothing on him.

"Your Highness, please go back to the house first."

Qu Watanabe: "Too lazy to move."

Ye Xiaoyuan stood beside him and said, "Your Highness, the situation is like this. Even if all the princes plead together, it will not affect the outcome of today's situation."

Unless a natural disaster strikes the northern border.

Qu Watanabe was thinking.

If he had known twelve years ago that such a day would come, would he still choose to spend those twelve years leisurely and easily?

No.

If there were no feelings and he was only told about the future development, then according to his personality when he first came to this strange dynasty, he probably would not choose to live in Shunning Palace and avoid all the troubles and sad things from the root.

He had to go from being a poor little kid with the label of an illegitimate child to a person who could influence the overall situation of the two countries before the age of fourteen. This was a road that was harder than ascending to heaven, full of calculations and blood. He was afraid that he would just turn around and leave when he first came here.

There are no ifs in this world.

Qu Dubian came down from the stone table wearing his clothes.

He still has more than a year before he turns sixteen and establishes his own government, officially gets involved in court affairs, and influences the political situation.

-

The day before the marriage team was to leave the capital.

Shunning Palace.

afternoon.

Qu Watanabe gave Zhiyi a bottle of detoxification pills with five pills in it: "Sister, keep this safe. If you get poisoned, it can save your life. Don't throw it away."

Zhiyi put it away: "Well, I'll keep it close to me."

Qu Watanabe pushed out a small box: "Inside are the hidden weapons made by Liuliu. They have been readjusted. The ones with red petals are poisonous. Take the sleeve arrows, hidden needle hairpins, hidden blade bracelets...all with you."

"It's not that dangerous," Zhiyi said, "We still have to maintain superficial peace. I have guards from the Great Zhou by my side, and the new king won't deliberately make things difficult for me."

Qu Watanabe: "The guards need to be replaced. When we reach the northern border, someone will replace the original guards."

Zhiyi: “Who?”

Qu Watanabe: "Half of them are my grandfather's personal soldiers, and you will know the other half when we reach the border."

Zhiyi nodded.

After thinking for a while, he asked, "Between you and Father...?"

Qu Watanabe: "Fourth and fifth brothers have both come to me, sister, don't worry about me, I know what's going on."

"Zhiyi, come in, mother wants to talk to you."

Concubine Guo stood at the door of the back hall and waved at Zhiyi.

Zhiyi responded, put down what she was doing and walked over.

The mother and daughter closed the palace door.

Concubine Guo's eyelids were swollen, and she cried every day during this period. With the previous experience of Princess Xiang and Concubine Zhou, she really couldn't control her emotions.

Lady Guo said, "Today is your last night in Shunning Palace. You must return to the Princess's Mansion early tomorrow morning. Mother cannot accompany you."

Zhiyi laid on her lap, "It's okay, Xiaoqi will take me there."

Lady Guo: "Mother doesn't know about the national justice. I just want to tell you that if there is chaos in the northern border, you should run. The farther the better. Don't care about other people or selfishness. Mother just wants you to be alive."

Zhiyi stood up. Although she didn't think so in her heart, she didn't refute what Concubine Guo said. She nodded and said, "I will protect myself well."

A long talk all night.

The second day.

Zhiyi returned to the princess's mansion and changed into her wedding dress.

There were several wedding dresses in total. Some of the simpler styles were worn on the road, and some were worn when reaching the northern border.

After Zhiyi got on the carriage, Xia Fuyang organized the troops.

With the support of the Ministry of Rites, the marriage team finally set out.

Qu Dubian rode his horse and guarded the Zhiyi carriage.

He was not idle when he was accompanying, and he made up a [trick dream] in his mind and threw it on King Kuru. This thing he won in the lottery at the beginning allowed him to walk out of Ju'an Hall more smoothly. He bought it again and used it in this scene.

He used all the things that could be used and might help, and [Prank Dream Maker] was the last one.

To him it was a child's play.

But if you use one every now and then, it might have some miraculous effects.

After walking for many days, they arrived at Shanming Pass, 300 miles away from the capital.

The people accompanying the Ministry of Rites stopped here and said, "We will escort the bride for 300 miles. We will leave the rest of the journey to Young Marquis Xia."

Xia Fuyang: “Yeah.”

Qu Dubian walked up to him and said, "Remember to use the things I gave you."

Xia Fuyang: "Okay."

Qu Dubian gave him three detoxification pills. He knew that his grandfather should have something to suppress the toxin, the Qianqian Pill. It was this that helped Liuliu hold on for a few days last time.

The purchase of this thing is limited to ten pills a year. Last time he bought one for Liuliu, five for Ajie, and three for Xia Fuyang. He still has one chance to buy it left.

The detoxification pill cannot cure all poisons instantly after taking it. It took three pills to completely cure Liuliu's poison.

Although I don’t know whether Xia Hongzhong’s poison has been cured, it’s still better to be prepared.

The life span gained from Liuliu has been almost used up, and he now has a total life span of a little more than twelve years left.

It's easy to spend money but hard to make money.

Xia Fuyang patted his shoulder and said, "The princess is waiting for you, go ahead."

Zhiyi stood under the carriage and looked at him with a smile.

Qu Dubian stood in front of her: "Sister."

Zhiyi: "I always thought you were still young, but now I realize that you have grown taller than me." She said everything in Shunning Palace. The siblings were silent for a long time before she said, "You are the only one left in Shunning Palace. Promise me to take good care of Empress Xuan and my mother."

Qu Watanabe nodded.

Zhiyi: "Then I'll leave."

She turned and got into the carriage. Qu Dubian subconsciously reached out and only grasped a little bit of the coolness on her fiery red wedding dress.

Xia Fuyang mounted his horse and said to him, "I will take good care of the princess."

The marriage team set out again from Shanming Pass. The further north they went, the more they could feel the bone-chilling wind.

Qu Dubian stood there, leading the horse, watching the marriage procession go farther and farther away. He slowly tightened his grip on the reins.

The Minister of Rites said, "Seventh Prince, shall we go back?"

According to the rules, the Minister of Rites did not have to come, but after the Seventh Prince asked to accompany his bride, His Majesty summoned him to the Purple Palace and asked him to accompany him and keep an eye on the Seventh Prince all the way to prevent him from actually rushing to the Northern Frontier.

After all, the Seventh Prince had a history of running away.

Qu Watanabe said nothing.

Suddenly, he jumped on his horse and galloped away.

The Minister of Rites was a step too slow and failed to catch him. He exclaimed, "Your Highness!"

He thought the Seventh Prince was going to rush to the northern border.

“Hurry up, hurry up!”

The young man chasing against the cold wind climbed up a steep cliff of Shanming Pass.

He reined in his horse and stopped just a hair's breadth away from the cliff.

Qu Dubian looked at the wedding procession in the distance, and said with a deep breath, "Sister!"

"I will definitely come to the Northern Frontier to take you home!"

The wind was freezing cold, but there was a blazing fire in his eyes.

Zhiyi sat in the carriage and walked the same road that Princess Axiang had also walked.

She pressed her palm to her heart.

"Sister just hopes you are safe."