Chapter 12 "If Your Highness had spoken earlier..."

The Milky Way hangs low over the fields, the wind rustles through the treetops, and the branches are adorned with swaying starlight.

Baili Xunzhou sat cross-legged on the tree, looking down. The girl below stood in the frost-covered ground, staring blankly upwards without saying a word. Her black hair, unadorned with hairpins, cascaded down like a waterfall. A fluffy crane-feather cloak wrapped around her fair face, and the tip of her nose was slightly reddened by the wind, like a fallen peach blossom.

He frowned, leaped down from the tree, and landed in front of Feng Mian, his shadow enveloping her perfectly.

Feng Mian then came to her senses and found her voice to explain, "I... I couldn't sleep, so I got up to walk around."

Baili Xunzhou raised his hand, and Feng Mian subconsciously leaned back, only to see Baili Xunzhou reach out and pull out the round jade pendant that she was still holding.

“Even if the princess likes it, she can’t take what belongs to someone else, can she?” Baili Xunzhou deliberately retorted. He never slept well at night, so he simply found a high place to keep watch. He heard the noise when Feng Mian quietly got off the carriage, but he was too lazy to care. Who would have thought that after a while, she would actually walk up to him and pull off his jade pendant.

It's hard not to suspect that she did it on purpose.

Feng Mian hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry. I thought it was starlight..."

She felt a little embarrassed, realizing she had just done something really silly.

Baili Xunzhou snorted coldly, fastened the jade pendant, and then crossed his arms to urge her on: "Princess, if you're alright, you should go back quickly. If you fall ill again, this young master won't stop to wait for you."

Feng Mian did indeed begin to sense a chill. She didn't care about Baili Xunzhou's cold attitude and barbed words, and just smiled at him, her teeth like pearls.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I haven't thanked you for taking care of us along the way. If Your Highness had led the Swift Feather Battalion at full speed, we would probably have been left behind long ago."

"You're overthinking it. It's not that I want to take care of you, but my mother has given me orders, and I have no choice but to obey." Baili Xunzhou immediately distanced himself from the matter, his words conveying the message that he was afraid you would complain. He then bluntly stated, "Since there's no one else around today, I'll speak frankly with the princess."

Feng Mian looked up and saw Baili Xunzhou's cool gaze fixed intently on her. His dark eyes were like obsidian washed by spring snowmelt, cool yet clear and bright.

"Our marriage was bestowed by the Emperor, and my father and mother have accepted it, but I do not." His voice was clear and crisp, like a bamboo skewer gently tapping on thin porcelain, carrying a slight coolness.

This young master is surprisingly frank.

Feng Mian hadn't expected him to be so blunt in telling her he didn't want the marriage. To be honest, given his previous ruthless ways, she wouldn't be surprised if he were choking her and forcing her to break off the engagement. His now-sincere words left her speechless for a long while.

Seeing that Feng Mian didn't speak, Baili Xunzhou thought she was injured. He thought it was good that she had backed down, so that he wouldn't have to argue with his parents.

He showed no remorse whatsoever for comforting a distressed young girl; instead, he said with a beaming smile, "If you're willing, you can come to my residence for a while. The Prince of Dingbei's residence will certainly treat you well. You can then discuss the annulment of the engagement with my mother. If you don't want to continue your journey, you can write me a letter, which I will take to my mother, and you can then explain the situation to the Emperor yourself. How about that?"

When asked the final question, he slightly raised his chin, convinced that his two paths were truly ingenious.

Seeing his happy expression, Feng Mian suddenly had a wicked thought and slowly said with a smile, "It would have been better if Your Highness had said so earlier."

Baili Xunzhou cast a puzzled glance at him, and Feng Mian continued, "Before meeting the young master, I was also very uneasy and reluctant."

Hearing her say "unwilling," Baili Xunzhou should have been happy, but for some reason, he felt uneasy.

Feng Mian smiled, her almond-shaped eyes crinkling into crescents, her pupils sparkling. Her tone carried a hint of girlish shyness: "But now that I see the young master is so handsome and honest, truly different from the other noblemen in Shengjing. I've grown quite fond of him. I think this marriage is perfect, no need to cancel it."

We haven't even investigated whether you have any treasonous intentions, when you had those intentions, or whether you will ultimately rebel. How can we call off this marriage?

No retreat, absolutely no retreat.

A few words startled Baili Xunzhou so much that his eyes widened, and the sharpness in his eyes turned into complete bewilderment. He hadn't done anything, so what did she like?

"etc……"

“Your Highness is right. It’s chilly at night. If I fall ill again, I won’t be able to travel with you. I’ll go back to rest now.” Feng Mian said, placing the silver hand warmer with auspicious cloud patterns into Baili Xunzhou’s hands. “Keep this hand warmer for Your Highness to warm your hands. Even if you’re used to the weather in the Northern Frontier, you should still take care of yourself when sleeping outdoors.”

Without giving him a chance to speak again, she turned and walked quickly toward the carriage.

When Baili Xunzhou instinctively caught the hand warmer, Feng Mian's fingertips, warmed by the hand warmer, brushed against his slightly cool palm, burning him so much that he almost jumped up. He stared in astonishment at the hand warmer that was still tirelessly radiating warmth between his hands, and for a long time he forgot to move.

When I looked up again, the figure wrapped in a crimson cloak had already entered the carriage and disappeared from sight.

*

As dawn broke and the stars faded, the Swift Feather Camp was already full of energy and ready to set off. The Luan Yi Guard was still somewhat flustered, making their final preparations. The nights in the northern frontier were truly freezing, and many hadn't slept well, having only slept for a few hours, leaving most feeling listless.

Feng Mian truly admired the Swift Feather Camp; they must have undergone years of relentless training to achieve their current endurance.

Regardless of what kind of person the crown prince is, he certainly has a knack for leading troops.

Feng Mian's gaze fell on the young man riding at the head of the Swift Feather Camp. She had slept well after returning home last night, and wondered if the young master had thrown the hand warmer away in anger. But judging from his energetic appearance, he probably hadn't been angry for long.

Baili Xunzhou noticed the gaze behind him and froze. He hadn't slept all night, and the hand warmer in his arms was both hard and hot. Even after it gradually lost its heat, it was still a hot potato.

He is the heir of the Prince of Dingbei, who has braved wind and rain and slept outdoors countless times on snowy nights. How could he be so delicate as to need a small hand warmer to keep warm?

That's ridiculous.

"Your Highness, ginger tea." Shan Yi brought over two rough earthenware bowls, handing one to Baili Xunzhou and downing the other in one gulp.

"Where did this come from?" The Swift Feather Camp doesn't have the habit of drinking ginger tea.

"It was brought by Her Highness the Princess's maid. She said she made two big pots to dispel the cold, warm the body and refresh the mind, and everyone gets a share." Shanyi glanced at the place where ginger soup was being distributed with a smile. "Your Highness, I must say, drinking a bowl of this really does warm you up."

"Are the people of my Swift Feather Camp so delicate?" Baili Xunzhou said, displeased. Small favors are used to win people's hearts.

"Oh, then I'll have another bowl." Seeing that Baili Xunzhou didn't accept the drink and seemed to be saying he didn't want to drink, Shanyi withdrew his hand and prepared to drink it himself.

The bowl was just brought to his lips when it was snatched away forcefully. Shan Yi looked up in surprise and saw Baili Xunzhou tilt his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and he finished the ginger tea in a few gulps before tossing the empty bowl back into his arms.

"Give the order to finish drinking quickly, we're setting off immediately."

"Yes." Shanyi pouted and returned the two empty bowls.

*

"What? The young master personally escorted the princess back?"

At the city gate of Yunzhong County, a young man, drenched in sweat, gulped down a large bowl of water before recovering. The villagers estimated that the princess should arrive in the next couple of days, so they sent him early in the morning to find out how far the princess was from Yunzhong County. As a result, he had only run a few miles when he saw the familiar Swift Feather Camp, with the heir apparent leading the way, followed by the princess's entourage.

He was startled, turned around and ran as fast as he could, he had to tell the villagers the news before the prince and his entourage arrived!

"I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be fake?" the boy said urgently. "Quick, quickly remove everything! The young master will be entering the city soon!"

Reminded by the boy, everyone hurriedly started moving. They bumped into each other, jostling and pushing, while still gossiping with the boy. "Hey, look at the young master's face! Did he accept the marriage after seeing the princess?"

The young man recalled the young master's expression and shuddered: "Judging from the young master's deadpan face, he doesn't look happy. He's probably been pestered and can't shake off!"

As they were talking, the sound of horses' hooves approached.

From afar, Shan Yi saw a large crowd of people huddled together at the city gate and happily pointed it out to Baili Xunzhou: "Young Master, look! Everyone is lining up to welcome you!"

I don't know what's wrong with the prince; he's had a long face these past few days. Let's try to cheer him up with something happy.

"I've only been away from the city for a few days, is such a grand display necessary?" Baili Xunzhou said nonchalantly, but a smile crept onto his lips as he subtly quickened his pace.

At the city gate, the crowd instantly split in two. One half of the crowd swarmed around Baili Xunzhou's horse and greeted the young master repeatedly.

"Uncles and aunts, there's no need to gather here. Please disperse. Today, the princess's entourage has entered the city. I will chat with you all another day." Baili Xunzhou spoke to the crowd gathered around the horse in a gentle manner.

The uncles and aunts exchanged glances, all feeling guilty and unwilling to give way, and started talking all at once: "Oh, young master, don't be in such a hurry. We can enter the city gate anytime. Let's wait a little longer."

"Is that the princess's carriage behind? Wow, it's really impressive. What does the princess look like?"

Surrounded and puzzled, Baili Xunzhou suddenly noticed the people being held back by his uncles and aunts busily engaged in something, and suspicion immediately arose in his heart. He reversed his spear, used the shaft to push aside the people blocking his way, spurred his horse forward, and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Your Highness, no!"

Before the panicked words could finish, Baili Xunzhou felt his horse step on something. Just as he was about to look down, he suddenly looked up alertly, his spear flashing out at the same time—

Bundles of chives, shallots, scallions, and bracken were poured over my head—all strongly flavored vegetables.

Bai Lixun paused, unwilling to harm the food, and withdrew his spear, which was covered in various vegetables, turning him into a vegetable tree on the spot.

"Oh my, young master!" The crowd surged over again, some picking vegetables, some gathering vegetables.

Bai Lixunzhou was even more puzzled: "What exactly are you doing?"

Why would they set up an ambush at the city gate?

Everyone hurriedly avoided looking at the young master, none daring to glance at him. Baili Xunzhou pressed the shaft of his spear against the head of the boy who had initially relayed the message: "Alright, speak."

The boy called Ah Hao glanced miserably at the princess's carriage: "Everyone feels sorry for the prince being forced into marriage, and they're thinking of sending him back..."

"Nonsense!" Baili Xunzhou angrily struck the boy on the head with the barrel of his spear. "Aren't you afraid of angering the princess and losing your heads?"

“Every country has its laws, and no one said that spilling some vegetables is a capital offense! There’s a carriage between us, so it can’t hit the princess. We just want her to know that the people of Northern Frontier are on your side, Your Highness!” A-Hao argued forcefully. “Besides, these vegetables are still fresh, look!”

“Wasting food is an even greater offense,” Baili Xunzhou glared at him. He was displeased; how could he have accepted the grand gift originally prepared for the princess? This Yunzhong County was becoming more and more unruly.

“If your father and mother find out, they will punish you with seven days of hard labor.”

An older woman carefully shielded Ah Hao behind her, chuckling awkwardly, "No waste, no waste, it's edible after washing. Is the young master coming to our house for dinner today?"

"I can't accept that." Baili Xunzhou forced a smile, thinking of the princess sitting in the carriage behind him. She would definitely ask about this matter. How could he answer so that she wouldn't complain to his mother?

On the carriage in the distance, Feng Mian and his companions peered out.

"Is this some kind of welcoming custom from the northern frontier?" Liu Ying asked curiously.

"I've only ever heard of throwing fruit to fill a cart, but this is the first time I've ever seen someone throw such a huge handful of vegetables at someone." Feng Mian was equally puzzled, peering over to see the people of the Northern Frontier bustling around Baili Xunzhou, somewhat surprised that he was so popular.