Chapter 13 "A chance encounter, purely a chance encounter!"...

Beneath the azure sky, the city wall, over nine zhang high, cleaved the clear blue expanse like a majestic mountain ridge. The rough, thick wall bore irreparable arrow slits and knife marks. At the crenellations stood imposing crossbow platforms, and atop the watchtowers, the heavily armored and armed Dingbei soldiers stood motionless in the north wind, their bearing utterly stern.

Beneath the iron helmet, his hawk-like gaze quietly and diligently peered down from the city wall, eager to see how the prince would end this farce.

Baili Xunzhou raised an eyebrow and caught the slackers red-handed. With a stern glance, the guards all looked away, keeping their eyes down.

"Pass on my order: no one is to let anyone hear about what happened today." Baili Xunzhou instructed the guard, who then left.

"Give me the vegetables once you've packed them away." Baili Xunzhou beckoned with his hand.

Ah Hao laboriously lifted the large, full basket with both hands and placed it in Baili Xunzhou's palms, saying honestly, "It's all here."

Baili Xunzhou grabbed the vegetable basket and directed everyone, "Everyone, stand aside. When the princess's entourage enters the city later, just shout 'Welcome!' I have my own plans for the annulment of the engagement, so don't interfere."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward Fengmian's carriage.

"Oh, the young master is coming." Liu Ying quickly shrank back, leaving Feng Mian alone by the window.

Feng Mian rested his chin on his hand, watching Baili Xun's boat gallop towards him. The azure sky and the gray city walls stretched out behind him like a painting. The north wind whipped his cloak into the air. As he approached, he reined in his horse and came to a sudden stop, smoothly turning the horse's head to stand before the window.

Bai Lixun handed the vegetable basket to the window, almost filling the entire window.

His gaze drifted to the vegetable basket, and he tried his best to speak naturally: "These are gifts from the people of the Northern Frontier to welcome you, Princess, to Yunzhong County."

Before Feng Mian could react, Liu Ying behind him said in disbelief, "Is this really a welcoming custom? Throwing vegetable leaves?"

“These aren’t ordinary leafy greens; they’re fresh, seasonal vegetables. Food is scarce in northern Xinjiang, so this full basket is a token of the people’s goodwill,” Baili Xunzhou explained immediately.

He was really bad at lying; after just a few words, the tips of his ears were bright red. Feng Mian immediately knew that what he had just said was all made up on the spot. It seemed that although this basket of vegetables was a gift for her, it wasn't a gesture of "welcome," but rather a pretext to "send him off."

Feng Mian wasn't angry at all; she just found it somewhat amusing. This method of getting rid of people was far too gentle. Not even a rotten egg was used. Even if the prince hadn't taken the hit for her, she herself would have been unharmed if she had been hit by these fresh vegetables.

Are all the people in northern Xinjiang this simple and honest?

"Then please convey my thanks to everyone on my behalf, Your Highness." Feng Mian opened the window, and Liu Ying and Wu Liu together carried the large vegetable basket and placed it inside the carriage.

Seeing that the matter seemed to be resolved, Baili Xunzhou breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief, but then became somewhat annoyed, realizing that he had to make up lies to please a woman.

As he turned his horse to leave, he thought to himself, if it weren't for the worry about his parents being implicated, he would definitely...

"Your Highness, please wait."

Feng Mian's voice came from behind him. Baili Xunzhou turned his head and saw her beckoning to him. He subconsciously leaned closer and asked, "Is there anything else...?"

The last syllable of his voice trailed off in his throat as the girl in front of him leaned slightly out of the carriage. Her raised arm brushed past his ear, bringing with it a slightly warm breeze, and the faint, refreshing scent of citrus instantly filled his pen.

Bai Lixun's back stiffened, and he stood there blankly, feeling as if an incense stick had burned for a very long time.

The imperial guards blocked the princess's carriage, and the people peeking out from under the city wall could only see Baili Xunzhou suddenly leaning over the carriage, but they didn't know what he was doing, so they started speculating.

"Could it be that the young master has been threatened by the princess and is now humbly apologizing?"

"No, no, no, it's more like the young master was pushed to the limit and was threatening people!"

"What a tragedy! Why did we come here? Poor prince..."

In front of the carriage, Feng Mian picked a stalk of chives that had gone unnoticed from the horse's tail that was tied high on the Baili Xun boat, and said with a smile, "Since it was a gift from the people, how can the young master keep it to himself?"

A touch of green was held in a fair palm and flashed before his eyes. Baili Xunzhou swiftly retreated, turned around and left without a word.

Feng Mian watched his retreating figure in a daze. "Just kidding," she thought, "why are you angry again?"

She has quite a temper.

"Enter the city." With a command from Baili Xunzhou, the Swift Feather Camp and the Luanyi Guard outside the city finally headed into the city.

The people at the city gate huddled together like quails, not daring to speak loudly in front of Baili Xunzhou's boat, so they looked at each other and chatted quietly.

"Judging from the prince's expression, he is really quite angry."

"Of course! His face is all red with anger! He must have been bullied by the princess!"

"There's a long road ahead, let's wait and see. Sooner or later, we'll make sure she can't stay in Yunzhong County anymore."

The whispers of the common people were scattered by the wind. The crowd at the city gate, who were quietly chanting "Welcome, Princess," were also dispersed by the wind.

All Feng Mian could hear was the clatter of hooves and the rumble of wheels, and the faint smell of smoke rising in the air—they had entered the city.

She cracked the car window open a crack and peered out. What she saw was a landscape vastly different from Shengjing. There were fewer ornate beams and painted rafters, and more cold-resistant materials such as bluestone and ironwood. Every house was designed to protect against wind and snow, and the rugged, open style was breathtaking.

Suddenly, someone leaned close to her side and whispered in her ear, "Princess, it seems like everyone outside is secretly watching you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Mian looked towards the nearby crowd, just in time to catch a child's gaze lingering on the roadside. The child was wearing a tiger-head hat, pretending to eat a candied hawthorn, but actually peeking sideways at the carriage.

Upon being caught, the child paused for a moment, then ran away screaming.

Liu Ying looked completely bewildered: "Why is he running away like he's seen a ghost... Ah!"

As Liu Ying peeked through the gap, tracking the child's retreating figure, her gaze shifted and met Feng Mian's grinning, grotesque face. Startled, she slumped back into her seat, patted her chest, and exclaimed angrily, "Princess! That scared me to death!"

No wonder that child ran so fast; if it were her, she would have to run too.

Fengmian covered her lips and chuckled.

Wu Liu pushed the window shut, glancing at her with a mixture of amusement and helplessness: "Now the people of the Northern Frontier are probably going to say that the princess is a fierce and shrewish woman with a fanged face."

"Let them spread the word. The people of the northern frontier don't welcome me anyway, so it can't get any worse."

Feng Mian said nonchalantly, his gaze lingering on the long street. On both sides of the smooth street, vendors were selling many strange and wonderful things that Feng Mian had never seen before, as well as many exotic items. From the houses and shops to the faces of every commoner, one could see a vigorous and untamed vitality.

Yunzhong County was the least affected by the Rong and Yi tribes in the entire northern frontier, and it was more peaceful and tranquil than the other places seen along the way from Fengmian.

A rider slowed down and gradually approached the carriage. He knocked twice politely on the side of the carriage window and said in a low voice, "Princess, we've arrived at the Prince of Dingbei's residence."

"So fast? We haven't even left the downtown area yet." In Shengjing, the mansions of nobles often occupy an entire street, and ordinary people are strictly forbidden from doing business in front of them.

"The Prince of Dingbei never competes with the people for profit and likes to be close to them. I heard that he chose this location for his residence so that he can protect the people in times of crisis."

The Prince of Dingbei truly loved his people like his own children.

Feng Mian sat up straight and asked Liu Ying and Wu Liu to help her tidy her appearance. Before setting off again this morning, she had changed her clothes, wearing a pale yellow embroidered butterfly and flower dress, with a brocade cloak with a rabbit fur collar on top. She exuded a fresh spring vibe and swept away the fatigue from many days of travel.

The black iron gate of the Dingbei Prince's Mansion was wide open, and beneath the high-hanging nanmu plaque, the imposing Dingbei Prince and his elegant and dignified princess stood side by side.

Feng Mian got off the carriage and was about to greet the princess when the princess took two steps forward, took her hand, looked at her with a smile, and said, "Princess, you must be tired from your long journey. There's no need for such formalities. Come in and rest."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Feng Mian smiled obediently and entered the mansion with the princess, her eyes subtly surveying the Dingbei Prince's mansion.

As Baili Xunzhou took a step to catch up, the Prince of Dingbei turned around and stood beside him, letting out a cold snort from his nose: "Who was it that said they were unwilling? Well, look at them now, they've gone out of their way to escort them back."

"A chance encounter, purely a chance encounter!" Baili Xunzhou was furious and didn't want to pay any attention to him. He didn't even spare him a glance and quickly walked past the Prince of Dingbei into the courtyard.

Prince Dingbei: "Tsk, still being stubborn. Look at your anxious face, do you think I, your father, wasn't young once?"

Shanyi covered her ears and chased after Baili Xunzhou, refusing to listen to the prince chanting sutras.

Feng Mian had assumed that the Prince's Mansion would be in the same rugged style as the Northern Frontier, but upon entering the courtyard, he was surprised to find himself in the gentle and graceful Jiangnan style, with its small bridges and flowing water.

With its white walls and black tiles, winding streams and flying eaves, this exquisite residence in northern Xinjiang must have required considerable thought and effort.

She remembered that the princess seemed to be from Jiangnan, and after marrying the Prince of Dingbei in her early years, she settled in the northern frontier with her husband. Now, seeing that everyone in the palace catered to the princess's tastes, it seemed that the Prince of Dingbei and the princess were truly a loving couple. There was only one person who truly made the decisions in the palace.

Thinking this, Feng Mian's smile grew even more obedient. Adopting the same charming and ingratiating manner she displayed before Emperor Jiayu, she gently took the princess's arm and said affectionately, "I've lived in Shengjing since childhood and have never traveled far from home, nor have I ever met outsiders. I was filled with anxiety the whole way here, wondering what the Northern Frontier was like, and even more so whether Your Highness and Your Highness would like me. Now that I see Your Highness is such a beautiful and gentle person, my heart is immediately at ease."

“A young lady’s words are always so endearing. My mischievous son of mine is always causing trouble. I wonder if he has offended the princess in any way along the way?”

"Your Highness is doing well. If we hadn't met Your Highness by chance at Wolf Bone Ridge, our journey wouldn't have been so smooth. However..." Feng Mian frowned slightly, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

The princess gently patted her hand: "I was also married far away back then, with no relatives or friends around me, and I was very confused. I understand the princess's feelings very well. The princess can tell me anything without hesitation."

Feng Mian looked troubled: "The young master doesn't seem to like me very much. I'm afraid the marriage won't go through in the end, and if I just return to Shengjing like this..."

What did that brat say in front of that girl again? The princess's gaze swept indifferently over Baili Xunzhou, who was trailing behind at a distance. As Baili Xunzhou looked up with a start, the princess had already turned her gaze to comfort Feng Mian.

"Marriage is a major life event, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. Besides, your marriage is bestowed by His Majesty. How could he possibly object?" the Princess said, though a pang of pity lingered in her heart. Her marriage to the Prince of Dingbei was arranged by him personally, and their mutual affection had led to their harmonious and loving relationship. But now, these two children were forcibly bound together by an imperial decree, and their future held neither joy nor sorrow.

However, it is always the woman who suffers in marriage.

These words could not be spoken aloud. The young princess was worried about the failed marriage, and all the princess could do was to comfort her for the time being. As for what would happen in the future, they would see.

"The household is preparing for your wedding and will definitely be able to complete the wedding on schedule, so please rest assured, Princess."

As they spoke, the princess led Feng Mian onto the covered walkway: "It's true that the Princess's residence cannot be built in just one month. However, since receiving the imperial decree, the residence has been preparing the courtyard to ensure the Princess's comfort. We've arrived just ahead."

Just around the corner of the blue brick corridor, the view suddenly opens up, with the courtyard bathed in clear sunlight shining on a moon gate. The three characters "Xueyueju" (Snow Moon Residence) on the black plaque with gold flecks hanging high above are as sharp as if carved by a knife. Inside the courtyard, Xiangfei bamboo stands against the wall, its joints tall and verdant above the wall, a particularly pleasing sight.

Feng Mian smiled upon seeing it: "What a coincidence! I also have Xiangfei bamboo growing in the Shuyue Palace where I live in the palace. I thought I wouldn't see it after coming to the Northern Frontier."

“I thought you might like it. These bamboo plants were kept in the cellar as pots during the winter, and were only transplanted a few days ago. We have people taking good care of them every day.”

"Let's go in and take a look."

Just as the princess was about to lead Feng Mian into the courtyard, two people suddenly walked towards them from under the covered walkway. The princess was surprised to see them: "Ji Xue?"

The girl, who had been keeping her head down the whole way, only looked up when someone called her name. Her face was as bright as the spring moon. When she saw the princess, she smiled and gave a gentle bow: "This humble woman greets Your Highness."

A note from the author:

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Ji Xue: I'm not here to break up this family, I'm here to join it! [Sprinkling flowers]