Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Wanting to Marry General Xie

After the snow cleared, the mountains and forests were covered in white.

A snow-white rabbit plowed through the snow and kicked off the ground, running at full speed.

A short arrow was dangling from its short tail, but it was quickly shaken off. The few traces of pale red blood left behind were trampled underfoot by the pursuing horse, and then disappeared into the snowmelt.

A beautiful young woman on horseback, draped in a bright red cloak, with a bow at her waist and reins in her hands, galloped like a shooting star. The wind whipped the ribbons and golden bells on her hood, causing them to jingle with every movement.

A man and a horse relentlessly chased the rabbit, and the dreary snow forest seemed to come alive, with branches and leaves trembling, snowflakes fluttering, and a cacophony of sounds.

Gradually, the swiftly running rabbit slowed down and became heavier. The young woman was delighted, knowing it was exhausted, and was about to rein in her horse to take the prey when she saw the snow rabbit bury its head and crash into a person.

The man put down the box of books he was holding, bent down without hesitation to pick up the rabbit, and soothed it with his hands while looking directly at her.

The woman gasped for breath for a moment.

The person before me was dressed in a light blue robe, his slender back straight and thin like a bamboo root, his hair tied up with a wooden crown, his eyebrows and eyes clear and cold, like snow, truly a handsome young man with a bright and clear appearance.

She stared at him intently, becoming more and more interested, her eyes no longer on the rabbit.

Across the snow and wind, the young man spoke in a cold voice, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Honorable sir, could you please show mercy and spare this white rabbit?"

......

In the warm pavilion, Xue Mingyao groaned indistinctly, waking from her chilly dream. Gazing at the carved bed and silk curtains, and touching the warm hand warmer under the brocade quilt, she was still somewhat disoriented.

I dreamt about him again.

It's said that older people are more prone to dreaming about the past, but she's only twenty-four, so why are memories coming knocking on her door? Xue Mingyao gritted her teeth as she thought of Xie Qinglang's name.

A thick layer of fog clung to the straight-lattice windowpane. She pushed it open, and the courtyard, blanketed in white after a night of heavy snowfall, was now a vast expanse of white. Xue Mingyao couldn't help but recall the rime ice and snow-covered forests of Xichuan in her dream. She frowned, slammed the window shut, and called out to her maid, Lüzhi, to come in.

As Lüzhi styled her hair and did her makeup, Xue Mingyao tilted her head, lazily gazing at her reflection in the bronze mirror. With snow-white skin and a beautiful face, her black hair like clouds, she was like a lotus in clear water without makeup, and with makeup, she was as radiant as a peach blossom. Who wouldn't praise her as a great beauty?

As she watched, Xue Mingyao's lips curled up.

"Princess, are you admiring your own beauty again?" Green Branch noticed and teased her.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xue Mingyao pretended to spit at her, then changed her tone and instructed, "Give me a nice hairstyle, don't make my makeup too heavy, keep it simple and elegant, and don't forget who I'm going to see today."

Green Branch, being skillful, neatly did her makeup according to her wishes. Xue Mingyao, being a late sleeper, got up late, and it was already quite late. After lunch, she took Green Branch and got into her own carriage.

She is going to the palace today.

The Great Zhou Palace was located in the north of Zhongjing City, while the Xue Mansion was located in Juxianfang in the west of the city. They were neither too far nor too close, requiring a little over two quarters of an hour's walk.

But the carriage stopped after only a short while. The snow kept falling, and the roads were covered with new snow in addition to the old snow, making it difficult for carriages and horses to pass.

While the driver was clearing snow and obstacles, Xue Mingyao idly lifted the carriage curtain.

The carriage was diagonally opposite a large, unfamiliar mansion. A steward was directing a servant to hang a plaque on the gleaming black-lacquered gate, with the words "Xie Mansion" written squarely above it.

They must be newly moved-in residents; no wonder the snow in front of their door wasn't swept promptly.

"When did a family surnamed Xie appear in the capital?" Xue Mingyao muttered to herself.

This residence also had a gate built on the vermilion wall, which was traditionally reserved for officials of the third rank or above. Xue Mingyao had considered all the powerful and influential people in the capital, but it seemed that no one had the surname Xie.

Green Branch cleared up her confusion, "It's General Xie Zhuo that your brother mentioned a few days ago. He just returned from a victorious battle in the southern border region. I heard that His Majesty bestowed a residence upon him, so it must be here."

Xue Mingyao then remembered that her elder brother, Xue Xingtai, had mentioned such a person.

The southern border had long been occupied by barbarian tribes, causing great distress to the people of the Central Plains. The imperial court had sent troops to attack many times, but had failed to completely subdue it. Two years ago, a skilled warrior suddenly appeared on the battlefield of Longxi and Gansu. This man possessed the courage of ten thousand men and was well-versed in the strategies of the Six Secret Teachings and the Three Strategies. He was a rare military talent.

After returning to the capital from the northwest, he was ordered to lead an expedition to the southern frontier. He was a brilliant strategist, defeating the southern barbarians decisively and finally recapturing the southern frontier, fulfilling the emperor's long-cherished wish, and was granted the title of Marquis of Pingnan.

At the time, Xue Xingtai was describing the man's bravery like a storyteller. Xue Mingyao was looking at an ancient painting and listened absentmindedly. Although she didn't remember the man's name, she did hear Xue Xingtai emphasize that this man was originally an unknown soldier who climbed step by step from a squad leader, a centurion, and a guerrilla general to the high position of general through his own hard work.

He received all twelve ranks of merit.

Xue Mingyao peeked out again at the Xie residence, which was majestic and imposing, not much less so than the Xue residence itself. She had accompanied her father to the southern frontier battlefield when she was young and knew the hardships of war. General Xie's military achievements were as sturdy and solid as the towering walls of the Xie residence.

She asked Green Branch, "What character is General Xie's name?"

Green Branch shook its head and said, "When the waters of the Canglang River are clear, I can wash my hat tassels. When the waters of the Canglang River are muddy, I can wash my feet."

Xue Mingyao laughed, "You actually know this line from the Chu Ci."

“You study so hard, I can’t let you down,” Green Branch said earnestly.

Xue Mingyao was the daughter of a military general, and her studies were actually so-so. However, in recent years, she has been willing to put some effort into her writing.

She patted Green Branch's head in praise and continued, "Zhuo sounds like a scholar's name. It's a bit strange for a warrior to have this name. It's like he's emphasizing how clean he is. Hmm, I guess he's a clean-loving general."

"More than that," Green Branch laughed. "I've heard that General Xie is extremely handsome, known as the Jade-Faced General. He's young and unmarried, and many young ladies from high-ranking families in the capital want to marry him."

Xue Mingyao didn't care. "It's just flattery. Military generals are mostly burly and fierce-looking, so if someone is even slightly handsome, they'll get this kind of praise. Like my brother, he's just got thick eyebrows and big eyes, but he's often praised for his bravery."

However, Green Branch's second half of her statement was correct. Nowadays, many sons of noble families are spoiled brats. A young and promising official like Xie Zhuo, who is also quite good-looking, would naturally attract the attention of young ladies.

Xue Mingyao's wicked desire to watch the spectacle arose; she wondered which young lady would end up with such a juicy piece of meat as Xie Zhuo.

That's one good thing about widows; they can stay out of trouble and even watch the show from the sidelines. In Zhongjing's aristocratic families, whether it's men vying to marry women or women competing to marry men, they're all very cunning.

During their conversation, the coachman swept the snow off the road in front of the Xie residence. Xue Mingyao lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage carried her back towards the palace.

Even after arriving at the Forbidden City, snowflakes were still falling sporadically.

Green branches held up a small blue silk umbrella for their master, and Xue Mingyao carried a food box into the Qifeng Palace, where Emperor Deyuan resided.

Emperor Deyuan was reading memorials when he saw her and was quite surprised. "Yaoyao, it's snowing today. I thought you wouldn't come."

A palace attendant brought over a seat and a heater. Xue Mingyao took off her cloak and sat cross-legged, smiling sweetly at the emperor. "Even if it's snowing, or if it's raining knives, Yaoyao will still come."

Xue Mingyao was favored by Emperor Deyuan from a young age. Her mother died early and her father was busy with war. She spent most of her childhood in the palace. Later, she married into Xichuan and that was it. Now that she has returned to the capital, she must go to the palace to pay her respects on the first and fifteenth of every month.

"You always know how to make me happy."

Xue Mingyao took out a bowl of porridge from the food box, ate a spoonful, and then moved it in front of Emperor Deyuan. "I made this almond porridge myself. Please try it. It's refreshing and helps relieve fatigue."

The bowl was filled with golden apricot yogurt mixed with snow-white milk, dotted with bright green barley crumbs, a truly delightful sight. Emperor Deyuan complained that it was a sweet treat that girls usually like, but he politely finished it all.

Taking the handkerchief handed to him by Xue Mingyao, Emperor Deyuan sighed sincerely, "Yaoyao has become more and more sensible. Now that you are like this, I have almost forgotten how many absurd things you did in the past."

Xue Mingyao laughed and said, "I was young then, so I was a bit willful. Now that I'm a few years older, I certainly wouldn't dare to be like that."

It wasn't really because of her age. Xue Mingyao used to be unrestrained and willful because no matter what trouble she caused, her prince father would always protect her. After her father passed away, no one was there to unconditionally protect her anymore, so she had to restrain her temper somewhat.

But Emperor Deyuan said, "In that case, Yaoyao should also consider remarrying."

Xue Mingyao's eyelids twitched, and she quickly said in a coquettish tone, "Why do you always bring up things that are hard to talk about? If I remarry, how can I come to see you often?"

Emperor Deyuan disagreed, saying, "You're in the prime of your life, widowed. What kind of behavior is that? How am I supposed to face your deceased father?"

Xue Mingyao pouted, "But when a woman remarries, there aren't many men to choose from. They're either too old or widowers. You know I have high standards. I already compromised when I married the first time, and I don't want to compromise a second time."

Emperor Deyuan smiled gently, "Don't worry, I will make the decision for you and won't let you suffer any injustice. If you want to marry a young and handsome man, just say so, and I will grant your wish."

"real?"

"How could I speak falsely? Tell me, what kind of husband do you wish to choose?"

Xue Mingyao answered decisively, "I've heard that General Xie Zhuo, the Marquis of Pingnan, who has just returned victorious, is handsome and has made outstanding achievements. I want to marry him."

As expected, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Emperor Deyuan's face after he finished speaking.

"It seems he's too outstanding; Yaoyao can't marry him," Xue Mingyao said lightly.

"You little brat!" Emperor Deyuan said helplessly, "I meant well, but you don't appreciate it and even deliberately try to shut me up—"

Just then, a palace attendant came and announced that Xie Zhuo was requesting an audience and was waiting outside the palace.

A note from the author:

----------------------

Here we go! It's a story about a broken relationship mended, I hope you all enjoy it~