Chapter 39 Confession

Huo Lin staggered a few steps, caught off guard, and then Liu Xi's scathing rebuke reached his ears.

Liu Xi spoke incoherently, her words even rambling and disjointed. Huo Lin tried for a long time to understand her completely but still couldn't grasp her meaning.

Seeing that Liu Xi was getting more and more excited as she spoke, and even her eyes were red and she began to sob, Huo Lin hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear to comfort her.

"It's alright, I'm perfectly fine."

"What's so good about it? It's not good at all."

Liu Xi felt truly wronged. She never imagined that one day she would have to use her marriage as a bargaining chip to trade with someone.

However, she did not tell Huo Lin about her deal with Murong Xiaohe. Even when the Northern Faction withdrew its troops without reason, and Huo Lin asked her why, Liu Xi only mentioned Liu Yu and did not mention herself.

This matter is of great importance, and Huo Lin must personally deliver the truce letter presented by the Third Prince Murong Xiaohe to His Majesty.

After a month and a half, Kyoto finally received the battle report about the Huo family army again. The people couldn't understand the complicated details, so they just passed on a simple sentence.

"The Huo family army has won another victory! General Huo has returned to the capital in triumph!"

When the news reached the palace, some were overjoyed while others were saddened.

Liu Yu stood on the city wall at the gate of the imperial city with a gloomy expression, his eyes fixed on Liu Xi who had returned with Huo Lin, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Sister, why did you run away again without telling me..."

In front of the Mingzheng Hall, the emperor symbolically reprimanded Liu Xi for leaving the palace without permission and criticized her for interfering in the war between the two countries, asking what difference this made from women participating in politics.

Having already scolded and punished him to no avail, the emperor simply tacitly allowed Liu Xi to remain in the Mingzheng Hall to discuss how to handle the relationship with the Northern faction.

"I have already sent Princess Ning'an to the Northern faction for a political marriage, yet they still dare to ask me for another daughter!"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lin looked at Liu Xi in shock. Her expression was calm, clearly indicating that she had been mentally prepared.

"Although I am unwilling to marry, for the sake of my father's country and the nation, as a woman, I can only contribute my strength in this way."

Huo Lin disregarded the rules and suddenly knelt on the ground, loudly interrupting Liu Xi.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to continue the campaign against the three northern kingdoms. Princess, you are of noble birth, how can you allow yourself to be wronged by marrying into the northern faction?"

The emperor spoke with slight displeasure.

"My elder sisters have all married, so of course my daughters will too."

Liu Xi was not surprised by the emperor's reaction.

Huo Lin wanted to try again, but the emperor coldly stopped him.

"I am very pleased with the princess's thoughtfulness. I will bestow upon you the title of Princess Qinghuang and send you off to your wedding in grand style."

The emperor finalized the deal with a single sentence. Huo Lin turned his gaze to Liu Xi in a daze, wishing that everything before him was just a nightmare.

"Father, the Northern faction's truce letter did not specify the expected date for the princess's marriage. I hope that you will allow me to stay in the palace for a while longer, and go to the Northern faction for the marriage next spring."

Although the emperor did not want things to drag on, even if the Northern faction suddenly changed their minds within a year, the soldiers of the Celestial Empire would not be afraid to fight.

"I grant your permission."

Upon hearing this, Huo Lin's eyes lit up again. He knew that this year was not something Liu Xi had fought for him, but for Huo Lin, it was his last chance.

After leaving the Mingzheng Hall, Huo Lin, who was usually reserved, suddenly grabbed Liu Xi's shoulder.

“Princess, you knew about the marriage alliance the day you were sent back to the Huo family's military camp by the Northern Guards, didn’t you?”

Now that things have come to this, there is no need for Liu Xi to continue hiding it.

"The Huo family army is loyal and devoted. General Huo has dedicated his life to the country, and the two brothers of General Huo have also devoted themselves to the cause. It is well worth it for me alone to protect the entire Huo family of loyal martyrs."

"Does the princess not believe that the Huo family army can win the battle? Even if they die on the battlefield, it will be a worthy death. Why should the princess's happiness be sacrificed!"

This was the first time Huo Lin had spoken to Liu Xi in such a forceful tone.

Liu Xi didn't feel offended. To be honest, she was happy to have Huo Lin care about her so much.

She reached out and stroked Huo Lin's cheek, speaking gently.

"To see the general safe and sound is a blessing for me as well."

Huo Lin suddenly stepped forward and kissed Liu Xi's lips.

Although their lips touched only briefly, Liu Xi sensed Huo Lin's overwhelming and undisguised love in that gesture.

In Huo Lin's heart, Liu Xi was a princess who was high above him, someone he was unwilling to touch.

The distance between the two quickly closed and then quickly widened. Huo Lin turned his back and said in a hoarse voice.

"I am willing to support all the decisions the princess makes, except for this one."

"I will continue to petition Your Majesty to conquer the three northern kingdoms until Your Majesty changes your mind about having His Highness marry into a foreign land."

After saying that, Huo Lin walked away quickly without giving Liu Xi a chance to respond, leaving Liu Xi standing there, savoring the kiss that could hardly be called a kiss.

Inside the Yi Huai Pavilion, Liu Yu waited anxiously at the entrance, but Liu Xi did not appear for a long time.

He didn't know that Liu Xi was deliberately avoiding him. After parting ways with Huo Lin, she first went to Yongshou Palace to hide for a while, and then wandered around the various palaces in the inner palace for a while before returning to Yihuai Pavilion in the evening.

Unfortunately, despite all this, Liu Yu still stubbornly waited there.

He called out to Sister Liu Xi with the same fervor as before, lunging towards her to try and embrace her, but Liu Xi dodged him.

The Liu Yu before her made Liu Xi feel like a stranger. She didn't want to categorize Liu Yu with Liu Yan, the ungrateful wretch who had betrayed her in her past life, but she didn't dare to ask him why he had made such a terrible decision behind her back.

Liu Yu was clearly taken aback. He softened his tone and spoke in a trembling voice to show his weakness, which was his forte.

"Sister, did I do something wrong...?"

Liu Xi stared straight at him until she realized that she couldn't see through Liu Yu at all.

“Ayu needs to learn to be independent. From today onwards, I can no longer stay by Ayu’s side to take care of you.”

"Why, is my sister trying to send me away?!"

Liu Yu hurriedly tried to grab Liu Xi's hand, but she dodged it.

"I can no longer stay in the palace. Soon, I will be going to the Northern faction for a marriage alliance."

At that moment, Liu Yu's expression was particularly interesting.

Those emotions were things he couldn't hide or pretend, and he openly revealed them to Liu Xi.

"how so."

"I owe my current success to A Yu."

Liu Xi took a step back without making a sound, and looked at Liu Yu with a cold smile.

"If Murong Xiaohe hadn't thought that I, the Fourth Princess of the Celestial Dynasty, was far more valuable than the Huo family army, how could I have known that my most beloved and cared-for younger brother had turned into a vicious wolf trying to bite me back!"