If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die.

The next day, Tang Feng entered the palace. This time, Tang Feng was quite confident. After entering the palace gate, Tang Feng felt something was strange. The palace servants who were usually indifferent to him were suddenly very enthusiastic towards him, chatting and laughing. When he washed his hands in front of the main hall, an old man grabbed his sleeve and rolled it up for him. "Lord Master of the Palace, are you almost recovered from your illness?"

"Huh? Oh! It's alright, it's alright. Don't look at me with such loving eyes... It's making me feel like I've started to believe in the light again..." Tang Feng shuddered, then entered the main hall. Everything had gone smoothly until today, but what Tang Feng couldn't understand was why Hachiya, who should have been in the harem, was in the main hall. Tang Feng frowned, but still bowed to the Khan. "Khan, I believe you've thought things through clearly after last night. I've presented the conditions, which are quite generous. Also, these contracts are drafted, and I'm waiting for your signature."

Tang Feng pointed to the object that Binghu was holding with both hands. Binghu stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Please take a look, Great Khan." The Great Khan didn't say anything and simply changed the seal on it. Tang Feng smiled and said, "The Great Khan is a straightforward man. In that case, I wish our two countries a pleasant cooperation."

"Lord Tang, please wait," the Khan said, gesturing to Haqiya beside him. "I am over fifty, yet I have only one princess by my side. My daughter... is eighteen this year, in the prime of her life, and it's time for her to get married. A few days ago, she discussed it with me, saying that you are exceptionally talented and treat her with gentleness and consideration. She is very fond of you, and I intend to bestow a marriage upon you, so that our two countries can strengthen our ties through marriage. Lord Tang, what do you think?"

Tang Feng's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this. No wonder! No wonder he had been so unimpeded today, no wonder the palace servants had been so polite to him—so this was what they were waiting for! Tang Feng bowed, forcing himself to calm down. He couldn't let his personal matters ruin everything the delegation had done. "Your Majesty," he said, "the princess said she has feelings for me and wants me to stay and spend my life with her. But has she told you that I already have someone I love in Yan Yun, and have found my soulmate?"

Presumably, the Khan was unaware of the matter of concealment. He looked at Haqiya, who stood up, stepped down from the platform, and said to Tang Feng, "Tang Feng, you told me that you and your wife were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since you were little, but you didn't marry her, so why shouldn't I be qualified to marry you?"

“Princess, it’s not about that. I don’t like you. If you marry me, you’ll definitely suffer. The Khan just said that you are his precious daughter, and he won’t be happy with you.”

"I don't care! We have an old saying on the grasslands: as long as you stay together for a long time, the gods will bless you!" Seeing his daughter so humble, the Khan became somewhat angry. "Tang Feng, my daughter has never suffered any injustice since birth. Just agree to her request! We on the grasslands value having multiple wives and concubines. If you're willing to marry Haqiya, I can also consider bringing your wife, who is far away in Yanyun, to be my concubine."

"Great Khan, you value polygamy, but we Yan Yun believe in one man for life. Tang Feng... I cannot comply." Tang Feng knelt down and bowed deeply. Haqiya was stunned. She thought Tang Feng would agree this time because of her father's pressure, but he didn't. Tang Feng used the same old excuse, unchanged.

"Insolence! Do you think I'm discussing this with you?! You have no choice in this matter. As long as you're still breathing today, you must marry Hachiya!" The Khan threw a cup from the table, which hit Tang Feng's knees hard. Tang Feng stood up, paused for a moment, then turned and drew a long sword from the waist of a nearby general, holding it to his own neck. "In that case, Tang Feng is willing to die a violent death in a foreign land."

"You! How can you be so stubborn? You're usually quite clever, how come you're so inflexible today?"

"This is what the Great Khan himself said. As long as I breathe, I must marry Princess Hachia. A ruler commands his subject to die, and the subject has no choice but to die." Seeing Tang Feng raise his sword again, Hachia immediately knelt down. "Father Khan, please don't force him. Let him think it over. I can't live without him... I don't want him to be hurt."

"Hakiya, get up," the Khan rubbed his throbbing temples, unsure how to handle the situation. He had always thought that Haqiya, being a princess, would be sought after by ordinary families, eager to climb the social ladder and enjoy wealth and luxury. But Tang Feng... "Tang Feng, I'll ask you one more time, are you really not going to marry the princess? Even if it costs me my life."

"yes"

"You! Fine! Fine, fine, fine. Then take Tang Sicheng to jail right now and let him think it over. Have plenty of people watch over him to prevent him from committing suicide. As for the delegation, they can go back now. I've already stamped this contract." Binghu watched in fear. Her master was usually so clever, why was he suddenly being so stubborn and inflexible? Binghu bowed and left. Tang Feng was being held down, and Haqiya and Tang Feng looked at each other. "Tang Feng... how... how can you be so stubborn!"

Tang Feng looked at her without speaking, a tear sliding down his cheek. Haqiya was stunned. Tang Feng actually cried over this? Haqiya had never known what love was like, nor had she ever liked anyone. In the palace, her mother had always taken care of her. Tang Feng was the first man she had met outside of family and officials. He was intelligent, would argue with her, would scold her, and was very gentle. Even though she constantly tested his limits, he had never said anything harsh. He was different from others; he had never considered himself a princess. But today… Haqiya felt that Tang Feng didn't belong to her. She had made the person she liked cry. Tang Feng was being held down, brushing past Haqiya. Tang Feng said, "Don't make me hate you."

Haqiya slumped weakly to the ground. She didn't want Tang Feng to dislike her, but she never imagined that the love she had earnestly pursued would end up being hated by him.

Tang Feng sat in his cell, hugging his knees and leaning against the wall. He didn't eat a single bite of the food the jailer brought him, staring blankly out the window. "Perhaps I really won't get out this time! The Khan of the Qiang and Hu tribes might spare my life out of respect for Haqiya, but if I don't agree, I'll probably be trapped in this cage for the rest of my life."

After the Khan finished his court session, Haqiya approached him again. "Father Khan, how could you lock him up! I don't want him to suffer! Please, for my sake, release Tang Feng! I beg you!"

"No! That boy is too stubborn. If we release him, he'll run away long ago. Do you think he'll wait to marry you? Haqiya, I know you feel sorry for him, but I feel sorry for you too! You're my only daughter!" Haqiya, seeing she couldn't reason with the Khan, could only return. In the middle of the night, remembering Tang Feng's disappointed eyes and his words, "Don't make me hate you," Haqiya couldn't help but cry. Perhaps she really was being selfish. Haqiya went to the prison that very night. Tang Feng sat in a corner, several plates of food beside him, clearly untouched since morning. Haqiya had the jailer open the cell. She sat down next to Tang Feng, touched the porridge brought in that evening, and frowned. "These people are so inconsiderate. I clearly instructed them to treat you well."

Seeing that Tang Feng remained silent, Haqiya sighed, picked up the porridge, scooped out a spoonful, and held it in front of Tang Feng, saying, "Tang Feng, have a bite! If you don't eat right after recovering from a serious illness, Mother says it will cause long-term health problems."

Seeing that Tang Feng hadn't spoken yet, Haqiya put down the bowl. "I thought about how deep your feelings were, but I never imagined you'd threaten to kill yourself. Tang Feng... do you really not have room for me in your heart?"

Tang Feng leaned against the wall and sighed. "Take it! If your father can't let me go, I won't let myself go either. If this matter can't be resolved, come and collect my body in two or three days!"

"No! Tang Feng, please don't do this. I... I didn't know you'd react this way, but... I really like you. Can we..."

"No!" Tang Feng pushed Haqiya back. "You're a young girl, I don't want to hurt you, but can you please stop testing my limits again and again? I have my lover, and if I were to marry you, that would be irresponsible, two-timing you. How can I face my lover who's far away in Xiling? How can I face you? How can I face myself? I beg you, Princess Haqiya... please let me go, okay?"

"I... Tang Feng... I... I'm sorry for causing you trouble, but I'll try again. Please take good care of yourself." Tang Feng heard Haqiya's voice choked with emotion, and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, handing it to her. "Ziliang and I... are far from the childhood sweethearts you imagine, innocent and carefree. We survived a calamity together, and our true feelings were revealed in adversity. We've witnessed so much together... It's not as simple as you think." Tang Feng smiled. "In this life... I made a wish: life is short, but without it, what joy is there?"

"Thank you... thank you for telling me all this," Hachiya wiped away her tears. "I'll talk to my father about this again. Take good care of yourself, eat well, the person you met in Xiling is still waiting for you!"

Tang Feng didn't speak, but seeing that Haqiya was about to leave, he quickly called out to her, "Haqiya! I'm just a passerby in your life, just think of me as... a passing breeze! I... hope you find a good partner."

"But... this long wind... it hurts so much in my heart, it's absolutely heartbreaking," Haqiya said before leaving. Tang Feng, seeing Haqiya like this, felt uneasy. He didn't want to cause her so much pain, but if he tried to fix things any further, it would be too late. Looking at how sweaty she was today, he was afraid that if he had a breath left, he would force her into the bridal chamber. If they did, he would be unable to clear his name no matter what, and he would feel like he had wronged Ziliang for the rest of his life.