130 Regret for Being Too Late
◎Within the borders of Rongguo, you can just call her Princess◎
"Royal sister!"
Rong Zixin called out to Rong Qianyu from afar, and like when they were little, he ran over happily, "It's been several years since we last met. How are you, my dear sister?"
When Rong Qianyu left Rong Country, Rong Zixin didn't see her off, so it had been three years since they'd last met. These three years felt like a lifetime, yet she was barely twenty, and Rong Zixin wasn't even old enough to dance like an elephant; he was still so young.
"It's good enough to be able to stand in front of you," Rong Qianyu stepped forward to help him tidy up his hair. Seeing him still being so unrestrained, she couldn't help but sigh for herself. What would happen now if she hadn't married into a foreign kingdom?
Marrying Wen Xiaqing is the most expected path, or after being married to a minister, she will be nothing more than taking care of her husband and children.
She never wanted to sugarcoat the path she hadn't taken. Everything she had now was fate. Since that was the case, she had to live in the present. Nor did she want to repeat Shenshu's fate as a foreign marriage partner. A country depends on a wise ruler, and its safety depends on women. She was Rongguo's pawn, the most important player in this game.
Now, she no longer wants to be just a chess piece, she wants to be the chess player, to fight for the safety of her country and the people.
"You have become successful now. The emperor has put you in charge of such a big matter."
"Your Majesty is just looking for something for me to do because I'm idle." Rong Zixin scratched his head, not daring to look at her, and hesitated, "Royal sister...how about..."
"What's wrong? Is there anything else?" Rong Qianyu asked.
Rong Zixin felt guilty and kept looking at Subuda, but Rong Qianyu caught him red-handed. "This girl doesn't look like she's from the Central Plains. Zixin, why don't you introduce her to me?"
Rong Zixin was stared at by the two women and was at a loss for words for a moment, so he ran over to stop Subuda.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!"
"Your Majesty, please stay!" Subuda walked around him, stood up first and walked forward to salute.
"Who are you?"
"Qianbei, Subuda." She took off her official hat, revealing her long brown hair.
Rong Qianyu's eyelashes trembled, her eyes suddenly tightened, and she looked at Rong Zixin in surprise, "Why is she here?"
Rong Zixin shrank back and dared not speak, hesitating: "This is what I want to tell my sister. This is His Highness Qian Bei. He was stranded in Rong Country. I met him. I haven't told my brother yet."
Rong Qianyu's face suddenly darkened, and her joyful expression disappeared. She said seriously, "Why are you hiding such an important matter? You know this is extremely urgent, and you still let her stay by your side!"
"Your Majesty!" Subuda tried to smooth things over, explaining hastily, "I've come here to try to make peace. I want you to help me regain the throne. I'm truly asking for help, and that's why I've come here alone."
Rong Qianyu sighed, "Your Highness..."
Suddenly, Wu Daiqin interrupted him, "In our Qianbei, you should call him Your Highness."
"Who is this?"
“This is my friend.”
"Are you from the Central Plains?"
Wu Daiqin: "I..."
Subuda explained, "Unlike the Central Plains, we in the Qianbei region are not immune to foreigners. If a foreigner were to serve in your court, it would be impossible for them to disappear. But in the Qianbei region, we don't care about origin or bloodline. Even I can compete for the throne. As long as we serve our country, what does it matter if we are foreigners?"
After hearing her words, Rong Qianyu agreed very much, and her attitude became much better than before, "Your Highness, what you just said is exactly what I was thinking."
Subuda: “Really?”
"Your Highness is right. In fact, one's background is not important. As long as one is truly good for the country, anything is fine. A ruler should trust those he employs, and not employ those he doubts. No matter what they are like, the reins must always be in his own hands."
As Rong Zixin had said, Rong Qianyu was a thoughtful person. Although a woman, her deeds over the years were no less righteous than those of a man. Subuda had also heard of her before. The story of how she nearly lost her life fighting for tax reduction was a legend across the world. She was a very respectable person.
Seeing it today is indeed true, even more admirable than the rumors.
The sympathy and mutual admiration between the two women transcended family differences and nationalities at this moment, as they shared the same goal of enabling the people to live and work in peace and contentment.
"Excuse me, should I call you Queen or Princess?"
"Within the boundaries of Rong Country, you can just call me Princess."
"Your Highness is right. The prince said you could help me, so I hurried here in disguise. I wonder if the emperor of your country would agree."
"Everyone in the world desires peace in the same way. This is why I urged Great Zhou and Qianbei to open up trade. I am a princess who is married to a foreign country. I can exchange one person for thousands of troops, so it is my duty as a princess. But this is only a way to recuperate and breathe, and it cannot bring lasting peace. It is better to exchange what we have for long-term stable development."
"Princess, opening up the trade will provide an additional source of income for the people of Qianbei. I am truly grateful for your kindness."
The two of them got along better and better as they talked. In the dull Zhou court, even Tan Lu couldn't talk about these things. Apart from the trivial matters of the harem and the upbringing of the princes and princesses, no one could speak so freely with Rong Qianyu.
This was the first time I had spoken so many profound words to a woman.
"Zixin, prepare the tent for me and His Highness."
"yes."
The two of them seemed to have met too late. Rong Qianyu took the initiative to invite her into the tent for a detailed discussion. "Your Highness, please!"
Rong Qianyu led the way in front, and the two entered the big tent one after the other. Rong Pan was very considerate and specially served milk tea to Subuda.
Rong Qianyu asked: "Your Highness wants Rongguo to help you regain the throne, but why did you tell me that I have already married into another country and am not favored, and..."
"Not only is he out of favor, but there are also rumors about him and the Prime Minister?" Unexpectedly, Subuda blurted out.
Rong Qianyu pursed her lips and drank her milk tea. She had never cared much about other people's opinions and knew that her life didn't deserve to be judged by others. If it were someone else, being humiliated like this by her husband and his concubine, she probably wouldn't have done it as dignifiedly as she did.
But today, facing the like-minded Prince Qianbei, she suddenly felt a little guilty.
Subuda noticed her cheeks flushed, and chuckled softly, continuing, "Your Highness is the best candidate for the three kingdoms. You are absolutely the best choice. I've reviewed your proposals, and they benefit the people of both nations. Rongguo, you are the only descendant of the late queen, and the eldest princess, with the support of your mother's clan. In Zhouguo, you are also a highly respected and deeply loved queen. As for relationships, we Qianbei people have always been informal. We marry when fate brings us together, and we part when fate leaves us. Many Qianbei people have remarried."
"Secondly, you have led the charge in every aspect of your work, from helping Emperor Zhou escape poverty during the epidemic to combating the current imperial examination fraud. I admire you for this, and I am willing to trust you as a person."
The blush on Rong Qianyu's face gradually faded. She took a sip of tea slowly, her eyes full of admiration for this woman.
Ministers often used these things to praise her merits, but she just thought they were flattering her, just wanting to set an example, and there was nothing new in saying them. But this time was different. When these words came out of the mouth of a foreign woman, she realized how much she had done for the Great Zhou.
Perhaps the people of the Great Zhou were also like this, praising her for her goodness.
"It's too dangerous to tie your life to someone else's knife," said Subuda.
After she finished her cup of milk tea, Rong Qianyu personally refilled it for her, leaned forward, and handed it to her, "The knife should be in our own hands."
It took more than half a month to walk from the handover of the two pots to the capital of Rong State. The two of them had a great conversation along the way. Rong Qianyu felt that no one had ever been able to talk to her so well.
This person is actually a foreigner.
More than half a month later, at the coronation ceremony, the sound of music and ceremony echoed throughout the palace, and the streets were crowded with people who came to watch the ceremony.
In the main hall, the dragon throne was empty.
In the square, civil and military officials lined up in order, waiting to lead the young emperor to the throne.
Rong Qianyu is the eldest princess. She is dressed in gorgeous clothes and stands close to the emperor, only one position away from He Wanrou.
He Wanrou was dressed in the official uniform of the Empress Dowager and looked unhappy. She had wanted to have a chance to see her daughter, but the only person who came was Rong Qianyu, the person she had been annoyed with for more than ten years, who looked more and more like Fang Pingting.
Before the new emperor ascended the throne, Rong Qianyu went to see her uncle, contacted the ministers on her mother's side, met Wen Xiaqing, and talked to the emperor about helping Princess Qianbei. Everything was arranged.
Rong Zhao was also very supportive of this matter. "My Imperial Sister is very thoughtful. I will definitely facilitate this matter. The greatest auspicious sign is for the people to live and work in peace and contentment. If it can bring about long-term peace, it is worth a try."
"This is for my elder sister," Rong Zhao took out a military token, "My elder sister is also in danger in the Great Zhou. I can help you out if necessary."
"This is too expensive."
"Eldest sister will definitely need it someday, so please accept it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"There's one more thing I want to ask of you, elder sister," he stammered, knowing it was difficult to bring up. "Sister...she's done a lot of bad things. Please, for the sake of our blood relationship, don't take your anger out on me."
"Ruoyu is also my sister, so I will naturally try my best to protect her, but... sometimes I really can't control her." Rong Qianyu spoke the truth.
Rong Zhao repeatedly urged, "I hope you will do your best. If that day ever comes, the interests of Rong Country will be above all else."
The deafening sound of drums brought Rong Qianyu back to the coronation ceremony, where the Minister of Rites read out the imperial edict conferring her the title of Princess.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor declares, I, blessed by Heaven and Earth, have a sister, Di Qianyu. Dignified, prudent, intelligent, and resolute, I hereby appoint you the title of Princess Yongchang, the Protector of the Nation. I grant you a golden seal and treasure, the power to act at your will, and to strengthen your loyalty and forever carry the reputation of a worthy wife. I decree this!"
Rong Qianyu knelt to receive the imperial edict, "Your Majesty, Rong Qianyu, accepts the order and expresses gratitude. Long live the emperor!"
He Wanrou stood aside with mixed feelings. All the glory of Rong Qianyu should have belonged to her daughter, but now it all went to Rong Qianyu.
The Princess Protector of the Nation truly possesses power. She has soldiers and land. If she were a man, she would be raising a tiger to harm herself.
But now, we can't completely turn a blind eye, because the Fang family and the Zhou Kingdom are behind her.
After the ceremony, everyone left and Subuda was about to set off back to Qianbei.
"This is for the princess!" Subuda took out an exquisite box and gave it to Rong Qianyu.
"What's this?"
"The Wolf King's Fang, congratulations to the princess on her new marriage, may everything go well for her. See you another day!"
This wolf fang was obtained from hunting a few years ago. She had someone make it into a pendant and kept it with her. To her, Rong Qianyu was her own family and was worthy of being entrusted with such an important thing.
"How do you plan to go back?" Rong Qianyu asked.
"I've contacted my former subordinates and learned of a good opportunity. I'm leaving immediately and returning home by a roundabout route. My brother came to power illegitimately, and he doesn't have many supporters. With the soldiers I have and the help of the two countries, I believe we can accomplish great things."
"Then be careful on your journey, Your Highness. See you later."
Subuda put on Qian Bei's clothes today and jumped onto the horse. The girl held the reins tightly in her hands, saluted Rong Qianyu, and turned to walk towards Qian Bei.
Watching the group of people going away, Rong Qianyu did not leave for a long time. It was rare to have such a congenial friend. After spending a month together, the two felt that they had met too late and also dispelled many of the previous grudges between the two countries.
Rong Qianyu is destined to be trapped in the deep palace for her whole life. Looking at Subuda's tall and straight back, she suddenly realizes that a woman can live so vividly and freely.
I wonder when she will be able to be carefree like this, riding a horse and galloping between the blue sky and the yellow earth.
"Your Highness, it's time for us to leave." Rong Pan said, "If we help them like this, wouldn't it be too risky? And His Majesty gave you the military token..."
Even after the figure disappeared, Rong Qianyu remained where she was, watching calmly. "Her Highness is a heroine, and we have a great affinity. I wish her all the best, and may my dreams come true too."
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