Princess Jiahua, standing outside Xuanhe Palace, was deeply moved by the scene and felt fortunate to have met the Seventh Prince.
Otherwise, my fate today would be no different from that of Consort Mei.
She didn't ask anything along the way. By the time the Seventh Prince escorted her back to his residence, it was already noon. The guards kept urging him to hurry on his way.
The Seventh Prince reluctantly released Princess Jia Hua.
"Your Highness, may you return safely." She untied a talisman from her waist and handed it to the Seventh Prince.
The seventh prince happily accepted it and carefully put it into his arms: "Good!"
Then he left in a hurry.
As soon as the person left, Princess Jia Hua went limp. Xiu Shu cried with snot and tears streaming down her face, supporting the person: "Master, I was so scared."
"Everything's fine now."
Princess Jia Hua didn't want to recall what happened last night; she only hoped that the Seventh Prince could win the war as soon as possible.
If the Seventh Prince were to take that position, he would definitely let him leave.
Princess Jia Hua slept for two whole days before she woke up.
"Master, you're finally awake." Xiu Shu came in carrying a bowl of steaming porridge. "You've been asleep for two days."
She rubbed her temples; the weakness and discomfort she felt throughout her body had disappeared. She propped herself up and asked, "Any news these past two days?"
"The Emperor is ill, so Prime Minister Yan has been appointed as regent to temporarily govern the country, while the Empress controls the inner palace."
Princess Jia Hua nodded.
For the next month or so, no one bothered her. To pass the time, she simply started a small vegetable garden in the yard and planted flowers and plants.
News did occasionally come from the battlefield.
The seventh prince was indeed brave, single-handedly reclaiming two cities and fighting fiercely, routing the enemy army.
In the letter, the seventh prince described the beautiful scenery beyond the Great Wall to her, and his words were full of longing for the future.
Princess Jia Hua frowned, folded the letter, and put it away. She would never be able to respond to the Seventh Prince in this lifetime. Her home was in Northern Chu.
She never dared to forget it for a moment.
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye
The five-nation coalition has been completely driven out of southern Xinjiang.
The fighting has not yet stopped.
Princess Jiahua gazed at the lush vegetable garden, realizing she was perfectly self-sufficient. Sitting in the pavilion, looking out, with a book in her hands and a cup of tea, she lived a rather pleasant life.
Regarding Northern Chu, both the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince sent messengers to deliver messages.
There is only one word on it: peace.
Princess Jia Hua believed in them.
On this day, an uninvited guest arrived at the Seventh Prince's residence. The invitation was addressed to the Third Prince's Consort. Princess Jia Hua frowned, hesitated for a long time, and then opened it.
It was the joyous occasion of the Third Prince's wife giving birth to their eldest son a month ago, and he invited her to his residence as a guest.
"Reject it, just say I'm not feeling well."
She didn't want to show her face in public, and she didn't want to deal with people from southern Xinjiang.
She firmly believes that she will leave southern Xinjiang one day.
"Your Highness, the Third Prince's wife sent someone to say that your old friends are also visiting. The Empress will also be coming that day; this is also the Empress's intention."
Old friend?
Princess Jia Hua's brow furrowed slightly. After much deliberation, she realized that the banquet was being held at the Third Prince's residence, so there shouldn't be any problems. Thus, she nodded and accepted the invitation.
After searching the mansion, I finally found a jade lock, which was engraved with the two characters for "peace". I put it in a brocade box, which was just right to give as a gift.
Before we knew it, the day of the Third Prince's Consort's banquet arrived.
Guests gathered, and carriages lined up one after another in front of the mansion. Princess Jiahua alighted from her carriage, and as soon as she appeared, supported by Xiushu, the steward bowed and ushered her in: "The Third Prince's Consort has been waiting for a long time. This way, please."
Princess Jia Hua was surprised.
Following the steward into the house, she found that there were more guests in the courtyard than she had imagined. Xiu Shu said, "I have inquired and found that the Third Prince's wife has been married to the Third Prince for six years. She had two daughters before, and finally had a son. The couple is very loving, and the Third Prince has only had two concubines and one maidservant by his side all these years."
After entering the courtyard, we turned left and right until we arrived at a large hall, where groups of guests from the garden were sitting together, chatting and laughing.
"Jiahua!"
A voice sounded from behind.
Princess Jia Hua froze.
It had been a long time since anyone had called her name. Turning around, she looked at the person who had come. The person was dressed very richly, with hairpins adorning their temples, and a strange hostility appeared on their pretty face.
"What, you don't recognize me after three years?" Xiangzhu tilted her head and smiled slightly, then stepped forward and took Princess Jiahua's hand: "Thanks to you, I was able to appear here. After all this time, we've finally met again."
Princess Xiangzhu was actually her cousin.
The two were mortal enemies in Northern Chu. Nine years ago, Princess Xiangzhu married Shang Jia, a wealthy man, and soon after, she left the capital and disappeared without a trace.
Nine years had passed, and Princess Jiahua could hardly recognize her; she could only vaguely make out a silhouette.
“Jiahua, you are so lucky. As a princess sent for a political marriage, you were able to marry the famous Seventh Prince, the God of War. Unlike me, I’m just a money-grubber.” Princess Xiangzhu pulled Princess Jiahua’s hand and grinned. “I forgot to tell you, my husband and the Third Prince are cousins.”
Princess Jia Hua gave a faint "hmm," and tried to pull her hand away, but Princess Xiang Zhu held it tightly, and she couldn't pull it away at all.
"Xiangzhu".
Xiangzhu raised her eyes with a bright smile, but when she looked at Princess Jiahua, her eyes were icy cold: "Jiahua, your face is sure to bring trouble."
"The past..."
“What’s past is past, I won’t hold it against you. After all, it wasn’t easy for you either, leaving your hometown to come to southern Xinjiang.”
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