General Zuo was ordered to pursue General Huo Xi, leading a full 10,000 troops to encircle and suppress him. Once outside the city, they found the location with unerring accuracy, like an old cat smelling blood.
An abandoned carriage was found on an official road.
The curtain was lifted.
Upon seeing that the person inside was unharmed, General Zuo cupped his hands and said, "This humble general greets the Princess Consort."
"General Zuo, you've worked hard."
Princess Jia Hua glanced at the spirited General Zuo and smiled, "It seems General Zuo has been doing well lately."
"Thank you for the Princess Consort's auspicious words, everything is fine."
General Zuo had sent someone back early on to deliver a message, and the Seventh Prince was relieved to have successfully met with Princess Jia Hua.
"What are the Crown Princess's next plans?"
The Huo family has been forced into the open. Once the Seventh Prince returns, he will definitely be convicted and held accountable. The Third Prince is paralyzed, and the Second Prince is also half-concealing his identity. It's just a matter of finding the right opportunity to force the Second Prince to the surface.
Princess Jia Hua looked at General Zuo: "I have no intention of staying in the Southern Frontier."
General Zuo's expression changed slightly.
"Empress Yan sent people to Northern Chu to threaten the two children. I can't swallow this debt. The two children are still young. I already owe them. I can't just sit idly by and enjoy my life as the Seventh Prince's Consort in Southern Xinjiang."
She knew General Zuo's character.
Therefore, Princess Jia Hua revealed all her innermost thoughts.
After a moment of contemplation, General Zuo said, "It's not your fault that we're seeking a marriage alliance, and it's understandable that you care about Northern Chu. It's just that His Highness..."
The Third Prince, the Second Prince, the Yan family, the Huo family, and the vassal states—these cancerous growths have all been forced into the open by Princess Jia Hua.
This allowed the Seventh Prince to see the true colors of these people.
That's all she could do.
The remaining people no longer pose a threat to the Seventh Prince.
She should leave too.
"I will explain it clearly."
General Zuo nodded: "Very well."
General Zuo's mind was noticeably heavier along the way. Several times he wanted to persuade Princess Jiahua to stay, but when the words came out, he felt it would be too selfish.
If Princess Jia Hua were to abandon her two children for wealth and status, General Zuo would look down on her.
They are contradictory.
About two days later, he returned to Yuncheng.
Yuncheng was already a ruin, with countless dead and wounded. The vassal state was severely damaged, with some killed and others captured. A rough estimate puts at least 100,000 people dead.
"Not only that, the vassal state sent 150,000 people this time," Princess Jiahua reminded her.
General Zuo's face was tense: "This subordinate understands."
Upon hearing that Princess Jia Hua had returned, the Seventh Prince rushed over without hesitation. After confirming that she was indeed the princess, he was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Jia Hua, you've been frightened!"
"It's alright." Princess Jiahua shook her head, her pale face looking very weak. The Seventh Prince wanted to pull her into his arms, but Princess Jiahua reached out and placed her hand against his chest, pulling them apart.
The seventh prince was taken aback.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine. Your Highness, important matters are at hand." Princess Jiahua's eyes were filled with cold indifference.
"Are you blaming me for not protecting you well?" the Seventh Prince said, blaming himself.
Princess Jia Hua shook her head: "Why does Your Highness ask a question you already know the answer to?"
The Seventh Prince clenched his fists tightly, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. He lowered his voice and said, "I'll arrange for you to return to Jincheng to rest first. We'll talk about the rest later."
"Your Highness, Jincheng is not safe," General Zuo reminded him.
The Seventh Prince frowned: "Then rest in my tent."
Princess Jia Hua did not refuse, but turned around and asked someone to lead the way. She refused to say another word. The Seventh Prince stared at Princess Jia Hua's back, feeling a tightness in his chest: "She must be blaming me."
“Your Highness, the mother and son have been separated for thirteen years. The Crown Princess is ill with worry and there is no point in forcing her to stay,” General Zuo advised.
The Seventh Prince lowered his eyes to hide the disappointment in them, but he was well aware of it all.
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess already knows that the Emperor of Northern Chu has passed away," General Zuo said.
The Seventh Prince suddenly raised his eyes, his eyebrows almost furrowed together. When they first met, he had promised Princess Jia Hua that once the old emperor of Northern Chu passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne, he would send someone to escort her back.
Because she had a good relationship with those princes, everyone would give her a place.
Two years have passed since the death of the Northern Chu Emperor. He has been keeping the news under tight control and forbidding anyone from revealing it. Therefore, Princess Jiahua has been kept in the dark for more than two years.
After leaving Jincheng, I easily found out what had happened after asking around.
She really did blame herself.
“Emperor Beiqi is dead. Emperor Beichu was a usurper who ruled with tyranny. From civil and military officials to ordinary people, how many of them don’t hate him? If she goes back, she will definitely be implicated in the future.” The Seventh Prince thought he had found a reason.
There are reasons why he did this.
General Zuo interrupted again: "Has Your Highness ever considered why the Emperor of Northern Chu tyrannically ruled?"
Of course, it's because we need to attack the southern border and reclaim Princess Jiahua.
If Princess Jia Hua returns to Northern Chu, the Emperor of Northern Chu will naturally return to normal.
The Seventh Prince's expression changed slightly, and he looked at General Zuo with a serious expression: "She is my wife."
Seeing his determined expression, General Zuo stopped trying to persuade him and silently took a few steps back.
For several days in a row, Princess Jiahua remained indifferent, neither sad nor happy. Even though the Seventh Prince visited her tent every day, she never gave him a kind look.
"Once the vassal states are pacified, I will accompany you back to Northern Chu. If you truly wish to stay, I will not stop you," the Seventh Prince said in a deep voice.
Princess Jia Hua nodded without hesitation: "Okay!"
She didn't see the Seventh Prince again for the next few days, but there were sounds of horses' hooves and occasional horns outside.
The embroidered book was delivered that day.
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