Chapter 40. He was right there, watching her in her finest attire…
The Duke of Jingguo perked up and leaned forward slightly: "Your Highness, please speak."
"The envoy from the Qiongle tribe will arrive in the capital in three days. In this negotiation, the marriage alliance and annual tribute will definitely be the core conditions of Ao Mu."
“But,” the Duke of Jingguo hesitated, stroking his beard, “even if a marriage alliance is to be formed, Yuhe…”
The Third Prince laughed and said, "The wedding procession has a long and arduous journey, with high mountains and dangerous waters. If they were to encounter bandits or horse bandits along the way, wouldn't it be only natural that Princess Yuhe might tragically perish?"
Duke Jingguo was surprised for a second, seemingly not expecting the Third Prince to directly reveal the plan to silence him.
The Third Prince waved his hand, indicating that he hadn't finished speaking: "I know what Grandfather wants to ask." He leisurely sipped his tea, "Now that Yuhe is dead, who will go to arrange a marriage alliance?"
He put down his teacup and lowered his voice: "What if we pull off a clever trick and replace Yuhe with one of our own carefully cultivated people?"
"This person can infiltrate Ao Mu's side in the future and become a thorn in the side of the Qiong Le tribe."
Duke Jingguo took a deep breath, finally understanding. If this plan succeeded, it would not only eliminate a major threat but also pave a shortcut to the future!
Of the five princes of the Sheng Dynasty, His Majesty is in his prime, and the position of heir apparent is vacant. The eldest prince died young; the second prince is practically a recluse; the fourth prince is still young; the only formidable rival is the fifth prince, Jiang Chengyu, born to Consort Li.
If this plan succeeds, this intelligence from the enemy's core will be the Third Prince's trump card in the court, allowing him to overwhelm all his opponents. He might even be able to use this intelligence to plan a decisive victory and thus secure his position as Crown Prince!
...
This morning, the atmosphere inside the Golden Palace was as cold and somber as the weather at the end of the year.
Grand Commandant Lou and the Left Chancellor spoke vehemently: "Although we have suffered a minor setback in the north, our main force remains intact, and reinforcements from various regions will arrive soon. As long as we regroup and fight again, we have a chance to recover the two prefectures of Yun and Shuo! If we give in to Ao Mu's demands, cede territory, pay reparations, and send our daughters to sue for peace, where will the dignity of our Sheng Dynasty be? The annals of history will be iron, Your Majesty, please think it over!"
Xie Zhiyao, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, stepped forward. His voice boomed like a bell, and his "Memorial on Advising Against Peace and War" was eloquent and poignant. Every word was written with heartbreaking emotion, and he thoroughly analyzed the sacrifices of the soldiers on the frontier, the glory of the dynasty over the past century, and the humiliating consequences of seeking peace. For a time, he refuted the pro-peace faction and silenced them, while the voices advocating for war rose loudly in the hall.
Seeing this, the Duke of Jingguo knew the time was ripe. He immediately stepped forward and said loudly, "Commissioner Xie's loyalty and courage are commendable! However, we have just suffered a defeat, morale is low, and the national treasury is empty—this is an undeniable fact. We have all witnessed the ferocity of the Qiongle cavalry. If we were to start another war now, and if we were to make another mistake, it would be more than just ceding territory and paying reparations; it would shake the very foundation of our Sheng Dynasty!"
He surveyed the assembled officials, finally fixing his gaze on the emperor on the throne, his voice heavy with sorrow yet crystal clear:
"The intentions of the Qiongle tribe are very clear. They do not want to destroy our country, but rather seek wealth, profit, and the prestige of our Celestial Empire. The princess's marriage to the emperor may seem humiliating, but it actually buys the court a crucial respite. Only when our troops are well-equipped and our supplies are plentiful can we avenge this humiliation. This is the wise way to govern the country!"
Grand Commandant Lou immediately retorted, "Your Excellency is mistaken! How can one be cowardly before even engaging in battle, entrusting the safety of the nation to a woman!"
He became emotional and mentioned Jiang Fushi herself, "Moreover, Princess Yuhe is frail and sickly, and Ao Mu is a notorious cruel man. He has tortured many concubines to death in his tent. I'm afraid that Princess Yuhe will be destroyed before she even arrives at the royal court. At that time, she will be gone, and the alliance will be broken. Wouldn't that be losing both her and the land? How could my princess of the Sheng Dynasty suffer such humiliation!"
Xie Zhiyao bowed again, his tone earnest: "Your Majesty, what the Grand Commandant said is absolutely right. I have also heard that Princess Yuhe is kind and virtuous. How can it be allowed to be sent into the mouths of tigers and wolves if it is so virtuous and virtuous! I beg Your Majesty, it is better to prepare an army for a battle than to do such a humiliating thing that will leave a regret for thousands of years."
After bowing to the throne, the Third Prince respectfully said, "Father, I believe that what Grand Commandant Lou and Compiler Xie said was all out of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country. Their earnest intentions are truly moving."
"However, what the Duke of Jingguo is concerned about is the weight of the nation's fate. Today's temporary concealment of strength is not out of cowardice, but rather a preparation for a thunderous strike in the future. If we can exchange this for several years of recuperation and lessons, and then one day regroup and wipe out Qiongle in one fell swoop, that would be the best strategy to comfort the soldiers and wipe away the national humiliation. As for the Imperial Sister... as a daughter of the imperial family, she enjoys the support of the people, and it is her duty to shoulder heavy responsibilities during times of national crisis."
On the dragon throne, the emperor's fingertips tapped heavily on the armrest, and the hall fell silent instantly. His weary gaze swept over the arguing ministers below, finally closing slowly, and when it opened again, it was with a cold, resolute expression.
That's enough.
“What the Duke of Jingguo said is a mature and wise approach to governing the country.”
"My mind is made up. I grant Qiongle's request for a marriage alliance. I hereby order Princess Yuhe to go and arrange the marriage."
...
On the day the imperial edict reached the princess's residence, heavy snow fell, and goose-feather-like snowflakes silently covered every inch of grass and trees in the courtyard, turning the whole world into a desolate white.
Jiang Fushi led the entire household to kneel in the icy snow, listening to the imperial edict read aloud by the chief eunuch Zhao Quan, which would determine her fate.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"
"...Princess Yuhe, born into a noble family...Now Qiongle requests your hand in marriage. In order to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two countries...you are hereby granted the title of Princess Yong'an and sent to marry her...So be it."
This sudden marriage was like an ice-cold awl, piercing Jiang Fushi's heart.
She knelt frozen in place, forgetting even to breathe. Before she could react, warm tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cold cheeks. Just as they reached her chin, the cold wind froze them into tiny icicles that stung her skin.
Those dreams of healing the sick and living a carefree life in the martial arts world seemed to have been swept away by the cold wind, and from then on, they had nothing to do with her anymore.
Long after Zhao Quan left, only the suppressed sobs of the people from the Princess's residence could be heard on the snow.
A young palace maid who had just started growing her hair out finally couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears: "His Highness is gone, what are we going to do..."
The words had barely left her lips when the young palace maid was immediately covered by the matron beside her, but a sense of despair had already spread through her. They were crying not only for their master's departure, but also for their own future, as adrift as duckweed with no one to rely on.
Everyone knows that the Qiongle tribe lives in a harsh, cold land thousands of miles away, and their customs are very different.
Once they leave, they will never be able to return to their homeland in this lifetime. Moreover, Khan Aomu has always enjoyed abusing his concubines. Many beauties were sent to his golden tent, only to be carried out wrapped in straw mats the next day.
What's even more terrifying is that Ao Mu is highly skilled in martial arts. He is a ruthless and cunning man who comes from horseback riding and kills without hesitation. Your Highness's going there is no different from going to your death.
"Your Highness, the ground is cold, get up." Qingdai's tearful voice rang in Jiang Fushi's ears, but it was sometimes near and sometimes far, and indistinct.
She was in a daze, staring blankly at the ground, until the shadow fell and a familiar black figure came into view, the person's shadow looming over her.
"Your Highness," he called out to her.
She looked up, trying to see the emotions in his eyes, but her vision was blurred by tears. She could only see his cold, hard features slightly blurred in the light and shadow, making them indistinct.
Jiang Fushi fell seriously ill.
She spent many days in a daze in bed. Outside, people hurried by, busy cutting wedding dresses and taking inventory of dowry. Even the candlelight seemed brighter than usual, and everywhere was bustling with preparations for the wedding. But she didn't even have the strength to turn over. She felt as if her soul had been scattered with the wind and snow of that day.
She desperately wanted to escape, to escape right now.
Princesses, riches and honors—all are but fleeting clouds, shackles wrapped in brocade. In the end, they are nothing more than pawns manipulated by others in the power struggles of emperors.
However, as a princess, she had been supported by the people since childhood and bore the responsibility for them. If she insisted on fleeing, Qiongle would surely use this as an excuse to cause trouble, and war would break out everywhere. What would happen to those innocent people then?
She had no choice; from the moment she was born into this imperial family, she had no choice.
In the end, she lost.
She fought with Yuyao, causing Yuyao's face to be ruined, and she herself ended up being married off to a foreign land. Neither of them won; they were both just victims in this vortex of the palace.
Lou Bingling visited her at the mansion the day before yesterday, but they could only hold hands and look at each other with tearful eyes, speechless and choked with emotion. A thousand words were stuck in their throats, and in the end, they turned into hot tears that fell on the backs of their hands and soaked their sleeves.
With red-rimmed eyes, Zisu brought over the medicine and gently served it to her, saying, "Your Highness, please don't be sad or stressed anymore. Your health is the most important thing..."
Rongrong was also secretly wiping away her tears, trying her best not to cry out loud.
Jiang Fushi just stared blankly at the intricate embroidery on the top of the tent, her eyes empty, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
After she left, everything in the mansion had changed drastically.
Commander Liu had already been transferred and dismissed ahead of schedule. As a military officer in the imperial guards, he would never be allowed to accompany the bride for the marriage alliance. The remaining palace staff were either dismissed or reassigned by the Imperial Household Department.
Now, all she has left are these few close maids.
"I have married far away to Qiongle, and I fear I will never have the chance to return to my homeland in this lifetime. Today, I am giving you a choice. If you wish to stay, go to the Imperial Household Department to inform them. I... will not force you."
Rongrong knelt down, weeping, and kowtowed heavily: "Your Highness! Ever since you saved me on the street that day, I have sworn that I will repay your kindness with my life, even if it means repaying a debt of gratitude. No matter where Your Highness goes, whether it be a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, I will follow you to the death!"
Zisu and Qingdai also knelt down, their voices choked with emotion, but their tone was extremely firm: "We are willing to follow Your Highness to the death!"
As the master and servants were talking, a message came from outside that the eldest princess had arrived.
Jiang Yu gracefully walked to the bedside and saw several maids crying together around the bed. She sighed.
"Poor little thing, look at the gloomy atmosphere in this room."
"Imperial Aunt," Jiang Fushi called out, her voice choked with sobs, and was about to get out of bed when Jiang Yu took her hand.
"Alright, get some rest. Let's skip the formalities."
Jiang Fushi nodded slightly, but then fell silent, unsure of what to say next.
“Silly child, what’s the use of crying? Things have come to this. Instead of getting stuck in sorrow, you should take good care of your health. The journey to Qiongle is long, and you can’t make it without a strong body. Auntie knows you’re upset. Don’t worry, Auntie will never let you suffer alone.”
Jiang Yu sat closer and lowered her voice: "When the marriage procession departs, I will have Mu Yun take some capable people, disguised as a merchant caravan, to follow behind and secretly watch over you along the way to prevent any unforeseen events. Don't be afraid, even if we can't openly send you to Qiongle, your aunt will use this method to send you off as a form of marriage."
A glimmer of light finally appeared in Jiang Fushi's previously empty eyes, but her eyes reddened even more. She looked at Jiang Yu, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something to express her gratitude, but the words that came out were only a choked "Auntie," and tears rolled down her cheeks again.
"Don't be afraid." Jiang Yu then put his arm around her.
"In the end, nothing in this world can withstand the power of fate."
"Back then, I couldn't win against you, and now, even you can't escape it. This shows that everything in the world is determined by fate, and how much can a person really win?"
Jiang Fushi cried so hard she could barely breathe. In fact, she had cried all her tears over this period of time, and her heart had gradually grown cold. But when Jiang Yu gently hugged her and patted her back with his palm, that long-lost warmth and sense of security somehow made her unable to hold back any longer, and all her grievances and fears poured out with her sobs.
She cried in Jiang Yu's arms for a long time until her tears gradually stopped and her emotions calmed down. Only then did she get up and tell her to rest well. She also instructed Qingdai to stew more nourishing soups before leaving with her people.
Suddenly everything fell silent. You could hear the soft rustling of snowflakes falling on the green tiles outside the window. The mechanical moon lamp was spinning under the eaves, its warm yellow light filtering through the thin gauze cover and casting dappled shadows on the snow.
Jiang Fushi blinked, wiped away the remaining tear stains from the corners of her eyes, and thinking of going to the courtyard for some fresh air, she put on a cloak and got up to go out.
As soon as the door opened, Zhan Xiao was seen standing under the eaves, his black figure particularly conspicuous in the snowy night.
She paused, looking at his silent figure, her eyes reddening, and finally asked the question that had been pent up in her heart for a long time.
"My journey is fraught with peril, and my future is uncertain. Are you willing to follow me? If not, then leave tonight. I... will not blame you."
Zhan Xiao remained motionless in the snowy night, only his gaze on her face remained calm and unwavering. He nodded slightly, his voice low and steady, revealing not a trace of emotion:
"It is my duty as a subordinate."
After a moment of silence, he added, "Your Highness will not be left alone."
Snowflakes drifted down onto Jiang Fushi's slightly red nose, bringing a touch of coolness. Gazing at the hazy outline of the person before her, she suddenly felt a sense of peace.
Although Zhan Xiao was always indifferent and spoke very little, she felt for no reason that whatever he said, no matter how difficult the road ahead might be, he would keep his word.
The princess was dressed in thin clothes. Zhan Xiao looked away and gazed at the snow outside the corridor: "The snow is getting heavier."
Jiang Fushi followed his gaze to the falling snow, nodded gently, and turned to walk into the house.
Zhan Xiao followed half a step behind her, his gaze always fixed on the ends of her loose hair. Occasionally, a snowflake would fall into her hair, but before it could touch her hair, it would be gently brushed away by the slight force of the wind from his sleeve.
As he stepped into the garden, he looked up at the night sky. Fine snowflakes landed on his brow bone and quickly melted into tiny water droplets.
Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the southwestern night sky, followed by three bright blue fireworks that exploded against the dark sky before fading into silence.
He squinted.
It was confirmed that there were maids on duty outside the princess's bedchamber, and the night patrol guards were conducting their routine patrols; everything was normal.
Zhan Xiao leaped and arrived at the Worry-Free Tavern in a few bounds.
Yunniang lifted the curtain of the private room on the second floor and suddenly saw a strange man standing in the tea room. She was stunned and thought someone had broken in. She was about to call for help, but when she looked closely, she realized that the man's figure, demeanor and the way he held his sword were exactly the same as Hanren's.
She called out uncertainly, "Hanren?"
When the man turned around and saw his face clearly, Yunniang secretly gasped.
With sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high, straight nose, his appearance, once the mask was removed, was even more striking than that of the noble young masters of the capital. However, the chill emanating from his eyes was three times stronger than the wind and snow outside the window, making people hesitant to approach him.
Han Ren actually took off his mask? You know, all these years when he frequented the tavern, even when he was alone, he had never taken off his mask.
Yunniang greeted her with a smile: "The news that you were selected for the Princess's residence in the arena has spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Everyone is talking about how Princess Yuhe has gained a personal bodyguard with unfathomable martial arts skills. Even I didn't expect this matter to cause such a stir."
What surprised her even more was that Han Ren would actually take off his mask for Princess Yuhe.
She couldn't help but stare at the person in front of her again and again, making sure she wasn't hallucinating.
Zhan Xiao asked directly, "What do you want with me?"
Yunniang's expression turned serious, and she took out a sealed letter with sealing wax from her sleeve: "Your mission is over."
Zhan Xiao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
After placing the secret letter on the table, Yunniang pushed a silver note over to Zhanxiao, gesturing, "This is your reward for protecting the princess. From this moment on, you no longer need to protect her."
Seeing that Zhan Xiao did not answer for a long time, Yun Niang lightly tapped the silver note with her fingertip: "Princess Yuhe will be going to Qiongle for a marriage alliance soon, as you probably know."
"Your next task is to assassinate Ao Mu, the Khan of the Qiongle tribe."
"This is a new top-tier mission from the Lord, and he specifically requested you to carry it out." Yunniang took out another silver note with a larger face value and placed it on top of the original one. "The reward is one thousand taels of gold."
Zhan Xiao's eyes sharpened: "Why?"
Seeing his rare questioning expression, Yunniang smiled meaningfully: "The lord has his reasons for doing things. You and I only need to follow orders."
As she spoke, she walked to the window, gazing at the vast night sky, her tone turning solemn:
"Qiongle Khan Aomu is the number one warrior of the grasslands. Although he is over fifty years old, his martial arts skills are unparalleled. No ordinary person can get close to him. Looking at the entire martial arts world, apart from you, there is really no one else who is confident that he can get close to him and take his life."
"Besides, you are now Princess Yuhe's bodyguard. She is going to marry into the royal family, and you will be the first to protect her. When Ao Mu is off guard, the wedding night will be the best time for you to make your move."
Zhan Xiao remained silent, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
"What are you thinking?" Yunniang asked, puzzled. "This task is practically a piece of cake for you."
Zhan Xiao raised his eyes: "At that time, how will Your Highness handle this?"
Yunniang found it amusing. She stared at Zhanxiao and said, "I can't believe you'd say that. Hanren, you've never been like this before. No matter what the mission was or who the target was, you never asked for the reason, only the time and place."
“Don’t forget who you are,” her voice turned cold. “You are an assassin, the Lord’s sharpest blade.”
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Yunniang asked suspiciously, then after a moment, she asked with an incredulous sneer, "Could it be that you've fallen for Princess Yuhe?"
Zhan Xiao glanced at her sideways, remaining silent; no one could read his thoughts from his eyes.
"What the master wants is Ao Mu's life. As for Princess Yuhe, her life or death is irrelevant to the mission."
"Kill Ao Mu and bring back his head."
"This is a direct order from the Lord."
The wind and snow outside the window seemed to grow colder. The cold wind seeped into the tea room through the window cracks, causing the candlelight to flicker slightly, and making the emotions in Zhan Xiao's eyes even more obscure and difficult to discern.
Yunniang sighed: "Actually, you and I both know that Princess Yuhe's marriage this time is a one-way trip. Ao Mu is cruel by nature, and countless women have died in his tent. If he dies, it may be a relief for the princess."
The candlelight flickered slightly in Zhan Xiao's eyes. His thumb, resting on the hilt of the sword, caressed the cold jade. Once, twice, the rhythm was steady and calm, yet a little slower than usual.
Zhan Xiao said.
"Um."
Yunniang was immediately delighted: "After you successfully complete the mission, the tavern will arrange for people to meet you at the border and help you return to Shengchao."
She pushed a route map in front of him. "This mission is a do-or-die situation. Ao Mu is heavily guarded. You only have one chance to strike and kill him with one blow."
...
From the issuance of the imperial decree to the wedding, only fifteen days passed.
The Imperial Household Department handled everything with astonishing efficiency: she was formally promoted to "Princess Yong'an" and her name was written into the imperial genealogy, thus elevating her status in Qiongle. They also rushed to produce the princess's ceremonial regalia, carriage, heavy pheasant robes embroidered with golden phoenixes, and the full dowry to be bestowed upon Qiongle.
According to etiquette, she had to bid farewell to the emperor and empress in the main hall of the palace and receive the farewells from the officials.
Therefore, ten days after the imperial edict was issued, Jiang Fushi moved from the princess's residence back to a secluded side hall in the palace.
Apart from Qingdai, Zisu, and Rongrong, all the servants coming and going in the palace were unfamiliar faces assigned by the Imperial Household Department. They bustled about quickly and efficiently, while Jiang Fushi sat quietly, like a carefully dressed doll, letting them do as they pleased.
The day she got married happened to be the first day of the Lunar New Year, a day when families should be reunited and celebrating the new year.
Before the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), she was helped up to do her hair and makeup.
The heavy, three-layered imperial robe weighed heavily on her shoulders, making it hard to breathe. The wide sleeves embroidered with golden phoenixes hung down, beautiful yet cold. The weight of the nine-dragon, four-phoenix crown was almost unbearable for her slender neck. The pearl and jade tassels swayed slightly in front of her eyes, reflecting the candlelight.
In front of the Taiji Hall, following the chanting of the master of ceremonies, she performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows to the emperor and empress on the throne.
The white marble steps in front of the palace seemed to stretch endlessly, with civil and military officials standing on both sides.
He was right there.
Zhan Xiao, dressed in the formal uniform of an imperial guard, stood with his hand on his sword, his posture as upright as a pine tree. In the dim morning light, he quietly and silently watched her leave in her wedding attire.
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