looking for husband
Guo Shunian was a general under Li Muyun. Originally a refugee from the Northwest, he was retained in the Northwest command due to his outstanding military achievements. He followed Muyun through thick and thin for many years and was deeply trusted by him. Unlike Fan Shuang's recklessness and impulsiveness, Guo Shunian was refined in appearance, serious and meticulous in his work, and skilled in using strategies. Before Yuan Cheng left the Northwest, he specifically instructed Guo Shunian to take good care of the hot-tempered princess and not to forget his duty as a subject to speak out just because she had the status of a princess.
When Guo Shunian saw that Qin Ziyou had returned alive, he was shocked. After thinking it over, he went to the commander's tent to ask about the matter.
Mu Yun put down the document and said, "I was going to kill him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it."
Guo Shunian became even more curious: "Why couldn't you bear it?"
She recalled Qin Ziyou's words that day, unsure of their veracity, but they did mention a girl from the Northwest. Perhaps, because of the jade-hunting expedition, this girl passed through Pengcheng, arrived at Wangyue Tower, and looked up to see people drinking upstairs.
She recognized her as the eldest princess of the Northwest, but never went upstairs to disturb her. She would just silently look up at her and then leave.
Fate had intersected countless times, but she was unaware of it.
"The soldiers all say I'm cold-blooded and ruthless. Do you really think I am?" Mu Yun suddenly asked.
Guo Shunian was stunned for a moment, then he hurriedly lowered his head to avoid Mu Yun noticing the blush on his face, and whispered, "Your Highness is the most affectionate and sincere person in the world."
Mu Yun immediately smiled.
Guo Shunian became a little reserved and quickly asked her how she planned to arrange things for Qin Ziyou.
In the past, Mu Yun would have told this subordinate, "Not a single person from Pingdu can be used!"
But Qin Ziyou's words were still affecting her, and her brow throbbed slightly. She waved her hand and said, "Go down first, let me think about it."
Guo Shunian wanted to argue further, but seeing her obvious discomfort, he said no more and withdrew from the tent. However, not wanting the blood of Pingdu to contaminate the Northwest Frontier Army, he continued to ignore Qin Ziyou.
When Qin Ziyou heard that his name was still not on the list of cavalrymen who went out on patrol, he knew that although Li Muyun was not going to kill him, she still didn't trust him at all.
This princess is really troublesome! Should he try a different approach to break through?
When war broke out again in the Northwest, Yang Fujin had no intention of launching another military campaign there. His generals in Yan and Bing prefectures had been wiped out by Li Muyun, and now he needed Li Muyun to fill the hole in the Northwest! He only sent a secret letter to Runan, urging Li Ling to wait a little longer.
After reading Yang Fujin's letter, Li Ling scoffed, "You old eunuch, you want to join forces with me to seize Li Muyun's military power? He's not worthy!"
The princess skillfully folded the letter, placed it over the flame, and smiled, "Whether it's a good match or not, the prince will agree."
"So I agreed, and took this opportunity to plant that kid Qin Ziyou in there. Yang Fujin wants to swallow Li Muyun's military power in one gulp, no way. I'll play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind him."
There are too many troops on the northwestern border, and Li Muyun will become a major obstacle to his future success. It's best to get rid of him as soon as possible. However, among all the troops in the Great Wei, only Yang Fujin is still of some use. Therefore, when Yang Fujin presented the alliance agreement, Li Ling agreed.
Besides her ambition to plan grand schemes with her husband, the Princess Consort also had some worries as a parent. Only a few days after their marriage, Qin Ziyou went to the battlefield. Although Changying did not tell them about her difficulties, she could hardly eat and had become much thinner.
I've sent many letters to the Northwest, but I haven't received a single reply.
Even the warmest heart will grow cold if this continues.
The Prince of Runan was not so sentimental. He allied with the Qin family and married his dearest daughter to them. They had already made a very sincere exchange of benefits, and he did not think about anything else.
But he didn't expect that when the Qin family sent a letter, Changying would leave home alone, saying that he was going to the Northwest to find Qin Ziyou.
The Qin family sent people north to pursue her, but they still hadn't found any trace of her. They had no choice but to write a letter to inform the Prince of Runan of the matter.
The Prince of Runan was furious and sent men north, ordering his subordinates to bring the princess back to Runan immediately if they found her.
Li Changying was already familiar with her parents' ways. She changed into simple clothes, wrapped her head in a headscarf, and followed a caravan heading north to sell porcelain.
With a large group of people, she was not easy to spot. Neither group could find her on the road. The Prince of Runan's men, knowing the princess's temperament, entered the city first and found her.
Changying laughed and said, "Tell Father that I came to the Northwest not just for this love affair. Qin Ziyou needs someone to keep an eye on him, and I'm doing it myself."
She successfully entered Pengcheng, inquired around, and followed the directions given by the locals to the military camp.
No outsiders are allowed to enter the military camp. Changying handed a jade pendant to a soldier: "Take this to the Princess quickly. If you delay my time, you'll be in big trouble!"
The soldier presented the jade pendant to Muyun, who recognized it as a white jade plaque that was only worn by members of the imperial family.
"She introduced herself as Princess Boping and said she wanted to come to the camp to see His Highness."
Princess Boping? Hmph!
Li Muyun tossed the white jade token into the soldier's hand: "Go, let Qin Ziyou handle this!"
When Qin Ziyou saw the jade pendant, his face was filled with undisguised disgust. He took the jade pendant and rushed out of the tent, where he met the arrogant woman in front of the camp gate.
Li Changying was a member of the imperial family, a noblewoman carefully cultivated by the Princess of Runan. As the only daughter in her family, she was doted on by her parents and came from a noble background. She did not know what humility was, and every move she made was intimidating to ordinary people.
Even now, as she stands in front of the door, though dressed simply and merely standing still, the unwavering confidence in her eyes makes Qin Ziyou feel like an ant in her hand, completely at her mercy.
She and Gao Jingwan were completely different people; the more flamboyant she was, the more Qin Ziyou disliked her.
The soldiers looked at the two of them with some curiosity. Qin Ziyou, with a cold face, pulled her to a secluded corner.
"Take your things and leave the Northwest immediately. I don't have time to entertain you!" He shoved the jade token into Li Changying's hand rather rudely, and then turned to leave.
Li Changying grabbed his hand, preventing him from leaving: "There's no need for you to entertain me. Just remember to come home to us every day!"
He turned to look at her: "What do you mean?"
"I bought a house in Pengcheng to stay with you. Now that you have a home and a wife, my husband, you shouldn't stay overnight in the camp. Remember to come home!"
Qin Ziyou was furious and was about to say something hurtful to her again, but Changying cut him off. She had her own way of dealing with him: "Before leaving Pingdu, I specifically asked our maternal grandfather to take care of my mother for a while. If my husband is more obedient, the father and daughter may have more time together!"
It happened again and again. He was coerced and manipulated time and time again. He was so angry that his eyes turned red, but he was helpless.
Seeing his condition, Changying knew that the threat had worked, but it had also hurt him.
She felt a pang of guilt, but what could she do? If she didn't say it this way and do it this way, how could he possibly take her seriously?
Li Changying knew what Qin Ziyou cared about: he cared about his closest relatives and his dearest love, but he didn't care about her.
Looking at her husband who had left her so soon after their marriage, Changying softened her voice and said, "When will you come back to our home in the Northwest with me? I'll wait for you."
With the situation easing, Qin Ziyou slumped his shoulders helplessly: "Changying, I will never love you."
He had said this many times, even on their wedding night. Changying knew she was tired of hearing it, but she was still sad.
"I don't care, as long as I love you."
"Fool, fool," Qin Ziyou shook his head and entered the military camp, leaving behind the words, "Wait for me here."
The military camp had orders that soldiers could not leave the camp except for the two days of rest. But this time, Li Muyun gave him the opportunity to leave the camp: "Don't bring your family matters to the military camp. Clean up your mess!"
He followed Changying home, which was just a house that someone else had lived in. The main room was just the east and west wing rooms, which were very simple.
Changying couldn't cook, so she ordered food from a restaurant. Watching Qin Ziyou sitting beside her, eating with his head down, made all the hardships of the journey worthwhile.
"You've lost so much weight! Eat more!" She placed a chicken leg in Qin Ziyou's bowl, but he didn't even glance at her. He had finished all the rice in his bowl, but the chicken leg remained untouched.
Changying saw all this and couldn't help but feel dejected.
At night, Qin Ziyou slept in the west wing, while Changying remained alone in the empty room. Since their marriage, she had remained a virgin.
It was her first time away from her parents to such a far place, how could she possibly sleep? She hugged her pillow with her eyes open until sleep finally came, and then she closed her eyes to rest.
The next morning, Changying woke up and the first thing she did was go to find Qin Ziyou. The door to the west wing was open, but the person inside was gone.
She looked at the empty room and asked herself again, "Do I regret it?"
Apart from the two days of rest, Qin Ziyou never returned, and even when he did, he was mostly silent.
Li Changying would strike up conversations with him whenever she could, asking him what he did in the military camp and whether he could get used to the food there. If he couldn't, she would bring him dishes she had cooked every day.
She herself couldn't get used to Northwestern cuisine; the mutton was too gamey, and the noodles were too greasy. This pampered young lady was forced to cook for herself. Fortunately, her father sent a letter saying he would send several servants to serve her.
Qin Ziyou listened to her reading without saying a word. After finishing his soup, he put down his bowl and asked her, "How is my mother?"
Li Changying felt it was enough that he was willing to talk, so she got up and added another bowl of mutton soup for him, acting like a virtuous and considerate woman: "Your spirits are not bad, and you've gained some weight, but you still don't recognize people. You were better when I came, and you didn't run around when you saw me."
Qin Ziyou drank the soup numbly, but his mind was filled with the image of the mentally unstable woman.
She was always confined to the outer quarters. Even with servants around, a madwoman who was never visited by anyone could not be cared for. Qin Ziyou remembered that when he first saw her, she acted as if she did not see him, eating the wild rose in the corner of the wall.
He walked over, but she was so frightened that she ran away, screaming and shouting, not letting him come near.
Although she was only in her early thirties, most of her hair was already white, and it was as messy as tangled grass.
She could no longer recognize the man standing in front of her as the son she had longed for for many years.
He felt like crying again, but he swallowed the tears before they could fall, put down his bowl, and left.
Changying watched him leave and said, "Don't worry, as long as you do as my father says, your mother will be treated well."
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