Extra 1: Newcomers make trouble in the bridal chamber
Her consciousness struggled to surface from the bottomless abyss, and a buzzing noise filled her ears, making her head ache. She struggled to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and her whole body felt limp, unable to muster any strength.
...car accident...My last memory is the glaring headlights and the violent impact...
Am I... in the hospital?
She tried to focus her scattered thoughts, trying to sense her surroundings. No, there wasn't the smell of disinfectant, but rather a strong, choking sandalwood scent, mixed with some kind of... the sweet, cloying aroma of cheap powder? The sounds in her ears grew clearer—gongs and drums! And suona! The sounds were so festive, they were almost shrill.
A huge and chaotic torrent of memories that did not belong to her rushed into her mind at this moment, colliding and intertwining wildly with her original consciousness!
Qiu Qiongying… Princess… Tian Hu… Adopted daughter… Zhang Qing… No feather arrows… Wedding…
"Water Margin"?!
I've transmigrated into a book?! And I've become Qiu Qiongying?! The Princess Qiongying whose marriage was destined from the start, whose future husband died in battle, and who herself died in depression?!
And... now is... the wedding night?!
Qiu Qingying—no, from now on, she is Qiu Qiongying—suddenly shuddered, and the instinct for survival (or rather, the fear of marriage) instantly overwhelmed all the discomfort and confusion, forcing her to open her eyes.
What meets the eye is a swaying, glaring red.
The pearl and jade tassels of the phoenix corona jingled as she raised her head, weighing her neck so heavily that it threatened to break. Lowering her gaze, she saw a crimson wedding gown embroidered with intricate auspicious dragon and phoenix designs. Beneath the wide cuffs, a pair of delicate hands were bound securely in front of her body by a red silk knot.
Binding?! Starting at Hell Difficulty?!
Qiongying's heart was pounding wildly in her chest, not out of shyness, but out of pure terror and anger. How could she, a surgeon with a modern education, a strong belief in independence and freedom, and serious doubts about marriage and family, accept such an arranged marriage?! And in such a chaotic world where the consequences of missteps could cost her life!
No! Absolutely not!
Escape! You must escape!
The urge to survive had her brain racing like never before. Force was definitely not going to work, with people everywhere and her body tied up. Faking illness? Yes! Faking illness! Creating an emergency situation that would prevent the wedding from continuing!
She quickly recalled her medical knowledge. Vasovagal syncope—specific stimulation of the vagus nerve causes a slowing of the heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, and a transient lack of blood flow to the brain, leading to fainting. The symptoms were realistic, and difficult for doctors of this era to detect.
You only have one chance! You must create a shocking effect that cannot be ignored, right in front of everyone!
She could sense a tall figure standing beside her. Even through the thick veil, she could sense the uprightness and solemnity of a soldier. It was Zhang Qing. "The Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing, a heroic and loyal hero in the original novel, was now an accomplice to her tragic fate!
The ceremonial officer raised his shrill voice, with a kind of formulaic joy: "Second bow to the parents——"
Two powerful maids beside her half-forced her to turn and bend downward. At that moment of leaning forward and shifting her center of gravity, Qiongying took a deep breath, then used all her strength to hold it fiercely and precisely, while simultaneously contracting her abdominal muscles to the extreme, imitating the Valsalva maneuver and applying stealthy and rapid pressure to the carotid sinus area (on the side of the neck).
My heartbeat soared instantly, blood rushed to my head, and then, a strong feeling of dizziness swept over me like a tsunami! The glaring red in front of my eyes began to spin and darken, and the ringing in my ears replaced all the noise.
"...Madam?" A low, doubtful voice seemed to come from beside him. It was Zhang Qing's voice. He seemed to have noticed something was wrong with her.
But she had no time to care.
"Ugh..." A short and painful groan escaped from under the veil. Her body suddenly stiffened, and then like a puppet with its strings cut, she fell backwards softly and without warning!
"Princess!"
"What happened to the bride?!"
"Quick! Hold on!"
Exclamations, the clashing of tables and chairs, and the breaking of cups and plates erupted instantly, and the festive music came to an abrupt end. The entire wedding hall was in chaos.
A split second before her consciousness completely sank into darkness, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, preventing the back of her head from making close contact with the ground. The arm was steady and burning, carrying the unique sense of strength of a martial artist.
The plan worked! The first step was success!
…
When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by suppressed sobs and low voices.
"What happened to the princess? She was fine during the day..."
"Could it be a relapse of an old illness?"
"Shh! Don't talk nonsense, it will ruin the joy!"
Qiongying slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on a luxurious bunk bed covered with a bright red mandarin duck quilt. The room was crowded with people: Tian Hu's chubby face, feigning anxiety, several helpless medical officers, and a group of anxious maids and servants. Her personal maid, Yunbi, was kneeling beside the bed, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
"Water..." She made a weak sound, her voice dry and hoarse. It wasn't entirely an act, as the operation just now was indeed exhausting.
"Awake! The princess is awake!" Yun Bi exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly brought warm water.
Tian Hu came forward, putting on a false expression of concern: "My son, you are finally awake! I was really scared! How are you feeling? Doctor, please show it to the princess!"
An old medical officer stepped forward tremblingly, and Qiongying cooperatively extended her wrist. The old medical officer concentrated on examining her for a long moment, his brow furrowed. Finally, he bowed to Tian Hu and said, "Your Majesty, the princess's pulse is weak and disordered, as if she were frightened and trembling, and her qi and blood are rushing backwards... This is a sign of evil wind entering her body, disturbing her mind! She needs to rest and must not be stimulated again, otherwise... she may be in danger of fainting!"
Qiongying sneered inwardly. This was exactly the effect she wanted. "Evil wind entering the body," "disturbed mind," the diagnosis was spot-on.
She revealed a frightened and vulnerable expression at the perfect moment. She clutched Yunbi's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face as she began to ramble nonsensically, "Foster father... I... I just saw so much blood... so much... so horrible..." She described the bloody battlefield scenes in fragments, her body trembling slightly, perfectly portraying the image of a frail woman on the verge of a mental breakdown, a woman so frightened she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. She even secretly controlled her breathing, making her face appear even paler.
Tian Hu's expression shifted again and again. He needed this marriage to solidify his relationship with Liangshan, but if the bride died suddenly at the wedding, it would backfire and make Liangshan enemies. He looked at Zhang Qing, who had been standing silently in the shadows at the foot of the bed.
Zhang Qing was still wearing the bright red wedding dress, with an upright posture and no expression on his face. He only had a pair of sharp eyes, quietly looking at the "fragile" her lying on the bed. There was scrutiny in his eyes, as well as a barely perceptible...inquiry.
Qiongying's heart was filled with alarm. This man was not as simple as he seemed. She had to act quickly.
"Godfather..." She was barely breathing, "I want to...I want to go to Ciyu Temple outside the city to rest for a few days...I ask the Buddha to bless me and drive away the evil spirits...Otherwise, I'm afraid...I'm afraid I won't survive..." As she spoke, she coughed violently again, as if she wanted to cough out her heart and lungs.
Ciyun Temple was her chosen target long ago. The original novel mentioned that it was located ten miles west of the city, not very popular, and easy to escape from.
Tian Hu hesitated.
At this moment, Zhang Qing, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke in a calm voice, "Your Majesty, the princess's health is paramount. Since the physician has also stated that she needs to rest, perhaps a few days of quietude in the nunnery would be beneficial. I... am willing to escort the princess there to ensure her safety."
His proposal was reasonable and reflected his concern for his fiancée while also taking the overall situation into consideration.
Tian Hu looked at the dying Qiongying, then at the calm Zhang Qing, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll do as my son says! Zhang Qing, you select a team of elite soldiers to escort the princess to Ciyun Temple. Make sure she's safe!"
"I obey your command." Zhang Qing clasped his fists and glanced at Qiongying on the bed again. His eyes were deep, as if they could penetrate her carefully disguised appearance.
Qiongying sneered in her heart: Escort? Surveillance is more like it. However, as long as we get out of this cage-like palace, the opportunity will come!
…
An hour later, a richly decorated carriage, escorted by dozens of elite cavalry, drove out of the city gate. Zhang Qing, riding a white horse, rode in front of the carriage, his posture erect and his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Inside the carriage, Qiongying leaned back against the cushions, her face devoid of any trace of sickness. She quietly lifted a corner of the curtain and surveyed the terrain and the distribution of the guards outside. Good, everything was proceeding according to plan.
She quickly took off her elaborate wedding gown and outer robe, revealing a neat outfit she had already put on, secretly made from fabric from her dowry. From the secret compartment of her dowry chest, she pulled out several ingots of gold and silver, a sharp dagger, and several small, exquisite, and extremely smooth stones.
This was the original owner, Qiu Qiongying's special skill, the flying stone technique known as "Qiong Arrowhead." The muscle memory remained, and the feel of the stone as her fingers twisted it was eerily familiar. She tried to weigh it, and it felt quite good.
The sky gradually darkened and dusk fell. The outline of Tsz Wan Shan in the distance appeared quiet and deep in the setting sun.
Just as the convoy reached an area with dense forests and narrow roads, Qiongying knew that the time had come.
She took a deep breath and used her dagger to cut the silk cloth on the back wall of the carriage. The silk cloth looked gorgeous, but it was not very tough because it was breathable. She slipped out as silently as a civet cat, rolled to the ground, and disappeared into the half-human-high grass beside the road.
The whole process takes only two or three breaths.
Almost at the same time as she landed, Zhang Qing, who was on horseback in front of her, seemed to sense something, turned around suddenly, and shouted sternly: "Stop!"
The entire convoy came to a sudden halt.
"Where is the princess?!" Zhang Qing rode his horse to the side of the carriage and spoke in a cold voice.
No one answered from inside the carriage. The maid, Yunbi, trembling, lifted the curtain, looked at the empty carriage and the broken back wall, and screamed, "Princess! The Princess is gone!"
"Search!" Zhang Qing's voice was emotionless, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. "She can't get far! Search the area around the carriage, a hundred paces in radius, thoroughly! If she's alive, we must find her. If she's dead, we must find her body!"
The guards immediately dispersed, torches were lit, and the sounds of footsteps, shouts, and unsheathed swords broke the silence of the forest.
Qiongying held her breath and huddled behind a thicket of bushes, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the soldiers' footsteps approaching, and the light from the torches was already illuminating the grass where she was hiding.
Is it over? I'm being caught and taken back right after crossing over?
No! Never!
She gritted her teeth and quietly tightened her grip on the stone in her hand. Even if she was exposed, she would fight to the death!
At this moment, a large hand suddenly stretched out from the darkness behind her and covered her mouth! Another hand tightly grasped her waist and dragged her backwards!
Qiongying was terrified and struggled hard, but she couldn't move the iron-like arm at all. This man was incredibly strong!
A low, teasing voice sounded beside her ear, and a warm breath brushed against her neck:
"Your Highness, your trick of running away from marriage really underestimates me, Zhang Qing."
Qiongying's body froze instantly.
...or...were you caught?
However, the expected rough binding and escort did not come. The hand covering her mouth loosened its grip slightly, and the arm around her waist remained firm, but there was no further movement. He simply held her firmly in place, hidden in the deeper darkness.
The sounds of searching outside were close at hand, and the shadows of torches flickered above the bushes.
"Report to the General, there is none here!"
“There’s nothing here!”
Zhang Qing's voice rang out from outside, calmly directing, "Expand the area! She's a weak woman, she can't get far!"
Qiongying was perplexed. What did he mean? He'd already captured her, so why didn't he hand her over? And was he deliberately misleading the search?
Only when the noise outside faded a little did Zhang Qing release the hand that was covering her mouth, but he still held the arm around her waist, as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go.
"Princess," he said, his voice still low, carrying an indescribable inquiry, "why have you gone through so much trouble, even risking your own health, just to escape from marriage?"
Qiongying was still in shock and unsure of his intentions, so she could only force herself to remain calm and try to break free from his grip: "Let me go! You can kill me or chop me up, it's all up to you!"
Zhang Qing not only didn't let her go, but turned her around and forced her to face him. In the darkness, she couldn't see his specific expression, but she could only feel that his eyes, which were still surprisingly bright in the night, were staring at her.
"Kill you? Cut you up?" He chuckled. There was no malice in his laughter, but rather a hint of amusement. "If I wanted to harm you, I only needed to shout. Why bother with this?"
Qiongying was stunned. Yes, why should he help her hide?
"Then...what do you want to do?"
"I'm just curious," Zhang Qing's gaze seemed to penetrate the darkness and see into her heart. "What could have made Princess Qiongying, who was raised in seclusion and was said to be gentle and docile, take such a risk and escape from this marriage that was considered a perfect match in the eyes of the world?"
Qiongying's mind raced. Was he testing her? Or was there something truly different? She recalled the novel's description of Zhang Qing: not a blindly loyal man, but one with his own judgment and principles. Perhaps... she could take a gamble?
She took a deep breath and decided to respond half-heartedly, her tone tinged with deliberately contrived grief and determination. "A perfect match? General Zhang, do you really think you've even asked for my consent for this marriage? It's nothing more than a bargaining chip in a power struggle between you heroes and my adoptive father! Although I, Qiu Qiongying, am a woman, I know the saying 'It's better to die in glory than live in disgrace'! Rather than being trapped for life, a pawn at the mercy of others, I'd rather fight to the death and find freedom!"
Her words not only pointed out the essence of marriage, but also showed her strong character that refused to be controlled.
Zhang Qing fell silent. In the darkness, Qiongying could feel his gaze still on her face, as if weighing the truth of her words.
After a long while, he spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion: "So, the princess has made up her mind and doesn't want to go back?"
"Yes!" Qiongying said firmly, "Unless I die!"
Silence fell again. Only the sound of the wind in the forest and the faint sounds of searching in the distance could be heard.
"In that case..." Zhang Qing suddenly loosened his arms around her waist and took a step back. "Princess, please do as you please."
Qiongying was completely stunned. He... was letting her go just like that?
"Why...are you helping me?" she asked in disbelief.
Zhang Qing's figure was a little blurry in the darkness. His voice blended into the night, carrying a hint of etherealness: "Perhaps, it's because Zhang... doesn't want to be just a chess piece."
After saying this, he did not stop. His body rose and fell a few times, then he disappeared silently into the thick darkness, as if he had never appeared.
Only Qiongying was left standing there, holding those flying stones, her heart pounding and unable to calm down for a long time.
The night wind blew, bringing with it a cool breeze, but it couldn't blow away the thick fog in her heart.
Zhang Qing, the "featherless arrow" who was both loyal and righteous in the original novel, seemed to be subtly different from the image she knew.
Her journey to escape her marriage only truly began after this dramatic first encounter. This beginning seemed even more... interesting than she had anticipated.
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