Chapter 10: The Marriage Alliance with the Turks (2)

The Turkic envoy arrived at Danfeng Gate. After disembarking, they led the princess and a group of maidservants into Daming Palace through Danfeng Gate.

Female officials who had been waiting in advance immediately escorted the princess and her entourage to settle into Daming Palace. Since only female relatives were allowed inside the inner palace, the Turkic ambassador then returned via the original route to reunite with the rest of the delegation at the posthouse in Yongfu Ward.

The midday meal was overseen by the Minister of Rites, and it wasn’t until the evening banquet that the formal feast between the delegation and the empress would take place.

Wu Rui’an stood atop the imperial city walls, watching the Turkic delegation arrive and then depart, his furrowed brows never relaxing.

Chen Zhao appeared behind him at some point without announcing her presence. Approaching quietly, she said, “My son.”

Startled, Wu Rui’an immediately bowed deeply. “Your humble servant pays respects to Mother Empress.”

“There’s no need for such formality; rise quickly,” Chen Zhao said gently. “Today, let us be like an ordinary mother and son. I wish to speak my mind to you.”

“Please, Mother, go ahead,” Wu Rui’an replied, though he already had a rough idea of what she intended to say. Still, he feigned an attentive demeanor.

Chen Zhao spoke slowly: “I know you harbor resentment, but a man must prioritize national affairs. I have high hopes for you, and you must not act rashly as you did in your youth.”

“My youthful ways? What kind of temperament did I have back then?”

“When you were happy, you’d do anything asked of you, but when unhappy, you even set fire to the garden. Am I wrong?”

“You’re… correct,” Wu Rui’an muttered, lowering his head, acknowledging that her reprimand was justified.

Chen Zhao continued: “For this visit by the Turkic delegation, everything must be handled impeccably so that neighboring states recognize our Xuanwu Kingdom’s magnanimity. As long as others are willing to live peacefully with us, we will treat them with respect.”

“Yes, Mother Empress.”

“You’ve grown up, and I have great expectations for you. Do not disappoint me.” Chen Zhao reached out to smooth the stray strands of hair at Wu Rui’an’s temple, but he abruptly pushed her hand away.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion. “In the past, Mother Empress thought I would die young and never gave me any opportunities. Now, one of my elder brothers is dead, another is incapacitated, and yet another is recuperating in the eastern capital. With no one else left to rely on, you suddenly expect me to step up and work hard?”

“This talk of high expectations is nonsense! Mother Empress, ask yourself—have you ever once considered how I might find happiness?”

“How dare you!” Chen Zhao snapped, slamming her hand against the city wall. Her sudden anger startled the eunuchs and palace maids behind her, who instinctively shrank back, fearing collateral punishment.

Wu Rui’an took a deep breath, reigning in his temper, and said coolly, “So then, what must I do to satisfy you, Mother Empress?”

Seeing Wu Rui’an calm down, Chen Zhao softened her tone and replied kindly, “You simply need to properly entertain Princess Tianxiang of the Turks and marry her as soon as possible. Other matters can be decided by your mother empress.”

“Hmph, as if arranging this marriage with the Turkic princess wasn’t entirely your decision. Your humble servant accepts your decree and takes his leave,” Wu Rui’an muttered under his breath before turning and leaving before Chen Zhao could grow angry again.

Chen Zhao watched his retreating figure, massaging her temples and letting out a long sigh.

At the evening banquet, the Turkic delegation was treated as honored guests. All civil and military officials ranked second class and above were seated, engaging in lively conversation.

Empress Chen Zhao, dressed in formal ceremonial robes, sat regally upon the throne. Adorned with twenty-four golden hairpins, she exuded elegance and dignity. Though a woman, she radiated the commanding presence of a sovereign ruler, leaving no room for disrespect.

Before her hung a crystal bead curtain, concealing her features behind its shimmering veil. Those below could only hear her authoritative voice while remaining unable to glimpse her directly.

The Turkic peace envoy sat to the right of Princess Tianxiang, next to the Right Chancellor. Across from them, Wu Rui’an wore an expression of displeasure, as if everyone present owed him money. Despite Chen Zhao clearing her throat several times in an attempt to rouse him, he remained unresponsive.

Princess Tianxiang, dressed in traditional nomadic attire and adorned with gold and silver jewelry, bore a beauty mark at her brow that complemented her crimson hairline adornment, accentuating her deep-set, expressive eyes.

Seated with one leg crossed over the other, her slender waist and long legs highlighted her graceful figure. Coupled with heavy makeup, she exuded an exotic allure that drew the wandering gazes of nearly every man in attendance.

Yet Wu Rui’an seemed blind to her charms, refusing to spare her even a glance. Then again, this was hardly surprising. Having seen countless western dancers and Goryeo maids since childhood, he had studied women all his life. Even if a celestial maiden descended before him now, he doubted he’d give her much thought.

Especially considering he was being forced to marry her, which only added to his frustration. One after another, he drained the goblets of wine on his table without pause.

Meanwhile, Princess Tianxiang’s fiery gaze never left Wu Rui’an. Seeing that he ignored her, she grew visibly irritated. Yet Wu Rui’an acted as though he didn’t notice, his expression clearly conveying, “Your affection for me is your concern, not mine.”

Empress Chen Zhao observed all this from her elevated position, feeling increasingly awkward. Thankfully, the Left and Right Chancellors, wise and well-versed, engaged the Turkic envoys in lively conversation, sparing her the need to console Princess Tianxiang.

As the banquet neared its conclusion, discussions turned to the specific terms of both parties’ demands.

At this point, the Turkic envoy placed his left hand on his shoulder and bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, the Khan is willing to pay four times the compensation originally proposed in exchange for a marriage alliance between our two nations, forging eternal bonds of friendship.”

“Oh?” Chen Zhao asked, puzzled. “Previously, your letter stated three times the amount. Why has it increased by another fold?” Though this was a generous offer, there was no such thing as a free lunch. She continued, “Does your country have any additional requests?”

“The Khan hopes Your Majesty will agree to release thirty of our captured soldiers.”

After Mingge, the Turkic envoy, finished speaking, the military generals in attendance all looked up. Wu Rui’an, in particular, waved his hand emphatically and exclaimed, “Absolutely not!”

“Why?” Chen Zhao turned to Wu Rui’an, barely suppressing her anger.

“These prisoners are fierce warriors, among them skilled commanders. Even their main general, Jielie, is among the captives. Releasing them would be akin to setting tigers free in the mountains!” Wu Rui’an declared. His statement was met with nods of agreement from the military officials, while the civil officials fell silent.

At this moment, the envoy interjected, “The Turks wish to establish lasting peace with Xuanwu. Welcoming these warriors back home is reasonable. Prince Wu, renowned for your wisdom and unmatched talents, seem overly concerned about nothing.”

“Hmph,” Wu Rui’an snorted dismissively and resumed drinking.

Just then, Princess Tianxiang parted her cherry-red lips and spoke directly to him: “Prince, I am my father the Khan’s most beloved legitimate daughter. With me here, what do you have to fear?”

After she finished speaking, Wu Rui’an was struck with a jolt of surprise. He looked up in astonishment and, upon closer inspection, realized that Princess Tianxiang not only had a familiar voice but also bore an uncanny resemblance to someone he knew.

At this moment, not only Wu Rui’an but also the two deputy generals seated behind him wore expressions of suspicion.

The reason was simple: her voice and appearance closely resembled those of the strategist from General Jielie’s camp in the Turkic army. And it was precisely to save that strategist that Jielie had been captured. Upon reflection, the strategist in question was none other than Princess Tianxiang in disguise as a man.

The three of them now regarded her with newfound respect, no longer viewing her as just a woman but beginning to admire her instead. They admired her for her strategic brilliance on the battlefield and her readiness to face death with courage.

With a plan forming in his mind, Wu Rui’an let out a sigh of relief. He raised his goblet in a toast, and Princess Tianxiang reciprocated gracefully. The two shared a knowing smile, putting their past animosities aside.

Seeing their relationship improve, Empress Chen Zhao couldn’t hide her delight. She raised her cup and toasted with the assembly: “All present here are the pillars of our Xuanwu Kingdom. Today, let us treat this as a family banquet, setting aside matters of state and politics for another day. Today, let us simply enjoy wine and conversation, welcoming our esteemed envoys who have traveled far. Let this also serve as a celebration in honor of Princess Tianxiang.”

“Long live the Empress, long live the Empress, ten thousand years to the Empress—”

The officials raised their cups in unison, shouting in celebration. Wu Rui’an and Princess Tianxiang exchanged glances, sharing another conspiratorial smile. All traces of their earlier battlefield enmity—where it was either kill or be killed—were forgotten.

In the days that followed, Wu Rui’an surprisingly devoted himself to accompanying Princess Tianxiang, attending to her every need with great diligence.

Even his adjutant teased him, saying, “Could it be that you fell for her on the battlefield? I remember you once praised him, saying, ‘He is clever and resourceful, unlike ordinary brute-force nomads.’ Back then, he was dressed as a man, but now that you’ve discovered he’s actually a woman—and your fiancée—you can’t keep your hands off her, can you?”

Wu Rui’an gave a cryptic smile and replied with two words: “You guess.”

Over the following days, Wu Rui’an took the princess sightseeing around Taiping Prefecture, making quite the public spectacle. The storytellers at teahouses spun increasingly elaborate tales about them. From small gestures like Wu Rui’an helping the princess adjust her hair to grand acts like removing her wet socks and shoes, they narrated every detail vividly, as if they had been trailing the couple during their outings.

In summary, all the stories circulating among the populace pointed to one conclusion: Prince Wu Rui’an would soon marry, and his bride would be Princess Tianxiang from the Turks.

“Prince Wu doesn’t fancy that nomadic woman at all! What kind of women hasn’t he seen? Whether she has a big chest or long legs, our prince wouldn’t care!” After getting into a heated argument with a teahouse storyteller, Wen Yao stormed back to Jian Su Medical Hall, her hands on her hips.

As soon as she arrived, she rushed to the counter, grabbed Di Jiang’s hand, and exclaimed urgently, “Boss, have you heard? Wu Rui’an is getting married!”

“Oh? He’s finally tying the knot?” Di Jiang continued slicing dried Buddha’s hand fruit, cutting each piece meticulously and wrapping them in oiled paper.

Seeing Di Jiang remain calm and composed, Wen Yao grew even more agitated. She grabbed Di Jiang by the shoulders, forcing her to turn around, and said emphatically, “Boss, Wu Rui’an is getting married. Don’t regret anything later!”

“Why should I regret his marriage?” Di Jiang paused, then added, “Besides, he’s a prince who has already passed the age of twenty. For someone of noble birth, this is already considered late. His marriage was inevitable—it’s only a matter of time. What we should discuss is how many wives he’ll take.”

Seeing Wen Yao rendered speechless with frustration, Di Jiang softened and, to indulge her chatterbox tendencies, asked, “So, tell me, which lady is he marrying?”

“Who else? Of course, it’s Princess Tianxiang from the Turks!” Wen Yao gestured animatedly. “You wouldn’t believe it—the rumors have spread everywhere! They’re seen frolicking in the mountains, singing joyfully, utterly enamored with each other!”

“Is that so? That’s wonderful. A harmonious marital relationship built on mutual affection is the foundation of a good marriage,” Di Jiang remarked as she turned back to study her prescriptions. She retrieved some goji berries from a high shelf and placed them on oiled paper.

Wen Yao sighed resignedly and muttered, “The number one gentleman in the world is getting married. From now on, I’ll just have to settle for the top bachelor in the capital.”

“Jiang Qionglin?” Di Jiang turned her head, nodding approvingly.

“You’ve met him too, boss?” Wen Yao asked, slightly surprised.

Di Jiang didn’t deny it and nodded. “I found some free time and decided to take a look. As expected, his reputation isn’t exaggerated.”

“Right? So you like him too?” Wen Yao grinned flirtatiously, seemingly forgetting her earlier distress over Wu Rui’an’s impending marriage.

“It’s not about liking him—I merely appreciate his qualities,” Di Jiang said, brushing the dust off her hands. She scrutinized Wen Yao closely, noticing the water stains on her clothes and tear tracks on her face. “Did you get into a fight with someone?”

“No!” Wen Yao shrank back guiltily, trying to slip away.

Di Jiang grabbed her firmly. “What happened?”

“Nothing really…”

“Was it because of Wu Rui’an?”

Under Di Jiang’s piercing gaze, Wen Yao braced herself and admitted, “It’s those storytellers’ fault for spreading lies! They were slandering him, so I taught them a lesson!”

“What did you do?”

“Not much… I just threw away his fan, pulled out his beard, and when I left, he splashed water all over me…” Wen Yao mumbled defensively, adding, “I didn’t do anything wrong, boss. You have to believe me!”

Di Jiang sighed deeply and tapped Wen Yao’s forehead gently, chiding her affectionately, “You’re too reckless.”

Knowing that Wen Yao was feeling down, Di Jiang refrained from scolding her further and instead changed the subject. “Today is the ninth day of the month—Jiang Qionglin’s opening day. Would you like to come along and see him?”

“Really?” Wen Yao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “You’re really taking me, boss?”

“Consider it a consolation prize since your idol is getting hitched,” Di Jiang teased.

“Long live the boss!” Wen Yao leapt up joyfully, hugging and kissing Di Jiang enthusiastically, much to the latter’s exasperation.