CXD - 92

Late at night, Li Dafeng sat in the same spot where Qi Yan had been earlier and listened to Jiang Zhiyi’s decision. He confirmed: “Your Highness means—you want to pretend to agree to the marriage alliance?”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded: “His Majesty doesn’t wish to wage war with Xiluo and doesn’t want Brother A Ce to gain more military achievements that could overshadow him. Just like the previous imperial edict, this marriage alliance is also His Majesty’s opportunistic test. If Brother A Ce accepts, His Majesty will have no reason to act against him. But if he refuses, given His Majesty’s current paranoia, he will surely see Brother A Ce’s ambition as a sign of rebellion and move to destroy him before he grows stronger. As long as I remain in Chang’an, Brother A Ce will be powerless to resist. Therefore, I must first agree to the marriage alliance and leave Chang’an.”

Li Dafeng nodded: “So Your Highness means that after the marriage procession travels westward and passes through Hexi, you’ll meet with the young general and then raise an army?”

Jiang Zhiyi shook her head: “No. His Majesty has certainly considered the possibility of Brother A Ce intercepting the marriage procession. So while I might leave Chang’an, my uncle and Lady Shen won’t be able to. His Majesty knows how much I value relationships and wouldn’t abandon my uncle. Moreover, Shen Yuan Ce was once very close to his stepmother. Even though Shen Yuan Ce has been replaced, His Majesty remains unaware of it and will still keep a close watch on Lady Shen.”

“Even if we take the worst-case scenario—if Brother A Ce disregards everyone, would he dare to raise an army without justification? Back when Hedong rebelled, they needed a drought as an excuse. Now, a reckless young man raising an army for the sake of ‘love,’ disregarding his mother’s life and breaking the peace treaty between the two nations—would such a general gain followers or support? Those who lose the moral high ground lose the people’s support. At that point, both the court and the commoners would rise against the Xuan Ce Army. Moreover, the Xuan Ce Army has just completed a grueling campaign spanning thousands of miles. Their elite forces are injured and haven’t recovered yet. His Majesty has calculated that if Hexi were to rebel now, the central government would hold the advantage in both morale and manpower. How many innocent lives would be sacrificed in such a war?”

Li Dafeng furrowed his brows: “If you’re not raising an army, then Your Highness is still going to marry into Xiluo. What do you mean by ‘pretending to agree to the marriage alliance’?”

“This is why I’m consulting with Physician Li. I want to ask—do you have a formula for faking death?”

Li Dafeng’s eyes flickered: “Your Highness intends to escape in Xiluo using a fake death?”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded gravely: “If I, as the princess sent for the marriage alliance, die unexpectedly in Xiluo, it will be their fault. The initiative in relations between the two nations will then fall into Daye’s hands. Whether Daye chooses peace or war, we’ll hold the upper hand. As for me, Brother A Ce will surely find a way to retrieve me.”

She knew Yuan Ce wouldn’t abandon her. Even if she agreed to the marriage alliance, he would still fight to the death for her, shattering heaven and earth. So until the very last moment, she couldn’t give up either. Even on the brink of death, she had to struggle—not betraying Daye, and not betraying him.

“Your Highness’s plan is indeed feasible, except for one thing—the formula for faking death will inevitably harm the body. If something goes wrong during the rescue and the process is delayed too long, the fake death could become real, and Your Highness might never wake up again.”

“As long as Physician Li is here, any damage to the body can be slowly healed later. Only waking up from an accident is better than the certain deaths of my uncle, Lady Shen, and so many soldiers of the Xuan Ce Army. Isn’t this already the most cost-effective plan?”

Li Dafeng shook his head firmly: “Even so, the young general won’t agree.”

Jiang Zhiyi gave a faint smile: “Physician Li is the best doctor in the world. If you say this formula won’t harm the body and poses no risk to life, your young general will believe you.”

… No wonder his young mistress had laid out so many reasons to persuade him—it all came down to this.

Li Dafeng raised his hand and slowly pressed it to his forehead.

He thought he had only ended up with one fearless madman in this lifetime, but it turned out there were two.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the air grew colder, and the court convened once again to discuss the marriage alliance between Daye and Xiluo.

Early in the morning, inside Yaoguang Pavilion, Jiang Zhiyi stood before the dressing table and gently opened the chest containing her wedding gown.

The fiery red brocade wedding dress shimmered with gold embroidery, every stitch of the dragon and phoenix patterns lifelike, radiating brilliance.

Behind her, Marquis Yong’en and Baojia watched as she carefully lifted her hand, her fingertips brushing the embroidered pattern of the wedding gown. They couldn’t bear to look and averted their eyes.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn reunion, she had already told her uncle and Baojia about her plan. With Li Dafeng’s solemn promise that he wouldn’t harm the young mistress in the slightest, her uncle, having no other foolproof solution, reluctantly agreed.

“Jingzhe, help me put on the wedding gown,” Jiang Zhiyi said softly.

“Your Highness, are you really…”

“After this, there will no longer be a Princess Yongying in this world. This final appearance must be grand enough to leave an impression on all the court officials today.”

Piece by piece, the phoenix crown and bridal veil were placed upon her. The quiet room gradually took on a festive hue.

Jiang Zhiyi sat before the mirror, applying floral decorations and lip rouge. Gazing at her reflection, she asked: “Sister Baojia, do I look beautiful?”

Through the mirror, Baojia saw her eyebrows like distant mountains, her nose delicate as jade, her lips crimson and teeth white, every feature perfectly harmonious. Her autumn-water eyes brimmed with laughter.

“You look beautiful. I’ve never seen such a beautiful bride,” Baojia replied, holding back tears.

Jiang Zhiyi smiled at her reflection in the bronze mirror.

It was a pity that the person she was marrying wouldn’t see her.

“Today is the day I, Jiang Zhiyi, will be remembered in history. No one is allowed to cry.” Smiling, Jiang Zhiyi glanced at Baojia and Jingzhe, then quietly gazed at herself in the mirror for a moment. She gently straightened her sleeves, rose, and walked out with poise.

In the palace, atop the golden throne in the main hall, more than half of the court officials, led by Prime Minister Pei, vehemently opposed the marriage alliance. Among the remaining officials, some understood the emperor’s intentions and chose to follow them, arguing fiercely with Pei’s faction until their faces turned red and spittle flew. Others, aware that the root of the issue lay in the conflict between the emperor and Hexi, chose to stay silent and protect themselves. Still others swayed like reeds in the wind, leaning whichever way the breeze blew.

Below, the arguments raged on, while Emperor Xingwu rested his hand on his forehead, seemingly deeply troubled.

Qi Yan stood at the forefront of the group of officials, closing his eyes in frustration over the repeated debates over what should have been an unquestionable decision.

Suddenly, the eunuch’s voice rang out: “Princess Yongying has arrived!”

The entire hall fell silent in an instant. Emperor Xingwu raised his eyes, and the assembled officials turned abruptly to look.

Under the golden autumn sunlight, the maiden in her fiery red wedding gown glowed like rosy clouds. Her trailing skirt swept along the solemn marble steps, the gemstones on her golden phoenix crown sparkling brilliantly, tassels swaying gently. The seven-colored bridal veil draped over her shoulders shimmered with light, making her appear like a radiant goddess descending to earth.

For a moment, everyone was stunned by her beauty, instantly understanding the meaning behind her arrival. But in the next moment, the scene shifted in their minds—they envisioned the vast desert sands, the sound of camel bells, and the maiden in her blazing red wedding gown seated in a bridal sedan chair, enduring the winds and frost of the Western Regions, becoming the loneliest bride in the world.

It was as though a beautifully mirrored image had suddenly shattered, the golden glow turning into a blood-red sunset, the wedding gown transforming into a garment soaked in blood. In that moment, even those who had supported the marriage alliance to please the emperor felt nothing but endless sorrow.

At the forefront, Prime Minister Pei, clad in purple robes, was filled with grief, nearly pounding his chest and stomping his feet in despair. He hated being stuck in the court, unable to charge into Xiluo and slay the prince who sought to divide Daye.

Qi Yan stared at the bride slowly entering the hall, gritting his teeth until his jaw trembled.

Over the years, he had never regretted walking this path. At first, it was simply for self-preservation, to gain a voice in the palace and prevent himself and his mother from being bullied. Later, as he continued down this road, he gradually discovered the many flaws in Daye’s governance—the mistakes made by his grandfather and father that no one dared to speak of or change. Thus, he picked up his sword and worked tirelessly to cut through the rot, striving to let new leaves grow and prevent Daye from descending into internal strife and fratricide.

Throughout this journey, there had been pain and moments of despair, but never once had he looked back.

But in this moment, when he turned his head for the first time and gazed back at the beginning of this path—

If only he hadn’t let go of this young woman at the start of this road, she would never have been dragged into the conflict between the emperor and Hexi, nor would she have become a sacrificial pawn in the game between the two nations today.

Or if only he could have acted faster, just one step faster…

Qi Yan clenched his fists tightly as he watched Jiang Zhiyi walk to the front of the hall under countless pairs of eyes. With her palms pressed together in front of her, she performed a deep and solemn bow: “Your humble servant’s marriage contract with General Shen has already been dissolved. Now, as a free woman, I am willing to follow in the footsteps of Princess Deqing, to travel far to Xiluo on behalf of Daye, to forge goodwill between our two nations.”

In the eighth month of the eleventh year of Emperor Xingwu’s reign, the emperor bestowed the title of Princess Yongying upon Jiang Zhiyi, formerly known as the Yongying Commandery Princess, and decreed that she marry into Xiluo. Led by the Minister of the Honglu Temple, an entourage of over three hundred servants and guards set out that same month to escort the princess westward.

Three months later, near the border between Hexi and Xiluo, at the Huyang Pass oasis in the desert.

At dusk, the setting sun blazed like blood, casting a golden-red glow over the icy river. Frost covered the yellow grass along the riverbank, while in the distance, the yellow sands merged with the twilight horizon.

In the newly erected camp, Zhou Zheng’an, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, busied himself organizing the guards to break ice for water and set up tents for warmth.

In the depths of winter, travel in the northwest was treacherous. The nights were harsh with biting winds and bone-chilling cold, so before the sun set each day, the marriage alliance procession would stop to rest, ensuring the princess wouldn’t freeze.

When Zhou Zheng’an first embarked on this mission, he had assumed that Princess Yongying would be extremely delicate, constantly complaining and making demands throughout the journey. To his surprise, after three months of travel—whether the carriage became stuck in the snow or strong winds destroyed the tents—the princess never uttered a single complaint. Instead, she often comforted the flustered servants and guards. Whenever decisions needed to be made, she never shirked responsibility, always saying, “Whatever happens, I’ll take the blame.”

When there wasn’t enough charcoal to keep everyone warm at night, and some fell ill from the cold, the princess shared the charcoal from her own tent and ensured the physician treated everyone.

Initially, no one had wanted to undertake this arduous mission. They cared for the princess only because they feared that if anything happened to her, their lives would be forfeit. But over time, everyone came to genuinely care for her, unwilling to see her suffer even the slightest discomfort.

Fortunately, the physician accompanying the princess was highly skilled. Whenever she experienced headaches or fevers, the physician quickly cured her with remarkable efficiency.

Moreover, it seemed Hexi had taken a liking to the princess. This winter was reportedly the warmest in over a decade.

As night fell, the fire in the main tent burned brightly. Jiang Zhiyi had just changed out of her heavy wedding gown, wrapped herself in a quilt, and sat on the bed cradling a cup of hot tea. Jingzhe massaged her throbbing temples as she listened absentmindedly to the howling northern winds outside the tent.

Another winter had arrived. Last year at this time, she had been clinging to Yuan Ce at the academy—never imagining that this year, she’d be spending it amidst the yellow sands of the northwest.

Outside the tent, voices buzzed and footsteps shuffled as everyone busied themselves preparing dinner for the night.

Breathing in the familiar scent of cooking smoke that had accompanied them on this journey, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly asked, “Jingzhe, in another day, we’ll be leaving Hexi, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness—Princess.”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded firmly: “Good. He’s been obedient.”

Back in the eighth month, nearly two thousand miles separated her from Yuan Ce. Due to the tense situation, communication was risky, so they hadn’t exchanged messages. But she trusted their unspoken understanding—he surely understood why she had agreed to the marriage alliance.

Thankfully, Hexi had remained calm, and Yuan Ce appeared to have accepted the decision. Beneath the surface of this apparent tranquility, everything seemed to be proceeding smoothly.

Later, as she traveled westward and entered Hexi territory, she finally arranged for Li Dafeng to secretly deliver a letter to Guzang, explaining her plan and urging Yuan Ce not to act rashly.

Her kindness and tolerance toward those around her weren’t solely out of compassion for their suffering alongside her unlucky self—it also served another purpose.

Only by winning their loyalty could her plans in Xiluo succeed.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhiyi sighed softly.

Even though she was in Hexi, under the vast protection of the Xuan Ce Army, she was a princess sent for a marriage alliance, and he was a border general. Though they were close, they couldn’t meet—it felt more painful than being separated by thousands of miles.

And the closer she got to the pivotal moment of her plan, the more uneasy she became.

Sipping her hot tea, Jiang Zhiyi began to feel drowsy.

The surroundings grew silent, save for the howling northern winds, as if she were in a sealed, warm cellar in the depths of winter. Her eyelids grew heavier, slowly closing.

Just then, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly jolted awake.

…Wait, hadn’t it been bustling with activity outside just moments ago as they prepared dinner?

Jiang Zhiyi lifted her head in confusion: “Jingzhe, why is it so quiet outside?”

Jingzhe tilted her ear, listening: “Perhaps everyone is trying not to disturb your rest and has quieted down.”

“But it shouldn’t be this quiet…” Jiang Zhiyi worriedly said, “Go check what’s going on. Don’t let there be trouble—what if bandits are attacking!”

Jingzhe calmly nodded: “I’ll go take a look.”

Jiang Zhiyi straightened her posture and watched Jingzhe leave the tent. But in this moment of anxiety, her earlier drowsiness returned.

Her eyelids drooped, and a faint sense of foreboding welled up within her.

She was this tense, yet she couldn’t shake off the drowsiness. What was happening to her…?

Through her haze, Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the cup of hot tea in her hands, recalling Jingzhe’s strange reaction earlier.

If there had been no noise outside, Jingzhe should have noticed something was amiss before her. Yet Jingzhe had seemed intent on calming her fears.

And in these Hexi territories, guarded by the Xuan Ce Army, how could bandits dare to attack?

Could it be…

Before Jiang Zhiyi could reach the final conclusion, the teacup clattered to the ground, and her body went limp, collapsing forward. She was caught by a figure who swiftly stepped in, pulling her into his warm, solid embrace.

As she slipped into unconsciousness, a voice that had haunted her dreams every night for the past three months rang out coldly above her—

“When the Li family was exiled to the frontier, it was I who saved their lives. Do you think Li Dafeng could betray me for your sake?”

“Even if he did betray me, do you think I, Yuan Ce, would willingly let you wear this bridal gown and pass through my Hexi checkpoints into Xiluo?”

“The princess is noble and precious, needing only to worry about whether the hem of her dress is soiled. As for this madness—you leave it to me.”

Jiang Zhiyi desperately tried to speak, to stop him, but her strength drained away entirely, leaving only scalding tears streaming down her face.