Chapter 46
Marriage in Crises and an Engagement not engaged
Yanbei, in its solitary and beautiful landmass, amidst the unrest of its bloodbath, reached one of its pinnacle days to seal the positions of its King and Queen, ensuring future generations of freedom, peace, and security for its citizens.
As the wedding day approaches, so does Yanbei's promising future, but not for its royal prince, as the Tiger General has been held hostage in the land of slavery and hunting prey.
In the bosom of Southern Liang, Princess Xiao Yu, ever watchful, never tires of looking after the affairs of Yanbei's royal prince. The most beautiful, yet quietly dangerous princess, busily prepares her wedding gifts to the groom and her wedding gown, one of the best and finest, crafted by Liang's most talented designers.
The gown is wrapped in golden red, yellow, and brown, an autumn bride inspiration.
While the Liang Princess prepares for her wedding of the year, her journey has not been easy. Her subjects, dependent on her union with the King of Yanbei, await his ability to provide military might and power as his kingdom rises from the ashes of its downfall. Xiao Yu can only hope this union will protect Liang and give them access to the sleeping dragon blade, now that it has awakened.
"Your Highness, it is about to be announced, and the selection has been made."
Nearby, a cavalry has been summoned to prepare its swords and horses. The mission remains unclear, and the likelihood of returning in time for the wedding seems bleak.
Meanwhile, the Wei Empire once again displayed its splendor and might.
A grand stage was set on the north side of the Imperial Shen Jin Palace. In a few moments, the final selection for the 13th Prince's crown princess, the future heir to the throne, will be announced. Everyone is excited, from palace concubines and Wei Valve masters to Shrine Elders, the Yuwen household, and Yuwen Huai with his secret Madame (Princess Chuner, arranged by Yuan Song). Other invited protectorate states like the Batuha family, Princess Zama, and the Bathuja King (though the Black Prince Zaru is missing), Yuan Che, and his Xiaoqi Elite forces are in attendance. Most intriguing of all, a first-time visitor from the desolate land of the East is expected.
A long-time ally, who had gone silent for years, is now the most anticipated dignitary of the Wei Emperor.
A week before the election, though relations between the Wei Emperor and Southern Liang had soured, the Wei Emperor issued a decree to send an invitation to Liang, hoping for a political counter-reaction.
However, the King of Liang responded with a lukewarm reply, declining the invitation due to the entire empire's preparations for the wedding of the year, the union between Yanbei and Liang.
Thus, the Liang Empire would not be able to attend, even though the crown princess selection was scheduled the day before the wedding, with the engagement ceremony to follow.
Upon hearing about the invitation, the Crown Prince of Liang requested permission from his father to represent the empire at Wei's crown princess announcement.
Unfortunately, King Tang refused, unwilling to risk his son's life so close to the wedding. With less than a week to go, it was too dangerous. Xiao Ce, depressed, used this excuse to avoid participating in Liang's wedding preparations. He remained inside his palace for the entire week.
But in truth, he had already sent a gift in advance, a Pandora's box, as a personal offering to the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song. He called it: "A classic gift, a masterpiece only Xiao Ce could give."
The Prince of Yanbei also received not an invitation, but a royal correspondence from the Wei Emperor. Yan Xun crushed the letter and refused to eat his meals that day.
With a heavy heart and cold eyes, Yan Xun made up his mind. For years, he had been cautious in his moves, believing it was the only way to protect both his Yanbei and his A'Chu. But now, the Wei Emperor had placed A'Chu in danger, forcing her to sacrifice herself for the greater good.
Yan Xun realized that the Black Prince Zaru was a key piece in the game.
If he could trade Zaru for A'Chu, he would save his Tiger General. Yet, Yan Xun struggled to keep himself from killing Zaru. For Yan Xun, Zaru's blood would help settle the deep wound in his heart and begin to repay the debt owed for the slain Yan royal family.
Meanwhile, a beautiful princess, adorned with an elaborate head-dress and dressed in imperial golden-yellow robes, was attended by hundreds of palace maids.
She looked as if she were preparing for a wedding rather than a simple selection announcement. Tomorrow, she would be engaged to the 13th Prince Yuan Song, but she had been forbidden from seeing the prince since the contest for his crown princess began.
An expensive cavalry from the East had just arrived, announcing its presence at the entrance of Wei Valve gate. A platoon of soldiers stood before the visitors, while the Qinghai Queen, her three stepsons, and thousands of cavalry waited behind them.
From a beautiful black palanquin, a figure with jade-like skin stepped down. Queen Zhejue, her face covered with a veil, disembarked, followed by her two stepsons, who each rode their own palanquins.
Second Prince Ra Zheng, dressed in a smoked silver Hanfu Imperial robe with a fur cape made of fox skin that resembled a fog cloud on the ground, carried his famous sword at his side. His face, unseen beneath a silver metal mask, radiated majesty and elegance. His waist belt, adorned with the bluish jade of the Qinghai Empire, exemplified the fashionable style of the Westerners.
The Sixth Prince, Ra Zhun, dressed in a red Hanfu and matching fur cape, appeared like fire on the cold snowy ground. His face, covered with a rose gold mask, seemed to flow like flames. Two swords hung at his waist, and his red jade belt encircled him. His striking features, including compassionate eyes and lovely arched eyebrows, strongly resembled Wei Shu Ye, the late Wei Valve master, making it seem as if Wei Shu Ye had come back to life.
The Seventh Prince, Ra Yue, arrived late.
As the three royals from the East entered through the Wei Valve gate, the Seventh Prince of the East, Qinghai's Crown Prince Ra Yue, stepped down. His face, concealed by a golden mask bearing the Qinghai Crown Prince seal, signified to all that he was an honored guest, nearly equivalent to the King of Qinghai himself. The unsheathed Poe Yue Jian sword rested at his side.
The cold wind blew against his face, and he inhaled deeply, exhaling a heavy breath. In his heart, though cold, he felt as if his feet had returned home. Wearing a white fur cape made of white fox skin, he seemed to float rather than walk on the ground. Snowflakes clung to his cape, emphasizing the coldest presence among them all. Ra Yue, like a silent man yearning for his homeland, stood tall in his Imperial dress with intricate gold designs along the hem.
Clad entirely in white and as cold as the snow falling around him, his royal belt, adorned with pure white jade, shimmered as he walked slowly and deliberately. Behind him, thousands of white foot soldiers marched, and beside him stood the handsome Zuo Zong.
The crowd, in awe, welcomed him, but in reality, Ra Yue had conditioned himself to believe that his past was over. Now, he was nothing more than an empty vessel returning to the brutal empire that had once assassinated his character and easily disowned him. Weaklings and aristocrats, afraid to face the truth, perhaps saw him as a ghost.
For the Queen of Qinghai, this was her first visit to the Wei Empire, and the nobles and the crowd were astonished by her presence. She remained a mystery behind her veil, with many imagining that beneath it lay the most beautiful face they had ever seen.
The palace concubines, however, glared at her fiercely, as if they had already seen her face and were envious. Even the Wei Emperor was stunned as he gazed at her.
All the Wei Emperor could see was a thin veil and a stance that suggested unparalleled beauty, far beyond comparison to his concubines.
Breaking the silence as Queen Zhejue sat on her throne-like chair, the Wei Emperor spoke: "Greetings, welcome to the Wei Empire. The King of Qinghai never fails to surprise me."
With a calm voice, Queen Zhejue replied, "My pleasure. Your Majesty, the King is unwell, so he sent his Queen and three of his princes, including his crown prince, Ra Yue."
The Wei Emperor's eyes widened. "I did not expect this! The Crown Prince of Qinghai, hidden for so many years, has finally arrived?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. As we speak, he is walking at this moment. He is the man in the middle of the red carpet," Queen Zhejue said proudly, admiring her son's ability to awe the crowd. He needed no further training, she thought to herself.
The Wei Emperor's gaze shifted, locking onto the Seventh Prince walking slowly across the splendid palace grounds. As palace maids, nobles, and ministers bowed, Ra Yue made his way to an empty royal seat. Queen Zhejue, cold as ice, showed no reaction. Zuo Zong stood tall behind him, and the Yuwen household was confused and astonished.
Yuwen Gao, unable to look away, exclaimed, "The Poe Yue Jian sword!"
On the other side, the Wei Valve household and its cavalry murmured as they watched the Sixth Prince, who had just presented his face to the stunned Wei Empire for the first time.
Breaking protocol, the Sixth Prince removed his rose gold mask, revealing his face to everyone, stealing their attention from Ra Yue. Princess Chuner, her face also covered by a thin veil, slightly lifted it to look at the Sixth Prince, her gaze locking with his for a moment. Yuwen Huai, looking between them, grew anxious and jealous of the look the Sixth Prince gave her. He gently reminded his Madame, "Princess, did you forget the 13th Prince's instructions?"
Chuner, still stunned, did not lower her veil but continued to stare at the Sixth Prince. He finally shifted his gaze away from her and turned to the crowd, raising his hands to acknowledge their applause while the Wei household remained in shock.
What if Ra Zheng also removed his mask and revealed his face to the crowd? Would they accept the unfolding events, or would they rejoice in seeing someone who resembled two of their esteemed warriors and brave generals?
Yuan Che, observing the Sixth Prince, couldn't help but wonder: Was this really Wei Shu Ye? How could someone who had been buried in their ancestors' temple, stabbed to death by the Wei Emperor's royal guards for defending his childhood friend and first love, Princess Chuner, now stand before them?
This grand appearance was bound to have a significant impact on their empire. Was there something hidden beneath the surface, a truth yet to be uncovered that would confirm Wei Shu Ye's death or reveal this man to be someone else entirely?
Finally, Ra Yue took his seat beside his stepmother, near the Wei Emperor on his right hand. Yuan Che sat on the left of the Emperor, while the seat to the right remained empty, awaiting the arrival of the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, and just below that, the seat for the selected crown princess.
Ra Zhun and Ra Zheng sat near Yuan Che, while Zuo Zong stood by Ra Yue, the only man permitted to remain beside the Eastern royals.
Ra Yue, aloof and emotionless, maintained an intense gaze as the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, finally arrived. Yuan Song, looking handsome and grand despite his handicapped arm, exuded reason and valor in his Imperial robes, which matched the dress of the crown princess. Today, he would finally learn the identity of his future wife, as the official announcement of the crown princess was about to be proclaimed.
The contest had lasted three days, with the Emperor himself selecting the crown princess. Chu Qiao couldn't understand why she remained at the top of the list. She lacked the skills needed to navigate social graces or behave as expected.
In a war, she could form strategies to win, but this felt more like a beauty contest. She didn't know how to wear Imperial dresses or apply makeup. She had done everything in her power to avoid meeting the standards for becoming the Wei crown princess.
Yet, despite her efforts, the Wei Emperor seemed to love her defiance. Now, a hundred palace maids trailed behind her as she walked through the palace corridors. Her calm eyes hid a heavy heart as she made her way to the north side of Shen Jin Palace.
Another woman had sneaked into the crown princess's room, stealing all her belongings and hiding behind the palace, waiting for the inevitable chaos.
Chu Qiao finally reached the palace grounds and saw the people of Wei, from nobles young and old, to palace concubines, ministers, Shrine Elders, the Yuwen household, and various political figures. She also noticed new faces, masked with metal, but didn't bother to look closely.
She searched for familiar faces but found none. Sharpening her senses, she clung to a faint hope. She thought of the poor and the crowds outside, shouting and fighting to see and hear the name of their next crown princess. These noises strengthened her resolve to walk on without fainting. Behind the palace doors, she knew the fate of the poor rested in her hands, should she become the future wife of the Wei heir. This was a twist of fate she had never anticipated.
Not even her own preference to serve, as she had vowed to help Chu Jing and Yanbei citizens. However, after a few weeks of staying in Wei, she realized that whether they were Wei citizens, Yanbei citizens, or Chu Jing citizens, they were all the same people in need of help. In big or small ways, she felt compelled to assist.
She learned to share her fortune when she secretly visited poor villages. Whenever there was extra, she gave it away, providing shelters, food for the needy, and additional hands to care for the sick living on the streets.
During her short stay in Wei, Chu Qiao was again reminded of the harsh realities of the slavery system, which stretched from the Royals down to their dog slaves. The nobles exploited the distribution of goods, while merchants controlled prices, gradually increasing the cost of basic commodities such as grain, coal, wood, cotton, silk, and food.
Merchants often justified their high prices to the poor by blaming the heavy taxes imposed by the Imperial government. These taxes supposedly supported Wei Empire projects and infrastructure, which ultimately benefited only the royals and ministers.
Meanwhile, outside merchants smuggled goods from other states and sold them at exorbitant prices in Wei, as though they were gold. These merchants became rich in a short period, and without much effort, all the wealth flowed into their pockets, leaving the poor in even worse conditions.
Unfed, unsheltered, and forced to sell their bodies for a bowl of porridge, the poor suffered as long as Wei imported goods from these opportunistic merchants. The merchants, in turn, refused to buy Wei's exports, deeming it impractical to spend money on expensive local goods.
In the end, the merchants who knew how to manage greed went home with massive profits, leaving their conscience behind. Gold and money respected only those who could handle profit-loss trades. Those who knew how to multiply wealth at the expense of others' misfortune reaped even greater rewards.
Southern Liang benefited from these circumstances, as they were experts in trade, while Yanbei, reliant on Liang, saw its economy grow. Yanbei was often paid twice, thanks to the interest earned from exporting its gold and other resources to support Liang's production.
For example, the famous silk road of Yan made the trade between fine silk and grain equally important, sometimes more valuable than even eating or living well. Chu Qiao felt a strong desire for change, especially within Wei's slavery system. But she understood that such change required influence at the Throne, whether through military might or persuasive diplomacy.
She told herself, if there was no hope left for her, she would accept her fate and instead become a beacon of hope for others.
The elegant crowd held their breath, mesmerized by the unexpected sight of a beautiful woman walking towards them. She was the last person they expected, as rumors had spread that she had violated countless laws and broken nearly all palace protocols. Yuan Song, with proud eyes, had heard all of this.
He was pleased with his father's patience toward her. Often, he would try to influence his father, suspecting him of being complicit. But the Wei Emperor, more experienced and seasoned in Imperial leadership, led his son to believe they were on the same side. In reality, everything had already been arranged.
Chu Qiao had not seen the 13th Prince Yuan Song since her trial, it was strictly forbidden. The Wei Emperor knew of his son's tricks and bypass routes, so he ordered close security around the prince, locking down his palace. One day, in defiance of his father's strict orders, the 13th Prince revolted, leaving his palace maids fearing for their lives.
Yuan Song even went on a hunger strike just to see Chu Qiao. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao, not wanting to engage with a dying prince, wrote him a letter. She bribed one of the palace guards to deliver the message to the pale and almost dying prince. Yuan Song received the letter and, like a child, was blind to the truth.
The 13th Prince never realized that his father had orchestrated everything, forcing Chu Qiao to write the letter to Yuan Song.
Out of unselfishness, Chu Qiao simply wanted the prince to live, yielding to the pressure from her soon-to-be father-in-law.
Yan Xun, though not officially invited to Wei's grand event, infiltrated its walls. Who better to know its secret paths than the rebel prince who had grown up within them? Despite his growing power, Yan Xun could not bring his army to attack Wei Valve, his empire was still too small compared to Wei's tens of thousands of soldiers.
The rebel prince assembled a group of Yanbei's military stars, including He Xiao, Ge Qi, and the Xuili army's dark spy, Viper, to join him on this mission.
However, selfish as he was, Yan Xun changed his mind about trading the Black Prince for General Chu.
Yan Xun intended to keep the Black Prince, breaking his promise to trade him. He told his servants, "If I have to spill more Yan blood to buy her freedom, I will. But I won't trade Zaru. If I must meditate again on the Yan-Wei road, as I did before the bloodbath at JuWei Street, then so be it." Yan Xun closed his eyes, then opened them, calm yet bold.
Xiao Yu, informed by one of her spies that Yan Xun had left the Yanbei border, shattered a ceramic in her hand. She trembled upon hearing what he had done and wanted to confront him, but her spy advised her, "Princess, you cannot let him know you are watching him. Let him figure it out on his own. Stay as his invisible eyes until the union of the two states is a success."
Xiao Yu sighed, agreeing, "You're right. I must be patient and not rush into things. I already lost my pen pal, Yuwen Yue, because of her. I won't lose my true love, Yan Xun. Keep me updated. Keep tracking them."
At sunset, on the eve of the engagement day, a man snatched a woman from her palace. She struggled, but when he refused to let go of her hands, she unsheathed her sword. The man, his cold eyes gleaming, drew his sword as well, respecting her readiness for a fight. Suddenly, two shadows danced across the expensive palace tiles.
Whooshing blades left marks as they moved from one place to another, until another woman appeared, leaving the man confused. The first woman struck him on the head and ran.
Without looking back, she walked away from the man and the woman, who looked and dressed like her.
As dawn arrived, all returned to normal. A princess, dressed in her wedding gown, stood beside the Prince of Yanbei, who wore a handsome but fake smile. It was his final goodbye to his princehood, and with the acceptance of his new queen's hand, he welcomed his kinghood.
The guests celebrated, but as joy and social pleasantries faded, fox-like eyes around the room seemed to be thinking of someone else.
The engagement was finalized, and the wedding day was set. The winter bride, veiled in red, was followed by a hundred palace maids and forbidden from revealing her face for nine days. The crowd, eager to see their new crown princess, would have to wait. For now, they settled for wine and the extravagant feast at Wei's banquet.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Yanbei would be married within nine months, while the 13th Prince of Wei had only nine days before settling into his nest of love.
Connect to Chapter 48 Broken Star
Lookback to Chapter 44 Iron Bone encounters White Prince
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