Chapter 7
Report from the West
Meanwhile, Princess Chun'er slowly rose from her royal bathtub, made of square wooden tiles. The water was lukewarm, and steam and foam filled the air. Attendants approached and handed her coverings. She glanced around, then walked out to get dressed. All her belongings were packed and ready for departure.
After her last battle with General Chu Qiao of the Xiuli army, one of the bloodiest conflicts between the Wei and Yanbei armies in the city of Hong Chuan, Chun'er was exiled by her own father. The punishment followed her attempted assassination of him after temporarily losing her sanity due to the death of the imperial concubine, Ning'er. Reduced to slave status for her treason against the Wei state, Chun'er endured a series of tragedies, including being raped on her journey to Yanbei. In her madness, she believed she was destined to become Yan Xun's bride, only to find herself heartbroken and desolate.
Chun'er also crossed paths with her brother, Prince Yuan Song, who disguised himself to assassinate Yan Xun. Though Yuan Song stabbed Yan Xun, the latter managed to turn his sword and decapitate the 13th prince.
That day, both princes fell, and Chun'er, not far from where they stood, rushed to her brother's side. It was a cruel twist of fate, as she lost both the men she loved, deepening her agony.
Chun'er also mourned the loss of her maidservants and her closest ally, Wei Shu Ye, who died defending her when she was locked in the West Temple, about to be poisoned. Wei Shu Ye, who had secretly loved her for years, confessed his feelings in his final moments before dying in her arms. From that moment, everything was taken from Chun'er, and she wept bitterly.
Royal princesses could not be executed, especially direct descendants of the emperor, so Chun'er was demoted to slave status. Only the Emperor could restore her title, either through forgiveness or marriage to another prince of royal blood. Until then, she was forbidden from entering the palace.
"I have nothing to return to," Chun'er said quietly.
She left her room dressed in a simple, flowing gown, not the usual ornate attire of a princess. Her jade hairpin, a symbol of royalty, had been removed, and her long, black hair hung loose, shining in the daylight.
Now more mature and beautiful than when she was a princess, Chun'er no longer appeared naive. She had hidden talents that were never nurtured during her time in the palace.
As she rode a white horse from Shen Jin Palace, she exuded strength and conviction. Having survived countless hardships, she was prepared for whatever lay ahead. The ex-princess was now ironclad.
Skilled in spear-throwing and archery, Chun'er could rely on her abilities for protection. She had also learned swordsmanship and political science, though her lack of experience outside the palace had limited her ability to apply these skills when they were most needed.
As the horse slowly moved away from the palace, Chun'er reflected on her happy childhood memories.
The Great Summer Emperor watched from a distance, his heart filled with despair. Though he was the emperor, he had become powerless under the law he had passed, which had now turned against his own daughter. Bound by his own justice system, he had to prove that even the royals were not exempt from punishment. His daughter was taken away from Shen Jin Palace, exiled as a consequence of the very laws he had enforced.
Chun'er was heading south of northwest Wei. Her journey would span a thousand miles, and she had been given provisions to last until she reached the place where she would serve her ten-year sentence. If the Emperor could not forgive her by then, her slave status would become permanent. The verdict was sealed and passed by her father on the 28th day of Spring, in the second month of the year. She would live alone, with no servants, in a secluded place far from the palace.
Prince Yuan Song, dressed in his usual princely attire, watched his sister go. His heart broke for the second time, the first being when he had to say goodbye to Xinger, whom he never saw again before receiving the news of her death with Yuwen Yue at the frozen lake.
The thought drove him mad, and he vowed to find Prince Yan Xun, who had killed them both.
All powers rested with the Great Summer Emperor, Yuan Song's father. Using the empire's resources, the Emperor provided Yuan Song with advanced technology to replace his decapitated arm. The empire funded research that led to the creation of various prosthetic designs for Yuan Song. He was officially crowned prince and the heir to the throne. Yuan Song spent the winter training, strengthening his body, and becoming physically fit.
Pretending to watch his sister leave, Yuan Song later sneaked out of the palace with a servant. A dark brown horse waited for him at the back gate. Disguised in a black hood, he followed Chun'er in secret, having instructed some servants to keep an eye on her. Having lost his mother and Xinger, he was determined not to lose his sister.
"Hee!" Yuan Song halted his horse.
"Where did she go?"
"She went this way, Prince," the palace guard replied.
Yuan Song, accompanied by his personal bodyguard, followed the trail.
As night fell, Chun'er traveled alone. Though her eyes reflected sadness, they held no fear. Sensing someone following her, she tightened her grip on her horse and stopped. She nocked an arrow to her bow, ready to shoot, when she saw a hooded man walking toward her in the dark.
"Show yourself!" Chun'er shouted, her horse growing anxious.
The man did not move. Chun'er aimed her bow, but he raised his hand, his head still lowered. With fierce determination, she released her arrow, but the man countered with a dagger.
Without hesitation, the man continued approaching. Chun'er nocked another arrow, this time aiming for his forehead. But when he removed his hood, her eyes widened in shock. She thought she had seen a ghost.
The man had a long, stitched scar along his neck, and his once-smirking face now bore a solemn expression. He knelt before her and said softly, "I beg you to come with me, Princess."
"Yuwen Huai!" she nearly shouted, her voice heavy with rejection.
"Yes, it is I. Some believed I was dead, but I have come to take you to safety. Wei Shu Ye asked me to secure your escape before he went to the temple, but you never came to the boat he prepared. I waited, but no one arrived. I was saddened to hear that he did not survive."
"I also hid your half-brother, the son of Lan'er, my half-sister. Please come with me, Princess. I can take you to a safe place. Given your condition and the long journey ahead, I fear for your safety."
"Lan'er? My father's latest concubine is your half-sister?"
"Yes, Princess. She is."
Chun'er's expression tightened, though she calmed herself. Yuwen Huai stood, pulling his hood back over his head. He extended his hand, waiting for her to accept, though he could not meet her gaze.
Yuwen Huai already knew of the imperial decree concerning Chun'er, having once been in charge of the royal court. After his battle with Chu Qiao, he had been presumed dead, but was rescued and healed by the Batuha family.
Yuwen Huai had long been infatuated with Chun'er, though she did not trust him due to his brutal methods in the royal court. Despite his harsh exterior, Yuwen Huai's feelings for her ran deep, even more so than Wei Shu Ye's.
Now, Chun'er faced a decision. Though she did not consider Yuwen Huai an enemy, his past made her wary. Nevertheless, he was her only option for safety.
"I will come with you on one condition," she said. "I must be allowed to live with my half-brother."
Yuwen Huai felt a surge of joy and, though cautious, Chun'er accepted his help.
Together, they set off on the road back to the Yuwen residence.
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