The eunuch held the imperial edict, his face etched with reluctance as he looked at Yaoying.
Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, Yaoying’s expression remained serene. “Since His Majesty has summoned me, why does he avoid meeting me?”
The eunuch forced a smile. “His Majesty is occupied with myriad state affairs and is currently in council with his ministers…” His voice trailed off, then abruptly rose again. “Please accept the decree, Your Highness, so this humble servant may return to report his duty fulfilled!”
Yaoying smiled faintly, standing poised at the foot of the steps, her robes fluttering majestically in the wind, exuding an aura of noble grace.
The eunuch was momentarily dazzled by her radiance and dared not press further.
Suddenly, a triumphant laugh echoed from the platform, accompanied by the rustle of sweeping skirts. Rong Fei, resplendent in lavish attire, approached surrounded by her attendants.
“There’s no need for the Princess to wait any longer!” Rong Fei gazed at Yaoying, her smile brimming with undisguised schadenfreude. “The decree has been issued. With the Consort lost to madness, His Majesty has entrusted me with overseeing the Princess’s wedding preparations. As you are soon to be married, His Majesty fears that seeing you would only bring him sorrow. Do not make it difficult for the palace staff, Princess. Accept the decree and return to prepare for your wedding.”
Her laughter was delicate and melodious.
“Ah, I nearly forgot… the Princess is to marry Chieftain Ye Lu. I hear he is rather advanced in years! But an older husband knows how to cherish his wife—what fortunate blessings await you, Princess.”
The Chief Historian glared furiously at Rong Fei, his face dark with rage.
Rong Fei cast a sidelong glance at Yaoying, laughing so heartily she swayed.
Yaoying glanced toward Xie Qing behind her.
Understanding her unspoken command, Xie Qing stepped forward and delivered two sharp slaps across Rong Fei’s face.
Before Rong Fei could react, her maids shrieked in horror and lunged at Xie Qing, clawing and tearing at him. “How dare you!”
Expressionless, Xie Qing struck back with two more resounding slaps.
As a trained warrior, his blows were forceful. Rong Fei, dazed and disoriented, soon sported swollen bruises on her meticulously maintained face.
Her maids scattered in panic, screaming uncontrollably, their cries reverberating through the hall.
The Golden Guard rushed to the scene but dared not confront Yaoying. Instead, they drew their blades on Xie Qing, shouting, “Cease your insolence, you wretched slave!”
Xie Qing ignored them completely, gripping Rong Fei’s wrist and forcing her to her knees before Yaoying.
Blood streaked Rong Fei’s face as she struggled violently, her hair ornaments scattering across the floor. “I am an imperial consort! How dare you, you vile slave, show such disrespect! I will have your head! Princess, I am your stepmother! How dare you humiliate me like this! I will not let this rest! Just you wait—you will pay for this!”
The surrounding Golden Guard exchanged uneasy glances, cautiously advancing a few steps.
Yaoying shot them a fleeting glance.
They halted immediately.
She signaled to Xie Qing to lift Rong Fei’s swollen, bruised face.
Kneeling at the steps, Rong Fei trembled with a mixture of fury and terror, her face discolored and swollen.
Yaoying looked down at her. “A Qing is a retainer of the Xie family, my most loyal guard—not a household slave.”
Xie Qing subtly straightened his posture, a flicker of pride crossing his perpetually stern expression.
Yaoying’s tone shifted. “Your original name was A Rong, and you were a maid in the Xie household. You betrayed my mother by climbing into the master’s bed. My uncle, aware of your true nature, never nullified your indenture. You remain a servant of the Xie family, and my mother was your former mistress. For daring to disrespect your former mistress, those slaps were but a minor punishment.”
Rong Fei trembled with rage. “I am Rong Fei, conferred by His Majesty himself! Just you wait—I will have His Majesty discipline you properly! You, who show no respect for your elders, deserve to be sent away for a political marriage!”Yaoying smiled slightly, like spring flowers in full bloom: "The Yelu Tribe wishes to marry me. His Majesty and the court ministers all hope to exchange me for the Yelu Tribe's cavalry. Rong Fei, as His Majesty's closest companion, you understand him better than anyone else. Think carefully—would His Majesty risk displeasing me now for your sake?"
Rong Fei froze, her mouth hanging slack. Rage gradually gave way to fear, and she trembled even more violently.
Just then, the soft clip-clop of hoofbeats echoed from the foot of the long staircase.
The Golden Guard turned toward the sound and, upon seeing the rider, expressions of surprise crossed their faces. They sheathed their blades and respectfully stepped forward to greet him.
Two eunuchs, forgetting to proclaim the imperial marriage edict, dashed into the hall to report.
"Lord Pei has arrived! Lord Pei is here!"
At the base of the steps, several palace attendants gathered around a tall, sturdy white horse, assisting an elderly man as he dismounted.
The old man wore a gauze soft headwear and a dark blue round-collared robe. His face was aged, his temples streaked with gray, and he appeared frail and decrepit. After taking just a few steps, he paused to catch his breath.
"Lord Pei!"
Eager calls rang out from the front hall, winding corridors, and moon terrace. Several eunuchs, having received orders from Li De, rushed over with a sedan chair.
"Lord Pei, His Majesty is overjoyed at your arrival and has already come out to greet you with several chancellors. Please ride the sedan into the hall!"
Lord Pei was already in his eighties, his mind hazy and eyes clouded. He lifted his head, scanned the surroundings, and his gaze settled on Yaoying.
A look of delight instantly spread across Rong Fei's face.
The Pei family of Wei Commandery were longtime allies of the Li family. When Li De rose in rebellion, the Pei family followed him wholeheartedly. Lord Pei's brothers and sons had all died in battle, and he himself had been severely wounded while saving Li De. Though he survived, his health never recovered, and he had remained in Wei Commandery to recuperate ever since.
Li De held Lord Pei in high esteem, having publicly declared that Lord Pei was like a father to him.
Moreover, it was widely known that the Pei and Xie families were at odds. Lord Pei had repeatedly expressed his contempt for Xie Wuliang in public.
Rong Fei cried out, "Lord Pei! This Xie woman shows no respect for her elders and has assaulted her stepmother! I beg Lord Pei to uphold justice for this humble concubine!"
The Chief Minister had not expected Lord Pei, who was supposed to be a thousand miles away, to appear so suddenly. Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. When Lord Pei lost his temper, he even dared to scold Li De!
He shielded Yaoying. "Your Highness, please step aside for now."
Yaoying shook her head and glanced at Rong Fei. "Our accounts are not yet settled. Wait here."
Rong Fei shuddered.
Yaoying turned and walked toward Lord Pei.
The Chief Minister stamped his foot in anxiety.
Yaoying approached Lord Pei and performed a junior's bow.
Lord Pei looked at her, nodded, and extended his hand.
A eunuch nearby hurriedly said, "Lord Pei, His Majesty says that given your advanced age, you may ride the sedan—"
Lord Pei snorted coldly, pushed the eunuch aside, and gently patted Yaoying with his aged, withered hand. "You've grown quite a bit taller."
Yaoying chuckled softly. "You seem even more vigorous than before."
A flicker of amusement shone in Lord Pei's clouded eyes. "Still trying to flatter me."
The crowd stared in astonishment.
At the foot of the long staircase, the Emperor Li De, who had rushed out to welcome Lord Pei, also wore an expression of surprise.
Chancellors Zheng Yu, Du Du Pei, and other high officials followed behind Li De. Watching Lord Pei and Li Yaoying chatting and laughing as they ascended the steps, they exchanged bewildered glances, each inwardly marveling at the scene.
Lord Pei had always detested the Xie family, and over the years, he and the Seventh Princess had never interacted. How could they be so cordial with each other?Du Du Pei, a nephew of Duke Pei’s clan, stepped forward with a smile. “I didn’t know you had arrived, Uncle. Please forgive my negligence.”
Duke Pei swept a cold glance over him and ignored him. Leaning on Yaoying’s arm, he approached Li De and made a show of bowing.
Li De quickly supported him with a warm smile. “What brings you here, Duke Pei?”
Duke Pei pushed away Li De’s outstretched hand. “This old, useless body has come to beg Your Majesty for a favor.”
Li De fell silent, his gaze shifting to Yaoying standing beside Duke Pei.
Steadying himself with Yaoying’s hand, Duke Pei spoke slowly. “My line is sparse, with only my great-grandson Yu Lang left. Years ago, Your Majesty pledged a princess to the Pei family. I find the Seventh Princess clever, gentle, and dignified. I’ve come to seek this boon—does Your Majesty consent?”
Before he finished, the ministers’ expressions shifted.
Eunuchs and guards had already withdrawn quietly. Rong Fei was escorted away by palace maids. Wind howled through the winding corridor.
After a moment’s silence, Li De smiled. “Duke Pei, it isn’t that I begrudge my seventh daughter, but I have already agreed to the Yelu Tribe’s marriage proposal.”
Duke Pei lifted his eyelids. “Oh? I heard the princess betrothed to the Yelu Tribe was the Fukang Princess.”
Ministers broke out in cold sweat.
Li De looked at Yaoying again.
Yaoying kept her eyes lowered.
Duke Pei scanned the room, making every minister lower their heads guiltily before returning his gaze to Li De. “Does Your Majesty intend to break your word? You made that promise personally, witnessed by all the court ministers.”
Chancellor Pei looked awkward, neither daring to speak nor remain silent.
Duke Pei’s sons and grandsons had died for Li De, and they had all been present when the vow was made.
Li De sighed. “Please join me inside, Duke Pei. I will explain the details.”
Duke Pei’s wrinkled face twitched, but he didn’t move. “No need for such trouble, Your Majesty. I’ve already heard the full story of the Yelu Tribe’s proposal.”
His voice suddenly sharpened, anger blazing in his clouded eyes.
“Your Majesty never intended this marriage. Lady Zhu, willful and reckless, made the match carelessly. Unwilling to break faith with the tribes, you consented, but then Lady Zhu refused to marry. Now the Yelu Tribe demands the Seventh Princess instead, and you wish to reclaim Liangzhou… As for all of you—”
His gaze swept across the ministers’ faces.
“You, grateful to the Zhu family, couldn’t bear to see Lady Zhu wed far away. When the Yelu Tribe asked to switch brides, you rejoiced and urged His Majesty to agree—to send his own daughter in her place. Isn’t that so?!”
His roar startled the ministers, who nearly dropped to their knees.
Duke Pei stared at Li De, enunciating each word. “Your Majesty, I ask you—does this Great Wei bear the surname Li or Zhu? Is Lady Zhu so precious that a daughter of Li is worthless? She treats state relations as a jest, and the entire court indulges her folly—all because she is a Zhu! Do they hold any reverence for you, the Son of Heaven, in their hearts?”
The ministers’ hearts hammered, drenched in sweat. At his final words, they dropped to their knees with a thud.
“Your Majesty, we beg your discernment! We never harbored such thoughts!”
Duke Pei gave a cold laugh. “This turmoil began with Lady Zhu. Without her, would the Yelu Tribe dare demand a Li princess? Must Great Wei rely solely on the Yelu Tribe to reclaim Liangzhou?”
The ministers had no reply.Duke Pei swept his gaze around the assembly and spoke deliberately: "The Xie family has governed Jingnan for generations, producing loyal and righteous men. Those who pursued civil service became chancellors; those who took up arms became generals. They bore the world's worries before others and sacrificed themselves for the nation without hesitation. When the northern tribes swept south, slaughtering the Central Plains populace, the Xies in distant Jingnan resolutely led troops north to aid the Zhu family's resistance. Four generations of their lineage, ten thousand heroic souls, all lie buried beneath the desert sands."
"Twenty-five years ago, famine ravaged the Yangtze region. Corpses piled up while plague ran rampant. Wherever refugees fled, local officials ordered them driven away. Only Xie Wuliang of Jingnan opened city gates to shelter the victims, establishing porridge kitchens and clinics that saved countless lives. As displaced people from across the river regions flocked to Jingnan, he provided proper care for all. When the plague subsided, he sent refugees back to their homes without forced detention."
"Twenty-one years ago, when His Majesty suffered major defeat at Fuzhou with tens of thousands of Wei troops perishing in river valleys and Wei County falling to enemy occupation, the Xie family dispatched forces to lift the siege. They contributed their grain reserves to help His Majesty recruit soldiers and rallied Jingnan's powerful clans to the cause. Within a single year, they helped His Majesty recover all lost territories and established a covenant with him."
"Eleven years ago, when Chu forces launched a surprise attack, the Xie family held Jingnan to pin down enemy troops, cover civilian evacuations across the river, and protect His Majesty's grand enterprise. Xie Wuliang, a mere scholar, defended for over a month against Southern Chu's well-equipped army!"
"Eventually, the city's food supplies were exhausted, making further resistance impossible."
"The entire Xie family met heroic ends."
Duke Pei's voice rang with conviction: "Before the city fell, Xie Wuliang ordered his guards to behead him and present his head to the Chu army to appease their wrath and prevent the massacre of Jingnan's citizens - which is why Southern Chu's Zhao clan refrained from slaughter."
As he spoke, the wind seemed to grow mournful.
Ministers stood grim-faced in silence.
Duke Pei raised his eyes, aged and clouded orbs suddenly sharpening: "Your Majesty, the Xies prioritized nation over family, sacrificed themselves to relieve calamity, and remain blameless before ancestors, common people, and Your Majesty! Jingnan's populace will never forget Xie family's benevolence! Consort Xie is Xie Wuliang's blood sister, mother to only one son and daughter. The consort suffers chronic illness while Princess Seventh serves with sincere filial piety, attending her mother's medicine without leaving her side. How can You bear to make Princess Seventh marry as substitute?!"
His tone turned bitingly severe.
"Your Majesty, Xie Wuliang personally named Princess Seventh. Had he survived, would You send her to distant marriage?"
Li De's expression froze like ice.
Ministers knelt without daring to speak, yet their faces showed profound emotion and shame.
As Duke Pei noted, when Chieftain Ye Lu requested Princess Seventh's hand, they had all sighed in relief—Zhu Lvyun would not need to marry.
In striving to preserve the Zhu family's last bloodline, they had disregarded Princess Seventh's fate entirely, leaving them ashamed to face the Xie lineage!
Li De observed the officials' remorseful expressions.
Duke Pei had first invoked past promises, then questioned whether courtiers remained loyal to the Zhu family, and finally recalled the Xies' legacy. However biased toward Zhu Lvyun, no minister could openly support Li Yaoying's substitution.
If he insisted on sending Yaoying for marriage alliance, he would not only alienate loyal families like the Pei and Xie clans who had followed him, but also terrify former dynasty officials. Military leaders like Du Du Pei would feel particular outrage.
Having painstakingly balanced former dynasty officials, noble clans, powerful families, common-born scholars, and military leaders to prevent any faction's dominance in the new court's early days, he now saw aristocratic families gradually controlling the government.
He could not afford to disillusion loyal ministers at this juncture.The undercurrents surging within the court were far more critical than the ten thousand iron cavalry of the Yelu Tribe.
After weighing his options repeatedly, Li De quickly made a decision.
"The Yelu Tribe seeks to marry the Fukang Princess."
As his words fell, none of the ministers raised objections.
The wind howled across the palace courtyard.
Standing beside Duke Pei, Yaoying’s clothes were soaked with sweat, her heart pounding like a drum. Slowly, she closed her eyes.
Several years ago, she had coincidentally saved the life of Duke Pei’s great-grandson, Pei Yu. In gratitude, Duke Pei had promised to do one thing for her—something completely unrelated to Li Zhongqian or Xie Guifei.
When she discovered that Li Xuanzhen intended to force her into a proxy marriage, she immediately thought of Duke Pei.
Fortunately, Duke Pei was a man of his word.
…
Li De invited Duke Pei to stay and discussed the matter of the imperial marriage with him.
Yaoying took her leave.
Zheng Prime Minister watched Yaoying’s retreating figure, his expression complex.
The day before, his son Zheng Jing had come to him, pleading that he had fallen for the Seventh Princess and begging him to persuade Li De to prevent the Crown Prince’s Palace from substituting her in the marriage.
The Zheng family had previously discussed a marriage alliance with the Second Prince. Though the matter had been dropped, if the Zheng family produced the previously drafted marriage contract and tokens—and with the Seventh Princess’s cooperation—they could still convince outsiders.
Zheng Prime Minister flatly refused: "If you offend the Crown Prince’s Palace for the Seventh Princess, your future career will be completely ruined!"
Zheng Jing resolutely replied, "If it can save the Seventh Princess, I am willing to never hold office."
Reluctantly, Zheng Prime Minister gave his consent.
Zheng Jing immediately went to discuss the details with the Seventh Princess. He left in high spirits but returned dejected.
Frowning, Zheng Prime Minister asked, "Did the Seventh Princess mock you?"
His son was of average talent and often ridiculed.
Zheng Jing shook his head: "The Seventh Princess did not mock me."
Li Yaoying had not mocked Zheng Jing. She was surprised by his offer of help and grateful for his timely assistance, sincerely thanking him for his kindness. Finally, she said, "Third Young Master, with your talents, you are destined to be a pillar of the state. You should not ruin your future for my sake. There is no need to worry about me—I have already found a way to protect myself."
Zheng Prime Minister scoffed inwardly—how could a young lady protect herself?
Still, he admired Li Yaoying’s composure in the face of danger and her consideration for Zheng Jing’s future.
He had assumed her claim of having a plan was merely to comfort Zheng Jing.
He never expected she could actually enlist Duke Pei’s help.
Zheng Prime Minister frowned.
Chang’an and Wei Commandery were a thousand li apart. Duke Pei must have set out long ago—back when the Yelu Tribe had not yet submitted their marriage request.
Li Yaoying must have sent word to Duke Pei as soon as she discovered the Crown Prince’s Palace intended to use her as a substitute. That was why Duke Pei had arrived so promptly, before the imperial edict was issued, while the Emperor could still change his mind.
Such foresight was truly remarkable.
…
News of Li De revoking the marriage edict quickly reached the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Zheng Biyu breathed a soft sigh of relief. She did not wish to see the Seventh Princess’s life ruined because of Zhu Lvyun’s willfulness.
Wei Ming was greatly disappointed.
Li Xuanzhen remained calm, showing neither frustration nor relief.
He merely uttered a faint "Oh," then turned to summon his advisors to continue discussing how to prevent Zhu Lvyun from being sent into marriage.
Li De’s refusal to grant the marriage left the Yelu Chieftain deeply disappointed. He submitted another memorial requesting an audience, offering even more promises, but Li De, busy attending to Duke Pei, did not receive him.
The Chief Steward anxiously informed Li Yaoying, "The Yelu Chieftain remains undeterred. He is bribing officials in the Court of State Ceremonial to persuade His Majesty to grant the marriage."For some inexplicable reason, Chieftain Ye Lu—who had never even met Yaoying—suddenly became possessed as if by an evil spirit, displaying an unshakable determination to claim her.
By this time, Yaoying had already obtained Duke Pei’s marriage contract, and a great weight lifted from her heart. “It’s fine,” she reassured. “With Duke Pei’s marriage contract in hand, no one would dare force me into a political marriage.”
The Chief Steward silently agreed.
Now that the Seventh Princess was under Duke Pei’s protection, petty villains wouldn’t dare act recklessly. Once the Second Prince returned, there would be even less to worry about.
The Chief Steward eagerly awaited Li Zhongqian’s early return.
After more than half a month of anticipation, a military dispatch from the southern front finally arrived.
The Chief Steward opened the letter, but his smile froze at the corners of his mouth. Darkness swept over his vision, and he collapsed to the ground.
The letter was soon delivered to Li Yaoying.
A line of unfamiliar handwriting read: Two days ago, the Right Army led by the Prince of Qin fell into an ambush and was completely annihilated.
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