The news of the Fourth Princess heading north to Khalkha was relayed by couriers on galloping horses to every locality along the route a month in advance, allowing them to prepare for the imperial arrival.
Upon receiving the message, officials immediately notified the local populace. On the day the imperial carriage was to pass, all shops along the street were to close their doors, residents were forbidden from opening their windows, and the roads were cleared of traffic. Every soldier and officer in the county was mobilized; they washed their blue official uniforms until they were spotless, polished their swords and blades, and rehearsed the welcoming ceremony twice.
For three consecutive days, a minor official from Changping led men to level the roads, filling every pothole and clearing away any ox, sheep, or pig dung. On the day before the arrival, before dawn had even broken, he urged his subordinate laborers to splash water onto the yellow earth to prevent the massive procession of horses and men from kicking up clouds of dust.
"Faster, faster!" The official, sporting prominent dark circles under his eyes, urged them on while his own hands never stopped moving, using a ladle to scoop water from a wooden bucket and splash it onto the ground.
Suddenly, four riders galloped toward them, all dressed as Eight Banners soldiers. Compared to the local county soldiers, the scabbards at their waists were polished to a mirror shine. They shouted as they rode, "The Fourth Princess's imperial carriage is five miles away!"
The official quickened his movements, wishing he could turn himself into water to splash on the road. After a final frantic rush, they finally spotted the advance scouts leading the horses in the distance. He led his men to hide in a shed at the corner of the street, where they knelt with their heads bowed.
First came eight lead horses, with flags of yellow, white, red, and blue fluttering in the wind. Then came the horses of the Imperial Guards, surrounding the princes sent to oversee the marriage and the consort. The sound of hooves was thunderous. The Eight Banners guards surrounded a phoenix sedan, followed by ox-carts and horse-carriages for the Noble Lady to transfer to. Further back was a long, winding caravan led by cart drivers and camel drivers, grandly transporting the princess’s dowry items and tents. The princess’s Dowry Retinue followed closely, with soldiers guarding the rear.
Despite the streets having been washed and padded with yellow soil in advance, such a massive send-off for marriage procession still inevitably stirred up a cloud of red dust.
Inside the sedan, Muxue had fallen into a groggy sleep until the maids at her side nudged her.
"Princess, the Juyongguan Great Wall is ahead." Even the usually steady Rong'er sounded slightly excited at this moment.
The procession had set out at the break of dawn, and it was now sunset. The lingering glow of the setting sun illuminated the standing peaks, and atop the winding mountain range stretched the continuous Great Wall.
Such magnificent mountains and rivers were a sight she was seeing for the first time since she transmigrated. She couldn't help but stare, stunned.
It had been far too long—so long that she had almost forgotten that outside the red walls lay such a vast world.
The mighty spring wind brushed through her hair. Muxue covered her face, nearly moved to tears.
The Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince, who were walking toward her, saw the Fourth Princess's expression and were somewhat puzzled. The two brothers exchanged a glance, each with his own private speculation.
The Fourth Prince thought: Could it be that Fourth Sister is still grieving over her departure from the palace?
The Fifth Prince pondered: Fourth Sister must be feeling nauseous from sitting in that jolting sedan for so long.
However, the consort, Dorji, paused for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "The scenery of the Great Wall is quite beautiful, isn't it?"
Muxue composed herself and nodded, smiling with reddened eyes. "It is truly exquisite."
As the twilight deepened, the procession pitched camp on a flat, open area beneath the Great Wall. With over a thousand people, the sight of tents large and small being erected was quite spectacular.
Muxue found everything novel at this moment. Originally, the nannies and matrons had all urged her to wait inside the sedan, but she refused. She insisted on coming out to observe the soldiers setting up camp.
One very large yurt was supported by over a hundred oak poles, featuring a domed roof and six walls. The soldiers were highly experienced in pitching camp, but under the princess's gaze, their hands moved even faster. After finishing the large domed yurt, they busied themselves pitching several smaller tents around it.
Muxue asked, "What are these smaller ones for?"
Nanny Wu and Aunt Zhao didn't quite understand either and didn't answer immediately.
"They are the kitchen tent, the tea room tent, and the bathroom tent," a man's voice drifted over. Muxue turned to look; Dorji was standing nearby amidst the flickering lamplight.
"When did you get here?" Muxue asked, puzzled. According to the rules, she, the Fourth Prince, the Fifth Prince, and Dorji each had their own large tents. The Fourth Prince always did things personally, and fearing the servants might slack off, he had gone to oversee them with a hawk-like gaze. The Fifth Prince had snuck off for a nap. Muxue had assumed Dorji was also watching his own tent, but she hadn't expected him to be here.
"I've been here for a while." Dorji walked toward her.
Pitching camp was nothing new to him, but the sight of the Fourth Princess watching the process with such great interest was entirely fresh. He felt that once they were outside, the corners of her eyes and brows seemed much more cheerful. So, while the Fourth Princess watched the camp being built, he watched the Fourth Princess.
He couldn't help but say, "The way you look when you're excited is very beautiful, Princess."
Muxue let out a "hmpf" and turned her head back to continue watching the camp.
Once the large yurt was set up, the eunuchs and maids busied themselves laying down carpets and moving in the bedstead. Once everything was settled, Muxue stepped inside to take a look and marveled, "This is quite well-equipped."
"It can be even more beautiful. Because we're traveling, they haven't put up many of the decorations," Dorji said, following behind her. "Wait until you see my Golden Yurt in Khalkha. The ceiling and wall hangings are all woven with gold, and the pillars are beautifully decorated with coiled dragons painted on them. It’s even larger than this; it can hold a thousand people during a banquet."
Muxue deliberately teased him, "Oh, everything is golden and shiny? Sounds tacky."
Dorji wasn't annoyed, still smiling brightly. "There’s no helping the tackiness. Who told me to be a bachelor back then? But it’s fine now. I have a very tasteful Erihe, and she can change the yurt into whatever style she likes."
Muxue stopped and countered him, "You're so good at sweet talk; I wonder how many lovers you have back on the grasslands!"
"You finally asked!" Dorji took a step ahead, turned around, and stared at her with burning eyes. "By the Eternal Heaven, besides you, I have no other lovers."
This was the truth. During the age when he should have first experienced love, he was filled with rage over the loss of his parents, his heart set only on killing Galdan for revenge. Later, when the war went a bit more smoothly, he received hints that he might be honored by marrying a princess. Even if only to show his loyalty and respect to the Qing court, he had no desire for romantic entanglements. Moreover, for a fine man of Mobei like himself, only a noble and lovely lady like the Fourth Princess could be a worthy match.
Muxue stared at Dorji, gave a soft huff, and turned to walk in another direction. "There’s nothing to be proud of. I don't have any lovers either."
"That is why I say we are a match made in heaven."
"Get lost."
Dorji "got lost" out of the Fourth Princess’s yurt with a grin, only to bump straight into the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince.
It turned out these two had also settled in and intended to invite the Fourth Princess and the consort to join them for some evening refreshments.
Who could have expected that as soon as they arrived, they would hear the Fourth Princess clearly enunciate the words "Get lost," followed by a consort who was forced to "get lost" but was smiling happily.
The corner of the Fourth Prince's mouth twitched. His fourth sister was usually so quiet and unassuming—was she actually this fierce toward her husband? The Fujins and Gege in his own manor would never dare shout at him like that.
If it were anyone else, he would surely have reprimanded them for failing to maintain husbandly authority, but… but this was his own sister.
Silently reciting "Restrain Impatience, Employ Forbearance," the Fourth Prince decided to act as if he hadn't heard anything.
The Fifth Prince, however, laughed. "Oh? Did you make her angry? Perfect timing, we were going to invite you both for some wine. As her brother, I can pressure you to proffer a switch and beg for her forgiveness."
Dorji replied with a smile, "It was just a joke. However, it wouldn't be right for me to go back in to call the Princess now. It doesn't matter if she hits me, I'm just afraid her hand might hurt."
The Fifth Prince burst into laughter. The Fourth Prince could truly take it no longer; with a cold face, he strode forward, intending to call the Fourth Princess out himself.
The curtain was lifted, and out of the corner of her eye, Muxue saw the shadow of a man. Thinking it was still Dorji, she scolded with a laugh: "Get out—"
Her voice cut off abruptly.
Once Muxue saw clearly who had entered, she was stunned for a moment.
Why was it the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen?
The next thought that flashed through her mind was: I'm really something, shouting 'Get out' at the future emperor.
This truly was a rare experience.