“I don’t want to! I don’t want to! I don’t want to!”
As soon as Huangfu Yi returned to Fuxu Pavilion, her mother, Xi Cairen, informed her that the emperor had recently agreed to the terms proposed by foreign envoys seeking peace. The condition was simple: if a princess was willing to marry into their kingdom, a peace treaty would be signed.
Such an offer, which required no casualties and even promised annual tributes, was impossible for any ruler to refuse. Aside from the loss of a daughter, there were no other drawbacks.
But the problem lay precisely here. Huangfu Yi, the eldest princess, was only twelve years old—far too young to marry.
The envoys had considered this and suggested that she be sent over first, with the wedding ceremony to be held once she came of age.
Yet no matter what, the age difference between the princess and their khan was nearly forty years! Soon after the marriage, she would be left a widow. Following their customs, Huangfu Yi would likely become the wife of two generations of rulers.
How could anyone endure such humiliation?
Xi Cairen was well aware of this. She too was unwilling to let her daughter suffer, but at this moment, she had no power to refuse. Her maternal family was not influential, and her child was the eldest—it could only be her, and only her.
Xi Cairen held Huangfu Yi and wept, while Huangfu Yi cried out in protest.
But what could they do? They had no power to resist.
Huangfu Yi ran to her father’s bedchamber and knelt outside the door for a full day and night. Yet the father who had once doted on her with tenderness never appeared. Instead, two eunuchs arrived and dragged her back to Fuxu Pavilion.
It was the time when winter turned to spring, when frost and snow melted into water. The cold was no less biting than the depths of winter. She received no comfort, only a rebuke for being “unreasonable.”
Inside the palace, Huangfu Yi cried until her eyes were red and swollen. Her knees were bruised and even showed signs of frostbite.
Xi Cairen wept as she applied medicine to her daughter’s wounds. Mother and daughter had both become pawns on someone else’s chessboard.
She became a mere entry in the history books: Princess Pingrong entered the Western Regions, safeguarding the friendly relations between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.
But no one knew of her youth, of her journey alone to a foreign land, where she would become a caged canary, admired by others.
By the third day, even Xi Cairen could no longer bear to visit. Whenever mother and daughter exchanged glances, tears would inevitably flow.
Yet being left alone only deepened Huangfu Yi’s anguish. The food sent to her was impossible to swallow. With tears and sorrow, she forced herself to eat, but everything tasted bland and flavorless.
She remembered the promise she had made with her elder brother, the month of happiness they had shared. He had said he would protect her—could he save her now?
Huangfu Yi did not know, but an impulse within her drove her to act. Skillfully avoiding the palace maids, she walked barefoot to avoid making noise and hurried to their “secret base.”
After days of rain, the leaves around the small opening were dripping with dew. This time, she no longer cared about dirtying her clothes—even if it meant crawling through a dog hole.
Dew soaked her clothes, and mud clung to her garments. She crawled inside and instinctively wanted to lift the lid of the well to hide, but she feared their secret would be discovered, afraid that the last warmth left to her in this deep palace would be destroyed.
She could only hide behind a tree and softly call toward the house behind, “Imperial Brother, Imperial Brother, Elder Brother!”
But no one answered her.
A muffled thunderclap struck abruptly, startling Huangfu Yi into hiding nearby. Because of her voice and movements, the people outside the door discovered her hiding spot. Behind her came the rustling whispers of palace maids and eunuchs, leaving her no choice but to cower timidly beside a dry well.
Seeing Huangfu Yi so close to the dry well, the eunuchs feared she might do something drastic. Without a second thought, they squeezed through the dog hole. After all, two eunuchs were far stronger than a twelve-year-old girl.
Huangfu Yi was practically dragged out by them, her hands covered in scratches from weeds, rain and tears mingling on her face.
The early spring temperature was unusually cold. She endured the chill, trembling as she hid in the corner, yet panic still consumed her entire being.
With two grown men entering, the space instantly became unbearably cramped, leaving her no room to struggle.
“Help!!”
By the time Zi Sang Zhen dragged her sickly body to the scene, Huangfu Yi was already being held captive by two eunuchs. She struggled, fighting for even a sliver of resistance, but she was just a child after all, utterly defenseless.
She used her nails and teeth, only to be met with vicious slaps. They didn’t know whose orders they were following, daring to lay hands on a princess. Zi Sang Zhen rushed forward to intervene, but the spring rain had soaked the pile of weeds. In her haste to take a shortcut, she failed to notice and stumbled.
The bluish-purple needle marks on her hands were now accompanied by fresh blood, yet she felt no pain—her eyes were fixed solely on the one who dared to resist.
“Who’s there!”
The palace maid’s ears were sharp, and even the rain-muffled sound reached her.
Fallen on the ground, Zi Sang Zhen happened to be hidden by the haystack. For some reason, in that moment, she held her breath, afraid to reveal herself.
If she still had her former strength, she could have taken on all three of them alone. But now, she had no strength to wield. Yet giving up on saving Huangfu Yi was impossible!
The palace maid’s footsteps drew closer. Zi Sang Zhen had no choice—if she was exposed, so be it. At worst, she would die!
But the next moment, her blood path was sealed, followed by the appearance of a stray cat. The cat’s arrival saved her from her predicament, yet she couldn’t break free either. She could only listen quietly to Huangfu Yi’s cries for help.
Let me go! Let me go!
Whose plea was it?
Zi Sang Zhen’s fingers clawed at the muddy grass, inching forward bit by bit, trying to crawl out and see Huangfu Yi. Her hands were rubbed raw by the dirt until they bled, her fingertips stained with blood, mingling with the muddy water.
But she managed to push half her body out. Zi Sang Zhen saw Huangfu Yi’s appearance—soaked through by the rain, her face and hands smeared with mud from the eunuchs’ dragging. Strands of hair clung tightly to her cheeks.
Suddenly, in the moment their gazes met, Huangfu Yi stopped crying for help and instead smiled.
In that instant, it was as if she had given up resisting. She saw her, raindrops mixed with blood and tears falling beside both their faces.
Huangfu Yi seemed to have found salvation. He came, as long as he came.
No matter the outcome, at least he came.
That was enough.
She stopped crying and shaking her head. She didn’t know if Zi Sang Zhen could see, but she still silently mouthed, “Go! Go!”
Zi Sang Zhen’s eyes were blurred by the rain, yet she could still clearly see her lips forming the words.
She even wished she couldn’t read such lip movements—that way, she could still deceive herself into believing she could save her, could protect her.
But now, the one being protected was her! Her sister had traded her own freedom for her life!
She wanted to cry out to draw their attention, but not even a hoarse groan could escape her throat. She could only watch helplessly as she was taken away.
She hadn’t even been able to convey a single word to her.
She was too weak, too powerless to protect anyone.
Her tears became the most useless thing in this world.
After those people left, Qian Yu walked up to Zi Sang Zhen. With a strained, raspy voice, Zi Sang Zhen pleaded desperately, “Please save her, I beg you, save her.”
Yet the next moment, Zi Sang Zhen plunged into darkness.
Zi Sang Zhen jolted awake. She had dreamed of Huangfu Yi, covered in blood, pleading for help. But her hands were bound—her identity as a woman had been discovered. The emperor ordered her restrained, and for the crime of deceiving the throne, she was to be executed immediately.
She had no power to resist. Beside her were her mother and relatives, kneeling in a row. Before them stood Huangfu Yi, who had been punished with caning because of her.
All she could do was watch them helplessly, gazing pleadingly at the man seated high above, hoping for mercy and redemption.
But in the end, all she received was a sea of blood.
“Jin Yu! Jin Yu!” Zi Sang Zhen steadied her frantic heartbeat and called out urgently, “Jin Yu!”
Jin Yu had been waiting outside the door. Hearing her wake, she immediately pushed the door open and entered. “How are you feeling?”
Seeing Jin Yu felt like salvation. Zi Sang Zhen anxiously asked, “What happened to Huangfu Yi! Will she die? She pleaded for my help, but I… I…”
Jin Yu knew her emotions were fragile at the moment, but the truth still needed to be told. She sat by the bedside, picked up the still-warm medicinal brew, and began feeding it to Zi Sang Zhen spoonful by spoonful.
But Zi Sang Zhen had no desire to drink it. All she wanted was to know about Huangfu Yi. “Tell me quickly!” she urged, grabbing Jin Yu’s arms with a desperate plea.
Jin Yu could only set the medicine aside and let out a soft sigh. “She is unharmed, but you may never see her again.”
“What do you mean, never see her again!” Zi Sang Zhen tried to get out of bed, wanting to go find Huangfu Yi.
Jin Yu gently stopped the still-weak Zi Sang Zhen. “Calm down first! She has only been sent away for a political marriage!”
Zi Sang Zhen: “Political marriage? What does that mean?”
Jin Yu: “Just like your mother—sent from one country to marry into another, where no one will know if she is mistreated. She might become the empress of a nation, or she might end up like your mother, cast into the cold palace.”
Zi Sang Zhen recalled her own memories. Life here wasn’t exactly good, but it wasn’t entirely bad either. Qian Yu and Jin Yu would occasionally sneak out of the palace. Jin Yu was skilled in medicine, and Qian Yu was a renowned assassin on the wanted lists. Every month, they would leave the palace regularly—sometimes to buy things, sometimes to earn money.
But compared to others in the palace, their lives were much more impoverished, especially her mother’s. She was even the crown princess of a nation, yet now, in her spare time, she had to grow vegetables in the courtyard.
The Empress Dowager at least has Jin Yu, Qian Yu, and her company—will Huangfu Yi have the same? Will her days be more comfortable or more difficult?
Zi Sang Zhen did not know, but she only knew one thing: she did not want Huangfu Yi to waste her life like this!
“Is there no other way? Must she go for a political marriage?” Zi Sang Zhen anxiously asked her.
Jin Yu shook her head. There was no other way. The emperor had already issued the decree, and tomorrow would be the day of her departure.
Zi Sang Zhen lowered her head, pondering whether causing a disturbance alone would lead to a good outcome. Jin Yu seemed to see through her thoughts and coldly analyzed the pros and cons of the situation.
“If you’re thinking of intercepting the marriage procession, don’t even consider it. Not to mention your own capabilities, even if you and Qian Yu joined forces, you would be powerless. And have you thought about your mother? Once your identity is exposed, both you and your mother will die!”
Zi Sang Zhen froze, recalling the dream she had just had. She closed her eyes, unwilling to face the cruelty of reality. It seemed she truly could not move anyone.
“But if you become a general, defeat their country, and if you can ascend to the highest position of power, her fate will be entirely in your hands.”
Jin Yu had not wanted to guide her this way, but it was the only path—the only path that would benefit everyone. She admitted that in saying this, she harbored her own selfish motives. Such guidance was something Zi Sang Mu would never have offered, but Jin Yu was willing. Zi Sang Zhen’s destiny was meant to be this way; Huangfu Yi merely accelerated her choice.
After saying this, Jin Yu did not want to reveal her vulnerability. She dared not even glance at Zi Sang Zhen and fled as if escaping, leaving Zi Sang Zhen alone to ponder the meaning of her words.
Just as Jin Yu opened the door to leave, Zi Sang Zhen called out to her and asked, “When is she leaving?”
“At Chen hour tomorrow. If you wish to go, I’ll have Qian Yu accompany you.” Jin Yu could discern all her thoughts, including those at this moment. Even without Qian Yu’s company, Zi Sang Zhen would undoubtedly go, but Qian Yu’s presence would provide an extra layer of security.
“Thank you for the trouble.”
Chen hour, at the palace gates.
The eunuchs’ sharp voices rang out loudly, “The auspicious hour has arrived! Begin!”
The palace gate for the departure was lavishly decorated with red silk, creating a festive atmosphere. Dressed in phoenix crown and red wedding robes, the frail Huangfu Yi could hardly bear the weight of the elaborate attire. Yet, at this moment, she was already considered a married woman, awaiting the formal union as another’s wife four years later.
Her eyes were veiled by a red bridal veil, leaving only her crimson lips visible, silently protesting that she, like the miles of red wedding procession, had become a peace offering for diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The phoenix crown and red wedding robes, the lifelong aspiration of many women, had now become the shackles of her entire life.
Following the eunuchs’ calls, Huangfu Yi performed the highest ceremonial bow as a daughter, bidding farewell to the father she had loved most in the past decades, as if resigning herself to fate.
Zi Sang Zhen gazed at the miles-long red procession and the deafening sounds of gongs and drums along the way, finally fixing her eyes on Huangfu Yi.
As if sensing something, Huangfu Yi looked toward a corner of the city wall and revealed a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
For the sake of that smile alone, Zi Sang Zhen left with Qian Yu.
“Your Highness, have you made up your mind?” Jin Yu placed a bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup on the table and asked her with a hint of reluctance.
Zi Sang Mu did not hesitate in the slightest, allowing the scalding medicinal brew to burn her throat and neck. She even smiled with a sense of relief, saying, “You have paved the way for Zhen’er, so naturally, I must maximize my own value.”
“But this is not the best choice!”
Zi Sang Mu brushed away the hand that reached out to her, wiping the corner of her mouth as she did so. “This is the optimal choice. Say no more—she is about to return.”
“Your Highness… I understand.”