1 – Princess Falls off a Cliff
A magnificent carriage adorned with jade carvings traveled slowly along the official road, flanked by a formidable military escort. The royal procession stretched out in solemn grandeur.
Inside the carriage, the space was exceptionally luxurious and spacious. A small bronze incense burner emitted fragrant smoke, its tendrils curling delicately in the air.
Behind a light gauze curtain, the silhouette of a woman reclining on a couch could be vaguely seen—her cloud-like hair and snow-white skin complemented her graceful figure.
As the carriage jolted slightly, the woman frowned and awoke. With her beautiful eyes still closed, she spoke softly, “Yuan’er, go and instruct the carriage to slow down. The ride is too bumpy.”
A maidservant kneeling by the gauze curtain acknowledged the order, rose, and opened the carved huanghuali wood door of the carriage to instruct the procession to proceed more slowly.
After about half a quarter of an hour, a gentle voice sounded from outside the carriage, “Your Highness, this humble official, Pei Chen, has a matter to report.”
Only then did the princess reclining on the couch lazily open her eyes. Her gaze, clear as autumn water, held an amber-like clarity.
The princess smoothed her cloud-like hair and replied languidly, “Granted.”
The maidservant drew aside the gauze curtain and then rose to push open the carriage window.
Pei Chen, mounted on a fine steed, looked into the carriage and beheld the princess’s dignified and graceful demeanor—her noble bearing, delicate softness, and skin like ice and jade.
With a smile in his eyes, Pei Chen reported respectfully, “The carriage is about to pass through a mountain road ahead. As it is already mid-afternoon, if the royal procession does not increase its speed, traversing the mountain road at night may be unsafe.”
Upon hearing this, the princess frowned. “We have been traveling for five or six days straight, and my entire body aches. At this moment, I am dizzy and uncomfortable. Must we speed up?”
The princess’s voice was soft and languid. Pei Chen’s lips curved slightly. The carriage traveled smoothly on the official road, and the princess rested on a soft couch draped in light velvet—how could it possibly be bumpy?
It was simply that the princess was too delicate.
After all, the Legitimate Princess Gu Pingting was the cherished treasure of the Great King and Queen, showered with boundless affection since childhood. Naturally, she was noble, delicate, and fragile.
“Your Highness, please endure it a little longer. Once we pass the mountain road ahead, we will reach the traveling palace, where you may rest.”
Gu Pingting glanced at Pei Chen before reluctantly agreeing, “…Then let us pass through the mountain road quickly. I wish to arrive at the traveling palace and rest sooner. This Hall is truly exhausted.”
Pei Chen acknowledged the order and led the escort to increase their speed, entering the steep and winding mountain road.
As the carriage moved faster, the tassels hanging beneath the gauze curtain swayed gently. Gu Pingting closed her beautiful eyes, her delicate brows furrowed, and her porcelain-like face revealed a weary expression.
Just as Gu Pingting felt dizzy and unsettled, a sudden loud crash echoed, followed by the terrified neighing of horses. The carriage began to shake violently.
The intense jolting nearly threw Gu Pingting from the soft couch.
Outside, soldiers shouted in chaos, “Rocks are tumbling down the mountain! Beware of the panicked horses… Protect the carriage! Guard Her Highness the Princess!”
As Gu Pingting struggled to sit up, the carriage lurched forward abruptly. Her entire body was thrown backward uncontrollably as the terrified horses dragged the carriage into a frantic gallop!
Inside the carriage, items scattered everywhere. The maidservant Yuan’er cried out, “Your Highness, the horses have panicked! You must jump from the carriage!”
The carriage shook so violently that Yuan’er practically crawled over to pull Gu Pingting toward the exit.
As soon as the carriage door was pushed open, Gu Pingting saw the carriage careening wildly along the steep mountain path! Beside the road lay sheer cliffs—a fall would mean certain death.
Gu Pingting had never faced such danger before. Her legs immediately weakened, and she collapsed onto the carriage floor.
Yuan’er tried to pull the princess to her feet, but at that moment, the right wheel rolled over a fallen rock, causing the entire carriage to tilt into the air.
Caught off guard, Yuan’er was flung out of the carriage!
Gu Pingting was thrown against the side wall, the impact leaving her dazed and vision dark. By the time her senses cleared, she saw that the horse’s reins had snapped, and only the carriage compartment remained, sliding toward the cliff’s edge—on the verge of plunging into the abyss!
Gu Pingting was horrified. Pei Chen galloped over on horseback, reaching out and shouting, “Princess, take my hand!”
Just as she and the carriage were about to plummet over the cliff, Gu Pingting mustered her courage and grasped Pei Chen’s hand.
With a powerful pull, Pei Chen yanked her out of the carriage.
Momentum sent them both tumbling from the horse, rolling to the very edge of the cliff. Pei Chen used all his strength to clutch a rock with one hand, but his other hand lost its grip on Gu Pingting!
Gu Pingting felt her arm slip free, and then she was plummeting downward at terrifying speed.
Her beautiful figure vanished in the blink of an eye. Pei Chen cried out in anguish, “Princess, Princess… Pingting!!”
Gu Pingting had no idea how many times she tumbled in the rushing river. She had nearly lost all sensation, drifting in and out of consciousness. In her haze, she seemed to have grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, carried along by the turbulent current downstream.
……
“Wake up… wake up…”
Gu Pingting faintly heard someone calling her, someone patting her cheek. Struggling, she opened her eyes.
In the dim light, she saw a dusky sky, surrounded by many trees, with the sound of rushing water nearby.
“Awake?… Looks like she’ll live.”
A rough, deep voice sounded by her ear. Gu Pingting felt herself being lifted. The arms holding her were immensely strong, as if her entire weight was lighter than a feather to that force.
She was lifted straight up.
Gu Pingting strained to look up, barely making out a figure in the dim evening light of the dense forest—a figure as burly and towering as a great black bear!
A thick beard covered his face, his eyes and brows fierce and stern, his shoulders broad. The arms holding her were harder than stone!
Gu Pingting was terrified by this towering dark figure. She thought she must be dead.
This being holding her must be a mountain demon, capturing her soul.
The small figure in his arms suddenly trembled violently. Feng Shan looked down just in time to see the pitiful, delicate girl staring up at him in terror.
Seeing her fear, Feng Shan wanted to speak to comfort her.
But his downward glance only frightened Gu Pingting more! In the dim light, all she could see were his large, gleaming eyes and, as his mouth opened, a flash of stark white teeth!
It really was a great monster!
Gu Pingting was scared out of her wits. Before Feng Shan could utter a word, she fainted from sheer fright!
Seeing this, Feng Shan furrowed his brow but didn’t dwell on it. Carrying Gu Pingting, he strode through the dense forest, heading home.
“Oh my… this young lady is truly lovely!… She was barely breathing, I thought she wouldn’t make it. Who knew she’d improve after taking the medicine…”
“How did she end up in the river? She looks like a young lady from a wealthy family. Look at her little face and skin, so tender!”
Gu Pingting faintly felt someone pinching her cheek. From the voices, it seemed two women were gathered around her.
As soon as Gu Pingting opened her eyes, she saw a woman leaning over the bed, pinching her cheek. Frowning, Gu Pingting reached up and brushed the woman’s hand away.
“Awake?” The woman was overjoyed. “Oh, with her eyes open, she looks like a fairy!”
Another woman leaned in to take a look.
Gu Pingtíng slowly sat up, frowning as she looked at the two women. Both were dressed in coarse linen clothes with cloth headscarves, appearing to be village women from their attire.
Gu Pingtíng then surveyed her surroundings—a tiled-roof house with earthen floors, seemingly a farmhouse.
“Don’t be afraid, young lady. Feng Shan asked us to help you change clothes and clean up. You were drifting in the river earlier, and your clothes were all torn by the rolling stones in the water. It was us aunties who changed your clothes before. Come now, don’t be scared. Your hands and feet are injured, so let this auntie help you change into fresh clothes.”
Feng Shan? Gu Pingtíng silently repeated the name. Who was Feng Shan?
Judging by the situation, had he saved her?