Xijing’s clothing style was quite distinctive, designed specifically around the desert’s ever-changing climate, jokingly referred to as “head-to-toe coverage.”

Men wore turbans, and women wore headscarves as well—women’s headscarves typically included a veil, meant to conceal their faces from outsiders, generally in black or white.

Yelu Qianqian was absolutely an exception to this custom—she hadn’t dressed this way even during diplomatic missions abroad, let alone within the palace itself, a clear testament to just how thoroughly the King of Xijing indulged her.

Dressed in a simple, pale yellow gown, she bounced along like a joyful butterfly, blocking Yanzi’s path, turning back to grin at her. “Tell me where you two went, what you were up to—otherwise, you’re not going anywhere!”

Beneath her veil, Yanzi’s expression had already darkened considerably. In her mind, there wasn’t a single woman in this world entitled to order her around like this.

She had tolerated this princess for quite some time now—had it not been for the immense benefits Yelu Chenyi could offer her, she would have already slapped this insufferable girl away without hesitation.

But this girl couldn’t be touched—not so much as a single hair on her head!

This girl was one of Yelu Chenyi’s most important pieces on the chessboard!

The very reason the Crown Prince of Western Liang had taken a liking to her in the first place had been Yelu Chenyi’s own careful orchestration.

As long as Xijing’s western border remained secure, Xijing’s Wolf Army would grow strong enough to make an eastward campaign entirely feasible.

How could wolves who had long dwelled in the desert not covet the fertile lands along the eastern coast?

And the man she was to marry was none other than the very Crown Prince of Western Liang himself, soon to ascend as its emperor. Once married, she would become Crown Princess, and eventually Empress Mother of the entire nation, destined to bear the next heir to Western Liang’s throne.

Bound by blood ties this close, barring truly dire circumstances, Western Liang and Xijing would never again go to war!

The war between Xijing and Western Chu had been engineered by Jun Beiyue, instigated by Han Ziqing—but in truth, it was also precisely what Yelu Chenyi had been waiting for all along.

Otherwise, something as monumental as a diplomatic mission to Nanzhao—even if the King of Xijing had agreed to it, Yelu Chenyi himself might never have consented!

“Princess, His Highness found the palace too noisy and went to Basiya City to escape the cold,” Yanzi said flatly.

“Liar. I clearly saw you two heading east—did you go to Da Zhou?” Yelu Qianqian asked suspiciously.

“The princess must be mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken!”

“The princess is mistaken.”

“I’m not wrong! My maid saw it too!”

“The princess’s maid is mistaken as well.”

“You—!”

“Forgive me, Princess. His Highness truly went west. He’s waiting for this humble servant even now—if there’s nothing further, I’ll take my leave.”

Yanzi remained perfectly deferential, bowing slightly as she moved to slip past Yelu Qianqian, but before she’d taken more than a few steps, Yelu Qianqian called out sharply, “Stop right there!”

Yanzi’s eyes chilled instantly, yet she had no choice but to halt. “Does the princess have any further instructions?”

“Nothing in particular.” Yelu Qianqian stretched lazily, apparently about to head toward the study.

Yanzi took a quiet, deep breath. “This humble servant takes her leave.”

Yet Yelu Qianqian refused to let her go so easily. “Did I say you could leave?”

Yanzi halted again. “Princess, His Highness is waiting anxiously for me!”

“Don’t try using my brother to pressure me. Even Father can’t handle that stubborn temperament of his, yet you seem to manage him quite thoroughly all these years,” Yelu Qianqian said, stepping closer, looking Yanzi up and down with open disdain.

Yanzi felt a flicker of surprise inwardly—only today did she realize this insufferable girl might not be quite as foolish as she’d always assumed.

The girl was about to be married off to a distant land—what exactly was she up to now, suddenly giving her such trouble?

Yanzi remained perfectly composed, allowing Yelu Qianqian to scrutinize her freely, mulling over the hidden meaning behind her words.

But to her surprise, Yelu Qianqian suddenly leaned in close to her ear, whispering, “Help me with something. Do it well, and I won’t expose your affair with my brother. How about it?”

Her brother—that closed-off, reclusive man—had never once kept a maid by his side, only guards.

This Rouge was the sole exception, having followed her brother for years now. She absolutely had to be someone dear to his heart—otherwise, she could never have lasted so long by his side.

Hearing Yelu Qianqian’s words, Yanzi was momentarily stunned.

Yelu Qianqian, meanwhile, grinned mischievously, suddenly reaching out to yank Yanzi’s veil clean off, laughing, “What a beauty!”

Yanzi truly was beautiful, possessing more than enough allure to turn heads—even Yelu Qianqian, sharp-eyed as she was, found herself genuinely struck by her beauty.

“I’ve peeked before, hehe. My brother’s taste really isn’t bad at all. Too bad you’re only a maid—but don’t worry, as long as you help me with this, I promise I won’t expose you.”

The chill in Yanzi’s eyes immediately melted into a smile, and she even managed to appear convincingly bashful. “What might the princess require?”

“Hehe, come closer. In a few days, Da Zhou’s Prince Yao will be visiting, and there’s someone called Situ Haonan…”

Yelu Qianqian’s voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, while Yanzi’s delight grew more and more evident with every word.

She hadn’t even figured out yet how to handle the avenger now charging straight toward them—and here, an opportunity had practically fallen right into her lap!

“Rest assured, Princess, this humble servant will handle it properly. His Highness will never know,” Yanzi agreed at once.

“It’s a deal!” Yelu Qianqian happily extended her pinky finger to seal the promise, and Yanzi smiled even more radiantly than she did. “Rest assured, Princess, this humble servant knows exactly where the line is. I would never breathe a word of this to anyone.”

Satisfied at last, Yelu Qianqian turned and headed off toward the study.

Yanzi watched her figure disappear, then slowly pulled her veil back up—and at the very same moment, a vicious, malicious smile curved across her lovely lips. “Jun Beiyue, since you’ve decided to come, I certainly won’t let you leave again.”

At this very moment, Jun Beiyue was already on the road!

After making landfall, rumors had already begun spreading wildly across the entire Central Plains—some even absurdly claiming that Nanzhao’s Jiao tribe had betrayed their own king and defected to serve Jun Beiyue instead!

He had received not only the Empress of Eastern Qin’s condemnation letter, but also a private missive from the King of Nanzhao—though phrased politely, inquiring about the naval battle, it nonetheless made clear his intention to dispatch Jiaoren to investigate personally.

Yet Jun Beiyue paid none of this any mind whatsoever!

The moment he made landfall, he boarded a carriage that had been prepared well in advance, taking the official road that had already been cleared ahead of time, heading straight for Xijing!

By now, he had already reached the border of Da Zhou!

The carriage was a specially constructed, oversized vehicle, thick with the pungent scent of medicinal herbs inside. Ziqing lay submerged in a large bathing tub, her eyes tightly shut, still unconscious.

Aside from personally changing her medicinal bath each night, Jun Beiyue spent the vast majority of his time seated right beside her. The tub itself took up most of the carriage’s interior, forcing his tall frame to curl awkwardly into the corner.

He did nothing at all—there was nothing he could do—simply sitting there quietly, watching over Ziqing, until, without realizing it, he would drift off to sleep leaning against the tub’s edge.

Yingzi and Situ Haonan took turns driving day and night, pushing directly against the western winds—an exceedingly difficult journey—yet somehow, between the two of them, they managed to complete what should have taken ten full days in just five!

The carriage slowly came to a stop. They had reached the border.

Yingzi stepped down to present their token of passage, but returned shortly after, breathless and puffing white clouds of cold air, his expression anxious. “Prince Baxian arrived long ago—he’s been waiting for us!”

“No wonder we didn’t see him at the harbor—he came straight here to intercept us instead!” Situ Haonan muttered, rubbing his frostbitten hands. This pampered young master, having led such a comfortable life until now, was experiencing frostbite for the very first time. He carefully lifted a corner of the curtain. “Beiyue… your uncle’s blocking the road!”

“Take this over there.” Jun Beiyue didn’t show his face, his voice somewhat low and hoarse. He extended his hand, offering a scorpion-shaped ring—and Situ Haonan saw that his hand, even more pampered by upbringing than his own, was swollen almost beyond recognition, covered entirely in frostbite, several patches already cracked open.

Situ Haonan felt a flicker of heartache at the sight, but said nothing further, simply taking the ring and heading off. This scorpion-shaped ring served as a military command token, capable of directly ordering the border-guarding general—Prince Baxian, holding no military authority himself, had no right to interfere at all.