The one who summoned Gao Luoshen to the palace was the current Empress Dowager Gao Yongrong, Gao Luoshen’s cousin.

After hearing Gao Yongrong’s words, Gao Luoshen stood stunned, her heart filled with bewilderment.

Gao Yongrong said she hoped she would agree to marry Li Mu.

Li Mu, courtesy name Jingchen, had ancestors who once served as governors of Hongnong Commandery. Through generations of accumulated merit, they were enfeoffed as Commandery Dukes.

When Shenzhou fell and the Dayu imperial house retreated south, the Li family ancestors refused to follow the southern exodus, moving their entire household back to their ancestral home in Xuyi north of the Huai River.

After the imperial house abandoned the Central Plains for southern retreat, the border areas between north and south along the Huai River became battlegrounds of constant struggle, overrun with bandits and military chaos. Any border residents who still had escape routes had long since fled.

After Li Mu’s grandfather returned home, he built fortified compounds, sheltered homeless refugees, organized private troops, and resisted harassment from barbarian soldiers and bandits. At their peak, they developed nearly ten thousand troops.

Li Mu’s ancestors thus single-handedly protected regional peace while hoping for royal armies to advance north and restore the Central Plains.

However, after decades of bitter resistance, the anticipated royal forces never appeared. As the northern Jie regime established itself, the Li family fortress inevitably faced decline, unable to stand alone.

Over twenty years ago, the Li family fortress was breached and Li Mu’s father died in the military chaos. Li Mu’s mother brought ten-year-old Li Mu with fleeing refugees across the river to Jiangzuo, settling in Jingkou and beginning a difficult life.

He joined the army at thirteen. Ten years ago, through his contributions in the court’s suppression of the Wu region rebellion in the third year of Taikang, he began to distinguish himself in the military, gradually rising from the lowest rank of squad leader to eventually become a core figure in the Yingtian Army.

During these ten years, he led armies in three expeditions from Jiangnan, destroying northern regimes like Xi Shu and Nanliang, successively recovering most of Henan including Yanzhou, driving the barbarians north of the Yellow River.

The northern expedition’s great enterprise was half-accomplished, and he became renowned throughout the realm.

At the mention of his name, barbarians retreated in fear while all Han people looked up to him with admiration.

Two years ago, Li Mu, then serving as Governor of Yanzhou and General-in-Chief, went to north of the Huai to prepare for his fourth and planned largest-scale northern expedition of his life. The Xu family, a noble house with hereditary governorship of Jingzhou, seized the opportunity to launch rebellion.

Rebel forces soon captured Jiankang. To avoid the military threat, Gao Luoshen’s brother-in-law, the then Emperor Taikang, was forced to flee Tai City. From shock, anger, and fear, he soon fell ill and died. Upon hearing this news, Li Mu temporarily suspended his northern expedition plans and led his army back. After suppressing the Xu family rebellion, he escorted back Empress Gao Yongrong and four-year-old Crown Prince Xiao Xun who had been fleeing in exile.

That year, Xiao Xun ascended the throne, Gao Yongrong became Empress Dowager, and Dayu finally restored stability.

But due to this upheaval, the court’s structure underwent massive changes.

Those noble families who once controlled government affairs, with disciples and proteges spread everywhere and power sufficient to rival the imperial house, suffered merciless purges by Li Mu after this military rebellion.

The Xu, Lu, and Zhu families—former noble houses that had successively dominated Nanchao and commanded respect—were severely weakened and gradually declined.

Li Mu took their place, holding the position of Grand Marshal, enfeoffed as Supreme Commander of Internal and External Military Affairs with authority over state affairs, concentrating great power in one person, reaching the pinnacle of influence a minister could achieve.

“Sister, this is too sudden. How did you come to have such thoughts? You know that after Lu Lang’s death, I had no intention of remarrying. Moreover, the Grand Marshal and I are complete strangers. If he truly harbors ambitions to usurp the throne, even if I married him, how could he abandon such thoughts because of one woman?”

Gao Luoshen finally recovered her composure and spoke.

She was no longer the pampered, unworldly young girl from years past.

For high-born noble daughters like her, marriage never allowed personal choice, always serving family interests.

To marry someone both socially suitable and emotionally compatible as she had was already rare—perhaps this very fortune invited heaven’s jealousy. After barely a year of marriage, the Lu family lost an outstanding son they took pride in, while she lost her husband and remained widowed until now.

Over these years, marriage proposals came in endless streams, yet the Gao family never pressured her.

Today, since Gao Yongrong spoke thus, how could Gao Luoshen not understand her thoughts? Hence she spoke frankly.

“A’Mi, others cannot, but you might succeed.”

Gao Yongrong stared at her sister, speaking word by word.

Gao Luoshen’s eyes showed confusion.

“A’Mi, do you remember the scene two years ago during the Xu family rebellion, when you accompanied the late emperor and me south, and Li Mu came to rescue us?”

Reminded by her, Gao Luoshen thought carefully and indeed retained some impression.

At that time, Xu rebel forces pursued relentlessly from behind. In the chaos, her carriage overturned down a mountain path. Injured and unable to move freely, fearing she would burden the emperor and empress, she requested to take a separate route.

She was sent to nearby Xuan City to temporarily settle and recover. Rebel forces subsequently pursued to this location, leaving part of their troops to attack Xuan City, besieging it for over a month.

Just when the city’s supplies were exhausted, defenders losing morale, and the city walls critically endangered, Li Mu descended from heaven, personally leading troops to relieve the siege.

Not only that, he personally sought out Gao Luoshen who was hiding in a secret chamber at the time, assigned his personal guards to escort her to safety, and only sent her back to Jiankang after the rebellion ended.

“Xuan City was not a strategic military location. Even if temporarily lost, it wouldn’t greatly affect the overall suppression. He had just led troops south from north of the Yangtze, yet instead of relieving the most urgent crisis at Jiankang, he first went to save Xuan City, then personally entered the city to find you. He’s past thirty, yet I hear he has never married. Saying he has ulterior motives toward you isn’t excessive, is it?”

Gao Yongrong’s words made Gao Luoshen feel somewhat uncomfortable, and she shook her head.

“Sister, you must be mistaken. The Grand Marshal and I are complete strangers. Before Xuan City, we had never even met. After returning to Jiankang, we had no further contact. How could he have feelings for me? Moreover, I remember clearly that day when he relieved Xuan City’s crisis and found me, he only gave a few instructions, with no improper behavior. Not only did he not say much, he didn’t even look at me twice. How could there be ulterior motives?”

Gao Yongrong smiled slightly.

“A’Mi, with your talent and beauty, plus our Gao family’s reputation, what’s strange about men secretly admiring you? He hasn’t married and isn’t lustful. Previously when people sent him beautiful women and handsome youths, he declined them all. That aside, over these years with his overwhelming power, there’s no shortage of noble families willing to cast aside social barriers and propose marriage alliances with him, yet he refused them all with reasons of unfinished northern expeditions and no intention to start a family. But two days ago, when I sent someone to see him and hinted at my intention to marry you to him to test his attitude, he agreed.”

“What? Sister, you already spoke to him? Why didn’t you inform me first?”

Gao Luoshen was shocked again.

Compared to Gao Luoshen’s distress, Gao Yongrong’s expression showed no disturbance.

Perhaps her cousin’s reaction was already within her expectations.

In the palace chamber, only the two sisters remained.

She walked to her cousin’s side, took her hand, led her to sit on the couch, and sat beside her.

“A’Mi, sister only wanted to test the Grand Marshal’s attitude earlier, so I didn’t inform you. Calling you to the palace now is precisely to discuss this with you, isn’t it? You and Yian were like a divine couple, but unfortunately he departed early—it’s been over seven years now. You’re only twenty-five now, in the prime of a woman’s life. Must you truly let your beauty wither and remain alone forever? If Yian has a spirit, he wouldn’t want to see you like this either. Though Li Mu comes from humble origins, at this point, let alone our Gao family and the Xiao imperial clan, looking across all of Dayu, which family could shake his position even slightly? Having you marry him would be wronging you! But you’ve seen his appearance and abilities—they’re not lacking, and he matches you well enough…”

“Sister, don’t say more. This matter is improper! I won’t agree!”

Gao Luoshen’s heart was in turmoil as she interrupted Gao Yongrong’s persuasion.

The smile vanished from Gao Yongrong’s face, her expression gradually becoming grave.

She stood up, slowly walked to a south-facing window in the chamber, stood silently facing outward for a moment, then turned around.

“A’Mi, from childhood to now, how has sister treated you?”

Though Gao Qiao married Eldest Princess and the couple treasured their beloved daughter like a jewel, their own relationship was not harmonious, and they only had this one daughter.

Though Gao Yongrong was a cousin, being five years older than Gao Luoshen, she had treated her like a true sister from childhood. Whether food or clothing, whenever there was something good, she always let Gao Luoshen choose first.

These material things were one matter.

When Gao Luoshen was eight years old, while playing outside, she accidentally disturbed a wasp nest. When the wasps pursued and stung her, Gao Yongrong recklessly threw herself over Gao Luoshen, removing her own clothing to cover her head and face. When servants dispersed the wasps and rescued them both, Gao Luoshen was unharmed while Gao Yongrong was severely stung. After returning, her face and forehead swelled, she remained unconscious for days, and had they not later obtained good medicine, she might have died.

How could Gao Luoshen forget her sister’s kindness, one incident after another?

“Sister, you’re better than my own sister. I still remember when I was eight, you nearly died saving me.”

Gao Yongrong gazed at Gao Luoshen, then suddenly walked before her and knelt down.

“Sister, get up quickly! What are you doing?”

Gao Luoshen was startled and hurriedly helped Gao Yongrong up.

“A’Mi, sister has never asked anything of you. This time, sister begs you! Through his northern expedition achievements, Li Mu’s reputation has soared like the midday sun these years. Two years ago, he used the Xu family rebellion as opportunity to execute Lu, Zhu and others who constrained him, using ruthless methods without restraint. Now in our Dayu, no one can check him anymore. It’s one thing for Li Mu to manipulate all court affairs, but sooner or later, this realm will become the Li family’s realm.”

“Sister… the Grand Marshal shouldn’t be like this… if he intended rebellion, two years ago he needn’t have brought you and Deng’er back…”

Gao Luoshen murmured.

Though she was comforting Gao Yongrong, her tone carried doubt. Perhaps even she herself harbored suspicions.

Gao Yongrong laughed coldly.

“A’Mi, living in seclusion as you do, how would you know human hearts’ treachery? His multiple northern expeditions—do you think he genuinely wants to recover lost territory from barbarians for our Dayu? He’s merely gathering popular support and accumulating prestige! Since Emperor Yuan’s southern retreat, knowing how hearts turn, using northern expedition pretenses to gain reputation then suppress opponents—this behavior was practiced by every first-rate noble family like the former Xu and Lu houses. Even our Gao family, at our peak when uncle held high position with nationwide fame, didn’t that opportunity also come from Gao family sons’ distinguished military achievements against the Jie?”

“Though Dayu now maintains precarious peace in Jiangzuo, the Xiao dynasty has continued for two hundred years. In these two hundred years, how many coveted the throne, attempting to replace it? Whether imperial relatives or noble families, have you seen any succeed? Imperial bloodline descends from heaven—how could such nobility be defiled by ordinary people!”

Speaking of this, Gao Yongrong straightened her shoulders, pride faintly showing in her eyes.

“Moreover, this Li Mu comes from humble origins, merely a crude military commander from border wastelands. How could he not know that without accumulating sufficient prestige and power, rashly usurping the throne—with his background and credentials, how could he suppress people’s hearts and sit securely on that throne?”

“Then he knew his influence wasn’t sufficient. Moreover, with the Xu family’s precedent, he didn’t immediately attempt usurpation. Otherwise, after suppressing the Xu rebellion, why did he urgently execute Yian’s cousin and many other scholar-officials who opposed him? Wasn’t it because Lu and Zhu constrained him greatly? Now he again disregards court opposition, stubbornly insisting on mobilizing the entire nation’s strength, risking Dayu’s dynasty as stakes for another dangerous northern expedition. If my prediction is correct, when he returns successful, it will be the end for me and my orphaned child…”

Gao Yongrong’s eyes gradually reddened with tears.

“A’Mi, sister begs you, just consider it helping me—please agree!”

“Sister… even if I married him, what could I do for you?”

After a long while, Gao Luoshen asked softly, her voice powerless.

“He who can elevate Deng’er to the throne can also depose him and establish himself as emperor. Deposition or establishment rests entirely on his whim. Sister thinks that since he admires you, if you marry him with marriage ties, plus using your influence to mediate, even if Li Mu later emulates the Xu traitor in usurping the throne, perhaps my orphaned mother and child could beg for safety and live out our days peacefully. Otherwise, how could he tolerate my mother and son? I fear then we’d die without burial ground!”

Gao Luoshen lowered her head, her figure seeming frozen, motionless.

Gao Yongrong watched her without speaking further.

Suddenly light footsteps sounded behind them.

Gao Luoshen turned toward the sound and saw her six-year-old nephew Xiao Xun, wearing small dragon robes, running out from a rear palace door. He ran before her and knelt down.

“If aunt won’t save me, Deng’er won’t get up!”

The young emperor spoke with childish tones, gripping her garment tightly with both hands, eyes wide as he looked up at her unblinkingly.

A month later, in late spring of the second year of Longyuan, so Li Mu’s long-prepared northern expedition could depart on schedule, Gao Luoshen completed her marriage to him almost hastily.

Undoubtedly, this was a grand wedding that captured the entire city’s attention.

One was a high-born noble lady of unparalleled talent and beauty. The only poem she wrote in her youth while studying with clan cousins that circulated publicly is still copied in the streets today.

The other was the Grand Marshal, in ordinary Nanchao people’s hearts representing southern blood and supreme glory—a war god second only to one, above ten thousand.

After the lengthy wedding ceremony, Gao Luoshen sat alone in her wedding dress in the bridal chamber specially prepared for tonight in the Grand Marshal’s mansion, quietly awaiting the arrival of her second husband.