Yelu Qianqian’s carriage was far out in front, guarded three layers deep, inside and out. The outer ring was made up of ordinary guards, while the inner and outer rings both held a dozen or so of Yelu Chenyi’s personal bodyguards.

This alone showed just how important Yelu Qianqian was—and just how great a threat Jun Beiyue posed!

Yelu Qianqian was already a bride-to-be, and by rights should have been married off long ago. But because of the Sand Sacrifice Ceremony, the Emperor of Xijing and the Emperor of Xiliang had postponed the wedding date, which had left the Emperor of Xiliang none too pleased!

At this delicate juncture, whatever happened to Yelu Qianqian would seriously affect the friendly relations between Xijing and Xiliang.

That the Crown Prince of Xiliang was infatuated with Yelu Qianqian didn’t mean the Emperor of Xiliang would tolerate concession after concession.

Yanzi was still dressed as a maidservant. She was very careful, first blending into a large crowd of maids and walking a good distance before making her way toward the carriage.

She glanced back at Yelu Chenyi and saw he was still watching Jun Beiyue intently. Jun Beiyue sat high on his horse, none of Yelu Chenyi’s air of facing a great enemy about him—instead he looked resplendent and dashing, as though a god surveying all around him!

The corner of Yanzi’s mouth curved into a self-satisfied smile. The man she had set her heart on truly was the finest, the most outstanding—truly the only man on this continent who could be called a “supreme ruler”!

As if she didn’t know exactly what Yelu Chenyi was scheming!

Jun Beiyue would absolutely not return empty-handed from this trip. Yelu Chenyi was certain to have prepared for the worst case—to kill him!

With Da Zhou’s help, in the war between Xichu and Xijing, Xijing had gained every advantage, while Xichu had suffered a severe blow to its vitality and could no longer dominate Longyuan as it once had!

Setting aside Nanzhao, which held the unique southern territories to itself, Da Zhou had now effectively replaced Xijing as the strongest military power in Longyuan!

What if Jun Beiyue died?

Jun Beiyue had so boldly sent Xuanyuan Zhaoxi’s corpse to Xijing—once word of this got out, Xijing would inevitably be dragged into trouble!

But if Jun Beiyue died in Xijing, then Xijing could not only win over Dongqin, but could also give Nanzhao an explanation regarding the matter of the merfolk!

Why wouldn’t Yelu Chenyi seize such an opportunity?

Whatever schemes Jun Beiyue actually had for Yelu Qianqian, whatever he was really up to, Yelu Chenyi would only strike first!

And the three days and three nights of the Grand Sand Sacrifice Ceremony were the perfect opportunity!

For those unfamiliar with the desert, unfamiliar with Mingsha Mountain, there were far too many chances to lose one’s life at its foot.

Rather than be assigned to protect Yelu Qianqian, she would much rather go and capture Jun Beiyue herself!

“Yelu Chenyi, let’s see who strikes first…” The corner of Yanzi’s mouth curved into a cold smile as she leapt lightly up into the carriage.

The moment Yanzi appeared, Yelu Qianqian, who had been drowsy a second before, instantly perked right up. She had never put on princess airs to begin with, and showed even less regard for rank with those she was close to. She eagerly handed over a cup of hot tea and asked hurriedly, “Well? Well? How did you arrange it?”

“Don’t worry, Princess. Young Master Situ has already agreed. He’s settled in at the altar already. Isn’t there a half-hour window once the Sand Sacrifice officially begins? You’ll be able to see Young Master Situ then.” Yanzi said with a smile.

“Did he accept the thing?” Yelu Qianqian asked quickly.

“The wolf fang? He accepted it.” Yanzi hesitated, then said, “Princess, if this servant isn’t mistaken, wasn’t that wolf fang left to you by the Empress herself back then? Isn’t it… isn’t it your token of love? Why would you…”

Yelu Qianqian panicked and hurried to explain, “He only recognizes that item as mine—he’s very cautious, he won’t accept anything else from anyone! I’ll get it back later, I just wanted to see him.”

“Princess, are you really only meeting Young Master Situ? Actually… this servant thinks it still isn’t quite proper, a man and woman alone together…”

“You’re coming with me. Of course you’re coming with me.”

Yelu Qianqian explained hastily. Of course, she meant for Yanzi to stand guard at the entrance. Yanzi sneered inwardly, laughing at the princess’s naivety, laughing at her innocence—and yet she kept up the act of being just as naive and innocent. “Princess, don’t make this servant go with you. You… whatever you say to Young Master Situ, there’s still the matter of propriety between men and women. If the Crown Prince ever found out about something like this, then this servant…”

“What do you mean, me and him? Jun Beiyue will be there too, and Yingzi and the others—didn’t I already say I wanted to see everyone? The one I most want to see is Han Ziqing, but it’s a shame she isn’t coming. What are you even thinking?”

Yelu Qianqian was so afraid Yanzi might change her mind at the last moment. She thought to herself—if only Han Ziqing were here. That woman was always cold and unapproachable, but if she’d come, she would surely have pushed Situ Haonan forward to meet her long ago.

Before marriage, she could still see him, still love him, still meet him in secret—that was her freedom, and her right!

But even as naive as she was, she understood that everything would be completely different after marriage, especially given the status of the man she was to marry.

Never mind being separated by a thousand miles—even standing right beside each other, nothing could ever cross the bounds of propriety.

That much decorum, that much upbringing, she still had.

“But Prince Yao hasn’t said whether he’s coming or not, Princess. How should this servant ask him?” Yanzi probed carefully.

“Just tell him I’m the one who invited him, that I have something I want him to pass along to Ziqing,” Yelu Qianqian said earnestly.

Yanzi was secretly overjoyed. “This servant understands.”

With that, she was just about to get down from the carriage when Yelu Qianqian suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice, “Where did you arrange for us to meet him?”

“Not at the temporary palace. This servant knows of a place called the Mingsha Grotto—absolutely no one will go there, Princess, don’t worry.” Yanzi also lowered her voice, then left as soon as she’d spoken, leaving Yelu Qianqian puzzled. “Mingsha Grotto… is there such a place? Why have I never heard of it?”

But she didn’t dwell on it for long. Full of happy anticipation, she laced her fingers together and sat silently, listening to the sand’s rhythmic murmur—a sound she had heard since childhood.

By now, Mingsha Mountain no longer made the frog-like croaking it had a moment ago, but instead let out intermittent, rising and falling rumbles like thunder, booming and lively.

This meant they had arrived at the altar!

The altar was enormous, a single great circle. Towering stone pillars carved with all manner of totems stood at its four corners, and temporary palaces stood to either side.

The true wonder of the altar actually lay in the marvel at the foot of Mingsha Mountain itself.

Everyone dismounted their horses and stepped down from their carriages, walking up onto the marble-paved altar. No matter how strong the wind blew, this great circular altar never gathered a single grain of sand!

Even though sand was everywhere around the altar in great quantities, none of it was ever carried up onto the platform!

What’s more, standing on the altar, one couldn’t feel the west wind blowing at all—yet standing there, the sound of the singing sands was even louder!

Of course, at this point, no one could go up onto the altar yet. Everyone needed to go to the temporary palace to bathe and change, and rest for an hour before the Grand Sand Sacrifice Ceremony officially began!

And it was only after that hour passed that Mingsha Mountain would truly begin to sing.