After the envoy’s audience, Emperor Tianhui hosted a welcoming banquet for Prince Xiang of Western Chu at the Xuanwu Hall. Compared to the solemn audience, this palace banquet was far more relaxed, and the families of the nobility and imperial relatives were also invited.

The Xuanwu Hall glittered with fine delicacies and dazzling splendor.

Emperor Tianhui sat high upon the black dragon throne. To his left, in order, sat Consort Yi, Jun Beiyue and his wife, Jun Beichen and his wife, and the other princes. Ziqing had her long hair pinned up, wearing light makeup and simple, elegant attire — amid the rivalry of beauties vying to outshine one another, her understated look stood out as fresh and captivating. The moment she entered the hall, she noticed that Seventh Prince Jun Beiyao was absent.

To the Emperor’s right sat Prince Xiang of Western Chu, Chu Tiange, followed by Chancellor Lin and his wife and the other officials with their families. General Ouyang had been stripped of his place in the autumn hunt, and he wasn’t even present at the banquet — it seemed the Emperor was determined to press the suppression through to the end this time.

As soon as the feast began, there was song and dance, and the wine flowed. Ziqing sat beside Jun Beiyue, holding her cup only to press it lightly against her lips as a show — not a drop passed through them.

Wine muddled the mind and clouded judgment. Either drink until senseless, or not touch a drop at all — that was her way. All or nothing.

Jun Beiyue wore pale blue court robes, which only sharpened his already cold, striking bearing. Amid the clinking of cups and idle chatter, he hadn’t spoken a single unnecessary word all evening, let alone smiled — and just like Ziqing, he only pretended to drink, never actually touching the wine.

Ziqing glanced at him a few times from the corner of her eye, thinking to herself that this man seemed to be in a rather foul mood.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from beyond the hall. “Announcing… the arrival of the Princess Imperial of Western Chu!”

“Emperor of Great Zhou, this shipment of troops, horses, and furs has been personally escorted by our Princess Imperial and has already arrived at the imperial stables. We hope Your Majesty will accept them with pleasure!”

Chu Tiange rose and bowed, still dressed in his distinctive bronze riding attire — from a distance, it looked almost like an armor of bronze, imposing and unrestrained.

“Excellent! Convey my thanks to your father on my behalf!” Emperor Tianhui, though wary underneath, still maintained his lofty air, waving a hand. “Someone, bring the Princess Imperial in!”

The moment he finished speaking, the hall fell utterly silent. Soon, the crisp jingle of bells could be heard approaching, and then a woman strode in, dressed in fiery red riding gear as bold as flame.

She had the tall stature and striking, deep-set features typical of Western Chu people — deep eyes, a high nose bridge, sharply defined and beautiful features. Most striking of all were her large, clear black-and-white eyes, brimming with vitality and impossible to ignore. Unfortunately, that vitality carried no warmth or kindness — only arrogance and unrestrained pride.

Both her wrists were wrapped in strings of silver bell bracelets, and her belt too was studded with bells — no wonder her presence announced itself before she did.

Ziqing’s sharp eyes caught immediately on the ring of bells at her waist — what looked like a belt was, in truth, a long whip coiled up.

She knew this Princess Imperial’s name well. The Fiery Rose of Western Chu’s cavalry, the only woman on the entire continent of Longyuan to have truly led troops into battle, the woman every prince and lord in the realm dreamed of — Chu Feiyan!

Rumor had it that whoever won Chu Feiyan’s hand would win half of Western Chu.

Under the weight of everyone’s gaze, she wore a disdainful, cold smile, striding forward in full glory. Ziqing lowered her head and toyed with her wine cup, puzzled — it was already strange enough that Chu Tiange had come as envoy in person, but for Chu Feiyan to personally escort the horses as well? Surely these two siblings hadn’t done this on a mere whim.

Still puzzling over it, she looked up and felt a flicker of surprise — Chu Feiyan was staring at Jun Beiyue, utterly transfixed. That such a proud, arrogant woman could show such a soft, tender gaze — Jun Beiyue clearly held no small place in her heart.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be one-sided. Jun Beiyue’s coldness made him seem less a man than a block of dark ice.

“Chu Feiyan, Princess Imperial of Western Chu, greets the Emperor of Great Zhou!” Chu Feiyan came to a stop and bowed.

“No need for such formality. I’ve heard that the Princess Imperial of Western Chu possesses both a face that could topple cities and the valor of a warrior on the battlefield — seeing you today, the reputation is well deserved indeed! Someone, bring a seat!”

Emperor Tianhui’s face lit with delight, nearly forgetting to maintain his composed air.

Yet Chu Feiyan did not sit. Instead, Chu Tiange stepped forward. “Emperor of Great Zhou, my sovereign sent word earlier proposing a marriage alliance with Great Zhou, to bind our two nations as close as lips and teeth. What is your decision? My sovereign has waited long without reply, and so instructed me to ask on his behalf.”

A marriage alliance!

The moment those words left his mouth, the hall fell dead silent.

Such a matter of state, and the Emperor had never once mentioned it! At once, the whole hall erupted in murmurs.

Western Chu was the stronger power — if there were to be a marriage alliance, surely it should be Great Zhou who proposed it first. What right did Western Chu have to be the one offering?

Amid the commotion, Emperor Tianhui was plainly in a difficult spot. Then, to everyone’s shock, Chu Feiyan spoke up loudly. “Emperor of Great Zhou, you’ve delayed so long in answering — tell me, in what way am I unworthy of Prince Yao?”

What?

It was the Princess Imperial herself who wanted the marriage alliance — she wanted to marry Prince Yao! Once again, the hall fell utterly silent.

Now things had grown complicated — no wonder Emperor Tianhui had kept this matter under wraps for so long.

On one hand, if Chu Feiyan married into Prince Yao’s household, his power would surely grow immensely, and Great Zhou and Western Chu would cease hostilities, opening trade between the two nations, no longer needing to rely on the yearly autumn hunt exchange to trade what each side needed.

This would benefit both Great Zhou and Western Chu alike.

Moreover, with Western Chu’s protection, the surrounding kingdoms would no longer dare covet Great Zhou’s territory.

On the other hand, though, Western Chu had long wanted to pass through Great Zhou’s Youyun territory to attack Eastern Qin — and the Youyun lands were precisely Jun Beiyue’s domain. Western Chu harbored wolfish ambitions; once granted passage, would they ever willingly give it back? Jun Beiyue had personally overseen the seven Youyun provinces since the age of fifteen and had never yielded so much as an inch. Given his temperament, he would absolutely not concede now.

And once the two nations were bound as close as lips and teeth, how could he refuse to grant passage? He might even be forced to send troops to aid Eastern Qin!

Ziqing glanced at Jun Beiyue, unable to suppress a private smile — she finally understood why this man had said not a word all evening.

Put plainly, this was trading the seven Youyun provinces for Chu Feiyan. Emperor Tianhui, who dared do nothing but bluster safely within the capital, would of course leap at such a deal!

What a brilliant move Chu Tiange had made.

Emperor Tianhui had already glanced toward Jun Beiyue several times. Jun Beiyue, however, kept his eyes lowered, his expression icy. Beside him, Ziqing kept her head down, maintaining her usual demure, docile expression, though inside she was already secretly delighted — she wasn’t sure when it had started, but watching Jun Beiyue squirm always brought her joy.

That day she’d been sent away when paying her respects at court — this must have been what father and son discussed. Now it seemed clear: Emperor Tianhui intended to force the marriage through.

After some hesitation, Emperor Tianhui finally spoke. “The Princess Imperial is a woman of both talent and beauty, accomplished in both letters and arms. If even she is unworthy of my son, then who in this world could possibly be worthy?”

“So then… the Emperor of Great Zhou consents?”

Chu Feiyan brightened at once — this personal visit had been precisely to secure the Emperor’s consent. Ever since she’d first seen Jun Beiyue at the Youyun stables four years ago, she’d sworn to herself she would have this man.

Emperor Tianhui stroked his beard, nodding with a smile. “Of course. To form a marriage bond with Western Chu would be an honor beyond measure.”

As he spoke, he finally turned to look seriously at Jun Beiyue, smiling. “Prince Yao, don’t you agree?”

Only then did Jun Beiyue lift his head. He spoke coldly. “Father is right to say so. However, this son already has a principal consort. How could the esteemed Princess Imperial of Western Chu possibly be wronged with the position of a mere secondary consort?”

The instant he said this, every eye in the hall turned toward Ziqing — and at last, Chu Feiyan too fixed her gaze directly on her…

A note to readers: sneaking in an early update again — the rest will post at five this afternoon, and starting tomorrow updates will move earlier. Save your monthly votes, there’s still time to cast them this month.