Zheng Biyu’s heartstrings trembled as she sat stunned for a long while before suddenly sitting up straight: “Nonsense!” How could Empress Xie, a daughter of a noble family, have engaged in such impropriety? The maid didn’t dare make a sound.

After being lost in thought for a moment, Zheng Biyu asked, “Who else heard Consort Rong’s ravings?”

The maid replied, “Only Noble Consort Xue and a few palace maids around her heard it. Noble Consort Xue laughed at the time, saying Consort Rong had gone mad and was talking nonsense. However, in the past few days, she quietly sent away all the palace maids who were present, keeping only her most trusted confidante.”

That confidante happened to be the sworn sister of this maid, one of the Eastern Palace’s informants.

Zheng Biyu’s fingers went numb as she instructed the maid: “Consort Rong went mad. She resented Princess Wenzhao and deliberately said such nonsense before her death to ruin Empress Xie’s reputation. Noble Consort Xue handled it well. This matter must not spread.”

The maid lowered her head in acknowledgment.

Zheng Biyu’s eyes flickered as she asked in a low voice, “What exactly did Consort Rong say?”

The maid answered, “Before her death, Consort Rong cursed Princess Wenzhao, saying that among His Majesty’s children, all the young lords were strong and robust, all the young ladies tall and healthy. Why was only Princess Wenzhao weak from birth, unable to walk even at three years old? Why couldn’t she stop taking medicine since childhood, requiring Ninglu Pills every month? Why was Princess Wenzhao the only one whose features didn’t resemble those of the Li family?”

“Noble Consort Xue refuted Consort Rong, saying it was because Princess Wenzhao was born deficient.”

“Consort Rong laughed several times and said Princess Wenzhao wasn’t of His Majesty’s bloodline at all, because she wasn’t born to Empress Xie.”

Zheng Biyu’s mouth fell slightly open in surprise. She had thought Consort Rong was implying Empress Xie had been unfaithful, but it turned out she was saying Li Yaoying wasn’t born to Empress Xie.

The maid continued: “Consort Rong said that back then, the clan members all supported the Second Prince… When Xie Zhongqian was made heir, Empress Xie’s maid spoke some cold words to Empress Tang, who then committed suicide in anger. His Majesty’s hair turned white overnight, and he abandoned the military campaign to rush back to Wei Prefecture to handle Empress Tang’s funeral arrangements. At that time, Empress Xie was also with child, so His Majesty didn’t punish her.”

“Consort Rong told Noble Consort Xue that Empress Xie wasn’t pregnant at all. The Empress’s wet nurse, fearing His Majesty would turn his anger on the Empress, taught her to falsely claim she was several months pregnant, and Empress Xie did as instructed.”

Because Li De had returned to Wei Prefecture several months prior and spent every night in Empress Xie’s chambers, and because Empress Xie lived in seclusion, no one had doubted it.

“Consort Rong said Princess Wenzhao was not of royal blood – she was a child brought in by the Duke of Wei.”

The Duke of Wei was Xie Wuliang.

When Li Yaoying married into the Yelu tribe, Li De issued an edict posthumously conferring the title of Duke of Wei on Xie Wuliang. Li Zhongqian, who had been adopted into the Xie family, would directly inherit the Duke’s title – prestigious in name but carrying no real power.

The maid finally said: “Consort Rong said she had long suspected the Seventh Princess’s background but hadn’t dared to speak up for fear of retaliation from Xie Zhongqian.”

Zheng Biyu’s thoughts raced as she leaned back against the armrest, remaining silent for a long while. Her instincts told her Consort Rong’s words were true.

Zheng Biyu instructed the maid: “This matter absolutely cannot reach Minister Wei’s ears.”

The maid agreed, saying, “Your Highness, Consort Rong was talking nonsense without evidence. Even if it spreads, it won’t matter.”

Noble Consort Xue’s position as secondary empress came through Li Yaoying; she definitely wouldn’t leak this matter.

Even if it did leak, who would believe the mad ravings of a dying consort? Without evidence, no matter how convincing her words, they were just the ramblings of a madwoman.

Moreover, Princess Wenzhao had married into a foreign tribe as a Li family princess. Even if she wasn’t the Emperor’s biological daughter, she was now.

Zheng Biyu murmured, “Whether others believe it or not doesn’t matter…”

The key was whether to tell the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s hatred for Li Yaoying stemmed from her being Xie’s daughter. If he knew Li Yaoying wasn’t born to the Xie family…

Zheng Biyu’s brows furrowed tightly.

After marrying into the Li family, she inquired about the circumstances of Lady Tang’s suicide.

The Li men were often away campaigning, leaving Lady Tang and Lady Xie in Wei Prefecture. Li De would return home to visit his two wives every few months.

On the day Lady Tang took her life, Li Xuanzhen happened to return home and witnessed his mother, burned beyond recognition, stumbling out of the flames and collapsing at his feet.

Li De was originally supposed to return to Wei Prefecture that day. When leaving home, he had promised to return and spend the festival with his two wives, but due to pressing military matters, he had only sent his eldest son back.

Therefore, as Tang family servants had secretly told Zheng Biyu, Tang Ying had originally planned to burn herself to death in front of Li De.

But by chance and misfortune, it was Li Xuanzhen who witnessed her tragic death.

In her final moments, she was nearly delirious, repeatedly imploring Li Xuanzhen to avenge her.

For over a decade since, Li Xuanzhen had suffered nightmares almost every night, dreaming of his mother’s dying form.

Zheng Biyu had once gently urged Li Xuanzhen to let go of his hatred.

Although Tang Ying had taken her own life after quarreling with the clan elders and Empress Xie’s maid, ultimately her death wasn’t caused by the Xie family. Why did he have to target Consort Xie and her children?

He could accept advice on other matters and even compromise regarding Zhu Lüyun, but when it came to the Xie family, why was he so extreme?

Li Xuanzhen gave a cold laugh without explaining anything to Zheng Biyu.

Zheng Biyu harbored a vague suspicion.

There might have been some unknown circumstances behind the events of that year. Li Xuanzhen was concealing something to protect Tang Ying.

Because of this, despite not disliking the Seventh Princess’s character, he repeatedly hurt her.

After careful consideration and weighing various factors, Zheng Biyu decided to tell Li Xuanzhen about Consort Rong’s words.

The Seventh Princess was innocent.

She went to the study and wrote a letter to Li Xuanzhen.

After the marriage edict was officially issued, Li Xuanzhen led the Wei army to Liang Prefecture, joining various tribal cavalry to attack the He clan in three directions. After their victory, he remained in Liang Prefecture and didn’t return to the capital.

Zheng Biyu finished writing the letter and handed it to a family servant, instructing him to deliver it personally into Li Xuanzhen’s hands.

The servant respectfully acknowledged the order.

…

Half a month after Qin Fei’s departure, Yaoying arrived near Liang Prefecture with the Yelu tribe.

The Yelu chieftain had already departed from Liang Prefecture, and before long would meet them at the riverside where the Yelu tribe wintered each year, to complete the wedding ceremony according to Yelu tribal customs.

Liang Prefecture, anciently known as Yong Prefecture, was a vast and level territory. Since ancient times it had been a wealthy region “where human presence was as thick as mulberry and cudrania trees,” and a major northwestern commercial hub where “carriages and horses crisscrossed, with songs and music flowing freely day and night.” It was traditionally considered a strategic location “connecting one line to the vast desert, controlling the throat of five prefectures.”

When Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang journeyed west to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, he passed through Liang Prefecture, where monks and merchants traveled without ceasing.

Even several decades ago, Liang Prefecture remained one of the most prosperous major towns in the north.

Later, as the Central Plains dynasty declined and chaos spread across the land, the northwest was successively occupied by the powerful Tibet and various rising tribes. When the previous Zhu dynasty was established, they failed to recover the northwest. The Silk Road, once teeming with merchants and echoing with camel bells, had been cut off for many years.

Yaoying sat in her carriage, occasionally lifting the curtain to gaze into the distance. Before her eyes stretched a vast and desolate expanse.

Within a hundred li, there was no trace of human habitation.

As they traveled further northwest, the weather grew increasingly harsh. The gloomy sky gradually showed signs of snow and wind. Snow-capped peaks of the endless mountain ranges on the horizon resembled sleeping dragons.

Clouds span the Qin Mountains – where is home? Snow blocks Languan Pass – horses cannot advance.

The road became increasingly treacherous.

Although barbarian maids served her attentively along the way, sparing her from sleeping in the open, it was still quite arduous for Yaoying, who had been pampered these past few years.

When they needed to cross mountain ranges, she had to dismount from her carriage and ride horseback like everyone else.

Li Zhongqian had taught her horseback riding and often accompanied her on rides, but those had been on flat, broad plains under the bright spring sun, not on rugged mountain paths in the bitter autumn wind.

Riding on mountain paths was far more demanding than riding on flat ground. Moreover, to avoid wind and snow and find safe shelter before nightfall, they often traveled for entire days at a stretch.

Yaoying’s thighs were covered in wounds, scabs forming only to be rubbed raw again, and her delicate fingers were blistered from the reins.

Whenever the group stopped to rest, she sat in the saddle feeling as if her entire body had fallen apart, unable to even lift a finger. Tali and Ayi had to support her by each taking one arm to help her dismount.

This day, they finally crossed several large mountains and reached a broad plain between valleys. Yaoying moved to the carriage, where Ayi knelt beside her applying the medicine.

Xie Qing rode as usual beside the carriage, using his sword hilt to lift a corner of the curtain and pass in a small porcelain bottle.

“Princess, this is the medicine I usually use. It’s more potent than the ointments you brought. It will hurt quite a bit when applied, but it heals faster.”

He added, “It won’t leave scars.”

Yaoying leaned against the armrest as she took the bottle, smiling lightly: “How thoughtful of you.”

He usually maintained such a cold expression, like a simpleton. Who would have thought he would take the initiative to bring her medicine?

The sword hilt withdrew, and the carriage curtain fell back into place.

After a moment, Xie Qing’s voice came: “Princess… today is your birthday.”

Yaoying froze for a moment.

She hazily recalled when she was young, attending her cousin’s coming-of-age ceremony, reluctant to leave even as night fell. Li Zhongqian came to fetch her, and seeing her drowsy eyes, couldn’t bear to wake her and carried her home on his back.

Perched on Li Zhongqian’s back, she became energetic again, chattering about how lively the banquet had been.

Li Zhongqian laughed heartily: “When Little Seven comes of age, Brother will hold a ceremony for you too, even grander and livelier than today’s, with lanterns hanging in every tree along the street.”

Yaoying hugged Li Zhongqian’s neck and snuggled closer: “I don’t want a coming-of-age ceremony, I just want Mother and Brother to be with me, sharing a bowl of longevity noodles would be enough.”

Those were carefree days.

Who would have thought that by her actual coming-of-age, even a bowl of longevity noodles would become an unreachable luxury?

Yaoying remained dazed for a long while, until after Ayi had finished applying the medicine and withdrawn, before slowly coming back to herself.

“I had forgotten…” she lifted the carriage curtain, raised her face to look at Xie Qing, smiling like flowers in bloom, “Ah Qing, I’m touched that you remembered this.”

She had long forgotten what day it was.

Xie Qing kept his head lowered, not looking at Yaoying.

“I understand why the Princess didn’t bring Chunru and the others to the Yelu tribe,” he gazed at the ground covered with a thin layer of snow under the horses’ hooves. “If you had brought them, seeing the Princess endure such hardships, they would surely cry all day long.”

Yaoying smiled, noting from Xie Qing’s tone that he seemed to dislike Chunru.

Xie Qing’s fingers gripped his sword hilt tightly: “And if they were here… they would surely fall prey to the Crown Prince.”

Yaoying’s expression darkened slightly.

The Crown Prince was crude and savage, his gaze toward her completely unrestrained. Though he likely still feared his father, the Yelu Chieftain, and hadn’t dared to disrespect her these past days, he deliberately dragged slave girls into his tent in front of her every day.

A few days ago, the Crown Prince directly asked Yaoying for Tali. She firmly refused.

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes without saying anything, but that night he tried to sneak into Tali’s tent. Fortunately, Tali was alert and prevented his attempt.

Yaoying glanced around – all her guards were accompanying her carriage.

She said softly, “Ah Qing, the Crown Prince is trying to intimidate me.”

A delicate Han princess, married far away for diplomacy’s sake, encountering such things before even meeting her husband – surely she would be frightened and panicked. As long as she showed fear, the Crown Prince would likely make his move.

Xie Qing’s hand on his sword hilt showed bulging veins: “Princess, let me kill him.”

Yaoying frowned: “Ah Qing… you cannot kill the Crown Prince.”

The Yelu tribe’s warriors grew up on horseback, skilled in archery and horsemanship. Xie Qing was no match for the Crown Prince.

Xie Qing’s face tensed: “What if I helped the Princess escape?”

Yaoying shook her head: “Ah Qing, we cannot run…”

Leaving now would break the agreement. Southern Chu spies had already infiltrated Chang’an. If she left and the alliance was broken, Southern Chu would surely incite the Yelu tribe to wage war. The common people would suffer, the Central Plains would fall into chaos again, and her fate would be no better than now – she would either fall into Southern Chu’s hands and become their tool for inciting war or be captured and mistreated by the angry Yelu tribe.

Yaoying patiently explained to Xie Qing: “We cannot run now, nor could we succeed. Why must the court ally with the various barbarian tribes? Why must we rely on the Yelu tribe’s cavalry to recapture Liang Prefecture?”

Xie Qing raised his head, his gaze falling directly on her face.

Yaoying said: “Because this is their territory.”

The Central Plains dynasty had completely lost control of the Hexi Corridor and Western Regions decades ago. Without the cooperation of the various tribes, the Wei army wouldn’t even know what forces occupied Liang Prefecture, let alone recapture it in one stroke.

“Ah Qing, I am now a Great Wei Princess, soon to be the wife of the Yelu Khan. As long as the alliance holds, the Crown Prince cannot treat me with disrespect.”

She lifted her gaze toward the distance.

“If I ran, the Crown Prince would catch us immediately. What fate would await a Wei Princess who had committed such an offense, in his hands?”

A shudder ran through Xie Qing’s body.

The Crown Prince was doing this deliberately, intimidating the Princess, making her afraid, waiting for her to make a mistake!

Xie Qing released his grip, forcefully suppressing the agitation of recent days.

Yaoying smiled slightly: “Ah Qing, no matter what happens, I will survive well.”

Once Brother recovered from his injuries, he would surely come for her.

Until then, she had to stay alive.

She turned to look eastward, where towering, majestic mountains blocked her view. Beyond those peaks lay her homeland.

“One day, we will return to the Central Plains and reunite with our family.”

She would return.

No matter how difficult.

Xie Qing nodded, gripping his sword hilt.

No matter where they went, he would protect the Princess well.

The group continued westward.

Several days later, Yaoying saw a river winding along the mountains between the desert. The water hadn’t frozen yet, and sparse wild grass grew along the banks. Occasionally they could see cattle and sheep drinking by the riverside.

Tali told Yaoying: “Following this river for several more days, we’ll reach the royal tent.”

They filled their water skins by the river and turned southeast along the waterway.

The river was the desert’s only water source. As they traveled southeast, they saw more and more cattle and sheep, sometimes encountering migrating tribes and merchant caravans with tinkling camel bells.

Hearing the bells, Yaoying lifted the carriage curtain to observe the caravan moving through the cold wind.

Suddenly her guards crowded forward, surrounding her carriage and driving it toward a nearby hillside.

Tali glanced at the caravan, showing a look of pity, and explained to the confused Yaoying: “Princess, the Crown Prince is preparing to raid that caravan.”

Yaoying fell silent.

Raiding was like the Yelu tribe. They grew up on horseback, knowing neither farming nor weaving. From birth they followed their forefathers on the grasslands, plundering everything they could – food, people, wealth.

When the carriage reached higher ground, the Crown Prince pulled his horse around, looking through the crowd toward the veiled Yaoying in her carriage. He slowly drew out a curved Tibetan blade captured in battle.

His unflinching gaze was sharper than a sky full of arrows.

Domineering, savage, cruel, cold-blooded.

Yaoying felt a chill run through her body, her hands trembling slightly within her sleeves.

Knowing that showing weakness would only embolden the Crown Prince further, she dug her fingertips into her soft palms, steadying herself, remaining perfectly still.

Her beautiful face behind the thin veil remained expressionless, noble, and aloof.

As elegant as a flower blooming atop a snowy peak, as distant as the moon hanging in the boundless sky.

Hoofbeats thundered like rolling drums as the Crown Prince charged ahead, curved blade raised high. His guards followed close behind, nineteen men forming a tight battle formation. Like a bloodthirsty beast baring its fangs, they swiftly tore open a gap in the caravan’s defenses.