Qingyun couldn’t help but smile. He spurred his horse, and in an instant, the white steed galloped over, bringing him face to face with Huang Beishuang. In full view of everyone, he embraced her and they rode together.
Behind Qingyun, Left General Liao Zhen, who commanded ten thousand troops, was greatly surprised. He had never seen anyone else allowed to ride on the King’s white horse. Who was this woman?
Huang Beishuang leaned against Qingyun’s chest, her eyes misty. Qingyun looked down, “Why are you crying?” he asked, wiping away her tears with one hand. At that moment, Lian Huan shot an arrow towards Qingyun, seemingly intentionally missing, but forcing him to dismount. Qingyun avoided the arrow as he landed, and with a wave of his hand, Liao Zhen lined up the troops, ten thousand arrows ready to fire.
“Stop!” Huang Beishuang suddenly rode a hundred paces away from Qingyun. “Lower your bows!” she ordered Liao Zhen.
Qingyun, hand on his sword, looked at her in confusion.
Huang Beishuang bit her lip and pulled out a gleaming white dagger. She said to him, “Release my E’na Qi people and Na Zhan’s allied troops, or I’ll kill Fei Ta!” She held the dagger to the white horse’s forehead, ready to strike at any moment. The horse, as if remembering the kindness she had shown in saving its life, uncharacteristically remained still. Huang Beishuang stroked its mane, whispering, “Good horse, I’m sorry!” Then she looked up at Qingyun.
He stood there, anger now the only message in his eyes.
People cannot be too lonely, so they always make friends.
People cannot be too foolish, so they always seek a true heart.
However, where the true heart lies differs for each person, and sometimes, it can be unexpected…
For instance, now, in everyone’s mind, exchanging a horse for people seemed like child’s play.
Yet it pierced the lonely heart of that man.
“Release them!” At his command, Liao Zhen obeyed. The ten thousand troops parted, and from behind them emerged the E’na Qi people and Na Zhan’s welcoming troops, like ants.
Qingyun looked at Huang Beishuang grimly. The wound she inflicted on him now was not just to his pride and dignity, but also her cold-heartedness in doing what she knew was impossible. Huang Beishuang knew well that regardless of whether she exchanged the horse for people, he could not possibly massacre an entire slave tribe, nor could he indefinitely detain Na Zhan’s Red Robe Cavalry, prematurely causing an all-out war between Yunpei and Tiandu. He had only wanted to give her a reason to come to his side. But everything Huang Beishuang did today, he would remember forever. She wore the clothes from their first encounter, she smiled and promised him it would be as before, all to catch him off guard and manipulate him. A hero may conquer all under heaven, yet stumble before a beauty.
Huang Beishuang looked at him, truly holding back tears that threatened to spill. She wouldn’t cry, at least not now.
Qingyun roared in anger, drawing his sword with his left hand and raising his right. There was a flash of white light, and the ice jade bracelet broke into two pieces, falling to the yellow earth. The back of his right hand lay bleeding red, just like her earlobe that night.
Huang Beishuang watched as the jade bracelet was gradually buried by wind and sand, her face pale. Silently, she led over seven thousand of her people and more than five thousand soldiers in a slow, careful retreat.
Left behind was Prince Qingyun, facing away from ten thousand men, his anger and hurt unabated…
It wasn’t until deep into the night that Huang Beishuang’s group crossed the snow plains and reached Guangping, the border city of Yunpei. She had Lian Huan and Ye Pei arrange for everyone to rest, but without meeting her E Xiu elder brother, she rode alone to the border. She stroked Fei Ta sadly, saying “I’m sorry!” before removing the reins and letting it gallop away.
Fei Ta galloped back, towards that still solitary figure standing alone in the great desert.
A white horse exchanged for seven thousand three, and a sword severs ties and breaks the jade bracelet.
From now on, no one owes anyone anything.
[The passage continues, describing Huang Beishuang’s return to Guanghan Palace and her listless state. It then shifts to a scene where Na Zhan visits her.]
“Your Majesty, Frost Consort is asleep!” Zai Ping knelt by the door, blocking Na Zhan.
“Nonsense, I heard her playing the xiao!” Na Zhan said, slightly displeased. “Step aside!”
Huang Beishuang was sitting on the bed, hearing the commotion outside. She quickly put away her jade flute. Na Zhan strode in and sat on the edge of the bed. “You’ve been sleeping like this every day since you returned. You’ll fall ill!” he said, looking at her gaunt face.
“Your Majesty is kind,” Huang Beishuang replied with some emotion. He had treated her well since the day she entered Guanghan Palace. Smiling gently, she asked, “Shouldn’t Your Majesty fulfill your initial promise now?”
Seeing her broach the subject, Na Zhan followed suit, “Of course, but there’s something I need to tell you first!”
Huang Beishuang asked calmly, “What is it?”
Na Zhan looked at her steadily, “I’m making you the Empress!”
At these words, Zai Ping and Ye Pei, who were serving by the bedside, were startled, almost spilling the late-night snacks they were bringing.
“Is Your Majesty joking?” Huang Beishuang showed no reaction.
Na Zhan snorted, “No!”
“Yu Fei, the Crown Prince’s birth mother, and Jia Pin, who is six months pregnant, won’t agree.”
“As long as you agree, it’s fine.”
Hearing this, Huang Beishuang smiled, “Why do you think I would agree?”