Dragging his halberd, Chiyun Yuexuan raced to the very front of the cavalcade. The three fast approaching horses were reined in and stopped right before him. The leader of this small group was General Huyan of Shangxia.
Tuoba Zhi and Lian Kun also rushed over to see what was happening.
General Huyan saluted Chiyun Yuexuan. “Many thanks for saving our princess, General Chiyun. We have been searching for you and Princess after our group was split up.” General Huyan then strode to Murong Zhining’s carriage, knelt down and cupped his fists. “I, Huyan Qi, have come late to your rescue. My crime deserves a thousand deaths! Please punish me as you wish, Your Highness.”
Tuoba Lan pulled open the curtain. Chiyun Yuexuan dismounted and helped Murong Zhining down the carriage.
Murong Zhining held Huyan Qi up. “It was an emergency. Thanks to General Huyan’s best effort to kill the enemy, General Chiyun had a chance to take me and escape. General Huyan, not only are you g
In Nanjin Capital. On both sides of the street stood rows of heavily armed guards. Behind the guards were crowds of Shangxia people who had come to watch the bustle. On the towering palace wall, Emperor Han Yao and Empress Murong Ruoyu of Shangxia, dressed in intricate ceremonial costumes, were anxiously waiting to welcome their long-lost daughter.Murong Ruoyu was urgent as she looked to the main road in the distance. Han Yao held her hands and gently comforted, “Very soon, our Ning’er will be home.”Murong Ruoyu’s almond eyes brimmed with unshed tears.Tuoba Zhi, Tuoba Lan, and Lian Kun were standing on the steps inside the palace. They were present at the invitation of General Huyan to the princess’ welcoming ceremony. Chiyun Yuexuan was also invited, but he turned it down.Chiyun Yuexuan originally planned to return to Huayan right away. However, he couldn’t fight back his desire to take one last look at Murong Zhining. He thought to himself, since they w
Nanjin City, Sangrou Palace. Murong Zhining leaned against the large terrace railing of the sleeping chamber on the second floor, taking in all of the scenery outside the palace into her eyes. Sangrou, located on the ground higher than the rest of the Imperial Palace, was the palace that Murong Ruoyu personally picked to be her quarters. Murong Zhining loved this kind of structure, the broad, open-spaced design made her feel like she wasn’t actually confined in a heavy palace. At the rosewood table on the terrace, Tuoba Lan was making tea for Murong Zhining. “Big sis, come, have a taste. This is the Mingqian tea personally processed by my brother, also the best tea our family produced this year.”Murong Zhining retracted her gaze and went to sit down at the table. She had specially asked Han Yao to give Tuoba Lan permission to enter the palace at any time.Tuoba Lan set down a small pot of tea. A maid came to her side, holding a tray that carried a cinnabar
Tuoba Zhi’s character was very calm and rational. Afraid that starting a fight would hurt Murong Zhining and the pedestrians, he stepped forth and said to the noble young man, “I am Tuoba Zhi, only bringing my family out to see the lights. I don’t want to cause any trouble, so please make way, mister.”The man refused to let it go. “What the heck is that? Never heard of that name before. And by the way, I am Wan Yuan. My father is a high-ranking official in the court, not someone you puny ants can provoke. If you’re smart enough, leave this little lady here and I’ll spare your life.”A guard suddenly leapt forth. In a blink, a gleaming blade was pressed against Wan Yuan’s neck. “Who the hell is this dog? You actually dare to be so outrageous in front of our young miss? You’re in big trouble. Tell your underlings to step down, or I’ll take your damn head!”Wan Yuan frantically waved his hands at his manservants. “Step back, step back, don’t let him hurt me.”T
Yan Feng grew visibly extremely angry. “You two father and son are simply too much! One said ‘whatever’, while the other uses such excuses like ‘not worthy’ to refuse me. You two are slapping my face!”Chiyun Nan instantly stood up from his seat, then knelt down and banged his head on the ground. “My bastard son is truly unworthy of Princess. I have neglected his discipline over the years and let him develop a wanton and reckless character. I don’t want him to tarnish the reputation of Princess Jingrong.”Yan Feng spoke, his voice frosty, “Are you rejecting me? If this gets out, how will my little sister face other people? At that time, will anyone ever listen to my words anymore?”Chiyun Nan quickly said, “Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I will go consult with His Majesty the Retired Emperor.”Yan Feng’s tone mellowed down, “Now that sounds better. Hurry and go, we must make it grand.”Retired Emperor Yan Han and Yan Feng’s mother, Empress Dowage
Yan Feng sat alone in the Imperial Study, staring at Sonorous in front of him. His eyes when looking at the qin wasn’t sad as they used to be, but instead laced with a faint smile. He recalled Murong Zhining’s graceful posture when she played the qin, and her sulky pout when she was unwilling to abide by his requests. Yan Feng thought the time was ripe. He couldn’t wait to go to Shangxia and ask for her hand in marriage.“His Majesty the Retired Emperor has arrived!”Yan Feng was jolted awake from his sweet thoughts.“Your imperial son greets you, father. What makes you personally come here to Wan’an Palace?”Yan Han looked at him with kind eyes. “I know you’re busy with national matters, so I couldn’t bear to send people and disturb you. I’ve come to discuss Jingrong’s marriage with you. I want to recruit Wu Siyuan, nephew of Commandery Prince Yan, to be Jingrong’s husband.”Yan Feng suspiciously turned his eyes in a brief ponder. “General Wu’s accompl
A man in Huayan’s official uniform entered the grand yard, behind him were a neat line of people carrying trunks of gifts. The line was long and one couldn’t see the end. Murong Zhining glanced over in surprise, much curious how Yan Feng knew today was her father's birthday, and how his envoy came in such a timely manner.After the envoy read aloud the present list, he added a congratulatory message, “Hearing that today is Your Majesty’s birthday, my emperor has especially sent me to deliver the gifts. On behalf of my emperor, I wish Your Majesty the rising sun and the full moon . May your life be endless as the South Mountain, your country to never wane and never fail. May you be luxuriant like cypress, to be passed down for posterity.”Han Yao was delighted. “When my Fengyi was in Huayan, your emperor was kind enough to take care of her. I was already more than grateful when your emperor returned her to her home. Yet, he even graciously gives me his blessing today. Ple
After Tuoba Lan retreated, Tuoba Zhi creased his brows as he said to Murong Zhining. “When you said secret, you meant the treasure that the Murong clan hid away after Beiyan’s destruction?”Murong Zhining was startled. “How did you know of this matter?”Tuoba Zhi seemed heavy. “My father once told me that the Murongs’ treasure was real. In the past, the Tuoba clan bought a member of the Murong clan to be their spy. From this spy, the Tuoba clan learned that, in order to ensure the security of the treasure, the Murong clan hid its clues in three parts, respectively to be kept by the three most prestigious members of the clan. Each clue was indispensable to know the secret. The Tuoba clan went through a lot of trouble and found one of them, but my father never told me what it was.”The next day, Murong Zhining summoned Huyan Qi to Sangrou Palace. “I need your help to investigate something. Please keep watch on the fourth prince of Wuli, Gao Chenghao, while he’s in Sh
On Gao Chenghao’s handsome face hung a ferocious smirk. Step by step, he forced Murong Zhining backward. “Do you feel particularly scared right now, Princess? Please rest assured, I will be very gentle.”Murong Zhining retreated to a corner, hearing her own heartbeats jump quickly in her fear. “Fourth Prince… What are you trying to do?”Gao Chenghao coldly sneered. He propped his hands against the wall behind and leaned close to her. “Since Princess is so smart, you must have guessed it already. When a terribly lovesick man sees his beloved woman, what do you say he’ll do? Why do you even need to ask? In our country, a man, for his own dignity, will forcibly make a woman who doesn’t keep her promise into his own.”Murong Zhining turned her face away. “You dare? This is in my country, so Fourth Prince needs to think of the consequences before you act. Release Lan’er, and I’ll pretend like this never happened.”Gao Chenghao’s entire body emanated a dangerous au