Chapter 9: Initial Doubts Part 1

In the Imperial Capital during autumn, the maple leaves fluttered red. The scenery could not compare to spring, but lively events always drew people’s hearts.

Many years ago, during the reign of the Condensing Origin Empress, the Borderlands had already willingly submitted as vassals, offering tribute every year and grain annually, sparing the two nations centuries of slaughter and shattered mountains and rivers.

The Borderlands offered tribute every year when winter came, but this year, for the sake of the marriage proposal, they had specially advanced their schedule. As they entered the city, the Imperial Guards cleared the path ahead, and the common folk spontaneously came out to stand on both sides of the streets, watching the Borderlands carriages and the tribute goods—which needless to say, were enviable.

The leading young man had ink-black hair like clouds, wore a fitted scarlet long robe of leather, and black glossy-patterned long boots. His shoulders were somewhat narrow. Sitting astride his horse, he looked at the people on both sides, waved with a smile, and in his faint smile was a power that could not be ignored. This was Ana Xuan, the Borderlands prince who had come to seek marriage.

On the high floor of a nearby tavern, the windows were open. Several people stood there; the younger ones, being somewhat short, clung to the window sills and tiptoed to look. Behind them, Wei Lingci said nothing, her willow brows lightly raised. Only after the procession entered the palace gates did she speak: “You stayed in the Imperial Capital just to catch a glimpse of the prince’s elegance?”

The two had originally planned to leave a month ago, but Xun Changqing had refused, insisting on waiting until the Borderlands prince arrived in the capital before departing.

Over this month, the two had gotten along quite harmoniously. Xun Changqing paid little mind to these strange words, closed the window, sat back on the stool, and said, “Master, for diplomacy between two nations, is marriage alliance truly the best strategy?”

Xun Changqing rarely asked her about court matters, so Wei Lingci was slightly surprised. Seeing that she was not joking, she smiled faintly and replied, “For a small family and a great nation, marriage alliance is the bond that maintains the two countries. One must abandon the small family to protect the great nation.”

“But the small family is still a family, still people. In a marriage alliance, if war breaks out between the two nations, the first to suffer calamity is her. With so many bonds to maintain diplomacy between nations, why must this path be chosen?” She lowered her gaze, smiled sorrowfully, her face showing regret. “Elder Sister Asu is an innocent person, yet she has fallen into this fate of marriage alliance.”

Wei Lingci’s face remained as dignified as in Xun Changqing’s memory. Born in Jiangnan Shangrao, in the Imperial Capital she was like a white lotus, untainted by this filthy land. Her bloodline had inherited her mother’s proud spirit and outstanding literary talent.

She pondered for a moment, her eyes seeming indifferent, yet also showing rare regret. “Changqing, you are only looking at this matter from your own perspective and that of the Fifth Princess. If you stood in His Majesty’s position to handle it, would you not do the same? Country and family are different; you see it too narrowly.”

In the court, it had always been a matter of sacrificing the small for the great. The emperor’s actions were not those of a benevolent father, but of a benevolent ruler. Nowadays, women’s status was far inferior to that of the previous dynasty, and princesses entering marriage alliances was commonplace.

“I understand, I just cannot accept it.” Deep in her heart, she was ultimately stirred to the point of intolerance. Yuan Man’s heart was like in her previous life—just to grow old together with her beloved, something so simple, yet fraught with myriad dangers ahead. The path between Yuan Man and her was bound to be even more tortuous.

Ana Xuan was handsome and elegant, with a graceful and handsome air rare among the Borderlands royal clan. His seeking to marry a Great Qi princess was nothing more than wanting to borrow Great Qi’s power as his support.

A marriage alliance between two nations was naturally a cause for celebration among the myriad people. In just a few days, the matter of Fifth Princess Xun Yisu’s marriage alliance to the Borderlands became set in stone, impossible to change.

Fifth Princess Xun Yisu had been soft and weak since childhood, almost nonexistent in the palace. With the marriage alliance imminent, for the sake of Great Qi’s face, the Ministry of Rites bestowed upon her the title of Yihe Princess. Thus, Xun Yisu was called Yihe Princess.

She lived in the same palace as her mother consort. A few drops of autumn rain fell, adding to the chill.

Xun Yisu grew increasingly bored in the palace, leaning by the window and listening to the sound of the falling rain. She had never concerned herself with court matters, but she always spared some attention for them. Women in the palace could not truly ignore outside affairs. When the Empress discussed the marriage with Madam Yuan, she knew it was the Empress’s one-sided wish and paid it no mind.

The Imperial Guards controlled the emperor’s personal safety, equivalent to placing one’s head in Yuan Qingming’s hands. If his daughter married her son, it would be joyous for common folk, but the imperial family was different—power reigned supreme, and familial bonds and blood ties were dispensable.

At that time, if Xun Yiran sought the throne, it would be effortless. The emperor had ascended at ten years old and ruled for over thirty years; amid the ebb and flow of loyalties in the court, he undoubtedly valued his own position behind him even more, and would not tolerate others coveting it.

As expected, a few days later, when the emperor learned of it, he rebuked the Empress both openly and covertly. After decades of marriage, it was the first time he denied her face. Though the entire palace did not understand why the emperor humiliated the Empress so, she knew: the emperor was warning her not to have any ties with the Yuan Family.

Among the three great martial families, who held Great Qi’s military power, the Gu Liang clan’s direct daughter had married the Pingnan Prince as his consort. Though she died young, the child she bore was the Heir Apparent. Though the two were distributed north and south, their relations could not be severed.

Behind the Third Prince was the Gu Liang lineage, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops. If the Empress and Second Imperial Prince wanted to compete, they would inevitably scheme against the Yuan Family—but their intentions were too obvious. The Pingnan Prince’s Mansion belonged to the imperial brother; no matter who ascended, it would likely have little impact.