After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

Brushing the black ash off her hands, Xiang An said without any politeness, "In that case, General Fu, please don't bring up my marriage matters when we're discussing serious business."

Hearing these incredibly distant words, Fu Qingbai straightened her back somewhat hesitantly: "Yes..."

"Thank you for sending the message, General Fu. Otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't even know how I died," Xiang An said calmly.

"Why thank me? We're allies, isn't it only right?" Fu Qingbai smiled bitterly.

“That’s true. Don’t worry, I won’t eat or drink anything at the victory celebration.” Xiang An nodded in agreement, then glanced at him and asked, “Does the general have any other important matters to attend to?” The implication was: The message has been delivered, why aren’t you leaving yet?

“There’s no need to go without food or water,” Fu Qingbai frowned, not understanding her meaning in his haste. “Princess, you can secretly bring some food with a mild smell to eat. If it’s inconvenient for you, I can bring it for you. There’s a type of dry ration in the military camp with a very mild smell that you can just break open and eat. It doesn’t taste good, but it’s better than an empty stomach…”

Under Xiang An's strange gaze, Fu Qingbai's voice grew softer and softer until finally she had to bite the bullet and say, "In any case, we can't go hungry, or we'll ruin our health."

"I will eat my fill before going to the palace." This time, Xiang An even used honorifics, which shows her urgency at the moment.

Fu Qingbai thought it over briefly and decided it was feasible. So he had no reason to stay any longer, so he bowed and slowly got off the carriage.

“General,” Ding Yinan led his horse over, “we should go back.”

Fu Qingbai mounted his horse and watched the departing carriage. "Have you found out?"

Today he received news that some unidentified bodyguards had inexplicably followed Xiang An. He dared not delay and immediately rode out to catch up.

“They’ve discovered us,” Ding Yinan said dejectedly. “Our men can’t beat them, but judging from their skills, they seem to be from the palace.”

"The Emperor's man?" Fu Qingbai's gaze gradually turned serious, then he rejected the idea, "Impossible."

Five years ago, his grandmother fell ill. Anxious to return home and unable to wait for the emperor's permission, he secretly left the border and ran to the capital. On the outskirts of the capital, he encountered the emperor's secret guards. Their skills were mediocre, mainly because a large portion of them had never been selected by the emperor. With their skills, it was impossible for them to recognize the secret guards he had seen at the border and who had killed people.

"But those people's skills are techniques that only the imperial palace could possess," Ding Yinan said cautiously. "Could it be that their skills have improved?"

It's not impossible. With long-term training accumulated over time, even a lump of mud can be dried by the sun and become a lump of mud that is slightly useful after five years of practice.

Fu Qingbai: "How many people were injured?"

Ding Yinan said smugly, "No one was injured. They didn't even chase after us."

Fu Qingbai: "Didn't you pursue her? Why?"

Ding Yinan scratched his head and chuckled, "Who knows? Maybe we ran fast?" Noticing something amiss beneath Fu Qingbai's calm demeanor, he added, "General, do you want us to continue the investigation?"

“No need,” Fu Qingbai said. “Just bring all our people back; those people belong to the princess.”

"How is that possible?! The princess can't even handle fancy moves, how could she possibly..." Ding Yinan shut his mouth again under Fu Qingbai's gaze.

"You've been her mentor for a year, and you've forgotten how to speak? You look down on her? Don't forget, the crossbows you praise so highly were made by her."

Ding Yinan lowered his head in shame: "Your subordinate forgot."

Fu Qingbai's gaze fell on the reins in his hand. "Everyone has their weaknesses. Don't use your strengths to belittle other people's weaknesses."

Ding Yinan begged for mercy: "I know I was wrong, please don't say anything more, General."

Ten days later, Ogiwara Ao brought gifts to the capital to meet the emperor. Just like in the first round, the difference was that this time the emperor did not issue an edict to bestow a marriage upon Ogiwara Ao.

Layers of gauze curtains, the air filled with the fragrance of flowers. Before the bronze mirror, Xiang Anmu stared blankly at his blurry reflection, muttering repeatedly, "It's different, it's different..."

There was no arranged marriage, no political alliance—why? Who changed things?

"What's wrong with the princess?" Standing outside the door, Xiao Ru asked Yan Qing anxiously over and over again, but she never received a cold response from Yan Qing.

In fact, a year ago Yan Qing was a man of few words, but every word she spoke was meaningful. Later, however, she became cold and ruthless.