Ties of Love, Ruan Wan

Ruan Wan sneered, "Weren't you the one who most wanted me to leave the capital, and even sent assassins to kill me? Now that I'm leaving the capital, I'll surely die on the border of the Eastern Barbarians. Do you really want me to stay in the capital?"

Ruan Wan glanced at the door and smiled, "Your maid just saw it again. Changfeng was holding my hand at the gate; he was worried I'd come to see you."

A hint of resentment flashed in Linglong's eyes. Her face remained expressionless as she lowered her voice, "When are you planning to leave?"

"The sooner the better"

"Tomorrow morning, go to Linquan Tailor Shop in the south of the city. Someone will escort you out."

Ruan Wan bowed and said, "Thank you."

After Ruan Wan left, Yu Jie asked, "Does the princess really want to send her away? Why don't we take this opportunity?"

Yu Jie made a throat-slitting motion with her hand.

Linglong laughed and said, "This journey to the Eastern Barbarians is fraught with peril, why should I bother? Also, from now on, don't call me Princess, call me Queen Consort."

Yu Jie said worriedly, "If she manages to survive, our hideout, which we've been hiding for over a decade, will be exposed."

Linglong glanced at her and said, "Do I really need to teach you this?"

Yu Jie immediately understood, "After we send Ruan Wan away, we'll immediately take care of the situation."

Inside the palace, no sooner had Ruan Wan left than the emperor arrived at Qixiang Palace.

The emperor feigned deep sorrow, saying, "Die'er, I will definitely avenge our daughter!"

Consort Ruan laughed at the Emperor's feigned concern. "That child and I have never had a close relationship. I saw her off on her wedding day from the city wall, which was my way of crying for her. If Your Majesty wants to be sad, go and cry in front of the court officials. I have nothing to be sad about."

The emperor was taken aback at first, then pointed at Consort Ruan and said, "Chang Le is your own daughter."

Consort Ruan Shufei laughed and said, "Wasn't she also His Majesty's own daughter, and the most favored princess in the rumors? It was His Majesty who personally sent her to the executioner's block."

"Are you complaining about me?"

Consort Ruan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not, nor am I; I am merely stating the truth."

The emperor turned and left.

The servants in the manor were all well-trained by Uncle Li, and they were united and loyal to the Duke of Zhenguo's manor.

Therefore, Ruan Wan felt at ease telling them about this matter, so that if she and Lou Qianyuan were unable to return, the mansion would not fall into chaos.

Ruan Wan handed the warehouse keys to Qiu Shuang, saying, "If I don't come back, go to the estate and ask Uncle Li to come back and take charge."

Ruan Wan sighed, "I'm worrying for nothing. If the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has no one left, the Emperor will inevitably take over."

Ruan Wan stroked Qiu Shuang's hair. "Your indenture is long gone. You're free now. If I don't come back, you can go wherever you want. We'll dismiss Cui Mo and the others and divide the Lou family's assets among them."

Qiu Shuang didn't say a word the whole time, but just listened quietly from the side.

"If you don't want to get married, then don't. With money, you can buy a house or start a small business and live a carefree life."

As Ruan Wan packed her bags, Qiu Shuang hugged her from behind. "Miss, is it really necessary to go? Can't we wait for the young master to return in the capital?"

Ruan Wan turned around and gently hugged Qiu Shuang. "Qiu Shuang, you don't understand. My soul used to wander, but now it has finally settled down. That root is Qian Yuan. If he weren't here, I wouldn't need to be rooted in this capital city."

Qiu Shuang wiped away her tears with her sleeve and nodded. "Miss, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

The next day, Ruan Wan swaggered out with Qiu Shuang. The two first went to a pharmacy and got some cold medicine.

Then I went to rice and vegetable shops and bought a lot of ingredients.

Finally, the carriage stopped at Linquan Tailor Shop in the south of the city. A kind-looking middle-aged man came up to greet her and asked, "Madam, would you like to have some clothes made?"

Qiu Shuang, supporting Ruan Wan, said, "Our lady needs two sets of winter clothes made."

The shopkeeper greeted Ruan Wan and Qiu Shuang with a smile as they entered. Ruan Wan turned and instructed Hai Ping, "Take the goods back first, then come back to pick us up."

Haiping jumped into the carriage and drove away.

Qiu Shuang smiled and said, "My wife doesn't like being disturbed by others."

The shopkeeper immediately and tactfully closed the door, saying, "I'll clear the area right away."

After the door closed, Ruan Wan tried to take the bundle from Qiu Shuang's hands, but Qiu Shuang remained motionless.

Ruan Wan frowned as she looked at Qiu Shuang. "Qiu Shuang, I know you're reluctant to leave, but I have to go right now. Give me your bundle."

Qiu Shuang shook her head. "I'll go with Miss."

Ruan Wan frowned. "This isn't a trip for leisure. We're facing an uncertain future. Hurry up and give me your bundle. Haiping will come to pick you up in a bit, and you'll go back to the manor with him."

“Miss, I’ve already given the key to Cuimo. She’ll take good care of the manor. You said I’m free now and can go wherever I want. I want to go with you now.”

The shopkeeper anxiously urged, "You two hurry up! There are many people watching outside. If we drag this out, it'll be too late to leave!"

Ruan Wan sighed and shook her head. Qiu Shuang smiled and took Ruan Wan's arm. "My home is on the border of Dongyi. I can even guide you there, Miss."

Two months later, the State of Chu was destroyed, and the Eastern Yi were driven back to the border. The two countries then resumed peace talks.

The Eastern Yi sent envoys to negotiate peace, and Xia Ziru held up the imperial edict brought by Duomuhe from the Eastern Yi in the palace.

The ultimate reason for Duomuhe's death was that the Dongyi people harbored treacherous intentions, leaving the Dongyi envoy speechless in court.

Having slaughtered the people of two cities, the Eastern Barbarians should compensate with four more cities. Now, the territory of the Great Xia has finally crossed the Wudu River.

The Duke of Zhenguo died on the battlefield, which just offset the death of the second prince of Dongyi, Duomuhe.

Zhang Lucheng was stripped of his prime minister's robes on the spot for treason, his entire family was imprisoned, all adult males over the age of fifteen were beheaded, and the women were enslaved or forced into prostitution.

All the servants were sold off and could never be redeemed; their descendants would remain slaves for generations.

General Rong led his troops to conquer the State of Chu in one fell swoop, and should have been rewarded for his merits. However, General Rong requested in the palace to resign and return to his hometown.

His Majesty, grateful for his kindness, has bestowed upon him the title of Duke of Rong, which shall be passed down through generations. He has also granted him a vast amount of gold and silver, so that General Rong may live out his retirement in peace.

In this way, the military forces behind Xia Ziru and Xia Changfeng were cut off.

A war brought disaster to countless ordinary people; in two cities, men, women, and children all perished under the iron hooves of the Eastern barbarians.

With the conclusion of the peace talks, this ravaged land finally had a chance to catch its breath.

Inside the Seventh Prince's residence, Xia Changfeng was restless. Amu knelt below him. Xia Changfeng pointed at Amu and scolded, "You can't even find two people? My cousin and Xiaozhu have been missing for two months, and you haven't found a single trace of them!"

Amu was also very aggrieved. "Your Highness, we've mobilized everyone, searched the entire country, and looked everywhere the Crown Prince and his wife could have gone, but we can't find a single trace of them."

Xia Changfeng was in a state of utter confusion. The coffin of the Duke of Zhenguo would be transported back to the capital in a few days. Where had his cousin and Xiaozhu gone?

"Have the servants in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion confessed? Did they reveal where my cousin and Xiaozhu went?"

"Your Highness, despite all the torture we've used, they all gave the same story, saying they went to the border of the Eastern Barbarians."

Xia Changfeng was extremely anxious. "With war raging, what are they doing going to the front lines?"

"The young master and his wife are probably heading to rescue the Duke of Zhenguo."

Xia Changfeng's eyes suddenly turned cold. Amu realized he had said the wrong thing and lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Xia Changfeng sat down, rubbing his forehead. "Has the military sent any news back?"

"The 30,000 soldiers led by the Duke of Zhenguo defended the nation's borders to the death, and all of them died heroically. No one knew anything about the front lines, so it is impossible to know whether anyone had seen the Crown Prince and his wife."

Hearing this, Xia Changfeng felt a pang of pain in his heart. The people of two cities, 30,000 soldiers who defended their homeland, and a Duke of Zhenguo were exchanged for four cities and the State of Chu.

It was indeed a very worthwhile deal. Xia Changfeng still couldn't believe that this was a scheme devised by his father, who loved his people like his own children.

Frustrated, Xia Changfeng got up and ran out of the palace, with Amu following closely behind. Once outside the palace gates, Xia Changfeng mounted his horse and galloped towards the palace.

Amu shouted loudly from behind, "Your Highness, where are you going?"

Xia Changfeng had long since disappeared, leaving only the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

Xia Changfeng rushed to the palace. "Mother, you knew about Father's scheme, why didn't you try to stop him?"

The palace maids and nannies immediately knelt down. The Empress's face darkened, and she glanced at Granny Qiu beside her.

Granny Qiu immediately led everyone out and closed the palace gates.

Looking at Xia Changfeng's indignant expression, the Empress said softly, "You should be more composed. You are a father now, yet you still act so recklessly and impulsively."

Xia Changfeng, who was in charge of these matters, paced back and forth. "Uncle's coffin will arrive in the capital soon. My cousin and Xiaozhu's fate is still unknown. Mother, this is your own brother and nephew."

The Empress rebuked him sternly, "It is precisely because he is my own brother and nephew that you cannot act recklessly. The way you are behaving is that you are blaming your father."

"Your subject does not have it."

"These decisions and strategies were all made by your father, and it was your father who sent your uncle to the Eastern Yi border."

"Why did my brother willingly choose to die? Have you ever thought about it?"

With tears welling in his eyes, Xia Changfeng looked at the Empress and said, "Mother, if it means using the blood of my own family to obtain the throne, I would rather not have this throne."

The Empress sneered, "Now that he's dead, if you truly lose the throne, you'll really be letting the Lou family down."

"If something happens to my cousin, the Lou family will have no bloodline left. What use is the protection of the throne then?"

The Empress narrowed her eyes, looking at Xia Changfeng. "I am also a member of the Lou family, and you also have Lou family blood in your veins."

"Xia Ziru, holding the imperial edict, stood in the Golden Palace and upheld righteousness by putting aside his own family. But you are different. Your uncle sacrificed his life for the country. You should be proud of that. I told you before that you would face the same choice as Xia Ziru in the future."

Xia Changfeng still couldn't understand. From a young age, his father taught him to love the people like his own children and to hate evil like his own enemies, while his mother also taught him to be harmonious and loving with his brothers.

Everything has changed now. He's going crazy. If his cousin dies, if Xiaozhu dies, he really can't go on living.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, His Majesty summons you."

The Empress asked, "Do you know why?"

"An envoy has been sent from the southern border to see us."

Inside the imperial study, the emperor was overjoyed. "Changfeng, envoys from the Southern Frontier have come to sue for peace, wishing to marry their holy maiden to us, thus forging an alliance between our two nations."

Xia Changfeng was still angry. "Father, Third Brother is gentle and witty; he will surely win the Holy Maiden's favor."

The Emperor frowned slightly. "You're unwilling to marry the Holy Maiden?"

Xia Ziru laughed and said, "Seventh brother, I would like to marry her, but unfortunately the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang has specifically requested to marry you, otherwise the alliance will be null and void."

Xia Changfeng frowned as he looked at Xia Ziru. "The Miao holy maiden specifically requests to marry me?"

Xia Ziru nodded. Xia Changfeng then looked at the Emperor, whose face had lost its joy. The Emperor said solemnly, "Changfeng, for the sake of the stability of the realm, you must marry this Holy Maiden."

It's already a done deal; a single imperial edict will suffice. Why bother asking him?

Xia Changfeng and Xia Ziru walked side by side. Xia Changfeng asked, "Southern Xinjiang never interacts with other countries and is very isolated. How did they learn about my name, and why do they insist on marrying me?"

Xia Ziru laughed and said, "Seventh Brother is so lucky! A beautiful princess helped Great Xia conquer the Chu Kingdom, and a holy maiden offered herself to him. In the future, the world will surely be unified."

Xia Changfeng had no time for arguing with him. "Third Brother, I'm not in the mood for jokes."

Xia Ziru laughed and said, "I'm not joking. Now that I have a traitorous grandfather backing me, I have no chance of succeeding to the throne."

"Didn't Third Brother uphold justice and even kill his own family member in the palace?"

Xia Ziru said in a low voice, "It was my father who ordered me to uphold justice and eliminate my own family, not the other way around."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is that I once secretly let my maternal grandfather's family go, but they were intercepted by my father's men."

Xia Changfeng stared at Xia Ziru with wide eyes, but then he thought about it again and realized that it was indeed something Xia Ziru was capable of doing.

Xia Ziru laughed and said, "Our father has grand ambitions, which I am not capable of inheriting. However, this Miao holy maiden has been missing for several years. According to rumors, she ran away to our Great Xia. Perhaps she saw you by chance, fell in love with you at first sight, and insisted on marrying you."

"What nonsense are you spouting? This Miao holy maiden already completed her sacrificial ceremony in Miao territory last year. You know that after the ceremony, she was to be offered to the Miao prince."

Xia Ziru smiled and patted Xia Changfeng on the shoulder, saying, "Those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles."

Xia Changfeng slapped Xia Ziru's hand away. "I have something important I need your help with, Third Brother."

Before Xia Changfeng could speak, Xia Ziru said, "I also have no information about Lou Qianyuan and Ruan Wan. As soon as the war started, all my informants were withdrawn from the border."

Xia Changfeng's last hope was shattered, and he squatted on the ground, burying his head in his hands.

Xia Ziru sat down and comforted Xia Changfeng, "They're both very lucky. They survived being chased by the Zhang family and Linglong's people, so they'll definitely be fine this time too."

Xia Changfeng stared at Xia Ziru in astonishment. "You said Linglong sent people to hunt down my cousin and Xiaozhu!"

Xia Ziru was also shocked. "You didn't know? She sent people to intercept and kill Ruan Wan and Lou Qianyuan in Xijing. She sent Zhu You and the Ten-Man Gang. Zhu You was injured and escaped. Eight members of the Ten-Man Gang were killed by them. Didn't you know any of this?"

Xia Changfeng only knew that she instigated Rong Yufen and Sun Shishi to harm Xiaozhu, but he really didn't know that she sent people to intercept and kill his cousin and Xiaozhu.

That's incredibly audacious.

Xia Changfeng took his leave and hurriedly ran towards the palace gate. Xia Ziru squinted and smiled as he watched Xia Changfeng's retreating figure.

Xia Changfeng hurriedly rode back to his residence, his anger flaring as he rushed towards Linglong's Qingfang Courtyard. Amu quickly followed, "Your Highness, where have you been? The Princess Consort just sent someone to report that Princess Anle has a fever."

Thinking of his daughter, Xia Changfeng calmed down and instructed Amu, "Go to the State of Chu and bring someone back for me."

"May I ask, Your Highness, who do you wish me to arrest?"

"Zhu You"

Xia Changfeng composed himself, smiled, and walked into the courtyard. He went straight to the bedroom, walked to the cradle, and touched the little princess's forehead. "She's still a little hot. Has the imperial physician come to take a look?"

"The imperial physician has examined me and said it's due to indigestion and fever; a little fasting will make me much better."

Xia Changfeng was relieved and stepped forward to take Linglong's hand, frowning. "Linglong, Father Emperor summoned me to the palace today."

Looking at Xia Changfeng's expression, Linglong knew something was wrong. "Father, is there anything you need me to do?"

Xia Changfeng's eyes were filled with sorrow. "The Miao region has sued for peace, and my father has ordered me to marry the Miao holy maiden. The imperial decree will be issued soon."