Repeatedly broken branches

Yu Yanjing was already prepared to marry Xiao Mu at any time. Upon receiving Xie Huai's message, he immediately prepared betrothal gifts and sent a marriage proposal letter to the King of the Western Regions, asking for Xia Yunzhi's hand in marriage.

After learning about Xiao Mu's relationship with Yu Yanjing, the King of the Western Regions immediately lifted her confinement and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Qiechu, placing her on equal footing with Bai Jiaoyu. He also granted her residence in Pinyu Palace, but Xiao Mu declined, preferring to stay in her mother's former residence, Shuixian Palace.

Ever since Yu Yanjing sent out his marriage proposal, the Western Region King's attitude towards Xiao Mu has changed. His eyes, which had been devoid of emotion, have become gentler. He even feels that Xiao Mu is just like Wei from before.

"Princess, the King said he will come to see you this afternoon," the maid said to Xiao Mu with a smile.

Xiao Mu was dressed in the royal palace attire of the Western Regions, with her hair styled in the Western Regions style, her long black hair tied into a long braid. She covered her face with a beaded curtain, wore a pair of skirts with gold embroidery and trim, and wore a golden bell on her fair and delicate ankle, which jingled with every step. So this is how it is.

She had a red gemstone on her forehead as an adornment, which made her look exotic, and her veil made her look extremely mysterious.

It is said that only people of noble status are qualified to adorn their foreheads with gemstones, and the darker the color of the gemstone, the more precious the status.

Xie Huai was the craftsman appointed by the King of the Western Regions to make armlets for Xiao Mu. There was a custom in the Western Regions that when a woman got married, her mother's family had to send her armlets, so that she could be bound to her husband for life, living in harmony and without any discord.

Xiao Mu felt it was foolish to be tied to her husband. She was herself, not someone else's appendage.

"It's only been a few days, and you're already Princess Qiechu now," Xie Huai said jokingly, looking at her before measuring her arm and marveling at how thin she was.

Xiao Mu said expressionlessly, "What's there to say? I didn't know things would progress so quickly. I'm getting married in half a month, and this time I'm actually feeling a little joyful and nervous. Do you think there's something wrong with me?"

Xie Huai lowered his eyes and said, "Because I'm marrying the man I love, I'm both happy and nervous. What could be wrong? This is how a woman feels when she gets married." A trace of dejection flashed across his eyes. He didn't know why, perhaps it was the sadness of his unrequited love ending before it even began?

“You’re right, I do want to marry him, but I don’t want to be empress. But I can only be empress, because he can only be emperor.”

Xie Huai smiled faintly, "You're right. Isn't the Empress good enough? Second only to the Emperor, above all others, the most noble woman in the world, she can have anything she wants. She's a million times better than Bai Jiaoyu."

He noted down Xiao Mu's arm circumference, then glanced at her. Xiao Mu's face was filled with an unconcealed smile and shyness. Even though she was still heartbroken over her friend's tragic death, she couldn't hide her joy at her upcoming wedding.

Xiao Mu said with a beaming smile, "I'm not interested in his status, do you believe me?"

"I believe you," Xie Huai said without hesitation.

"Hahaha, why are you so different from before?" Xiao Mu asked suspiciously.

"What's the difference?"

"It's just different, I can't explain it."

……

Yu Yanjing sent someone to deliver the wedding dress and phoenix crown, which were tributes from Anning Kingdom, so that Xiao Mu could try them on in advance to see if the size was suitable.

Xiao Mu didn't try it on right away. Instead, she stared blankly at the wedding dress. It was different from the one she had worn before. The color was more vibrant, and it was shimmering with light. The cuffs were embroidered with mandarin ducks and pomegranates, and the chest was embroidered with phoenixes returning to their nests. Every thread was glittering gold.

The size was also consistent with her figure. The people of Anning Kingdom had never seen her before. It seemed that this was fate. Fate had destined her to be Yu Yanjing's empress.

Xie Huai said that every gem on this phoenix crown is priceless; a small gem could buy a house, and the gems on the crown are as numerous as stars, dazzling the eyes.

Xiao Mu reached out and seemed to touch the fabric in the air. It was heavy-duty fabric, every inch of which was carefully woven and the patterns were embroidered stitch by stitch.

"Hehe, what a beautiful wedding dress! You really don't deserve it, do you know that? How could you be worthy of being the empress? Don't you even know your own status?" Bai Jiaoyu walked in with a sarcastic tone, her gaze never leaving the wedding dress. How envious she was! How jealous she was! Why could someone like Xia Yunzhi marry the emperor and become the incomparably noble empress?

Xiao Mu glanced at her indifferently, without any emotion, and said lazily, "Yes, even if I'm not worthy, I'm still the Empress. From now on, you'll have to kneel and bow before me. Aren't you angry, sister?"

Bai Jiaoyu retorted angrily, "Who's your sister? I don't have a sister like you!"

"Oh? Is that so? But Grandpa said that my sister and I should love each other. We will still be a family in the future. I will treat my sister well. You are my dearest sister!"

Bai Jiaoyu's expression turned cold. "Disgusting! I'm not your sister. Your sister is that cowardly and incompetent Xia Yunxu. Tsk tsk tsk, she was still meek and submissive even after her husband was stolen. So useless!"

Xiao Mu gripped her wrist tightly, glaring at her fiercely, and threatened, "If you continue to be so rude, I will definitely treat you well in the future. Just you wait, even your maternal grandfather won't be able to save you then!"

"Hahahaha, you think I'm scared? Even if I don't have my maternal grandfather, I still have my uncle, and my uncle loves me the most!"

Xiao Mu was surprised that a 25-year-old girl could say such childish things. It's no wonder, she was a princess since she was a child and she still is now. It's normal for her to have simple thoughts.

Unwilling to waste her breath on her, she kicked Bai Jiaoyu out. Seeing her made her feel choked up, and she thought of Xiao Suzi's death, making it impossible for her to speak properly.

You brought over a delicate little box and asked Xiao Mu with a puzzled look, "This was sent by General Zhou Tingxi. His subordinate Wei Hao said it was a wedding gift from the general. Would you like to take a look?"

Xiao Mu opened the wooden box, inside which lay a small, talisman-like copper block, with a neatly folded letter underneath.

Happy wedding! This is my wedding gift to you: a military tally that can mobilize all the troops in the Snowfield Kingdom. I am ready to raise an army and help you fight your way back.

Zhou Tingxi's handwriting pierced Xiao Mu's eyes like a blinding light. The military tally was the most precious and valuable thing he possessed. The fact that he gave it to her as a wedding gift showed his stance: he was willing to be an enemy of Yin Fu'an.

Xiao Mu ran out anxiously, grabbing You's sleeve and saying, "Where is Wei Hao? I need to see him!"

"He just left home; we'll probably run into him at the palace gate..."

Xiao Mu rushed outside like a madwoman, running towards the palace gate with all her might, her mind filled with only one thought: faster, faster, faster.

Finally, she caught up with Wei Hao on horseback and called out to him. Only then did Wei Hao stop and turn around to look at her with a blank expression.

They found a place to talk, and Xiao Mu went straight to the point, asking, "Why did he give me the military tally? What will he do then?"

Wei Hao said worriedly, "He's just waiting to die. Yin Fu'an has long since stopped trusting him, which is why he sent him to guard the desert and exiled him far away."

Waiting to die? How could they wait to die? Didn't Yin Fu'an trust Zhou Tingxi the most? Aren't they the best brothers? How could this happen? Emperors have always been suspicious.

"Then why did you give this to me?" Xiao Mu clenched the military tally in her hand, opened her palm in front of Wei Hao, and said again, "This isn't fake, is it?"

Wei Hao frowned, his eyes blazing with anger, and said, "Princess, what are you saying? How could it be false? The general's exact words were that he wanted this, so let's give it to her as a congratulatory gift."

The "he" mentioned earlier refers to Yu Yanjing. Yu Yanjing had always wanted to get back the military seal of the Snow Region Kingdom. Since Xiaozhi was going to be his empress, what use was it for him to keep it? He might as well give it to her man and perhaps she would be happier.

However, it was sent to the Western Regions as a congratulatory gift for Xia Yunzhi.

"Is the 'he' he's referring to Yu Yanjing?"

Wei Hao said in a deep voice, "Otherwise, who does the princess think it is? I have never seen a general so humble before, actually trying to please another man just to make you happy!"

Xiao Mu returned the military tally to Wei Hao, instructing, "Give it back to him. I don't need it, and neither does Yu Yanjing!"

She only hoped that Zhou Tingxi could live a good life and stop doing such foolish things. They should be even, okay?

Why can't we all just live peacefully? Why ruin our lives for these things?

“The general said that if I can’t deliver the military tally to the princess, I don’t need to go back.” Wei Hao said with some difficulty. He put the military tally back into Xiao Mu’s hands and comforted her, “Actually, the general has left himself a way out. Most of the military power in the court is with the general, so the princess doesn’t need to worry. The general can get out of trouble no matter what. He only hopes that you can get married in peace. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

"I don't want to owe him anything."

Wei Hao said in a low voice, "He owes you the debt of national annihilation. He can avenge you at any time. You should just forgive him."

Xiao Mu shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I don't blame him anymore. As long as he's doing well, that's all that matters. He already has a wife, Ouyang Meixi, a woman who would be perfect for him."

"The general has never gone back, nor has he ever seen the new lady. No matter how much the old lady and I try to persuade him, he refuses to go back."

Xiao Mu sighed, "Let nature take its course. Don't you know his personality? He won't do things he doesn't want to do, and if you don't let him do things he wants to do, he'll find a way to do them."

Wei Hao smiled, said nothing, glanced at the palace gate, and indicated that he was leaving.

Xiao Mu called out to Wei Hao's retreating figure, "Will he come?"

Without turning his head, Wei Hao said, "No! He wants you to be happy!"

Watching Wei Hao's figure disappear into the distance, Xiao Mu felt a jolt in her heart, as if something had broken, leaving her with a heavy, unpleasant feeling.

Zhou Tingxi, I also hope you are happy. We both want to be happy forever.

"Princess, the armlet is finished."

Xie Huai arrived at the Narcissus Palace with the finished armbands, only to find Xiao Mu staring blankly at the wedding dress, her eyes vacant.

"It looks pretty good." Xiao Mu picked up the armlet and examined it carefully. She had witnessed Xie Huai's craftsmanship before, and it was indeed exquisite, even better than before.

Xie Huai poured himself a cup of tea, glanced at her, and asked, "Something on your mind?"

"Well, I'm getting married in Chaoyang in just two days. Then I'll really have no freedom anymore. I don't know how to be a wife. Will I be pregnant next year?"

Xie Huai laughed, "Why think so far ahead? Just think about how you'll have to deal with so many people the day after tomorrow. Won't that give you a headache?"

“Yeah!” Xiao Mu agreed immediately. “I hate having so many people, especially people I don’t know. Can I not attend and let Yu Yanjing go alone?”

"unrealistic."

Xiao Mu looked at Xie Huai with distress, "Otherwise, I might as well run away from the marriage. I'll think of another way to avenge Xiao Su Zi. I'm really scared, scared of becoming the Empress!"

Xie Huai tilted his head to look at her and chuckled, "So many women dream of becoming empress but can't, yet you want to elope? Aren't you afraid Yu Yanjing will be furious?"

Xiao Mu calmed her flustered emotions and thought carefully. Every woman has to go through this. She loves Yu Yanjing. Isn't love able to overcome all difficulties? Anyway, she has already been through it once. Can't she just grit her teeth and bear it? As long as Yu Yanjing treats her well, that's enough. She will spend her life with Yu Yanjing. She still hopes that he will not let her down.

"Xie Huai, I want to see my maternal grandfather." Xiao Mu suddenly looked at Xie Huai, her eyes flashing slightly, full of autumn water.

"Okay, I'll make arrangements."

……

"Grandfather, I can't bear to part with you. I want to stay by your side forever," Xiao Mu said sweetly and softly, clinging to the Western Region King's arm.

The King of the Western Regions laughed and said, "You're about to get married and you're still acting like a child? Just like your mother when she was little, you always loved to act like a child." At that moment, he seemed to see Wei when she was a child, and at that moment, they were as intimate as ordinary grandparents and grandchildren.

Xiao Mu was slightly taken aback, and said in a sweet voice, "I am the Queen Mother's daughter, so naturally I resemble the Queen Mother. Grandfather, could you come to Chaoyang Kingdom to see me and Sister Jiaoyu in the future? Xiaozhi has no other relatives, only you."

The purpose was for her maternal grandfather to take Bai Jiaoyu to Chaoyang, where it would then be her territory, and Bai Jiaoyu would be at her mercy.

"Alright, alright, your maternal grandfather will visit you often. You should also be more accommodating to Jiaoyu, you know? She's just a little willful, but she's not a bad person at heart."

A little willful? Not inherently bad? Xiao Mu secretly mocked herself. What exactly constitutes "bad"? If she can so easily harbor murderous intent towards strangers, what wouldn't she do?

……

Two days before the wedding, Ruan Cifeng and Xiao Shao arrived. Xiao Shao was beaming from ear to ear, while Ruan Cifeng remained expressionless. After meeting his maternal grandfather, Ruan Cifeng stayed silent and didn't say a word.

They all thought it might be due to the long journey and the change in environment, but Ruan Cifeng had also been to the Western Regions before and would not have experienced any such problems. He had traveled to various countries for many years and his body could easily adapt to different environments.

Xiao Shao wanted to visit the imperial city of the Western Regions, so Xiao Mu had no choice but to accompany her, and also asked Ruan Cifeng to help carry things.

"The Western Regions are wonderful, I really don't want to go back!"

Xiao Mu smiled and said, "Then I'll introduce you to a man from the Western Regions, and you can marry him. That way, you'll never have to go back. Isn't that great?"

Little Spoon blushed and said, "No way! I want to follow Miss. Wherever Miss goes, I'll go!"

Xiao Mu said calmly, "You'll get married eventually, you can't stay with me forever. Why don't you just be with Ci Feng and come to the palace with me? Or you can manage the shop for me, okay?"

Ruan Cifeng felt a pang of pain in his heart. He looked up at Xiao Mu, his eyes filled with indescribable sorrow.

Xiao Shao's face was already bright red, and she whispered, "Miss, please don't say that. How could Young Master Ruan possibly be interested in me..."

"How could I not like you? You're so well-behaved, aren't you, Cifeng?" Xiaomu looked at Ruan Cifeng expectantly, her eyes flashing several times.

Ruan Cifeng, as if possessed, agreed, "Mm." He was stunned for a moment after saying it. What was he saying? How could he agree to Xiaozhi's request? How could he marry Xiaoshao? He didn't love Xiaoshao at all.

But that way I can stay by Xiaozhi's side forever.

Isn't this enough?

That's not fair to the little spoon either...

"Then it's settled! When we get back to Chaoyang, I'll throw you a grand wedding. We'll never be apart, okay?"

"Miss...I...I'll do whatever you say..." Xiao Shao glanced shyly at Ruan Cifeng. Was she dreaming? She was actually going to marry the gentle and refined Ruan Gongzi...

Ruan Cifeng smiled bitterly and said, "Okay, we'll do it your way."

It's impossible for them anymore. He'll get married sooner or later, and it doesn't matter who it is, including Xiao Shao. At least that way, they can be each other's companions for the rest of their lives. However, Xiao Zhi won't go to see the flower field with him anymore, and he doesn't want to take Xiao Shao there either, because that place only belongs to Xia Yunzhi and Ruan Cifeng. Now, it can only exist in their memories.