Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: “You Are Mine,” “I Am Yours”…

The capital had begun to enter the cold winter, yet a scattering of tender green could still be spotted in the corners.

A faint thread of vitality was carried on the cold wind, but the Emperor felt deeply uncomfortable.

After the Grand Princess left, the Emperor ascended to the court again with an unknown sense of expectation. Although the court was no longer under his control, he was confident he could regain power as long as the Zhennan Army failed and Pei Shujing died.

“…Regarding the Snow Barbarians, this subject believes appeasement is paramount. Regardless of the outcome of this war, an envoy should be sent to let the Snow Queen know the intention of Great Xia, so we may recuperate.”

Xie Mao glanced at the official: “The Snow Barbarians covet Great Xia. What recuperation? That is merely your wishful thinking!”

The official’s name was Liang Wen, a Court Lecturer, considered a rising star in recent years.

The Court Lecturer was a classics exposition official, who lectured the Emperor on scholarship, and was considered one of the Emperor’s close confidants with a respectable status; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare argue with Xie Mao.

Liang Wen cupped his hands to the Emperor above and said elegantly: “There are quite a few internal and external issues right now. The priority must be peace.”

Peace?

Xie Mao’s eyelid twitched. He felt like hitting someone.

“Since the founding of Great Xia, there has never been a time for peace!”

“Times change.”

Xie Mao glanced at him and lowered his head woodenly: Young man, I’ve noted you.

But Liang Wen didn’t stop there. He chattered on: “Your Majesty, this subject believes the Zhennan Army’s unprovoked attack on the Snow Barbarians is not beneficial… This matter should be resolved through negotiation…”

The court officials looked at the listening Emperor and sneered internally.

Putting aside whether this war would significantly increase the Grand Princess’s power, let’s just say that the one considering stabbing the Great Xia soldiers in the back while they were fighting abroad was the Emperor himself.

Xie Mao at the top was already itching to hit someone. He suddenly thought of Xie Jing.

Although he still didn’t particularly like Xie Jing, he couldn’t deny that it would be good if Xie Jing were here right now.

“If possible, this subject believes now is the best time to send an envoy. Regardless of the outcome of the war, Great Xia’s sincerity…”

A chilling breeze blew through. Liang Wen was surprised. Just as he was about to turn his head to look, he was struck by a tablet.

Clang!

Liang Wen swayed and fell to the ground.

The monarch and ministers in the hall were stunned.

The one who struck the blow was not Xie Mao!

It was Wang Yan!

How could it be Wang Yan?!

This was the collective thought of everyone in the hall.

The Emperor stared, speechless for a long time.

“My dear… dear Minister, why is this?!”

A certain unnamed Xie Mao gloated: “Oh! Liang Wen has suffered an epileptic fit!”

Liang Wen, lying on the ground, began to convulse, and foam gradually emerged from the corner of his mouth…

Wang Yan took a few breaths, cupped his hands, and said: “I just find it utterly meaningless. Truly meaningless. Serving alongside such a petty person in the same court is a disgrace to my Wang family. What say you, Old Xie?”

Xie Mao was a little speechless. Why drag him into this nonsense?

So, Xie Mao stroked his beard, pretended to be serious, and nodded: “Absolutely, absolutely.”

Wang Yan waved his hand: “Enough, enough. I’m a bit tired today. If there are no urgent matters, I request permission to withdraw.”

Without waiting for the Emperor’s response, he left directly, much to the astonishment of everyone.

As he walked out of the palace gate, he said to the loyal servant waiting for him: “Send a message to Wan’er. Ask her if she needs to leave the palace. If she wants to escape, I have a way.”

“Yes.”

With this scene he caused, that Miss Wan’er’s life in the inner palace wouldn’t be easy.

But he truly couldn’t hold back anymore.

This Emperor was increasingly disappointing him.

This court also felt increasingly boring to him.

Just like Xue Hanyan, after all his scheming, he died unable to believe that a Grand Secretary like himself could be killed so easily.

Wang Yan sat at a street tea stall, sipping tea, when he heard a loud shout.

“Great Victory! Great Victory!”

The military dispatchers, riding swift horses, rushed into the capital. A Zhennan Army banner was thrust into their backs.

“The Zhennan Army killed one hundred thousand Snow Barbarians, captured the Snow Queen alive, erected a Jingguan (a mound of enemy heads) at Xingye City, and shook the Northern Frontier!”

“Great Victory! The Grand Princess personally executed an enemy general and erected a stele upon the Jingguan: ‘From today, the Northern Frontier is secure!'”

All the common people stared blankly at these shouting Zhennan Army soldiers.

“Long Live!”

Cheers suddenly erupted, spreading from the city gate. Soon, the entire city was cheering.

“Long Live!”

Wang Yan laughed heartily after hearing this.

That’s how rumors spread.

One hundred thousand Snow Barbarians, haha, an exaggeration. Twenty to thirty thousand was closer to the truth.

Also, the Grand Princess personally executing an enemy general?

Hmm… That remains to be discussed.

But Wang Yan believed the erection of the Jingguan was definitely the Imperial Son-in-Law’s doing.

Only that person would dare to commit such a brutal act, unafraid of karmic retribution.

However, Wang Yan couldn’t be bothered to say anything.

It felt wonderful to be immersed in this atmosphere of sheer ecstasy.

Much more interesting than the court.

The Imperial City should be able to hear the cheers of the whole city. What would the Emperor do when he found out?

What would the court officials and scholars do when they heard?

The fundamental nature of this court was changing, little by little.

The situation in the realm was also changing, little by little.

The old servant he had previously instructed returned: “Master, the young lady said, ‘Since Father has acted this way, she will simply stop pretending. With the Empress here, she will not suffer any hardship. Please rest assured.'”

Wang Yan shook his head and chuckled bitterly.

There were still many interesting people in this realm.

The Grand Princess, the Imperial Son-in-Law, Wan’er, the Empress…

He suddenly felt like going to see his daughter. He wondered how she was doing with that woman.

Wang Yan hummed a little tune with his hands behind his back and slowly walked away.

Time rewound to the moment the war had just ended. Xie Ning’s appearance was very disheveled, but when she walked to the front, the soldiers all looked at her with reverence.

Throughout history, searching through the annals, which Imperial Son-in-Law would personally lead the army to storm a city?

Let alone an Imperial Son-in-Law, how many generals in the army would do so?

It could be said that few survived the first wave of a siege battle, yet she still went.

What kind of spirit was this?

After the great victory, they even used the enemy’s heads to build a Jingguan…

Not only had the Zhennan Army never seen it, but no one in the entire Great Xia had ever done such a thing.

And the Grand Princess personally executing an enemy general.

This was not false. It happened in plain sight.

Even Gao Changxun hadn’t expected it. He was still trying to create an opportunity for the Grand Princess, but she just used a repeating crossbow to shoot the charging enemy general.

Although it was suspected of stealing the kill, no one cared.

Everyone was boiling with enthusiasm! The Grand Princess personally executed an enemy general, and the Imperial Son-in-Law led the charge!

What else, what other action, could be more inspiring than this?

Nothing.

So, the Zhennan Army fought like madmen.

Gao Changxun was no exception.

They breached the city, they invaded the royal palace, and they captured the Snow Queen alive.

In plain sight, the Grand Princess sat on the royal throne in the palace.

Their spirits lifted. Although the royal throne was inferior to the one in the capital, the significance was the same.

For the Zhennan Army, the significance was even more unique.

They gazed at the Grand Princess on the throne until she asked them a question.

“Do you dare to assist this Princess?”

Hearing this, the entire Zhennan Army knelt: “We pledge our lives to protect you!”

The Grand Princess smiled: “Tonight we will award merits. I urge you all not to overindulge. The people of Zhenxue City are waiting for us to return to celebrate.”

The soldiers laughed heartily and subconsciously puffed out their chests.

After the soldiers left, only Pei Shujing and Xie Ning remained in the royal hall.

Pei Shujing leaned back lazily on the throne and beckoned to Xie Ning.

“There’s no special feeling sitting in this chair.”

Xie Ning walked up to Pei Shujing and said with a smile: “It is not worthy of Your Highness, so naturally, there is no feeling.”

Pei Shujing curled her lips: “You certainly know how to talk. Squat down.”

Xie Ning was startled: “What?”

“This Princess told you to squat down!”

Xie Ning had no choice but to squat by Pei Shujing’s feet, looking up to see Pei Shujing lightly stroking her face with her fingers.

Xie Ning let out a faint “hiss” of pain.

“Do you know you almost disfigured yourself?”

Pei Shujing looked at the saber wound on Xie Ning’s left cheek. Although not deep, it would surely leave a scar.

Xie Ning smiled: “Does Your Highness dislike me now?”

“No.”

“This Princess prefers it.”

“What?” Xie Ning was stunned.

Pei Shujing gazed deeply into Xie Ning’s face. After a long time, she broke the silence.

“Do you know? Do you know why I hated Xie Jing so much?”

A momentary flash of panic seemed to cross Xie Ning’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. “Is Your Highness launching a sudden attack? Although I promised to exchange our deepest secrets with Your Highness when I returned alive, this is too sudden.”

“No.”

Pei Shujing shook her head, her expression calm: “Secrets? This Princess no longer cares.”

“Xie Ning, ever since this Princess knew you were not Xie Jing, I have been trying hard to accept you.”

“I can even admit that I have always been very interested in you, and the days spent with you are very comfortable for this Princess. But I was always unable to regard you as a long-term partner.”

“Do you know why?”

Xie Ning tentatively said: “Because of this face of mine?”

“Correct.”

“But things are different now, Xie Ning.”

“You are different from Xie Jing. Completely different.”

“That’s why I said I prefer this scar on your face, because this Princess can treat you as the real Xie Ning.”

“I… can also accept you as my Imperial Son-in-Law without any reservations.”

“From now on, in my eyes, you have absolutely nothing to do with Xie Jing. And you also don’t need to have reservations, because I not only had no marital relations with Xie Jing but didn’t even have a marriage contract.”

“All matters are decided by this Princess. Whoever I say is my Imperial Son-in-Law, is!”

“The specifics, I will inform you when I have time…”

Pausing there, Pei Shujing took a deep breath.

“So…”

“Are you willing to let this Princess try to accept you?”

Xie Ning looked thoughtfully into Pei Shujing’s eyes.

“No.”

“Rejecting me?” Pei Shujing sneered: “It seems I gave you too much face…”

Xie Ning’s fingers slipped into her hair, her palm caressing her cheek. She interrupted softly: “I want to devour you right now.”

“…” Pei Shujing tilted her head back, a light, provocative smile playing on her lips.

In this royal hall, where no one else was present, Xie Ning, who had originally been joking and trying to frighten her, felt her heart pound as her hand touched her body.

“…I intend to do so.” Xie Ning tried to moderate her now ragged breathing. “But I still need Your Highness’s permission.”

“What do you want to do?” Pei Shujing asked with a smile.

“Considering this is merely a royal chair, it is not worthy of Your Highness’s status. So, I have decided to save what I want to do right now for the Dragon Throne.”

Pei Shujing mocked: “Do you know that you could lose your head twice just for that sentence?”

“Oh? Which two times?”

“The Emperor kills you once. The successive former emperors kill you once.”

“What about Your Highness? Will the future Emperor kill me?”

“That depends on whether you can satisfy her.”

“How can I satisfy her?”

Pei Shujing lifted Xie Ning’s chin, her face drawing closer involuntarily. Her eyes, full of desire, looked down upon Xie Ning’s blood-stained face.

“May I?” Xie Ning asked softly, her voice a little huskier than usual.

Amidst the night, the royal hall, and the cheers of the soldiers outside the palace, the Grand Princess issued her first royal command.

“Kiss me!”

Xie Ning lost. She lost to Pei Shujing, she lost to the Grand Princess, and she lost to this damned, yet stimulating, situation.

She covered Pei Shujing’s cool lips with hers, greedily seeking.

Pei Shujing’s body went limp, and she leaned entirely into Xie Ning’s embrace.

“…Xie Ning.”

“…Mm, I’m here.”

After a simple, meaningless exchange, the second moment of passion began.

The lamp flickered in the hall. Xie Ning slightly gasped as she pulled away from Pei Shujing’s lips.

Their foreheads rested against each other, as if only this could support their weak bodies.

“…Ning.”

“…Mm.”

“…You are mine.”

“I am yours.”

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