There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Princess of a Weak Nation in a Peace Marriage X Barbarian General

A heavy silence hung in the air.

Jiang Peifeng waved her hand, indicating that Anjisa and the others did not need to get up. Under the half-raised curtain, she had already glimpsed that familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar face.

At the first sight of the little white flower, Jiang Peifeng sighed internally: I have to start all over again.

This Princess looked younger than her actual age. Her black hair was styled into an opulent bun, heavily adorned with gold hairpins, causing her head to tilt slightly as if she couldn’t bear the weight. Her small face was dominated by a pair of large, round eyes, like a nervous fawn, watching her with extreme vigilance.

Is she going to hit me back?

Ruan Jiyun felt like crying.

Before her marriage, her Concubine Mother had held her and cried all night. She had heard that Xiji was thousands of miles away, and its people were both savage and fierce. Just now, this Royal Daughter had scared off General Chengen and his entire entourage with just a few words, showing how formidable she was.

And she had actually struck her in a moment of panic?

Thinking of this, Ruan Jiyun shrunk further into the corner of the carriage, saying tearfully: “Your Highness… I was too scared just now…”

Jiang Peifeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “You are the one who hit me, so why do you look like I bullied you?”

Ruan Jiyun only heard the word “hit.” She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears: “Then hit me back, but don’t be too hard… After all, I am… I am… the Peace Marriage Princess, burdened with the responsibility of peace between the two nations…”

“Alright, I’ll be gentle then.” Jiang Peifeng nodded, and seeing the Princess’s horrified expression, she reached out and gently touched her head.

Ruan Jiyun: “…….”

“I hit you back. Is that enough?” Jiang Peifeng smiled at her. “I’m relieved to know that the Princess is mentally sound.”

As she spoke, she glanced around, suddenly realizing that besides the cavalry she brought, and the Xiji welcoming party, there wasn’t even a single accompanying lady-in-waiting for the Princess.

This Jing Dynasty Emperor is truly perfunctory toward his own daughter. She sighed silently, her peripheral vision catching that in this short moment, the little white flower had already shrunk herself into a ball against the carriage wall. The corner of her mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.

“The people I brought are all soldiers. Princess, please rest in the carriage for now, and don’t let them frighten you.” After saying this, she jumped off the carriage shaft and left like a gust of wind.

Ruan Jiyun stared blankly at her retreating figure.

Because her Concubine Mother was not favored, although she was called a Princess, her status was perhaps lower than that of a favored lady-in-waiting. When Xiji proposed the peace marriage with the Jing Dynasty, the most suitable candidate should have been Princess Zhaoming, the daughter of Noble Consort Chu. However, that Imperial Sister was deeply favored by the Emperor and would never come to such a “barbarian” land.

By a series of accidents, someone remembered her existence, which resulted in this decree of marriage.

She observed the Xiji people through the curtain’s gap. They were busy setting up awnings and feeding the camels. Although their attire looked far less refined than the Jing people, perhaps they weren’t so terrifying?

Especially this Royal Daughter. Contrary to the feminine conduct she had been taught in the Jing Dynasty, she seemed completely indifferent to gender distinctions, commanding a crowd of soldiers who were busy following her orders. And those Xiji people were actually willing to be directed by a woman?

Ruan Jiyun’s mind was filled with wild thoughts. The fatigue gradually mounted, and she unknowingly leaned against the carriage wall and drifted off to sleep.

She was awakened by a strange fragrance.

The aroma seemed to have grown hands and feet, drilling straight into her nostrils. She smelled warm spices mixed with the oily, savory scent of meat. It was an irresistible killer, and her stomach immediately protested with a rumbling sound.

Ruan Jiyun carefully crawled over and secretly pulled the curtain aside a little. She saw a bonfire burning not far away. The Xiji people were sitting around in groups of two or three, and the fragrance was emanating from there.

“Smells good, doesn’t it?” A voice sounded beside her.

She jumped in surprise, nearly hitting the carriage roof. She turned her head nervously, finding that Jiang Peifeng had reappeared at some point. She supported herself with one hand, hopped onto the carriage shaft, and dangled her long legs: “They are roasting mutton.”

Ruan Jiyun silently swallowed. Over the past few days, General Chengen had insisted on “the dignity of the superior nation” as an excuse to forcibly prevent her from leaving the carriage. Her meals were mostly dry rations and porridge. Smelling such a delicious scent now, she couldn’t help but feel a longing.

Jiang Peifeng noticed her subtle expression and reached out her hand: “Come on, let’s go taste it.”

“Go… go over to the bonfire?” Ruan Jiyun was shocked by her audacity. “But I am a Peace Marriage Princess, proper etiquette…”

“Am I not a Princess too?” Jiang Peifeng laughed. “Since you are marrying into our Xiji, you should naturally follow our Xiji rules.”

She jumped off the carriage and extended her hand toward Ruan Jiyun: “Do you want to eat?”

Ruan Jiyun was a little slow to react. What Jiang Peifeng said seemed logical, yet it was completely different from the education she had received since childhood. Seeing the other party’s matter-of-fact expression, and afraid of displeasing her, she hesitated for a moment before extending her hand.

Jiang Peifeng grasped the soft, small hand firmly and lifted her down from the carriage.

The moment she held the person in her arms, she frowned slightly.

The little white flower, whom she had finally managed to fatten up a little in the previous world, was now as light as a tiny cabbage again.

Her feet landed on the strange sand. Ruan Jiyun was still a little dazed. Jiang Peifeng led her by the hand to the bonfire, found a wooden box, carefully brushed the dust off it, and invited Ruan Jiyun to sit down.

Anjisa was already dumbfounded by his superior’s actions. Jiang Peifeng kicked him: “The Jing Dynasty Princess wants to taste your roasted meat. Show her your skills.”

“Of course.” Anjisa was kicked on the calf and grinned: “There’s no one better at roasting mutton than me!”

The bonfire grew stronger. Lamb fat dripped into the fire, giving off a mesmerizing charred aroma. Jiang Peifeng didn’t ask Anjisa to use his knife; instead, she drew her own embroidered gold rainbow knife from her waist and sliced off a piece of mutton.

“See if you like the taste?” She smiled and handed the plate to Ruan Jiyun.

The mutton on the plate was perfectly cooked, with tender pink meat beneath a crispy, charred edge. Ruan Jiyun carefully accepted it, brought it to her lips, and took a bite.

The mutton burst with savory juices upon entering her mouth, a flavor completely different from anything she had eaten before. She slowly swallowed the food and praised: “It truly is skilled cooking. It melts in the mouth. I have never tasted such delicious mutton.”

Anjisa scratched his head, slightly embarrassed that the beautiful Jing Dynasty Princess praised him.

Jiang Peifeng smiled and cut another slice: “If you like it, have some more.”

Under the flickering firelight, Ruan Jiyun’s cheeks were also flushed with warmth. She nodded obediently and accepted another oily piece of lamb chop.

Jiang Peifeng waved her hand, signaling the soldiers to eat. Because of the meat, the Xiji soldiers soon became lively. Someone used bowls and plates as drums and began to sing a song. It was a strange yet beautiful melody, lingering sweetly in the night air.

“This is called the Long Song Tune,” Jiang Peifeng smiled at her. “It is a song from our land.”

Ruan Jiyun listened attentively: “It is completely different from Jing Dynasty music.”

Everything seemed different now.

She was standing on soft yellow sand, holding roasted meat, with unfamiliar music in her ears. All of this reminded her that she had truly arrived in a foreign land.

Jiang Peifeng saw her expression turn slightly dim, and comforted her: “Although Xiji is not as prosperous as the Jing Dynasty, the people here are warm and sincere. You will like it.”

“I know. I knew it on the way here.” Ruan Jiyun whispered, “These past few days, it was actually our side deliberately delaying, which caused the itinerary to be postponed, but your envoy has always been very accommodating.”

She remembered Anjisa’s friendly smile toward her just now and couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed.

General Chengen, relying on his sister being Noble Consort Chu, didn’t think much of her. He used her as a shield along the way, dragging out the journey and refusing to stick to the schedule. Although she understood his motives, she had silently consented.

“Actually, my body is not that delicate…” She summoned her courage and said, “Just travel on schedule. I, I can do it!”

Jiang Peifeng gazed at her quietly. Even when relocated across time and space, the little white flower was still the kind girl who always thought of others. She said: “It’s alright. We are not in a rush.”

As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Ruan Jiyun again: “Besides, you can eat a little more to gain weight. Otherwise, I’m afraid a gust of wind will just blow you away.”

Ruan Jiyun’s face flushed bright red from her gaze. She was already sixteen, wasn’t she? Jiang Peifeng’s expression clearly implied that she was… flat-chested?

She was so annoyed that she took another furious bite of the lamb chop. Mmm… so delicious.

Time passed, she didn’t know for how long. When a beam of sunlight hit Ruan Jiyun’s face through the carriage window gap, she woke up, sitting up on the small couch in a daze. Hearing the indistinct laughter of the Xiji people with their rolling accents outside, she remembered that she was in the desert.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she lifted the curtain to look out. The Xiji people were practicing drills. The figure in flowing white clothing at the center was Jiang Peifeng.

Jiang Peifeng accepted challenges from her subordinates without hesitation. Xiji warriors revered martial prowess, and she was the best among the warriors. At this moment, her right hand rested on her sword sheath, a slight smile playing on her lips, as she confronted another swordsman.

The warrior was tall. The heavy broadsword in his hand was wielded like a toy, raining down dozens of dense flashes of light toward Jiang Peifeng like a sudden storm.

Jiang Peifeng did not retreat. She only raised her sword sheath with her right hand. The broadsword seemed to stick to her sheath, blocked one by one as she moved.

The warrior withdrew his sword one step and laughed: “General Peifeng, let’s get serious!”

With that, he directly swung his sword at Jiang Peifeng’s lower body. The force of the attack was heavy, the metal humming faintly as it cut through the air. The sword was wielded with full strength, making Ruan Jiyun, watching from over ten meters away, gasp with alarm and almost cry out.

Jiang Peifeng’s expression remained unchanged. Just as the sword attack approached, she lightly leapt up. Her left hand twisted and grabbed the back of the sword. Before anyone could clearly see her actions, the broadsword was firmly held in her grasp. No matter how hard the warrior pulled, he couldn’t move it an inch.

She chuckled softly: “Not bad. You almost made me draw my sword.”

The warrior, though subdued, was not discouraged. He simply bowed with a fist and went off to contemplate his swordsmanship.

Others wanted to continue challenging her. Jiang Peifeng waved her hand, signaling that the drills were over for the day. After the crowd dispersed, she took a satchel from her horse’s back and carefully scooped a handful of water to wipe her face.

Sunlight fell on her vibrant face. Crystal water droplets rolled down her fair, delicate jawline, dripping into her collar. Ruan Jiyun stared blankly at her. Jiang Peifeng possessed a truly unique temperament, one unlike any woman she knew in the Jing Dynasty. It was a proud and utterly unbreakable beauty.

While she was still in a daze, Jiang Peifeng turned around. She still wore that warm, smiling expression and asked softly: “Little Princess, do you think I look good?”

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