There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Princess of a Weak Nation in a Peace Marriage X Barbarian General

On the seventh day of the march, Jiang Peifeng recalled her falcon in the desert. The snow-white falcon perched on its master’s shoulder, rubbing its golden beak against her hair affectionately.

Jiang Peifeng took a slip of paper from the message tube and smiled helplessly: “It seems Great Jing’s luck is not so good.”

In the winter month of the 20th year of Jinghe, the Golden Di barbarians advanced to the walls of Huajing. Emperor Zhaozong, encouraged by the Royal Clan, disguised himself and prepared to flee Huajing overnight. Perhaps due to excessive tension during the escape, Emperor Zhaozong somehow lost his footing on the city wall and fell, dying instantly.

Consort Chu, who now had to be called Empress Dowager Chu, and who possessed the heir apparent, enthroned the sixteen-year-old heir as the new Emperor, given the reign title Jiazong.

After Jiazong ascended the throne, he first announced a temporary retreat to the Jingzhou temporary palace, a hundred miles away. Following this, he issued an imperial decree requesting the allied nation, Xiji, to temporarily send back the Princess who was sent for the peace marriage last year, to negotiate peace terms with the Golden Di in Jiazong’s name.

“This is simply shameless,” Jiang Peifeng lit the letter, letting it burn to ashes little by little. “Fifty-four prefectures, two million miles of land, and over sixty million subjects, yet they rely on a single woman to negotiate peace?”

If she hadn’t been vigilant, secretly keeping someone informed about the changes in the Great Jing court, the little white flower would once again have fallen into the hands of these despicable relatives.

“General, what should we do?” As the person who had the most contact with the Princess, Anjisa naturally scorned Great Jing’s actions. Setting aside how much the Princess had contributed to Xiji, becoming a respected and admired Highness, the mere act of sending a woman to confront the Golden Di army was enough to warrant contempt.

Jiang Peifeng pondered for a moment: “Send someone back to the capital to protect the Princess. I spoke with my father before I left. He will delay and fob off the imperial letter from Great Jing. We only need to protect the Princess and ensure she is not forcibly taken away.”

She gazed into the distance: “The Princess that the Jing Dynasty refuses to value will be protected by those who cherish her more.”

Jiang Peifeng believed she had made exhaustive preparations for this matter, but she had not accounted for Ruan Jiyun’s own ideas.

As they set up camp that night, she sat alone in the military tent, calculating the speed at which the messenger could return to the capital, when she heard the hesitant voices of the guards outside the tent.

The tent flap was lifted, letting in a cool night breeze. She suddenly looked up and saw the little white flower, dressed in riding attire, walking in.

“How did you get here?” Jiang Peifeng’s heart instantly sank. She stood up anxiously and grabbed the little white flower’s hand. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Ruan Jiyun had been riding for several days and felt a deep ache all over her body. Earlier in the spring, to facilitate her travel between the pastures, she had asked Ashinuo and the others to teach her to ride. She never expected to use the skill now. She smiled and said: “Don’t worry, nothing happened to me. I caught up with you to return to Huajing.”

Jiang Peifeng’s expression darkened further: “Who forced you to return?” Could the guards she had stationed at the General’s residence have been bribed? Or had something gone wrong with her father, causing him to concede?

“No one is forcing me,” Ruan Jiyun, seeing her displeasure, instinctively reached out to smooth her furrowed brow. “I want to go back myself.”

Along with the imperial decree, she had received a letter that Xing Yude managed to pass out from the palace, informing her that the inner palace was now controlled by Consort Chu, and her Imperial Concubine Mother was confined.

Her Imperial Father had taken in many beautiful women throughout his life, but his children were not abundant. Consort Chu’s family held high rank and power. Her son was the heir apparent from birth. After the Consort, most of the Imperial Consorts who bore sons either died young or were timid and withdrawn, failing to win her Imperial Father’s affection.

The new Emperor summoned her back to the palace under the banner that as an adult Princess, she must share the nation’s burdens. Although New Party officials led by Cheng Zhibi argued strongly in court, their influence was ultimately weak, and they failed to get the Emperor to retract his order.

She said softly: “My Imperial Concubine Mother is still in the palace. Whether it is for the people of Great Jing to be spared the ravages of war, or for my Imperial Concubine Mother, I must go back. Since the Golden Di are willing to negotiate peace, I am only acting as an envoy, and I believe they won’t make things too difficult for me.”

Jiang Peifeng lowered her eyes and gently stroked Ruan Jiyun’s hair: “If you stay in Xiji, my people will protect you. As for the matter with the Golden Di, I will handle it appropriately. Everything you worry about will not happen. Will that be alright?”

Ruan Jiyun nestled against her palm like a small animal, saying: “But I don’t want to hide behind you forever.”

Ever since she arrived in Xiji, Jiang Peifeng had been like her protective umbrella. No matter what decision she made, she knew this person would always be her support. But as time went on, her feelings for Jiang Peifeng became deeper and more complex.

Should those who are stronger, and those who are braver, naturally have to stand at the forefront forever? They were both women. Why should she feel perfectly justified in being the one protected? That was wrong.

Everyone should possess the courage to protect the other, even if the other person was stronger. She did not want Jiang Peifeng to repeatedly put herself in danger just to shield her from a world without wind or rain.

The world they idealize should be created through their joint efforts.

Ruan Jiyun looked up and grasped Jiang Peifeng’s hand: “I will protect myself and do what I must. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Peifeng watched her quietly. A deep tenderness welled up in her profound phoenix eyes. After much thought, she said: “Alright, I promise you, but on one condition—I must personally accompany you to Huajing.”

Her entire responsibility was to protect the person before her. Since it was Ruan Jiyun’s will, she would modify her original plan, allow the little white flower to do what she wanted, and help her achieve what she desired.

Huajing – Great Jing Palace

The white marble steps snaked along the deep red palace walls. Bronze palace lamps, carved into auspicious shapes like cranes and lotus flowers, illuminated both sides of the walkway brightly. However, white mourning cloth hung from every palace gate, indicating the recent loss of the deep palace’s master.

After a separation of eighteen months, Ruan Jiyun finally set foot on the land of the Great Jing Palace once more.

The vast and luxurious palace was desolate, like a splendid tomb. She instinctively looked up. A few cold stars glittered brightly in the section of the sky cut off by the red walls.

The little eunuch responsible for receiving her was an apprentice of Xing Yude’s acquaintance, with a clever, round face. As he walked, he whispered: “The Empress Dowager has commanded that Your Highness go to Cining Palace to see her first upon your return. Don’t worry, Her Ladyship Consort He is doing well.”

Ruan Jiyun knew he meant to reassure her and nodded gratefully. When they reached Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager summoned only her to see her. Jiang Peifeng stroked her head, indicating she would wait in the courtyard.

Consort Chu’s palace was scented with her usual floral fragrance. Crystal bead curtains hung down from the ceiling, reflecting the lamplight in a dazzling splendor, like a luxurious, layered illusion being unveiled. After Ruan Jiyun performed the ritual greeting, she looked up at the woman in the phoenix robe behind the screen.

Her makeup was very elaborate. Though the nation was in mourning, her red lips still looked sharp. Empress Dowager Chu was clearly momentarily surprised by her appearance. After a long pause, she said: “I haven’t seen Jiyun for so long, I almost didn’t recognize you.”

She quickly regained her composure: “I assume you already know that the Golden Di are currently stationed outside the city. Those barbarians want His Majesty to personally negotiate peace with them. How can our Great Jing, a glorious superior nation, allow the barbarians to humiliate us?”

“But the national treasury is empty now. Your Imperial Father passed away suddenly, and the funds for the funeral and mausoleum are already very tight… His Majesty has reduced his own expenses for this reason and moved to the Jingzhou temporary palace… There is no one usable among the Royal Clan. We were simply left with no choice.”

Empress Dowager Chu’s voice was somewhat delicate, sounding magnificent yet insincere. She watched Ruan Jiyun’s expression: “You are a Princess of the Jing Dynasty, His Majesty’s Imperial Sister, and you have experience dealing with foreign tribes in Xiji. After thinking it over and over, this matter is something I can only trust to you.”

As she spoke, Ruan Jiyun listened quietly. This kind of high-sounding excuse was not the first time she had heard it. Just like the time more than a year ago, when she knelt on the stone bricks of Yihe Hall, she heard the same voice say delicately: “Zhaoming is physically weak and attached to her Imperial Father. She is reluctant to marry far away. After thinking it over, only Jiyun is the most suitable.”

She made up her mind, looked up, and said: “Jiyun is willing to share the Emperor’s worries, but I have one request for Her Ladyship to grant.”

She bowed deeply to Empress Dowager Chu: “After this matter is settled, I ask for your benevolence to permit me to take my Imperial Concubine Mother to Xiji to live out her remaining years in peace.”

Traveling thousands of miles back to Huajing, the only person she worried about most was her Imperial Concubine Mother. If she could use the success of the peace talks to bring her mother back, it would be worth it.

The woman on the phoenix throne watched her, seeming to consider for a long time before saying: “I will grant your request. If this matter of peace talks is resolved smoothly, your wish will naturally be fulfilled.”

The conversation in Cining Palace lasted for a long time. Outside the hall, Jiang Peifeng stood alone in the courtyard, quietly admiring the luxurious palace.

Her little white flower once lived in this place.

The wind carried faint wafts of floral fragrance. A tuberose unfolded its tender leaves. The petals reflected the moonlight, emitting a clear light, looking extremely delicate. Jiang Peifeng had never seen this flower and looked at it curiously for a moment, when she suddenly heard someone ask: “Who are you?”

She followed the sound and saw a lavishly dressed young woman standing at the palace gate. Several palace attendants followed behind her, all with their heads bowed in respectful silence.

Seeing Jiang Peifeng not answer, the young woman rolled her eyes: “I’ve never seen you before. Are you a Golden Di spy?”

Jiang Peifeng frowned, seeing the insolent remark: “I am a Royal Daughter of Xiji, accompanying Princess Jiyun to see the Empress Dowager.”

The young woman sneered, then pressed further: “Then what is your name?”

Her face was full of arrogance when she spoke. Jiang Peifeng truly did not want to bother responding. Seeing the palace attendants at the entrance coming forward to welcome the young woman, she lowered her eyes and said nothing more.

Princess Zhaoming, at twenty, had never encountered anyone who dared to disrespect her. She looked at the person before her and scolded coquettishly: “I am Princess Zhaoming, the Eldest Princess of the Jing Dynasty. Since I asked you a question, you must answer.”

Jiang Peifeng’s expression remained unchanged, only glancing at the young woman when she heard the name “Zhaoming.”

So this is the Eldest Princess who refused to come to Xiji for the peace marriage and begged Emperor Zhaozong to substitute Ruan Jiyun.

When those clear phoenix eyes looked at her, Princess Zhaoming was taken aback.

She had always heard that Xiji was a barbaric land, where the people were unenlightened and fiercely savage. But this Xiji Royal Daughter before her seemed somewhat… attractive?

Princess Zhaoming’s heart thumped. She instinctively averted that bright gaze. Before she could say anything else, the tightly closed hall door opened with a squeak, and Ruan Jiyun was escorted out by the little eunuch.

Seeing the little white flower emerge, Jiang Peifeng immediately stepped forward. All the aloofness that had kept others at a distance vanished from her face, replaced entirely by tenderness.

Someone came to invite Princess Zhaoming into the hall. She lifted her feet in a daze, stepping forward, but still unwilling to give up, she looked back at the two people with particular concern.

Why them? She bit her lower lip indignantly.

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