She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

Inside the lodge of the Honglu Temple, the evening glow penetrated through the carved window lattice, dyeing the entire hall in a dark golden hue.

Princess Yujia sat upright before the table, her slender fingers gently stroking the scroll of bright yellow imperial decree, its silk texture cold and heavy.

This was the imperial decree issued by Emperor Jing after setting the date for the grand wedding ceremony in the court today.

This decree, He Shu will have someone first send back to the Turkic Grassland, into the hands of Bo Lu Khan.

To let the Khan know early that their mission to Da Jing has successfully yielded results, only waiting for the marriage ceremony to be held.

”Princess, you have already looked at it three times.”

The maid Alan standing beside couldn’t help but softly remind, her Da Jing dialect not as standard and fluent as Princess Yujia’s, carrying a distinct grassland accent.

Yujia did not lift her head, only slightly nodded.

Her fingertips halted over the words ”June 15th”, the date marking the turning point of her fate.

Outside the window came the unique noises of the Capital City of Da Jing, vendors hawking, wheels rumbling, children laughing—sounds she both longed for and found piercing.

”Princess, Chief He Shu is here.” The guard at the door softly reported.

Only then did Yujia lift her head, gently placing the decree on the table.

She wore a lake-blue cross-collared jacket-skirt today, bestowed by the Da Jing palace; though splendid, it constricted her to the point of suffocation.

Subconsciously, she touched the wolf-tooth necklace at her neck, a gift from her brother, Bo Lu Khan, before her departure.

The mission head He Shu strode into the hall, this eagle from the grassland looking at Princess Yujia with eyes like a father seeing a daughter about to be married, full of reluctance.

He placed his right hand on his chest, bowed slightly, ”Princess, the envoy dispatched by the Khan has arrived outside the city, and tomorrow the Emperor of Da Jing’s decree can be sent back to the grassland first.”

Princess Yujia’s gaze fell on the decree, softly saying, ”A year’s worth of grain, twenty looms, five hundred bolts of silk, and the protection of the Da Jing Dynasty, these... are all accomplished.”

Saying this, Princess Yujia lifted her amber eyes to look out the window, where locust flowers were falling, resembling the curd scattered by her clansmen on her wedding day.

Suddenly, she smiled, a bitterness within it, ”Uncle He Shu, do you think I’m worth so much?”

He Shu frowned deeply, ”Princess!”

”Just joking.” Yujia waved her hand lightly and gestured for Alan to prepare refreshments.

After the maid retreated, her expression finally relaxed, revealing fatigue in her eyes.

She murmured to herself, ”I just... somewhat miss the wind of the grassland. The freedom I once yearned for was blown away by the wind, and now, even the wedding wine is to become a ceremony between ruler and subject.”

At this moment, the sound of officials from the Honglu Temple joking and laughing came from the courtyard outside.

A rough voice was saying, ”Hmph! Barbarian women are just playthings.”

Another voice complained, ”But this plaything is too expensive, two million bushels of grain! Our own people still have nothing to eat.”

Inside the room, Chief He Shu heard this, full of rage. Understanding the sacrifices made by the princess, he couldn’t tolerate these Da Jing people speaking of their princess in such a way.

He gripped the scimitar at his waist fiercely, about to rush out, only to be stopped by Princess Yujia’s cold hand.

”Let them speak!”

Yujia slowly rolled up the decree, the sound of silk friction much like a dull knife cutting through flesh, each cut striking Princess Yujia’s heart.

”Two million bushels of grain for a gilded bird, if the Da Jing Emperor thinks it worthwhile, then so be it.”

He Shu, struggling to suppress his anger, stepped closer and lowered his voice, ”Princess, you’ve been wronged, but once the Turkic regains its strength, surely...”

”Shh!” Yujia raised a finger to her lips to motion silence, warily glancing at the door, ”This is not the place to talk.”

She stood up, moved to a deeper part of the room, looking at the wall as if looking at the unseen far north.

Yujia spoke softly, ”Uncle He Shu. When we entered Yong’an City, you saw it too, Da Jing with their ’peanuts’, and those robust bastions, things have changed beyond recognition. Even if the Turkic gallops their horses, it’s hard to catch up.”

He Shu’s pupils shrank as the image of Yong’an City’s gray-blue bastions instantly flashed in his mind.

Thinking of those uniquely shaped, solidly built fortresses, his heart sank halfway.

Yet, Yujia smiled knowingly, ”Yujia understands her duty. A bird from the grassland yearning for freedom, in exchange for the peace of the entire Turkic, is very worthwhile.”

He Shu’s fist tightened then loosened, ”But you are the brightest pearl of the grassland, you could...”