Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 84

The carriage entered the Changchun Palace and slowly came to a stop.

When they heard Ming Tao calling them to get off the carriage, Jiang Libai pulled aside the fur blanket on her body, wrapped an arm around Gu Yun’s neck, and pressed her down, then lifted her head to offer her rosy lips.

After a passionate kiss, Jiang Libai suppressed the surge of restlessness in her heart, let go of Gu Yun, and said between low gasps, “Time to get off the carriage.”

The girl’s eyes shimmered with watery light, her coy expression as if she had something to say but held back, made Gu Yun want to press the back of her head and continue what they had just done.

But now was neither the right time nor place. She had to hold back.

After taking the confused little Xingxing from her, Gu Yun slowly got off the carriage.

At this time, the New Year’s Eve banquet had not yet begun, and most of the royal relatives had not yet entered the palace. Therefore, Noble Consort Yuan was still quite relaxed. After sending off the young palace maids and eunuchs to greet the others at the palace gate, she waited for Jiang Libai and Gu Yun inside the Changchun Palace.

“You’ve finally come!” Noble Consort Yuan beamed with joy when she saw the family walking into the hall. “Without Xingxing by my side yesterday, I really couldn’t get used to it!”

As she spoke, she stood up and hugged Xingxing into her arms, gently playing with her with a kind smile.

The Changchun Palace was very warm. Jiang Libai took off her cloak and leaned back comfortably on the soft couch, then spoke of what had happened in the carriage just now: “Xingxing just started talking, but it wasn’t very clear…”

Bursts of laughter and joyful voices echoed in the hall, and it felt as if in no time, the hours had quietly slipped away.

Seeing that it was almost time for the banquet, Noble Consort Yuan instructed Ming Tao to prepare for heading to the Qinchun Pavilion.

Since the Empress had passed away early, she, as the highest-ranking consort in the harem, was to attend the banquet alongside the Emperor.

“It’s about time, we should get going too.” Noble Consort Yuan picked up a small cloak by the soft couch, wrapped Xingxing into a bundle, and walked out of the Changchun Palace with Jiang Libai and Gu Yun.

Night had fallen, and fine white snow began to drift down gently. The piercing cold wind of midwinter swept through the sky, making the snow swirl and fall lightly onto everyone’s shoulders.

The chill was biting. Gu Yun raised her hand to brush the snow off Jiang Libai’s shoulders, then lifted her own cloak. When she spoke, a white mist escaped from her lips. “Come in, it’s warmer.”

Jiang Libai glanced around discreetly. Seeing that everyone else seemed not to be paying attention to her and Gu Yun, she blushed and slipped under Gu Yun’s cloak, feeling the searing warmth from her body, driving away the cold that surrounded her.

Out of the corner of her eye, Noble Consort Yuan saw this sweet and intimate scene.

She chuckled at once. “We should’ve taken the sedan chairs earlier.” But since the Qinchun Pavilion was quite close to the Changchun Palace—only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea—they had decided to walk.

They had underestimated the bone-piercing cold outside.

Soon, the group arrived outside the side hall of the Qinchun Pavilion.

Lights overflowed from within the hall, and the faint voice of the Emperor could be heard from inside. Noble Consort Yuan stopped and listened for a while, the smile on her face gradually fading.

The Emperor was currently discussing state affairs inside, so it was inappropriate for them to enter. Moreover… listening to those words, Noble Consort Yuan couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Jiang Libai and Gu Yun also heard the murmured voices from inside.

It was apparently about matters on the border front. Jiang Libai could hear the seriousness in her father’s tone.

“…Since the Yun Kingdom has requested peace talks, then let’s temporarily cease the battle. As for the rest, let me consider it further.”

As the voice fell, the door was opened, and several high-ranking officials of the court came out with worried expressions.

Seeing Noble Consort Yuan and Princess Jia Ning nearby, they bowed and then stepped into the vast snowy night.

“Mother, Yun Kingdom wants peace talks?”

Recently, there had been constant good news from the front lines. Jiang Libai knew that her maternal grandfather had recaptured the cities previously occupied by the Yun Kingdom. But the Yun Kingdom still had strong forces and had been trying to retake Jinzhou and the surrounding cities.

And now they wanted peace talks?

That really was quite unexpected!

Noble Consort Yuan, who was close to the Emperor day and night, knew more about the war at the front.

As they entered the side hall, she glanced at Gu Yun, then lowered her voice and said to Jiang Libai, “After Jin Kingdom’s civil strife ended, they sent troops to the border with the Yun Kingdom, saying they wanted an explanation for the injury of their Ninth Prince. So now Yun Kingdom has to divert attention to deal with Jin Kingdom…”

So that was it!

No wonder the previously arrogant Yun Kingdom suddenly wanted to talk peace.

Now it just depended on what her father would decide—whether to cease the war or continue fighting back?

Jiang Libai thought there was a high chance he would agree to peace talks. After all, in times of war, it was always the innocent civilians who suffered.

This thought flashed briefly through her mind, and Jiang Libai had already followed Noble Consort Yuan into the side hall.

“Today is New Year’s Eve. Your Majesty, please take a brief rest,” Noble Consort Yuan said with heartache as she looked at the weariness on the Emperor’s face.

“Sit down,” the Emperor gestured toward the surrounding wooden chairs. He slowly tucked away his tired expression, and upon seeing Xingxing in Noble Consort Yuan’s arms, a gentle smile appeared on his face. “Little Zhaohua, come let Grandfather hold you.”

The little one was cuddled in his arms, her soft and chubby cheeks pink and full. When she smiled, her curved brows and eyes resembled Jiang Libai’s, which softened the Emperor’s heart even more.

“Haven’t seen Grandfather for a few days. Did little Zhaohua miss Grandfather?”

Xingxing often saw the Emperor in the palace and was quite familiar with him. Hearing him speak to her now, she gleefully raised her little fists and hit him on the face, babbling in response.

The Emperor caught her waving fists and gave an exaggerated “Ow!” making Xingxing giggle nonstop.

His little granddaughter brought joy to the Emperor, but the worries in his heart had not completely gone away.

When Eunuch Sun outside the hall announced that they could proceed to the main hall, the Emperor handed Xingxing to Ming Tao, let Noble Consort Yuan tidy up his dragon robe, and then walked out with a heavy expression.

Jiang Libai sensed something vaguely. She moved closer to Noble Consort Yuan and quietly asked, “Mother, what’s wrong with Father?”

Noble Consort Yuan patted her on the head and sighed, “Probably troubled by the matter of Yun Kingdom wanting peace talks.”

But she didn’t say anything more.

Jiang Libai felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen.

In a daze, she arrived at the main hall, which was already filled with people and bustling with excitement.

Jiang Libai, holding Gu Yun’s hand, sat down on a wooden chair. As she looked around, she noticed that besides the more familiar royal relatives, there were also many ministers and their families present.

Lifting the teacup in front of her, Jiang Libai leaned toward Gu Yun and whispered, “In previous New Year’s Eve banquets, Father would excuse the ministers from attending and let them stay home to keep vigil through the night. This year is quite different—I wonder if it’s because of the border war…”

As her voice faded, the Emperor of Yu finished his opening speech to start the banquet.

The feast officially began. People below clinked their cups and exchanged toasts, coming and going, the atmosphere exceedingly festive.

But it wasn’t long before the people below began discussing the war at the border and brought up the matter of Yun Kingdom requesting peace talks.

This was news that had just arrived in the capital earlier that morning, so many in attendance were still unaware of it.

Hearing it for the first time, the crowd burst into laughter, praising the Emperor of Yu for his wisdom and valor, while also expressing disdain for Yun Kingdom.

But the Emperor of Yu merely smiled faintly and slowly spoke of Yun Kingdom’s terms for peace talks.

“This war has lasted for over half a year. The people at the border have suffered greatly, and the national treasury is struggling to keep up… So I believe peace talks are not a bad idea. However, Yun Kingdom has not yet withdrawn its troops. Their petition for peace includes only one condition.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd began speculating:

“Is Yun Kingdom asking for ten thousand taels of silver?!”

“…Could it be that they’ve gone too far and want Jinzhou City?!”

The Emperor of Yu shook his head and said with some reluctance, “Yun Nation is requesting a marriage alliance.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd fell silent in unison. The reason being, a royal marriage alliance usually wouldn’t involve a prince or princess, but would instead choose a suitable candidate from the royal clan or the ministers’ families…

The royal relatives and ministers with children of marriageable age frowned instinctively, fearing that the Emperor might choose their child.

Amid the silence, the Emperor of Yu spoke heavily, “Yun Kingdom wants the legitimate princess, born of the Emperor’s own consort, not a woman from the royal clan.”

Yun Kingdom’s reasoning was that since Jin and Yu had already formed marriage alliances, and both involved legitimate princes and princesses, they too would only accept a proper, legitimate daughter of the Emperor.

Only then could the peace talks proceed.

The people below secretly let out a sigh of relief and began pondering which unmarried, of-age princesses remained in the imperial family.

There were not many surviving princesses—only four in total. Among them, only Princess Jia Ning was already married and naturally not among the candidates.

The remaining three were Princess Jiayi (Jiang Ying), Princess Changle (Jiang Ling), and Princess Chang’an (Jiang Fu).

But Princess Chang’an was only nine years old this year, still several years away from coming of age, and likely unsuitable. Furthermore, Princess Changle, Jiang Ling, the younger sister of the Second Prince, had already been imprisoned in the ancestral temple with their mother consort… Such a status was also unfit for a marriage alliance.

This left only Princess Jiayi as the appropriately aged candidate for the marriage alliance with Yun Kingdom.

Everyone reached this conclusion, but some thought that Princess Jiayi, Jiang Ying, who suffered from a leg ailment and had difficulty walking, was also not a suitable choice for the alliance.

The Emperor of Yu listened to the crowd’s debate, his expression growing more and more pained.

No matter who was chosen, they were his own daughters, and he was reluctant to let any of them go.

But the matter was of great importance. The suffering people at the border were still waiting for the war to end. So even if he couldn’t bear it, even if he was furious inside, he had to make a decision.

“Your Majesty, I believe Princess Jiayi is virtuous and well-behaved, and worthy of this heavy responsibility,” said one minister who stood up and made his case.

Hearing this, Minister of Justice Li Zhongxian voiced his dissent: “Lord Zhou, that statement is misguided. Although Princess Jiayi is of proper age, she suffers from a leg ailment, which would damage the imperial family’s dignity. She is likely not suitable for a marriage alliance.”

Several parties began arguing again over this matter.

Back and forth they went, but still failed to reach a reasonable conclusion.

One of the Grand Council ministers shook his head, rose of his own accord, and voiced his opinion:

“Your Majesty, I believe that in terms of age, both Princess Jiayi and Princess Changle are suitable candidates.”

“However, since Princess Changle has already been demoted to a commoner and is now confined in the ancestral temple, such a status is unfit for a marriage alliance.”

The Emperor of Yu’s face was pained. He said nothing but signaled the minister to continue.

“Yun Kingdom is asking for a marriage alliance because, like Jin Kingdom, they want to ease the tensions between our countries through family ties.”

“So even if Princess Jiayi has a leg ailment, as long as she is a legitimate imperial princess, Yun Kingdom will still accept her.”

This statement was clear.

What Yun Kingdom wanted was merely a bridge to ease conflict—a legitimate princess of the Emperor.

Not a royal clan’s daughter, nor a commoner stripped of her title.

The Emperor of Yu was filled with guilt toward Jiang Ying and was also angry at Yun Kingdom for their persistent demands.

“Jiayi’s health isn’t good. I’m worried that once she’s in Yun Kingdom, she won’t be able to adapt…”

The Grand Council minister stroked his beard and sighed: “It is now deep winter. The borderlands are bitterly cold. Tens of thousands of people are still waiting for the war to end so they can survive this winter… Princess Jiayi has enjoyed the Emperor’s favor for many years and is kind and gentle. I believe she would not want to see the people continue to suffer and wander without shelter…”

With the Grand Council minister taking the lead, the other ministers who supported peace also did their best to persuade the Emperor, listing the various benefits of the marriage alliance.

Though there were others who disagreed, they seemed to notice the Emperor’s inclinations and refrained from speaking further.

Sure enough, under the persuasion of the ministers, the Emperor of Yu eventually agreed to send Princess Jiayi, Jiang Ying, to Yun Nation for the marriage alliance.

Once the matter was settled, some let out a sigh of relief, some were genuinely pleased, while others felt sorrow and reluctance…

But no one asked the person sitting in the corner—the main figure in all of this—whether she was willing to go through with the marriage alliance.

Jiang Ying took in the expressions of everyone present, then calmly lifted the wine cup on the table and slowly drank the bitter wine.

It was as if everything being discussed had nothing to do with her. She said nothing, her expression calm, focusing only on the sumptuous meal before her.

When no one was looking, Qiu Ju stepped forward and whispered softly into Jiang Ying’s ear, “Princess, everything is ready…”

A flash of ruthlessness passed through Qiu Ju’s eyes.

Her princess was born of heaven’s favor. How could she be sent away for a marriage alliance?!

Such a humiliating and despairing fate should not befall her princess.

At that moment, Qiu Ju wished she could poison everyone in the hall to stop them from scheming against her princess!

Jiang Ying naturally heard the resentment in Qiu Ju’s voice.

Her deathly still eyes turned toward Jiang Libai.

Seeing her pale face, her lips tightly bitten, as though she wanted to speak up, Jiang Ying understood—she was worried for her.

“Tonight’s plan remains unchanged. Notify Jiang Heng. Once I leave the capital, all plans are to proceed ahead of schedule.”

Hearing this, Qiu Ju was overjoyed.

Fortunately, the princess did not abandon their plans, which had been in place for so many years, because of the Seventh Princess.

After Qiu Jiu quietly withdrew, Jiang Ying looked towards the distant Jiang Libai amidst the bustling crowd, her expression devoid of both sorrow and joy.

Yet the lingering pain in her arm served as a reminder that she could no longer harm little Qi.

—

As the snow gradually ceased, the hazy moonlight fell, enveloping the snow-laden palace in a delicate veil, quiet and beautiful.

However, Jiang Libai, filled with anger, headed towards Ganming Hall, utterly uninterested in taking in the surrounding scenery.

She was still preoccupied with thoughts of Fifth Sister’s impending marriage alliance with the Yun Kingdom.

At this moment, the banquet had already concluded, and most of the nobility and officials had left the palace with their families.

Having found some free time, Emperor Yu was busy reviewing documents inside Ganming Hall, contemplating the specifics of the marriage arrangement.

In the dim light, Eunuch Sun stood outside the hall, holding a feather duster, waiting.

As soon as he saw the Seventh Princess rushing in a flurry, he understood her purpose.

Recalling the Emperor’s instructions, he stepped forward. “Oh dear! At such a late hour, why is the princess still out in the cold wind?”

Jiang Libai generally held a certain respect for Eunuch Sun and had no desire to show him disdain at this moment.

“Is my father inside?”

Eunuch Sun glanced back at the brightly lit inner hall, concern flashing in his eyes. “Yes, the Emperor is still inside, busy attending to state affairs. It may be one or two more hours before he can rest.”

“Has the princess come to see the Emperor regarding Fifth Sister’s marriage alliance?”

Hearing Eunuch Sun bring it up first, Jiang Libai had a vague understanding.

Her father must have anticipated her visit, instructing Eunuch Sun to wait outside for her, perhaps not wishing for her to plead on behalf of Fifth Sister?

Jiang Libai felt as if her heart had plunged into a deep layer of snow, coldness clawing at her relentlessly.

“Is there truly no room for negotiation on this matter?” Her voice was soft, yet it could not conceal the subtle bitterness and sorrow within her tone.

Eunuch Sun bowed his head. “The Emperor’s intention is that matters concerning the border are of greater urgency; therefore, Fifth Princess must depart for the Yun Kingdom without delay.”