If only the flying general were still stationed at Dragon City

Inside the carriage returning to the palace, Xu Guiyi quickly noticed that Fu Lanchen was unusually silent.

“Today, Mother and Aunt were discussing Ayu’s marriage. They mentioned the young lady of the Marquis of Sincerity’s family—well-educated, poised, and beautiful. They are very fond of her. Coincidentally, next month the Princess of Virtue will host a chrysanthemum-viewing banquet, and they want us to attend to observe Miss Song’s bearing.” Xu Guiyi tried hard to seize upon a topic suitable for easy conversation.

Fu Lanchen merely lifted his eyelids indifferently. “Let’s inform Ayu first. Such matters require both parties’ consent. We shouldn’t be the only ones enthusiastically pushing it.”

Xu Guiyi found herself momentarily at a loss, but soon smiled again. “I heard Your Highness just went to the Palace of Great Tranquility. Did His Majesty say anything…?” Fu Lanchen frowned, and Xu Guiyi quickly added, “Father has always been strict. He’s the same with Prince Zhao and Prince Qi. Your Highness… must simply grow accustomed to it.”

Fu Lanchen gave a short, mirthless laugh. “No matter how accustomed I become, I’ll never meet Father’s expectations. He likely… never wanted a son like me.” Though he said this with a smile, in that fleeting instant, Xu Guiyi felt an overwhelming sorrow, which she could only conceal beneath a façade of lighthearted conversation.

After returning to Chunhui Hall, Xu Guiyi couldn’t shake off the lingering sadness evoked by Fu Lanchen’s words.

He was naturally lively and flamboyant, carefree and unrestrained. In his youth, his noble status had drawn boundless affection from those around him, which only made him more unruly and wild. But as he grew older, and especially after being named Crown Prince, he could never again return to the innocent days of his childhood.

Once, as the esteemed legitimate son of the Emperor, no matter how great his mischief, there were always people to shield and cherish him.

But after becoming Crown Prince, he had to bear the scrutiny of the court, the expectations of the people, the Emperor’s harshness, the Empress’s pressure, and the fear of the palace attendants…

And later, when Pei Zhaojin died, the last glimmer of freedom by his side vanished entirely.

So, in those early years, he rebelled almost to the point of madness against everything around him, and in doing so, destroyed his own reputation.

In this world, there are parents who ask nothing of their children—not to become dragons or phoenixes, not for wealth or fame in history. They only wish their children to be safe and happy, to live as they please, unbound by constraint.

In her innocence, she once believed the parents of herself and Fu Lanchen were of this kind.

But later, as the world shifted, she realized that the things people most long for are often those most unattainable.

Fu Lanchen was no ordinary prince. He was the Crown Prince of Dayi, and the weight of the entire realm could fall upon his shoulders at any moment.

The current Emperor was born of a concubine, and thus harbored extraordinary expectations for his one legitimate-born son.

The Emperor’s greatest obsession in this life was that, in the near future, his son would become a sovereign even more outstanding than himself.

But this obsession, he never voiced to anyone.

It was said that the Emperor of Dongyue had sent his cherished daughter, Princess Guanghua, to Dayi for a diplomatic marriage. The moment the news broke, the whole of Guangling was in an uproar, from the highest nobles to the commoners, all speculating which prince His Majesty would choose to marry this princess who had come from afar.

By rights, the Princess of Dongyue should have arrived in the capital five days ago, but for the past two weeks, autumn rains had fallen without cease, and a torrential downpour in recent days had caused a mudslide along the route, blocking the mountain roads and delaying the journey by several days.

On the day the Dongyue princess’s entourage finally reached the capital, the people crowded both sides of Vermilion Bird Avenue, creating a scene where the entire city seemed to empty out. It was rumored that Princess Guanghua of Dongyue was as lovely as polished jade, her beauty beyond compare, leading the Dongyue delegation before the Emperor with unflinching composure and elegant grace.

“Princess Guanghua of Great Yue greets His Majesty, Emperor of Dayi, presenting twenty Ferghana stallions, ten elk, a pair of snow foxes, a pair of gyrfalcons, a pair of mountain ginseng roots, a pair of Tianshan snow lotuses, one white tiger pelt, six black fox pelts, six silver fox pelts, six wolf pelts, a roll of great black-gray squirrel fur, a roll of sable fur…”

After the envoy finished reciting the lengthy list of gifts, the Emperor smiled kindly. “The Princess is most thoughtful. The Emperor of Great Yue’s sincere goodwill moves me deeply. May Dayi and Great Yue henceforth live in harmony, forever as brotherly nations.”

Princess Guanghua, resplendent in the attire of Great Yue—brightly colored robes, draped in brocade and jade, valiant and noble—performed the Eastern Yue rites with unruffled dignity. “May Dayi and Great Yue henceforth live in harmony, forever as brotherly nations.”

The Emperor sat high upon the dragon throne, facing the Dongyue delegation across the great hall. As the princess finished her salute, he lifted his hand slightly in a gesture of polite support and said pleasantly, “I wonder, which hero from your land had the honor of escorting the princess on her journey to our court?”

Since the Emperor had raised the question, the courtiers—and Fu Lanchen among them—could not help but turn their gaze toward the Dongyue delegation, awaiting the appearance of this so-called hero.

Princess Guanghua stepped gracefully aside, revealing behind her a middle-aged man in a blue brocade gown, of average height and unremarkable features—at first glance, nothing about him stood out.

“Envoy Yan Qiqin of Great Yue, pays his respects to His Majesty, Emperor of Dayi!” His voice was clear and bright, his manners gentle and polished, yet a ripple of surprise spread through the ranks of Dayi’s courtiers.

The more senior ministers surely recalled that, twelve years ago, when Duke Mu of Northern Xiang visited Guangling, the envoy at his side had been none other than Yan Qiqin.

Twelve years later, the envoy from Xiang had become the envoy from Yue. The Emperor’s hands unconsciously tightened into fists, his face unreadable.

“Since an old acquaintance has come, there’s no need for formality. It’s been twelve years, General Yan—how have you been?” The Emperor’s voice was slow and even, betraying no emotion.

Yan Qiqin replied with perfect composure, a subtle hint of pride even in his smile. “I am grateful that Your Majesty still remembers me; all is well with Yan. Though I am now an envoy for Great Yue, I am also a longstanding friend of Duke Mu of Xiang. Thus… I have come not only to escort the princess, but also to convey Duke Mu’s greetings and inquire after Your Majesty’s health.”

Among the courtiers, the younger ones paled at Yan Qiqin’s boldness, while the older ministers maintained their outward calm.

Great Yue was but a small state. That it had dared to challenge Dayi for so many years was largely due to its alliance with Great Xiang.

To the north, Dayi bordered Great Xiang; to the northeast, Great Yue. The two states had formed a mutual alliance for decades, and together posed the greatest check on Dayi’s ambitions.

“I have heard that Great Xiang and Great Yue have long cooperated closely, sharing resources. But now, are even their officials interchangeable?” In Deqing Hall, the Crown Prince Fu Lanchen spoke coldly, his gaze as sharp as frosted stars fixed on Yan Qiqin.

Yan Qiqin only smiled more warmly. “Your Highness, it’s been many years, and you are still as entertaining as ever!” Such insolence!

Some of the younger officials turned red with fury at such impudence, but seeing neither Princess Guanghua nor the Crown Prince displeased—in fact, even the Emperor’s brow remained smooth and untroubled—they realized the Emperor tacitly allowed Yan Qiqin this liberty.

The young knew nothing, but the seasoned elders were well aware of Yan Qiqin’s reputation.

Yan Qiqin, now serving as Great Yue’s envoy, had earned a resounding title many years before—Flying General of Dragon City, a living martial saint. There was no exaggeration or empty praise in this name; it was won in blood on the battlefield.

Not to mention foreign tales, even within Dayi: six years ago, the “God of War” General Feihong, who died in the northern border—renowned for never being defeated—met his rare defeats at the hands of Yan Qiqin.

The more they had revered General Pei Xueyao, the more they had feared Yan Qiqin, the Flying General.

Such a formidable man had suddenly appeared in the Great Yue delegation, personally escorting the princess all the way to Dayi. There must be a deeper reason—one that none could ignore.

Yan Qiqin cupped his hands and smiled. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, please be assured. I did not bring Dragon Chant with me into the capital. My purpose is simply to escort the bride and… greet old friends.”

Yan Qiqin’s sword, Dragon Chant, had long been his companion in countless battles—a blade that struck fear into the hearts of warriors everywhere.

At last, the Emperor descended from the dragon throne and stood beside the Crown Prince, appearing to smile gently. “That is truly a pity. I have long heard of General Yan’s Dragon Chant, famed for its peerless might. Yet this time, I am denied the pleasure of seeing it. Don’t you agree, Crown Prince?”

Fu Lanchen replied at once, “I believe General Yan himself is even more interesting than his sword.”

The Emperor, who had maintained a stern countenance throughout, finally broke into hearty laughter. “My son speaks wisely. Since General Yan is here in person, there’s no need to see the sword!”

Yan Qiqin laughed as well. “Your Highness flatters me.”

On the third day after Princess Guanghua’s arrival in Guangling, the Emperor issued an edict: “My sixth son, Fu Cheng, is wise and perceptive, outstanding in bearing, handsome and diligent, full of talent, and deeply cherished by me. He shall marry the Princess of Great Yue. Let the officials select an auspicious day for the union, that bonds of friendship may be strengthened, the borders forever secure, and my heart set at ease.”

Thus, the Empress hosted a banquet for Princess Guanghua today in the Hall of Everlasting Autumn. As Fu Lanchen had been repeatedly summoned to the Palace of Great Tranquility these past days, Xu Guiyi was obliged to attend the banquet alone.

The Empress sat at the center, with Noble Consort Nangong and Virtuous Consort Cao at her sides. To the left were Princess Zhao and her heir, Fu Jun, beside them Princess Qi cradling Lady Wenluo. On the right were Princess De and Princess An holding Lady Yi’an.

After Xu Guiyi entered, the ladies all exchanged formal greetings before taking their seats amid laughter and conversation. Xu Guiyi glanced around with a smile—today, all the eminent ladies of the inner palace and the highest-ranking noblewomen were present.

Fu Jun, who usually sat with his mother, couldn’t take his eyes off the baby Lady Wenluo in Princess Qi’s arms. The Empress smiled, “Jun’er, why don’t you go see your little sister? Is she asleep or awake?”

Fu Jun ran over to Princess Qi to look at his little sister. It seemed all children were drawn to those younger than themselves, for even Yi’an struggled to go over and see Wenluo. Clearly, they were all quite taken with this tiny girl who could neither move nor speak, but only grin at them.

Fu Jun squeezed Wenluo’s soft little hand, skipped with delight, and shouted, “Grandmother, little sister is so cute! She’s smiling at me!”

His words made all the adults laugh, and Princess Qi added with a smile, “Jun’er, you’re so sweet. If you like your little sister, come visit Third Aunt’s residence often to see her, all right?”

Fu Jun, a thoughtful child, immediately looked to Princess Zhao for permission, asking in a coaxing voice, “Mother, may I go visit little sister?”

Princess Zhao, naturally, smiled her approval. Overjoyed, Fu Jun clapped his hands and chirped, “Mother, this little sister is so pretty—just as pretty as Third Aunt!”

His words sent Princess Qi into peals of laughter, and Princess De exclaimed, “Oh my, my darling, so young and already so clever with words—how endearing!”

At that moment, Siqi, the chief palace maid, entered and bowed. “Your Majesty, Princess Guanghua has arrived.” The hall fell silent at once; the children returned to their mothers, and all present sat up straight, turning to watch as Princess Guanghua approached with stately grace and gave her formal greeting.