Chapter 60: Snatched Away

    With Noble Consort Xue, Zheng Biyu led the palace concubines and women to stand on the wall. Their eyes followed a carriage inlaid with gold and surrounded by soldiers in black armor disappea4 into the western horizon.

    The rabbit dies and the fox grieves1. The palace concubines were sad in their hearts and watched in silence.

    Zheng Biyu withdrew her gaze, turned away from the crowd and asked her maid: “Why didn’t Princess Fukang come to see Princess Wenzhao off today?”

    The maid whispered: “Your Highness, Princess Fukang is sick.”

    Zheng Biyu sneered, “Go to the princess’s residence.”

    The chief historian of the princess’s residence did not dare to let Zheng Biyu and her party in: “Your Highness, the princess is sick and cannot see guests.”

    Zheng Biyu did not even spare a glance at the chief historian, ordering the Eastern Palace guards to barge straight through the door.

    “Even if Princess Fukang is about to die, she must still go to see off Princess Wenzhao! If she cannot get out of bed, then ask someone to carry her!”

    The chief historian’s eyes were widened to perfect circles, “Your Highness, aren’t you afraid that His Highness the Crown Prince will blame you?”

    Zheng Biyu’s maid stepped forward and slapped the Chief Historian in the face: “Wicked slave, are you threatening Her Highness the Crown Princess?”

    The chief historian did not expect the gentle and dignified Crown Princess would embarrass him in public. He did not have time to dodge and the force was enough to make him stumble. He swayed a few times before finding his footing, taking half a day to recover.

    The guards soon found Zhu Luyun and dragged her out of the princess’s residence.

    Her face was pale, tear-stained. She looked like a gust of wind could blow her away, as if she was really sick.

    Zheng Biyu coldly glanced at her: “Princess Wenzhao is marrying the Yelu tribe on your behalf. You’re not going to see her off?”

    Zhu Luyun pursed her lips as two lines of tears trickled down: “I’m sorry to the Seventh Princess… I also did not expect it would turn out like this… It was my aunt’s retainer who deceived me…”

    The corner of Zheng Biyu’s mouth tugged gently. She signaled the guards to pick up Zhu Luyun and brought her to the city wall.

    Seeing Zhu Luyun, dark clouds seemed to immediately condense on the imperial concubines’ well-maintained faces. The younger princesses and the junzhus also had a look of contempt on their faces.

    Zhu Luyun heard the deliberately raised voices of sarcastic ridiculing from the concubines. She used all her willpower to hold her head up.

    Zheng Biyu pointed to the west. Her vermilion-dyed nails gently crossed in front of Zhu Luyun’s delicate face.

    “You watch it well. The person who should be in that carriage is you.”

    This matter started precisely because she recklessly became engaged, allowing Wei Ming to come up with the idea of using the Seventh Princess.

    Zhu Luyun’s lips were pale.

    Zheng Biyu’s fingers suddenly flicked.

    Zhu Luyun felt a stabbing pain on her face. She shivered a little and went to cover her face.

    Zheng Biyu gripped that hand, her fingertips tenderly rubbing the tiny wound she had made on her face: “Zhu Luyun, in the past, no matter how the Crown Prince indulged you, I never complained a word about you.”

     She was a noble family’s daughter. She didn’t dare to ask for wholehearted love from her husband. What she needed was her husband’s respect and the benefits the marriage would bring to the clan.

    Since the Crown Prince liked Zhu Luyun, she could be generous and tolerant of Zhu Luyun’s arrogance and capriciousness on account of the Crown Prince’s love.

    But it was obvious, her tolerance did not come in exchange with Zhu Luyun knowing her place.

    The Crown Prince considered Zhu Luyun as his. Time and again, he would clean up after Zhu Luyun. If this continued, who knew how many more disasters Zhu Luyun would bring?

    As the mother of the Eastern Palace, the mother of the imperial grandson, she could not allow Zhu Luyun to continue running amok.

    “I will give you two choices.” Zheng Biyu wiped away the traces of blood on Zhu Luyun’s face, “Leave Chang’an and never set foot in the Imperial City hereafter. Or, honestly move into the Eastern Palace’s rear court and serve the Crown Prince.”

    Zhu Luyun’s eyes were hazy with tears. Without speaking, her expression was stubborn.

    Zheng Biyu sneered: “Zhu Luyun, the former dynasty has long since died.”

    Zhu Luyun thought the court ministers were all, without exception, dedicated to the former dynasty?

    No, the noble families were forever devoted to their clan.

    The reason why they were willing to protect Zhu Luyun, the guilt for the last emperor only accounted for twenty percent. The real purpose was to use her as a bargaining chip; to remind Li De that the Li family were the old subjects of the previous dynasty in an attempt to restrict the imperial power.

    When she became an ordinary shu concubine beside the Crown Prince, she would understand that the identity as the former dynasty’s princess would not bring her much honor and face.

    Zhu Luyun clenched her teeth, looking humiliated.

   …

    The carriage left the city, leaving the waves of boisterous people behind in the clear light of the autumn golden glow.

    The armor-clad guards of honor silently escorted the carriage, followed by the ceremonial drum and wind instrument group playing lively music. The tune mixed with the muffled sound of the monotonous horses’ hooves. Colorful flags fluttered against the wind, making a rustling sound.

    Qin Fei told Yaoying that after leaving Chang’an, she would have to go for three or four days before she could reach the Yelu’s tribe’s temporary encampment.

    Yaoying took a nap leaning against carriage and woke up at dusk.

    The current political situation was so chaotic that leaving Chang’an, even if they were still in the territory of Great Wei, could not be considered peaceful and stable. They stopped at the government relay station for the night. The local relay station’s deputy had specially prepared a congratulatory gift for Yaoying and wanted to present it to her in person, but Qin Fei flatly refused, so the deputy could only ask him to pass it on his behalf.

    Yaoying was exhausted after a long day of traveling in the carriage, so she swiftly had some soup cakes and fell asleep.

    She slept until midnight when she was suddenly woken by the noise of people outside her window.

    Yaoying got up and draped clothes on, only to see a bright flame projecting through the window, and faintly heard the sound of a flaming fire. Then, from all around, she heard the rise and fall of successive yelling, roaring, and footsteps.

    With a clatter, the door was slammed open and gently closed again. In the dim light, several young men in light armor rushed to Yaoying and cupped their hands in obeisance towards her.

    “Princess, quick! Follow us out of here!”

    Yaoying recognized the other party as the armed guards of honor escorting her, two of whom were shizi born from noble families. She frowned lightly as she took two steps back.

    The young man leading them had a sweaty face and stuttered, “Princess, if you don’t leave, you won’t have a second chance. We set fire to the stables and a few tents and deliberately blocked the line of sight. Right now, Chief Commandant Qin is leading people to put out the fire. We will take you away.”

    Yaoying remained calm and said sadly, “Where can we go if we leave here? No matter how far we run, we will still be caught and brought back.”

    The man thought she was persuaded by his words and was overjoyed, saying, “Princess, there is no need to be afraid. We have already arranged for others to come as backup. After rescuing you, we will go south, directly to Southern Chu! Once we get to Southern Chu, even His Majesty and the Crown Prince will not be able to pursue the matter!”

    Yaoying’s mind stirred. Her eyes swept past the several people’s faces one by one: “You are young, your futures bright. You really should not take such a big risk for me.”

    The man wiped his sweat nervously. While listening to the activity outside, he said, “We have admired the princess for a long time, and cannot bear to see Princess marry far away. As long as we can save Princess, it’s worth risking our lives.”