Chapter 482

On the thirteenth of the first month, at dawn, the escort convoy for Princess Anping's marriage had already gathered on the square before Tianhe Dian. Emperor Long Yelin personally presided over the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, comforting the ancestors. Hu Xiaotian watched from afar as Long Yelin murmured prayers on the altar, secretly amused. How could the stability of the realm and the peace of Dakang be so easily obtained? Although Long Yelin had succeeded in seizing the throne, he still could not firmly grasp imperial power; at this moment his prayer might be to eliminate Ji Feihua soon, free himself from others' influence, and become a true Son of Heaven.

Empress Jian held Princess Anping Long Xi Yue's hand and talked incessantly, tears streaming down when she grew emotional. On the surface she seemed reluctant to part, but it was all an act for others' eyes; as the princess's sister-in-law, she would not truly grieve, especially since the princess's marriage also served to secure Dakang's northern borders—whether sending her off in marriage or even to her death, if it guaranteed Dakang's territorial peace and kept the two nations from war in the short term, it would be worthwhile. What Empress Jian truly cared about was whether her own son could smoothly become crown prince. From the present signs, Emperor Long Yelin favors the Third Prince, Long Tingzhen; moreover, the Third Prince is skilled at winning over officials, and his supporters far outnumber her son's. If she does not quickly devise a countermeasure, she fears the crown prince position will fall into his hands.

Hu Xiaotian noticed that the little princess Qiqi had not come; he secretly sighed that this girl ultimately lacked conscience, given how Princess Anping had always treated her with such care. On such an important occasion as Princess Long Xi Yue's wedding, she didn't even show her face. Thinking of Qiqi's usual fickle demeanor, she had repaid his kindness with betrayal more than once; anything happening to her would not be surprising.

Other princes and grandsons mostly came to see them off, including the Eldest Prince Long Ting-sheng and the Third Prince Long Tingzhen.

Long Ting-sheng had originally been standing beside his mother; hearing her nag without end, he grew a little impatient. Seeing Hu Xiaotian not far away, he walked over and said to Hu Xiaotian, "Hu Xiaotian."

Hu Xiaotian hastily bowed and said, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Long Ting-sheng said, "The journey to Da Yong is long and arduous, the northern lands bitterly cold; as the deputy envoy for this marriage mission, you must take responsibility for looking after my imperial aunt, ensuring her safety and delivering her safely to Yongdu."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will give my all and will not let the princess suffer the slightest injustice."

Not far away, the Third Prince Long Tingzhen patted Wen Boyuan on the shoulder. Wen Boyuan wore gleaming armor, tiger-backed and wolf-waisted, stalwart and handsome; in this imposing attire he stood there majestically and impressively, drawing many palace maids' sideways glances—he was truly a handsome man.

Long Tingzhen said, "General Wen, the safety of my aunt on this journey is entrusted to you; keep your men in line. If anyone dares to disrespect my aunt, they will be executed without mercy." As he spoke, he deliberately glanced toward Hu Xiaotian.

Yes!

Hu Xiaotian cursed inwardly. "What are you looking at me for? I may be lowly, but I'm also the deputy envoy; Wen Boyuan is at most my equal. When did I become his subordinate? Will be executed without mercy, Ma Li next door. Who will kill whom is still unknown. Just thinking about the task Ji Feihua gave me, I really feel some pressure."

Wen Boyuan clasped his fists, strode forward with dragon's tread and tiger's step to face the Minister of Rites Wu Jing-shan, and respectfully said, "Minister Wu, it's time to set off."

Wu Jing-shan was the chief envoy for this marriage mission; he lightly stroked his chin beard and said, "Very well, I will go present a memorial to the emperor."

As Wen Boyuan returned and passed by Hu Xiaotian, he ignored him; Hu Xiaotian had sensed this man's hostility from the start. Although Hu Xiaotian had changed into a new outfit today, he was wearing eunuch's robes—"a person needs clothes, a Buddha needs gold"—so of course he could not compare to Wen Boyuan's imposing armor, and his presence was clearly inferior.

After Long Yelin received Wu Jing-shan's memorial and ordered the departure, another group of well-wishers arrived late. It was the Commander of the Internal Supervisory Office, Ji Feihua, dressed in crimson palace robes with a purple cloak, his skin fair as snow, his features exquisite. He approached Princess Anping's carriage and respectfully said, "This servant respectfully sees off the Princess."

Princess Anping softly said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Ji." She felt no affection for this eunuch who had personally plotted the usurpation of her father's throne.

Ji Feihua's visit was merely a formality; he said little more before approaching Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian hastily bowed and said, "Commander!"

Ji Feihua nodded, extended his hand, and Li Yan handed him a long sword. Ji Feihua took the sword, gripping the scabbard with one hand and the hilt with the other, slowly drawing it out. The blade was dark, though it did not flash much brilliance, yet the edge was razor-thin and sharp, capable of cutting iron like mud. Hu Xiaotian recognized this sword—it was the very one he had snatched from a flying-wing warrior during an assassination attempt on his way back from the banquet at Shuiyue Pavilion with Ji Feihua.

Ji Feihua said, "Your journey to Da Yong is long and fraught with unknown dangers; you cannot lack a weapon for self-defense. This sword is the one you snatched from the assassins; the Zajia has been keeping it for you, and the artisans of the Heavenly Workshop have fitted it with a shark-skin scabbard. Take this sword to Da Yong, and if anyone dares to disrespect the princess on the road, you may strike first and report later." His words shocked everyone.

How audacious this eunuch has become, daring to utter the words "strike first and report later" in the emperor's presence—was he giving Hu Xiaotian the Imperial Sword? Where does he place the officials? Where does he place the emperor?

Hu Xiaotian took the long sword, feeling immensely embarrassed; now everyone would know he was Ji Feihua's man. The emperor would surely consider him Ji Feihua's accomplice, and if Ji Feihua fell from power, Hu Xiaotian would likely be implicated as well.

Ji Feihua said, "Don't worry; if anything happens, the Zajia will take responsibility for you." His gaze then turned to the not‑far‑away Emperor Long Yelin: "The emperor will also back you up."

Long Yelin's cheek muscle twitched violently, and a killing intent welled up in his eyes, impossible to suppress.

Ji Feihua slowly walked toward Long Yelin, his eyes fixed on him. Under Ji Feihua's gaze, Long Yelin felt an inexplicable panic surge within him; though he could not show submission before the officials, the killing intent in his eyes vanished.

A hint of a captivating smile curled at Ji Feihua's lips as he said, "Your Majesty, have you heard my words?"

Long Yelin wished he could rush forward and behead Ji Feihua with a single stroke; he clenched his fists hidden in his sleeves, his voice hoarse as he said, "Good… well said…"

"Fire the cannons!" Amid the salute, the procession slowly left the palace gate. At the Meridian Gate, Wen Boyuan's five hundred hand‑picked soldiers were already lined up, plus thirty elite troops he brought from the Shen Ce Fu, including Zhang Peng who had been assigned to the Yan Unit. These five hundred thirty men were responsible for security along the route. In addition, twenty palace maids accompanied Princess Anping to Da Yong, and the Minister of Rites Wu Jing‑shan's entourage included thirty attendants, among them ten of his personal guards. These people rode in thirty‑two horse carts. Princess Anping's dowry was indispensable for this nation‑shaking wedding; the bridal goods and provisions for the journey alone filled forty‑six mule carts, requiring the labor of one hundred twenty carters.

Hu Xiaotian had previously arranged for Zhou Mo to blend in; the task of looking after the carts and horses along the way was assigned to the two sons of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, Tang Wen Zheng—namely the eldest son Tang Tiehan and the third son Tang Tiexin. These two had past grievances with Hu Xiaotian, but given Hu Xiaotian's current stature they dared not openly challenge him, deliberately avoiding him, and for the time being peace prevailed.

Wen Boyuan led the five hundred soldiers as the escort convoy departed grandly from Chongxing Gate. As they passed Tian Street, the sky remained dark. Long Xi Yue lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, spotting a small pavilion; she could not help but recall that New Year's Eve night when Hu Xiaotian had brought her to the pavilion's roof to watch the fireworks—how beautiful they were, yet so fleeting; perhaps her youth and her dreams would from this day on be forever buried beneath the land at her feet.

The horse's hooves clattered continuously; a figure stepped into her line of sight, pulling her from her reverie—it was Hu Xiaotian riding his big‑eared little gray mount up to the carriage. Their eyes met, and Hu Xiaotian flashed his familiar smile, harmless to man and beast, like sunshine instantly dispelling the gloom and sorrow in Long Xi Yue's heart; she realized it was not yet time for sadness, for at least Hu Xiaotian was still by her side.

Long Xi Yue lowered the carriage curtain, and the purple‑feathered attendant beside her sighed, "Princess, will we ever return?" As Long Xi Yue's personal maid, she too was to accompany her to a long stay in Da Yong; although she had felt novelty when she first learned the news, at the moment of departure she could not help but feel wistful.

Long Xi Yue pressed her lips together without answering, for she did not know the answer either.

Choosing to depart so early was meant to avoid attracting the populace's gaze, yet such a magnificent procession still drew much attention. The emperor's daughter has no trouble finding a match; the common people have long grown numb to royal weddings, and what do imperial affairs have to do with ordinary folk? Gazing at carriage after carriage of dowry, the populace can only envy—if those were grain, they would surely feed a family for generations. Many feel this vague sigh. Why, though all are living beings in this world, do fates differ as heaven and earth? While the masses envy the grandeur of the princess's wedding, they do not realize that Princess Anping herself secretly longs for the freedom of civilian life.

As they passed Yongxing Bridge, the procession ahead suddenly slowed, for many beggars knelt on both sides of the road, holding up their begging bowls and begging for lucky money. (To be continued~^~)