Chapter 858: I Am the Elder Princess

"You're being dishonest!"

Chen Wuji scrutinized Yu Yan Chu, "Do you know where you are? Even if the Emperor granted this marriage, once you're here, I'm still the one who decides."

Yu Yan Chu's body gave a slight shake, sending ripples through her; she quickly shrank her neck and stammered, "How am I being dishonest? I've said everything truthfully; at most I just wasn't very clear… I'm not lying to you."

"'Isn't being unclear just deception?' Chen Wuji suddenly raised his voice."

Yu Yan Chu opened her mouth, "Well… maybe, perhaps, that could indeed be said. Alright, shall I come clean?"

"I am the Elder Princess, granted marriage by the Emperor, I traveled all the way from the Capital to Nan Jun to find my husband; along the way I was hunted, nearly robbed by mountain bandits, finally reached Hezhou only to come up empty-handed. In Nan Jun I found no one, then I rode a grain wagon all the way to the military camp, only to be mistreated there."

Yu Yan Chu grew more aggrieved as she spoke, a thin mist instantly forming in her eye sockets.

"'Enough, I know you've suffered and endured hardships on this journey, but this is your older brother's fault, not mine—I never asked the Emperor to grant me this marriage! If you have any grievances you find hard to voice, I'll speak to the Emperor for you.' Chen Wuji truly couldn't stand this."

He could consider accepting it, but he would absolutely not take the blame.

That damned emperor, so idle he's got nothing to do, he's just messing with his kidneys to death.

His pressure is already huge; he really doesn't want any more.

Yu Yan Chu stomped her foot, "What older brother? That's my father the Emperor!"

"'Father the Emperor? The current Emperor's daughter is this old?' Chen Wuji asked in surprise."

Isn't the Emperor said to be young?

But Yu Yan Chu looks like she's about twenty.

Yu Yan Chu froze, "You really are……"

She forced back the two words 'rebel'; as long as the Emperor doesn't consider that guy a rebel, she couldn't say it, but in Chen Wuji's words she saw no trace of respect for the Emperor.

Just opening her mouth to call the Emperor's daughter, that phrasing sounds so awkward……

You're not that old either, how dare you say that? Yu Yan Chu gritted her teeth in her mind, then quickly finished her unfinished sentence: "You really…… have poor eyesight; my father the Emperor isn't that old either—he's in his prime."

Chen Wuji gave a light cough, "Are you satisfied with this marriage? If not, you actually don't need to worry about saving my face."

Yu Yan Chu glanced askance suspiciously, "What do you mean, you want to call off the engagement? Hey, do you even hear what you're saying? Ordinary families have daughters who get splashed… not the saying that a married daughter is water splashed out, and you actually ask me if I'm satisfied with the imperial marriage?"

"Do I have a choice? You you you…"

Yu Yan Chu bristled with anger, her brows knitting fiercely, her eyes seeming to spit fire.

If it weren't for the fact that Chen Wuji has too many experts around him, she would have already unleashed her signature move to give that scoundrel a proper beating.

Chen Wuji raised his hand, "Don't get worked up, don't get worked up—I'm not asking for your opinion! I've heard most princesses aren't too satisfied with imperial marriages; I just want to give you another option."

Yu Yan Chu looked at Chen Wuji with a resentful gaze, "But Commander Chen, anyone with princess status—have you ever seen one who could decide her own marriage? Aren't they all granted by imperial decree?"

Chen Wuji thought for a moment, and indeed that seemed to be the case.

"'Since you have no leeway, it seems I'm the one who has to suffer.' Chen Wuji shook his head, 'Come on, let's head back to the central command.'"

He said that on purpose to Yu Yan Chu, just to have that guy come up and mess with him.

What a mess—those women he's had wandering outside have really made him rack his brains.

As expected, upon hearing that Yu Yan Chu bristled again, "Chen, what do you mean? Is marrying a princess so humiliating? I'm marrying down, not asking you to take a princess—how can you be like this… ah, you make me furious! In Da Yu, marrying a princess you're the first, and yet you're still not satisfied."

"'Huh?' Chen Wuji turned his head with a bland gaze, 'What did you just say? Or have you forgotten this is my turf? The mountains are high and the Emperor far away, Princess!'"

Yu Yan Chu abruptly shut her mouth, turned to look around, "Nothing, did I say something? I said you…… being resentful is right, marrying a princess is indeed a thankless task."

Chen Wuji turned and walked away, the corner of his mouth twitching up; this princess's personality is quite interesting.

Just don't know if she can accept our family's customs.

Chen Li hurried two steps to catch up with Chen Wuji, lowering his voice: "Family Head, the Emperor's move likely hides deep meaning; we should consider it carefully."

Chen Wuji nodded, "Even if there's deep meaning, what of it? If I ignore it, he can't do anything to me now. The Emperor's deep meaning now depends entirely on my mood—just whether he himself has this awareness."

"'We used to think the Emperor was overly dark and deep, but actually that darkness isn't him—it's someone else; let's first find out more, then talk.'"

After corresponding with the Emperor so many times, Chen Wuji has come to understand many things.

Regarding the Emperor's current situation, he now has a rough idea in his heart.

Fortunately the Elder Princess has arrived; through her we can learn a bit more about the palace and court situation, basically we can figure it out.

Returning to the central command, before reaching the big tent, Yu Yan Chu suddenly stepped forward a few paces to block Chen Wuji, "Surname Chen… husband… Commander Chen, I need to wash up and get clothes. When we left the palace to avoid scrutiny, we only had this one set of clothes, no spares."

She gave Chen Wuji several different titles, finally settling on Commander Chen.

"'Just bear with it for now; I actually have two ladies accompanying the army, but they're both occupied with duties elsewhere and not in the camp. When they return I'll have them find you two sets of spare clothes.' Chen Wuji said."

Qin Zan Hong and Lu Wanwan took the spies to Yan Zhou; they've been away these past days.

"'You actually brought ladies along with the army.' Yu Yan Chu muttered, shaking her head, 'No, I need to change and wash now—you have no idea what we've been through on this journey; my clothes are practically rotting.'"

"'If there's no women's clothing, just give me yours; I'll alter it and make do wearing it.'"

Chen Wuji suddenly recalled that not far from the military camp there was Gu Mu Qiang, which actually had women's clothing—'Can we wear the Qiang people's clothing?'"

"'No!' Yu Yan Chu refused bluntly, 'I am the Elder Princess of the Da Yu dynasty—how could I wear barbarian clothing? Give me yours, two sets. My maid also has no spare clothes; she's followed me through life and death on this journey, I can't shortchange her.'"