Chapter 684: Side Story: Nanping and Po Feng 02

My heart feels empty; every day I want to go find Po Feng.

I imagine eating together with Po Feng as before, strolling the streets, and leisurely wandering the night market of Mantuo City.

Being with him is a joy that Mother cannot replace.

But Po Feng has gone elsewhere.

The surnamed Zheng general said Po Feng went to Nan'an.

Nan'an is far, but Po Feng went there to attend Leng Dian's and Princess Xingyao's wedding banquet.

Leng Dian is his brother whom he grew up with since childhood.

So he values this greatly.

But he had clearly said before that if I were willing to go along, if circumstances allowed, he would bring me too!

Po Feng went back on his word to me, and this makes me very angry.

When Mother mentioned going together with Granny Pei and Grandpa Luo to somewhere in Lanhai State, I naturally agreed so that Po Feng would also feel my anger.

The wonderful scenery along the way made me feel utterly at ease and free; gradually, seeing Po Feng also cast him from my mind, I no longer constantly think of him.

This made Mother very happy; she said I need not be trapped in Mantuo City for life, she could take me to a better place and even introduce me to someone she trusts more who would be a better match for me.

A match?

Why must I be matched with anyone?

Could Mother be trying to find me a husband?

But Aunt Luo'er said that if I don't like it, I can remain unmarried for life.

Mother seems quite anxious.

In Lanhai State I actively met many young talents of noble status.

Although she occasionally laments that these years have delayed me and caused me suffering, even the nobles of Lanhai State are utterly unworthy of my noble status.

But I don't like Mother doing this, even doing it.

Because those nobles, in private, do not like Mother's aloof arrogance when she cannot even state her own status.

They mock Mother's words behind her back, and I have heard them.

If possible, I wish I could forever live in Mantuo City.

Because only in Mantuo City am I truly happiest.

I like the people of Mantuo City; they are friendly and kind, treating me as one of their own.

Although the people of Lanhai are also fine, this place is ultimately not my homeland.

I think I'm starting to miss Po Feng a little.

Aunt Luo'er wrote a letter urging Granny Pei to return to Jinling.

But Mother said she wants to settle in Lanhai.

However, before things were settled, Lanhai erupted in war.

I saw some Western Region people.

I also saw vast flocks of sheep.

I was very afraid.

Once, because a noble lady envied her companion's warmth and friendliness toward me, she lured me onto a mountain and shoved me into the thickets.

The sheep flock lunged at me, and a memory as fierce as mountains and seas surged upon me……

I remembered.

It turns out I am truly called Nanping.

Pan Nanping, a minor princess of the State of Liang, later they needed to abandon me, sending me off as a marriage-alliance princess.

After parting with Luo'er's older sister, I and Cui Qilang, under the escort of persons sent by the Empress Dowager of Eagle King City, arrived at Nahala City.

The lord of Nahala City intended to humiliate me, a princess without even a bridal entourage, leaving me neglected in the most shabby relay station.

I calmly accepted and faced everything, yet the Imperial Court decided to enroll me into Marquis Gudu's harem as his consort, rather than marrying me to a prince to become his Khatun.

Upon hearing this news, Cui Qilang flew into a rage and wanted to take me away.

Perhaps his conscience suddenly awakened, or perhaps he foresaw how miserable my latter life would be, so he suddenly could not bear to see me fall into such a fate.

"We shouldn't have come to Nahala City."

"I regret it; let's leave here and go back!"

"Even if we don't return to Jinling, I will bring you to recline in the mountains and forests. From now on it's just us; I will never let you down!"

How wonderful it would be if I could have heard these words half a year earlier!

But now, saying anything is too late.

Since I have calmly accepted the fate of the marriage alliance, and since I chose to help my mother, I will not flee when battle comes.

Moreover, Nahala City has come after us; how could it be as simple as him saying we can leave and actually leaving?

Cui Qilang brought me to slaughter batch after batch of pursuers, and we hid in the pasture outside the city.

Yet we were still easily found.

"You DaLiang dare to toy with our Imperial Court!"

"If so, then don't blame us for showing no mercy—seize these two and execute them on the spot——"

How can Cui Qilang alone face a hundred Western Region warriors?

I shoved him onto his horse and slapped its back hard: "Cui Qilang, you go on your own!"

"If you truly can escape, I won't hate you either. Anyway, we will never meet again in this life; whether I am good or bad, you need not worry about me anymore."

"Hurry up——"

But having just entered this hell, how could one say escape and actually escape?

I should have thought of these results earlier.

Cui Qilang turned his horse's head, still thinking of taking me away together.

I cursed him: "You flee first; I might still have a slim chance of survival. If we both fall into their hands, we'll have only a dead end."

What good is doing this now?

Wasn't it you who, together with them, pushed me into this place of no return?

Cui Qilang, go!

But how could Cui Qilang possibly escape?

They caught him.

He was hung from a tree, his tendons sliced, and bled out.

I was locked in a sheep pen, only able to watch helplessly as Cui Qilang gradually lost his life.

As he lay dying, he told me he regretted it.

He regretted never opening his heart, regretted putting everything of the Cui family before me, and regretted personally sending me to the Western Regions, into the wolves' den.

And he finally got his comeuppance……

But this was not the result that caused me the utmost anguish.

What terrified and shocked me for life was a pack of wolves suddenly appearing in the pitch‑black night.

Their ghoulish green eyes and the beasts' low growls frightened me out of my wits.

I sat among the sheep, covering my mouth in silence, unable to make a sound.

All I could do was watch helplessly as the wolves bit Cui Qilang off the rope.

First they bit off one of his legs.

Then the other.

Next, his whole body was torn away, drenched in blood.

They crouched on him, devouring his organs and flesh piece by piece.

The chewing, the swallowing, and Cui Qilang's hoarse cries and gasps before he finally breathed his last.

"Don't… don't come out…"

"Nanping, don't come out—"

"Live on, you must live on!"

I could not accept this fact, nor forget that brutal, bloody scene; that night I felt as if I had plunged into a black abyss and then completely lost myself.

Only after being submerged again in the wolf pack did I gradually regain consciousness.

I, I really survived……

I stayed in the forest for a day and a night, and also got caught in a heavy rain.

When Mother came looking for me, she noticed something was wrong.

But I didn't say anything; I had remembered everything.

I thought of my father, and of my two younger brothers.

I heard they died under the sword of Duan Rongjue.

Mother lost, and now she has only me.

How could I bear to let her know I am still anguished?

Pei Lao Furen went to the battlefield for the sake of Lanhai State.

Although Mother finally rescued the old lady, the father of Luo'er's older sister died.

Finally, Po Feng led thirty thousand troops and completely turned the tide of battle.

He wiped out that small state completely.

And he proclaimed to the world that Lanhai State would forever be protected by Great Yue.

Whoever covets and invades Lanhai is an enemy of Great Yue.

In today's world, who dares to invade Great Yue?

From now on, Lanhai will enjoy peace and tranquility.

Pei Lao Furen and the Divine Doctor Luo are returning to Jinling.

The Divine Doctor Luo discovered I had regained my memory, and told me to cherish what I now have, not dwell in the past, and bravely stride toward tomorrow to obtain true rebirth.

After thinking for a long time, I went to see Mother.

I told Mother I did not wish to stay in Lanhai State; I wanted to return to Mantuo City.

In Mantuo City, we can also start anew.

Mother cautiously asked me, "Pinger, have you really remembered everything?"

"Mother has noticed that your eyes no longer hold any joy."

"Mother has made a mistake; if you're still willing to speak to her, what do you want? Mother can give you anything."

I said, "Mother, I want Po Feng."

That day, Po Feng slew thousands of enemies on the battlefield, blood‑soaked and brave; the image seemed to awaken my inner reverence for life and death.

Only then did I understand why I always liked being with him.

Because I feel safe with him.

With him, even though I can never forget how those wild wolves devoured Cui Qilang alive, I no longer feel afraid or find the darkness unbearable.

Moreover, the feeling of being with him is completely different from being with Cui Qilang.

Being at ease with Po Feng brings happiness.

Although it is not the nervous excitement of youth, I now need that sense of tranquility that Po Feng holds in his heart.

Mother's tears flowed, and in the end she nodded.

Go.

As long as Mother's Ping'er can find happiness, Mother can try to change herself.

I rushed outside, rushing toward Po Feng, who was readying the troops to return to Mandala City.

Po Feng!

Take me back to Mandala City!

Po Feng saw me come out; although he was a little surprised, he still immediately put down what he was doing, turned around, clasped his hands behind his back, looked at me, and asked, "Young Highness, are you going back?"

That works.

Whenever Your Highness wishes to return, Mandala City will always have your home. I have already arranged a residence for you in the city. From now on, Your Highness may live freely...

I walked over and reached out to grab Po Feng's arm.

Then I pulled his hand from behind to the front and tightly grasped his big hand.

Po Feng, will you really treat me as your sister?

I don't believe you; you feel nothing for me.

After saying that, I didn't care how many people were standing nearby, tiptoed up, and kissed Po Feng's face.

Po Feng's ears instantly turned crimson.

He widened his eyes, looking at me in disbelief.

Young Highness, do you know what you're doing?

I reached out to touch his ear and warned him in a low voice: "If you dare to reject me in public, I won't let you off."

Heaven knows how much courage it took for me to impulsively do something so frivolous to him.

But this kind of courage—perhaps I'll only have it once in this life.

If he avoids me like Cui Qilang does, or despises my experience in the Western Regions, I think… I would go with Mother to some remote border town where no one could find us, and spending the rest of our lives there wouldn't be bad.

My heart was pounding, yet unexpectedly Po Feng tightly embraced me into his arms.

You won't treat me as your brother anymore?

Po Feng asked me by my ear.

I raised my hand and lightly tapped his chest: "Of course! Wind Brother, will you?"

Po Feng's heartbeat threatened to drown me, and he held me even tighter.

Young Highness, what merit does Po Feng have to earn your love?

My tears streamed down the corners of my eyes.

As it turns out, someone in this world truly regards my love as something so precious.

Then give me, more and more of your love, okay?

We clasped hands, gazed at the vast and beautiful border scenery, mounted our horses, and together returned to our home—Mandala City.