Chapter 72

When Nie Qinglin met Princess Shaoyang, she was sitting with her elder sister under the flower trellis in the garden, enjoying the shade and chatting.

Although she had only caught a glimpse earlier, she vaguely noticed that the wooden piece Xiu Tuhong had been carving was some child’s toy he was grinding by hand.

This put her mind slightly at ease for her sister.

At the very least, during her sister’s pregnancy, safety didn’t seem to be a concern.

As they chatted idly, Nie Qinglin suddenly remembered Xiu Tuhong’s bare-chested, broad-shouldered figure just now.

A thought occurred to her, and she asked in a hushed tone, “I’ve heard that the Xiongnu are fond of strong liquor. Do you know what His Highness Xiu Tuhong’s drinking habits are like?”

With a build like that, if he were the type to get rowdy when drunk, how could her delicate and fragile sister possibly handle it? Shaoyang was caught off guard by the question.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drink,” she replied.

Now it was Nie Qinglin’s turn to widen her eyes in surprise.

How could that be? Although she had entered the garden earlier, the three vats of fine wine that the Grand Tutor had brought were very real.

She had heard that Xiu Tuhong had a fondness for wine, and the Grand Tutor had brought ten-year aged brews precisely to curry favor.

Could it be that the Grand Tutor’s intel was wrong?

“I did see him drink once,” Shaoyang continued.

“But the smell of the wine was very strong. I’ve never been able to tolerate the scent of alcohol since I was young. Even a little exposure gives me a rash. That time, I was standing close… and I broke out in hives. Ever since, His Highness never visits me with wine on his breath.”

Strictly speaking, her explanation was a little flawed.

It was the prince who drank, so why was it the one who didn’t drink who got a rash? Most likely, their lips had met and she’d accidentally caught the taste of wine.

But this time, Nie Qinglin was tactful enough not to press the matter, unlike when they were in the carriage.

Still, from this alone, one could see that Xiu Tuhong was not just a crude brute with no appreciation for delicate flowers.

She didn’t ask further.

The two sisters were soon to part ways.

Both were reluctant to speak of parting, yet equally worried about each other’s future.

So they each forced smiles to comfort the other.

In the end, it was Shaoyang who broke the silence.

“In a few days, I will return to the North. This time, I’ve truly given up on ever coming back. There’s only one thing I can’t let go of, and that’s you, little sister. That Grand Tutor Wei is overbearing and difficult. You must be careful. Don’t act willful or childish, such things could bring disaster…”

Nie Qinglin looked fondly at her sister.

Though Princess Shaoyang appeared timid, she was in fact quite perceptive and sharp when it came to reading people.

Those officials who fawned and schemed to send their daughters into the Grand Tutor’s residence couldn’t even compare to a woman in the inner palace.

They only thought about climbing onto the Grand Tutor’s tall tree for shade, but didn’t realize that tree offered no shelter.

Who could easily navigate the Grand Tutor’s mind for schemes and strategies? Sending their pure daughters into that mansion often yielded no reward.

That Lord Shang Ningxuan was the perfect cautionary tale.

And the father of the Fifth Lady, Lord Dong from the Ministry of Revenue also had no luck in his career.

After the grain storage embezzlement scandal, the Grand Tutor became enraged and had his entire family exiled to the border to grow crops.

But the worst of all was her own ill-fated royal father.

Though he didn’t offer up a daughter himself, he still died under Lord Wei’s blade.

In Nie Qinglin’s view, the Grand Tutor clearly had a fate that clashed with his father-in-law’s—he was practically a walking “Father-in-law’s Doom.”

And yet, those officials kept lining up!

Just a while ago during a palace banquet, she had personally overheard some still unrelenting officials using the toasts as an excuse to shamelessly promote their daughters, whether as wives or concubines to the Grand Tutor.

Still, to comfort her sister, she said, “The Grand Tutor treats me fairly well. You don’t need to worry, Sister… Though I’ve heard the Third Prince also has a concubine. Is she easy to get along with?”

When Princess Shaoyang heard this, her brows knit slightly.

“She’s… average. Nothing could be worse than the situation in our father’s harem.”

That one sentence was enough for Nie Qinglin to understand her sister’s situation.

If things were truly pleasant, would her normally timid sister have dared to escape just because she couldn’t get used to the food?

Their father’s harem was a bloody book of grudges in the world of martial art—seemingly delicate women, each hiding poison-tipped needles in their hearts, capable of taking lives from a hundred miles away.

Her sister now didn’t even have a single close maid at her side.

If the prince was away, wouldn’t that mean she’d be at everyone’s mercy? No wonder she’d risk everything to flee back home.

All Nie Qinglin could hope for now was that the prince, having retrieved her sister, would cherish her, protect her, and with a child now, at least allow her to live peacefully in the prince’s inner quarters.

As Princess Shaoyang finished speaking, she noticed the worried look on her sister’s face and quickly added, “The prince has a very good temper. He’s never made things hard for me. You don’t need to worry…”

But just as her praise of the prince’s “good temper” left her lips, a loud bang came from the parlor near the garden, followed by the sound of slamming tables, shattering wine cups, and raised voices.

The two sisters shared a slightly awkward look and silently agreed to pretend they hadn’t heard anything.

Instead, they busied themselves with admiring the little clothes and shoes Nie Qinglin had brought.

Later, when the Grand Tutor and the prince arrived, both had already had their fill of wine.

It seemed the dispute at the table had passed.

Judging by their expressions, they were now laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened.

Nie Qinglin stole a glance and saw that the prince, though walking beside her sister, was intentionally keeping his distance, clearly afraid that his breath still carried the smell of alcohol that might bother her.

On the way back, the Grand Tutor, possibly having drunk a little too much, rested his head on her lap once inside the carriage.

The soft scent lingering around a beauty’s knee was irresistible, and though he only lay there briefly, he quickly grew restless.

His hand gradually slipped toward the collar of Nie Qinglin’s robe.

Blushing slightly, she muttered, “Once the Grand Tutor has had wine, he gets unruly. Where are your drinking manners?”

The Grand Tutor merely lifted his eyes slightly and glanced at the dragon pearl, whose little face was flushed.

Yesterday, out of pity for her long having been left unattended, he had not gone to the full extent and merely quenched his thirst with a light taste of her sweet nectar.

But this delicate little thing was so tender that even with his restraint, she still refused to get out of bed the next morning, complaining that her whole body ached.

It seemed his recent neglect had indeed spoiled her, making her frail and fragile.

He reached out and pressed down on her neck, making her lower her head before he bit her crimson lips hard with resentment.

But just that one kiss made him lose control.

He simply turned dragon pearl over and pinned her beneath him, nibbling on her earlobe as he murmured, “This minister is a little drunk… May Your Highness show some mercy and bestow a little sweet dew to help me sober up?”

Nie Qinglin had been about to imitate her sister by claiming she couldn’t tolerate the smell of alcohol and plead with the Grand Tutor to spare her lips and tongue, when suddenly the carriage stopped halfway through its motion.

The Grand Tutor frowned and lifted his head.

“Why have we stopped?”

From outside, a guard replied, “Reporting to Your Excellency, the Third Madam’s carriage is ahead. She was blocked and has gotten into a dispute.”

The Grand Tutor never mentioned his concubines in front of dragon pearl, so he hadn’t expected such a coincidence.

He lightly patted dragon pearl.

“Wait in the carriage.”

Then he rose and stepped out.

Just twenty paces ahead was a carriage belonging to his own household.

The Third Madam stood outside, holding her injured forehead, and when she saw the Grand Tutor stepping down from the carriage, she looked toward him with clear unease.

Standing in front of the carriage, however, was Princess Qike, and her own carriage had lost a wheel.

It turned out that Princess Qike’s horse had been spooked moments earlier and had charged straight into the Third Madam’s carriage, which was on its way back from making offerings at the temple.

The servants and coachmen from the Grand Tutor’s estate, unused to being treated with disrespect due to their master’s status, had gotten into an argument in the street with this barbarian-looking woman dressed in foreign attire.

This Third Madam, Lady Rong, was once the old madam’s personal maid—clever and capable, and greatly favored by the old madam.

Worried about her son’s refusal to inherit the family business and his insistence on staying at court, she had given her own maid to him.

The Grand Tutor had no strong feelings about it, but to avoid making his mother worry, he agreed out of filial respect, officially accepted her, and took her into his chambers as his third concubine.

Lady Rong had always been gentle and considerate, never contradicting the Grand Tutor or engaging in jealous squabbles.

Before dragon pearl entered his life, the Grand Tutor had been quite satisfied with her attentiveness and had spent most nights of each month in her chambers.

Princess Qike, having faced setbacks in the southern borders recently, came to the capital seeking the Grand Tutor’s help.

She also hoped to perhaps win over his favor.

But these past days, she hadn’t seen him even once.

Feeling bored and frustrated in the residence, she took a few people and went riding outside to relieve her mood.

She had no idea why her horse suddenly went wild and dashed forward, just in time to collide with the Third Madam’s carriage, startling the horses pulling it.

Because the Grand Tutor ruled his household with strict discipline, the servants did not dare to act arrogant in public.

But since this accident involved the Third Madam’s carriage and they were clearly in the right, they refused to let it go.

When Princess Qike neither apologized nor stepped back and even raised her whip as if to strike, the conflict intensified.

Princess Qike hadn’t taken it seriously at first.

But when she heard the carriage belonged to the Grand Tutor’s Third Madam, she suddenly recalled how her own attempts at seduction had been rejected by the Grand Tutor.

Curious to see what kind of woman had been accepted into his chambers, a competitive streak flared in her heart, and she intentionally pressed the dispute—successfully drawing the Third Madam out.

Lady Rong had just stepped out of her carriage and had yet to speak when she spotted the procession of Princess Yong’an’s carriage in the distance.

Ever since Princess Yong’an’s arrival, the Grand Tutor had completely neglected his other concubines.

Though Lady Rong never said it aloud, her heart had long been filled with unease and sorrow.

Now, seeing the grandeur of Princess Yong’an’s carriages and attendants, while she herself stood with just one modest carriage and a few attendants, she couldn’t help but feel bitter.

The sadness welled up all at once.

The Grand Tutor walked over with a cold expression.

Both Lady Rong and Princess Qike saw the princess’s carriage and realized that the Grand Tutor had been inside.

They stopped arguing at once.

Princess Qike immediately put on a bright smile and walked up to him.

“Grand Tutor, I’ve been in the capital for days now, and it’s been so difficult just to see you once.”

Seeing that the Grand Tutor’s face remained unsympathetic, she quickly added, “This was all my fault. I took the horse out for a ride today and don’t know what came over it. It went wild and startled the Third Madam. I was just about to offer her an apology when you arrived.”

As she spoke, she turned and bowed to Lady Rong, who was looking at the Grand Tutor with teary eyes.

“It was this princess’s fault. I ask the Third Madam for forgiveness.”

The Grand Tutor looked at the smooth, reddened mark on Lady Rong’s forehead…clearly the result of her having struck it against the carriage during the commotion.

Princess Qike was the sort who loved to entangle matters endlessly.

With dragon pearl still waiting in the carriage behind, the Grand Tutor had no desire to continue the conversation.

He said coolly to Qike, “Since it was an unintentional mistake, let’s leave it at that. Still, I ask Your Highness to be more cautious in the future. Do not recklessly collide with the common folk.”

He then turned to the Third Madam and said, “Since you’re not seriously hurt, you may return to the residence.”

With that, he turned and headed back to his carriage.

The Third Madam, seeing that the Grand Tutor hadn’t spoken even a single word of concern, felt deeply hurt.

She covered her face and quietly returned to her carriage.

Nie Qinglin had seen the whole thing clearly from her own carriage not far away.

The Third Madam looked truly pitiful and evoked a great deal of sympathy so different from the proud and haughty airs of the Fourth and Fifth Madams.

Her forehead was visibly bruised, yet not even that was enough to make the Grand Tutor pause.

A faint chill crept into Nie Qinglin’s heart.

She feared that, should she ever fall out of favor, her situation might be even worse than this.

That thought brought a quiet pang of sorrow to her chest.

The Grand Tutor climbed into the carriage and cast a deep look at Nie Qinglin.

He had no wish to mention his concubines in front of her, yet a chance encounter had made it unavoidable.

Worried she might be overthinking things, he asked casually, “The servants were a bit noisy just now, did they disturb Your Highness?”

Nie Qinglin lifted her small face and smiled lightly.

“Not at all.”

Upon hearing that, the Grand Tutor frowned and glared fiercely at this infuriating, sharp-tongued princess.

He yanked her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly again, refusing to let go.

Three days before Xiu Tuhong and Princess Shaoyang returned to the northern frontier, the Wei Dynasty held a grand wedding ceremony for her.

This wedding was unlike her first departure beyond the borders, where only a perfunctory ritual had been performed.

This time, the Ministry of Rites, at the Grand Tutor’s direction, put in special effort.

From the ceremonial processions and bridal attendants to the dowry clothing and the route out of the city—every detail was meticulously planned.

On the day of the send-off, the capital’s security officials had received strict orders: all idle wanderers were forbidden from going out; those with questionable records were rounded up and jailed. Officials scoured the city, distributing clean clothes and food to beggars and vagrants, lest their ragged appearance mar the spectacle.

On the day of the wedding, the whole city was in an uproar.

Nearly the entire population of the capital poured into the streets to witness the grand procession.

Xiu Tuhong rode in a carriage inlaid with gold and gemstones, pulled by sixteen imperial tribute horses—eight black, eight white…all fitted with golden harnesses from the Western Garden. The carriage moved forward slowly and majestically.

Seated high above, Xiu Tuhong gazed down at the densely packed crowd of Wei subjects staring up at him in awe.

He thought to himself that the people of the Central Plains certainly knew how to enjoy life.

Such carriages…he’d not even imagined them, let alone seen them before.

Still, his delicate wife had been raised in such luxury.

No wonder she found it difficult to endure the bitter cold and hardship of the northern frontier.

This time, he would not be so careless.

He needed to be more meticulous.

After all, as a dignified prince, could he not afford to properly care for a princess of Great Wei?

The Grand Tutor was certainly thoughtful in relieving the prince’s burdens.

Following the golden carriage was a massive dowry, gifted by the Grand Tutor.

It stretched so far that the end could not be seen.

The most astonishing among them was a full reconstruction of the former mansion of Marquis Yun, transported by 200 specially-built four-wheeled carriages.

Marquis Yun had been a wealthy magnate during the previous dynasty, notorious for his rivalry with the equally wealthy Shi Chong.

(T/N: Shi Chong was a real historical figure from the Western Jin dynasty (265–316 AD) in ancient China. He was known for his extreme wealth and extravagant lifestyle. He became famous for showing off his luxury and competing in lavishness with another powerful official, Wang Kai, who was related to the imperial family.)

He never lost in flaunting wealth.

He was infamous for spitting only into the throats of beautiful women.

Arrogant and obscenely rich, his ostentation infuriated the prime minister, who was also known for his wealth.

After losing to him repeatedly in contests of extravagance, the minister had him arrested.

But Marquis Yun refused to surrender and rose in rebellion.

It took three years to suppress him.

The founding emperor of the Wei Dynasty had risen during that very chaos and ultimately seized the empire.

Most of Marquis Yun’s treasures and mansions had been destroyed, stolen, or lost during the war.

Only one estate in Jiangnan, because of its remote location, had survived unscathed.

After the Wei Dynasty was founded, this estate was converted into a southern palace for the emperor’s use due to its luxurious comfort.

Now, Grand Tutor Wei had ordered several courtyards of this palace dismantled.

Every tile, plank, blade of grass, and tree was carefully preserved, to be transported to the northern frontier and reassembled as the marital residence for Xiu Tuhong and Princess Shaoyang.

It was an extravagant gesture.

Even the normally worldly and well-informed ministers of the Wei court were struck dumb in disbelief.

Nie Qinglin hadn’t seen it for herself, but just looking at the long list of dowry items was enough to make her heart race.

The Grand Tutor was a man of deep calculations.

Such generosity was not simply because he got along well with Xiu Tuhong.

If the Chanyu of the Xiongnu saw this spectacle, what would he think?

Xiu Tuhong was not a man greedy for wealth.

It was only because of one casual remark from Wei Lenghou, “Princess Shaoyang would probably like it” that he accepted this grand ancient estate as a gift.

To subtly drive a wedge between ruler and minister without revealing any sharp edges—that was the true brilliance of Grand Tutor Wei.

This was the sorrow of royal daughters: even if their husbands held some genuine affection, they could never escape the shadow of “politics.”

May this prince, skilled as he was in the treacherous games of court, be just as valiant as he was on the battlefield and keep her sister safe for life…

Traveling with the procession northward were also several female members of the Nie clan.

After all, since the Chanyu had requested marriage, the court could not risk insulting him outright.

With this move, Wei Lenghou had already planted a seed of suspicion in the minds of the Xiongnu’s ruler and his ministers…at least for now, the northern frontier’s threat was momentarily defused.

And that allowed him to focus on the real threat—the southern tiger growing ever more powerful.

Celebrations continued to roll through the Wei Dynasty, but not to be outdone, the King of the Southern Frontier recently took a new favored concubine.

She wasn’t particularly stunning, just charming and pleasing in appearance, but she possessed a kind of innate seductive allure.

In bed, she moved like a live fish and truly capable of fulfilling all the unspeakable desires of a man.

“Lord Ge, you’ve offered this king such a stunning beauty…how should I ever repay you?”

From the inner chamber of the watchtower, the King of the Southern Frontier emerged with his beloved concubine, her cheeks still flushed red.

Hugging her close, he spoke to Ge Qingyuan in great satisfaction.

Ge Qingyuan, with a newly acquired scar marring one side of his face, bowed and said respectfully,“I, Ge, was forced into exile in the Southern Frontier by that traitor Wei. Thanks to Your Majesty’s generous protection, I am endlessly grateful…moved to tears. Naturally, I shall devote myself entirely to Your Majesty’s cause, to help you achieve dominance and savor the pleasures of an emperor.”

His words delighted the Southern King, who immediately began fantasizing about the day he would conquer the entire Great Wei dynasty and bask in glory.

After a brief, subtle glance exchanged with his younger sister Ge Yun’er, who now lay cradled in the Southern King’s arms—Ge Qingyuan bowed and withdrew.

He had known the Southern King since before he inherited the title, back when he was still a mere prince.

Though the man was overflowing with ambition but sorely lacking in intelligence, Ge Qingyuan had made excellent use of him for his own schemes.

It had been the two of them, working inside and out, who had orchestrated the assassination attempt on the Emperor along Swallow Lake Road.

Looking back now, it was perhaps fortunate that the attempt had failed…

The image of Nie Qinglin’s radiant and beautiful face suddenly came to mind.

Because of the scar on his face, Ge Qingyuan’s originally handsome features now carried a twisted and wicked air.

At this moment, she was likely in Wei Lenghou’s arms, coy and tender, enjoying his favor.

Descending from the watchtower, Ge Qingyuan looked out in the direction of the Wei capital.

Unknowingly, his hands slowly curled into fists.

So close to success—only to fail at the final moment.

Despite all his careful planning, a single slip had allowed that traitorous Wei to escape.

As a result, not only had he been forced to surrender a vast territory, but he had also watched as his beloved wife fell into the hands of that villain!

But it didn’t matter.

This bitter lesson…he would never forget.

Next time, Wei Lenghou wouldn’t be so lucky.

Ge Qingyuan had more than enough patience.

Like a venomous serpent, he would lurk always in Wei Lenghou’s mind, striking when least expected.

Princess Yong’an…one day, you will return to my arms!