Everyone be careful. These guards are all extremely skilled. If they are careful, how can the princess escape from them?
Looking at everything before her, Feng Qian burst into tears in anger. She turned to look at the Empress Dowager at the head of the hall and said, "Mother, why didn't you stop my brother?"
The Empress Dowager looked haggard. As a mother, Feng Zixiao's actions had caused her much worry, but what use were her words now? The Sima family had also fallen into decline. Her own brother had actually been having an affair with a concubine from the Northern Lu Kingdom, which had led to the Sima family's downfall. Now, she was nothing more than an old woman in her twilight years.
The Empress Dowager descended from the head of the hall and took Feng Qian's hand: "Qian'er, don't argue with your brother. He is the emperor of the country, and he knows what he's doing."
Although her son was no good, compared to her daughter, the difference in importance was immediately apparent. At this moment, Feng Qian truly felt like dying. Were they still her family? No matter when or where, as long as she returned here, she would become a pawn they could use.
"Mother, I don't want to get married, please don't force me."
The Empress Dowager held Feng Qian's hand tightly, tears welling up in her eyes: "Qian'er, actually the person your brother arranged for you to marry is quite good. He is the eldest son of General Yun, and he is the only son in the Yun family. The Yun family would not dare to mistreat you, so don't be so arrogant. As for that Helian Qianxun that you like, your mother doesn't find him very pleasing. He has a full head of silver hair at such a young age, and his face is repulsive."
Feng Qian laughed in anger. Everyone said that Helian Qianxun was a handsome man, but his mother was lying through her teeth to slander him. What does it mean to be repulsive? If even Helian Qianxun is repulsive, then many people in the world would be unbearable to look at. And what about her own son? His actions are all despicable.
The Empress Dowager ignored Feng Qian's expression and continued to ramble on: "I've never even heard of that Yunjiang. If you marry there, I'll never see you again. You should stay in the capital and keep me company."
Feng Qian was already tired of hearing this. If she really couldn't bear to part with her, she might feel heartache and reluctance, but that wasn't the case at all. Even if her mother was confused, she only cared about her son's country and never cared about her daughter's happiness. Perhaps she was born this way, but she couldn't be a pawn. Thinking this, Feng Qian's face turned cold. She abruptly pulled her hand away from the Empress Dowager's and spoke coldly.
"Mother, I am tired."
After saying that, she turned and left without even looking at the Empress Dowager behind her. The Empress Dowager's face was covered with tears as she looked at her daughter who had broken away and left. Even at this moment, she had not considered letting her daughter marry Helian Qianxun.
As soon as Feng Qian returned to the palace where she used to live, she hid in her bedchamber and cried, feeling only despair in her heart.
She had truly returned to a den of wolves and tigers. What was she to do now? There were many guards watching her from outside. Although she was skilled in martial arts and carried several poisons, based on her understanding of her brother, she knew that there were probably more than just these guards outside. Even if she managed to get rid of the guards outside, there would definitely be others watching her from behind. So, it would be as difficult as climbing to the sky for her to get out.
Lianyi and Xiaoke, the two maids, had been staying in the palace. They didn't know why the princess was sad at first, but after asking her, they finally found out what had happened and became anxious.
"Princess, don't be sad. Now we need to think of a way to escape the palace, otherwise you will have to marry General Yun's son. In fact, General Yun's son is a lecherous man. I heard that in addition to not having a wife, he has quite a few concubines in his household."
Lianyi told Feng Qian the news she had heard earlier, and Feng Qian became even more heartbroken upon hearing it.
After crying for a while, she realized that Lianyi's words made a lot of sense. Crying now would not help at all. She needed to save herself. It was impossible for her to escape the palace on her own unless someone helped her. Thinking of this, her eyes suddenly lit up. The seventh prince, Prince Jing, would definitely be willing to help him. Thinking of the seventh prince, Feng Qian couldn't help but think of his character. He was much better than her elder brother. If the seventh prince could become emperor, perhaps they could coexist peacefully with Bei Lu. Because Ling'er had feelings for the seventh prince.
Feng Qian's mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts, but right now her immediate concern was how to escape. However, her seventh brother was currently without a position and was in seclusion at the Jingwang Mansion, reflecting on his mistakes. He didn't need to attend the morning court sessions, so they couldn't see her at all.
"Lianyi, who in court do you think is on good terms with the Seventh Prince?"
Since the seventh prince cannot enter the palace, they can send letters to his close friends, and the letters will surely reach the seventh prince.
"Well, this servant knows that some of the palace guards are very close to the Seventh Prince."
"Do you think if I ask them to deliver the letter to me, they might end up giving it to my brother?"
Lianyi thought about it seriously for a moment, then smiled shyly: "I know there is one person who doesn't know."
Upon seeing her expression, Feng Qian knew that the person must be Lian Yi's beloved. If that was the case, it seemed that even the heavens were on her side. So she immediately stood up happily: "That's wonderful, Lian Yi. Have your beloved deliver this message to Prince Jing's residence for me, and tell him to remember not to alarm anyone else."
Lianyi opened her mouth wide, momentarily unable to process what this meant. She had only said that there was someone who didn't know, and now the princess was assumed to be her sweetheart. She huffed in protest, "Princess, how can you talk such nonsense?"
"Nonsense," Feng Qian looked up and saw the girl blushing. She couldn't help but smile, and the sadness in her heart faded a lot. Looking at Lianyi, she sighed softly: "Lianyi, after I leave the palace, I will ask my seventh brother to mediate and help you marry the person you love. You have served me for so many years and have not gained anything else, but I can still do this for you."
Upon hearing Feng Qian's words, tears welled up in Lian Yi and Xiao Ke's eyes. Lian Yi immediately took out a pen, ink, and paper: "Princess, write quickly. Send the letter out as soon as possible. Don't forget, the Emperor said that you will be married off in three days."
In the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, everyone soon learned that the Emperor had bestowed the eldest princess of the royal family, Feng Qian, upon Yun Feng, the son of General Yun Hai, as his wife. The wedding was to take place three days later.
The entire capital was abuzz with excitement. However, many people lamented that the name of the royal princess, Feng Qian, was widely known. She was beautiful and talented, with a first-rate appearance and a good temperament. Why did she have to marry that dissolute young master from the Yun family? Everyone knew Yun Feng, who was a womanizer. He not only slept with women but also with male prostitutes. As long as they were handsome, he would not let them go. His mansion was full of concubines. Now the emperor had actually bestowed the princess upon the Yun family. This was simply because the Jiang family had fallen and the Yun family had risen. So, in order to consolidate the power of the Yun family, the emperor bestowed the royal princess upon them. This was an immense favor.
The Yun family was naturally the happiest. Yun Feng had also toned down his behavior a bit these past few days, and he was rarely seen on the streets. He was overjoyed to be able to marry a princess. He had never dared to dream of Princess Chang Le Feng Qian before. She was a fairy from heaven. Now that she had become his wife, how could he not be happy?
Prince Jing, the seventh prince, soon received the letter that Feng Qian had sent out of the palace. He was wondering why the emperor had given her to Yun Feng when his elder sister was not in the palace. Now, upon receiving the letter, he realized that Feng Qian had returned.
The Seventh Prince, Prince Jing, frowned and pondered for a moment. His relationship with his elder brother was already tense. If he were to help Feng Qian leave the Great Zhou Dynasty, he feared that his brother and he would become sworn enemies. However, the thought of his elder sister marrying such a man pained him. Among the many daughters of the royal family, his elder sister was the most beautiful and sensible. He couldn't bear to see her marry Yun Feng. With this thought in mind, he felt it necessary to go to the palace.
That night, Prince Jing entered the palace.
Inside the palace where the princess lived, the lights were dim. Feng Qian was not asleep in her bedchamber. She paced anxiously back and forth in the palace because she did not know whether her seventh brother would come. If he came, the gap between him and her elder brother would widen. If he did not come, what would she do? Would she really have to marry that playboy brother Yun Feng?
No, she would rather die than marry Yunfeng.
There was a knock on the window. Lianyi immediately opened the window with a look of surprise and delight. Standing outside was indeed the Seventh Prince, Prince Jing. After not seeing him for some time, the Seventh Prince had not only matured and become more handsome, but also more composed. His brows were clear and his whole demeanor was open and honest, which made people feel very comfortable.
"Seventh Imperial Brother, you've finally arrived! I thought you weren't coming!"
Chapter 132 of Butterfly Loves Flowers: The Bride Robbery and the Mastermind
Inside the palace, Feng Qian's nose was already thick with nasal congestion; if she hadn't held back, she would have burst into tears.
"Royal sister, what's going on? Why did you come back so suddenly?"
Upon seeing Feng Qian, Prince Jing anxiously pressed her for answers, telling her to run as far away as possible. The Emperor was furious that the two of them had helped outsiders release Hai Ling, and now she had returned, as if walking into a trap. No wonder his brother had arranged for her to marry General Yun's son, Yun Feng, as soon as she returned.
What kind of person is Yun Feng? Prince Jing, Feng Zihe, strongly disagreed with his elder brother's actions. Although the Yun family currently held considerable military power, they were well aware that Yun Feng was not yet fully capable. Why should his elder brother abandon his elder sister to win over the Yun family?
In the palace, after hearing Feng Zihe's words, Feng Qian immediately told him why she had returned. When Feng Qian mentioned what Feng Zixiao had done during her trip to Nanling Kingdom, Feng Zihe's face darkened. It seemed that his elder brother was determined to fight against Beilu Kingdom, and this war would bring suffering to the common people.
"How could my royal brother be so foolish?"
Feng Zihe also complained, his face dark. The current emperor was no longer the emperor they remembered. Now, because of a series of blows, he was very narrow-minded. If anyone offended him, he would definitely take revenge. They could see this from the fate they suffered for helping Hai Ling. They were once the best of brothers, and they still ended up like this. What about others?
Right now, Feng Qian didn't want to pay attention to anyone else; she just wanted to leave the palace, so she grabbed Feng Zihe's hand.
"Seventh brother, take me away from here. I want to leave. I don't want to marry that bastard Yunfeng."
"But there are quite a few guards outside."
Feng Zihe didn't not want to take her away, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to. When he came alone earlier, he carefully avoided all the guards. Now, if he were to take Feng Qian out, he might not be able to get out.
"Does this mean I really have to marry Yunfeng?"