However, Hai Ling was always a lazy person, so she ignored Ji Shaocheng and instead helped Du Caiyue back to Qin Fang Courtyard.
However, when she touched Du Caiyue's hand, she felt that her hand was very cold, and she couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Mother, are you alright?"
Du Caiyue came to her senses and shook her head: "It's okay, it's okay. I felt so much pressure facing someone like that that I couldn't even speak."
Hai Ling laughed. This was natural. Ji Shaocheng was still a famous general of the Northern Dynasty. He had experienced countless battles, and the powerful aura around him was the result of years of experience. Most people would find it difficult to face him. Her mother was still just a woman in the household, so it was normal for her to feel pressured.
"We're going back."
The group left the hall and returned to Qinfang Courtyard.
The days that followed were exceptionally peaceful.
There was no movement from either the Crown Prince's residence or the General's residence. Hai Ling's daily routine consisted of practicing martial arts and learning palace etiquette at the Banana Garden Academy. Most of her time at the Banana Garden Academy was free, so she took the opportunity to send two more items to the Crown Prince, successfully provoking his anger as before. However, no matter how angry Feng Zixiao was, he did not break off the engagement in a fit of rage as Hai Ling had expected.
In the blink of an eye, ten days have passed. She has completed seventeen of the eighteen forms of the Golden Flower, with only the final form, the Blooming Golden Flower, remaining.
However, as the wedding day approached, she felt increasingly agitated but helpless. The Crown Prince was not falling for her tricks. Was she really going to marry into the Crown Prince's household and become a pawn to be used by others?
Now that she has people from the Crown Prince's residence guarding her, it won't be easy for her to leave. Moreover, if she leaves, she will become a wanted criminal by the royal family. It will probably be difficult for the three of them to live a peaceful life. Becoming a wanted criminal for no reason is not something she wants. Therefore, the best way is for the Crown Prince to annul the engagement.
During these ten days, a major event also occurred: the Great Zhou Dynasty was to form an alliance with the Northern Dynasty, and the most effective and direct way to form an alliance was through marriage.
The crown prince and princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty all have principal wives, while there are still two princes in the Northern Dynasty who have not yet established principal wives. Therefore, one of the princesses of the Great Zhou Dynasty who are ready to be married must be selected to marry into the Northern Dynasty.
Princess Chang Le was the first choice. As the daughter of the Empress, she was not only of noble status but also talented and beautiful, making her the best candidate for a marriage alliance with the Northern Dynasty.
The two dynasties have already begun preparations for an alliance, but no one has inquired about Chang Le's wishes, which is a tragedy for a royal daughter.
Princess Chang Le, Feng Qian, had no intention of going to the Northern Dynasty for a political marriage. She had grown up in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and her food and lifestyle were completely different from those of the Northern Dynasty. However, the Lianyan affair suddenly came up, and she became the target of Lianyan's actions. She and her mother had resisted, but the Empress was also helpless. Chang Le was the eldest princess and should do her best for the royal family. If the Empress did not set an example, how could she win the hearts of the people? When the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be the Empress Dowager. How could she do something that would be despised by the world?
Compared to her daughter, the Empress wanted to protect her son's legacy, so she had no choice but to sacrifice her daughter.
Chang Le was filled with bitterness, but dared not confide in her elder brother and mother. The only person she could confide in was Hai Ling, who was about to marry her elder brother.
Panic-stricken screams echoed from inside Qinfang Courtyard.
"Princess, please stop drinking. You'll get drunk if you drink any more."
"Getting drunk is good. A good drink can dispel a thousand sorrows. Wine has been used to relieve sorrow since ancient times. It is truly a wonderful thing."
Princess Chang Le was leaning against the covered walkway of Qin Fang Courtyard, holding a pot of wine in her hand. She took a big gulp and completely ignored the calls of her personal maid.
In this joint effort between the two countries, she was the one who was sacrificed, and she was filled with sorrow, which she could only drown her sorrows in alcohol.
Her heart ached terribly, not only from the fear of the arranged marriage, but also from the resentment she felt towards her elder brother and mother. Hadn't they always doted on her and loved her? They had raised her like a boy since childhood, only to have her married off to someone else today? Was she just a pawn? If, if her father were still alive, he would never have let her go on this arranged marriage. No matter who he sent, it would never have been her. But in her mother's heart, there was only her elder brother, no place for her.
As Chang Le pondered this, she took another swig of wine, and tears streamed down her face. The bright moonlight in the sky pierced through the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, illuminating her face and leaving it damp.
Seeing Chang Le in such pain, Hai Ling felt bad too. Although she hadn't spent much time with Chang Le, she cherished the friendship that Chang Le had extended to her on their first meeting. She had originally intended to treat Chang Le as a friend for life, but who knew that this arranged marriage would happen and Chang Le would soon be married off to the Northern Dynasty.
"Feng Qian, don't be sad. If you don't want to get married, you can ask the Empress."
Hai Ling advised her that she had heard the Emperor and Empress doted on Feng Qian, and that the royal family did not only have her as a princess. They could find a princess who was willing to marry her. Even if no one in the royal family was willing to marry her, they could choose a woman of excellent appearance from the mansions of generals, ministers, and nobles to be named a princess and go to the Northern Dynasty for a marriage alliance. It was not necessary to sacrifice Feng Qian.
Chang Le laughed, looking up at the sky, where the pearl flowers fell gently, as sparkling as pearls.
"Hailin, you are so naive. Can't you see it? The Empress Dowager wants to sacrifice me to establish her authority and make the court officials understand that she is willing to sacrifice even her own daughter for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty's long-term prosperity."
Hai Ling was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected that the royal family would do anything to consolidate their power. But why were women like them always the ones sacrificed? Fighting and stabilizing the country were men's business. They could go to the battlefield to fight and risk their lives. Why should they sacrifice their happiness for some kind of peace plan?
"Feng Qian?"
Hai Ling called out, then stopped as if remembering something, and looked at the maids serving around her: "You may all leave."
"Yes, Crown Princess."
Green Lotus led the group away. Only the princess's two personal maids and Rouge remained with them. Rouge and Hailing were of one mind and knew that she must have something to say, so they walked a little further away to keep an eye on the surroundings and prevent anyone from getting close.
Hai Ling held Feng Qian's hand and said in a deep voice, "Is there any way you can avoid getting married?"
After she finished speaking, Feng Qian was stunned, but the two personal maids who served her on the side knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Your Highness, please think of a way to help the princess. If she continues like this, she'll probably be ruined. Please think of a solution."
The princess had always been very kind to them, and seeing her like this broke their hearts. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for the princess if they could do their best for her.
At this moment, Feng Qian also came to her senses, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
"If you are not afraid of hardship, you can escape the palace and go far away. If you leave, the marriage alliance between the two countries will continue. It will not stop. You can go and live the life you want."
"Live the life I want to live."
A light shone in Feng Qian's eyes. Yes, she had always dreamed of living a free and unrestrained life.
"Hmm, that might be tough, but it would be absolutely free. Are you prepared to live that kind of life?"
"But how do I get there?"
Feng Qian's eyes first shone brightly, then dimmed. Leaving would not be easy for her. She was accompanied by eunuchs and palace guards. With her skills, she could not escape at all. Moreover, if she left, her mother would definitely order a city-wide manhunt. How could she possibly leave the city gates?
"I'll help you."
Hai Ling gripped Feng Qian's hand tightly, then pulled Feng Qian closer to her and told her what to do next. The two whispered to each other for a while, and Feng Qian's face showed surprise and shock: "If we do this, Xiao Ke and Lian Yi will definitely be punished."
Xiao Ke and Lian Yi had served the princess since they were children. Upon hearing the princess's words, they knew that the princess couldn't bear to see them get hurt. However, they were not afraid, and the two of them spoke up one after another: "Princess, we are not afraid, please rest assured."
"Xiao Ke, dress."