[Transmigration] The War God's Consort

Chapter 1

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter One - Which Is More Important: Emotion or Profit?]

"Jinghua, this cup is a toast from your father. My good daughter, you have suffered for the sake of the people, and I feel really bad about it." A few strands of white hair on the man's forehead danced lightly with the yellow sand. Although he was not that old, he exuded a sense of vicissitude. He looked deeply at the woman in front of him, his eyes filled with endless sorrow.

A vast expanse of yellow stretches as far as the eye can see. Even at the edge of the desert, one can still feel the breathtaking power of the desert and nature.

Beside the middle-aged man was a young man, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, handsome and upright. He offered another cup of wine in the same manner, and said in a hoarse voice, "Sister, this is a toast from your brother. You are willing to sacrifice yourself for our Southern Kingdom. Your brother... admires you."

Amidst the swirling sand and dust, a woman in simple white robes stood calmly. She was Princess Jinghua, from the Southern Kingdom, who was traveling to the Ling Kingdom for a marriage alliance. What unfolded here was a poignant scene of fathers and brothers parting from their daughters and sisters. Throughout history, countless young women, carrying the so-called courage and the hopes of their people, have embarked on such a path.

She would likely accept the glass with a face full of emotion, or express her sorrow at leaving her hometown, or embrace her father and brothers and cry her heart out to show that she is about to leave behind a family that will never return.

Unfortunately, she did nothing, standing quietly as if she hadn't heard anything.

The prince gave an awkward smile. He knew that his daughter had always been weak and timid, and that she might never return to this desert. Perhaps she was too grief-stricken to speak? Alas, she was still his daughter.

“Jinghua, I know you are sad, but this is the rule of the clan. You should drink the wine before you set off.”

Jinghua still didn't answer. The thin veil on her face clung tightly to her cheeks, making it impossible to discern her expression. For a moment, her father and brother exchanged bewildered glances and frowned.

This... doesn't make sense. Although Jinghua is timid, she's not a girl who doesn't know her place. Yet, she has no intention of accepting the cup of wine. According to the rules, if she doesn't drink this cup, she remains a woman of the clan and cannot leave the Southern Domain...

"Father, brother, do you think Jinghua should drink this cup of wine?" The woman, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. Her voice, which sounded bright, carried a faint chill. The prince and the vassal king both felt a jolt in their ears and then frowned even more sharply.

"Jinghua, you've always been a sensible child, why are you suddenly asking such a question?" The vassal king put down his wine cup, his expression displeased, and then his tone became serious: "This marriage alliance with Ling Kingdom is very beneficial to our Southern Vassal Kingdom, and if you don't go, how can you represent the sincerity of our people? Don't you know that the iron cavalry of the God of War Ling Yuxiang has already trampled through our homeland? Can you bear to let such a war happen again?"

The handsome prince was also quite surprised: "Sister, what's wrong with you? The marriage alliance was decided long ago. The prince's men have been with you for so long. You encountered trouble along the way, and it was Guard Ye who saved you. Do you want to change your mind now?"

Princess Jinghua stood there lazily as ever, only smiling faintly: "Father, have you ever asked Jinghua a single question? Have you ever openly discussed this with Jinghua? Has Jinghua ever mentioned going to Ling Kingdom for a political marriage and becoming that so-called queen?"

What kind of princess is this? The expressions of the guards around her changed at the same time, and they looked over with disdain and coldness. If this woman wasn't the prince's princess, they would have slapped her twice already!

This is an insult to Prince Ling! A desecration of the dignified Prince Zhenyuan of the Great Ling Kingdom!

"Your Highness, you'd better watch your words!"

As one of Prince Ling's personal guards, Ye Piao was naturally not like the others who dared not speak out against their anger. Although he was sitting on a horse not far away, his voice clearly expressed his dissatisfaction.

In fact, everyone knows that this so-called princess is nothing more than a piece of waste paper that the emperor doesn't want!

A marriage alliance? Don't they know their place! A tiny southern vassal state dares to resort to such tactics, trying to fish in troubled waters? Fine, then so be it. How about we give you a marriage partner? This partner has an extremely high status and excellent reputation. Is there anything you're satisfied with?

Who dares to voice their dissatisfaction? Who can voice their dissatisfaction? The Prince of Nanfan could only swallow his bitterness with a bitter smile. Who in the world didn't know that Prince Ling Yuxiang was a peerless genius and a hero among men? It's just that, for some reason, he never got close to women, never!

Ling Yuxiang detests weak women, he absolutely detests them. He detests women used as bargaining chips even more. When he was young and ambitious and led his army alone, the enemy used a honey trap on him. However, those charming and beautiful women became victims of a hail of blows the next moment.

The rumored Ling Yuxiang was even more ruthless towards women than towards men.

A woman who marries a man like that, who happens to be the very type of woman he despises most—can she possibly be happy? What a joke! A complete joke!

Princess Jinghua ignored Ye Piao, whose handsome face had darkened behind her. After all, he was her subordinate, and he wouldn't dare to do anything to her on the way. She was still sizing up her father, who was acting like a doting father, when a mocking, cold, and crazed smile suddenly curled at the corners of her lips.

“Father, I don’t care what kind of person that Prince Ling is, after all, that’s a long time from now. But right now, I have to correct a mistake. Your daughter is not as noble as you say, ‘willing to serve the Southern Kingdom.’ Instead, she is a sacrifice for you, her father, who tried to please the emperor for your own safety but was abandoned.”

Suddenly, all around fell silent. The clansmen who had been banging drums and gongs just moments before stared wide-eyed in bewilderment. The young and handsome prince stared dumbfounded at the laughing girl. Even the usually cold and aloof Ye Piao couldn't help but raise his eyes in surprise.

Horrifying! Absolutely horrifying!

Is this the rumored weak and timid Princess Jinghua? Where did she get the audacity to utter such rebellious words?

The old prince's eyes nearly bulged out, and he choked on a mouthful of blood, almost suffocating.

After the initial shock came anger, and the first to rise up in fury and speak out was not the old prince, but the young prince.

“Jinghua, how could you say such a thing! Your father watched you grow up, giving you whatever you wanted. Would he really want to send you away? This is for the benefit of the entire clan, to prevent our homeland from being stained with blood! You may not understand these things…”

"Don't understand? What don't I understand?" She suddenly sneered, waving her wide white sleeve and stirring up a wisp of dust. Her expression was full of unrestrained mockery: "Don't you understand that if the God of War Ling Yuxiang doesn't accept me, this incompetent princess, he will use his iron cavalry to trample across our Southern Domain? Or don't you understand that if Prince Ling marries me off to Prince Ling, he will treat our Southern Domain with sincerity? Father, Royal Brother, don't you think these reasons are utterly ridiculous?"

"What kind of talk is it for the mighty War God Ling Yuxiang to retreat and then invade again? Besides, not to belittle myself, but does the Southern Kingdom have the resources to warrant the repeated mobilization of troops by the Great Ling Kingdom? In fact, when Ling Yuxiang ordered the border horns to be sounded, the fate of the Southern Kingdom was already decided. Father, you are not an ignorant child. Do you really not understand the situation of the Southern Kingdom? Do you think that without offering me, the most beautiful woman in the Southern Kingdom, you can't get a peaceful place? You can't get a happy life for your people?"

"But you're afraid. After that great battle, you've become timid. You're afraid you'll lose your position as a vassal king. You feel threatened by your throne! So you're trying every means to consolidate your position, making it imperative to win over the Great Ling Kingdom. Father, ask yourself honestly, did you sacrifice your own daughter for your people, or did you treat me, the most beautiful woman in the Southern Domain, as an object for your own benefit? Precisely because I, Princess Jinghua, am such an object, you haven't even bothered to ask my opinion, or perhaps you've never even considered asking, is that it?"

What a kind and benevolent father! What a deeply moving story of family love! Is that why Princess Jinghua jumped into the abyss and perished in the icy Nanfan River?

Princess Jinghua, did she also try hard to believe in the father who once doted on her so much? Perhaps when Princess Jinghua was very young, that father who was completely devoted to his daughter truly existed? But when did those feelings, which can only be called memories, all change? Why did that loving care turn into cold and ruthless transactional calculations?

What ironic words! What terrifying remarks! Betrayal among family members, blatant betrayal—how could that timid and cowardly woman possibly cope? How could she possibly survive?

Princess Jinghua's voice changed, adopting an unusually gentle yet profound tone, and she even addressed her with those two words that she hadn't mentioned in a very long time.

"Father, do you really not care about the daughter you used to love? Or, since you sat on this throne, have you been swayed by the magic of this position and become someone else? Before, you would have chosen your daughter without hesitation, but now, you can choose the throne without hesitation. Which is more important, love or profit? Did you ever ask yourself this question when you decided to send me away?"

It's not "Father King", but "Father".

The prince stood there dumbfounded, whether from anger or shock, it was hard to tell. His pale face suddenly aged him by more than ten years, his neck twitched, and the mouthful of blood he had swallowed suddenly spurted out, condensing into a layer of blood mist in the dust. It was so cruel that the old man collapsed amidst gasps of horror, muttering a few words:

"Hua'er... Hua'er, I... I shouldn't have..."

Jinghua suddenly fell silent, even the cold smile on her face disappeared. As if she had just gone through a great battle, she finally let out a heavy breath, picked up a cup of wine from the tray that had been placed to the side, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp. Her long sleeves fluttered gently as she stepped onto the magnificent palace carriage without looking back.

Which comes first, personal feelings or financial gain? If he were given another chance, would he choose his daughter's life without hesitation?

In this world, how many people can truly put genuine feelings before personal gain?

"I regret it now"—what an ironic statement! If regret and apologies were enough, what would be the point of having police?

If you regret it and apologize, will Jinghua come back to life? If you admit your mistakes and confess your guilt, will everything you did be considered as if it never happened? Since you made that choice back then, you must pay the price for your actions!

Even though she had taken revenge on Jinghua using her usual ruthless methods, why did a lingering, uneasy feeling still remain in her heart? The old prince's last vomit, a mouthful of bright red blood, faintly appeared before her eyes...

"If only I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place!"

Inside the magnificent palace carriage, Princess Jinghua, lazily resting her head on her hand, let out a long sigh, whether for the old vassal king or for someone else, it was unclear.

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter Two - A Long Road Ahead]

How long is a lifetime?

Who can easily utter a word in their lifetime?

How can a person stay unchanged throughout their life? How can they avoid losing themselves?

"We'll be brothers for life, friends for life, family for life. I lost my mother when I was little, and my father is... Xinglie, I only have you. As long as I'm here, you're here... Can you... stay by my side forever..." That gentle voice and smile were mixed with a burning intensity. The face that was so familiar seemed blurry and gradually faded away.

I really want to ask, you said that as long as I'm here, you'll be here too; you said we'd be friends for life; you said I'd always be by your side—you made such solemn vows, so certain of your words. But why did you have to break all of that with your own hands in the end?

Is it true that people always forget their promises and completely forget the words they say in an instant?

…………

A gentle, warm breeze brushed her cheek, and her slightly hazy eyes instantly sharpened, revealing a clear-headed alertness. She then concealed the sharpness within them, and a few bitter smiles crept onto her face.

Some things are unforgettable; the more you try to forget them, the clearer they become.

In truth, Feng Xinglie didn't know how long a lifetime was, only that it was a very, very long road, a long and winding path. And she, having survived, would continue walking this road.

Let her remember it. Only the weak cry, scream, and run away. Feng Xinglie is not that kind of person.

Beyond the desert of the Southern Frontier lay a vast plain. Amidst the ubiquitous greenery, Feng Xinglie lazily beckoned and reached out to the window. The cold, unyielding guard, however unwilling, had no choice but to slow down and approach the window.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Where are we?

"Your Highness, we have already left the Southern Domain and entered the territory of the Great Ling Kingdom. At our current speed, we will arrive in the capital in less than half a month." Ye Piao replied in his usual cold voice, while glancing at the woman whose gaze was shifting. Before yesterday, he had heard from many places that this woman was weak and timid, but people like him only believed what they saw and heard.

If someone heard such a statement and witnessed such a bizarre scene of father and daughter parting, and still called this "Princess Ronghua" a good-for-nothing princess, then Piaoye would definitely twist that person's head off without hesitation! Damn it! Such insightful remarks, such words that hit the mark every time, and such an arrogant and confident air of having everything under control—he had only ever seen such things in the Prince!

Why would the Southern Kingdom send such a princess for a political marriage? Why, after various investigations, is everyone's opinion of her, aside from her outrageously beautiful appearance, simply that she's a "good-for-nothing"? If this is a way of concealing one's talents and biding one's time, then it's terrifying!

Ignoring Ye Piao, who was deep in thought with a gloomy face, Feng Xinglie lazily narrowed his eyes and let out another low sigh.

"The Great Ling Kingdom... it really is far away..."

My thoughts drifted back to an encounter from a few days ago, which now seems rather ridiculous.

When she was awake that day, she could only stare at the girl kneeling on the floor by her bedside, crying as if her parents had died. Her brows were furrowed so tightly that she could hardly bear the way the girl addressed her.

"Your Highness! You're finally awake! You scared us to death!"

Princess? What princess? Which princess? Feng Xinglie frowned subconsciously. When did I get married? How come I didn't know?

Let her think about it.

She attempted suicide by jumping off a cliff but failed and fell into the Nanfan River. There, she seemed to find a female corpse that had been soaked and swollen beyond recognition. Her clothes were tattered, and without thinking, she changed out of the corpse's clothes and followed the waterway to find a way out. However, her injuries were too severe, and she could not even suppress her internal energy. Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see a dark figure rushing towards her...

She was rescued? They mistook her for that female corpse? Could that female corpse have been a princess? But... even if the clothes were the same, how could their appearances be identical? Yet these maids' expressions and tones seemed perfectly normal, and this body was undeniably hers. There was only one possibility—she looked exactly like that princess! Damn it! This... this coincidence is too outrageous!

However, since she had already encountered such a rare and extraordinary event as time travel, this was nothing compared to the extraordinary event she had experienced in many years. It was not particularly surprising or unacceptable.

After seemingly casually extracting general information from the maids, Feng Xinglie was actually having a real headache.

This princess was already the most beautiful woman in the Southern Kingdom! And yet, she was about to be sent on a political marriage, only to be reassigned by the emperor! But the person she was to marry… that damned Ling Yuxiang! The one who was her equal on the battlefield, the only war god of this era who could rival her! Should she laugh at the cruel joke of fate, or grieve for her misfortune?

What imperial favor, bestowing a concubine upon the Prince of Zhenyuan? To put it bluntly, it just means they didn't think much of you and just sent you away somewhere random.

Everyone knows that the God of War, Ling Yuxiang, hates women the most, especially women who only have good looks!

It goes without saying what kind of treatment this princess, who had been considered a "good-for-nothing" since childhood, received from the staff. The cold stares and disdainful looks made one wonder if these people all had millions of taels of silver in uncollectible debts.

To think that she, a once-proud woman, would now be despised and scorned every day? The usually arrogant Feng Xinglie felt like buying a block of tofu and smashing her head against it.

As for her later discovery of Princess Jinghua's identity, her speculation about the situation, and her desire to avenge the deceased Princess Jinghua against the Southern King, these were all merely products of her momentary whims. She had lived on as Princess Jinghua, so it wouldn't be right to leave her without any reward, would it? And were there any other reasons...? Let's not dwell on them...

Under the gentle spring breeze, Feng Xinglie rested his head on one hand, a signature, extremely kind and approachable smile on his lips, but in his heart he was pondering the current situation. His other hand rested lightly on the wooden railing of the window, his index finger tapping out a strange and peculiar rhythm...

March had passed, and they had just met Ling Yuxiang in the Battle of Baihui Pass, but they were about to meet again. However, their positions and identities were surprising. The goddess of fate really loved to play tricks on people.

Ye Piao, standing outside the window, caught sight of that eerily strange smile and, for some reason, felt a chill run down her spine.

In contrast to the leisurely atmosphere on this side, on the distant official road, another group of people were racing against time with all their might.

Five figures galloped away on horseback, creating a powerful gust of wind.

The man at the forefront, clad in red robes and silver armor, rode a snow-white steed. Upon closer inspection, his long, narrow phoenix eyes, gleaming with a cold, starlike light, were deep and unfathomable. His sword-like eyebrows swept into his temples, and his features were handsome and refined. His entire face was like a masterpiece sculpted by an artist, almost flawless. Despite being such a strikingly handsome man, he wore a vibrant, fiery red robe, exuding a bold and unrestrained spirit, a fierce and elegant aura that made one hesitant to look directly at him, yet unable to look away.

He reined in his divine mount and said with a chilling smile, "It seems I've won."

The four lightly armored men following behind looked distressed, as if they had finally managed to keep up with him. They couldn't help but complain, "Your Highness, your Chasing Wind is a horse that is one in a million. In terms of riding skills, we are all inferior to you. How can we compare with you?"

"Yes, yes, Your Highness, everyone knows how brave and powerful you are. We were no match for you anyway, so please let us go."

Seeing the others chiming in, the man in red smiled faintly, a hint of annoyance and helplessness in his eyes: "Don't flatter me. I know your horsemanship, while not as good as mine, isn't that bad either. Those who are cowardly before the battle will surely lose. I can't blame you for not daring to compete with me freely; you just find it uninteresting." These people, they just kept coming up with the same few words of praise, the same few flattering phrases. He'd heard them since childhood, always saying how wise or brave the prince was; his ears were practically worn out from hearing them. It wasn't that they lacked courage; in this world, who could truly compete with him? And who had the ability?

Thinking of this, he shook his head and sighed softly. What a pity, what a pity. The only person in the world who could rival him did not die on the battlefield. It is such a shame.

However, given that person's abilities, he shouldn't have ended up like this, yet he died just like that!