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A mocking smirk curled at the corners of his lips. The imperial decree, indeed, has always been a mere illusion.

Seeing that their intentions had been exposed, the lightly armored man chuckled twice, trying to change the subject, and asked again, "Your Highness, you have been ordered to return to the capital this time to marry the Princess, haven't you?"

Upon hearing the words "Princess Consort," Ling Yuxiang's brows furrowed slightly involuntarily.

The emperor urgently summoned him back to the capital. The situation on the border had suddenly changed, and the war was already decided.

However, the sudden proposal from the small southern vassal state to establish a marriage alliance has led the emperor to suspect that there are some deeply hidden issues behind their actions.

The princess, chosen for a political marriage, might have some use, hence the imperial brother's arrangement...

However, he sensed with suspicion that this was clearly his elder brother's way of intimidating him with the military power he held, using a seemingly incompetent princess to give him a warning. His brother was well aware of what had happened back then; he had openly and secretly rejected countless women—the entire palace couldn't even count them on one hand and one toe. And now, his brother was forcefully forcing him to accept a princess known for being incompetent…

So be it! A bitter smile crept into his heart. Did he really intend to hold a grudge against his elder brother? Since ancient times, which monarch has ever truly been able to let his guard down against his subordinates? Even if it were his own younger brother, when the military power in his hands posed a threat to him, he would ruthlessly restrict and remind him.

However, the position of princess...

Ling Yuxiang sneered, cracked his whip, and his horse "Chasing the Wind" kicked up a cloud of arrogant dust on the official road.

He would never consider this so-called princess as his wife! He has no intention of getting married in his life, and besides, this weak princess is exactly the type of woman he hates the most!

Amidst billowing dust and endless roads, who knows where these seemingly unconnected paths actually lead?

Opportunities always arise from a series of coincidences.

!

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter 3 - She's Not Simple]

The capital of Daling was bustling and prosperous. Feng Xinglie glanced out the window from his tent and couldn't help but sigh. Ling Yuxiang was indeed capable. Most of the current policies in the capital of Ling Kingdom were his doing, but he refused to take the position. Instead, he went far away and stopped a power struggle in the royal family, becoming a peerless general who guarded the territory.

A slow, mocking laugh gently bloomed. Feng Xinglie narrowed his eyes. What a pity. Even so, do you think your brother, who has been emperor for many years, will trust you completely?

You led your army far away from the capital, which was certainly to distance yourself from the internal affairs of the court and reduce the suspicion of associating with and currying favor with the ministers. Of course, it also gave the emperor the opportunity to take control of the government and rebuild his own power base. Your good intentions are evident to the sun and moon. However, if he were to suspect you, why couldn't he say that you were hoarding troops and expanding your army far from the capital, intending to rebel?

A sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart, and he let out a muffled groan.

She's fallen into her old habit again. In the end, what does Ling Yuxiang have to do with her? Why should she be indignant for this opponent she's never met, who once gave her a headache on the battlefield?

The emperor's trust is ephemeral and elusive. Ling Yuxiang had probably already guessed the reason for the internal strife in Qin, and also knew that Feng Xinglie should be...

Having learned from his own experience, perhaps he won't be so foolish again?

While I was pondering, the carriage came to a stop; we had finally arrived at our destination.

Ye Piao still had a deadpan expression, devoid of any emotion, and her icy voice drifted over: "Your Highness, we've arrived."

After traveling for many days, Feng Xinglie finally set foot on land. However, before he could even utter a sigh, he heard a long, drawn-out neigh of a horse and felt a powerful gust of wind rush towards him.

A magnificent horse appeared at the crossroads at some unknown time, swift as a shooting star and fast as lightning. Before anyone could even blink, a burst of fiery red light instantly covered their entire eyelids. The horse was white, the robes were red, the armor was silver, and the rider was ridiculously handsome.

Feng Xinglie frowned slightly, his thoughts suddenly shifting. A cold laugh lingered on his lips as he watched the white horse charging headlong into his path. He completely ignored the series of exclamations around him, neither dodging nor avoiding it. He simply stood there, calm and composed, as if the sky were falling and he wouldn't be moved. He casually glanced at the white horse.

Just as he was about to collide with the woman in front of him, a woman of unparalleled beauty, the man on the white horse suddenly pulled on the reins. The horse neighed and reared up, narrowly avoiding her and preventing a bloodshed.

After another series of ticking sounds, four lightly armored men with helpless smiles finally caught up on horseback. However, upon seeing the scene before them, they even held back the complaints that were about to spill out.

The red robes and white clothes bathed in sunlight suddenly became so dazzling. The two people, each with their own different expressions and thoughts, suddenly seemed so harmonious, as if they were meant to stand together. Their gazes at each other were so natural!

Even the buzzing of insects flapping their wings could be heard clearly. All around was quiet, and everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

Good heavens! Although it was a close call, the meeting between these two was really too thrilling!

But before they could relax, a clear laugh almost scared them out of their wits.

"The horse is fine, but the person..." With a gentle sway of her white sleeves, she shook her head with a slightly mocking smile, looking utterly disdainful. Without looking back, she strode confidently into the gate with the three large characters "Ling Wang Mansion" above it, leaving behind a stagnant silence.

The crowd paused for a moment, then gasped in astonishment. Good heavens! Had Princess Ronghua been scared out of her wits? How could this timid and cowardly woman utter such blasphemous words? Only Ye Piao, standing coldly to the side, raised an eyebrow slightly, showing little surprise.

Ling Yuxiang, who was thrown out of the door, stared blankly at her figure that disappeared into the door. He was almost dumbfounded when he finally realized what was happening!

Immediately afterwards, an unparalleled rage and frenzy swept over his mind.

She...she...she just left like that!?

Ling Yuxiang stared wide-eyed at the now empty gate, speechless with anger.

She didn't even ask who he was, why she was there, or what her purpose was. She didn't even express concern or fear, or, true to her nature, act timid and submissive, whimpering softly. Instead, she walked into his house so openly and confidently, without the slightest embarrassment or hesitation. She even mocked and ridiculed him, acting as if nothing had happened, patting her behind and leaving him outside while she went inside leisurely!

He didn't utter a single word, not even a syllable, but judging from his attire, one should know that he was her rightful husband, the Prince of Zhenyuan, right? Not a single greeting, not even a hint of curtsy from beginning to end! And that damned mocking laugh! When did he say he wouldn't pursue the matter? How could she leave so easily, so decisively, so carefree?

However, his Zhenyuan Prince's Mansion is located in the capital. The horse's sudden start had already attracted the attention of countless spies. If he made a big deal out of it, who knows what kind of rumors would spread in the eyes of those with ulterior motives? Besides, it wasn't her fault after all. Given Ling Yuxiang's usual style, he would at most curse a few times in anger, but he couldn't do anything to her.

To say she was being ignored or treated coldly is a stretch; judging from the woman's attitude just now, she wasn't like the women in the capital lining up to present their visiting cards—she didn't take her seriously at all. As for giving this woman a good beating, she hadn't really done anything wrong. The Southern Princess was new here and didn't understand the rules of the Great Ling Kingdom; everything she did was out of ignorance. Ignorance is no excuse, right? It's hard to find an excuse!

Since birth, Ling Yuxiang has always been a powerful figure in both officialdom and the battlefield, and he has never suffered such a huge loss in silence! Considering all the factors, his so-called demonstration in front of the gate was a complete and utter defeat, lost to a woman, and a notoriously incompetent princess at that?

But why, despite his anger at her carefree and arrogant demeanor, did he strangely feel no murderous intent, but rather a faint sense of admiration? Could there be something wrong with his head?

Ling Yuxiang took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He was so depressed that he even felt like dying.

Everyone around was on edge and quiet; not a single person dared to speak.

Ling Yuxiang suppressed his anger and let out a long sigh. He then ordered the person behind him, "Go inside!" He needed to think carefully about what was going on with himself, and what was going on with his Ronghua Princess and this good-for-nothing Princess!

The group of people filed in with trepidation, but they were all worried about the "good-for-nothing princess" who dared to be so disrespectful. It wasn't that they had any conscience, but when the master is angry, the servants suffer. Who knows if these two would take their anger out on them if they started arguing?

"Ye Piao, what exactly is going on?" After dismissing all other people from the inner hall, Ling Yuxiang asked Ye Piao, who was standing to the side. As Ling Yuxiang's personal bodyguard, Ye Piao had been with him for many years. A single glance or a casual question could reveal a lot of meaning between them, so there was no need for further explanation.

Ye Piao understood, of course. The coldness between her brows melted slightly after seeing Ling Yuxiang, but her voice remained icy.

"She is not simple."

Ye Piao could only utter four words, because that was the only feeling Feng Xinglie gave him.

Throughout the journey, Feng Xinglie made no attempt to conceal her words or actions, appearing completely open and honest in every situation. This made it impossible for Ye Piao to investigate further. He only knew that Feng Xinglie was clearly aware of his surveillance and monitoring, yet she acted as if she didn't see it or pay any attention. Or rather, she simply didn't care about his observations; his actions seemed entirely under her control!

If that's the case, then who was she trying to impress with her previous cowardice and weakness in the Southern Kingdom? Is there really someone in the Southern Kingdom who would make her act this way? If so, perhaps the Southern Kingdom really does have some deeply hidden problems, just as the Emperor said.

Ling Yuxiang had long since calmed the anger that had been rising in his heart, but he was still surprised that he could so easily unleash his anger on someone. He was clearly a very restrained person. Was he too relaxed, or was his princess too cunning?

Not simple? It's rare for Ye Piao to describe someone like that. After a moment of contemplation, he added, "Tell me what the princess was like." Ling Yuxiang finally understood; rumors were indeed unreliable!

"Arrogant, conceited, conceited, narcissistic, and sometimes her words are extremely hurtful, but they can get to the point." Ye Piao recalled the farewell scene in Nanfan back then, and said, "The princess has a fierce and eccentric personality, completely different from the rumors. However, the princess is definitely not a simple woman. There are some things she would never say without thinking."

Oh? So, the words spoken at the door weren't just a spur-of-the-moment decision either? Ling Yuxiang narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, his sharply defined lips curving upwards as he pondered deeply.

Ling Yuxiang felt so frustrated he wanted to vomit blood, while Feng Xinglie was overjoyed, finally letting all the pent-up frustration from the journey dissipate at this moment.

The Prince of Zhenyuan? A war god of his generation? A peerless genius renowned throughout the world?

What's it to her?! Why should she listen to this guy?! You're a hero, but am I any less than you? You're probably just my equal!

Princess Jinghua's title of "Royal Princess Consort" was merely a title in name only; who knows what people really thought of her behind her back! At least Feng Xinglie never saw any respect for the princess in the attitudes of those around him. They were just flattering her on the surface, and the deep contempt and disdain in their eyes made Feng Xinglie want to beat them up several times.

She knew perfectly well that Ling Yuxiang was deliberately trying to embarrass her and make her look bad on the street, so she decided to let him know what it felt like to be embarrassed!

Are you kidding me? Who do you think you are? Haven't I, Feng Xinglie, walked countless battlefields, risking my life amidst thousands of troops? Do you think I'm afraid of your blatant barrage of threats that's all bark and no bite? That kind of act might fool a child, but you dare to put it on in front of me?

Now that Prince Zhenyuan has returned to the capital, there must be spies both inside and outside the Prince's residence. If there is any major commotion in the Prince's residence, who knows if the high and mighty Prince Ling will find out? And who knows if he will make wild guesses? Ling Yuxiang, at such a sensitive time, do you dare to do anything to me? Feng Xinglie was completely fearless.

Sure enough, Ling Yuxiang didn't hold it against her, but his impression of her seemed to have worsened. He even skipped the second meeting, assigned her the best West Garden in the palace as her residence, sent a bunch of maids and servants for her to choose from, and had all the servants in the palace come to her West Garden to pay their respects. Such treatment was enough to give this good-for-nothing princess face.

Feng Xinglie didn't stand on ceremony and casually picked a few clever maids to stay with. They settled down in the West Garden and didn't mention a word about Ling Yuxiang. They ate and slept all day long, living a life more blissful than the gods.

[The Wind Rises in Kyoto: Chapter Four - Bedside Chat]

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. One morning, Feng Xinglie was sound asleep when a commotion woke her up.

Feng Xinglie propped himself up, wrapped himself in the blanket, rubbed his eyes, and looked over impatiently. Upon seeing the patch of fiery red, he immediately curled his lip in annoyance. Seeing this guy, what good could possibly come of it?

Ling Yuxiang's visit was originally out of necessity. It is said that his princess is quite stubborn about sleeping in, and if she gets into a bad mood, no one can pull her out of bed. However, he had important business to attend to today, so he had to come in person to "invite" her.

Upon arriving here and seeing her languid and carefree appearance, he suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to forcibly pull her up. Just as he was about to tell someone to keep quiet, the young maids who had seen his face panicked and became flustered. One of them accidentally knocked over the basin in his hand, and three or four of them rushed over to clean it up, secretly glancing at him while chattering amongst themselves.

Hmph! Ling Yuxiang felt a surge of anger, for no other reason than that the person on the bed had been woken up by the noise.

It must be admitted that Ling Yuxiang had a very strange feeling about this princess who was completely unfamiliar to him. Perhaps it was the difference between her and the rumors that piqued his interest. He had always hated women who climbed the social ladder, but he couldn't bring himself to hate this princess who was clearly a bargaining chip for a political marriage.

Even though he knew that Princess Jinghua had been disrespectful to him on several occasions, and had even made him lose face at the gate of the palace last time, Ling Yuxiang still couldn't feel the slightest aversion to her. He found this state of mind strange, and for several days he couldn't sort out his feelings, which was why he hadn't come to see his princess.

She looked over vaguely, and only then did Ling Yuxiang get a proper look at her. Her smooth black hair clung to her fair and delicate cheeks, her handsome oval face had slightly raised eyebrows, and her large, clear eyes held a hint of mischief, with slightly upturned corners that exuded arrogance. Her red lips were as vibrant as fresh flowers, and her neck was long and graceful. Every part of her face was exquisite and captivating. Even her hand, which was pretending to yawn, was slender, white, and translucent like a green onion.

But she just pursed her lips, lazily yawned, and looked like she didn't want to see him. This made Ling Yuxiang feel inexplicably uncomfortable. Was he really that annoying? Was he really that unbearable to look at? Was he so unappealing that even a glance from him was irritating? He was the mighty God of War, Ling Yuxiang! In terms of looks, there were few men in the world who could rival him. In terms of talent and strategy, wasn't his title as the God of War and everything else in the Great Ling Kingdom enough proof of his abilities? Why did this woman repeatedly ignore him? And was she still eyeing his elder brother, the Emperor, as a bargaining chip for a marriage alliance?

The thought of this made my heart skip a beat, and the gentleness on my lips became much stiffer.

"Your Highness, you're really in high spirits! You're wasting such a precious time on a bed!"

Hearing such meaningful words, even the most confused Feng Xinglie was jolted awake. Her beautiful eyes narrowed into crescents, and she propped herself up with one hand while supporting her head with the other. She showed no sign of politeness and just smiled lazily: "Your Highness is in a good mood. Instead of discussing state affairs and war, you come to disturb my peaceful sleep so early in the morning."

Upon hearing these barbed and meaningful words, Ling Yuxiang's displeasure inexplicably vanished. A woman who could utter such words was clearly extremely arrogant; how could she be willing to be a bargaining chip or a pawn? How could her vision be so short-sighted as to only see the emperor's interests and ignore the dangers? Ha, this woman's lack of manners wasn't a big deal; he had never liked those cumbersome rules. As for her tone… he had already experienced it at the palace gate that day; it was much milder than that, at least not so blatant mockery. Ling Yuxiang chuckled inwardly, but feigned displeasure, saying, "Jinghua, don't forget, you are my princess consort! Is it considered disturbing someone's peaceful sleep for me to come and visit my princess consort?"

Ling Yuxiang misunderstood Feng Xinglie. It wasn't that she was ignorant of etiquette; she had risen from infancy into a prominent family, and even after her family's massacre, she still knew and learned many rules. It was simply that she was always very arrogant, and held a very high position in the Qin Kingdom. Even before the emperor, she didn't necessarily need to show any respect. So, wouldn't it be normal for her to be unruly towards someone like Ling Yuxiang, whose status was not much different from hers?

Ling Yuxiang's explanation seemed unconvincing, and Feng Xinglie appeared to be joking.

"Ling Yuxiang, let's not beat around the bush. Since you've investigated me, you should know from Ye Piao that I'm not a fool. Everyone knows what kind of person I, this princess, really am. Why are you using this as an excuse to discuss such irrelevant nonsense? You wouldn't come all this way to the West Garden just to see me. What is it that requires Your Highness to personally 'invite' me? If it's nothing important, I'd rather stay in bed a little longer." Although these words were extremely disrespectful, Feng Xinglie felt perfectly justified. After all, she was a princess sent for a political marriage. You can use the excuse of not being interested in women to neglect me, fine, you don't want me to bother you, no problem. But if I want to sleep, you can't interfere, can you? You, a mighty war god, are arguing and pressuring a little woman far away from home—that's quite an interesting topic indeed! With so many servants here, I don't know if they can keep their mouths shut, but everyone knows that the power of gossip is unimaginable. If you have the ability to shut up those gossipy old women, then go ahead and punish them!

"Indeed, there are some things, but... I don't dislike seeing you. I have some things I'd like to discuss with the Princess in person." This wasn't the first time he'd heard such an arrogant tone; Ling Yuxiang was quite familiar with her way of speaking. A thought struck him. So, she made no attempt to hide anything from Ye Piao, knowing he would definitely tell him the situation, thus revealing her true nature. This was indeed more believable than her painstakingly explaining herself. She could even orchestrate such a small matter so meticulously; she was truly extraordinary! A captivating smile played on his lips as he took two steps forward, ordering the servants to leave. Ling Yuxiang sat down near the headboard, his phoenix eyes softening as he looked at her. He chuckled, "Are you settling in well at the West Garden? It's not very cold anymore; do you still like to stay in bed?"

Knowing this conversation was inevitable, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but shiver uncomfortably upon hearing such concerned words and a gentle voice. He glanced at him, thinking, "Why are you trying to get close and be intimate? Don't you, Ling Yuxiang, hate women the most?" Although he didn't flinch or back down, his eyebrows were already raised, and he snorted, "Could it be that even Your Highness can't resist the allure of women? Having seen Jinghua's beauty, you've already fallen at her feet?"

Ling Yuxiang couldn't help but find it amusing. How could anyone talk like that? Even if what she said wasn't untrue, didn't she know the meaning of the word "humility"?

"You seem quite confident in your looks." He reached out, and his intense red hair pierced through her black hair. His strong, long, and powerful arm naturally served as a pillow, and his large hand gently supported her shoulder, freeing her from having to strain to support herself. Her languid appearance was increasingly pleasing to the eye.

"I have complete confidence in everything I do." Giving him another slightly strange look, Feng Xinglie readily cooperated, shifting her body upwards and resting her head firmly on his arm, speaking without a trace of shame. Why not take advantage of such an offer? Was she really going to be a princess for nothing? With such a devastatingly handsome man right in front of her, taking a little liberty wasn't unreasonable, was it?

Hearing this, Ling Yuxiang was both amused and exasperated. Could anyone in the world boast to such an extent?! Who was the world's number one narcissist? He'd finally seen it for himself!

"If you're so confident, why does everyone in the Southern Kingdom say that this princess, who is supposed to be the most powerful person in the world, is a good-for-nothing?"

"Heavens! Everyone says that the God of War, Prince Ling Yuxiang, is incredibly intelligent, but who knew he'd be even more of a fool than me, his good-for-nothing princess!" Feng Xinglie rolled his eyes, calling out to the heavens, then turned to meet his gaze, giving him a somewhat sarcastic smile, as if trying to see into his soul: "I ask you, do you enjoy being a pawn, a puppet sent to the inner palace, thrown among a bunch of concubines, sharing a husband with a group of women, fighting and scheming? Even if my mind is unparalleled, I still get tired and exhausted, let alone..." What good is wealth, honor, and power in the harem? Such a high position means being at the mercy of only one person. If they approve, you'll spend your life in constant fear and vigilance; if they disapprove, you'll be utterly destroyed, devoured without a trace. And which emperor can truly open their heart to anyone? Which one doesn't meticulously guard against everyone around them? Even their closest confidants, if your power threatens them, they will ruthlessly strike and eliminate you, without ever considering your sincerity. Ling Yuxiang, what do you say? Isn't that true?"

At first, she was just reciting the words she had prepared beforehand, but for some reason, as she looked into Ling Yuxiang's eyes, Feng Xinglie became more and more agitated. When she spoke of the emperor, a trace of extremely subtle pain appeared between her brows, which then transformed into a fierce yet well-hidden rage. In an instant, her expression returned to normal, and if one did not pay attention, probably no one would be able to see the fluctuation in her emotions.

Ling Yuxiang, however, noticed that unusual pain. It wasn't that he was particularly observant, but rather that hearing her words and her interpretation of the emperor's trust caused him to feel a deep pain as well.

That person was his elder brother, his closest confidant since childhood. To prevent a rift between the brothers, he even threatened to kill himself, forcing several former ministers to believe the dying king's decree, known only to him, to allow his elder brother to ascend the throne and become the next ruler of the Great Ling Kingdom. In truth, everyone knew the truth: who wouldn't the old king summon on his deathbed? Why did he specifically summon him? And why would the throne pass to the eldest prince?

He assisted his elder brother in managing state affairs. After the situation stabilized, he went to distant lands to fight in the south and north, all so that his elder brother could gather more talented people and build his own faction.

But now, he suspects him and restricts him, how can this not be heartbreaking!

Ling Yuxiang knew that his military power was too great, but in the past, the court was divided into three factions, with Empress Liu forming her own faction. If he did not have enough troops, how could he protect his brother's empire? He knew that his reputation was too high, but if he did not fight on the battlefield, how could the powerful countries around him not harbor their wolfish ambitions towards this country that had just been established by a new emperor and was in turmoil?

With a sigh, Ling Yuxiang knew all too well that his elder brother would be suspicious and worried about the current situation. But they were brothers! He had willingly relinquished the throne to him back then, so how could his elder brother harbor any disloyalty towards him now?