Volume One, Chapter Four: The One She Now Disdains Most Is the General

The carriage jolted for over an hour before leaving the outer city.

Princess Changning lounged lazily inside the cabin, playing with the homing pigeon in her hands.

Golden threads were tied to the bird’s feet, with a small bamboo tube attached at the end.

She brought the pigeon close to her eyes and whispered, “Little one, don’t let me down this time. If you succeed, once we reach the Sheye Kingdom, you will be my eyes and ears afar.”

Her personal maid, Qiutao, carefully set up a small table and ground some fine Hu ink, gently asking, “Princess, the ink is ready.”

Changning raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “Qiutao, go fetch Xiao Xu, the eunuch.”

Qiutao stepped out, waving her handkerchief. Xiao Xu hurried over, panting.

Princess Changning picked up a brush and wrote a line: “Mother, your daughter has left the city.”

The elegant handwriting ended with a playful drawing of a pigeon, making the note uniquely charming.

She rolled the letter, slipped it into the bamboo tube, and brought the pigeon to the window, releasing it gently.

The white dove flapped its wings and flew straight away. The maids leaned out, watching it disappear. Qingluan worriedly asked, “Princess, what if it gets lost?”

Changning scoffed, “Lost? If it gets lost, I’ll stew all its relatives for soup.”

Just as she was feeling mischievous, she suddenly lifted the curtain and caught sight of the bridal procession advancing along the official road, dust rising, a hundred or so attendants marching in order.

Xiao Xu, the eunuch in charge, was running alongside the carriage, sweat dripping down his chin.

“Come here!” the princess called sharply.

Xiao Xu immediately bowed, panting, “Princess, what are your orders?”

“Go ask the chief envoy of the bridal party where they plan to rest at noon, and where they will stay tonight.”

“Right away, Princess!” Xiao Xu nodded rapidly and hurried off to inquire.

After a short while, he returned and reported, “Princess, the general said we won’t be far from the capital city today. At noon, we’ll rest at a roadside tea stall. Tonight, we will reach Xiongping County, which has both a palace and official inns.”

“General?” Changning raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile curling her lips. “Which general?”

She had the utmost disdain for generals these days.

Xiao Xu quickly smiled apologetically. “Princess, it is General Gu Han of Fuyuan. The general said the bridal affairs are managed by the chief and deputy envoys, but the itinerary is decided by him.”

Princess Changning rolled her eyes dramatically and scoffed, “Gu Han? Oh, that young and arrogant Langjiang from Huaihua? And now a general of Fuyuan? What a name — ‘Fuyuan’ — ‘to pacify far away.’ He must be pacifying all the way to the Sheye Kingdom!”

---

Xiao Xu dared not retort, only smiling meekly.

Princess Changning glared at him. “Go fetch him. I want to meet this newly appointed big shot.”

Xiao Xu went off nervously.

Two incense sticks later, just as Qingluan and Qiutao silently prayed to the Supreme Lord for a sign and for the general’s timely arrival—their 1,860th prayer—hoofbeats approached slowly alongside.

Qingluan lifted the curtain.

A man sat astride a towering, pitch-black horse, a long sword hanging at his waist. His posture was upright, with a high nose bridge and handsome peach blossom eyes, yet his brows were frosted with coldness, and his gaze was sharp as a blade.

Though it was the lingering warmth of late spring, his expression was stern, and an imposing aura chilled the air around him.

“General of Fuyuan,” Changning smiled, her voice lively and coquettish, “I have two orders for you.”

Gu Han saluted, his tone indifferent. “Please speak, Your Highness.”

“First, provide me with a map. Second, organize the itinerary along the way and send it to me. Also, notify each prefecture three days in advance. I need to select performers and coordinate their costumes. All this must be arranged ahead of time.”

Gu Han’s lips twitched slightly. He clearly knew of Princess Changning’s plan to recruit entertainers, and it sounded troublesome.

After a moment’s thought, he said expressionlessly, “Princess, rest assured. The map and itinerary will be delivered soon. As for notifying the prefectures, I will order my men to handle it as you requested.”

Changning nodded with satisfaction. “Very well. General of Fuyuan, I entrust this journey to you. But remember, everything must be done according to my wishes, or else…”

She shifted her tone, a dazzling smile playing on her lips. “Don’t say I’m making things difficult for you.”

Gu Han’s face darkened slightly but said, “Princess, I will do my utmost.”

Princess Changning reclined back inside the carriage and casually tossed him a fragrant sachet.

Gu Han caught it and glanced down at the jade-green pouch embroidered with a circle. A trace of helplessness flickered across his brows, but he said nothing.

He tucked the sachet into his sleeve, spurred his horse forward to the front, and quietly instructed his men to prepare the map and schedule.

Meanwhile, Princess Changning leisurely leaned by the window, listening to the bustling voices and clattering hooves outside, her heart swelling with pride.

Hmph, a real general commands on the battlefield. Along this road, I will show you who truly calls the shots.

The caravan moved slowly, leaving behind the capital’s splendor. Changning gazed at the distant green mountains, a meaningful smile curling her lips.

“Qingluan!” she said, stroking her chin with a smile.

The maid pouring tea responded, “Princess, I am here. What are your orders?”

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“Go find the deputy envoy of the bridal party. Tell him that tonight I intend to soak in the hot springs,” Changning said leisurely but with a subtle lift of her brow, radiating an irresistible authority.

Qingluan nodded vigorously and ran off.

Princess Changning settled comfortably against the soft pillow, half-closing her eyes as her thoughts drifted.

“Qiutao, you must eat more,” she murmured.

“Please don’t be angry, Princess. I will press harder!” the maid hurriedly increased her massage pressure, sweating nervously, afraid of displeasing her mistress again.

After a while, Changning finally closed her eyes for a brief nap.

The caravan traveled steadily until the sun began to dip westward. She woke feeling somewhat gloomy.

She recalled how her mother had tearfully bid her farewell at dawn.

In truth, she had plunged into a lake once, which no one else knew. Yet she had not seen her mother for over twenty years.

During this month of preparation for the marriage, she clung to the Empress daily, acting spoiled, lodging in the Fengyi Palace at night, just to enjoy her mother’s presence and ease her longing.

Her mother was usually dignified and gentle, rarely showing vulnerability in public, but today her eyes were red-rimmed, tears held back with great effort.

“Hmph, it’s all that Sheye Kingdom’s fault for making Mother so heartbroken,” Changning snorted, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes.

Her past life as a secret agent had been harsh. Since she had returned and must undertake this marriage alliance, finding a place to live freely wasn’t a bad idea. But!

She could not help but be angry—just not at herself.

Lost in thought, a voice suddenly called out, “Stop! Noon break!”

The officials, maids, eunuchs accompanying the bride, and emissaries from the Sheye Kingdom all gathered at a tea stall in the woods to rest.

Princess Changning lifted the curtain and looked out, telling Qiutao, “Go fetch the imperial physician who makes pills.”

Shortly after, a young court doctor arrived.

Doctor Lin bowed respectfully and asked, “Princess summons me? What are your orders?”

Changning waved him in. Soon, the physician emerged from the carriage, head lowered, and hurried back to his own carriage.

She watched his retreating figure, a faint smile playing at her lips.

“These people from the Sheye Kingdom are rather annoying,” Changning thought with a secret grin, her eyes sparkling brightly.