Dragging his halberd, Chiyun Yuexuan raced to the very front of the cavalcade. The three fast approaching horses were reined in and stopped right before him. The leader of this small group was General Huyan of Shangxia.Tuoba Zhi and Lian Kun also rushed over to see what was happening.General Huyan saluted Chiyun Yuexuan. “Many thanks for saving our princess, General Chiyun. We have been searching for you and Princess after our group was split up.” General Huyan then strode to Murong Zhining’s carriage, knelt down and cupped his fists. “I, Huyan Qi, have come late to your rescue. My crime deserves a thousand deaths! Please punish me as you wish, Your Highness.”Tuoba Lan pulled open the curtain. Chiyun Yuexuan dismounted and helped Murong Zhining down the carriage.Murong Zhining held Huyan Qi up. “It was an emergency. Thanks to General Huyan’s best effort to kill the enemy, General Chiyun had a chance to take me and escape. General Huyan, not only are you g

Nanjin City, Sangrou Palace. Murong Zhining leaned against the large terrace railing of the sleeping chamber on the second floor, taking in all of the scenery outside the palace into her eyes. Sangrou, located on the ground higher than the rest of the Imperial Palace, was the palace that Murong Ruoyu personally picked to be her quarters. Murong Zhining loved this kind of structure, the broad, open-spaced design made her feel like she wasn’t actually confined in a heavy palace. At the rosewood table on the terrace, Tuoba Lan was making tea for Murong Zhining. “Big sis, come, have a taste. This is the Mingqian tea personally processed by my brother, also the best tea our family produced this year.”Murong Zhining retracted her gaze and went to sit down at the table. She had specially asked Han Yao to give Tuoba Lan permission to enter the palace at any time.Tuoba Lan set down a small pot of tea. A maid came to her side, holding a tray that carried a cinnabar

Yan Feng grew visibly extremely angry. “You two father and son are simply too much! One said ‘whatever’, while the other uses such excuses like ‘not worthy’ to refuse me. You two are slapping my face!”Chiyun Nan instantly stood up from his seat, then knelt down and banged his head on the ground. “My bastard son is truly unworthy of Princess. I have neglected his discipline over the years and let him develop a wanton and reckless character. I don’t want him to tarnish the reputation of Princess Jingrong.”Yan Feng spoke, his voice frosty, “Are you rejecting me? If this gets out, how will my little sister face other people? At that time, will anyone ever listen to my words anymore?”Chiyun Nan quickly said, “Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. I will go consult with His Majesty the Retired Emperor.”Yan Feng’s tone mellowed down, “Now that sounds better. Hurry and go, we must make it grand.”Retired Emperor Yan Han and Yan Feng’s mother, Empress Dowage

A man in Huayan’s official uniform entered the grand yard, behind him were a neat line of people carrying trunks of gifts. The line was long and one couldn’t see the end. Murong Zhining glanced over in surprise, much curious how Yan Feng knew today was her father's birthday, and how his envoy came in such a timely manner.After the envoy read aloud the present list, he added a congratulatory message, “Hearing that today is Your Majesty’s birthday, my emperor has especially sent me to deliver the gifts. On behalf of my emperor, I wish Your Majesty the rising sun and the full moon . May your life be endless as the South Mountain, your country to never wane and never fail. May you be luxuriant like cypress, to be passed down for posterity.”Han Yao was delighted. “When my Fengyi was in Huayan, your emperor was kind enough to take care of her. I was already more than grateful when your emperor returned her to her home. Yet, he even graciously gives me his blessing today. Ple

On Gao Chenghao’s handsome face hung a ferocious smirk. Step by step, he forced Murong Zhining backward. “Do you feel particularly scared right now, Princess? Please rest assured, I will be very gentle.”Murong Zhining retreated to a corner, hearing her own heartbeats jump quickly in her fear. “Fourth Prince… What are you trying to do?”Gao Chenghao coldly sneered. He propped his hands against the wall behind and leaned close to her. “Since Princess is so smart, you must have guessed it already. When a terribly lovesick man sees his beloved woman, what do you say he’ll do? Why do you even need to ask? In our country, a man, for his own dignity, will forcibly make a woman who doesn’t keep her promise into his own.”Murong Zhining turned her face away. “You dare? This is in my country, so Fourth Prince needs to think of the consequences before you act. Release Lan’er, and I’ll pretend like this never happened.”Gao Chenghao’s entire body emanated a dangerous au