"It's a marriage alliance."
"A marriage alliance?"
Ji Feiyu nodded slowly, then turned back to her and said, "Do you want to see the vast grassland? Do you want to see the boundless sky? Do you want to gallop on horseback and let out a long cry, racing across the boundless land? Do you want to forget this gloomy palace and the long - buried yearning in your heart? Then why not go out, far away from this heartless country, and find a new pure land?"
She looked at Ji Feiyu, and there was a flicker in her eyes.
Ji Feiyu continued, "You can no longer fall in love with someone, right? You hate betrayal and deception, don't you? Do you know how many innocent people were hurt when the Northern Cold attacked the cities of Xingzhui and Yelai? And they even had the audacity to openly propose a marriage alliance and return the cities. Shouldn't such people be punished?"
She took a deep breath, and Ji Feiyu pressed on.
"The best way to avoid betrayal and deception is to turn passive into active. After you expose all their conspiracies, sister will meet you and your emperor brother on the grassland! We'll ride horses again and forget all the past grievances."
"Sister Queen..." She suddenly grabbed the corner of Ji Feiyu's clothes.
Ji Feiyu looked deeply into her eyes and said, "Do you want to stay in the palace like this, or go out and realize your own value?"
She took a step back, looking dazed.
Ji Feiyu smiled slightly, then let go of her and said, "This is your choice. No one can decide for you. If you're not willing, neither sister nor your emperor brother will force you in the slightest."
Ji Feiyu stroked her long hair, then left the snow pavilion.
Just as Ji Feiyu was about to leave through the moon gate, Ran Wei suddenly called out to her, "Sister Queen... Can I really do what you said?"
Ji Feiyu turned back and nodded solemnly, "If you want to, of course you can."
Ji Feiyu looked into Ran Wei's eyes and saw a touch of determination gradually gathering in them.
Ji Feiyu encouraged her with a look, and finally heard Ran Wei say softly, "Maybe Sister Queen is right. After all these years, it's time for me to change."
Ran Wei walked out of the snow pavilion and towards Ji Feiyu, her steps becoming more and more firm. "Sister Queen, perhaps you're the only one in this harem who truly cares about me. Since my heart has no more attachments, I really shouldn't waste my time in this harem... I want to see that clean grassland. I want to gallop on horseback there. I want to forget all the unhappiness! So, I agree to the marriage alliance."
Ji Feiyu nodded to her, then couldn't help but embrace her. She took a deep breath to steady her emotions and softly called out, "Ran Wei."
Ran Wei slowly laid her head on Ji Feiyu's shoulder and gradually relaxed.
"Ran Wei, if you're not willing, you really don't have to force yourself." Ji Feiyu held her and said softly.
But Ran Wei really smiled, "Sister Queen, don't you know my personality? No one can force me to do anything."
Only then did Ji Feiyu feel relieved.
Ran Wei added, "Just tell me when to go. I'm really not forced at all!"
Sure enough, she was a heroic woman! Ji Feiyu felt extremely gratified. She let go of her, nodded, and then left Jifang Palace.
Ran Wei watched Ji Feiyu leave, and there seemed to be a glimmer of starlight in her eyes.
After Ji Feiyu told Yong Yaxuan the news, he was greatly surprised. They went together to have a final discussion with the Empress Dowager, and finally announced this matter to the world.
When the envoy from the Northern Cold saw that the matter was settled, he sent a memorial to their king and began to prepare for the betrothal gifts and the wedding. Finally, it was decided that the second prince of the Northern Cold would first lead a team of ceremonial officials to Dayong to present the betrothal gifts, while the rest of the wedding - welcoming team would wait in Xingzhui.
The princess would be escorted by the Dayong army on her way to Xingzhui. After arriving in Xingzhui, the escort army would directly contact the nearby Zhenbei Army and take over the two cities of Xingzhui and Yelai. Thus, the border turmoil between the two countries was calmed.
The whole of Dayong was filled with joy because of the upcoming marriage of the princess. The imperial city was decorated for this happy event, adding a touch of warm color to the solemn winter. Everyone in the palace was busy preparing for the princess's wedding. Of course, the busiest one was Ji Feiyu. She had to prepare a generous dowry for Ran Wei.
The envoys then stayed in Dayong.
A few months later, the wedding - welcoming ceremonial officials from the Northern Cold arrived. The fair - skinned man among the previous envoys finally stepped forward. After changing his clothes, he turned out to be the second prince of the Northern Cold!
It turned out that the second prince of the Northern Cold had arrived long ago and only revealed his identity at the last moment, probably for safety reasons.
Ji Feiyu stood in front of the wedding - welcoming team and looked at him in his gorgeous clothes and clean - shaven face. She just couldn't imagine that the previous gloomy, fair - skinned man with a big beard was him. He gently waved his jade fan and gave Ji Feiyu a flirtatious look. "If Her Majesty the Queen likes my appearance, why not escort the princess to her far - away marriage with our army?"
"Absurd!" Yong Yaxuan immediately pulled Ji Feiyu behind him and said seriously, "Prince, please behave yourself! The auspicious time is approaching, and the princess will soon come out. Get ready to welcome her!"
A phoenix sedan chair was slowly carried out and stopped in front of them.
Ran Wei got out of the sedan chair in a bright red wedding dress. She bowed deeply to the emperor and the queen, then walked forward to the magnificent carriage that was about to travel far away.
The one escorting the princess this time was the mighty general, who was very experienced in military affairs. Ji Feiyu was very confident that he would successfully retake the cities of Xingzhui and Yelai.
The far - away marriage team gradually disappeared as Ran Wei left.
Ji Feiyu and the emperor stood outside the city gate watching them leave, both feeling guilty. Seeing their sadness, the Empress Dowager patted them and said, "This is the fate of being born into a royal family. It's not your fault."
Sure enough, after experiencing so much infighting in the palace, this woman knew what the honor and choices of the royal family should be. Ji Feiyu nodded to thank her, then led the others back to the palace in a grand manner after Ran Wei's carriage had disappeared.
The royal ceremony was really complicated and solemn, and there was no room for the slightest carelessness. Ji Feiyu staggered back to the palace with the heavy phoenix crown on her head, but in her heart, she envied Ran Wei who had left.
— When would she be able to leave this deep palace again and gallop on horseback?
In the few days after seeing Ran Wei off, Ji Feiyu couldn't eat because of the guilt. Her temper also became irritable.
No one in Qiwu Palace dared to provoke her. Seeing this, the concubines who came to pay their respects also behaved themselves.
Only Yong Yaxuan was not afraid of anything and dared to provoke Ji Feiyu. After that, he would coax her with sweet words, making it hard for Ji Feiyu to scold or blame him.
However, every time she noticed that he wanted to sleep with her, she would use the excuse of being unwell to stop him. One day, he was so impatient that he wanted to force himself on her. Just as Ji Feiyu was secretly complaining, she happened to get her period. She burst out laughing immediately, which made him angry. He waved his sleeve and left. Before leaving, he even blamed her, "I said this woman of yours has been acting strange these days. It turns out to be a sign of this. I thought you were unhappy because of Ran Wei's matter. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have come to coax you!"
Ji Feiyu laughed so hard that she slid off the couch. But as she laughed, tears welled up in her eyes. She had been with him for so long. Would she be reluctant to leave if she suddenly did? But what would he do if he knew that she had the intention to leave? Would he be even angrier than today, or simply not care at all? After all, she was just one of the many concubines in his harem. Maybe he would forget about her in a few days.
Thinking of this, Ji Feiyu suddenly became entangled again. All she wanted was just a bit of freedom and whole - hearted love.