Video Editor

The air inside the Taimiao froze.

The eldest princess knelt on the ground, her hair disheveled and her luxurious dress covered in dust.

She looked around, seeing those ministers who once kowtowed to her now avoiding her as much as possible, and a sad smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"I ask you again," the emperor's voice boomed from above, "Why are you plotting a rebellion?"

The eldest princess raised her head, the madness in her eyes gradually turning into determination: "Royal brother, the winner is the king and the loser is the bandit, why bother asking so many questions?"

Her fingers quietly touched the golden hairpin in her hair, "I only hate... I hate that I wasn't cruel enough and didn't do it earlier..."

Before she finished speaking, she suddenly pulled out the golden hairpin, and a cold light flashed...

"Protect the emperor!" Cui Xu's nervous roar echoed throughout the hall.

He almost instinctively drew his sword, his body moved as fast as lightning, and the sword shone like a thread, aiming straight for the princess' throat.

The eldest princess turned her head in astonishment and met Cui Xu's murderous eyes.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. The young general who picked flowers for her in the imperial garden twenty years ago now pointed his knife at her.

"Cui..." She only had time to utter one word before the sharp blade had already cut across her snow-white neck.

The moment the blood gushed out, Cui Xu saw clearly that the golden hairpin in the eldest princess's hand was pointing at her own heart.

His pupils suddenly contracted, and it was too late for him to put away the knife.

"No..." Cui Xu dropped the knife and caught the falling body of the princess.

The blood quickly stained his armor red, warm and sticky.

The eldest princess' lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just used up her last bit of strength, reached out and touched Cui Xu's cheek, leaving a blood mark.

There was no resentment in her eyes, only relief, as if she had finally been freed from the shackles of power.

"Your Majesty, I..." Cui Xu knelt on the ground, his voice hoarse.

The emperor closed his eyes and sighed, "In fact, the eldest princess wants to commit suicide... I see it clearly."

Cui Xu was struck by lightning, trembling all over as he held the eldest princess's gradually cooling body.

Twenty years of love, hate and passion ended in this way.

……

Three days later, the emperor issued an edict, saying that the eldest princess died while protecting him, and posthumously named her "Loyal and Brave Princess" and buried her with the highest royal standards.

Those confidants who participated in the rebellion were secretly executed and the bloodstains were cleaned up completely, as if the incident had never happened.

Only Cui Xu knew that whenever it was late at night and everyone was asleep, he could see those smiling, relieved eyes.

When Zhen Heng dragged his wounded body out of the prison, the sunlight was so bright that he couldn't open his eyes.

He raised his hand to cover his eyes, and vaguely saw a blue kite circling above the palace wall.

"Master Zhen!" a familiar voice came.

Zhen Heng narrowed his eyes and saw Princess Fuqing running towards him with her skirt lifted up, followed by the palace maids chasing after her in a panic.

She ran so fast that her hair was loose and a few strands of her hair fluttered in the wind.

"Your Highness..." Zhen Heng had just opened his mouth when Princess Fuqing threw herself into his arms.

He groaned, the wounds on his body hurting, but he was reluctant to push away.

Princess Fuqing looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "I thought... I thought I wouldn't be able to wait for you..."

Zhen Heng raised his hand to wipe away her tears, his movements incredibly gentle: "I promised Your Highness that I would definitely come back."

"You liar!" Princess Fuqing punched his chest, but afraid to hurt him, she struck him so gently, like a tickle. "You said you'd be back in three days, and you made me wait a full seventeen days!"

Zhen Heng held her little fist and suddenly knelt on one knee: "Your Highness, I have a favor to ask of you."

Princess Fuqing was stunned: "You...what are you doing? Get up quickly! You are still injured..."

"Your servant, Zhen Heng, boldly requests to marry Princess Fuqing." Zhen Heng raised his head, his eyes blazing. "I do not seek wealth or glory, only a lifelong companionship."

The palace maids around gasped.

How many years has it been since a princess married a minister?

Princess Fuqing's face turned red like a ripe apple, and she was at a loss: "You... why are you suddenly saying this... Hurry up and get up..."

"If Your Highness does not agree, I will kneel down forever." Zhen Heng said stubbornly.

"I promise! Isn't it enough that I promise?" Princess Fuqing stamped her feet anxiously, "Get up quickly!"

Zhen Heng then stood up with a smile, and ignoring the gazes of the people around him, he embraced Princess Fuqing in his arms.

This time, he didn't call her "Your Highness," but instead softly called her by her maiden name: "Qing'er..."

……

In the imperial study, Yu Qi...now he should be called Prince Yu Qi.

Reporting to the emperor on the aftermath of the rebellion.

"General Cui Xu has requested to guard the border, and I believe this can be granted." Yu Qi pointed to several key locations on the map. "Although Nanwu has withdrawn its troops, the border still needs to be strengthened."

The emperor looked at his son with satisfaction. "You've thought it through very carefully. By the way, is there any news about Jiang Si, the girl from the Dongping Marquis's mansion?"

Yu Qi's expression softened. "I just received her letter. She persuaded the Great Elder of Nanwu to open border trade and exchange spices for our silk and porcelain. This is the list of spices she made."

He handed over a scroll of bamboo slips. "She also asked us to send several water conservancy experts to Nanwu to help them build an irrigation system."

The emperor flipped through the bamboo slips and nodded repeatedly, "This girl is no ordinary person! If she hadn't persuaded Nanwu to withdraw his troops, Cui Xu wouldn't have dared to lead his troops back to support them."

He suddenly looked up and asked, "You want to go find her?"

Yu Qi said frankly, "Yes. The situation in Nanwu is not stable yet, and I am worried about her safety."

"No." The emperor refused categorically. "You are the crown prince now. Your every move affects the foundation of the country. Nanwu has just withdrawn its troops. If you rush there rashly, what if something goes wrong..."

"Father!" Yu Qi wanted to argue.

The emperor raised his hand to stop him. "I have made up my mind. I will take the virtuous concubine to Jiangnan to relax. The affairs of the court will be handed over to you."

Yu Qi's eyes widened in surprise: "Father wants me to... be the regent?"

"Why, no confidence?" The emperor looked at him with a half-smile. Yu Qi immediately straightened his back and said, "I will definitely live up to your trust!"

As he was speaking, a eunuch came to report: "Your Majesty, Lord Zhen and Princess Fuqing request an audience."

The emperor raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Together? It seems there is a happy event."

As expected, Zhen Heng knelt down and saluted as soon as he entered the room: "I dare to ask Your Majesty to grant me marriage."

The emperor looked at his daughter, whose face was flushed. "Qing'er, is this what you mean?"

Princess Fuqing lowered her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito: "Your son...your son is willing."

Yu Qi couldn't help laughing at the side: "Brother Zhen, you finally got it. I thought you had to wait until Fuqing became an old maid before you dared to propose marriage!"

Zhen Heng glared at him and said, "Your Highness is now the Crown Prince, please be more respectful."

"In front of you, I will always be the Yu Qi you know." Yu Qi patted his shoulder and turned to the emperor and said, "Father, I believe this is a match made in heaven. Zhen Heng is upright and talented, and he will definitely not let Fu Qing down."

The emperor pondered for a moment: "Zhen Heng, have you thought it through? If you marry the princess, your career..."

"I am willing to resign all my official positions and just be the princess's consort." Zhen Heng said firmly.

The emperor laughed heartily: "Very good! I approve! But you don't have to resign from your position. I still count on you to assist the Crown Prince!"

After the eldest princess was killed, Cui Mingyue's behavior changed drastically and she was no longer as aggressive as before.

However, Yu Qi did not really punish Cui Mingyue. Instead, he demoted her to a concubine. As for the position of Crown Princess, it could only be Lu Chuchu.

……

Nanwu God saw a caravan loaded with spices preparing to set off at the foot of the mountain.

Jiang Si personally checks every package of goods to ensure the quality.

"Lady Saint, can these really be exchanged for what we need?" A young man from Nanwu asked nervously.

Jiang Si smiled and nodded: "Don't worry! These agarwood and sandalwood are more valuable than gold in the Great Zhou. They are enough to exchange for food, cloth and ironware."

The great elder Wumuda came over with a complicated expression: "Jiang Si, I have lived for seventy years and never thought that Nanwu would "invade" Da Zhou in this way."

"This isn't an invasion, it's a win-win situation," Jiang Si corrected. "War only hurts both sides, while trade benefits both sides."

The Great Elder sighed, "You're right. But... are you really not planning on returning to the Great Zhou? That Prince Yu Qi..."

Jiang Si's hand paused slightly, then continued to sort the goods as if nothing had happened: "I am now the Saint of Nanwu, and I am needed here more."

She turned and walked towards the hillside, looking north, which was the direction of Da Zhou.

"My little saint, now that you are satisfied, can you follow me and leave here?"

"Wait a little longer..." Jiang Si whispered to himself at this moment, "Wait until I complete my mission here..."

"Okay! I have plenty of patience with you."

……

A year later, the Jiang Mansion was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity.

Old Madam Jiang sat in the main hall, looking at her children and grandchildren, smiling from ear to ear.

"Grandma, please try this. It's a candied fruit that's a specialty of Nanwu." Jiang Yi came over holding a box of snacks.

Madam Jiang tasted a piece and praised it repeatedly: "Sweet but not greasy, delicious! That girl Si'er is really capable, she can make peace between the two countries."

When Jiang Si was mentioned, the hall suddenly became quiet for a moment.

It was just because there had been no news from Jiang Si for three months. The last letter she wrote said she was going to look for her mother's hometown, and then there was no news from her.

"Don't worry! Fourth sister is so smart, she will be fine." Jiang Li broke the silence, "By the way, big sister, look who's here?"

Jiang Yi turned around and saw Xie Yinlou standing at the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

The sisters immediately started to make a fuss and pushed Jiang Yi towards Xie Yinlou.

"You... stop it!" Jiang Yi's face flushed with shame, but she still took the bouquet of flowers.

At this warm moment, no one noticed the corner of the courtyard.

A woman who looked exactly like Jiang Si watched all this quietly, tears streaming down her eyes.

"See? This is your family, living such a happy life." A cold voice sounded in her ears, "And you no longer belong here."

Jiang Si, or rather, her soul, was locked in a transparent barrier, looking at Su Ning, who called himself a "devil", in despair.

"Suning, why did you choose me?" Jiang Si asked the question again, which he had asked many times.

Su Ning chuckled: "Because of your special soul! You know, it's not easy to be the heroine. In the previous life, Yu Qi paid the price of his own life to let you be reborn. This strong obsession is the most delicious nourishment."

"..."

Then Suning licked his lips again, "Now, it's time to fulfill the contract."

As the world spun around, Jiang felt as if his consciousness was being pulled away.

At the last moment, she saw "Yu Qi" ascend the throne as emperor, Lu Chuchu become queen, trade between the two countries prospered, and finally Nanwu and Da Zhou were naturally merged into one.

Her mission was finally completed, but she had to leave in this way.

"Suning, where are you taking me?"

"A true utopia."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Jiang Si, what do you think a slave needs to do?"

"..."

In fact, Suning did not tell Jiang Si that he had obtained the origin and fortune of this copy world.

Of course, this copy world that has lost its origin and luck will change. The energy of this world will gradually decrease, and it will slowly develop into a technological world like the real world.

In the future, martial arts masters who can fly around will gradually fade away, and witchcraft like that of Nanwu will also be interrupted and lost.

...(End of chapter)