My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 405 The Cosmic General Sneezes
"Mother, why was Father so cruel as to send me to marry the Suo barbarians of the Northern Dynasty?"

Xiao Miaozhi, looking extremely unwilling, threw herself into the arms of her mother, Wang Lingbin, who was also Xiao Gang's first wife.

His surname clearly indicates that Wang Lingbin came from the Langya Wang clan.

Wang Lingbin looked down at his daughter, who was in the prime of her youth, and sighed softly, "This is the fate of us women..."

Wang Lingbin herself was not very old. Although they were mother and daughter, outsiders would more likely mistake them for sisters.

Xiao Gang was about the same age as Gao Yu, but as Xiao Yan's second son, he married much earlier than Gao Yu. He married Wang Lingbin when he was thirteen or fourteen years old, and already had a large family of children. Gao Yu's eldest son, Gao Run, had only recently learned to walk.

Looking down at my daughter, I felt as if I were seeing myself from years ago.

At the same age, still naive and inexperienced, they were forced to marry a complete stranger for the sake of their families.

The family won't consider whether you'll be happy or not after you marry into their family; political marriages never take that into account.

This is the price of living a life of luxury for the first ten years or so of one's life.

What you receive from your family, you are destined to give back to your family, or even more.

Why does it have to be me?

Xiao Miaozhi raised her head, her delicate and pretty face streaked with tears, looking pitiful. After all, she was a typical girl raised in the Jiangnan water towns. The environment shapes a person, and her features were very delicate, making her look gentle and weak.

Wang Lingbin opened his mouth...

But I didn't know how to bring it up. I couldn't very well tell her it was related to my birth, could I?
Wang Lingbin came from the Langya Wang clan. Xiao Miaozhi, as her daughter with Xiao Gang, was able to bind the interests of both sides. It wasn't that the Wang clan was unwilling to part with a woman, but rather that they couldn't find a suitable woman in the clan at the moment.

The Wang family attaches great importance to this marriage alliance with Gao Yu, which is an inevitable choice they have made after their living space has been constantly squeezed.

The concept of 'investment' may not have existed in ancient times.

But the ancients understood that 'you should never put all your eggs in one basket,' and for top-tier aristocratic families like theirs, the survival of the family was paramount.

If Gao Yu can truly defeat Erzhu Rong and unify the northern border.

Whether in the Southern or Northern Dynasties, there were always influential members of the Wang family in the court, which was the best situation for such a large family as the Wang clan.

The south side is dark, but the north side is bright.

Wang Lingbin could only gently stroke his daughter's back to soothe her emotions; there was no other way.

This was a marriage personally approved by Emperor Xiao Yan, who even issued an imperial edict. For this, he also bestowed upon Xiao Miaozhi the title of "Princess Piaoyang," which is the standard procedure for the marriage of a royal daughter.

Just like when Gao Yu wanted to marry Yang Changchu and Erzhu Yuechan, Yuan Ziyou ordered that the two of them be granted the title of 'County Lady' in advance.

Xiao Miaozhi knew perfectly well that crying and making a scene with Wang Lingbin would be of no use.

Most of her close female friends are married, and their crying and fussing is just a way for them to vent their emotions.

He left Wang Lingbin's place in a sullen mood.

Her personal maid told her that someone had come to visit, another unfortunate soul in the same boat as her.

A woman of similar age, dressed in a light-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), appeared before her. This woman was named Xie Youning, from the Xie family. Her name came from the poem "Si Gan" in the Book of Songs, "Xiao Ya". The poem reads: "The courtyard is lush, the pillars are gleaming. The upright pillars are majestic, the secluded hall is tranquil. The gentleman finds peace."

“You Ning”.

Xiao Miaozhi looked at her close friend, who shared the same plight, and asked, "You heard the news too?"

Xie Youning nodded slightly. She didn't resist, or rather, she knew that whether she resisted or not, the ending was already predetermined and could not be changed, so she might as well accept it calmly.

"It's good... that you're with me. If I were all alone, I don't know how I would get by in the future."

Xiao Miaozhi sighed softly, finding a kind of bittersweet humor in the situation.

At least she has her close female friends by her side, so she'll have someone to talk to in the future.

Xie Youning chuckled and said, "Since we're here, let's make the best of it. Why think so badly from the start? Many of my close friends are indeed unhappy after marriage, but there are also those who are loving and devoted to their husbands."

Xiao Miaozhi pouted and retorted, "Don't you know? His Majesty wants to marry the two of us to the 'General of Heavenly Strategy' of the Northern Dynasty. I've heard that this man is famous for his bravery. The emperor of the Northern Dynasty praised him as 'the reincarnation of the ancient overlord.' He must be a barbaric warrior."

"Most warriors are crude, savage, and brutal..."

As Xiao Miaozhi spoke, she felt her scalp tingling more and more. Her delicate features wrinkled and squeezed together, as if she had already imagined her 'miserable' life in the future.

Xie Youning rolled his eyes at her, "Miaozhi... We are still in Jiankang right now, so no one will care if you say such things. But if you go to the Northern Dynasty in the future, remember not to say such things... Who calls their husband a barbarian? Besides... General Gao Yu of the Heavenly Strategy Army was descended from the Gao clan of Bohai. He is a man of the Han people, not a barbarian barbarian."

"Island barbarians" and "barbarian barbarians" were derogatory terms used by the Northern and Southern Dynasties to promote their own legitimacy.

Xiao Miaozhi also realized this, and it seemed inappropriate to use such a derogatory term as 'capture' to refer to her future husband, so she stuck out her tongue and said, "I'm used to it."

If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, follow the dog.

Regardless of her personal wishes, after Xiao Yan issued the edict, she was left with only one path: to go north and marry Gao Yu.

"Furthermore, who told you that warriors are necessarily barbaric and cruel? Isn't the white-robed general a refined scholar?"

Xie Youning continued, "I've also heard some rumors. It's said that General Tian Ce is extremely handsome... How lucky you and I are to marry such a renowned and illustrious person. We might even be remembered in history, like Yu Ji..."

As she spoke, Xie Youning couldn't help but stick out her tongue slightly.

In historical records, which are often sparing with words, few women leave a trace. The reason why Yu Ji is mentioned in the Records of the Grand Historian is because she was the most beloved woman of Xiang Yu, the King of Chu.

She had intended to use this example.

But when I think about it...

Yu Ji's fate was not good. Although Xiang Yu was brave, he still ended up committing suicide at Wujiang.

"Hmph, you're quite open-minded." Xiao Miaozhi wrinkled her nose, but Xie Youning's words reminded her, "Hearing is believing, seeing is believing. Why not find someone who has seen it to ask?"

"You mean... looking for Yu Zishan? That might not be a good idea."

“Exactly! If I were to marry General Tian Ce, I would become the mistress of Yu Zishan. Why can’t I ask?”

"They adapted very quickly."

Xie Youning chuckled and teased, "You were just crying and sobbing, but as soon as you heard that General Tian Ce was a handsome and outstanding man, you were smitten?"

Xiao Miaozhi blushed. What young girl doesn't dream of love?
But she retorted defiantly, "Aren't you the same?"

Xie Youning shook his head and said calmly, "So what if he's handsome? If he has a bad temper..."

"Hmph, if someone is fat and burly, but has a good personality, you'd accept them?"

Xie Youning didn't reply, but glared at her resentfully.

Xiao Miaozhi immediately stood up and said, "Let's go! Come with me to see Yu Zishan."

Yu Xin was actually in Xiao Gang's residence at the moment. After receiving Xiao Yan's approval, Xiao Gang immediately summoned Yu Xin to his residence.

Xiao Miaozhi is his daughter, and he is Gao Yu's future father-in-law. Given this relationship, there is no need for him to hide his identity when meeting Yu Xin. He can meet with Yu Xin under the pretext of discussing marriage.

As for what happens after the meeting...

The specific content of the discussion is another matter.

"His Majesty has already ordered General Chen Qingzhi to lead troops to Jingzhou. Once the imperial edict arrives, General Chen Qingzhi will lead his army westward, and then northward..."

Yu Xin nodded.

Whether or not they can secure a marriage for Gao Yu is secondary.

The main purpose was to mobilize the troops on the Southern Dynasty's side.

"Then I will thank the Crown Prince on behalf of my general."

Yu Xin's face was all smiles.

"Eh."

Xiao Gang waved his hand and said, "After the marriage, General Tian Ce and I will be family. Why be so formal? If I don't help my own son-in-law, am I supposed to help Er Zhu Rong, that cruel descendant of the Jie barbarians? More than a hundred years ago, my Han family suffered a calamity, which caused our Central Plains to fall into the hands of the Suo barbarians."

"Now, General Tian Ce is renowned throughout China for his bravery. It must be the will of Heaven that we, the sons of Han, should reclaim our lost Central Plains!"

Whether the Gao brothers are truly of Han Chinese descent is no longer important.

The fact that both brothers personally went to the Gao clan in Bohai to acknowledge their ancestry is enough.

"I will personally deliver the Crown Prince's handwritten letter to the General."

"Then there's Laozishan."

Yu Xin quickly got up to take his leave.

He needed to send the message back immediately. Gao Yu certainly wouldn't be able to marry Princess Piaoyang in a short time, but that didn't stop him from taking the princess over first, establishing their status, and announcing the marriage to the world.

The marriage, coupled with Chen Qingzhi's sudden departure with troops to Jingzhou, meant that the objective had been achieved.

To demonstrate its sincerity, the Tian Ce Mansion will certainly send a large force to welcome and escort the princess's entourage.

They even wanted to send someone to find Yuan Xiu and have him announce the marriage in the name of the Emperor of Wei, since Gao Yu was still a Wei subject and the Grand General of the Heavenly Strategy of Wei.

Just as Yu Xin was about to leave, a maidservant blocked his way.

"My princess wants to see you."

Yu Xin was taken aback. He followed the maid and met Xiao Miaozhi in the garden of Xiao Gang's residence.

"Meet the princess."

Yu Xin bowed respectfully, knowing that Xiao Miaozhi would be his mistress from now on.

“Yu Zishan, let me ask you a question.”

Xiao Miaozhi asked bluntly, "I've heard that General Tian Ce is handsome?"

"It's natural..."

Yu Xin thought for a moment and used a very clever description, "The princess can also send someone to the northern border to inquire about it. Which noble lady is not in love with my general? If I were a woman, I would also have the urge to marry my general."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Miaozhi looked at Yu Xin with a strange expression.

When a grown man says something like that, it's easy for people to misunderstand.

After all... since ancient times, homosexuality has not been uncommon in such aristocratic families.

Yu Xin noticed her strange gaze and quickly explained, "Princess, my general is a man of outstanding talent in this era. When you meet him in the future, you will surely fall in love with him."

"Okay, I'll believe you for now."

Xiao Miaozhi nodded and gave a soft snort, "Now that you mention it, I'd really like to meet this General Tian Ce."

"Please be patient, Princess. When my general returns victorious, you will be able to see the princess."

P.S.: Princess Piaoyang's age has been altered; she's the only one who's somewhat famous in historical records.

(End of this chapter)