Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Aliya stayed in the courtyard for three days.

For three days, she was like a true orphan girl from the grasslands—quiet, dutiful, and cautious.

Every day, besides eating and sleeping, she does embroider or stand by the window, gazing blankly northward.

Her four guards were also very disciplined, rarely going out, and when they did go out, it was only to buy some daily necessities.

But Zhao Tie's men still noticed something unusual—the grassland vendor who sold leather goods came to the courtyard twice in three days, each time bringing some needles and thread, but he didn't stay long, just said a few words and left.

"Your Highness, should we arrest that stall owner?" Zhao Tie asked.

"No."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Let him deliver the message. Aliya is in the Cold Abyss, and she has to report to her master. Let's hear what she wants to report."

"But what if she's spreading false information..."

"That's even better."

Xiao Chen smiled, "Sending false information back to mislead her master will be to our advantage."

Zhao Tie seemed to understand, but he did as instructed.

On the evening of the fourth day, Aliya took the initiative to request an audience with Xiao Chen.

"Your Highness," she said softly, still bowing her head as she stood in the courtroom, "I...I want to tell you something."

"Speak," Xiao Chen said, putting down the document in his hand.

Aliya took a deep breath, raised her head, and said with a resolute look in her eyes: "I am not the niece of the White Deer tribe chief."

There was a moment of silence in the courtroom.

Xiao Chen's expression remained unchanged; he only asked, "Then who are you?"

"I am……"

Aliya bit her lip. "I am Urina, the youngest daughter of the old chieftain of the Azure Wolf tribe."

The Azure Wolf Tribe?

The old clan chief's daughter?

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Why did you lie to me?

"Because...because I'm afraid to tell the truth."

Aliya's eyes reddened. "My elder brother, Harbala, wanted to marry me off to the son of the White Deer tribe's chieftain in exchange for their support, all in order to seize the position of tribe leader. I refused, so I ran away. He sent men after me to capture me and bring me back..."

She spoke with tears streaming down her face, her emotions sincere and heartfelt.

Xiao Chen listened quietly, and only asked after she finished speaking, "Then why did you come to Hanyuan?"

"Because...because I heard that the Prince of Hanyuan is a good man who is willing to take in grassland people."

Aliya wiped away her tears. "I want to hide here for a while and think of something after things calm down."

"Then why are you telling the truth now?"

"Because...because I don't want to lie to you anymore."

Aliya looked up, her eyes blurry with tears. "You saved me, took me in, and treated me so well. I can't bear to lie to you again."

What a touching expression of affection!

Xiao Chen looked at her for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

"Miss Urina, your story is very touching. But there's a problem—"

He paused, then said, word by word, "The old chieftain of the Canglang tribe only has one daughter, thirteen years old this year, named Qiqige. She married a prince from Northern Yan last year. And you, where did you come from?"

Aliya's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"I...I..."

"You are neither a member of the Canglang tribe nor a member of the Bailu tribe."

Xiao Chen slowly stood up and walked to her. "Your accent is that of the Northern Yan royal court. Your manners are those of a Northern Yan nobleman. The calluses on your hands are from holding a pen, not from herding sheep. You are a Northern Yan person."

Aliya took a step back, her body beginning to tremble.

"Speak," Xiao Chen looked at her, "Who exactly are you? What do you want in Hanyuan?"

Aliya bit her lip, her eyes flashing with struggle, fear, and finally despair.

She suddenly laughed, a desolate laugh.

"Your Highness is indeed formidable. I have lost."

She stopped pretending, straightened her back, and the weakness and helplessness in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an innate arrogance.

"My name is Murong Xue, the third princess of Northern Yan."

The Third Princess of Northern Yan.

Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm.

"Your Highness, what brings you to my Cold Abyss from so far away?"

"Runaway bride".

Murong Xue said, "My father wanted to marry me off to the Crown Prince of Great Xia, but I didn't want to, so I ran away. On the way, I encountered the Canglang tribe, who robbed me of my belongings and killed my guards. I changed into grassland clothes, hoping to slip through the checkpoints, but I was chased down by the Canglang tribe. You know what happened after that."

That makes sense.

The relationship between Northern Yan and Great Xia has been delicate in recent years, sometimes at war and sometimes at peace.

Arranged marriages were a common practice, and it wasn't unheard of for princesses to elope.

"Then why don't you go back to Northern Yan?"

"We can't go back."

Murong Xue shook her head. "My father will be furious if he finds out I ran away from my arranged marriage. Going back would mean certain death. Besides, there are many checkpoints along the way, and I wouldn't be able to get through them."

"So you want to hide in the Cold Abyss?"

"Yes."

Murong Xue nodded. "Hanyuan is located on the frontier, far from the emperor's reach. I'll hide here for a while and make further plans once things calm down."

Xiao Chen looked at her, trying to determine whether her words were true or false.

Murong Xue met his gaze without flinching or avoiding it, her eyes clear and open.

"Does Your Highness not believe me?" she asked.

"Why should I believe you?" Xiao Chen retorted.

"I can vouch for it." Murong Xue took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Chen.

The jade pendant is white like mutton fat, carved with an eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle's eyes are two rubies, gleaming eerily under the light.

The back of the jade pendant is engraved with two characters from the Northern Yan dynasty: Murong.

This is a token of the Northern Yan royal family.

Xiao Chen had seen similar things in the palace, so it was indeed true.

"Also," Murong Xue said, "I know that Northern Yan and Great Xia are about to go to war."

Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed.

How did you know?

"I overheard it when my father and the prime minister were having a private conversation."

Murong Xue said, "Northern Yan has already mobilized 100,000 troops and stationed them on the border. Once the snow melts in spring, they will march south. The first battle will be at Hanyuan."

An army of 100,000.

Xiao Chen's heart sank.

Although I had a premonition, hearing the confirmed news still shocked me.

At most, Han Yuan only has a little over a thousand people who are capable of fighting.

How do you fight an army of 100,000?

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

"Because I want to live."

Murong Xue said earnestly, "Your Highness saved me; you are my benefactor. I don't want you to die. Besides, if the Cold Abyss is destroyed, I will have nowhere to hide."

That's true.

"What suggestions do you have?" Xiao Chen asked.

"have."

Murong Xue said, "The commander of the Northern Yan army this time is the Left Wise King Murong Han, who is my third uncle. He is a cautious man and does not fight battles he is not sure of winning. If Hanyuan City is well-defended and has a strong army, he may bypass it and take Beiguan first."

"So you mean I want to make Han Yuan look very strong?"

"right."

Murong Xue nodded, "But you can't be too strong. If you're too strong, he'll concentrate his forces to attack you first. You have to strike just the right balance, so that he feels it's not worth it to attack you, but you also have to guard against you stabbing him in the back."

It's not easy to strike the right balance.

"Also," Murong Xue continued, "my third uncle is greedy. If we can give him some benefits, maybe we can stall for time."

"What are the benefits?"

"Coal, iron, salt, any of them are fine."

Murong Xue said, "Northern Yan lacks these things. Especially coal. The northern border is cold in winter, and having coal will save people from freezing to death."

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment.

Murong Xue's words make sense. But whether they can be trusted is another matter.

"Go back and rest first. I need to think about this."

"Yes."

Murong Xue bowed, turned to leave, then stopped. "Your Highness, please keep my identity a secret. If word gets out, I will surely die."

"rest assured."

Murong Xue left, leaving only Xiao Chen and Han Lie in the courtroom.

Han Lie stepped out from behind the screen—he had been listening the whole time.

"Your Highness, do you believe her?"

"Faith is 70%."

Xiao Chen said, "The jade pendant is real, and the news might also be true. But her purpose in coming to Hanyuan is probably more than just escaping an arranged marriage."

You mean...

"A princess from Northern Yan, instead of fleeing to Jiangnan or the Central Plains, chose this bitterly cold land?"

Xiao Chen shook his head. "It doesn't make sense. Besides, the fact that she survived the pursuit of the Canglang tribe and managed to infiltrate the Cold Abyss is not the ability of a pampered princess."

"So what exactly does she want to do?"

"have no idea."

Xiao Chen said, "But whatever she wants to do, she can't cause any trouble in Han Yuan. Have someone keep a close eye on her and see what she does next."

"Yes."

For the next few days, Murong Xue remained well-behaved.

But she began to actively reach out to people from Han Yuan—not to gather intelligence, but to offer assistance.

She is skilled in medicine and can treat some simple injuries and illnesses.

Cold Abyss City lacks medical care and medicine, so her skill is very popular.

She volunteered to help at the clinic, bandaging injured miners and preparing medicine for sick elderly people.

Soon, everyone in the city knew that the grassland girl the prince had brought back was a kind-hearted "doctor".

She can do math, write, and draw.

She helped organize the Civil Affairs Department's account books, making them very neat and orderly.

She helped draw the blueprints for the construction company, and they were clear and easy to understand.

She even helped compile the textbooks for literacy classes, making them simple and easy to understand.

In just a few days, she won the favor of many people.

Even Uncle Fu said, "This girl is kind-hearted and skillful, it's a pity she's from the grasslands."

Xiao Chen watched coldly from the sidelines.

The more Murong Xue did, the more vigilant he became.

Why would a princess of Northern Yan be so eager to integrate into the Cold Abyss? Is it really just to survive?

That day, Murong Xue came to see Xiao Chen again.

"Your Highness, I would like to visit the coal mine," she said.

"The coal mine is dirty, what are you doing there?"

"I've heard that miners are prone to a disease called 'coal lung,' which causes coughing and shortness of breath."

Murong Xue said, "I have seen the treatment method in the medical books of Northern Yan. I would like to see if I can help."

Coal malignancy is indeed a common disease among miners. Several miners in Hanyuan have already contracted it; they cough so badly they can't work.

Xiao Chen thought about it and agreed.

"Let Zhao Tie accompany you."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Murong Xue went to the coal mine and stayed in the mine for half a day.

After she came out, she wrote down a prescription—to boil loquat leaves, monk fruit, and fritillaria cirrhosa in water and drink it to relieve cough.

It is also recommended that miners cover their mouths and noses with a damp cloth when going down into the mine to reduce the amount of coal dust they inhale.

The prescription was delivered to the clinic, and after trying it, it proved to be effective.

Now, even the miners say she's good.

"Miss Murong is truly a living Bodhisattva!"

"Your Highness, you must treat them well!"

"Exactly, a girl this good is hard to find even with a lantern!"

Public opinion is overwhelmingly negative.

Xiao Chen became even more wary.

What's the purpose of winning people's hearts?

He instructed Zhao Tie to keep a closer eye on him.

That evening, Zhao Tie came to report.

"Your Highness, Murong Xue went to the market in the south of the city today and met the fur vendor again. This time, she gave him a letter."

"Where's the letter?"

"I intercepted it." Zhao Tie took out a letter.

The letter was written in the Northern Yan script, which Xiao Chen could not understand.

He sent someone to invite Han Lie—Han Lie had been in the northern border for decades and knew some of the Northern Yan language.

Han Lie arrived, read the letter, and his expression changed.

"Your Highness, this letter is addressed to Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan."

"What did you say?"

"explain……"

Han Lie's voice trembled. "He said that Hanyuan City's defenses are weak, with fewer than a thousand soldiers and less than ten thousand provisions. He suggested that after the spring, a detachment could be sent to feign an attack on Dingbei Pass, while the main force would directly attack Hanyuan. Once Hanyuan falls, Dingbei Pass will fall without a fight."

What a vicious plan!

Xiao Chen's eyes were icy cold.

Sure enough, this Murong Xue was a spy from Northern Yan.

All that talk about running away from the wedding and repaying a debt of gratitude was just an act.

Her goal was to ascertain the true strength and weaknesses of Hanyuan, paving the way for Northern Yan's attack.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Zhao Tie asked. "Should we...?"

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Keep her; she'll be useful."

"But she's trying to get us killed!"

"She can't hurt you."

Xiao Chen said, "Because I will let her deliver 'real news'."

"Real news?"

"right."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "Didn't she want to test Han Yuan's true strength? I'll let her test him. However, what she finds is what I want her to know."

Han Lie understood: "Does Your Highness intend to... turn the tables on us?"

"Exactly."

Xiao Chen said, "Have her deliver this letter. However, the content needs to be changed."

He picked up a pen, wrote a few lines on a piece of paper, and handed it to Han Lie: "Translate it into Northern Yan language and have the stall owner deliver it."

Han Lie took it and saw that it said:

"Hanyuan City is well-defended, with well-trained troops and ample supplies. Prince Xiao Chen is deeply loved by the people and possesses the qualities of a valiant leader. I suggest we temporarily avoid their advance and first take Dingbei Pass. If we launch a full-scale attack on Hanyuan, we risk losing more soldiers and generals, which would be a greater loss than gain."

This portrays Han Yuan as very powerful, making Northern Yan hesitant to attack.

"Your Highness is brilliant."

Han Lie praised, "In this way, Northern Yan will first attack Dingbei Pass. We can sit back and watch the tigers fight."

"more than."

Xiao Chen said, "Dingbei Pass is the territory of the Prince of Yong. Let Beiyan attack the Prince of Yong, and we can see just how capable this fourth brother really is."

Killing two birds with one stone.

This spared Hanyuan from the ravages of war, but also caused trouble for the Prince of Yong.

"But what about Murong Xue..." Zhao Tie worried, "What if she finds out the letter has been switched..."

"She won't find out."

Xiao Chen said, "She wrote the letter herself, but we could have switched it before it left the city. Did they control that stall owner?"

"It's under control."

Zhao Tie said, "They arrested him yesterday and he's locked up in the dungeon."

"it is good."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Have him deliver the message according to our instructions. Tell him: cooperate and live; don't cooperate and die."

"yes!"

"Also," Xiao Chen added, "keep an eye on Murong Xue. Let her do whatever she wants. But make sure she can't do anything."

"clear!"

After making the arrangements, Xiao Chen stood alone by the window, gazing towards the courtyard.

Murong Xue, the third princess of Northern Yan.

interesting.

Since you want to act, I'll play along.

Let's see who can outact whom.