Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

Snapped!

A shimmering glass lamp fell to the ground and shattered into countless sparkling fragments.

In Qixia Palace in Tianjing, dozens of palace maids and servants knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

"I will not marry!"

Princess Qiyang stood in the hall, her once beautiful face now filled with anger.

"What kind of person is Gu Changjin?"

"I merely lost my father and brothers, and by sheer luck, I acquired the title of Xuan King. Why does my father, without even asking me, decide to marry me off to such a desolate and harsh land?"

As she spoke, she swept the items off the jade table beside her and scattered them all over the floor.

The commotion was so great that it could be heard clearly throughout the entire Qixia Palace.

Princess Qiyang, however, seemed to feel it wasn't enough, and glanced casually outside the palace.

Of course she knew that since the marriage was arranged by her father, the emperor himself, she couldn't possibly change it by simply smashing a few things.

Just because you can't change the marriage doesn't mean you can't change other things.

At the very least, she should let her mother know how much she had been wronged.

A moment later, a figure emerged from the side hall.

The newcomer wore a white robe with cloud patterns, had a handsome face, and a light purple Dao token hanging at his waist. He was none other than Pei Zhaoye, the current true disciple of Yunzhuan Dao Academy.

Yunzhuan Taoist Temple had a certain reputation in Tianjing.

However, this reputation is not enough compared to the true lineage of immortal sects.

There isn't even a single terrestrial immortal in the Taoist academy, and the so-called true disciples are probably only known to a handful of people outside of Tianjing.

Pei Zhaoye's ability to command respect from so many powerful and influential figures is not solely due to his true inheritance token.

Furthermore, it was because he was someone close to Princess Qiyang.

His talent is actually quite good; he has now cultivated to the peak of the first rank, and is only a step away from becoming a celestial being.

In a place like Yunzhuan Dao Academy, such cultivation is considered a once-in-a-century achievement, but compared to the real immortal sects and the thirteen states of Dayin, it is far from being invincible.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

Pei Zhaoye stepped closer and whispered, "The imperial decree regarding the marriage has not yet been officially proclaimed; there may still be room for maneuver."

Princess Qiyang turned to look at him.

"What if there isn't one?"

"What will you do if I marry into the Northern Shuo?"

Pei Zhaoye remained silent for a moment, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

But what he was really worried about was not Princess Qiyang's marriage to a distant place.

It was the new Xuan King.

The news coming from Beishuo was more and more astonishing than the last.

Gu Changjin was not the good-for-nothing who just loafed around and waited to die as rumored, but a powerful Celestial Realm expert who was hiding his true strength.

Not only did he quickly take control of the royal palace after the Xuan King and the Crown Prince "died in battle," but he also beheaded his elder sister-in-law in the palace and exterminated the Liu clan. In just a few days, he suppressed the seven prefectures of Beishuo with seven armies of grass and wood.

Those seven armies were even capable of condensing military spirits at the level of terrestrial immortals!

These kinds of people don't seem like weaklings who can be easily manipulated.

"Your Highness."

Pei Zhaoye carefully considered his words before saying, "That Xuan King is ruthless and commands seven strange armies. If Your Highness truly intends to go to Beishuo, I'm afraid it would be best to proceed with caution."

"Be careful of what?"

Princess Qiyang gave a cold laugh.

"He is the Prince Xuan, and I am still the Princess of Dayin!"

"His throne was given to him by the Emperor, and his title as the ruler of Beishuo was also given to him by the Emperor. No matter how many others he has killed, would he dare to touch me?"

"Once we arrive at the Xuan Prince's residence, I will have him vacate the East Garden and convert it into a separate palace for the princess. A portion of the Xuan Prince's entourage and personal guards will also be transferred to my name."

At this point, she looked at Pei Zhaoye, her tone matter-of-fact.

"The East Garden is so big, surely it can accommodate you all by yourself?"

Pei Zhaoye's heart stirred.

Before he could answer, footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

Consort Zhao entered the main hall surrounded by palace servants. Seeing the mess on the floor, her face immediately darkened.

"Have you made enough of a scene?"

Princess Qiyang's eyes reddened.

"Is my mother forcing me to marry someone I've never even met?"

"This is your father's decision."

Consort Zhao glanced at Pei Zhaoye, and she immediately understood her daughter's thoughts.

"The Xuanwang family sacrificed themselves for the country, and now the Northern Shuo has just been stabilized. The imperial family's bestowal of marriage is both an honor and a way to appease the Northern Shuo. This matter involves the affairs of the court, and it is not something you can simply refuse to marry."

Princess Qiyang did not argue, but simply stood there with her lips pursed, tears falling one by one.

That appearance was even more troublesome for Consort Zhao than when she had just smashed things.

After a long while, she finally sighed.

"The marriage cannot be changed."

"However, the Northern Shuo is dangerous, and you do need someone familiar with magic to protect you."

She looked at Pei Zhaoye again.

"I will have the Yunzhuan Taoist Academy submit a petition recommending you as the Princess's Protector. At that time, you will accompany the wedding procession to Beishuo, where you will also be able to keep an eye on the new Xuan King for the court."

A hint of joy flashed in Pei Zhaoye's eyes, and he immediately bowed in greeting.

"Zhao Ye will protect the princess to the best of her ability!"

Princess Qiyang's tears also faded considerably in an instant.

"Thank you, Mother."

Looking at her daughter's appearance, Consort Zhao knew perfectly well how much of her outburst was genuine and how much was an act.

But she didn't expose him in the end, only warning him: "When you get to Beishuo, be a little more restrained. Gu Changjin is, after all, the king of a province. Don't let the world laugh at the imperial family."

"understood."

Princess Qiyang casually agreed, clearly not taking it to heart.

The next morning, another imperial edict was issued from Tianjing.

With the deaths of King Xuan and his son, and the responsibility for the defeat at Shensha Plains, the court naturally couldn't hold a newly appointed orphan son accountable for the loss.

To show compassion for the loyal and brave, to appease the Northern Shuo, and to demonstrate the imperial grace to the world, Emperor Yin formally bestowed a marriage upon Princess Qiyang and the newly appointed Prince Xuan, Gu Changjin.

At the same time, Pei Zhaoye, a true disciple of Yunzhuan Taoist Academy, was appointed as the protector of the princess's residence and accompanied the princess to Beishuo.

Everyone in Tianjing felt that this was a blessing that the new Xuan King had accumulated over several lifetimes.

Little did they know that Gu Changjin had not stayed in Beishuo to await this favor.

Just as the imperial decree for the marriage was about to leave Tianjing, he had already crossed the border of Beishuo and entered Hanchuan Prefecture.

Three grass and wood armies, totaling three thousand men.

Thirty thousand newly reorganized Northern Shuo Xuanjia soldiers formed a formidable military formation, their murderous aura soaring to the heavens.

As for the remaining four Grass and Wood Army units, they continued to guard key locations throughout the northern region.

Although they are separated by thousands of miles, their roots, which are embedded in the mountains and rivers, are still connected as one. As long as there is any unusual movement in Beishuo, Gu Changjin can sense it immediately.

Therefore, this deployment of troops, though seemingly sudden, was not a desperate gamble that abandoned the rear.

Such a massive army marched across the wasteland, their blood and spirit intertwined, and wherever they passed, even the azure sky seemed to dim.

Ahead, a magnificent city has appeared on the horizon.

Hanchuan City!

That was the capital of Hanchuan Prefecture, with city walls over a thousand feet high, stretching for hundreds of miles, like a black mountain range lying across the land.

Twelve floating battle platforms hang between the clouds, and the array patterns within the city are connected to the earth's veins, constantly absorbing the fortune of the entire province.

There are no hereditary princes here.

The governor of Hanchuan Prefecture, who is stationed here, is the ruler of a prefecture appointed by the Great Yin Dynasty.

And in the hands of that governor, there just happens to be something that Gu Changjin needs most right now.

The Governor's Heavenly Register!

Gu Changjin sat atop a black armored chariot, gazing at Hanchuan City in the distance, a smile gradually appearing on his face.

Why won't the imperial court allow him to reassemble the Xuanwang Heavenly Register?

It's alright, this isn't something only the Xuanwang Mansion has.

"Your Highness."

Chen Xiao rode his horse to the side of the chariot, looking solemnly at the city's protective array that suddenly lit up in the distance.

"Hanchuan City has discovered us."

As soon as he finished speaking, the deep, muffled sound of bugles echoed from afar.

On the city walls, countless defenders quickly assembled. Twelve floating battle platforms rotated simultaneously, their terrifying arrays piercing through the clouds and firmly locking onto the uninvited Northern Shuo army.

Gu Changjin simply stood up slowly.

Behind him, three thousand armored warriors made of grass and wood raised their heads at the same time.

Three enormous sword-wielding military spirits rose from the ground, their swords pointing directly at Hanchuan City!

"Tell Governor Hanchuan."

Gu Changjin stood with his hands behind his back, his calm voice echoing across the wasteland and resounding throughout the entire city.

"Gu Changjin, the Prince of Beishuo, has come to visit."

"Today, I will only borrow the Governor's Heavenly Register from him for one purpose!"