Chapter 065: Whose Trap Have I Fallen Into

In the blink of an eye, the eighth day of the lunar month arrived—the grand day when Jiang Yun and Han Feiyue were to be wed.

The Eastern Palace was bustling with preparations, so Qiu Ronghai dispatched many palace maids and eunuchs to assist. As I passed Cuiwei Palace, Zhang Bitong remarked that this useless servant should finally do something of value, and so Qiu Ronghai brought me along to the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.

When the appointed hour arrived, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress had all gathered. Jiang Yun, clad in his crimson wedding robes, stood ready. But at that very moment, a palace maid from Han Feiyue’s quarters rushed in, breathless, “Miss Feiyue, Miss Feiyue is gone!”

“What?” The three exclaimed in unison.

The Emperor’s face darkened with rage. “Have you searched everywhere? She truly isn’t in the palace?”

The maid replied, “She truly isn’t. One of the maids in Miss Feiyue’s room was knocked unconscious by her. The red bridal gown is laid out on the bed—she never put it on.”

“Utter nonsense. Does Feiyue not understand the gravity of this? Is she trying to escape the marriage?”

The Empress, standing by, interjected, “Your Majesty, please calm yourself. Miss Feiyue has always inherited General Han’s temper—she acts freely. But the world has already been informed, and the civil and military officials have gathered to offer their congratulations. If the Crown Princess is absent, won’t the royal family be disgraced?”

Lu Ning, with commanding presence, spoke up, “According to the Empress, should we have Gong Wue change her status from secondary consort to Crown Princess?”

“Mother, that is not my intention,” the Empress replied hastily. “I am simply concerned—”

“No need for further words.” The Emperor raised his hand, cutting her off. Turning to Long Zhan, he ordered, “Long Zhan, I command you to leave the palace immediately and bring Feiyue back. If you fail, present your head to me!”

“I accept the command!” Long Zhan bowed, then placed his hand on the sword at his waist and addressed several officers. “Di Xiao, take a squad and follow me out of the palace!”

“Yes, sir!”

As Long Zhan finished selecting his men, ready to depart, the Emperor called out, “Wait!”

“What are your further instructions, Your Majesty?”

“Take Xiao Xiao with you!”

No one could fathom why the Emperor would call for me at such a moment, but I understood clearly, and so did Long Zhan.

“Yes!” Long Zhan glanced at me, accepting without hesitation.

The situation was urgent; the Emperor specially permitted Long Zhan to leave the palace on horseback.

Standing before the horses, I was apprehensive—I had never learned to ride.

Long Zhan led a chestnut horse, placed his foot in the stirrup, and mounted in one fluid motion. Seated firmly, he extended a hand to me, “Come up!”

I said, “Lord Long, finding Miss Feiyue is urgent. If I get on, I’ll only slow you down.”

Long Zhan, perceptive as ever, caught the meaning in my words. Retracting his hand, he turned to Di Xiao, “Di Xiao, you take Xiao Xiao.”

“Yes, sir!”

I sat behind Di Xiao, watching him urge his horse into a wild gallop.

No one knew where Han Feiyue might have gone. But if she weren’t found, Long Zhan would lose his life. The Emperor’s word was absolute.

Yet Long Zhan, riding ahead, seemed confident—certain of the path. We followed him, leaving the capital after more than an hour.

“General, should we continue forward? Perhaps I could take a few men and search separately?” Di Xiao, riding behind, finally voiced his concern.

“Let’s press onward for another half hour. If we still can’t find her, you all return and report. I’ll continue searching alone.” Long Zhan turned, the wind whipping his hair across his face.

“No, General, I swear to follow you to the death.”

“No more talk. Listen to me.” With that, Long Zhan raised his whip and rode ahead.

The wind stung my eyes, making it impossible to keep them open; all I could hear was its howling at my ears. I tucked my face behind Di Xiao’s back, preparing to look forward again when Long Zhan’s horse suddenly stopped.

By the lakeside nearby, a figure in crimson danced with the wind.

Long Zhan sat astride his horse, which circled once before he dismounted. “General Di, I need to go take a look.”

Di Xiao dismounted without a word to me. I tried to dismount, but the horse moved, and I tumbled to the ground.

Long Zhan glanced my way; I quickly scrambled up and flashed a reassuring smile.

I remained where I stood—this moment belonged to Han Feiyue and Long Zhan.

Long Zhan didn’t order Han Feiyue to return; instead, she spoke first, “Take me away.”

Those three words made me realize that Han Feiyue waited here, expecting Long Zhan to come.

She turned, holding a wine pouch—the very one she’d brought from outside the palace and gifted to Long Zhan.

“The Emperor and Empress Dowager are waiting for you.”

“Long Zhan, I said take me away. To the ends of the earth, wherever you go, I will follow—please, take me away.”

Han Feiyue was willing to forsake everything for Long Zhan; nothing in the palace had ever been what she wanted. What she wanted most was to be with him. Yet some choices are beyond her reach.

I finally understood: only Long Zhan could bring Han Feiyue back. No matter how many soldiers, none could have succeeded. This was another of the Emperor’s cunning moves.

The Emperor used Long Zhan to restrain Han Feiyue, yet sent me along, as both a supervisor and a silent threat to Long Zhan’s life.

“Where would I take you?” Long Zhan asked.

“Anywhere, I don’t care. Long Zhan, to the ends of the earth—take me away. I don’t want to be Crown Princess.”

“But I want to remain commander of the Imperial Guards.” His words followed hers almost instantly. “I cannot abandon everything I have now. If I must forsake it all for you, risking my life, Your Highness, I cannot. I am but a common man; you overestimate me.”

“I don’t believe you!” Han Feiyue’s emotions surged. “I don’t believe you never cared for me. If not, why keep the things I gave you?”

“I merely forgot to discard them.”

“You liar!” Han Feiyue pointed at him, “Long Zhan, you coward! You’re lying. I don’t believe it; I never have.”

“Han Feiyue, what more do you want? Don’t force me to bind you and take you back.” He stepped forward.

“Don’t move!” she suddenly cried. “Long Zhan, if you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll jump into this lake today. Tell me honestly—have you ever cared for me?”

For someone as proud as Han Feiyue, to threaten Long Zhan with death was shocking. If she jumped, even if she survived, she could never marry Jiang Yun. Long Zhan would still be punished if he brought her back like this.

I thought at least now Long Zhan would speak the truth. But his voice was resolute, “I have never cared for you, Your Highness. I regard you as a sister, a disciple, nothing more. If I have led you to misunderstand and caused today’s disaster, I alone will bear the blame.”

He drew his sword, knelt on one knee, and held it aloft, head bowed. “Take this sword and wound me, then you may leave. I will not pursue you.”

Han Feiyue stared at him, ran forward, and snatched the sword. “You think I won’t dare? Coward! Whether you like me or not, I hate you now, hate you! Why did we ever meet? Why did I step onto the stage that day? If I’d known today would be like this, I’d rather we’d never met, never met.”

“Miss Feiyue,” Di Xiao cried anxiously, “do you know the Emperor has decreed—if the General—”

“Di Xiao, be silent!” Long Zhan cut him off. “Whatever happens today, I alone will bear it. Don’t speak further, or face military discipline.”

“General!” Di Xiao stamped his foot in frustration.

Though Long Zhan was cold to Han Feiyue, he was protecting her. Under heaven, all lands belong to the king. Loyal to his sovereign, Long Zhan could never flee with the Crown Princess.

Han Feiyue finally threw the sword to the ground, her face ashen. “I’ll go back with you. I’ll be Crown Princess, you’ll be Long Zhan.”

She closed her eyes, tossed the wine pouch into the lake, and walked past him without a backward glance.

Even if she were foolish, Han Feiyue must have realized what Di Xiao meant to say. She knew she could never escape this fate. Now, she was determined to protect Long Zhan. My heart grew heavy; I could only follow her footsteps.

Han Feiyue must have understood at last—this marriage was nothing but a snare set by the Emperor.

She mounted a horse and rode back to the palace.

Di Xiao approached Long Zhan. “General—”

Long Zhan raised his hand to silence him. “Today, you saw us persuade Miss Feiyue to return. That’s all you saw and heard, understand?”

Di Xiao bowed. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, let’s return. Ride ahead and catch up with Miss Feiyue; we’ll follow and protect her.”

“Yes, sir!”

Di Xiao mounted his horse and sped after Han Feiyue. I watched Long Zhan gaze at the lake, where the wine pouch drifted with the current.

“Should we retrieve it?” I asked.

“No need,” Long Zhan replied, withdrawing his gaze. He mounted his horse, then extended his hand to me. “Come, let’s return to the palace.”

I nodded and took his hand.

Unlike riding behind Di Xiao, Long Zhan held me tightly, seating me in front of him.

The cold wind brushed my face; Long Zhan wrapped me in his cloak, his presence enveloping me.

“Tuck your head in.”

I did as told, and we rode in silence back to the palace.