Chapter 3, Royal Woman

After a brief rest, Li He had no choice but to urge Ji Yang to set off, "Those people are unlikely to give up; we cannot linger here for long"

It is quite interesting, Ji Yang's lips curled slightly upwards. Stimulating! Fun!

Princess Anle's carriage traveled safely to the banks of the Zhang River at the junction of Zhongzhou and Jizhou, where crossing the valley would allow for passage over the water. The people of the Xinyang Marquisate were waiting to welcome the bride at the opposite city of Jiuhou.

Upon hearing about the tea house, Yusuir and the others felt as if they were being offered a glimpse of plums to quench their thirst, and instantly regained their spirits, having not eaten anything for an entire day and night

Li He looked again at Princess Anle, who was veiled in white gauze. He did not expect that the delicate and weak royal princess, despite running all the way, did not complain of hardship or fatigue, nor did she require assistance. At this moment, although she was slightly out of breath, she still maintained the grace befitting a royal princess, especially when compared to the several palace maids.

Seeing him is like parting the clouds to reveal the clear sky

Not long after, the soldiers sent by Li He to search for the ship returned to report that the ship had been found

Everything is as the general has said. In fact, Ji Yang also noticed the unusual behavior of those bandits. Typically, those mountain bandits rob passing merchants; they would not dare to touch the imperial convoy, especially one escorting a princess.

The tea bowl is dark yellow, with tea stains accumulated, and there are quite a few chips. Although Yusui and others are palace servants, they have never endured such hardship; it is truly unbearable to drink with such a disfigured face

Li He felt as if the palms of his hands were scalded by fire, burning his heart, liver, and lungs until they were all ablaze. His heart raced like a drum, and he nervously glanced around, fearing that others might hear the sound of his heartbeat and expose the inappropriate thoughts he should not have. Li He never imagined that a man like him, who had fought bravely on the battlefield, would become so anxious that he could hardly breathe because of a delicate hand.

Li He jumped onto the boat and reached out his hand towards Ji Yang. He looked at her with a hint of nervousness, but Ji Yang seemed indifferent to the distinctions of rank and status, placing her hand into the palm of Li He. With his strength, she lightly jumped onto the boat.

The body is as light as a butterfly

This cannot be considered anything significant. Ji Yang lived in the palace, and although his father, the emperor, did not have three thousand beauties in the harem, there were certainly at least three hundred. Therefore, she did not have any particular sentiment regarding the phrase 'countless concubines'.

The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the leaves, casting a glow on Ji Yang's face, making her skin appear almost crystalline and translucent. Li He had seen many noble beauties, yet none had a chin that could be so captivating. Recalling the sound of the icy spring water nourishing the emerald stones, akin to pearls falling onto a jade plate, Li He suddenly found himself understanding the phrase "From now on, the emperor does not attend morning court" regarding the current emperor.

The path down the mountain was somewhat easier to traverse. After hurrying and taking their time, Ji Yang and the others finally arrived at the tea house in the afternoon

It is said that the Xinyang Marquis is an extraordinary handsome man, who studied under the esteemed scholar Min Hao from the northern region. Old Min once gazed upon him with admiration and sighed, saying: "The world is shrouded in darkness, yet he stands out like a bright star." Yusuir leaned forward and whispered: "In fact, before the Empress selected this marriage for the princess, she had someone secretly visit Jizhou to inquire. When the Empress asked about the Xinyang Marquis, the person replied: 'The Jihou is like a mirror to humanity; seeing him is like parting the clouds to reveal the blue sky.'

The chalcedony children had all stumbled and fallen by the end, except for Ji Yang, who walked all the way to the edge of the cliff, even throwing away the wooden stick, lifting her skirt, and gazing in awe at the sun rising from the horizon

"Then please let the princess take a short rest, after which we must set off as soon as possible," Li He said before stepping aside to keep watch. He stole a glance at Anle from a distance and saw her maid, known as Yucui'er, scooping mountain spring water for her with leaves. She slightly lifted the white veil, revealing a long, tender neck that shone like a jade disc, along with an astonishingly beautiful chin with graceful curves.

Indeed, which man in the world is not lustful? If he were to see the princess, those ordinary and superficial women would naturally no longer catch his eye

Ji Yang turned her head to glance at Yu Sui'er, knowing that this palace maid who had served her since childhood was trying to comfort her

Ji Yang rested her chin on her hand, sitting in the swaying golden chariot, looking out through the gaps of the beaded curtain. As she traveled northward, the landscape gradually became desolate.

As they walked slowly along the way, primarily to take care of several women, Ji Yang and his companions finally crossed the mountain pass when the first light of dawn began to appear

What captivated Li He the most was Princess Anle's unflappable demeanor. When the bandits appeared, although Li He noticed a momentary panic in Ji Yang, she subsequently remained very calm, exhibiting none of the delicate demeanor typical of noble ladies. On the contrary, she even took the time to comfort the maid beside her, truly saving Li He and the others a great deal of trouble

Li He looked at Ji Yang, who softly said to Yu Sui Er: "Yu Sui Er, General Li is doing this for our own good. In case those fierce bandits come after us, they are more familiar with the mountains and forests than we are, and at that time, we won't be able to escape."

Li Heben was merely putting on an act, as it was customary for the noble ladies in the palace to behave this way. If he did not first apologize, he would likely be accused later on. However, it seemed that this Princess Anle was not an ordinary person; Li He could discern the sincerity in her words. He continued, "In my humble opinion, those bandits we encountered earlier are not ordinary; they may be hiding spies among them, specifically to prevent the princess from surrendering. As of now, we cannot directly cross the Zhang River to join forces with the troops from Jizhou. We can only head east over this mountain first and then find a way to cross the river."

Ji Yang no longer responded, and Yu Sui Er did not dare to say more. Although this princess is usually lively and cheerful, when she becomes calm, it becomes difficult for others to discern her thoughts and feelings

First, a small cluster of golden-orange rays appeared, followed by a soft and not glaring red sun slowly revealing itself. Finally, the brilliance was overwhelming, and Ji Yang had to shield her eyes with her hand, yet she still smiled joyfully. She had never witnessed a sunrise at such a high altitude before, and it was a breathtaking spectacle.

The tea house is exceedingly shabby, with only a ragged old man tending to it, and it seldom receives more than two or three customers in a day

"General Li, I am deeply grateful for your selfless protection this time. I have no other way to express my thanks, so let me play a tune for you," Ji Yang said, looking at Li He. "But I wonder if this will attract pursuing soldiers?"

Traveling through the night, they dared not light a torch. Relying on the faint moonlight, the group began to ascend the mountain, stepping cautiously with each footfall.

Ji Yang, however, was indifferent; it was not that she did not mind the dirt, but rather that upon seeing Li He and the other soldiers gulp down the hot tea, she also took a few sips without bothering to avoid the rim of the bowl

Despite Li He being sufficiently cautious and on guard at all times, his luck was truly unfortunate. As he reached a dense forest, several hundred bandits suddenly charged out from the woods, and without a word, they brandished their knives and attacked.

"What about him, what kind of person is he?" Ji Yang, after all, was only fifteen years old, the age when a young girl begins to have romantic feelings, and Shen Du was to be her husband, so she naturally cared.

"I still want the chalcedony," Ji Yang pointed to the maid beside her. Li He nodded and smiled, after all, the Princess Anle was still young and had the nature of a girl.

Ji Yang could not help but ask in doubt: "Are there truly such excellent men in the world, without any shortcomings?"

Ji Yang followed Li He to the water's edge, where the boat was a small vessel used by local fishermen for fishing, shaped like a leaf, which she had only seen in paintings

Naturally, there are shortcomings. Yusui Er hesitantly said: "It is said that the Marquis of Xinyang has a fondness for fishing and beauty, and there are countless beautiful concubines in his household"

The princess spoke, and Yusui'er could only grit her teeth and continue on her way, supporting each other with several other palace maids.

"Princess, once we arrive in Jizhou, it will no longer be so desolate. I have heard that the prosperity of Jizhou is not inferior to that of our Luoyang," said Yusui.

The date for Princess Anle's surrender has been set, which will take place in September of the twenty-fifth year of Yong'an

Upon hearing this, Ji Yang untied the jade flute from her waist and began to play it gently towards the Zhang River

Li He gazed foolishly at Ji Yang, whose eyes, more beautiful than the scenery of lakes and mountains, sparkled beyond her veil. He thought to himself, no matter how many pursuers come, as long as he is alive, he will certainly protect her completely. And how fortunate he is to have the beauty perform a solo just for him

As the boat reached the middle of the river, Ji Yang felt a surge of inspiration and could not help but touch the jade flute hanging at her waist. In this moment, surrounded by such mountains and waters, it would indeed be a regret not to sing a song

Li He looked at Princess Anle and her companions. The several palace maids were already terrified, their faces pale, hairpins askew, sweat staining their fragrant powder, making them appear quite comical

As soon as he settled down, Li He couldn't help but glance at Ji Yang again. He noticed that she showed no signs of fatigue, her movements and posture were nothing short of elegant and dignified. In contrast, the several girls around Yu Sui'er, despite their efforts to maintain composure, clearly appeared to be trying too hard. Unlike Princess Anle, who seemed to embody all that is beautiful, her grace was ingrained in her very being. Every word and gesture of hers, even in the most awkward moments, was pleasing to the eye, reminiscent of a beautiful painting.

The tea is of poor quality, but the water is excellent spring water. The steaming tea helps to alleviate some of the fatigue from the journey

This is an undeniable and pampered princess, who even finds danger amusing, simply because she has never realized that she could truly die

This place is located at the border between Zhongzhou and Jizhou, where notorious bandits frequently appear. These are common people who have been driven to desperation, taking to the mountains to establish their own rule. The Zhongzhou court is powerless against them, and these individuals are clever, never daring to cross the river to commit crimes in Jizhou. As a result, Jizhou turns a blind eye to them, choosing not to interfere excessively.

Yusuir's face bore an indescribable expression, yet she understood that concealing the truth would ultimately be detrimental to the princess. Therefore, she decided to lay everything bare so that the princess would have a clear understanding.

"I see in the distance a tea house at the foot of the mountain. We can rest there when we arrive," Li He said

Ji Yang was unaware of the turmoil in Li He’s heart. She sat in a small boat that swayed precariously in the wind, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear as she gazed at the distant mountains and waters. In her heart, she thought that marrying far away was quite good; at least this thrilling experience, along with the serene and tranquil scenery before her, was something unimaginable in the palace.

Immediately, Li He could not help but think that if he were the emperor, he would probably be like the current sovereign, giving everything just to present it before her and earn a smile from her. Upon reflecting on this, he could not help but feel a significant reduction in his aversion towards the demon queen Su Jiang.

Li He was even reluctant to make a sound to break the tranquility before him, but his duty compelled him to urge Ji Yang and the others to continue on their journey. Yu Sui'er could not help but complain, "General Li, can't we rest a little longer? We really can't go on any further."

"Your Highness, this boat can only carry three people at a time. Allow me to escort you across first," Li He said.

However, those palace maids do not evoke a sense of nobility simply by acting delicate; rather, it is the princess of comfort who has never uttered a word of hardship that clearly demonstrates her true status as a precious and esteemed princess. She is not weak, yet she steadfastly maintains her dignity, embodying the grace of a royal princess without any compromise.

Although the guards selected by Empress Su for Princess Anle are all elites from the Tiger Ben Army, they are no match for the fierce bandits due to their ferocity and overwhelming numbers, which far exceed the capabilities of those two hundred Tiger Ben soldiers

Li He led Ji Yang eastward in flight, not daring to cross the river directly. Instead, they headed east up the mountain and concealed themselves in the dense forest. Not seeing the bandits pursuing them, they finally stopped to rest.

Yusui'er wanted to step forward to assist Ji Yang, but she was rejected. Leaning on the wooden stick that Li He had carved for her, she continued to walk ahead. The three palace maids behind her, although they also had wooden sticks, were panting and struggling as they climbed the mountain, appearing even more fragile than Ji Yang, the Princess of Anle.

"General Li, please rise. If it were not for your valiant efforts to protect Anle, Anle would have long been a victim of the sword. Once Anle arrives in Jizhou, he will certainly write to His Majesty, requesting that you be rewarded for your service." Ji Yang helped Li He to his feet.

Despite the dew soaking her shoes and socks, and the hem of her skirt being stained with a thin layer of green from the sap of the plants, along with some grass roots sticking to it, in Li He's eyes, the girl standing in the sunlight at the mountain pass seemed to be enveloped in a divine glow, captivating and enchanting those who beheld her

Li He knelt on one knee before Ji Yang and said, "Your Highness, I humbly request that you punish me for my inadequate protection of your safety."

Li He never believed that "Nobility and high officials are not determined by birth," but today he must admit that the demeanor of the royal family is indeed extraordinary

The Tiger Ben Army suffered casualties and some fled. Fortunately, Li Hezhong, with his unwavering loyalty, led about ten soldiers to desperately protect Ji Yang and her several maidservants as they broke through the encirclement. Otherwise, the dignified Princess Anle, the future Lady of Ji, would have likely been left in the mountains to become the consort of some bandit leader.

Jade Sui'er nodded; that was the person the princess was to marry, and naturally, she needed to inquire further. However, being in the palace, their knowledge was limited. "I heard that the Marquis of Xinyang has a wife from the Yun family of Fanyang, and they have a son."

Thank you, Princess," Li He said with some excitement. "This place is safe; once we cross the Zhang River, we will be in the territory of Jizhou, and those people will not dare to pursue us.

"Accelerate your pace and pass quickly." General Li He of the Tiger Ben Army, responsible for escorting Ji Yang, urged the escorting personnel to hurry through the valley.

"Hmm, have you heard about the matter concerning the Marquis of Xinyang?" Ji Yang asked Yusui Er. While in the palace, she did not dare to inquire about Shen Du at all, as her mother was already very saddened by her impending marriage, and no one dared to mention this betrothal in front of her.