Chapter 42: Faraway Marriage (Middle)

  The bright sunlight shone through the window, casting a warm glow on the table. Qing Sang gazed at the fragmented sunlight, only a small portion of which fell onto her desk, much like her own heart - fragmented and without hope.

  Last night, Qing Sang had held this lotus flower earring for a long time. The lotus flowers in He Yan's estate were probably planted on purpose. But why did He Yan want to plant these lotus flowers? And whose was this earring? Where did it come from? These questions swirled in Qing Sang's mind, making her toss and turn until dawn broke, when she finally fell asleep with the earring still clutched in her hand.

  As the wedding day drew near, Qing Sang grew more and more fearful. If she had been nervous about marrying the crown prince before, now she felt only terror.

  Blind marriage! The phrase echoed in Qing Sang's mind. She had never seen this Northern Yan prince, didn't know if he was tall or short, fat or thin. When she woke up, her mind was a jumble of thoughts, and she hadn't even thought to ask about the prince's news. Now that she thought about it, she realized she knew nothing about him, which wouldn't be good for her future in Northern Yan.

  So she asked Cai Xiang, who was styling her hair at the time. Cai Xiang didn't know much about the prince either, only that he had been separated from his father, the king of Northern Yan, when he was seven years old and had grown up in the capital city. He had only recently been found.

  Cai Xiang's information was too scarce, leaving Qing Sang with more questions than answers. She wondered how this Northern Yan prince could have grown up in the capital city and how he had been found.

  As she pondered these questions, the time for her departure arrived. Before dawn broke, Cai Xiang led a group of people to help Qing Sang get dressed and made up.

  "Your Highness, these are the eunuchs and palace maids carefully selected by His Majesty and Her Majesty to accompany you to Northern Yan," Cai Xiang said, pointing to two rows of people standing behind her. "Please give them instructions."

  Qing Sang sighed inwardly, thinking that these people would have to suffer with her in Northern Yan. She didn't feel like giving them instructions, so she simply waved her hand and told them to leave.

  Cai Xiang kept the first eunuch and palace maid from each row and introduced them to Qing Sang. "These two were specially chosen by His Majesty from among the most capable people in the palace to serve you closely."

  Qing Sang looked at Cai Xiang and smiled. "You're already very capable, but I suppose it's good to have some extra help." She turned to the two new attendants and asked, "What are your names?"

  The eunuch replied, "I am Zhu Zi." The palace maid said, "I am Shan Tao."

  Qing Sang told them to stand up and speak without kneeling. "From now on, when I ask you questions, just answer without bowing or kneeling."

  Zhu Zi smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Highness." Shan Tao nodded in agreement.

  As they chatted, the sky began to lighten. Cai Xiang and Shan Tao started helping Qing Sang get dressed and made up.

  Qing Sang thought for a moment and then said to Zhu Zi, "From now on, I'll call you Chang An. It's a good omen, meaning 'peace and safety always'." She smiled mischievously, thinking that if she gave him the name Zhu Yuanzhang, it would be too much like the name of the first emperor of the Ming dynasty, and he might come back from the dead to scold her.

  Zhu Zi's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Your Highness, for giving me a new name. I wish you joy and peace always."

  Qing Sang smiled and said, "You're clever. Just remember, I told you not to kneel, so don't forget it."

  Looking at herself in the mirror wearing a bright red wedding dress, Qing Sang felt a mix of emotions. Not long ago, she had worn this same dress again, but this time she was marrying someone else. The thought of spending her first night with this stranger filled her with dread. Moreover, the fact that she was no longer a virgin made her worry about the consequences.

  On this day, the joyful sound of trumpets filled the air. Qing Sang, accompanied by Cao Xiang and Shan Tao, left the Moon An Palace and embarked on an unknown path. She paid respects to the Emperor and Empress, who bestowed upon her the title of Princess Jia Ming. After completing a series of rituals, Qing Sang put on a bright red veil and walked down the stairs, heading towards the North Gate.

  When she had met with the Empress earlier, Qing Sang noticed a look of shock on her face. It seemed that the Empress was unaware of the Emperor's plan to turn Qing Sang into a princess. Indeed, Qing Sang should have been lying in a cold coffin, accompanying the late prince.

  Thinking about the deceased prince filled Qing Sang's heart with pain. According to tradition, the palace should not be holding such grand celebrations so soon after his passing. Suddenly, Qing Sang remembered when she had gone to ask the prince if it was suitable for her to marry during this period of mourning, and how he had shown sadness and humiliation.

  As she walked down the stairs, Cao Xiang handed her a red ribbon from someone on the side. A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the red veil, and Qing Sang caught a glimpse of a figure wearing a light-colored long robe. However, before she could get a clear look, the red veil fell back down, and all she saw was a sea of red.

  Following the person holding the other end of the ribbon, Qing Sang walked to a carriage adorned with red ribbons and curtains. She carefully stepped up onto the carriage and sat inside, where a maid took the ribbon from her hand.

  The prince of Bei Rong mounted his horse, and according to tradition, he should have been accompanied by a powerful escort to ensure the princess's safety until they reached their destination. However, since the prince was already in the capital, he would be taking Qing Sang back to his homeland personally.

  Despite this, the Emperor still dispatched over a hundred guards to escort them to Bei Rong, and another thousand soldiers from the Qian Niu Guard, led by He Yan, to escort them to the border city of Duo Sai. The trumpets sounded again, signaling the departure of the wedding procession.