"Hmph! Zhu Jun, how much did Zhen Qu bribe you? Be careful not to overstep your bounds!" Na Zhan's gaze turned cold.
Zhu Jun hurriedly knelt, responding quickly, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty! Yes, I did receive bribes, but the fact remains that You Jia is truly extraordinary!"
"Where has Huang Bei Shuang been during those three days?" Na Zhan asked.
"Which one do you mean, Your Majesty?" Zhu Jun asked cautiously.
"Huang Bei Shuang!" Na Zhan clarified.
"Ah! She spent some time near the city gate, then visited the marketplace and the agricultural fields. The next day, she went to the temple and the Tower of Heaven, and finally..." Zhu Jun paused, observing Na Zhan’s expression.
"Where did she go?" Na Zhan asked calmly.
"Finally, she visited the Founding Tomb of Chuang Tian!" Zhu Jun quickly replied.
"Hahaha!" Na Zhan laughed loudly, his voice filled with arrogance. "Instead of staying in the embassy to quarrel with the other princesses, she spent three days exploring Ningdu and grasped our customs and history! This woman is no simpleton. Of all the marriage envoys who passed through the northern desert and encountered bandits, she’s the first to arrive here safely!" Na Zhan's voice carried a sense of satisfaction, as if he had discovered something truly fascinating, with a hint of anticipation.
The air was filled with Zhu Jun’s uncertain laughter.
Meanwhile, in the embassy, Huang Bei Shuang and her three maids were packing their things in preparation for the marriage ceremony the next day. The eight guards stood in two rows at the door, taking turns keeping watch. Their room was the quietest in the embassy; in contrast, the other rooms were bustling with activity, with many of the girls practicing their dances and songs in an effort to stand out.
"Qing Yi, tomorrow will be your moment to shine. Are you nervous?" Huang Bei Shuang asked from her bed, seemingly in a good mood.
"We’re not nervous at all! Every girl from Ernaqi can sing and dance! Besides, we’ve had special training, so why would we be afraid?" Qing Yi replied, a bit defiantly.
"Exactly! If Na Shou were to perform herself, those princesses would be shamed to death! I’d love to see that!" Zai Ping, who was helping Huang Bei Shuang wash her feet, chimed in.
"Right! That’s what I think too! That You Jia from Zhen Qu, with her heavy makeup, can’t even compare to Na Shou’s little toe. I’m so annoyed!" Dao Qiu added, venting her frustration.
The maids began chattering away, causing Huang Bei Shuang to chuckle. Despite everything they had been through, including near-death experiences, the girls still had a childlike innocence about them.
"Enough chatter," Huang Bei Shuang said, lying down. "Come on up! Let’s all sleep together tonight!" She patted the blanket beside her, looking lively. Without hesitation, the three maids jumped into the bed with her, huddling together under the covers.
That night, beneath the moonlight, soft voices could be heard.
"After three days of exploring, what are your thoughts? Let’s hear them!" Huang Bei Shuang asked.
"Hmm... I think it’s beautiful here. Life is so orderly."
"Yes, it’s beautiful, but I think it’s too restrictive—too many rules."
"I think... everything seems to be here!"
Each of the maids shared their thoughts, and Huang Bei Shuang smiled.
"Qing Yi, Zai Ping, Dao Qiu, do you know why the noble girls in these political marriages are given titles like ‘princess’ or ‘lady’? Do you know why?"
"Because they come from the ruling nations!" Qing Yi replied.
"Exactly! So, if Ernaqi were to give me a title and call me a ‘princess,’ do you know what would happen?" Huang Bei Shuang’s tone was calm, but it carried an undercurrent of intensity.
"That would be treason! Punishable by death, to make an example of us! Because we’re from a slave nation, and slaves must know their place!"
As soon as she spoke, the three maids fell silent, their hearts troubled.
"Remember this truth. Once we enter the palace, you’ll understand it even more deeply. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before, and you’ll feel a sense of power and cruelty from another world. Are you sure you won’t be nervous or afraid?"
The three maids said nothing, reflecting on the grandeur of Yunpei that had stunned them over the past few days. They had stood frozen in awe countless times. Could they really say they wouldn’t be afraid? They didn’t know how to answer.
"Don’t be afraid!"
Huang Bei Shuang’s resolute voice cut through the silence: “Do not be afraid. When you step onto the grand hall, singing and dancing to offer your loyalty, I will be right beside you, standing with you. I am not afraid, so you must not be afraid either! Remember, having faced death once, what else is there to fear?”
“I took you on this tour of Ningdu so that you could quickly adjust to this unfamiliar world. Never again should you be distracted by unexpected sights and forget your true nature! Do you understand?”
Her voice, soft yet firm, gradually calmed the turmoil in everyone’s hearts.
The night deepened. No one spoke further.Whose riddle is it, stirring hearts in the darkness?Whose fragrance is it, warming the soul with its sweetness?Sleep now, sleep now, for I’ve never known the answer to the riddle,And I’ve never let myself be ensnared by such thoughts.The rain of sand covered the tracks of my journey,Yet now, the shade of green interrupts the peace I longed for…How can I forget!That riddle, and that sweetness...Qing Yun, do you remember?You once swore never to let go.
Qing Yun, how can I possibly forget you?
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