“Alright, you may go in. Head to the embassy and register. In three days, the wedding ceremony will take place at the Palace of the Moon, and all the marriage parties will attend.” The fat man, now more respectful, made no further trouble, understanding well that the more beautiful the woman, the more she needed to be treated with care. Who knows, she might just become favored one day.
Lian Huan respectfully stepped aside, clearing the way for Huang Bei Shuang.
By now, the ten warriors and three maids had made her their sole belief, vowing to follow her to death, fearing no battle!
“Jiang Lei, Yun Zai, how about I give you a difficult task?” Huang Bei Shuang asked after a long period of reflection as they approached the embassy.
“We are at your command, Na Shou!” The two men moved to her side.
Huang Bei Shuang whispered to them for a while, then raised her head and said, “Be careful with everything. Take care!”
The two nodded to her, then turned and left.
“We’ve come here for our people, but staying alive is for ourselves.” Huang Bei Shuang suddenly turned back with a smile, addressing the remaining eleven people: “From now on, we’ll face constant danger, so we need to be cautious. Every action must be well-organized. Lian Huan, I appoint you as the commander of the guards to protect us. Qing Yi, you will lead the maids and handle all the arrangements.”
“Yes!” the two of them responded in unison.
“Alright, we’ve reached the embassy. Let’s go in!”
Huang Bei Shuang looked up at the plaque hanging over the entrance, which read “Ningdu Embassy,” clenched her hand, and led the twelve people inside.
The embassy’s hall was packed with people. It seemed that many of the slave nations had sent their women here as part of the marriage alliances. Some of these women sat shyly in the corner, watching the bustling crowd, while others confidently surveyed their surroundings, certain of their unmatched beauty. Each of the girls had come with their guards and maids, and they seemed luckier than Huang Bei Shuang’s group, as they hadn’t encountered bandits along the way.
“The ambassador has arrived! Silence, please!” A shout rang out, and the room fell into dead silence.
“Is everyone here?” A middle-aged man with a fairly robust build walked out, followed by several soldiers. He scanned the group standing before him.
“Alright, the time has come. The three-day reception period is over. Cross off those who didn’t arrive. Let’s start the roll call now.” He took a sip of water, his tone cold. Everyone understood immediately: most of those who hadn’t arrived likely lost their lives on the road.
“Princess Yu Qiang of Masui!”
“Over here!” A young servant raised his hand.
The ambassador snorted. “Just shout back if your master’s here!”
“Lady Zheng Fang of Guhe!”
“Present!”
“Madam Hanyu of Mizang.”
“Here!”
The roll call was rattling everyone’s nerves. Who would have thought that, besides Tiandu, the other four major powers had also sent people? Yunpei’s strength was clear.
At this moment, some of the girls in the hall began crying out of fear, while others furrowed their brows in calculation, realizing that if they were born into humble backgrounds without much knowledge, surviving on this dangerous land would require a lot of luck. Historically, brides sent for political marriages often didn’t even leave behind a trace of where their bodies ended up.
“Huang Bei Shuang from Ernaqi!”
“Here!” Dao Qiu (one of the maids) answered promptly, her voice steady, without a hint of hesitation. This caught the ambassador’s attention, and he looked up. Oh? His eyes flickered. This group was definitely the real deal! Just eight guards, yet they exuded a dignified aura, constantly alert. And the three maids were all stunning, rivaling the princesses from the smaller tribes. But even they couldn’t compare to the composed Na Shou, Huang Bei Shuang, standing in the center. There was something different about her—a strange air, almost as if a queen herself had arrived!
“Huang Bei Shuang from Ernaqi!” For some reason, the ambassador called out her name again.
Suddenly, one of the blue-robed maids, Zai Ping, chuckled. Her bell-like voice rang out: “Sir, you must be forgetful. Didn’t you just call her name? Or maybe my sister Dao Qiu’s voice is so pleasant that you can’t help but want to hear it again?”
In an instant, the tense atmosphere was broken, and the crowd erupted in laughter.
“Oh! My mistake...” The ambassador, a bit embarrassed, slapped his own head, his authority slipping away.
After a moment, he continued the roll call.
“Lady Tian Guan of Zhiken.”
“Here!”
“Lady Zhen Biting of Na Kuo’er.”
“Here!”
…
After a long and tedious roll call, it became apparent that only noblewomen from the major powers had titles, while all the others, including those from Ernaqi, were addressed simply as “Miss.” This was the harsh reality of life—people are never truly equal.
“Alright, roll call complete!” The ambassador smiled slightly as he closed the register. “Twenty-one confirmed. Please take these next three days to rest well and gather your strength before His Majesty’s audience!” With that, he left, paying no more attention to the crowd.
As the hall began to empty, servants busied themselves attending to their mistresses. No sooner had the ambassador left than the girls began gossiping and competing with one another.
The most popular among them was the famed beauty, You Jia, sent by Zhen Qu. From a distance, Huang Bei Shuang couldn’t help but admire her. She truly was a beauty! Her skin was soft and radiant, but what stood out most were her large, watery eyes, filled with emotion. It was impossible not to be captivated by them.
Despite the envy and hostility surrounding her, You Jia remained resolute and proud, her presence outshining the other women in the room. Unable to match her beauty or challenge her aura, the other girls could only stomp their feet in frustration.
Such beauty didn’t belong in a place like this. With a sigh, Huang Bei Shuang chuckled softly and turned to leave with her group.
“Huang Bei Shuang! Stop right there!”
Just as she stepped onto the threshold, someone called out to her. She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned around.
“Princess Yu Qiang! What is it?” Huang Bei Shuang feigned fear in her voice, naturally leaning closer to her maids.
Seeing her timid appearance, Princess Yu Qiang’s mood brightened considerably.
“Hmph! Just because you’re pretty doesn’t mean you’re something special! You’re no worse than that You Jia, so why are you acting so spineless? What are you hiding from? Afraid I’ll eat you?” She grabbed Huang Bei Shuang’s arm and yanked her out, following it up with a hard slap to the face, making her turn slightly. Lian Huan’s hand instinctively moved to his sword, ready to strike, but Huang Bei Shuang gave him a sharp look, signaling him to stand down. He retreated reluctantly.
“Why are you crying?” Princess Yu Qiang sneered, clearly pleased with Huang Bei Shuang’s frightened and helpless reaction. It seemed that the frustration she had felt towards You Jia was now being vented on her. Huang Bei Shuang, however, merely covered her face and wept.
“Pathetic. Get out of my sight!” Princess Yu Qiang sneered triumphantly. Her arrogance was understandable. After all, she wasn’t from a slave nation and had come here not out of subservience, but as a gesture of goodwill. In some respects, she held political power, representing Masui, one of the five great powers. Her attempts to intimidate the other women before entering the palace were hardly surprising.
With that, Zai Ping and the other maids quickly rushed over, one helping Huang Bei Shuang to her feet while the other gently wiped her face as they hurried her away.
"Na Shou, why were you afraid of her?" Qing Yi and the others couldn’t help but ask after they left the embassy.
“The conflicts between women are mostly about vying for attention and beauty. As long as it doesn’t concern us, we should avoid unnecessary confrontations. Besides, we have no foundation here yet. Being reckless and competitive might lead to deadly consequences.” Huang Bei Shuang rubbed her face. “It really hurts! If I get the chance, I’ll pay her back with ten slaps!”
Hearing this, Qing Yi burst out laughing. “It’s so reassuring to follow Na Shou. You always make us feel safe!”
The others nodded in agreement, reflecting their true feelings.
“Na Shou, the ambassador has already arranged rooms for everyone. Should we go rest now?” Zai Ping asked.
But Huang Bei Shuang mischievously blinked and replied, “We’re not staying at the embassy. Let’s take these three days to explore the famous Yunpei Ningdu and have some fun!”
Everyone was taken aback, looking at her in disbelief.
But Huang Bei Shuang wasn’t joking. While the other marriage delegations were busy bribing and currying favor with the Ningdu officials, she truly took her eleven companions on a leisurely tour of the city. They immersed themselves in the local customs and lifestyle of Yunpei, gaining a good understanding of it. Along the way, they enjoyed themselves immensely, laughing and chatting without a care in the world.
Perhaps, for them, these three days were the most carefree and joyful of their lives!
They still remembered: No trace was just a dream.
Faintly walking with the wind, gazing at the endless towering sand dunes,
Unable to sweep away the desolation of the world.
How I longed to be with you, until the tears welled up!
Those three days—still carefree...
Those three days—still with you!
That night, the towering palace gleamed with golden splendor, its grandeur illuminated by the glow of flickering lights. High on the walls, intricate carvings depicted horses soaring through the wind and eagles in majestic flight, vivid and lifelike. Embedded in the center of it all was a massive gemstone, radiant and mysterious, as if illuminating everything under the heavens.
Such luxury was awe-inspiring.
“So, have the troops sent to investigate the Mang Liu case been found?” The speaker lounged on a large, ornate bed, half-shrouded by flowing curtains. His voice, however, carried a dangerous undertone.
“They were found, but... they’re all mentally incoherent, unable to give any explanation!” The person replying appeared strong and imposing, his demeanor stern. Judging by his appearance, he was either a general or some high-ranking officer.
Anyone who could make him kneel was clearly of significant status.
The man rose from the bed, but his tone remained unexpectedly calm.
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