The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Extra 14 Settled
In the third year of Taichang, during the first lunar month.
The entourage of Northern Liang’s Yubei Wang, accompanied by officials from the Great Xia’s Honglu Temple, completed their tour of inspection across various states of Great Xia and returned to the capital city. At the same time, Princess Rong’an and her accompanying officials also returned to the capital from the northwest.
The Honglu Temple received news that the Northern Liang delegation would depart from Great Xia at the end of the month to return to Northern Liang.
Before the Northern Liang delegation left the capital, the Imperial Astronomers selected an auspicious day, and the imperial family held a farewell banquet for the Northern Liang delegation at the Fengtian Hall.
After the banquet, Prince Yubei, Xiao Jingyan, requested an audience with the Emperor of Great Xia and once again proposed the matter of a marriage alliance to His Majesty, Feng Zhan.
Later that evening, the Empress Dowager summoned the Dowager Consort De to the Shou’an Palace.
In the Shou’an Palace, after a few casual opening remarks between the Empress Dowager and the Dowager Consort De, the Empress Dowager said, “Yubei Wang of Northern Liang intends to form a marriage alliance with Great Xia and has asked His Majesty for the hand of Princess Jingyi in marriage.”
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Dowager Consort De’s expression changed dramatically.
Dowager Consort De had heard the rumors circulating in the capital these days, suggesting that the Northern Liang delegation’s visit to Great Xia might be to discuss a marriage alliance.
This news had not been confirmed, and it was the first time it had been mentioned by the Empress Dowager herself.
But a marriage alliance?
Although Dowager Consort De felt somewhat flustered, she did not immediately lose her composure. As a member of the imperial family, she knew that imperial commands took precedence, and she had to maintain that awareness.
She steadied her mind and asked the Empress Dowager, “Empress Dowager, what is the Emperor’s intention?”
The Empress Dowager picked up the teacup beside her but did not drink directly. Instead, she lowered her eyes slightly and gently stirred the tea leaves with her armored hand, playing with the lid of the cup.
Dowager Consort De grew even more anxious and uncertain due to the Empress Dowager’s unhurried actions, while also feeling intimidated by the imposing presence of the former empress.
The Empress Dowager usually appeared calm and detached from worldly affairs, which almost made people forget that she was the eldest daughter of a prestigious family, groomed from a young age by the former Prime Minister Mansion to become the nation’s mother.
Hearing this, Dowager Consort De slightly relaxed, but she didn’t believe that the Empress Dowager had summoned her just to say this. There was likely more to come.
Dowager Consort De lowered her gaze, calming her emotions, and waited quietly.
Finally, the Empress Dowager took a small sip of the tea and then set the cup down. She looked at Dowager Consort De and spoke slowly, “His Majesty said that Great Xia does not need to use princesses for marriage alliances. It was the case in the past, and even more so now.”
As expected, the Empress Dowager paused briefly before continuing, “Although the matter of selecting a husband for Princess Jingyi appears to be under my supervision as the Empress Dowager, in reality, His Majesty has left the decision to you and your daughter. This, you are well aware of.”
“Princess Jingyi, as the only unmarried princess of suitable age in the Great Xia imperial family, is inevitably the subject of others’ ambitions.”
“It’s about time to settle this matter.”
Just as Dowager Consort De was about to nod in agreement, the Empress Dowager’s voice rang out once more.
“Actually, a marriage alliance between the two nations could be a good thing.”
“Now that the Northern Liang has taken the initiative to propose a marriage alliance, even though Great Xia and Northern Liang are friendly states, if Great Xia repeatedly rejects their offer and damages their pride, it’s hard to guarantee that the Northern Liang won’t perceive Great Xia as overly arrogant and harbor resentment.”
“The inner palace, it could be said, is a place that consumes people, but thanks to the current Emperor and Empress, everyone’s lives have been relatively comfortable.”
“What we can do is to avoid causing trouble for the court and not put the Emperor or the Empress in difficult positions.”
“Dowager Consort De, what do you think?”
After finishing her words, the Empress Dowager picked up a freshly poured cup of tea and took a slow sip.
Although the Empress Dowager’s tone was calm and unhurried, seemingly devoid of excessive emotion, there was an underlying sense of pressure in her words.
Dowager Consort De, while not overly clever, was not a fool either. Having lived in the inner palace for so many years, she naturally understood the underlying message.
Whether Great Xia’s refusal to enter another marriage alliance with Northern Liang would affect the court, or to what extent, was something these women of the inner palace could not fully grasp.
However, the Empress Dowager’s words were not without reason. The Emperor and Empress had granted them honor and convenience, and they could not feign ignorance or fail to consider the interests of Great Xia.
“Your Majesty speaks wisely,” Dowager Consort De said after a moment of silence, bowing in gratitude before taking her leave.
As Dowager Consort De left the Shou’an Palace, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
On one hand, she felt relieved that her daughter, Yuyao, would not have to marry into an alliance after all, and she was genuinely grateful to the Emperor and Empress. On the other hand, she felt a deep sense of shame for her previous lack of thorough consideration.
But this matter of selecting a prince consort…
Dowager Consort De furrowed her brows slightly. She understood her daughter Yuyao’s feelings, but recently, Yuyao’s state of mind had not been right.
Instead of returning directly to her own palace, Xianfu Palace, Dowager Consort De went to see Feng Yuyao, who had just returned to the palace.
In Ganquan Palace, Feng Yuyao listened quietly as her mother spoke to her with heartfelt sincerity.
“One must learn to be content. If Shen Ci does not agree, then we must quickly choose someone suitable. It is better than being sent to Northern Liang for a marriage alliance.”
That night, Feng Yuyao’s mind was filled with countless thoughts, and she lay awake until dawn.
Ever since overhearing the conversation between Shen Ci and Yan Yan in the Ningshou Palace last year, Feng Yuyao had been disheartened. She left the palace for the Dajue Temple, only returning briefly for the New Year before leaving again soon after.
This time, her return to the palace was solely to attend the farewell banquet for the Northern Liang delegation, fulfilling her duties as a member of the imperial family.
Now, both Great Xia and the palace were filled with joy and celebration. Feng Yuyao knew her own mood was not in harmony with the festivities, and she did not want to dampen others’ spirits with her demeanor.
Thus, she avoided interactions as much as possible and had no intention of staying long this time.
But her mother’s words had awakened Feng Yuyao.
Avoidance was not a solution. She, Feng Yuyao, was not just a young lady confined to the inner chambers. She was a princess, the eldest princess of Great Xia.
————
The next day, Feng Yuyao went to the Kunning Palace to request an audience with the Empress.
After the formal greetings, Feng Yuyao got straight to the point, “Yan Yan, I heard from my mother that Yubei Wang of Northern Liang has proposed a marriage alliance between our two nations.”
Qin Yan looked at Feng Yuyao’s solemn expression but did not respond immediately.
Feng Yuyao continued, “Empress, if Great Xia requires me, Feng Yuyao, as the eldest princess, to go to Northern Liang for a marriage alliance, I am willing to do so.”
At this moment, Feng Yuyao no longer addressed Qin Yan as “Yan Yan” but formally as “Empress.” This meant that Feng Yuyao’s words were a statement made in her capacity as Princess Jingyi.
Qin Yan was somewhat surprised. Why would Feng Yuyao have such thoughts?
After a moment of silence in the hall, Qin Yan’s cool voice rang out, “That day, did you hear Shen Ci’s response?”
Hearing this, Feng Yuyao’s expression darkened, and then she nodded.
Qin Yan frowned. Did she hear it? Then why this reaction?
Qin Yan has been quite busy with official duties recently. She had vaguely noticed that something was off with Feng Yuyao but hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Now that she thought about it, it seemed that Shen Ying had mentioned that Feng Yuyao had left early that day. How early was “early”?
Qin Yan shifted her position on the large chair and then said, “Yuyao, first tell me, what did you hear Shen Ci say that day?”
Feng Yuyao looked up in confusion.
What had Shen Ci said? And why was Yan Yan asking this?
A short while later, Feng Yuyao emerged from the Kunning Palace with a flushed face and hurried straight to a secluded pavilion in the imperial garden.
The gentle, slightly cool breeze brushed against her face, but Feng Yuyao’s cheeks grew increasingly warm.
After a moment, the young maid waiting outside the pavilion heard her princess muttering indignantly.
“Why did you leave so quickly that day? Why did you leave so quickly?”
“All this time, I’ve been stewing in my own anger, and thankfully I didn’t get sick from it…”
The maid kept her eyes downcast, not daring to glance into the pavilion.
But… why did the princess seem to be in a surprisingly good mood after a long time?
————
At the end of the first lunar month of the third year of Taichang, Gu Junyan, the only son of the Marquis Pingnan of Lingnan, got married.
Since Feng Yuyao’s mother, Dowager Consort De, was from the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion, Feng Yuyao specially represented the imperial family to travel to Lingnan to congratulate her cousin Gu Junyan. Accompanying her was General Shen Ci from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion.
The Great Xia imperial family, the Northern Liang Emperor, and Empress, and the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion all sent lavish gifts to the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion.
However, the empress, Qin Yan, sent her a personal congratulatory gift, which shocked everyone in the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion.
The Empress’s gift was a ten-year profit from the Yu Qingfeng Bank’s Jingzhou branch.
While the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion was astonished by the staggering amount of money, they couldn’t help but marvel at the Empress’s straightforward style of handling matters.
The Marquis Pingnan understood that the lavish gifts from the Northern Liang Emperor and Shen Shiying, as well as those from the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, including Empress Qin Yan’s gift, were all expressions of gratitude for the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion’s efforts in relaying messages from Shen Shiying over the years.
The Empress’s gift, though simple and direct, struck right at the heart of the Marquis Pingnan.
The Marquis of Pingnan Mansion had to maintain an army, and who wouldn’t want more money?
However, the Empress’s gift was likely also related to another matter.
The Marquis Pingnan’s expression turned serious as he instructed Gu Junyan, “Once the Empress’s people have completed their arrangements, the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion will spare no effort in assisting the Empress to achieve her goals.”
He spoke only to the point, knowing full well that his son had a good sense of propriety and would not act rashly. Otherwise, Junyan would not have agreed to this marriage.
Gu Junyan nodded, “I understand.”
The Marquis Pingnan looked at his son, sighed softly, and then said, “The Empress is an extraordinary woman, one that only a man like the Emperor could truly match.”
“Everyone has their youthful infatuations and regrets, Junyan. Life is long, and you still have your own path to walk.”
The Marquis Pingnan left the study after making his point, knowing full well that his son had a good sense of propriety and would not act rashly. Otherwise, Junyan would not have agreed to this marriage.
After the Marquis Pingnan left, Gu Junyan looked at the contract from Yu Qingfeng Bank that Qin Yan had sent, his eyes dimming slightly.
His connection with Qin Yan had begun long before most people in the capital even knew of her.
Back in the years before Qin Yan returned to the capital, she had traveled across various states of Great Xia under the pretext of searching for her mother, Shen Shiying, and had occasionally crossed paths with Gu Junyan.
As for how much of these “chance encounters” were deliberate, only Gu Junyan himself knew.
Over the years, Gu Junyan had witnessed Qin Yan’s transformation, watching her grow more beautiful and more powerful, so powerful that it was almost intimidating.
Such a woman was impossible not to admire.
But now that everything had been settled, there was no turning back. It was time to look forward.
————
Not long after the wedding banquet for Gu Junyan, the Shizi of the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion in Lingnan, news of a rebellion in Southern Xinjiang shook the region.
The rebels claimed dissatisfaction with the Empress’s autocratic rule, accusing her of waging war against Great Xia for personal gain, which had led to the shrinking of Southern Xinjiang, the decline of national strength, and the suffering of the people. Thus, they rose up in revolt.
Southern Xinjiang was already in a state of financial depletion and political instability after the war. Despite the daily struggles of the Empress, the former Princess Xinyue, and her officials to cope with the crisis, they could not stop the rebel forces from advancing toward the capital.
Amid the flames of war spreading across the southern borderlands, many refugees attempted to cross the Lancang River and the borderlines into Great Xia in search of survival.
The Marquis Pingnan, following the Emperor’s orders, deployed troops to Southern Xinjiang to maintain order and established shelters to properly accommodate the refugees from Southern Xinjiang.
As more and more Southern Xinjiang families received news of the safe haven, they began migrating and flooding into Great Xia. The Empress of Southern Xinjiang was furious and even sent troops to execute those attempting to cross the border. However, many still managed to sneak across under the cover of night.
————
In the capital city.
Qin Yan fell into deep thought as she read the intelligence reports in her hands.
Over the years, Southern Xinjiang had been riddled with internal conflicts, which had not eased after Princess Xinyue ascended the throne as Empress. In fact, the tensions had grown even more acute.
One of the reasons was Princess Xinyue’s abrupt decision to ascend the throne as a woman after the defeat in the war.
Qin Yan speculated that Princess Xinyue might have wanted to solidify her authority and suppress opposition from various factions in Southern Xinjiang. By taking the throne, she aimed to stabilize the southern frontier quickly in the aftermath of the war.
However, the rebels in various parts of southern Xinjiang are using the banner of “returning the southern Xinjiang regime to orthodoxy” to criticize Princess Xinyue for overstepping her role as a woman.
This was because, prior to Princess Xinyue, there had been no precedent for a woman to rule as Empress in Southern Xinjiang. Her ascension to the throne had ultimately provided the rebels with an opportunity to rally support.
Back when Qin Yan was pregnant, Feng Zhan had promised her that, regardless of whether she gave birth to a prince or a princess, the child would be named the crown prince. This was to reassure Qin Yan and ease her concerns, as he did not want her to risk her life again for childbirth.
Qin Yan had no doubt about the sincerity behind Feng Zhan’s words.
However, Qin Yan was not naive enough to think that the matter of the crown prince was so simple.
Although the empire belonged to the imperial family, the court had never been a place where the imperial family’s word was absolute.
Feng Zhan had repeatedly made exceptions for Qin Yan, granting her fiefdoms, allowing her to openly raise an army, and even permitting her, as the Empress, to participate in political affairs.
Qin Yan was well aware of the court officials’ sentiments. If a princess were suddenly declared the crown prince, it would undoubtedly stir up a storm in Great Xia.
Despite all this, there wasn’t much opposition in the court because Empress Qin Yan had indeed performed extraordinary feats for Great Xia.
While it wasn’t uncommon for the inner court to interfere in politics in Great Xia, there was no precedent for a woman to rule as Emperor, much like in Southern Xinjiang.
Since Feng Zhan had made this promise, he must have been prepared to bear the pressure that came with it.
However, Qin Yan disliked taking unnecessary risks. Beneath her thunderous methods lay meticulous planning. Her efforts to secure rights for women were gradual, testing the court’s limits without rushing forward.
In the end, the impact of reform on old powers and entrenched ideologies was too great, going against the inherent resistance of human nature. It had to be approached slowly, not hastily, to avoid backfiring.
The example of Princess Xinyue served as a cautionary tale.
————–
After the first birthday celebrations of the Crown Prince and Princess Anping, Empress Qin Yan quietly left the capital with a group of secret guards.
In the third lunar month of the third year of Taichang, the unrest in the southern borderlands intensified. The rebel forces stormed the imperial city, unstoppable in their advance, and the Empress of the Southern Xinjiang fled, her whereabouts unknown.
Princess Xinyue, accompanied by her trusted aides, headed south but was ambushed by a group of highly skilled black-clad assassins just as they crossed Southern Xinjiang’s boundary, trapping them in a dense forest.
The people who trapped them made no further moves; they simply had no intention of letting them leave.
Princess Xinyue’s heart sank, sensing that these weren’t enemies she could easily handle. They were waiting for someone.
But who could it be?
Two days later, Princess Xinyue met the mastermind behind these assassins.
When she saw the person approaching, Princess Xinyue’s eyes widened in shock.
It was actually her!
The Empress of Great Xia, Qin Yan!
————-
Empress Qin Yan was strikingly beautiful, her appearance unforgettable. Even after so many years, Princess Xinyue recognized her at a glance.
Princess Xinyue’s subordinates immediately went on high alert upon seeing the newcomer.
The Empress of Great Xia was notorious for her ruthless methods and formidable power.
Protected by her subordinates, Princess Xinyue addressed Empress Qin Yan, who stood a few meters away, “Empress, what brings you here?”
Qin Yan’s expression was calm and indifferent, but her words were cold and merciless. “I respect you as an opponent, so I’ve come to see you off.”
Such a grand gesture, just to see her off?
It was clear that this “seeing off” was not the kind one would expect.
Everyone on Princess Xinyue’s side immediately understood the implication behind the Empress of Great Xia’s words. They were both shocked and furious. How could the Empress of Great Xia be so arrogant!?
Qin Yan spoke to Princess Xinyue again, “Was the musician Su Qing one of your people?”
Princess Xinyue neither admitted nor denied it.
Empress Qin Yan had come all this way, so she must have had solid evidence. Whether Princess Xinyue admitted it or not was irrelevant.
At that moment, Princess Xinyue suddenly realized something. She glared coldly at Qin Yan and said, “There’s something I didn’t understand before. Where did the rebel forces across Southern Xinjiang get their money and supplies?”
“Now I have to ask, was the Empress behind this?”
Qin Yan did not respond, neither admitting nor denying it.
After a moment, Qin Yan turned to a tall, well-proportioned woman beside her and said, “Marquis of Guannei, I leave the rest to you.”
Han Shuangling nodded to the Empress and then gestured to the people behind her.
In an instant, Han Shuangling, radiating killing intent, led a group of people forward and clashed with Princess Xinyue’s subordinates.
Before coming, Han Shuangling had requested the Empress’s permission. Regardless of the outcome, the people of the Marquis of Guannei Mansion wanted to personally avenge the late Marquis.
Han Shuangling’s people were highly skilled and experienced, driven by a fierce desire for revenge. The Southern Xinjiang were no less formidable, skilled in using poison and hidden weapons. Both sides suffered continuous casualties.
At that moment, Qin Yan suddenly sensed a surge of killing intent from behind her.
Her sharp gaze turned in that direction just as a swift arrow shot out from the bushes.
A loud shout came from Shen Ying beside her, “Be careful!”
Everyone drew their weapons to defend, but the arrow was aimed straight at the crowd in the midst of the battle. Han Shuangling was about to dodge when she suddenly realized the arrow wasn’t aimed at her.
With a “whoosh,” the arrow flew past and struck Princess Xinyue of Southern Xinjiang, who had no time to react, right in the chest.
Princess Xinyue fell to the ground with an arrow in her chest, and her subordinates were thrown into chaos.
“Your Majesty!”
“Princess!”
—————
Seizing the opportunity, Han Shuangling led her subordinates to swiftly eliminate the remaining Southern Xinjiang rebels.
Meanwhile, Shen Ying, under her master’s orders, led the secret guards to pursue the assassin who had launched the sneak attack.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, Shen Ying returned to report, “Master, the assassin fled into the forest, leaped off a cliff, and boarded a ship waiting below. The ship has already set sail.”
Shen Ying hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Master, it seemed that I saw Ning Wang on that ship.”
Qin Yan’s eyebrows lifted slightly, Ning Wang?
She quickly stepped out of the forest and stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing into the distance. The salty sea breeze filled her nostrils as the ship’s sails grew smaller on the horizon.
Not long after, Han Shuangling came to report, “Empress, all of Princess Xinyue’s subordinates have been killed.”
“Additionally, we just received news that Ning Wang died at the hands of Southern Xinjiang rebels while traveling south with Princess Xinyue.”
Qin Yan nodded and stood at the cliff’s edge for a moment longer before turning and leading her group away.
On the stern of the ship heading southwest, Ning Wang, Feng Sui, watched the receding coastline with a sense of calm he had never felt before.
Earlier, a subordinate had asked in confusion, “Why did we kill the Empress of Southern Xinjiang?”
Why?
A faint smile curled at the corners of Feng Sui’s lips.
Princess Xinyue of Southern Xinjiang was cunning and scheming. Feng Sui couldn’t afford to let Empress Qin Yan of Great Xia take even the slightest risk in this place. If anything were to happen to her here, no one could withstand the wrath of Great Xia’s Emperor.
As for him, he would find his place to stand on the southern end of this continent.
Feng Sui spread his arms, letting the moist sea breeze fill his robes. He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
This feeling must be what freedom tastes like.
In the third month of the third year of Taichang, Southern Xinjiang erupted in rebellion. By the end of the third month, the Southern Xinjiang imperial family sought help from their neighboring country, Great Xia, to quell the uprising and announced that Southern Xinjiang would submit to Great Xia, establishing a prefecture.
From that moment on, Southern Xinjiang ceased to exist as a nation.
—————
In the capital of Great Xia.
After finishing his governmental duties, Feng Zhan returned to the Kunning Palace to rest.
Even when Qin Yan was not around, Feng Zhan habitually stayed in the Kunning Palace, as if waiting for her return.
But today, when he stepped into the inner chamber, he found two little figures lying on the bed, their bottoms up, fast asleep.
Feng Zhan paused at the edge of the bed.
The nanny whispered, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the Princess have been crying and fussing all day. They only calmed down when they came to the Empress’s quarters. We believe they must be missing the Empress.”
Feng Zhan sighed softly. At such a young age, could they really understand what it meant to miss someone?
He took a couple of steps closer, his gaze softening as he looked at the two exquisitely delicate twins sprawled haphazardly on the bed, each covered with a small fleece blanket. They were his and Qin Yan’s children.
After Feng Zhan finished his bath, the two children were still asleep. He moved quietly onto the bed, carefully shifting the little ones further in, and lay down on the outer edge of the bed, fully dressed.
Feng Zhan closed his eyes. With each breath, the soft pillow seemed to carry Qin Yan’s scent. The corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly as he gradually drifted into sleep.
Half-asleep, Feng Zhan sensed something nudging against him and immediately opened his eyes.
He saw the two tiny children wriggling close to him, and Princess Anping, Feng Ning, was drowsily nestled against his chest, whimpering and squirming.
Feng Zhan’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Was this little girl… looking for milk?
His expression darkened instantly.
After a soft sigh, Feng Zhan wrapped one arm around each child, gently patting their backs as the three of them settled back to sleep.
But in their dreams, the children seemed to whimper pitifully, as if truly missing their mother.
Feng Zhan frowned and sighed again.
Did they think he didn’t miss her? Didn’t feel the same?
In the middle of the night, Feng Zhan was awakened by the sound of children crying beside him.
“Someone comes.”
Song Zhi and the nanny hurried in at his call.
Feng Zhan’s brow furrowed as he carried one crying child in each arm and got up from the bed.
When the nanny took the twins from his arms, Feng Zhan suddenly felt a dampness on his left sleeve.
At that moment, the nanny also noticed something. While soothing the children, she hesitantly addressed the Emperor, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince… has wet the bed.”
Feng Zhan’s expression darkened. He glanced at Crown Prince Feng Qi, who was still crying with his eyes tightly shut, and then turned his gaze to the noticeably damp spot on the bed.
Feng Qi, great!