Wan Yanxue came to the Posthouse daily, either to challenge Jun Ce to a spar or to accompany Jun Fei, telling her amusing anecdotes.
Jun Fei's attitude towards Wan Yanxue gradually softened.
Nearly ten days passed in a flash, and finally, the wedding day arrived.
Before dawn, Jun Fei rose to bathe and dress.
She donned the wedding attire sent by Northern Flame and allowed the bridal attendants to arrange her hair and makeup. She was like a puppet on strings, neither smiling nor crying, her face devoid of expression.
When the ceremonial carriage from the Imperial Palace arrived, Jun Ce escorted her to the Northern Flame Imperial Palace.
With her bridal veil covering her face, Jun Fei only heard Jun Ce's voice, "Fei'er, don't be afraid. Third Brother is right here, watching you."
Jun Fei's heart was a mix of emotions.
She hadn't been able to wear a wedding gown for the man she loved, yet she was wearing one for the Crown Prince of the enemy nation who had killed him.
Her hand was placed by Jun Ce into another man's.
That hand was very large, and so warm that she instinctively recoiled, but the other party held her tightly.
The owner of that large hand led her step by step onto a high platform. Jun Fei, like a puppet, followed the chants and performed each step.
Finally, in a daze, she was helped by a female official, turning and winding through corridors until she entered a palace chamber and settled onto a soft bed.
This was the Eastern Palace.
This was the cage that would imprison the rest of her life.
Maidservants came and went, in and out.
Gradually, only a few remained.
Just then, Liuyun entered and said, "Crown Princess, your maidservant has brought some food. Please eat something first."
Jun Fei nodded.
The female official helped her to the table. Jun Fei lifted a corner of her veil and ate in small bites.
As dusk deepened, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince!"
Then, a low voice came, "You may all withdraw."
"Yes! Your maidservants respectfully take their leave."
Jun Fei felt his approach, her hands clenching nervously into fists.
Suddenly, her vision brightened as the red bridal veil was lifted by him.
Jun Fei knew what she was supposed to do next; the palace matrons had taught her all of it. But she felt frozen, her eyelids lowered, staring straight ahead.
Wan Yan Cheng looked at her, dressed in her wedding gown, his dark eyes flickering.
After a long moment of silence, Jun Fei slowly raised her head.
Her face instantly changed color, and she shot to her feet.
"It's you!!"
A hint of a smile appeared on Wan Yan Cheng's handsome face as he said, "Third Sister, I hope you've been well."
Jun Fei asked incredulously, "You knew all along that I was a woman!"
Wan Yan Cheng nodded, admitting, "Indeed! This Crown Prince knew from the very beginning that you were disguised as a man."
Jun Fei glared, demanding, "Then, Yan Lin..."
"Yan Lin's matter is regrettable, but our positions were different. If it happened again, this Crown Prince would still not intervene."
Jun Fei bit her lip, "But he always treated you as his sworn elder brother!"
Wan Yan Cheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Enough, Fei'er. This is our wedding night. Let's not speak of him."
As he spoke, he moved to approach her.
Jun Fei's face fell, and she pointed towards the door, "Don't come closer! You don't deserve Yan Lin's title of 'elder brother'! Get out!"
Wan Yan Cheng stopped, his voice cold, "Let this Crown Prince tell you, Yan Lin was an incompetent man! After being captured, he confessed everything under torture. Such a person, and you still think of him?"
Jun Fei looked at him with hatred, "You're spouting nonsense! He's gone, and you're still slandering him, you despicable person! Get out! Get out!!"
Wan Yan Cheng sneered, "Get out? Fei'er, have you forgotten your identity? This is this Crown Prince's bedchamber! You are here for a Heqin marriage."
Jun Fei took a step back.
Yes, she was a Heqin princess!
How dare she shout at him?
He was no longer her sworn elder brother.
Jun Fei controlled herself, forcing herself to calm down.
After a long while, she looked up again, her face expressionless, and walked forward, reaching out to unbutton his robes.
Her hands trembled terribly, and tears streamed down her cheeks, falling one by one onto the floor.
Wan Yan Cheng looked at her, frustrated, as she stood before his chest. He suddenly turned away.
"I'll sleep in the study!"
Just as he was about to leave, Jun Fei's heavily nasal voice came, "Do you want me to become the laughingstock of all Northern Flame?"
Wan Yan Cheng's footsteps paused, and he said, "Then I'll sleep on the floor."
One slept on the bed, the other on the floor. Neither disturbed the other.
Moonlight streamed into the room, and the red candles occasionally sparked.
Wan Yan Cheng looked at the figure on the bed, her back to him, occasionally hearing a faint sob.
"Don't cry anymore."
Jun Fei immediately covered her mouth, not making a sound.
Wan Yan Cheng sighed helplessly, wondering what about him was inferior to that Yan Lin.
Since meeting her in Heavenly Qilin years ago, his heart had remained there.
The six months he spent in Heavenly Qilin were the happiest time of his life.
Only after learning that Northern Flame and Heavenly Qilin had begun fighting did he return to Northern Flame.
If it weren't for him, even if Jun Mo was more formidable, the war wouldn't have ended so quickly.
He had put in so much effort to convince his Emperor and Empress to agree to this marriage.
"You... will you still support Heavenly Qilin?" Jun Fei asked cautiously.
She had behaved so poorly; if he refused, she would be helpless.
Wan Yan Cheng's heart sank.
She truly regarded herself as merely a trade. Although he had used this method to force the Heavenly Qilin Emperor to agree to the Heqin, he truly didn't think of it that way in his heart.
He genuinely wanted to marry her.
"Rest assured, this Crown Prince will uphold his promise," Wan Yan Cheng's cold voice came.
Jun Fei felt relieved.
By day, they were an affectionate couple.
At night, one slept on the bed, the other on the floor, mutually undisturbed.
Wan Yan Cheng indeed kept his word, providing horses and weapons generously.
Outside the city, seeing Jun Fei's red-rimmed eyes, Jun Ce also felt a pang in his heart.
"Fei'er, you must take care of yourself. If anything happens, write to Third Brother."
Jun Fei nodded, "Third Brother, you must also take care!"
Jun Ce then looked at Wan Yan Cheng, "Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, I entrust my sister to you. I hope you won't let her suffer any grievances."
Wan Yan Cheng nodded, "Rest assured."
Jun Ce mounted his horse, shouting loudly, "All feasts must end! Go back now!"
"Take care!"
"Giddy up!"
Jun Fei watched Jun Ce's retreating figure until it was completely out of sight.
Her only remaining family member had left. In this Northern Flame, she was truly alone.
Wan Yan Cheng said gently, "Let's return to the palace."
A maidservant stepped forward and said softly, "Crown Princess, let's go back."
Jun Fei allowed her to help her slowly into the carriage.
Jun Ce was escorting the horses and weapons, preparing to send them to Blue An City.
After two days of travel, seeing that dusk had fallen, he ordered camp to be set up.
Jun Ce was just preparing to retire for the night when a small, short soldier entered, holding a small bundle.
"Jun Ce, I want to sleep in your room!"
That clear voice startled Jun Ce, nearly making him fall off the bed.
"Wan Yanxue? What are you doing here?!"
Wan Yanxue threw her bundle onto Jun Ce's cot, saying, "My Imperial Father and Mother wouldn't let me leave Northern Flame, so I had no choice but to sneak into your队伍里 (group/caravan)."
After speaking, she walked over, pushed Jun Ce aside, and lay down on the bed.
"Comfortable! You wouldn't believe it, I haven't slept for two nights, I really couldn't hold on any longer. Don't even think about sending me back now, we're already so far from the capital."
The soldiers were all sleeping in a large common area. As a woman, how could she dare to close her eyes? She had been struggling for two nights!
Jun Ce was exasperated and amused. Was she afraid of being sent back, which was why she only revealed herself now?
Just as he was about to speak, he heard faint snoring.
Jun Ce sighed, and gently pulled the blanket over her.
Forget it. He'd send someone to escort her back tomorrow.
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