The tale of the Bei Xiang diplomatic envoy attempting to ensnare her with a so-called "handsome man scheme" had only amused Yun Shu for a brief moment when she first heard it. A few minutes of novelty, nothing more. Before long, the matter was entirely forgotten.
She had more important concerns.
After spending an entire day finalizing the imperial birthday tribute for Emperor Xuanwu, Yun Shu rose before dawn the next morning to conduct a secret inspection of the gift. To avoid prying eyes, she deliberately chose a remote location far beyond the outskirts of the capital—so far that it might as well have been ten thousand li away.
The process was smooth, and the results pleased her.
But just as she turned around, basking in her satisfaction, Yun Shu caught sight of Jiang Yuanbao and the others wearing expressions that were—at best—awkwardly complicated.
"What is it now?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Why do you all look like that?"
The ones less familiar with Yun Shu instantly lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
At last, it was Jiang Yuanbao who stepped forward, forced by silence to speak up.
"Your Highness... you said this was the birthday tribute for His Majesty, correct?"
Was something wrong with the tribute?
Yun Shu blinked in brief confusion, but it didn't take her long to catch on.
"Ah, This Princess understands. You all think the gift is too plain, perhaps even strange?"
"It is… a little like that," Jiang Yuanbao admitted, nodding honestly.
He hadn't taken part in the preparation this time. Yun Shu had told him bluntly that it wasn't his area of expertise. In fact, he hadn't originally been among those selected to leave the city with her.
But yesterday, when she noticed his curiosity and eagerness upon overhearing the plan, she had granted him the rare privilege to tag along.
Now, he deeply regretted it.
So foolish. He couldn't even decipher what was so special about the tribute.
Would Her Highness be disappointed in him?
Jiang Yuanbao lowered his head in self-reproach. "Your Highness, this humble subject—"
"It's perfectly normal for you not to understand right now," Yun Shu cut in, waving her hand dismissively. "Come the day of the Wanshou Festival, all will be made clear."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Jiang Yuanbao frowned slightly. Why would the mystery of the gift become apparent only on that particular day? Was it timed to reveal its secrets?
Still, Yun Shu clearly had no intention of elaborating, so he could only suppress his doubts, mount his horse, and follow her back toward the capital.
As fate would have it, the timing was quite fortuitous.
Just as Yun Shu and her party reached the city gates, they were met with an unexpected crowd gathered at the entrance.
Perched atop her tall white steed, Yun Shu scanned the scene and immediately spotted the Third Prince among them. He stood in the center of the group, dressed in official robes, his usual levity replaced by a rare trace of solemnity.
She tugged on the reins to slow her horse.
The Third Prince and his entourage noticed her presence at once and bowed deeply from afar.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess."
The name Tian Sheng Crown Princess carried enough weight to thunder through the ears of the Bei Xiang diplomatic delegation. At once, they all turned to look.
Riding slowly toward them was a girl dressed in simple moon-white robes, astride a stately white horse. Only a handful of attendants followed her.
Far from exuding the aloof, intimidating air they had imagined, her demeanor leaned toward unhurried ease.
Though her features still bore the softness of youth, there was something calm and commanding in her eyes—graceful yet grounded.
Indeed, she was nothing like the typical women of Tian Sheng that Princess Baza had imagined.
No wonder she had caused such a stir last year.
Princess Baza lifted her chin, her voice clear and confident as Yun Shu drew near.
"Crown Princess of Tian Sheng, this Princess has heard much about you."
"From whom, exactly?" Yun Shu replied with a lazy smile. "The heir who came last year?"
"Him?" Baza snorted derisively. "He is not even worthy of speaking to this Princess. But I have indeed heard his story. Setting that aside, your actions back then were most admirable. Had you been born in Bei Xiang, perhaps we might have become the closest of friends."
What?
Was the Princess of Bei Xiang trying to befriend Tian Sheng's Crown Princess?
Had Bei Xiang turned over a new leaf this year?
The officials of the Honglu Temple were utterly baffled, unsure what to make of the exchange.
Before they could recover, Princess Baza continued brightly.
"Then again, it's not too late. As long as you marry my Ninth Brother, you will be my sister-in-law."
The Honglu Temple officials nearly fainted on the spot.
Wait, what?
They said they were offering beauties for alliance, but they meant male beauties?
The officials from Tian Sheng were too stunned to react. Only the Third Prince had the presence of mind to step forward quickly.
"Princess Baza may not be aware, but our Crown Princess's marriage is a matter of special consideration. A year ago, His Majesty personally declared that if Her Highness were ever to wed—"
"It would be solely by her own choice," Baza interrupted. "Unless she truly loved the person, she would not marry at all. Yes, this Princess has heard that as well. I am not forcing her to marry my Ninth Brother. But surely they could spend time together first? How else would the Crown Princess know she might not come to like him?"
"Baza speaks wisely."
For the first time, the Second Prince of Bei Xiang—who had been silent thus far—also stepped forward.
"Furthermore, the proposal of this alliance was stated in the diplomatic missive we submitted. His Majesty did not reject it. If that were not so, we would not have brought Ninth Brother with us."
Of course His Majesty didn't object. That was because the letter never mentioned the Ninth Prince at all.
The Honglu Temple officials cursed silently. One quick-thinking official was just about to refute the claim when Princess Baza turned and beckoned toward a slim figure standing behind her.
"Ninth Brother, why not come greet the Crown Princess of Tian Sheng?"
Ninth Brother?
Everyone instinctively followed her gaze.
The boy she addressed lifted his eyes. His lashes trembled faintly as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed with the formal etiquette of Bei Xiang nobility.
"Huyan Mingchuan greets the Crown Princess."
Amid a sea of tall, rugged Bei Xiang men, the delicate young man stood out like a white rose blooming atop a snowy peak. His bearing was refined, almost ethereal.
When he raised his gaze, the light amber hue of his eyes could effortlessly make others stop and stare.
No wonder, as a child, he was often used as a punching bag, only to later win people over with his face alone.