In the first year of Dạ Hoàng, in the state of Chu – one of the three strongest Han military states in the territory.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The sound of firecrackers echoed through the sky, and the common people rushed out into the streets, joyfully cheering.
Both sides of the street were adorned with silk and red orbs – symbols of a joyous occasion.
When the large palanquin, carried by eight men and bearing the bride, passed by, the common people grew even more excited, throwing flowers with their hands and ceaselessly cheering:
“New Princess! New Princess!”
Today was the most anticipated joyous occasion by the people of the entire nation, a marriage personally decreed by the reigning Emperor Emeritus, uniting Kim Tịnh Ngọc, the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Kim, with the New Second Prince, Siye Hangwu, as his principal consort.
The Prime Minister had always loved the people as his own children, always prioritizing their well-being in governance. The Second Prince, on the other hand, was handsome and dashing, exceptionally brave, and always put the people’s interests first.
These two major reasons alone were enough to garner the people’s support for this marriage. The union of such virtuous individuals made the crowd exclaim, “A perfect match!”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc, the bride sitting inside the wedding palanquin, had heard more or less the praises from the common people outside.
She indifferently lifted her veil, revealing a delicate, flawless face.
This beauty was what every ancient woman wished to possess: a high, slender nose bridge, eyes slightly slanted upwards like a phoenix’s, and a small, plump, crimson mouth.
Today was the most important day of her life, yet her face remained as cold as ever.
The corner of her mouth curved slightly. “A perfect match?” Those words sounded truly provocative today.
A woman who had lost her mother since childhood, who always followed her father to learn horse riding and archery, regarding the training grounds and archery range as her home.
Her life was no different from a man’s, and her personality had consequently become arrogant and cold.
A woman who possessed no skills in zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting, not even the gentle, dignified demeanor of a young lady from a prestigious family.
How could someone like her be considered a perfect match for another man? And not just any ordinary man, but Siye Hangwu – the New Second Prince, beloved and trusted by the Emperor Emeritus.
Speaking of Siye Hangwu, Kim Tịnh Ngọc had only heard rumors that he was exceptionally handsome and dashing, not only skilled in literary arts but also well-versed in classics and history. Even in strategizing battles, and his martial arts, he was far from ordinary.
Such a formidable and perfect man had unexpectedly become her husband.
But whether this was a good omen or a bad one was still unclear. Even if her father praised Siye Hangwu to the heavens, with her personality, always wary of everything around her, Kim Tịnh Ngọc absolutely would not let her guard down.
Before long, the wedding palanquin carrying the bride arrived before the main gate of the princely estate.
Kim Tịnh Ngọc quickly lowered her veil and was helped down from the palanquin, step by step, by A Thúy, the maid who had accompanied her as part of her dowry.
After dismounting the palanquin, she and A Thúy had to wait before the gate of the princely estate, waiting for a servant to report to the Prince before they were allowed inside.
Seeing that the New Princess Consort had arrived, a servant, with a clearly joyful expression, rushed inside and knelt before Siye Hangwu:
“Reporting to Your Highness, the Princess Consort has arrived!”
Siye Hangwu, hearing this, showed no trace of joy, merely ordering indifferently:
“Escort the Princess Consort into the estate, and arrange for her to rest in the bridal chamber.”
The servant asked in surprise, “Your Highness, aren’t we supposed to hold the wedding ceremony after the Princess Consort arrives?”
“In all of Chu, who doesn’t know that today Jin Anping becomes this prince’s primary consort? Is the wedding ceremony truly that important?”
“But… but the Princess Consort is still…”
Siye Hangyu frowned upon hearing this. “You talk too much. Do you intend to obey this prince or not?”
Faced with Siye Hangyu’s cold demeanor, the servant had no choice but to obey.
He trudged out, while Siye Hangyu was so dejected he no longer wanted to pay attention to it anymore.
He blamed himself. How could he have made such a grave mistake? Now, not only could he not marry the woman who saved his life, but he was also bound in marriage to her sister.
Siye Hangyu sighed, and in his mind, the events of over a month ago vividly reappeared.
It was a beautiful, sunny day on Mount Qiyun.
“Clop… clop… clop…”
The clatter of hooves echoed across the sky. Siye Hangyu, on horseback, galloped forward, his entire body drenched in cold sweat, his wounded arm still bleeding profusely.
After riding for a while, he turned his head to look back, wanting to check if he had escaped his pursuers.
“Neigh!!!”
The horse Siye Hangyu was riding was suddenly struck by an arrow, which flew from nowhere and lodged directly into its belly.
It shrieked, suddenly rearing up on its hind legs, causing Siye Hangyu to lose his balance and fall, hitting his head on the ground. Blood from the horse’s belly splattered everywhere, covering his face and clothes.
“Ah…”
Siye Hangyu still had a sliver of consciousness left. He looked around frantically, gritting his teeth, his hands clenched into fists, silently blaming himself for being too careless.
Now the horse had fallen too, and he didn’t have the strength to stand up.
Could it be that today’s hunt was also the day he would meet his end?
As Siye Hangyu was slowly falling into despair, suddenly, in the distance, the sound of galloping horses rang out again, along with the crack of a whip. The sounds grew closer, then abruptly fell silent.
The rider dismounted right in front of him. Just as they were about to reach out to help, an arrow shot past them, almost hitting the person standing next to Siye Hangyu.
This person had an extraordinary demeanor, their face covered by a veil, making them appear utterly mysterious.
Despite the attempted assassination just now, they showed no fear. They merely glanced sideways towards where the arrow had come from, then reached behind them for an arrow, nocking it and firing it in that direction.
“Ah!”
The one who was hit cried out, then immediately fell.
Seeing this, the veiled person merely curved the corner of their mouth slightly beneath the veil, silently indicating satisfaction. Then they turned their head to look at Siye Hangyu, and once again extended a hand towards him.
Siye Hangyu gradually lost consciousness due to excessive blood loss from his arm.
He desperately wanted to grasp that person’s hand, but couldn’t.
Before he passed out, he only remembered that the person was a woman with beautiful black hair. Her face was covered by a veil, so he couldn’t see her features clearly; he only saw those powerful phoenix eyes.
Siye Hangyu then passed out, and didn’t know for how long.
After he woke up, the first person he saw was Jin Anping.
She indeed had beautiful black hair and those phoenix eyes. Not only that, but she also cared for him tenderly.
Thus, he secretly affirmed that the person who had saved him and brought him back for treatment was Jin Anping.
This life-saving grace was impossible to repay. He could only think of asking his imperial father to bestow a marriage between him and her, so that for the rest of his life, he could care for her well.
And yet…
Siye Hangyu returned to reality, silently scoffing at himself.
Indeed, man proposes, but Heaven disposes; his fated connection with An Bình could only be so scant.
At the main gate, the servant walked along, scratching his head, truly at a loss for how to choose the right words to speak to the Princess Consort, fumbling and unable to utter a single sound.
Seeing this, Kim Tịnh Ngọc lowered her voice, deliberately making it easier for him. “You’re stammering like that, is it because the Prince doesn’t want me to enter the manor?”
“No, no, it’s not that. It’s just… the Prince said to take you directly to the bridal chambers, no need for… the bowing ceremony.”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc froze for a moment, but the movement was so quick it was almost imperceptible at first glance. Very quickly, she regained her composure, forcing a faint smile. “No bowing ceremony, then no bowing ceremony. After all, our wedding was so grand, the whole country already knows about it. Whether there’s a bowing ceremony or not no longer matters. Alright, quickly lead the way so A Thúy can take me inside.”
“…Yes.”
The servant respectfully obeyed, and as he led Kim Tịnh Ngọc to the bridal chamber, he couldn’t help but marvel at this woman’s composure. Indeed, she was the Prime Minister’s daughter, truly inspiring respect in others.
Kim Tịnh Ngọc was led to the front of the bridal chamber when she suddenly turned her head to look at the servant. “Oh, that’s right, what’s your name?”
“Reporting, this servant is Trường Khang.”
“Alright, Trường Khang. Today I have a veil over my head so I couldn’t see you clearly. Moreover, my dowry hasn’t been moved in yet. Tomorrow at noon, come find me yourself, and I will reward you handsomely.”
Hearing this, Trường Khang hastily knelt before Kim Tịnh Ngọc, bowing his head to the ground. “Princess Consort, this servant does not know what wrong I have committed, I beg the Princess Consort to instruct me. This servant will bear the fault alone, I only hope it does not implicate my family!”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc gave a faint smile. Someone with such integrity deserved to be trusted and utilized by her in the future. “Quickly, stand up. When I say reward, I mean reward, not punishment. Today, Trường Khang, you have rendered service by bringing me into the Prince’s manor. This kindness, Tịnh Ngọc will never forget.”
“This servant did nothing, this servant only…”
Seeing the other party’s excessive chatter wasting her mistress’s time, A Thúy immediately frowned. “If the Princess Consort has said so, then it is so. If you speak another word, I will cut out your tongue!”
Hearing this, Trường Khang dared not say anything more.
A Thúy didn’t want to make a show of it any longer, so she opened the door and led Kim Tịnh Ngọc into the room, helped her sit on the bed, and then excused herself. Her duty for today was over; the remaining time in the bridal chamber was for the Prince and the new Princess Consort to have their private space.
Kim Tịnh Ngọc sat on the bed, waiting for her groom, waiting until she was weary. Several hours had already passed. It was now the second watch, a new day was almost upon them, yet Tư Dạ Hành Vũ still hadn’t arrived at the bridal chamber.
Kim Tịnh Ngọc took a deep breath, regaining her composure, then sat perfectly still again, her hands placed on her skirt, her demeanor utterly dignified.
“Creak…”
The sound of the door opening rang out. Finally, after more than half a day, Tư Dạ Hành Vũ had deigned to come find her. He gently closed the door, then walked to the tea table, brushed his sleeves, and only then sat down, his demeanor extremely solemn. He poured himself a cup of tea, then looked towards Kim Tịnh Ngọc:
“The wedding is over, you should take off your veil now.”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc obediently followed his words and personally removed her veil. When Tư Dạ Hành Vũ saw her beauty, he almost dropped the teacup in his hand.
“That similar?”
Hearing this, Kim Tịnh Ngọc slightly curved her lips. “Indeed, An Bình and I are very similar; one wouldn’t be able to tell us apart upon first meeting.”
The An Bình she spoke of was Kim An Bình, who was not only her paternal half-sister but also her cousin, because Kim Tịnh Ngọc's mother, Đường Nguyệt Cung, and Kim An Bình's mother, Đường Nguyệt Cát, were twin sisters.
Perhaps for that reason, the two women had looked eighty to ninety percent alike since birth.
Tư Dạ Hành Vũ heard Kim Tịnh Ngọc say this and suddenly burst out laughing: “An Bình? Wangfei, you truly know how to rub salt in someone's wound.”
At this sarcastic remark, Kim Tịnh Ngọc remained perfectly calm: “Wangye, you flatter me!”
“Hmph, if you were to needle and provoke like this in a military campaign, you might make the enemy general die of indignation without even sacrificing a single soldier.”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc clearly understood what he was implying, yet she merely showed extreme deference: “Wangye, if there's an issue, please speak frankly.”
Upon hearing this, Tư Dạ Hành Vũ felt that this woman was exceptionally intelligent, but also wanted to guard against her even more: “If Wangfei wishes this prince to be frank, this prince will not hesitate to speak his mind.
As you already know, our marriage was personally decreed by my imperial father and cannot be refused.
There is no romantic affection between you and me; the woman in my heart is another. Therefore, I hope that after you become the official Wangfei of this prince's manor, you will only attend to the affairs inside and outside the residence, fulfilling the duties of a wife.
As for any affection between us, I hope you will never dream of it.”
Kim Tịnh Ngọc did not respond at all; it was unclear if she intended to remain silent and wait for him to finish speaking, or if she simply didn't want to answer.
“Furthermore, there will be no intimate relations between us.
Therefore, this boudoir will belong to you from now on; this prince will reside elsewhere and will absolutely not touch your body.
This prince has spoken thus… are you not upset by this?”
In Tư Dạ Hành Vũ's mind, Kim Tịnh Ngọc would surely be so indignant that she would resist, or sit and weep bitterly.
But what unfolded before his eyes was completely the opposite. Not only was Kim Tịnh Ngọc not sad, but she appeared extremely pleased, and even looked at him with a mocking smile.