Chapter 139: The Bride for the Political Marriage

Is that so? An orphan girl from a temple? Dai Yuheng wore a sneer, remaining noncommittal. Regardless of whether your words are true or false, since the general's identity is somewhat questionable, I am forced to keep Spoon in the palace for a few more days. Does the general have any objections?

Kaiming gasped in shock: Your Majesty, I have not deceived Your Majesty at all. Why must you keep Spoon here?

Only then did Dai Yuheng slowly say: Actually, I have an important matter for General Kaiming to attend to. Fearing that the General might let personal affection override duty, I have no choice but to detain the General's closest family member first. Once the task is accomplished, I will certainly return Spoon to you unscathed.

If Your Majesty has tasks to assign, just give the orders; there is no need to resort to such petty and clumsy tactics. Kaiming's tone was clearly filled with resentment, and her speech grew unaccommodating.

Dai Yuheng, however, did not mind her attitude at this moment. Listen well: neither the North Palace nor the West Palace is a nation I intend to deal with seriously; only the South Palace and the East Palace are my greatest heart-festering afflictions. With the Northwest now pacified, I have decided to dispatch General Kaiming to the South Palace in a few days to further expand our palace's territory...

Kaiming listened in silence. So Dai Yuheng's ambition had not died; he still wished to expand his territory and attack the South Palace. The South Palace abounded with talented individuals—how could they possibly surrender so easily?

Because the South Palace's military strategist once had personal ties with you, I fear that the General might be swayed by his glib tongue and turn her weapons around against us on the battlefield. That would be no laughing matter. Therefore, I am compelled to temporarily detain the General's family. I hope the General can understand my painstaking efforts, as my heart is devoted entirely to the country, free from personal bias.

Hearing this, Kaiming finally understood Dai Yuheng's true intention behind his previous actions, and everything fell into place. So Dai Yuheng was afraid she would be persuaded by Qing Yun to surrender to the South Palace. After all, she harbored resentment toward the Central Palace's Emperor and enjoyed a good friendship with the South Palace's strategist. What if she really were persuaded by the South Palace? Just as Dai Yuheng said, that would be no laughing matter.

She found it somewhat amusing, yet mingled with anger. Dai Yuheng was truly despicable enough to resort to such sinister tactics against her. Since he was afraid she would defect, why not send someone else? Had the Central Palace run out of capable generals and soldiers?

Thinking of this, she bowed her head to Dai Yuheng and said: Please have Your Majesty dispatch another general to the South Palace. After all, if one doubts a person, one should not employ them; and if one employs them, one should not doubt. Why go to such great lengths?

Dai Yuheng said unhurriedly: I knew you would come up with such evasive excuses. The Central Palace indeed has no shortage of fierce warriors. But this campaign against the South Palace requires none other than General Kaiming.

Kaiming raised her head in puzzlement.

Because the South Palace's strategist is Qing Yun. Dai Yuheng smiled as he looked at her, his smile exceptionally ambiguous. Qing Yun's past betrayal of Sikong for the General's sake is known to both palaces. Yet, relying on his lotus-like eloquence, he argued with righteous fervor in the grand hall to firmly secure his position as strategist. Such a figure is a rare sight across all five palaces. If war breaks out, in my view—whether out of kindness or malice—Qing Yun will once again assume the role of strategist. If he serves as strategist, we must have General Kaiming take the field.

Ah? Kaiming said in astonishment. What does Your Majesty mean by this? Could it be that you want your subject to seduce the South Palace's strategist?

Seduce? Dai Yuheng burst into laughter, covering his mouth with his long sleeve and giggling softly. If the seduction succeeds, it would still be considered a good strategy.

Her expression was beyond ugly. Are you kidding me? Seduce Qing Yun?

Dai Yuheng smiled: No matter what methods you use—seduction or abduction—it would be best to capture him alive. If Qing Yun truly remains unmoved by the General, I order you to exterminate him completely. You must never let Qing Yun be of use to the South Palace!

The final sentence struck like a thunderbolt, shocking her into a daze. The order Dai Yuheng had issued was none other than an execution decree: if he could not be captured alive, he was to be killed.

Dai Yuheng reined in his smile and cast a sidelong glance at her: It is precisely because of your special relationship that the General should be able to approach him easily. This is why the South Palace campaign requires the General above all others.

Her face turned pale, and she stared blankly at Dai Yuheng without uttering a word.

This is also why Spoon must stay in my palace for a time. Dai Yuheng observed her expression and smiled faintly: I hope the General will keep her stepson in mind when the time comes and refrain from doing anything foolish that would compromise the dignity of the Central Palace.

She moved her lips, wanting to speak, but not a single word came out.

Dai Yuheng flicked his sleeve toward her: Everything I wished to say to the General has been said. Please ponder it yourself, and I shall no longer disturb the General's contemplation. With that, he turned and walked away in the direction he had come. A rustling sound arose from the bushes, revealing several hidden guards lying in wait who departed along with Dai Yuheng's retreating figure.

Kaiming watched him walk away until the strength left her legs, causing her to sink down onto the grass. Indeed, when it came to schemes, she was still a notch below Dai Yuheng. He had plotted such a sinister plan to cut off all her possible retreats. If war broke out with the South Palace, she absolutely could not betray the Central Palace, or Spoon's life would be in peril. If Dai Yuheng used Spoon's life to threaten her, Qing Yun would have to die; she could only choose one.

She wiped her face. In the end, she had no choice but to take a desperate gamble. No matter what, Qing Yun must be captured alive in the South Palace campaign. However, a figure like Qing Yun possessed an intellect superior to her own—how could capturing him alive be easy?

Lost in deep thought, she was entirely unaware of the passage of time. A rustling sound echoed from the bushes, followed by the soft crunch of shoe soles brushing against the grass. To her ears, however, it sounded like the night wind plucking at her nerves.

A pair of exquisite bamboo shoes stepped out one by one, red satin uppers paired with white socks in a striking contrast. The shoe surfaces were embroidered with intricate cloud patterns using yellow silk, showcasing the peerless craftsmanship of the bamboo women.

The red embroidered shoes stopped right in front of her eyes. Only then did Kaiming notice the movement, and catching sight of a pair of red embroidered shoes on the grassy field in the dead of night scared her out of her wits.

Following the falling hem of the skirt upward to look at the face of the person before her, the expression on Kaiming's face remained one of utter astonishment: Xiaoqiao?

The owner of the red shoes had an oval face, cherry-red lips, slender eyebrows, and bright eyes. She wore luxurious court attire, and two delicate glowing night pearls were pinned aslant into her high-coiffed, fragrant hair. Although her eyebrows and lips had been meticulously painted, Kaiming recognized at a glance that this imposing woman was none other than Zhen Xiaoqiao, the arrogant wealthy young miss from their shared dormitory days.

The first question that flashed through Kaiming's mind upon seeing Xiaoqiao was: Why is Xiaoqiao in the imperial palace? She answered her own question immediately: It couldn't be simpler—she must have become Dai Yuheng's imperial concubine.

Thinking of this, her gaze inevitably turned somewhat disdainful. Since Xiaoqiao had become the old man's wife, they were now strangers. Kaiming spoke up, her tone neither warm nor cold: How does the Imperial Noble Consort have the leisure to visit this humble one?

She did not refer to herself as a subject, simply calling herself a humble one outright.

Hearing this, Xiaoqiao was slightly startled, then gave a bitter laugh and said: Imperial Noble Consort? Kaiming, what nonsense are you spouting? Speaking in such a humble and low-status manner is not like you at all.

Kaiming hummed: The noble Miss Xiaoqiao has become the consort of the Central Palace Emperor. This humble one feels utterly unworthy in the presence of the Noble Consort and dares not be anything less than humble in her address.

Xiaoqiao sighed softly: Even you say that, Kaiming. I thought you were different from the others, but it seems I was wrong.

Kaiming tilted her head, blinked her eyes, and said: If you are not a concubine, what are you doing in the imperial palace?

What am I doing? Xiaoqiao bent her body, slowly squatting down onto the grass, wrapping her arms around her knees with a blank expression on her face: If I had known my cousin would treat me this way, I would never have entered the palace.

The question marks in Kaiming's head grew even larger. How had Dai Yuheng treated her? With the dust settled, faced with the person he loved, shouldn't he take decisive action and marry her as his wife? Even if she couldn't be made the principal wife for the time being, rewarding her with the status of a concubine was only fitting. Why did Xiaoqiao look not the least bit happy, but instead utterly miserable?

Xiaoqiao stared blankly at the grass, as if looking past the patch of turf before her toward something distant: I was like everyone else at first. My father had the power my cousin needed, and I possessed both beauty and sincerity, while my cousin treated me with the utmost consideration. No matter how I looked at it, I was a match made in heaven for my cousin. I entered the palace happily, staying by his side every step of the way, thinking that days of happiness were about to arrive. But I was wrong—terribly, terribly wrong. My cousin... he didn't think that way at all...

Kaiming couldn't help interrupting: Dai Yuheng doesn't want to marry you as his wife?

If it were only that, it would be fine. Xiaoqiao's bitter smile widened, her entire face overflowing with anguish. She raised a hand to gently cover her face and sobbed: Yesterday, he actually told me that he wanted to bestow a marriage upon me...

Bestow a marriage?! Kaiming was choked speechless by this sentence for a long time. Dai Yuheng wanted to bestow a marriage upon Zhen Xiaoqiao? What kind of logic was this? Everyone believed Xiaoqiao should logically marry the man surnamed Dai; why would he want to bestow a marriage upon her instead? Could it be that Dai Yuheng didn't like her? That couldn't be right—for so long, even a blind person could see that Dai Yuheng felt differently about Zhen Xiaoqiao.

As if responding to the thought in her mind, Xiaoqiao whimpered: Does my cousin not like me? If he doesn't like me, he could just not have me. Why must he bestow a marriage upon me and marry me far away to the East Palace...

Kaiming was greatly startled: Wait, what did you just say? He wants to marry you off to the East Palace?

Xiaoqiao lowered her hand from her face, her tear-stained face looking at her desolately: My cousin... he is using me as a peace-offering bride to marry the Emperor of the East Palace...

Marry the Emperor of the East Palace? Kaiming's eyes widened into circles. Did the Central Palace still need to offer brides for peace? Treating Xiaoqiao like a gift sent forth by the Central Palace to be wedded to the East Palace's Emperor—wasn't the East Palace's Emperor the biological father of Xiaobi and Xuan? Just how elderly must he be? Good heavens!

She shivered slightly, feeling a chill. What a brilliant scheme Dai Yuheng had concocted: he would make her go to war with the South Palace while using Xiaoqiao as a bride for peace to ease relations with the East Palace. If he could take the South Palace, with the lips gone the teeth would be cold, and he could then concentrate his efforts on attacking the East Palace. No doubt the East Palace was a formidable enemy, and the toughest nut to crack was always left for last.

However, the East Palace was no fool. They might remain silent during a peace marriage, but if he attacked, where would that leave Xiaoqiao? How venomous and sinister Dai Yuheng's intentions were—wasn't this throwing Xiaoqiao straight into the tiger's mouth?