Heading to the Northern Borderlands

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. At the first light of dawn, the entire Duke Yan Household respectfully saw Yan Wanning into a luxurious carriage. As Madam Chen watched it, her face showed a hint of worry, as though she truly were anxious about her niece marrying so far from home. Putting on an act, she dabbed at the nonexistent tears in the corners of her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.

Everyone watching remarked on how genuinely Madam Chen doted on her niece.

Once the sky had fully brightened, Commander Wu, appointed by the emperor himself, led the long procession out of the city and northward. Yan Yuqin, Duke Yan's eldest son by a concubine, accompanied them on the journey.

The procession traveled for more than ten days. On the fifteenth day, they stopped for a day's rest in Yuangguan City, the city closest to the main city of the Northern Borderlands. They would enter Ningguan City the following day.

The long journey had left Yan Wanning's already slender frame even thinner. Leaning on Xiao He's hand, she stepped down from the carriage, her small face beneath her veiled hat slightly pale and her body swaying unsteadily.

Xiao He's heart ached at the sight. "After we rest today, we'll reach the main city tomorrow. Please bear with it a little longer, miss."

"Mm, I'll be fine after some rest," Yan Wanning said softly.

Seeing that she needed Xiao He's support to stand steady, Yan Yuqin stepped forward and asked with concern, "Xiao He, is second sister all right?"

"Please don't worry, eldest young master. Miss is fine."

She curtsied to him, then led Yan Wanning into the inn and up to the guest room that had already been prepared.

After helping her lie down on the couch, Xiao He poured her a cup of warm tea. "Have some tea and catch your breath, miss."

Yan Wanning nodded and took the cup. After a few small sips, she felt a little better.

Seeing some color return to her face, Xiao He said, "I'll tell someone to prepare your bathwater. Wash up before you sleep, miss, and let your body relax."

Yan Wanning was too tired to speak, but she still answered softly.

"Mm."

Before long, two maids carried hot water into the bathing room. Xiao He helped her wash her body and hair thoroughly. As Xiao He dried the water from her hair, Yan Wanning drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

She truly did look exhausted.

Dusk had quietly begun to blur the world. The sky, once filled with the colors of sunset, gradually faded until its colors were gone. Then a few bright stars appeared, and the points of starlight slowly multiplied.

The earth quietly melted into the warmth of the night.

Yan Wanning slept for four hours before Xiao He woke her. After a simple supper, it was still early. Once she had digested her meal, she sat on the couch and finished the last few stitches on a pouch.

The green bamboo on the pink-and-white pouch gradually took shape, its embroidery exquisite. A rabbit had also been embroidered on it in gold thread.

Early the next morning, the procession set out again and entered the main city, where a contingent of soldiers was waiting at the gates. Seeing them, Commander Wu quickened his horse's pace and cupped his fists to the man in the lead. "Sorry to have kept you waiting, General Tian."

Tian Meng waved a hand. "It's nothing. The prince had matters to attend to in the army, so he sent me and my men to wait here."

The two exchanged a few courtesies, then entered the city one after the other. Tian Meng led them to a spacious residence.

It was a property the Duke Yan Household had hastily arranged. Yan Wanning would depart from here for her wedding the next morning.

Tian Meng did not stay long after escorting them there. He left more than a dozen tall, strapping soldiers to guard the residence, then rode away with his men without looking back.

At that moment, in the study of the Prince of Anbei's residence, a man in a dark blue brocade robe and a jade-colored hair crown was reading a military report.

The man had sharply defined features, a cold, handsome face, and a broad, powerful physique. The imposing air about him came naturally.

He was the master of the Prince of Anbei's residence, Si Yunqi.

Tian Meng stood before him, his tall, burly body like a small mountain. Only when Si Yunqi put down the report did he speak. "Your Highness, I've settled them in and left a few men there."

"Mm." Si Yunqi answered indifferently. After a moment's silence, he said, "If you have nothing to do, take a few squads into the mountains for some training."

Tian Meng brightened at that and hurriedly cupped his fists. "All right, I'll go at once."

With that, he ran out of the study.

After he left, Si Yunqi fixed his ink-black eyes on the envelope on the desk. The three characters for "Yan Wanning" were written on its face, and he had already read what was inside.

The secret guards had delivered it to the residence early that morning. Yan Wanning's life was recorded in detail within.

He did not much care whom he married. Anyone would do, as long as she behaved herself and did nothing to harm the prince's residence.

Yan Wanning's status as an orphaned girl was indeed just right.

Si Yunqi raised a hand, and a masked man in black appeared in the study. Pushing the envelope toward him, Si Yunqi said, "Take this to the old dowager princess."

As soon as he finished speaking, the masked man and the envelope vanished.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

At the residence, Yan Wanning was being made to try on her wedding dress.

The dress was woven from luxurious silk in vivid colors. Intricate patterns were embroidered on its front, the skirt was covered with sequins and gems, feathers adorned the cuffs, and countless little bells hung from the hems.

On her delicate figure, it displayed a woman's graceful curves and gentle beauty.

Looking at her dazzling reflection in the mirror, Yan Wanning smiled. She had once imagined herself in a wedding dress, and it turned out to be exactly as she had pictured.

If Mother were still here, she would surely be... overjoyed, wouldn't she?

At the thought, her eyes reddened...

"You're so beautiful, miss. Even a fairy descended from heaven could look no better. If I were a man, I'd try every possible way to marry you," Xiao He said, her eyes shining.

The embroiderers nodded in agreement and offered their compliments. "Miss will surely be the most beautiful bride tomorrow."