Chapter 89

When Bao Ya finally returned home, her rebellion caught up with her. The moment she stepped foot inside, she was placed under strict house arrest, confined to her own yard like a bird in a gilded cage. She was only allowed a brief reprieve during the New Year festivities, a few fleeting days of freedom before being shackled once again to the walls of her family estate.

But this time, her mother, Song Dingxiang, was beyond livid. Not just the typical angry glare or sharp words—no, she was seething, a tempest that no amount of pleading could calm. For too long, she'd indulged Bao Ya, letting her run wild, and now this was the result: a daughter bold enough to leave behind nothing but a letter and sneak off to the capital, dodging pursuit with cunning and skill. Clever? Sure. Infuriating? Absolutely.

Even Bao Ya's impressive abilities weren't enough to soothe the storm brewing in her mother's heart. Song Dingxiang's rage simmered like molten steel, unyielding and relentless. General Zhou, wise enough not to poke the bear, kept his distance, sidestepping his wife's wrath while quietly keeping an eye on their daughter. Yet, he couldn't resist the urge to offer some advice, his tone heavy with the weight of disappointment and concern.

In the yard, Bao Ya was unbothered, directing her maids in building elaborate snowmen as if the tension in the household didn't exist. When her father approached, she glanced up, her pout defiant yet playful. "Father, don't bother. Mom's anger is like a fire—you feed it when you try to douse it. The more I yield, the angrier she gets. Trust me, silence is my best weapon right now."

General Zhou studied her, both proud and exasperated. How could a girl so young be so brazenly confident yet utterly unaware of the chaos she left in her wake? "You know you've crossed the line this time, right? Your mother was worried sick about you!"

Rolling her eyes, Bao Ya clung to his arm like a spoiled child, mimicking the very charm Song Dingxiang had once wielded in her youth. "I already admitted I was wrong, didn't I? What more does she want?"

The general sighed, his resolve softening despite himself. "Listen, while you're still unmarried, you can afford these little stunts. But once you're wed, this kind of behavior will only bring trouble. You can't just run off whenever you feel like it."

"Oh, Dad, don't be dramatic. Marriage isn't some prison sentence. If a man loves and respects me, I'll return the favor. But if he falters? Hah, I'll live just fine on my own. I don't need a man—even if there are kids involved. Who says I can't do it all myself?"

Her words made his chest tighten with worry. "What kind of nonsense are you filling your head with, child?"

Before he could press further, a servant scurried into the yard, looking harried. "Master, Madam has summoned you. Someone from the capital has arrived."

General Zhou frowned. "Who is it?"

"I don't know, sir. Madam said you'll understand when you see them."

Bao Ya, ever flippant, smirked. "It's not the emperor sending another marriage proposal, is it?"

Her father shook his head, his expression serious. "Unlikely. The emperor wouldn't push us openly. He's waiting for us to make the first move. But visitors from the capital at this hour? Could it be your grandparents?"

With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Bao Ya in her snow-dappled domain, unrepentant and unyielding, her defiance gleaming as brightly as the frost.

Bao Ya was trapped in the confines of the yard, her world reduced to cold monotony as she sculpted snowmen with idle hands. The frosty air did nothing to mask her boredom as General Zhou departed, leaving her with nothing but the crunch of snow beneath her boots.

Her reverie was shattered by the sudden intrusion of her maid, a whirlwind of panic, bursting into the yard. The girl's face was painted with wide-eyed astonishment, her voice trembling with unease. "Miss, miss! You won't believe it—I saw them! Their eyes—green and blue! It scared me senseless. Could they be monsters in disguise?"

Bao Ya raised an eyebrow, her fingers thoughtfully brushing her chin. Her curiosity was piqued. "Green eyes? Blue eyes? Describe them. What did they look like?"

The maid fidgeted nervously, her voice dropping to a shaky whisper. "They're... enormous, as tall as mountains. I didn't dare to stare too long, but there's something unnerving about them. Madam was so fearless, though—she even laughed with them."

A sly smile curled on Bao Ya's lips. "My mother may not have left Weixian County much, but my father's been everywhere, seen it all. It rubs off on her. She doesn't scare easily." Her voice carried an edge, cutting through the maid's fear as if dismissing it entirely. "Go take another look. If they ask for me, come running back—fast."

The maid nodded hurriedly and bolted, her footsteps crunching away through the snow.

Meanwhile, the story behind these enigmatic visitors began to unfold. The young prince, Karl of Dalang, had made a bold request to the Emperor: to travel to Weixian County and pay homage to his future in-laws. The Emperor, ever the wary tactician, found the idea amusing but couldn't allow such a journey unguarded. Paranoia had a firm grip on the old ruler, and General Zhou's garrison stood as a bulwark against any potential chaos.

Thus, the Emperor dispatched his most trusted confidant, Wang Gonggong, along with a retinue of officials, to accompany the prince.

Song Dingxiang, Bao Ya's mother, was perplexed when the news reached her. A proposal? Here? It seemed absurd. Yet, the logic aligned—it wasn't as if the prince had come seeking a princess of the capital.

Her long-standing connection with Wang Gonggong proved invaluable. Over the years, his loyalty to the Emperor had solidified their bond, making him an influential figure. He now stood before her, playing the intermediary with his trademark cheerfulness.

"This is Prince Karl of Dalang," Wang Gonggong announced, his tone smooth and polished, "and this is Madam Zhou, the mother of the young lady he wishes to marry." His words carried weight, and his subtle signal to Song Dingxiang didn't go unnoticed.

Song Dingxiang masked her astonishment with a gracious smile, her voice honeyed yet commanding. "Prince Karl, your presence graces our humble home. Please allow me a moment to summon my husband. It would be improper for me to entertain such an esteemed guest alone."

As Wang Gonggong retreated to the back hall, she leaned in, her voice sharp with curiosity. "Why is he really here?"

Wang Gonggong shrugged, his tone measured. "He insists on following the customs of Dalang—to personally propose and meet both you and the General. Whatever his motives, he's determined to make his case."

Song Dingxiang's mind whirled, calculating the implications of such a bold move. The young prince had thrown caution to the wind, arriving uninvited but with undeniable intent.

What game was he playing? Only time would reveal his true purpose.

Song Dingxiang leaned back in her chair, her sharp gaze fixed on the conversation at hand. "He comes across as all polished manners and propriety, but there's more here than meets the eye. We need to dig deeper and figure out what this is really about."

Wang Gonggong nodded thoughtfully. "I don't have the full story either, just bits and pieces I've picked up while attending the Emperor. This young prince—he's not like the last foreign ruler who caused a ruckus every chance he got. He's quiet, almost disarmingly so. He's been here two months, hasn't stirred any trouble in the city. Occasionally, he joins the other princes for hunts on the outskirts. They say he's an excellent horseman."

"Of course he is," Song Dingxiang scoffed. "His people are practically born in the saddle. Their horsemanship is in their blood. But that's not what concerns me. If they were just here for a marriage alliance, why not stay comfortably in the capital? Why take the trouble to come all the way here?"

Wang Gonggong tilted his head, shrugging. "Maybe this is his way of proving sincerity? Honestly, I don't understand it either."

Song Dingxiang's lips curled in a faint, cynical smile. "It's all too convenient, too calculated. But fine, if he's so sincere, let's see where that sincerity leads. Gonggong, sit here and relax. I have something else to attend to—specifically, my troublesome daughter."

Without waiting for a response, Song Dingxiang made her way to the inner courtyard, where her daughter, Bao Ya, was lounging, clearly not expecting company. At the sight of her mother's half-smile—the kind that promised no good—Bao Ya instinctively shrank back. "Mom? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the front hall with Dad, entertaining guests?"

Song Dingxiang's smile didn't falter. "Because something isn't adding up. That young prince—why would he go out of his way to come here, to our home?" Her sharp eyes stayed locked on her daughter, watching every flicker of emotion.

Bao Ya tried to play it cool, rolling her eyes. "How would I know? I'm not him."

Her mother's smile widened, more predatory now. "Oh, please. When you ran off to the capital last time, dodging pursuit and lingering on the outskirts before sneaking back home, it was suspicious enough. And now this prince shows up, and you're suddenly uninterested? That's not like you at all, Bao Ya. Be honest—did you meet him back then?"

Bao Ya looked away, fidgeting, her gaze darting around the room. "What is all this talk about 'meeting' or not? I already told you I didn't have a guide to enter the city, so I just circled back."

"Enough with the excuses," Song Dingxiang said sharply. "Since you claim nothing happened, you can get dressed and come with me to meet him yourself. After all, you ran off to find him before, and now he's come to you. It would be impolite to avoid him."

"Mom!" Bao Ya groaned, covering her face with her hands. After a long, tense silence, she finally muttered, "Fine. Yes, I met him before."

"I knew it," Song Dingxiang said, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "You're too easy to read, my dear. If you hadn't met him, you'd have found a way to sneak out and spy on him by now. So, what happened? What did you two talk about?"

Bao Ya hesitated, but the look on her mother's face left no room for escape. A mother always knows, and Song Dingxiang wasn't about to let this go unanswered.

"He boldly declared his hope that I'd willingly tie my life to his through marriage. I gave him a blunt answer: I'd judge him by his actions, not his words. That's all I said. And now, I'm not about to stir up chaos in the capital. Since we've already met, there's no point lingering. It was time to head back."

Song Dingxiang scoffed, her tone dripping with exasperation. "Your father and I bent over backward to spare you from being sent off to some far-flung corner of the world for marriage. And now, fate has conveniently planted a suitor at our doorstep. Whether you want to marry or not, your choices are narrowing. Normally, you're clever enough to outwit the sharpest minds, but when it comes to this? Foolishness!"

"Mother," Bao Ya replied with a cool edge, "no matter how hard you and Father try, if the emperor decides to play puppet master with my life, we can't escape. You've both said he's aging, paranoid, and increasingly ruthless. We can't hide forever. If this prince proves worthy, I'll marry him. If he doesn't, I'll go through with it anyway—and then find a way to break free. What's there to fear?"

"You...! You reckless child." Song Dingxiang sighed, her voice trembling with worry. "I just pray he's a good man and that you don't suffer for your boldness. Never mind. Get ready. We'll meet that prince now."

The prince of Dalang had his sights set on Zhou Jingxian, and the Zhou family, ever pragmatic, consented. The emperor, in rare good spirits, approved the match and elevated Zhou Jingxian to the title of Honored Lady Rongjing. The union was celebrated with lavish gifts and a grand ceremony befitting a noble bride.

But peace is fleeting in the palace. A year later, the emperor's health took a dramatic turn—collapsing into bloody fits during court sessions. The crown prince consolidated power, while the second prince schemed, his ambitions pushing him closer to Dalang's orbit.

The crown prince, cunning and calculating, presented ironclad evidence of the second prince's collusion. The emperor's fury was swift and merciless: exile to the imperial mausoleum, a living graveyard, where the second prince would waste away among the spirits of dead ancestors.

With his rival crushed, the crown prince tightened his grip, replacing disloyal officials with his own allies. As the emperor's life dwindled, his authority evaporated. Two years later, he succumbed to his ailments.

The crown prince ascended as the new emperor, welcoming tribute from neighboring kingdoms. Dalang's ruler extended an olive branch, proposing prosperous trade alliances and a peaceful coexistence that ushered in an unprecedented era of wealth and stability for both nations.

Years later, Bao Ya, now heavily pregnant and glowing with happiness, bolted out of her chambers, a trail of flustered maidservants chasing after her.

"Your Highness! Please slow down!" one of them pleaded breathlessly.

Her mother, Song Dingxiang, stood nearby, her heart caught in a mix of joy and worry. "How can you still be so carefree? You're going to be a mother! Watch yourself, child."

But Bao Ya, her spirit unshaken, just laughed, cradling her burgeoning belly. In that moment, she wasn't a queen or a pawn in anyone's game—just a woman basking in the vibrant chaos of life.

Bao Ya eagerly latched onto Song Dingxiang's arm, her voice dripping with unfiltered excitement. "Mother, you have no idea how thrilled I am! I've been counting down the days, thinking about you obsessively—day in, day out. Sleep? Forget it. I've been too overwhelmed with anticipation for that!"

Song Dingxiang's lips curled into a smirk as she reached out and pinched her daughter's soft, radiant cheeks. "Oh, really? Sleepless, huh? Funny, you look perfectly healthy to me. Have you been settling in alright here?"

Bao Ya's grin widened, her tone laced with both pride and humor. "It's been fine, though it doesn't have the wild buzz of home. But the grasslands here? They're boundless. You can ride for days and still never find the edge. And wait until you see the little eagle I've been raising—it's sharp, fierce, and more capable than you'd expect. I'll introduce you later. By the way, Father, do you think Dalang is thriving as much as we left it?"

Zhou Yinuo chuckled warmly, his face betraying just a hint of nostalgia. "Oh, without a doubt. Back when I first stepped foot in Dalang, it was a bitter, icy wasteland. The people struggled endlessly. But now? It's a world apart."

Bao Ya's laugh rang out, bold and unapologetic. "Of course, it's flourishing now! The moment trade routes opened up, Karl brought the tribes together, turning chaos into order. He built workshops, factories, and fields that brim with crops. Even those who've never owned a single horse or sheep can now live comfortably. Dalang's water is pure, its grass is lush, and its wealth runs deep. What was once useless has now become valuable trade, and the entire land thrives because of it."

Suddenly, Karl appeared, having finished the day's politics, and Bao Ya wasted no time. She dashed toward him with a reckless energy that startled even the unflappable Emperor of Dalang. His sharp gaze narrowed, but his words were tinged with concern. "You really don't know how to walk, do you? What if you tripped and fell?"

Bao Ya's eyes glinted mischievously as she leaned into him, her voice low and teasing. "Oh, please. I knew you'd catch me. You'd never let me hit the ground, not with our little one here." She placed a hand over her stomach, her tone dripping with playful confidence. "You're the mightiest eagle of the skies, the fiercest stallion of these grasslands. You'd never let me fall, right?"

Karl's irritation flared for just a moment before vanishing as quickly as it came. His hands instinctively moved to her waist, steadying her, his jaw tightening as he glanced toward her parents.

Song Dingxiang couldn't hold back a knowing smile, her heart warmed by the pure, unrestrained happiness radiating from her daughter.

———TN:

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