Chapter 433
**Chapter 431: [Extra] Li Qingxun (9)**
Li Qingxun rolled her eyes. "Am I just a piece of merchandise for others to pick? If I get chosen, should I be happy about it? That's not something to celebrate." She had no intention of being a mere ornament for a man.
Tuoba Yu looked at her with appreciation. "The state of Qing is weak. As a delicate woman, you have no right to refuse. Just wait obediently; I will soon take you into my residence."
Li Qingxun turned her horse around and left without looking back.
...
With the peace treaty signed, Li Qingxun returned with the convoy. As they traveled through Jiangnan, two imperial edicts arrived from Yanjing.
The Emperor of Qing decreed that the sixth princess would be sent to the state of Yue for marriage, while the seventh princess would be sent to the state of Yelang.
The head eunuch's demeanor was cold as he finished reading the edict and handed it to Li Qingxun. "Seventh Princess, the marriage convoy has already arrived. Please prepare to set off soon."
Li Qingxun raised an eyebrow. "When did I become the seventh princess?" She was clearly the sixth.
Yet the edict twisted the truth, assigning the title of "seventh princess" to her.
The head eunuch forced a smile. "Please forgive me, Seventh Princess. This is the will of the Emperor and the Empress. I am merely following orders."
Li Qingxun took the edict. After inquiring with the palace maid Yuan'er, she learned the backstory. It turned out that after the alliance was signed in Liangzhou, the crown prince of Yue, Tuoba Yu, decided to marry the sixth princess of Qing.
This news shocked the Emperor and Empress in the palace of Yanjing. They never expected that Tuoba Yu would take an interest in Li Qingxun, who was merely a stand-in.
The Empress wept inconsolably. If Li Qingxun were to marry into Yue, then the only one left to marry into Yelang would be Li Qingling. The Empress cherished this daughter like a precious gem; how could she bear to see her marry far away to Yelang?
She consulted with the Emperor.
The Emperor, who also felt sorry for Li Qingling, secretly manipulated the situation, swapping the sixth and seventh princesses, even altering the royal records.
In the end, it was Li Qingxun who was to marry into Yelang.
"What a clever scheme," Li Qingxun tossed the edict aside and went upstairs to sleep.
Li Qingxun was unfazed, but Li Qingling felt tormented. Overcome with guilt, she sought out Li Qingxun.
With red-rimmed eyes, Li Qingling grasped Li Qingxun's hand and said, "This is all my parents' fault... I truly apologize. But as weak women, we can only leave our fates in their hands, helpless as we are."
"I'll give you half of my dowry, and all the silver I've saved over the years. Sixth Sister, I'm so sorry."
Li Qingling couldn't lift her head in shame.
The Emperor of Yelang was foolish and over sixty years old. If Li Qingxun married him, she would surely meet an early demise.
Li Qingxun stroked her chin and asked, "How much silver do you have saved?"
Li Qingling was taken aback.
At a time like this, she was still concerned about material possessions!
Li Qingling reported her savings, and Li Qingxun's eyes lit up. As expected of the most favored princess of Qing, she had accumulated quite a fortune at just seventeen or eighteen.
Li Qingxun happily accepted the silver and dowry from Li Qingling, counted the marriage convoy, and set off on the journey south.
Yelang was far away, fraught with dangers, and they would pass through many barbarian tribes. To ensure a smooth marriage, the court sent Zhang He'an, the Prime Minister, to escort them.
...
The marriage convoy left the territory of Qing, traveling through desolate paths. The group consisted of nearly fifty people, including guards and servants.
Those chosen to accompany the marriage were mostly from humble backgrounds and not valued in the palace. Li Qingxun understood well that while traveling, she must not treat these people as lowly servants.
She and Zhang He'an played their roles well, with her as the kind-hearted leader and him as the stern enforcer. With a system of rewards and punishments, they managed the escorting personnel effectively.
The journey was long, and reaching Yelang would take at least half a year. Bored along the way, Li Qingxun often summoned Zhang He'an to serve her in the carriage.
Maid Yuan'er was also part of the marriage convoy.
She watched in disbelief as Prime Minister Zhang entered the princess's carriage, and over an hour later, he emerged with disheveled clothes.
Yuan'er was stunned.
She gently reminded Li Qingxun, "Princess, we are going to Yelang for marriage... How can you and Prime Minister Zhang be... be together every day? It's quite inappropriate!"
Li Qingxun stretched her back. "It's a long journey, and with such warmth and comfort, I must indulge a little."
Yuan'er: ...
As time went on, seeing Zhang He'an and Li Qingxun in love, Yuan'er became increasingly numb to it.
Out here, without the Emperor of Qing watching over them, the princess was the leader of the convoy.
The princess could do as she pleased.
They, the unfortunate companions of the marriage, had only a path forward, with no way back.
Yet Yuan'er found it hard to understand how Prime Minister Zhang, a dignified and composed gentleman, would willingly submit to the princess. With just a fleeting glance from her, he would step forward.
It was truly unfathomable.
The marriage convoy continued south, passing through many barbarian tribes. To ensure the safety of the convoy, Li Qingxun sketched designs and crafted several simple composite bows, using herbs to extract some healing remedies.
Even the delicate Yuan'er could easily use the composite bow.
As the convoy traveled south, they encountered a few tribal attacks but suffered minimal losses.
Inside the carriage, Li Qingxun leaned over a small desk, gripping a brush to draw weapon designs. Zhang He'an stood beside her, grinding ink, his dark eyes scanning the weapon sketches with a hint of confusion.
"Ah Xun, where did you learn to make weapons?" Zhang He'an asked.
Li Qingxun didn't look up. "Don't ask; I won't tell."
Zhang He'an dared not press further.
If he insisted on uncovering the truth, he might find himself kicked out of bed tonight. Li Qingxun was just that kind of woman—bold and unrestrained, she was her own sun.
Zhang He'an gazed at Li Qingxun, captivated by her charm, unable to extricate himself.
After finishing the modified bow and crossbow, Li Qingxun lifted the curtain of the carriage and called for the head guard of the marriage convoy. "Go ahead and chop some trees up front, and make new weapons according to this design."
The head guard respectfully accepted the blueprints.
Li Qingxun had drawn for an entire afternoon, her neck sore. She lazily rested on Zhang He'an's lap. He massaged her shoulders, and she comfortably squinted her eyes.
Li Qingxun murmured, "Actually, this life isn't bad. No worries about food or clothing, weapons in hand, and at night, I have a handsome man to keep me warm."
Zhang He'an replied, "Mm."
Li Qingxun continued lazily, "I heard Yelang is rich in resources, with the sea producing rubies. I really want to go see it and seize those mines."
Zhang He'an said, "Sounds good."
Li Qingxun laughed, "You agree with everything I say. Are you a robot?"
Zhang He'an's voice was low. "What is a robot?"
Li Qingxun slowly propped herself up, playfully tracing Zhang He'an's chin with her fingers. "I can't explain what a robot is, but I know there are other mechanisms in a person..."
Just as Li Qingxun was about to make her move, Yuan'er's startled voice came from outside. "Princess, Master Zhang, there's a barbarian tribe blocking the road ahead!"
Li Qingxun instantly retracted her intentions, pushed Zhang He'an away, and stepped out of the carriage.
The men and women in the convoy had already skillfully drawn their weapons for defense. As night fell, the members of the barbarian tribe cautiously approached.
They were unarmed.
Speaking in a language Li Qingxun couldn't understand, they gestured wildly, eventually even kneeling down.
It seemed they were seeking help.
Zhang He'an stepped down from the carriage and draped a cloak over Li Qingxun. She adjusted her collar and sent a guard to negotiate.
The guard communicated with the tribal members through gestures, then hurried back to report to Li Qingxun. "Princess, the leader of this tribe seems to be in trouble and wants to ask for our help."
Li Qingxun pondered for a moment.
Zhang He'an said, "I'll go check the situation."
Li Qingxun pressed down on his arm. "No need; you stay here."
Li Qingxun took a few of the most skilled guards, armed with weapons and poison, and followed the barbarians into their village.
Inside the largest tent of the tribe, a strong smell of blood filled the air. It turned out that the chief's wife was in labor but was having difficulty, and there were no skilled doctors in the tribe. The chief could only seek help from Li Qingxun and her group.
Li Qingxun called for the doctor from her convoy to assist the chief's wife in giving birth.
The child was soon born safely.
Li Qingxun, determined to do good, left behind some medicinal herbs and had the doctor draw some common herbal patterns on sheepskin. After handing these to the tribal chief, the dark-skinned leader expressed his gratitude, chattering away and offering Li Qingxun many furs and fine horses from the tribe.
Li Qingxun accepted everything.
Along the way, she had helped numerous tribes and received many gifts in return.
This was also part of her strategy.
Going to Yelang for marriage would surely not be smooth. If she encountered danger there, she could quickly return, and all the tribes she had aided along the way would be her allies.
...
The marriage convoy continued its journey.
Through various experiences, the men and women each took on their roles, gradually becoming Li Qingxun's loyal confidants.
After traveling for over half a year, the convoy finally reached a small border town in Yelang. The town had a small population, but complete buildings were already visible.
Li Qingxun submitted the transit documents and state letter from Qing, and the county magistrate hurried to greet them at the city gate. Upon seeing the weary marriage convoy, he was taken aback.
This hardly looked like a marriage convoy.
Each person, regardless of gender, exuded a fierce aura, resembling a band of bloodthirsty bandits.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Zhang of Qing was handsome and eloquent, and with the state letter bearing the royal seal, the magistrate finally believed they were indeed the marriage convoy from Qing.
The magistrate warmly welcomed them, and the group settled into the luxurious county office residence.
After a long journey, the marriage convoy finally had a moment to relax. Everyone drank and feasted, enjoying themselves thoroughly.
As a lavish dinner was served, Li Qingxun was surprised that a small border town's magistrate could procure such an abundance of delicacies.
The townspeople lived in poverty, yet the magistrate had a varied menu for every meal.
Li Qingxun picked up a piece of beautifully braised pork, just as she was about to take a bite, she suddenly felt her stomach churn. Covering her mouth and nose, she began to gag.
After a few bites of dinner, she simply couldn't swallow anymore, so she asked Yuan'er to find the doctor from the marriage convoy.
After taking her pulse, the doctor looked strange and knelt down trembling. "Princess... you are with child."
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