Chapter 17: A Rain of Peach Blossoms in Winter

Chapter 17: A Peach Blossom Rain in Winter

Chang Qing was the calmer type, but upon hearing anything related to his little sister, he couldn't keep his composure either.

"Really? The Emperor truly said that? Father, I'm not dreaming, am I? You're not thinking of sneaking off behind the Emperor's back to grab Chun'er, are you?"

"Am I out of my mind?!"

Sure enough, the eldest young master got a smack on the head.

The second young master, Chang Jiu, was a big, burly himbo who only knew martial arts. On a normal day, his favorite thing to do was spoil his little sister, and now he was the first one out the door.

"Dad! I'm on it right now! Little sis, big bro's coming!!"

Chang Jiu was already gone. Meanwhile, at the Chang Family Army camp, Chang Yuan's deputy, General Zhuiyun, got the message.

"Muster thirty thousand troops right now. Move out and meet at the city gate!"

"Yes!"

...

Outside the city gate, a massive formation of armored troops had already gathered. They all knew today's mission was ordered by the Emperor himself.

They were going after the young miss, and everyone's hearts were racing with excitement.

The young miss grew up in the military camp and was a martial arts ace.

A lot of the young hotheads in camp had trained under her and looked up to her with gratitude and awe.

A girl that lively and sunny—and she was being shipped off for a political marriage...

Yun Ran had also changed into riding gear and picked out a snow-white horse.

Xiao Yuanzi said this was the wildest horse in the palace. Yun Ran just thought it looked kinda pretty.

She was a little unimpressed, but since she was just filling in, it'd have to do.

The Minister of Rites, Lord Jiang, had been notified and showed up too. When he got there, he first heard the Emperor planned to intercept the marriage procession, and his heart started pounding. Before he could even get a word out,

he got hit with another piece of awful news.

"No carriage? Oh heavens, this old minister is going to die..."

Lord Jiang was already sixty-eight years old.

The frail little old man looked fragile and feeble. Staring at the perfectly lined-up cavalry, he wished he could just pass out right there.

But with the Emperor right next to him, he didn't dare faint. He was bitter as hell inside.

"I checked the almanac today, and it said it was a bad day for court. I didn't believe it. Now look—I should've just called in sick and taken the day off."

Yun Ran sure as hell wasn't going to ride in a carriage for some shriveled-up old man.

"Xiao Yuanzi, find a soldier to ride with Elder Lord Jiang. They can go slower, but they can't fall behind."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Dragon Scale Guard had also shown up in full force. Over thirty thousand elite troops were lined up and ready outside the city gate.

Chang Yuan led the way, the Emperor and Yuanbao rode in the middle, the Dragon Scale Guard flanked them, and the Chang Family Army brought up the rear.

And so, the whole procession marched out of the city in grand style.

The townsfolk came out, curious to see what was going on.

"Oh wow, look—that's General Chang! Where are they headed? With this many troops, they're not going to war again, are they?"

"Who knows? Doesn't seem like it. That guy in the middle is so handsome!"

"Right? Which young master is that? Xiao Cui, go find out!"

...

Outside the city gate stretched ten li of peach trees. It was late winter, early spring, and they were just about to bloom.

As the horses trotted by, the breeze kicked up the peach blossoms, sending petals swirling through the air.

A bunch of hardened, iron-willed warriors found themselves caught in a rain of pink petals dancing across the spring sky.

The second young master, Chang Jiu, was in high spirits, galloping along and shouting at the top of his lungs,

"Bro! Look at this peach blossom rain! Chun'er would love this. When she's back, we'll bring her here to see it!"

Hearing that, Chang Yuan's eyes got a little misty. He instinctively glanced back at the Emperor behind him.

That young, bold face felt strangely unfamiliar.

The Emperor didn't resemble anyone—not the stern, solemn Grand Emperor, nor the gentle, graceful Empress Dowager.

No one at all.

The Emperor was forceful, bold, and willful.

He no longer seemed like the timid, submissive figure trapped in the Eastern Palace.

This was an Emperor Chang Yuan had never seen before, making decisions he never could've imagined in his lifetime.

"Your Majesty, thank you. Thanks to you, I get to see my Chun'er again."

Chang Yuan never said it out loud, but Yun Ran understood his look.

"Clop, clop, clop—"

Yun Ran raised her whip, spurred her horse past Chang Yuan, and rode ahead, leaving only her voice behind.

"Grand General Chang, hurry it up! Don't you wanna see your daughter anymore?!"

Just as Chang Yuan's eyes were about to get misty, Eunuch Yuan rode by and flicked a cloud of dust right in his face.

"Your Majesty! Wait up for this humble Xiao Yuanzi!"

Chang Yuan wiped his face and let out a big roar.

"Speed up!"

Instantly, the thunderous pounding of hooves sped up like rolling drums, kicking up dust everywhere they went.

Passersby only heard what sounded like an old man wailing among the horses,

"Wait, too fast, ugh, wait, ugh..."

...

In the vast and boundless desert,

A lone wisp of smoke rises straight into the clouds,

In the endless expanse, only a few poplar trees stand rooted in the earth, their shadows still looking thin and sparse.

A row of returning geese streaks across the horizon, hurrying toward home.

Along the way, the bridal procession, ten miles of red, grand and imposing,

The bronze bells on the horses' necks ring out an incessant, annoying jingle, and the rolling wheels trundle over the yellow earth, leaving long tracks behind.

The sedan chair creaks and groans,

The curtains sway constantly, and a light breeze occasionally blows them open, revealing a gap.

The woman inside remains silent,

Now and then peeking out at the scenery, then shrinking back, concealing the fading sparkle in her eyes.

Lady of Pingyang, Chang Chun, wore an ornate bright red ceremonial dress that was already somewhat wrinkled,

She sits upright in the luxurious carriage, a heavy crown on her head, letting the beaded tassels sway and strike her tear-streaked face,

With this parting, escorted by two thousand attendants and soldiers of the Great Yan, she sets out on the road to Beixiang, never to return,

Father, mother—Chun'er will never see you again.

"How much longer?"

"Don't worry, my lady, five more days and we will arrive."

Chang Chun's voice was hoarse, and her personal maid Yuanyang, walking alongside, asked with concern,

"Miss, are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

And so, they fell silent again.

The procession had traveled from dawn to dusk, and as the sky darkened, the desert still stretched endlessly before them,

The procession came to a halt to rest.