Xiao An smiled and waved, "Alright, hurry and let Jing Feng in. I haven't seen her for a few days either."
Princess Zhaoning strode in, about to kneel to pay her respects.
Seeing this, Xiao An waved his hand, "Enough, Jing Feng, no need for such formalities. Just stand."
Princess Zhaoning was not one to stand on ceremony and bowed again.
"Father, I went out of the city early this morning and encountered a band of mountain bandits at Niutou. I led my men to drive them away. Guess what? These bandits had captured quite a few people, and some of them turned out to be eunuchs from the palace. I brought them back. They said they had left the city last night."
Xiao An's heart skipped a beat. Xiao Jing Feng's words were veiled, but it was too coincidental. Mountain bandits just happened to be encountered by him. Moreover, as a princess, to run more than ten li out of the city to Niutouling early in the morning, how was that possible?
Thinking about it, the princess was being so subtle, clearly not wanting to expose the truth.
To see without saying, this was the mark of shrewdness. Saving face for the emperor was saving face for oneself.
Xiao An put on a delighted expression, "Is that so? I sent a few people out on official business yesterday. I was wondering why they didn't return by nightfall. So they were captured. These people are truly useless."
"Father, there were dozens of bandits. It's normal that they couldn't defeat them. By the way, I've brought the people back for you. If you have nothing else, Jing Feng will take her leave."
Xiao An raised his hand, "Jing Feng, you've performed such a great service. I must reward you handsomely. Tell me, what do you want?"
Looking at her father, Princess Zhaoning thought for a moment. A sudden idea struck her. "Father, Jing Feng has a small wish. I don't want to marry into Da Tu. Can you cancel the engagement with the prince of Da Tu?"
Upon hearing Princess Zhaoning's words, Xiao An's expression darkened.
"How can that be? Don't forget, I too once married a princess of Da Tu. Therefore, my daughter must also marry the prince of Da Tu."
Princess Zhaoning had already thought of a reason. "But they invaded our country a few days ago. We've already fallen out."
"Since they don't abide by the rules, why should we keep our promises?"
Xiao An fell silent upon hearing Princess Zhaoning's words, pausing for a good while. He let out a long sigh.
"This matter, allow me to think on it. You may withdraw for now."
Exiting the imperial palace, Princess Zhaoning turned to see her elder brother. Since she needed a favor, she might as well strike while the iron was hot.
Seeing Princess Zhaoning arrive, Xiao Jingyun appeared very enthusiastic. "Jing Feng, you've arrived. They just returned and said it was thanks to you leading your men to rescue them. I was just about to go and thank you, and they said you had entered the palace."
Princess Zhaoning smiled and nodded. "Yes, and I happened to rescue a few of Father's subordinates. I brought them over first, so I was delayed with you..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Jingyun waved his hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing. My side is not important. Father's side is more important."
"By the way, how did you discover them?"
Princess Zhaoning smiled slightly and repeated what she had told the emperor, feigning righteous indignation. "Looking at those men, they were clearly no good. They bolted when they saw me. I followed their tracks and accidentally found a cave, and that's how I rescued your men."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingyun remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he knew very well that his sister was being evasive and not telling the whole truth, in fact, giving him a little face.
He also put on a show of anger, advancing to pound the table. "I will immediately arrange for men to go out of the city and search along the way. These mountain bandits must be wiped out completely."
Princess Zhaoning seized the opportunity and, with her brother, she was not one to be reserved or polite. "Brother, I saved your men. You must reward me with something."
Xiao Jingyun laughed heartily. "Alright, tell me, what do you want?"
Princess Zhaoning grinned, "Brother, I want to go to Qingniu County."
Hearing Princess Zhaoning say this, Xiao Jingyun was taken aback. "Why are you going all the way to Qingniu County?"
"Brother, I want to see the Dragon Vein. It used to be guarded by Liu Rummei, but she's getting married soon. I think I'll take over this task."
Hearing Princess Zhaoning's reason, Xiao Jingyun felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Jing Feng, even if Liu Rummei gets married, she will still be in Hetou Village at the foot of Qingniu Mountain and can still guard the Dragon Vein. There's no need for you to travel so far."
Princess Zhaoning looked at her brother and rolled her eyes. "Brother, this is my only request. You can't go back on your word."
"Little sister, don't be reckless. Father only has you, his only daughter, and dotes on you immensely. How could he bear to let you go to Qingniu County? Besides, now that Sun Yuliang has fallen, the Dragon Vein is safe even if it remains there, as no one will try to damage it."
Princess Zhaoning's expression became a little melancholic. "Brother, you are mistaken. Father doesn't care about me at all. He just wants me to marry into Da Tu..."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingyun finally came to his senses. He nodded. "Yes, according to the agreement, Da Tu will come to propose next spring."
After speaking, he looked at Princess Zhaoning and sighed slightly. "Jing Feng, I don't want you to marry so far away either, but since ancient times, marriage has been dictated by parents and arranged by matchmakers. Father promised them long ago, and he cannot go back on his word..."
Princess Zhaoning rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Your tune is the same as Father's. You only talk to me about rules and conventions, but have any of you considered my feelings? If I go to Da Tu alone, even if I want to see you, it will be a journey of thousands of miles. Can you truly bear it?"
Hearing Princess Zhaoning's words, Xiao Jingyun fell silent. Indeed, marrying into Da Tu was more than a thousand miles. If that were the case, it wouldn't be easy for him to see his sister.
Moreover, not long ago, Da Tu and Da Lin had suddenly invaded Da Cang, causing the relationship between the two countries to plummet to freezing point. So, should the upcoming marriage engagement still be fulfilled?
Seeing Xiao Jingyun hesitate, Princess Zhaoning immediately realized she had an opportunity. Thinking of this, she suddenly burst into tears, her tears falling down in streams.
"Brother, can you truly bear to send me to Da Tu? If I go to Da Tu, I will not be able to show filial piety to Father, nor can I serve our country. Even my master, the elder, would find it as difficult as ascending to heaven to see me."
"You say, if that's the case, what's the point of me living?"
"I might as well end it here, to spare Father worry, you concern, and Master unease."