"I'm making a deal with you."
He raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"A poor horse is trapped in the garden, while a brave steed gallops ten thousand li. I'll help you expand your territory, and you'll protect my family. "Gu Yan said slowly.
Yi Ling suddenly smiled and said, "Gu Yan, do you think I made the right choice?"
What choice? To cooperate with the Emperor, to marry her, or to form an alliance with her? No matter which one he asked, Gu Yan only knew one answer, and that was, "Yes."
Yi Ling reached out and grabbed her chin. He looked at her carefully in the mirror and said, "I've never made a choice that I regret in my life. I hope that you will too."
Gu Yan raised her head slightly. Her eyes were resolute, and her red lips gently opened, "General, please rest assured."
Yi Ling did not say anything else. He loosened his grip on her hand and gently stroked her cheek. After a while, he said, "Gu Yan, from now on, no matter if the future is good or bad, you and I will walk hand in hand."
— — —
After parting at Qingyan Mountain, Rui Wang returned to the court to report on his mission, while Gu Yan followed Yi Ling all the way to the north.
After nearly two months of trekking, they finally arrived at Hokuin's Imperial Capital, Shengjing, at the beginning of winter.
The procession slowly entered Shengjing's city gates. Gu Yan wore a white fur Overcoat and leaned lazily against the cushions, not paying attention to the scenery outside the window.
A Nuo was excited. She carefully lifted the corner of the curtain and peeked outside.
A cold wind blew in from the lifted curtain of the carriage, bringing with it an ancient chill.
The weather was gloomy and gray. A Nuo looked outside the window and asked Gu Yan, "Princess, do you think it will snow? Have you seen snow before? What does snow look like?"
Gu Yan simply closed his eyes and ignored her, but A Nuo was still chattering away excitedly. After traveling like this for a while, the carriage gradually came to a stop. Gu Yan understood that they had arrived at the General's residence. Sure enough, a servant called out from outside the carriage door, "Madam, we've arrived."
Hearing this, A Nuo got up and opened the car door. He got out of the car first, then lifted the curtain and reached out to her.
Gu Yan took her hand and got out of the car.
As the cold wind blew against her face, she couldn't help but tighten her Overcoat. Then, she raised her head to look at the scenery in front of her.
The black door stood tall, and the plaque hung high. There were no more than twenty attendants and servants at the door to welcome them. During this time, he didn't even see any women.
Gu Yan was also slightly relieved. It was not that she cared too much, but there were many women in the world, so she had to put in more effort. Now, she did not have to.
The General's residence only had two courtyards, one in the front and one in the back.
Yi Ling had returned earlier and was already in the palace to meet the Emperor. Gu Yan was led by a servant to her room in the inner courtyard. After months of traveling, she was extremely tired. She let A Nuo help her bathe and then went to bed to sleep.
This sleep was dreamless, and she slept until the next morning.
Gu Yan woke up from her deep sleep and opened her eyes in a daze. The happy expression on her face made her suddenly think that she was still at the foot of Green Rock Mountain, still in the land of Nan Hua.
Just as she was in a daze, she heard A Nuo's voice from outside the curtain, "Princess, it's time to get up."
Gu Yan answered vaguely. A Nuo went forward to hang up the curtain and helped her get up.
Her black hair was like a waterfall, and her porcelain skin was like jade. The orchid soup was steaming, and white steam rose into the air. Her slender waist seemed to be unable to be restrained, and her slender legs were faintly discernible under the water's petals. Gu Yan sat in the wooden tub with her eyes closed. A Nuo held a jade tiger and scooped up the orchid soup and poured it over her head. The warm water washed away the dust on her body, and also washed away the mark of the Chu Kingdom. From now on, she was Yinren, the wife of the General of Hokuin.
"General!" A Nuo's sudden voice startled Gu Yan. She opened her eyes and subconsciously sank into the water. Then she asked, "General, what's the matter?"
Yi Ling was stunned at the door. Usually, he was in the military camp and he was the only one in the residence. He did not have any scruples about going in and out. He did not expect to see her bathing today. He was stunned, and then he looked away and said, "The carriage is ready. We're just waiting for you."
"Sorry for making you wait, General. Gu Yan will be ready soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yi Ling had already turned and left.
Hokuin worshipped fire, and its colors were mainly red and black. The nine layers of the palace were towering, as if it was towering into the clouds. The Great Hall of Imperial Politics stood high above the layers of stairs.
The complicated palace dress was like layers of flower petals, blooming at Gu Yan's feet. The jade ornaments on her waist made a cold sound. Yi Ling held her hand tightly. The callus on his palm was like a thorn, stabbing her and waking her up.
The two held hands and slowly walked up the stairs. In the Great Hall, the Emperor of Hokuin was sitting, and all the officials were in line.
Gu Yan straightened her back and accepted the guessing, disdainful, and disdainful gazes from the crowd. Her red lips were like flames, blooming into a slight smile, and calmly accepted all the gazes.
In the Great Hall, the two bent their knees and saluted. The Emperor looked at her and said, "Princess Pingyang, you really live up to your reputation. You did not waste my request to the Great General for your hand in marriage."
Gu Yan lowered her head and replied, her movements dignified and elegant, "Your Majesty is overpraising me."
"Have you gotten used to marrying into our country this time?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, since Pingyang has married into the Dai Yin, she is a citizen of the Dai Yin. Nan Hua is Hokuin, Pingyang is safe and sound."
The buzz of discussion suddenly rose. The Emperor couldn't help but look seriously at the beautiful woman in front of him, and said with a smile, "Pingyang is really smart."
The audience ended with the Emperor bestowing a generous reward. Gu Yan and Yi Ling had just left the Great Hall when a palace attendant came to greet them and said, "General, Imperial Concubine niangniang has been waiting for Madam for a long time."
On the way to the Palace, Yi Ling had already briefed Gu Yan on the situation in Hokuin. The Empress had passed away, leaving only her legitimate son, Huan Zhuo, and the Imperial Consort Yi in the Palace. In order to strengthen the power of her son, Huan Xuan, the Imperial Consort Yi had asked the Emperor to marry her in Nan Hua. The Emperor was in a dilemma to balance the power between the legitimate sons. At this time, Yi Ling had also asked for marriage, so the Emperor pushed the boat with the current and gladly agreed.
In this round, the legitimate sons and daughters were tied. But now, obtaining Yi Ling's support was the key to the battle between the two parties.
Gu Yan understood and raised his eyes to look at Yi Ling. His eyes were calm as he reached out to help her fix her loose Overcoat and said, "Go."
Gu Yan nodded slightly to him, then turned and walked away with the palace attendant.
Compared to Nan Hua's nine winding corridors, Hokuin's Imperial Palace was more grand and simple. It lacked the colorful powder and gold paintings of Nan Hua, and only had two colors, red and black, revealing the imperial power.
The cold wind brushed past Gu Yan's face as he followed the palace attendant down the long corridor. Snow fell from the sky. Gu Yan looked up at the sky with some surprise, and his heart couldn't help but fill with joy. Even his steps became lighter.
"Madam." An urgent call came from behind. Gu Yan paused and turned around, only to see a palace attendant hastily running over. She bowed and said, "Madam, the general ordered me to deliver an umbrella for you." Finished speaking, she presented the oil-paper umbrella in her hands.
Gu Yan was surprised. Yi Ling's actions were just for the sake of Imperial Consort Yi. He cared a lot about his wife, so the Imperial Consort Yi naturally didn't dare to look down on her.
Gu Yan's expression didn't change as he took it, "You may leave." Finished speaking, he turned and continued to follow the palace attendant to the back of the palace.
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