Isolated town in northern border region

After the delegation entered Youzhou territory, the sights along the way became increasingly alarming to Jiang Min.

Every ten miles or so there is a fortress, with gray-white cement walls and sharp angles.

Between the fortresses, beacon towers stretched endlessly, one every few miles, towering high, with soldiers on guard day and night.

What terrified her even more were the soldiers on the road.

A patrol passed by the mission. The lead soldier saw the mission's flag, reined in his horse, and moved aside.

Their armor and weapons gleamed, and they stood ramrod straight.

What surprised Jiang Min the most was their eyes!

It wasn't the kind of ferocity that comes from years of battle, but rather a peaceful and proud demeanor.

Jiang Min lifted the carriage curtain and nodded to the leading soldier.

"Sir, does the northern frontier really need so many patrols?"

The soldier paused for a moment, then laughed.

"It's not that the public security is bad."

"The prince said that soldiers cannot eat the people's food for free; they must work for the people."

"We patrol and help the villagers repair roads, dig ditches, and harvest crops along the way."

"Lend a hand to those who are in trouble."

"Your prince cares about this?"

"No! The prince said this is called 'the army and the people are one family'."

The soldier grinned and rode away.

Jiang Min watched his retreating figure and murmured to herself.

"The military and the people are one family..."

"If that were truly the case, who in the world could stand against this army?"

When the delegation arrived in Youzhou City, the city gates were opened wide, and the people lined the streets to welcome them.

It wasn't organized by the government; it was the people who came spontaneously.

Xiao Lie's reconquest of the northern frontier, distribution of land, construction of roads and factories—every single thing he did touched the hearts of the people.

Hearing that the Princess of Jingguo was coming to meet the Prince, the people were even more anxious than Xiao Lie.

Some people held up flags that read "May Your Highness Be Victorious," others held up banners that read "May Your Highness Be Thousand Years Old," and several old ladies carried baskets, stuffing eggs, red dates, and homemade pickled vegetables into the delegation's vehicle.

"Princess, this is a specialty of our northern frontier, please try it!"

"Princess, our prince is a good man, please don't look down on him!"

Jiang Min was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by the spectacle.

She took a red date from an old lady, took a bite, and her eyes narrowed from the sweetness.

"Auntie, is your prince treating you well?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady almost burst into tears.

"Great! Absolutely fantastic!"

"You have no idea what life was like in northern Xinjiang before!"

"The northern barbarians invade the south every year, looting grain, killing people, and setting fires. The government and the imperial court do nothing, and we common people can only wait to die."

"Until the prince arrived, drove away the Tartars, distributed land, and even gave us grain, seeds, and farming tools!"

"My son used to be skin and bones from hunger, but now he works in the prince's factory, earning two taels of silver a month, plus three meals a day. He's as strong as a calf!"

A complex light flashed in Jiang Min's eyes.

She has met many officials with outstanding political achievements; some are honest, some are capable, and some are cunning and scheming.

But in the northern border regions, where the people praise the prince as if he were their own child... there's really none!

…………

Xiao Lie stretched out his arms, letting Bi Su adjust his formal attire.

Bisu stood behind him and whispered.

"Your Highness, are you nervous?"

Xiao Lie smiled.

"What's there to be nervous about?"

"That's Princess Jing, a renowned woman of talent! What if she doesn't fancy you..."

Xiao Lie turned around and tapped Bi Su on the head.

"If you don't like it, you don't like it!"

"She doesn't like it? That's because she has no taste!"

Bisu covered her head, pouted, and dared not speak again.

When the delegation entered the city, Xiao Lie wore a dark brocade robe and a long sword at his waist. He only brought Xiao Xiong and Chen Hu to greet them at the city gate.

As Jiang Min stepped down from the imperial carriage, the first thing she saw was Xiao Lie, and her beautiful eyes immediately lit up.

She had met many talented people from all over the world, of all kinds.

But Xiao Lie before me...

Jiang Min felt something special at first glance.

It is a calm and composed demeanor, like a piece of iron tempered by fire—unassuming yet substantial.

Xiao Lie was also sizing up Jiang Min.

He had assumed that the Princess of Jing would be a delicate noblewoman, but the one before him, though dressed in finery and dignified, possessed a heroic air about her.

"Princess, you've come from afar; you must be tired from your journey."

Xiao Lie cupped his hands in greeting.

Jiang Min smiled slightly.

"Your Highness Prince Ning is too kind."

"As I traveled along the way, I saw the people of the northern frontier living in peace and contentment, and I felt great respect for them."

Xiao Lie smiled.

"You flatter me, Your Highness. Please."

The welcoming banquet was held in the main hall of the Youzhou government office.

Vegetables are a specialty of northern Xinjiang...

Roasted whole lamb, hand-pulled mutton, wild game, and the liquor is sorghum liquor brewed in northern Xinjiang, which is very strong.

Xiao Xiong, Chen Hu, Shen Chongyuan, Zhou Xun, Luo Daniu, Qian Wanli, and other key figures from the northern frontier were all present.

As the eldest brother of the emperor, Xiao Yu sat beside Xiao Lie, dressed in a plain robe, his expression normal, but his hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly.

Xiao Lie glanced at it, but seemed not to see anything.

During the meal, Zhang Quan stood up and raised his wine glass.

"Your Highness, I have long admired your reputation, and seeing you today, I can confirm that it is indeed well-deserved."

"But... how can such a grand feast be without poetry?"

He smiled.

"Your Highness, I humbly request permission to hold a poetry gathering at this grand banquet. I wonder if Your Highness would grant me permission?"

Xiao Lie frowned slightly.

Although he had read a lot of poetry in his previous life, he wasn't shameless enough to plagiarize.

"You're too kind, Envoy Zhang."

Xiao Lie raised his wine glass, neither humble nor arrogant.

"I am but a warrior, not skilled in poetry. I shall listen to the princess."

Jiang Min smiled slightly.

She wasn't afraid of Xiao Lie refusing, but she was afraid that Xiao Lie wouldn't accept the challenge.

She picked up the wine glass in front of her, took a small sip, and then got up and walked into the hall.

"Your Highness's hospitality is too kind for me to refuse."

"What I have seen and heard on this journey north has deeply moved me. Please forgive me if I have not done well."

Xiao Lie raised his cup in a toast, and Jiang Min smiled, curtsied, and began to recite.

The north wind blows, snow fills the air, bows and swords are drawn; iron horses cross the icy river at night.

Do not say that spring has no beauty in the northern frontier; smoke from a thousand chimneys rises into the clouds.

…………

[I trim the candle by the west window, the night is not yet over; a letter cannot be sent, only the mournful cry of wild geese echoes in the cold.]

If you come when spring is not yet over, I'll offer you a branch of plum blossoms in the snow, urging you to eat more.

…………

The north wind whips up snow like smoke, yet a thousand homes remain lit, their lights still burning, refusing to let out a sleep.

Suddenly I recall the green waters of Jiangnan in spring, and our first meeting on a lotus-picking boat.

…………

Jiang Min immediately launched into these excellent poems.

Each poem is exquisitely written and profoundly evocative, leaving even the roughnecks of the northern frontier completely bewildered.

The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat subtle.

Although no one said it aloud, everyone was thinking it over and over.

The prince was a military general, and he probably couldn't compare to this princess in poetry.

If they fail to handle the situation, word will spread that "Prince Ning's literary talent is inferior to that of Princess Jing," which will be embarrassing for them.

Xiao Lie held his wine glass, his expression unchanged.

Of course he knew what Jiang Min was doing.

It wasn't a provocation, but a test. A test of his talent, a test of his character, and incidentally, a show of force.

"The princess is very talented."

"I am indeed not good at poetry."

"Besides ensuring that the common people can eat their fill in peace, he doesn't have any other skills."

"If the princess wishes to find a husband who can accompany her in composing poetry..."

He paused, then looked directly at Jiang Min.

"I am not that person."

The hall was quiet.

Jiang Min looked at Xiao Lie, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She had seen too many men fawning over her, but Xiao Lie was different.

He doesn't pretend, act, or pander; he is neither arrogant nor humble.

"Your Highness has a fine demeanor."

"To enable the people of northern Xinjiang to live and work in peace and contentment is more valuable than countless poems."

Jiang Min picked up her wine glass.

"I would like to offer Your Highness a toast."

Xiao Lie raised his cup to drink with him, but as soon as he put it down, Xiao Yu stood up.

He carried a pot of wine and walked up to Xiao Lie.

"Brother, I drank your mead last night, and today, with this joyous occasion, I have specially prepared a jar of peach blossom wine."

"Congratulations to the Imperial Brother and Princess Minyue on their perfect match!"

He filled Xiao Lie's glass to the brim and then poured one for himself.

Xiao Lie glanced at the glass of wine, then at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu's eyes darted away, but her smile remained relatively natural.

"Let's drink first as a sign of respect."

Xiao Yu drank it all in one gulp.

Xiao Lie picked up his wine glass, about to drink...

"Your Highness, please wait."

Jiang Min's voice wasn't loud, but every word in the hall could be heard clearly.

Everyone looked at her, puzzled.

Jiang Min looked around.

"As I traveled north, my accompanying guards inadvertently captured someone."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

"This man was carrying a secret letter, stamped with the personal seal of the Emperor of Great Chu."

Jiang Min's gaze fell on Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the wine glass in her hand fell to the ground and shattered.

"Your Highness, the First Prince."

Jiang Min's voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it sounded like a mountain pressing down.

"Is there anything that shouldn't have been added to this peach blossom wine?"

The room erupted in chaos.

Luo Daniu suddenly stood up and slammed his fist on the table, making the dishes bounce three times.

"Fuck your mother! Poisoned you? Xiao Yu, you bastard!"

Xiao Xiong also stood up and drew his sword.

"Damn it! I knew you were no good! Men! Tie him up!"

Several generals of the Trapped Camp also stood up, their emotions running high.

Some people condemned Xiao Yu for being ungrateful, while others condemned the Chu Emperor for being ruthless...

Xiao Xiong and Luo Daniu, those two hotheads, were even more ruthless, directly shouting that they wanted to rebel.

"Your Highness! This humble general requests permission to lead troops south and raze the capital to the ground!"

"Your Highness! This humble general requests permission to capture that damned emperor and personally feed him two catties of poisoned wine!"

Shen Chongyuan stood up, his voice low.

"Your Highness, although I am a subject of the Great Chu... I cannot tolerate this."

"You risked your life on the northern frontier, and that old emperor not only didn't help you, but he also stabbed you in the back!"

"Your Highness, this is rebellion!"

Shen Chongyuan was already the commander of the Northern Frontier, second only to Xiao Lie, and his statement at this time drew the support of the other generals.

Xiao Lie sat in the main seat, motionless.

His face was calm, so calm that he didn't look like someone who had just been poisoned.

His gaze swept around the room before finally settling on Jiang Min's face.

"Sit down, everyone."

His voice wasn't loud, but the hall fell silent instantly.

Xiao Lie's words are military orders!

Everyone slowly sat down, their eyes fixed on Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie stood up and looked at Xiao Yu.

"Brother, wasn't this peach blossom wine the first time we sneaked out of the palace?"

Xiao Yu was forced to kneel on the ground by several soldiers, but he did not resist. He just shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Xiao Lie waved his hand, dismissing the soldiers, and raised his wine cup to look at Jiang Min.

"Princess, thank you for telling me. This cup of wine..."

"Non-toxic!"

After saying that, Xiao Lie drank the wine in his cup in one gulp!

The hall erupted in uproar once again.

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

"You can't drink it!"

Xiao Lie raised his hand, silencing everyone.

Xiao Yu's body trembled violently, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Xiao Lie turned around and squatted down in front of Xiao Yu.

"Brother, it tastes just like before, quite sweet."

Xiao Yu raised her head, tears streaming down her face.

"My father has decreed that, as a prince, I have no choice but to obey..."

Xiao Yu wiped away her tears and stood up.

"But I don't want to spend the rest of my life without freedom..."

"Without the title of prince, I live a very comfortable life in the northern frontier. I don't have to scheme against each other, and there's no hierarchy among my comrades. If things get heated, we just fight, and afterwards we're still brothers in arms..."

"Whether it's the Crown Prince's Palace or the throne, it doesn't seem that important anymore..."

"I don't want to be a pawn!"

As soon as Xiao Yu finished speaking, a trickle of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth.

Xiao Lie immediately realized what was happening.

"Quick! Go get a doctor!"

"Xiao Xiong, let's go on horseback!"

"quick!"

The next moment, Xiao Yu smiled and spat out a mouthful of blood, then collapsed into Xiao Lie's arms.