Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

The carriage fell into a brief silence, as no one knew how to explain Tuoba Rou’s identity to Tan Chuyan.

While they hesitated to explain, Tan Chuyan was well aware of Tuoba Rou’s status. She was the beloved princess of the Xibo tribe, and Feng Chilie’s mother, Tuoba Lan, was her aunt, making Feng Chilie and Tuoba Rou cousins.

What added an interesting twist to their relationship was that they shared the same birthday, born on the same day, month, and year, with Tuoba Rou being born just a quarter of an hour later than Feng Chilie.

To bring them even closer, when Tuoba Rou’s mother, Yu Shi, and Tuoba Lan were both pregnant, they made a pact. If they each had one child of a different gender, they would arrange a marriage between them.

But if both children were of the same gender, they would become siblings. When the two babies were born, Yu Shi and Tuoba Lan agreed to the baby wedding on the spot, even exchanging tokens.

Yet, as they grew up, a classic tale of unrequited love unfolded. Tuoba Rou adored Feng Chilie, but he simply didn’t return her feelings. It was as if there were mountains between them, despite the adage that “women chase men under a silk veil.”

Over the years, Tuoba Rou never gave up on her pursuit and remained unmarried due to her love for Feng Chilie. Talking about Tan Chuyan in this context made Chu Qingyi feel a twinge of sympathy for Tuoba Rou, as she couldn’t understand why anyone would fall for such a bad-tempered man.

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In the midst of this awkward atmosphere, Chu Qingyi pondered whether Tan Chuyan had learned about Feng Chilie’s engagement to Tuoba Rou from Young Master Yan and that’s why he attempted to escape the marriage. After all, no one wants to be used as a political tool.

However, upon closer reflection, it became evident that Feng Chilie had kept his true intentions a secret when he proposed the marriage. Chu Qingyi herself had only learned about it after Tan Chuyan’s escape. Moreover, if Tan Chuyan had run away from this engagement, why would he now inquire about Tuoba Rou?

So why did he evade the engagement? To play both countries against each other?

Did he know that as long as King Jing remained in power, he could exploit this situation to provoke Qi Kingdom?

A war, if it occurred, would have unimaginable consequences, plunging the world into turmoil.

While unification was ultimately inevitable, this was not the right time for it. The turmoil at this moment could lead to one of three outcomes: reunification, further global chaos and suffering, or a new dynasty emerging, but it would be tainted by the legacy of rebellious ministers and traitors.

Unless Tan Chuyan expected that Jing Kingdom would refrain from using this matter as a pretext for an attack. If that were the case, then he would be a rather frightening individual. Not only did he have connections with the world-renowned Young Master Yan, but he also managed to elude anyone’s understanding of his true motives for running away from his betrothal.

A cold shiver ran down Chu Qingyi’s spine. Having someone near her whose intentions were so enigmatic was unsettling, to say the least. She cast a sidelong glance at Tan Chuyan, who received no response to his question.

Deciding not to press further, she leaned against the carriage and closed her eyes, seeking some rest.

Tan Chuyan’s attire today featured a bright red cloak that accentuated his snow-white skin and silky hair, tied high and cascading to his chest. It swayed with the carriage’s movement, and the young man’s beauty was indeed remarkable.

The carriage soon reached the General’s Mansion and came to a halt. As a final confirmation, Chu Qingyi inquired, “Are you sure you want to move to the Princess Mansion temporarily?”

Tan Chuyan opened his eyes and looked at them calmly, his eyes seemingly carrying a message.

—General, don’t be a coward.

With that provocative look in his eyes, Feng Chilie clenched his teeth, prepared to respond, even if it meant his doom. But their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of approaching hooves.

“Report!” A soldier’s voice cried out from a distance, followed by a loud thud.

The soldier knelt before them, urgently relaying the news, “Princess! Princess Yongle encountered bandits, and now… her whereabouts are unknown!”

It couldn’t be!

In an instant, all three occupants of the carriage sat up straight. Chu Qingyi pulled back the curtain and inquired, “Where did she encounter the bandits?”

“Princess, it happened after she entered Jing Kingdom,” the soldier explained.

This was dire news. Chu Qingyi immediately stepped out of the carriage and issued her orders, “Halt the news from spreading. The disappearance of Princess Yongle cannot be reported back to Xibo. Lan Yue, assemble the escort team immediately and prepare to accompany me in the search.”

Lan Yue, who had quickly regained her composure, disappeared from view and rushed back into the princess’s mansion.

A quarter of an hour later, the Princess’s escort team was fully assembled. Chu Qingyi changed into a light blue riding uniform, ready to give the order to set off. However, Tan Chuyan intervened.

“Princess,” Tan Chuyan stood by his horse, “Can I accompany you on this mission?”

Chu Qingyi expressed her concern, “You’re still recovering, and…”

“I’m sensible,” Tan Chuyan assured her.

“An extra pair of hands might be useful, and if something happens to Princess Yongle, Jing Kingdom might not get away unscathed. My presence won’t make a difference. And who knows, if something happens, I might run away halfway and avoid unnecessary involvement.”

Chu Qingyi furrowed her brows. “Very well, but you must not hinder our mission.”

“I promise,” Tan Chuyan affirmed.

Lan Yue quickly arranged for a horse for Tan Chuyan. He adjusted his riding clothes, which he preferred for their simplicity, and mounted the horse with one foot exposed from underneath the white attire.

“Let’s go!” Chu Qingyi ordered, and as her horse prepared to move, a burst of fiery red light darted forward. Standing behind them, Tianbao watched eagerly.

Chu Qingyi couldn’t help but be surprised at the Fifth Prince’s sense of urgency. She knew that Tan Chuan shouldn’t be rushed, especially given the situation with Tuoba Rou in Jing Kingdom. If anything were to happen to her, Xibo might have a reason to send troops to Jing Kingdom.

Xibo, a nomadic people, struggled for food during the harsh winter months, relying on the assistance of Jing Kingdom. Thirty years ago, the newly crowned Khan of Xibo, Tuoba Zheng, Tuoba Lan’s elder brother, sent troops to attack Jing Kingdom.

Tensions had long existed between Xibo and Jing Kingdom, so sending troops wasn’t a surprise. Tuoba’s objective at the time was to seize Jing Kingdom and solve the winter food and forage shortages.

During that period, Jing Kingdom had just achieved independence, its government was fragile, and it faced a continuous retreat. General Feng Chengjian, a seasoned warrior, withstood the pressures and requested reinforcements.

The battle lasted for three years, and fortunately, the seasoned general Feng Chengjian emerged victorious.

In the wake of his triumph, he established the Wolf Eagle Cavalry in the vast prairies, was officially designated as a general, and made a pact with the Jing Kingdom for Xibo. Eventually, Feng Chengjian was commanded to marry Tuoba Lan.

This victory secured Jing Kingdom’s independence for twenty-seven years, but everyone knew the Xibo people harbored sinister intentions. They endured the situation due to a lack of pretexts for war.

Should anything happen to Tuoba Rou, it would provide Xibo with an overt reason to annul the agreement and attack Jing Kingdom.

Less than half a month ago, following the battle between Jing Kingdom and Qi Kingdom, Feng Chilie had suffered broken legs, and Feng Chengjian was confined to bed. While Jing Kingdom had a strong military, it lacked powerful commanders, leaving the outcome of any potential conflict uncertain.

With all these factors in mind, they couldn’t allow anything to happen to Tuoba Rou.

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Tan Chuyan continued to ride at full speed along the official road, never letting his guard down. Eventually, while passing through a forest, he came upon an overturned carriage and a dozen frozen corpses.

The moonlight barely cut through the bare branches, and Tan Chuyan dismounted, surveying the corpses. They had been dead for approximately seven or eight hours and had all met a similar, precise end. Their throats had been expertly slit—a hallmark of a professional assassin.

“This is not the work of the Purity Sect,” Feng Chilie whispered, having changed into a different set of clothes and now perched atop a tree branch with a grim expression behind his mask.

Originally, he had come as Yan Lie to assist Chu Qingyi in locating Tuoba Rou. But he had never expected to find himself entangled in a situation that appeared to be connected to him.

Additionally, the people affiliated with the Purity Sect typically dealt with assassinations, so framing them for such a scenario made it an ideal choice.

Tan Chuyan rose to his feet and glanced at Feng Chilie, saying, “I never accused you being responsible for this.”

Feng Chilie retorted with a smirk, “Your expression says otherwise.”

Feng Chilie jumped down and stood near Tan Chuyan.

“You truly have impressive eyesight. Even from a distance, you can decipher the expressions on my face,” Tan Chuyan commented before stepping away slightly. He couldn’t help but say, “Please maintain your distance. Your scent of blood is too strong.”

Feng Chilie sneered, saying, “I didn’t expect His Highness the Fifth Prince of Qi Kingdom to be as skillful as Young Master Yan.”

Tan Chuyan thought, “I’m what they call a do-it-yourselfer.”

An expression of disdain briefly crossed Tan Chuyan’s face, and he kicked a sword on the ground with his foot. In a fluid motion, he wielded the weapon, creating a display of light and shadow, which meticulously erased the signs on the corpses, especially their necks, obliterating any evidence.

Observing Tan Chuyan’s ruthlessness, Feng Chilie raised his eyebrows behind his mask and asked, “What are you doing?”

Tan Chuyan calmly responded, “The princess’s escort team will arrive soon. Do you really want to be misunderstood by them?”

“The Purity Sect will not survive in Jing Kingdom with such a misunderstanding.” Tan Chuyan added, wiping his fingers with a handkerchief.

Feng Chilie’s sharp gaze was locked onto Tan Chuyan, as if he were attempting to read his thoughts. He inquired, “Why is His Highness so concerned about the Purity Sect?”

Tan Chuyan dismissed the question, saying, “Of course. In the future, I’ll seek assistance from the Purity Sect.”

Feng Chilie, curious, asked, “The Purity Sect is responsible for assassinations. Whom does His Highness want to eliminate?”

Tan Chuyan rolled his eyes and responded with a mischievous smile, “Who else could it be? That arrogant, domineering general from Jing Kingdom with broken legs. He dared to put a sword at my throat, so I’ll give him a proper kick sooner or later.”

Feng Chilie was taken aback by the straightforward answer, speechless.

As Tan Chuyan noticed Feng Chilie’s sudden silence, he couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. In Tan Chuyan’s experience, this person was a non-stop talker.

“Why are you so quiet?” Tan Chuyan inquired.

Feng Chilie peered down at Tan Chuyan from his elevated position. “Are we on such familiar terms that we have so much to discuss?” he quipped.

Tan Chuyan couldn’t bear it anymore, especially considering how curt the conversation had become. “If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to,” he replied. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Just then, Chu Qingyi and the escort team arrived. She was surprised by Tan Chuyan’s advanced riding skills, but she was even more perplexed by Yan Lie’s appearance.

Addressing Feng Chilie, Chu Qingyi inquired, “Master Yan Lie, why are you here?”

Feng Chilie responded with cupped hands, “I was simply passing by. I noticed that the manner of these deaths looked familiar, so I decided to investigate.”

This statement caught Tan Chuyan’s attention, and he stared at Feng Chilie intently.

Chu Qingyi examined the corpses on the ground and hesitated. “How can this be?” she began.

“These individuals were killed with a sword. However, the Purity Sect has categorically refused to undertake an assignment to assassinate Princess Changle. It is evident that someone is attempting to frame you. I would not accept such a task even if it were presented to me.”

Feng Chilie was sincere in his response. “The Purity Sect is deeply tied to the Jing Kingdom. We share a common destiny, as well as times of prosperity and adversity. Undertaking this mission would be akin to pushing the Jing Kingdom into a fiery pit. It is not in my best interest.”

Chu Qingyi eyed him suspiciously, asserting, “Who knows? People from the martial world have influence throughout the world. If the Jing Kingdom is destroyed, it is lost. I doubt it would impact you, Master Yan Lie.”

Feng Chilie had anticipated such comments, given the substantial threat that the Purity Sect posed. Two years earlier, he had assassinated Queen Qi. Under such circumstances, it would be challenging for the Jing Kingdom’s royal family to resist the temptation of eliminating him.

In light of this, his words appeared insincere to Chu Qingyi. However, the Purity Sect had been established for Chu Qingyi’s benefit. It was meant to clear the way to the heir apparent for her. Eventually, it would be disbanded, so it was irrelevant whether she believed his words.

Nevertheless, this statement still revealed his intentions.

Chu Qingyi shifted her tone. “In any case, I’m willing to accept Master Yan Lie’s word this time. If you were responsible for this, you’d likely depart with a guilty conscience. However, I have one question.”

She pointed to the corpses on the ground. “You mentioned that these guards died from having their throats slit with a sword. How do you explain the additional, unnecessary wounds on their bodies?”

Feng Chilie redirected his attention toward Chu Qingyi.

Feng Chilie then said, “I think we ought to ask the Fifth Highness about how he sustained these injuries in the first place.”

Chu Qingyi couldn’t help but facepalm in exasperation.

Tan Chuyan was visibly frustrated with Yan Lie’s antics and couldn’t help but shoot an exasperated look his way. Feng Chilie maintained a nonchalant expression, seemingly enjoying the unfolding drama.

After Chu Qingyi ventured into the forest to find someone, Tan Chuyan took a moment to explain the situation to Feng Chilie. He emphasized that the Purity Gate, despite its fearsome reputation, had no incentive to undertake this particular assassination task, and such an action would only invite trouble from the royal family.

Chu Qingyi returned and left the two of them to converse privately. However, as she walked away, she couldn’t help but wonder at the strange relationship between the two siblings.

Feng Chilie decided to confront Tan Chuyan’s question about being a good person. He casually asked if he wasn’t a good person, to which Tan Chuyan responded that if Feng Chilie was a good person, he wouldn’t have implicated him.

Chu Qingyi was intrigued by the interaction but seemed to believe Tan Chuyan’s explanation.

When she left to investigate further, Tan Chuyan kicked Feng Chilie and berated him for getting in the way. Feng Chilie, nursing his injured calf, watched as Tan Chuyan disappeared into the forest.

As Tan Chuyan ventured deeper into the woods, he noticed a faint, rancid smell in the air, and it became increasingly pungent as he continued his search. His keen sense of smell, honed during his time as a forensic scientist, allowed him to detect even the faintest odors.

The stronger stench seemed to indicate that something had decayed nearby.

In the distance, Tan Chuyan spotted something unusual dancing amidst the trees, resembling a ghostly figure. With curiosity, he ventured closer and discovered a female corpse. Carefully assessing the condition of the body based on stiffness, decomposition, and the cold weather, he concluded that the woman had been deceased for approximately a week.

Due to the frigid temperatures, the corpse had not decomposed extensively, and the smell was relatively faint.

Tan Chuyan identified the woman as Tuoba Rou, recognizing her distinctive clothing and horseshoe sleeves.

Feng Chilie joined him and, after examining the situation, acknowledged the gravity of the situation.

Tan Chuyan proposed a solution: to have Feng Chilie’s secret guards handle the body, destroying any evidence of her existence to prevent further complications. Feng Chilie agreed, understanding that this was the most practical course of action.

Once they had dealt with the body, Tan Chuyan inquired about Feng Chilie’s transportation. He confirmed that he was riding a horse, and Tan Chuyan suggested they ride together. Feng Chilie named his horse “Shuang (frost)” and they both mounted it.

Feng Chilie extended his hand to help Tan Chuyan onto the horse, drawing him close as they sat together. In that moment, Tan Chuyan felt warmth and tenderness in Feng Chilie’s embrace.

Feng Chilie advised him to hold on tight, and with that, they spurred their horse forward, galloping through the cold night like lightning.