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墨書 Inktalez
The Great Army had completely eradicated the Turkic forces. The Emperor, greatly delighted by the Dragon's Favor, had heard of Yan Ziyi's valor in battle and summoned him to inquire about the situation at the front lines.
"Your Majesty, at that time, some bamboo rafts floated down the river. I initially thought it was another scheme by the Turkic, but our troops managed to cross the river smoothly and directly attacked the Turkic Royal Court," Yan Ziyi reported.
"Excellent!" The Emperor clapped his hands in excitement and then shifted his tone, saying slowly, "General Yan, your bravery is unparalleled. I wonder what reward you seek from me this time?"
Suddenly, Yan Ziyi knelt down and poured out a long-held desire from his heart: "Your Majesty... I wish to request a marriage. Ziyi has long admired Princess Danyang and earnestly asks for your blessing to marry her."
The Emperor's expression darkened instantly as he scolded, "Impudent! Although your Yan Family is considered a prestigious clan, you are the first to audaciously ask for a princess in such a manner."
Yan Ziyi did not back down; instead, he became even more resolute. He declared loudly, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. By chance, I became acquainted with the princess. Since then, my heart has been entirely devoted to her. I only hope to marry her and be together for eternity, never to part."
"Haha..." The Emperor had initially intended to test him but softened his expression upon seeing his determination. He praised, "What a noble wish for eternal companionship! However, I must also hear the princess's thoughts on this matter. Bring General Yan to meet the princess."
From a distance, Yan Ziyi spotted a graceful figure atop the Rockery, adorned with exquisite hairpins and jewelry that exuded nobility.
Anxious and eager, he hurried up the Rockery and respectfully bowed deeply. "I am Yan Ziyi, here to pay my respects to Princess Danyang."
The princess turned gracefully, her silk garments shimmering like water under the light. She spoke gently, "General, there is no need for such formalities."
Yan Ziyi lifted his head and was initially filled with joy. However, as he gazed more closely at her familiar features and demeanor, he could not shake off the feeling of strangeness in her eyes.
Feeling somewhat shy under his direct gaze, the princess lightly covered her face with a round fan and said softly, "General Yan."
Filled with suspicion, Yan Ziyi instinctively took out the treasured token he had kept close to him.
Upon seeing it, the princess's eyes lit up with joy as she exclaimed, "Isn't this my token?"
She reached out, a hint of urgency in her voice as she took the token from Yan Ziyi's slightly trembling hand. A flush of embarrassment crossed her face as she said softly, "I've lost it for so long; it turns out the General picked it up."
Yan Ziyi instantly understood and hurriedly knelt again. "Your Highness, forgive me. It was my recklessness; it was all a misunderstanding. You resemble a dear friend of mine."
"Is that so?" The princess was both surprised and curious, so much so that she didn't even notice when her fan slipped from her grasp.
"Yes, although we share similar looks, it’s..." Yan Ziyi murmured to himself, realizing that Li Yiyi truly was not the princess. He couldn't tell whether to feel joy or sorrow at that moment.
If she wasn't the princess, then where was she now?
Did she know that she had returned victorious? As a frail woman, had she made it back safely?
Why had she come to the military camp under the guise of a princess? What was her true reason?
A multitude of questions rushed through his mind, and before he could ponder them further, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his chest. He swayed slightly, his face turning pale; standing before Princess Danyang was becoming increasingly difficult.
It turned out he had so many concerns. He should have told her clearly back then that saving her had never been about her being a princess; it was simply because she was her.
Her arched brows, lively eyes, and radiant smile—every little detail of her carefree joy flashed before him. He had even mocked her for not behaving like a princess while she had risked everything to come to his aid in Turkic lands... Where was that foolish girl who didn’t know how to protect herself now?
Yan Ziyi felt a whirlwind of emotions within him; he wished he could fly out immediately to find her. In his flustered state, he nearly forgot the formalities of taking his leave. "Now that I have returned the token, I... take my leave."
The princess, sharp-witted as ever, understood his feelings. Seeing him turn to leave, her brows furrowed in anger as if she might strike the table in frustration. "Yan Ziyi, don’t forget it was you who requested the marriage! Now you want to brush it off with just a misunderstanding? What do you think this makes me?"
A hint of fierceness flashed across her beautiful face. "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Without hesitation, Yan Ziyi knelt once more on the ground and earnestly pleaded, "I fear death only because I wish to keep this life to find her. I hope Your Highness can grant me this."
The princess lightly pressed her lips together. It wouldn’t be difficult to tell her father that she was dissatisfied with the marriage arrangement, but deep down, she felt a sense of reluctance. “What if I can’t find her?”
“Can’t find her…” She had left without a word back then, and now searching for her in the vast sea of people was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Yan Ziyi paused for a moment, then revealed a gentle smile, one that sparkled yet carried a hint of sorrow. “How could I not find her? I have a lifetime to search.”
The princess felt a surge of emotion; to promise a lifetime together—such deep affection truly existed in this world.
Suddenly, she recalled her mother’s words before passing away. When her mother was pregnant with twins, it was considered an ill omen in the royal family. If word got out, both children would be in grave danger. Thus, her mother quietly sent the later-born child out of the palace and lost all contact thereafter.
Now that she thought about it, the girl whom General Yan longed for might very well be her sister, whom she had never met.
With this realization, the princess abruptly stood up and walked to the intricately carved railing. She called out loudly to Yan Ziyi below the rockery, “General Yan, if you find her, please send my regards.”
She smiled brightly. “I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together, never to part.”
“Thank you for your kind wishes, Princess.” Yan Ziyi bowed deeply with sincerity before turning and stepping into the radiant glow of the evening sky.
His figure appeared slender and his back somewhat lonely, yet his heart brimmed with hope. “Yiyi, you must be waiting for me somewhere…”
What he did not know was that the woman he had resolved to search for with all his might had already perished for him, extinguished like a fading fragrance.
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