Chapter 119: The Ancient Tale of Xuanyuan

Weishao Qianyu had long harbored suspicions regarding the Empress Dowager’s true identity. Now, the connection between the Empress Dowager and Xuanyuan Ran had become glaringly apparent; Weishao Qianyu even speculated that the Empress Dowager might be an imposter—Xuanyuan Ran herself.

Logically, the late Emperor had been betrothed to the Empress Dowager since childhood, and the Princess Consort of Yuan had once placed absolute trust in both the Xibo Marquis Estate and the Empress Dowager. Why, then, had the Empress Dowager changed so drastically in later years?

Weishao Qianyu looked toward Mei Ji. "Shall we continue?"

To uncover the truth, more clues were needed. Mei Ji nodded.

This time, Mei Ji relaxed significantly, quickly slipping into a trance.

Prince Yuan had heard that Xuanyuan Yuan did not intend to inherit the position of family head, and his heart leaped with joy.

"Do you wish to leave the Xuanyuan family?" Prince Yuan asked.

"Yes, I just want to go out and see the world," Xuanyuan Yuan replied.

Prince Yuan nodded slightly, a thought stirring within him. With a flick of his whip, he carried Xuanyuan Yuan away from Mount Yunyang.

"Where are you taking me? If I don't return soon, Grandfather will beat me to death!" Xuanyuan Yuan said anxiously.

"Since I’ve abducted you, your grandfather will surely come to rescue you!" Prince Yuan laughed heartily.

Xuanyuan Yuan pondered this, thinking there was some logic to his words. But if she returned too late, her grandparents would certainly worry. Even when she snuck out in the past, she had always returned before sunset.

"Can you take me back before the sun sets?"

The world outside held great temptation for her, but the Lady of Xuanyuan was advanced in age, and she could not bear to cause her grandmother such distress.

"Very well."

Prince Yuan agreed readily, looking at the woman pressed against him on the horse with great delight. She didn't guard herself against him in the slightest, completely unaware of the danger of running off with a man.

Prince Yuan brought Xuanyuan Yuan to the maple forest west of Yuedu City. It was breathtaking. Deep in autumn, the branches were blanketed in maple leaves, red as fire, red as blood. It was the most beautiful place Xuanyuan Yuan had ever seen, unlike anything on Mount Yunyang. She leaped from the horse and ran into the forest, the dry, yellow leaves crunching underfoot with a rhythmic, rustling sound.

Watching the vivacious girl, Prince Yuan knew with absolute certainty that she was the Princess Consort of Yuan he desired. As Xuanyuan Yuan played in the forest, Prince Yuan followed slowly behind.

Neither of them knew that the hunting grounds of Mount Yunyang had fallen into chaos.

That day marked the coming-of-age ceremony for both Xuanyuan Yuan and Xuanyuan Ran. During the ceremony, the two sisters sparred, and Yuan lost to her younger sister. News of this spread throughout the Xuanyuan clan, and many praised Xuanyuan Ran in front of the old family head. The old patriarch suddenly realized this was a matter of great consequence.

That afternoon, he went to Xuanyuan Yuan’s courtyard, intending to warn her that Xuanyuan Ran was ill-suited to lead the family. Finding no trace of her, he knew the girl had gone off to play again and immediately ordered a search. The servants searched all of Mount Yunyang but found nothing. Finally, they reported to the family head: the only place left unsearched was the Imperial hunting grounds.

The family head was gripped by a splitting headache. He had no choice but to head to the Imperial grounds himself.

Inside the grounds, the Crown Prince was reporting to the Emperor that Prince Yuan had abducted a daughter of the Xuanyuan family. The Emperor was delighted; he had suggested the marriage yesterday, and Prince Yuan had been evasive. The Emperor was at his wit's end; at twenty-six, Prince Yuan had refused every noble lady in the capital. The Emperor had finally set his sights on the two young heirs of the Xuanyuan family.

The Xuanyuan family was a reclusive clan, rumored to be the descendants of the founding Imperial Preceptor Xuanyuan of the Liyue Kingdom. Over centuries, they had declined, with only one lineage remaining, hidden away on Mount Yunyang.

Before long, the old Xuanyuan patriarch arrived at the grounds to request an audience. The Emperor sent the Crown Prince to meet him. The patriarch stated his purpose, but the Crown Prince, fearing the Xuanyuan family's hidden influence, did not reveal that Prince Yuan had taken the girl. Instead, he allowed the patriarch to search the woods.

When the search yielded nothing, a servant reported that Xuanyuan Yuan had been seen with a spooked horse at noon. Convinced the Imperial family had detained her, tensions flared. Finally, the Crown Prince was forced to admit that Prince Yuan had taken her. The Xuanyuan patriarch, having long suspected the Imperial visit to Mount Yunyang was not purely for hunting, realized they had come for his daughters. He weighed his options; if the Imperial family insisted on this alliance, the Xuanyuan clan would find it difficult to resist.

Wishing to keep Xuanyuan Yuan as his successor, the patriarch said angrily, "Please, Your Highness, inform Prince Yuan to return my daughter Ran to Mount Yunyang at once!"

The servants overheard him, realizing the patriarch intended to offer the second young lady to the Imperial family, confirming that he had chosen the eldest daughter as his successor.

Back at the Xuanyuan estate, Xuanyuan Ran, smug from her victory, was struck with rage upon hearing she was to be wed to a man eleven years her senior. She felt her grandfather was biased, forcing her to marry an old man just to clear the path for her sister.

Meanwhile, in the maple forest, Xuanyuan Yuan had completely forgotten her promise to return by sunset. As the sky darkened, she cried out, "Oh no, oh no!"

Prince Yuan jumped down from a tree. Xuanyuan Yuan grabbed his sleeve, desperate. "I have to go back! Take me back now! We’re having dinner, and if I don't show up, I'll be beaten severely!"

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Prince Yuan comforted her: "Don't worry, I'll take you back. If your grandfather tries to beat you, I'll take the blows for you."

Xuanyuan Yuan stared at him, stunned. Having endured countless lashes since childhood, no one had ever shielded her, not since Mei'er had been forbidden to do so long ago. She had always protected others, yearning for someone to protect her in return.

Prince Yuan tapped her head. "Still dazed? Don't want to go back?"

Xuanyuan Yuan shook her head and climbed onto the horse. Upon reaching the foot of Mount Yunyang, Prince Yuan’s guards reported that the Xuanyuan party was waiting at the encampment.

They returned to the hunting grounds. Xuanyuan Yuan looked at the two sides, poised for a clash, feeling completely lost.

"Grandfather..." she whispered.

"Ran, come here!" the patriarch commanded sternly.

Xuanyuan Yuan was startled that he had mistaken her for her sister, but she walked over timidly.

"Prince Yuan, to take a member of the Xuanyuan family away like this, don't you owe us an explanation?" the patriarch asked coldly.

Prince Yuan paused, weighing his words. "I apologize for my lack of decorum."

"Your actions have damaged our family's reputation. If you are sincere, let us set the wedding date today." The patriarch’s tone was lethal.

Prince Yuan was taken aback by the strange behavior of the patriarch. Xuanyuan Ran, who had arrived at the grounds and heard her grandfather’s words, was initially enraged, but upon seeing the handsome Prince, her anger turned to intrigue.

Prince Yuan’s clear, cold voice rang out: "I am willing to offer the city of Guanlin as a dowry to take the young lady of Xuanyuan as my consort."

An entire city. The words were like a thunderclap.

Xuanyuan Ran’s eyes widened. Xuanyuan Yuan was equally shocked; he had spoken of how beautiful Guanlin was earlier, and now he was offering it to marry her!

Silence descended. The patriarch pondered this, then finally nodded. "Very well."

Xuanyuan Yuan could not believe her grandfather had agreed. Prince Yuan smiled brightly, glanced at the stunned girl, and said, "Excellent. I shall come to the Xuanyuan estate tomorrow to present the betrothal gifts."

The news reached the Emperor, who was furious. Before he could even secure a daughter-in-law for himself, Prince Yuan had squandered an entire city. A spendthrift, indeed.

Hidden in the shadows, Xuanyuan Ran returned home, beaming. Let Xuanyuan Yuan have the family head position; she would be the Princess Consort of Yuan, and she would have Guanlin. It was surely a hundred times better than the Xuanyuan estate.

The patriarch returned home with Xuanyuan Yuan. Surprisingly, he did not strike her, but led her to the ancestral hall and made her kneel.

"Yuan," the patriarch said, looking older than ever, "I am going to marry Ran to Prince Yuan."

Xuanyuan Yuan listened, every word piercingly clear, though she desperately wished she did not understand what she was hearing.