Volume One, Chapter 12: The Imperial Decree of Peace

Princess Changning casually tossed her sword aside and sat back down on the tiger-skin chair. “Nonsense.”

The council chamber instantly fell into a heavy silence. The mountain bandits exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts gripped by fear.

Gu Han saw this and curled the corner of his mouth, closing his eyes to take a deep breath. The princess of this dynasty—best to show some respect.

Princess Changning, seeing the bandits stunned into silence, nodded with satisfaction. “Enough. I won’t pursue this matter further. Now, I’ll give you two choices.”

The chief tried to maintain composure as he asked, “Princess, what choices?”

“First,” Princess Changning crossed her legs, speaking with a hint of casual indifference, “come with me.”

Gu Han pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course, once inside the mountain stronghold, she’d naturally picked up some bandit flair.

He now understood why the emperor had sent her off to marry into another clan—it was clear she could thrive wildly on her own.

Forget pardon; he was certain she could flourish even in the Savage Valley.

“You lot haven’t had a proper meal in over half a year, haven’t you? Abandon this mountain hideout. Let Liu Hanzhang send men to take it over, so you don’t starve anymore.”

The chief hesitated, then asked, “And... the second choice?”

“The second,” Changning smiled, “is to bind your few hundred people up and hand you over to the Military Commissioner of Binzhou as a ‘gift.’” The bandits immediately stirred, murmuring among themselves.

“Is the princess trying to bring us under imperial control?” one braved to ask.

“Control?” Changning’s laughter chimed like silver bells, only highlighting her extraordinary beauty and grace.

“Do you think the court cares enough to control you?” Her smile faded, eyes darkening, voice lowering. “The magistrate here wishes you’d all starve in these mountains. Think about it—what have you plundered this year? Strange, isn’t it? When the summer floods come, if you descend to pillage, you won’t even make it down before the authorities drag you off to forced labor.”

The bandits froze upon hearing this.

Changning continued calmly, “Come with me to Sheye. Maybe King Sheye will mistake you for Da Sheng’s imperial guards escorting me, and reward you with official positions. That’d be something to bring honor to your ancestors, right?”

“Is becoming an official in Sheye really something to honor the family?” the chief muttered timidly.

“The emperor guards the borders; why can’t you mountain bandits find a new home elsewhere?” Princess Changning scoffed.

“Princess, may we brothers have some time to think it over?” a tall bandit asked respectfully.

“Fine! As the saying goes, 'Isn’t it a joy to have friends come from afar?' Since you’ve killed people, let’s add to the feast—kill the pigs and chickens in the camp; you won’t need them tomorrow. Prepare a banquet!” Princess Changning waved her hand, signaling the chief and others to withdraw.

The bandits unbound three or four of their leaders and went off to arrange the feast.

Gu Han’s mouth twitched. “Your Highness, will you be staying in this mountain camp tonight? I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Princess Changning nodded. “It’s not ideal. The bandits have chosen to follow me; otherwise, you could take your troops and keep raiding behind us.”

“Princess!” Gu Han’s face grew grim.

“Enough. It’s said that when the night is deep and the stars few, it’s a good time for mischief. Then at the first hour of the night, we’ll recruit them all. Those unwilling...” The princess rolled her eyes, “...will be buried in a pit down the mountain.”

“I take your orders.” Gu Han led his men to prepare. A few of his subordinates rode swiftly down the mountain under cover of darkness.

Deputy General Wang Chong grumbled, “General, Princess Changning’s reckless antics have delayed us so much. When will we ever return? We’ve finally—”

“Wang Chong!” Gu Han cut him off sharply. “Do not speak ill of the princess. She’s testing us!” After a moment, he added, “Send riders at once to notify the Military Commissioner of Binzhou to come meet us. The marriage escort will rest here. At the first hour of the night, we depart for Binzhou.”

He smiled faintly, his almond-shaped eyes sparkling with a bright gleam. Quietly, he murmured, “Ha—indeed, the deep night with sparse stars is perfect for mischief.”

True to word, Chief Bai Yunfeng slaughtered chickens and pigs for Princess Changning’s feast and even arranged for several girls to dance. The princess sat in the main seat, raising her cup repeatedly with the bandits.

Gu Han no longer intervened. Sitting at the lower end, first on the left, he quietly drank, a slight smile playing on his lips as he fondled the white jade ring on his left hand.

After several rounds of wine, Princess Changning reclined in her seat and fell asleep. Gu Han calmly instructed everyone to rest and promised to answer the princess in the morning.

The vast council hall was left with only Gu Han and the princess.

Princess Changning chuckled softly, “Even the great general can play along?”

“Your Highness wishes to be a dragon crossing the river; naturally, I shall hand you the ladder to climb to the heavens.”

“General, please!” Princess Changning raised a large cup of wine and gave Gu Han a brilliant smile.

Gu Han was taken slightly aback but lifted his cup in return. “Your Highness, to you.”

They chatted idly. The princess covered her face with a round fan and soon fell asleep. Gu Han continued drinking slowly, cup after cup.

Past midnight, the mountain camp’s atmosphere grew tense, as if ready to explode. Everyone sensed a sinister wind blowing tonight.

The escort troops quietly arrived under a deputy general’s command. The sound of hooves was faint but made the air feel frozen.

Wang Chong whispered orders, every move cautious, wary of any mistakes.

Meanwhile, the mountain chief slept soundly until startled awake by the hoofbeats. He sat up quickly, eyes still foggy with sleep.

Listening to the noises, his heart tightened, sensing something was amiss. Sure enough, the third chief hurried in, “Chief, the imperial troops have arrived. Also, there are prisoners tied up in the kitchen. Last night, the fourth chief poisoned the food, but the princess’s men caught them all.”

The chief jumped from bed, hastily grabbing clothes, thinking bitterly, “Old Four really has no sense of his own peril. He deserves this misfortune.”

Bai Yunfeng, though the mountain stronghold’s leader, was used to plundering for profit, not this grand display. Anxiety churned within him.

He rushed into the council hall, a cold wind blowing in, sweat beading on his brow.

Princess Changning sat poised on the high platform, exuding an overwhelming aura, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through anyone.

“Princess, we are willing to follow Your Highness to the Kingdom of Sheye,” the chief knelt, forcing himself to speak loudly.

Changning smiled slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. “You’re quite sensible. Why not have done this sooner?”

The chief’s heart ached: If only he had known today would come, why bother resisting at the start? Yet he dared only to think it inwardly; outwardly, he smiled and said, “Princess, your humble servant is willing to serve you faithfully.”

“Heh, you’ve become an outlaw, yet you still call yourself a humble servant?” Princess Changning replied slowly.