Ten years later.
"Xu Yi! Xu Yi!"
As Xu Zhi stepped across the moss-covered threshold, a cold wind swept towards him.
"I've told you how many times, call me Eldest Sister."
He stared stiffly at the tip of the spear at his throat and obediently said, "Eldest, Eldest Sister."
Xu Zhi couldn't understand it. They had learned martial arts together, yet Xu Yi's progress was astonishingly fast. In less than a year, she had surpassed their martial arts instructor and had no equal to this day.
Xu Yi withdrew her spear, raised an eyebrow at him, and said, "You usually don't come to me unless there's something important. Speak, what brings you here today?"
Hearing this, Xu Zhi broke into a wide smile, "Good news! Tremendous good news!"
After speaking, he even winked at Xu Yi ambiguously.
Xu Yi was not interested and turned to leave.
Xu Zhi hastily followed, "Eldest Sister, why aren't you asking what it is?"
"Tch, your gloating expression tells me it's nothing good."
"Is it that obvious?"
Xu Zhi tugged at his own face.
Having been together for ten years, Xu Yi knew Xu Zhi all too well and gave a cold laugh.
Xu Zhi smiled sheepishly, "Alright, my mother told me that the Empress seems to be choosing a husband for you, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is already selecting an auspicious date."
"Choosing a husband?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yi felt a surge of intense displeasure.
She casually threw her spear and strode out.
*Bang!*
The spear embedded itself deeply into the rock mountain in front of the imperial sleeping quarters, making Xu Zhi's lips twitch.
Such terrifying power.
After a few breaths, he finally reacted and rushed to persuade her, "Eldest Sister, this is the Empress and the Emperor's will. Do you intend to defy it?"
"I am not marrying."
"What are you saying? What woman in this world doesn't marry?"
Xu Yi stopped walking, her sharp gaze sweeping over Xu Zhi, "So you think that way too."
She had thought that Xu Zhi was willing to cover up her identity and smooth things over for her all these years because he empathized with her and understood the difficulties faced by women. It turned out he was no different from anyone else.
"Eldest Sister," Xu Zhi said earnestly, "I know you have great ambitions and aspirations, which is why I have always considered you. I only want you to live freely before you marry. It is natural for women to marry; why must you go against the norm?"
"Why is it natural for women to marry? I can support myself entirely with my own abilities; I don't need to rely on anyone else."
"But, but it's not easy for women to survive. A slight misstep can lead to countless rumors and gossip," Xu Zhi frowned. "You've been living so freely outside, sparring with others, and frequenting various places, isn't it because you're using a man's identity? Otherwise, I wouldn't have the courage to take you out."
Xu Zhi's words were like a bolt from the blue, awakening Xu Yi from her own fantasy.
Yes, she had always traveled outside under the guise of a man, thinking herself to be unrestrained and at ease. Now, reflecting on it, she realized it was a grave mistake.
If she wanted to rebel against the shackles society imposed on women, why must she wear a disguise?
Xu Yi felt a sudden realization and unexpectedly smiled.
"Xu Zhi, thank you for resolving a knot in my heart."
Xu Yi said, patting Xu Zhi's shoulder, and walked towards the Empress's sleeping quarters again.
Xu Zhi stood frozen, not understanding.
He could only stare blankly at Xu Yi's retreating back. For some reason, he suddenly felt as though a golden halo was emanating from his Eldest Sister, incredibly dazzling.
"Mother, I do not wish to marry."
The Empress looked at Xu Yi, who was as tall and straight as a bamboo, clad in simple white. For a moment, she was lost in thought, then anger surged within her.
"We haven't seen each other for three years, and this is what you've come to tell me? If that's the case, I have only one answer: this matter is settled and cannot be changed."
"Mother, we have not gone three years without seeing each other. For the past three years, on the first and fifteenth of every month, I have come to the palace to request an audience. Although you did not summon me, I left only after confirming you were well."
Xu Yi's martial arts instructor had once said that she was the most gifted martial arts prodigy he had ever seen.
Thus, even though the Empress did not grant Xu Yi an audience, Xu Yi always found a way to see her.
Upon hearing Xu Yi's words, the Empress couldn't help but soften for a moment.
However, the candidate for the royal marriage alliance had already been decided by the Emperor, and even she had no power to change it.
"Zhaozhao."
For the first time in ten years, the Empress called Xu Yi by her childhood nickname.
She said, "You are a child of the royal family and must bear the responsibilities of the royal family. You will marry into a noble family of former officials, which will not disgrace your status as a princess."
The Empress spoke sincerely, her gaze towards Xu Yi warm and filled with affection.
However, Xu Yi felt a chill run through her.
She said, "What if I refuse?"
"Refuse?" The Empress's expression turned solemn, her entire being exuding the proud dignity of royalty. "If you refuse, then your title as Grand Princess will be stripped, you will be demoted to a commoner, and you will never be allowed to enter the imperial palace again."
The Empress believed that these words would intimidate Xu Yi.
However, she had forgotten that the Xu Yi of ten years ago would not be threatened, and the Xu Yi of today, with her wings grown stronger, would be even less likely to yield to threats.
From the moment Xu Yi developed a consciousness of resistance, this was the first time she knelt before the Empress and kowtowed six times.
"Mother, perhaps this is the last time we will see each other. Please bid my father farewell for me."
The Empress's fingernails dug into her palm, "Xu Yi, do you truly intend to be so heartless?"
"Your daughter is unfilial. I wish Mother well."
As the Empress watched Xu Yi leave, her body trembled, and she immediately sent people to stop her.
What she had said earlier was not to be taken literally. The Emperor's word was law, and Xu Yi had to marry into that noble family.
However, the imperial guards searched the palace for a day and a night, but Xu Yi seemed to have flown away from the palace with wings.
The Emperor was furious and immediately issued an imperial decree stating that the Grand Princess had suddenly fallen ill and tragically passed away, and was buried with great ceremony.
From then on, there was no Grand Princess in the Kingdom of An.
...
In a small border town of the Kingdom of An, as dawn broke, the sound of blacksmithing rang out.
The townspeople had long grown accustomed to this daily clang of hammers and slept soundly. However, today, two visitors from afar arrived in the town.
The two, weary from travel the day before, had only just fallen asleep when they were forcibly awakened by the sound of hammering.
After waking and meeting, they stormed out of the inn, their bellies full of anger, and followed the sound of blacksmithing.
When the two saw the woman striking the anvil by the furnace, they were both stunned.
How could it be a woman?
The woman's face was bare, without any makeup, and her black hair was tied back with a green ribbon.
She held the iron hammer high, then brought it down heavily, her movements crisp and clean, yet imbued with a special kind of beauty.
The two stood by the blacksmith's shop for a full incense's worth of time before suddenly realizing.
"Hey, you young lady are unreasonable! Why are you disturbing people's dreams so early in the morning?"
The two, considering the blacksmith was a woman, spoke with a slight restraint.
However, the woman merely lifted her eyelids to glance at them before lowering her head and continuing to hammer, completely disregarding them.
The two were so enraged that smoke seemed to billow from their ears, and they immediately drew their swords, their faces filled with aggression.