"Just pick one, is there any big deal about this?"
"That's a big deal. If you care about the person, you should prepare something good. If they are insignificant, prepare something ordinary."
"Ordinary is fine, too good is a waste."
Now that it's uncertain whether the marriage will go through, preparing something too good, and then having to give it away without being able to take it back, would be a pure waste. It's better to prepare something ordinary.
"Alright, as you wish."
Feng Jin, for the first time, didn't argue with Ling Mohan and prepared things according to Ling Mohan's wishes.
...
"Princess, you look so beautiful in this wedding dress, even more beautiful than the fairy in the painting."
Murong Jinyun looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in a bright red wedding gown embroidered with golden phoenixes and peonies, and was momentarily flustered.
This luxurious attire made her look even more radiant and captivating. When still, she truly seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
"Yes, this wedding dress is truly beautiful... By the way, about the phoenix coronet... is it all ready? Bring it for me to try on."
"It's been ready for a long time, your servant will go get it now."
Not long after the maidservant went out, the tightly shut room door was opened from the outside again. Thinking it was the maidservant who had just left, Murong Jinyun said indifferently without turning her head, "You're back, quickly put the phoenix coronet on me."
As her voice fell, and there was a long silence, Murong Jinyun realized something was wrong. She got up in a panic and looked behind her. Upon seeing Baili Xi standing behind her, her expression revealed unconcealed panic.
"Why are you here? How did you get in!"
There were many Dong Chu soldiers ambushing in the dark outside the courtyard. Was Baili Xi truly crazy to dare to barge in at this time? He didn't want his life, but she did.
"Does the princess think those useless people outside can really stop me? I can go wherever I want!"
Baili Xi's gaze was fixed on Murong Jinyun. This wedding dress was so beautiful, so annoyingly beautiful, he wished he could tear it apart.
Sensing Baili Xi's gaze becoming increasingly strange, Murong Jinyun took a step back in a panic, creating some distance between them.
"Why are you looking at this princess like that? This is my room. You shouldn't stay here long. If you have something to say, say it quickly and leave!"
Murong Jinyun turned around, no longer looking at Baili Xi, trying to calm herself.
"May I ask, Princess, if Gu Beichen were standing here now, would you also drive him away like this?"
"You scoundrel, shut your mouth! My affairs are none of your business. If you have nothing to do, get out!"
Instantly enraged, Murong Jinyun shouted furiously, about to have Baili Xi thrown out.
"Is the Princess feeling guilty, or has the Princess truly fallen in love with Gu Beichen? Princess... are you really going to abandon Xi Liang and marry Gu Beichen!"
Her hidden thoughts exposed, Murong Jinyun turned around in slight panic: "This princess will decide for herself, you don't need to worry."
Although Murong Jinyun had not explicitly said it, Baili Xi already understood it as clearly as day.
He never expected that his short trip to Dong Chu would lead him to this state. His informants, cultivated for years, were all scattered under his nose, defecting one by one. And the Princess... the Princess probably wished he would disappear quickly too.
"Princess, do you... have you ever had me in your heart?"
Gathering his courage, he finally asked the question that had been weighing on his heart for years.
Murong Jinyun's body trembled slightly. She wasn't foolish; how could she not have noticed Baili Xi's feelings for her? It was just that her heart belonged solely to Gu Beichen, and there was no room for anyone else.
She would never be able to repay Baili Xi's deep affection in this lifetime.
"My heart has only ever had Gu Beichen."
Not wanting to delay any further, Murong Jinyun had to speak her mind.
He had already anticipated the answer, but hearing Murong Jinyun say those words with his own ears still felt like his heart was being stabbed.
How long had it been? The Princess had already fallen deeply for him. Would she still carry out their planned endeavors as before?
"Princess, then... then the grand plan for Xi Liang, is the Princess truly disregarding it?"
"The grand plan... In the current situation, whether the grand plan can succeed, General Baili, you should know better than I do. We are in Dong Chu. Your men have already defected everywhere, and the spies planted in the imperial palace have all been removed. With Chu Yanxi dead, you have no final bargaining chip left. Listen to my advice, let it go. Returning safely to Xi Liang is the most important thing."
Their momentum was lost, and the planned grand scheme would ultimately be nothing but a fleeting shadow.
Fortunately, no grave mistakes had been made. If they stopped now, everything would still be salvageable.
Baili Xi's gaze gradually dimmed. He had schemed for so long and absolutely could not let go. Moreover, he would never stand by and watch Murong Jinyun marry that useless Gu Beichen.
"Princess, this subordinate has offended you."
"You..."
Before Murong Jinyun could react, Baili Xi delivered a swift chop to her neck, knocking her unconscious.
The unconscious Murong Jinyun fell into Baili Xi's arms. Baili Xi stared intently at Murong Jinyun with a dark gaze. He would never let go. Even if he had to return to Xi Liang, he would take Murong Jinyun with him. Taking advantage of the deep night, Baili Xi silently carried her away.
...
"Young General... Young General, the Xi Liang Princess is missing!"
Lu Shi rushed in to report, his speech intermittent.
Ling Mohan's heart instantly tensed. He clearly understood Murong Jinyun's importance.
She could disappear anywhere, but she absolutely could not disappear on Dong Chu territory. This could very well become a fuse for war between the two countries. No matter what, they had to find Murong Jinyun.
"Send the Black Armored Army to search. Search the entire capital, digging three feet deep to find her!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
As Lu Shi reached the doorway, Ling Mohan's command continued from behind him: "Keep an eye on Baili Xi!"
"Yes, your subordinate will arrange it now!"
After Lu Shi left, Ling Mohan appeared somewhat agitated, smashing his fist onto the table. What exactly did this Murong Jinyun want to do? Causing a disappearance at this time, if something really happened to her, they would naturally not be able to shirk any responsibility.
After searching all night, Murong Jinyun had vanished as if into thin air, leaving no trace.
"Useless. Send more men to continue the search!"
Ling Mohan suppressed his anger, resentfully ordering them to continue searching.