Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

Tan Chuyan was equally intrigued by the circumstances of Tuoba Rou’s demise. He pondered it during his return to Ling-han Pavilion.

However, there was one aspect about Tuoba Rou’s death that he was certain of: she had been hanged. Nevertheless, it was evident that the forest where her lifeless body was discovered was not the site of her initial death, but rather where she had been hanged subsequently.

Tan Chuyan had noticed two distinct ligature marks on Tuoba Rou’s neck. Although he had paid careful attention to the positioning during the hanging, there were still discrepancies.

So, the question remained: had Tuoba Rou committed suicide, or had someone murdered her?

While the rigor mortis pointed towards suicide, it did not entirely rule out the possibility of a homicide being masked as self-inflicted death.

After his contemplation, Tan Chuyan requested Yan Changfeng to prepare a bath in Ling-han Pavilion, heated with hot water. Upon having it arranged, he called for Tianbao, but received no response.

Standing nearby, Yan Changfeng reminded him, “Young master, Tianbao accompanied you to the princess’s mansion. They should be there now.”

Tan Chuyan lightly patted his forehead, having forgotten about this, which explained the clarity of his hearing.

Tan Chuyan was not accustomed to being assisted other than Tianbao, thus he had to dismiss everyone.

As they left, Tan Chuyan closed his eyes and reclined next to the warm bath, continuing to reflect on Tuoba Rou.

Upon further consideration, Tan Chuyan leaned toward the possibility of murder being relatively low. After all, Tuoba Rou was the most beloved princess in Xibo and the sole princess.

Who would dare to murder her in Xibo?

The time of Tuoba Rou’s death likely occurred seven days ago, a time when she should have still been in Xibo. Yan Lie, who had the capability to assassinate members of the royal family, had only met Tan Chuyan in Jing Kingdom. It was implausible for him to have teleported thousands of miles to carry out such an act.

Eliminating the possibility of homicide, suicide seemed a more probable scenario.

But what could have driven her to take her own life?

Could it be related to Feng Chilie’s marriage?

It was rumored that Tuoba Rou loved Feng Chilie deeply. Even though they lived thousands of miles apart, with one in Xibo and the other in Jing Kingdom, it did not hinder her affection for him.

Moreover, the period seven days ago coincided with the day of Feng Chilie’s wedding to Tan Chuyan. So, was it possible that news of the marriage had reached Xibo, devastating Tuoba Rou and leading her to take her own life?

Considering this, Tuoba Zheng, who had long coveted Jing the Kingdom, would have a profound resentment towards it.

Hence, he concealed Tuoba Rou’s death, and in the name of “marriage negotiations,” he dispatched her body to Jing Kingdom.

When the escort team arrived in Jing Kingdom, they would reveal that Tuoba Rou was death and use it as a pretext for initiating a war.

If Tan Chuyan failed to secure a substitute, Xibo would gain the upper hand when they utilized this incident as a cause to deploy their troops.

In that case, who would care about the specifics of how and where Tuoba Rou died?

The fact was that her body had been discovered in Jing Kingdom, was undeniable!

Tan Chuyan contemplated the situation and it appeared to align with these deductions.

He cupped a handful of water, letting it trickle through the gap in his palm, then playfully touched his upper lip with the water-moistened fingertips as he muttered curses against Feng Chilie.

Everything had begun because of him.

Wretched scoundrel!

Feng Chilie, who was immersed in his bath with closed eyes and deep contemplation, suddenly sneezed heavily, wondering who was cursing him behind his back.

.

.

Chu Qingyi had been searching through the forest throughout the night, yet had found nothing except for the few corpses she had initially encountered.

“Princess, you’ve been searching all night,” Lan Yue said as she handed her some dry rations and water.

“Let’s take a break.”

Chu Qingyi nodded, locating the provisions of water and dry rations. “Let the soldiers from the escort team also rest.”

Lan Yue replied, “Certainly.”

Not many people had accompanied Chu Qingyi this time, roughly around twenty, as she had hoped to keep a low profile.

When the matter grew too prominent, it would inevitably attract widespread attention, and Chu Qingyi needed to locate the person as soon as possible; otherwise, things could take a turn for the worse.

However, Lan Yue waited alongside her and questioned in a hushed tone, “Princess, we’ve scoured nearly all the areas available. Is it possible that this person is dead and has been carried off by a wild animal? This forest is known to harbor jackals, tigers, and leopards. If a person were to die, it’s not inconceivable for their remains to be scavenged.”

This was certainly not the outcome Chu Qingyi wished to discover.

She took a bite of the cold and tough ration, chewed it vigorously, and despite the chilly wind, she spoke in a stern voice, “If the person is alive, we’ll find them. If they’re dead, we’ll locate the body. Keep searching!”

Lan Yue had known Chu Qingyi since childhood and understood her character well. No one could sway her decisions.

With a wave of her hand, Lan Yue instructed the escort team to continue searching.

“Where have Tan Chuyan and Yan Lie gone?” Chu Qingyi scanned the surroundings but couldn’t spot these two individuals.

“Fifth Highness likely couldn’t endure the cold wind and returned early,” Lan Yue explained. “As for the Master Yan, there might have been an issue at the Purity Sect, prompting his early departure.”

“It’s fine if they’ve gone back,” Chu Qingyi remarked. “Fifth Highness can’t withstand the cold, and Yan Lie’s loitering around me is incredibly bothersome. He’s more annoying than that rascal Feng Chilie.”

The mere mention of Feng Chilie incited Chu Qingyi’s anger, “If not for that rascal, would any of this have transpired? What’s wrong with Rou’er? She’s considerate, caring, and understanding. Must he marry a celestial being? I truly wish to—”

“…”

Lan Yue remained silent. After Chu Qingyi had finished venting, she heaved a sigh and commented, “Princess, you can’t force a marriage. Additionally, the General is quite unconventional in his ways. What he detests most is being arranged. You should be able to comprehend his perspective.”

“Yes, I understand him,” Chu Qingyi admitted. “But he ought to consider the broader implications. If Jing Kingdom goes to war with Xibo due to this matter, he will be associated with the war. He’ll go down in history as one of the greatest sinners, forever nailed to the pillar of shame.”

“Princess, can you not see that?” Lan Yue inquired. “Ever since the old General suffered a stroke, the Xibo tribe has been keeping a watchful eye on him, constantly seeking an opportunity to attack Jing Kingdom. Even if the General hadn’t faced such an incident, the Xibo tribe would have found alternative excuses to deploy their troops, or even directly broken the existing agreement.” Lan Yue paused momentarily before continuing, “These barbarians have no regard for gentlemanly agreements; they only respect strength. Currently, with the General’s two broken legs, there is uncertainty about whether he will recover. Our forces are leaderless. Xibo wouldn’t pass up such a golden opportunity, and it’s only a matter of time before they mobilize their troops.”

“I understand all of this, but I still hope that my brother can live a clean life and gain fame in history.” Chu Qingyi stated. She rubbed her temples, feeling stressed.

Lan Yue stood much taller than Chu Qingyi, they didn’t know what she’d eaten growing up. She lowered her gaze to the top of Chu Qingyi’s head and asserted, “Princess, truth can be hard to bear, and I’m aware that what I’m about to say may anger you. However, it needs to be said.”

Chu Qingyi raised her head and looked at her, “Then go ahead, but be prepared for me to slap you.”

Lan Yue, undeterred by the threat, continued, “Princess, it’s not just about personal reputation. The stability of the kingdom is at stake. It’s a matter of life and death for countless people. You must be prepared for the consequences and make the tough decisions if necessary.”

Chu Qingyi sighed, her expression softening. “I know, Lan Yue. I appreciate your concern, but I hope it never comes to that point. Let’s focus on finding the person we came for. We can discuss the rest later.”