A few days before Xia Xi got married, he was rewarded by the Emperor and allowed to see his concubine mother.
Concubine Yu was imprisoned inside the Cold Palace, but she wasn't as miserable as outsiders may think. She was still graceful but she was no longer luxurious, her clothes weren't as good as before and she looked a little plain. Xia Xi had no concept of wealth; although he had learned in books what money could buy, how much money an ordinary person's household would cost to maintain in a month and how much a minister's salary was. All of it was just a bunch of numbers to him, there was no practical point.
Concubine Yu's previously always present golden hairpin was also missing. Seeing Xia Xi, she showed a bitter smile, she took his hand and looked at him carefully. Her first sentence was: "Are you afraid?"
Xia Xi had never lied or concealed anything from his mother, he nodded gently and habitually laid on her lap, he asked in a low voice: "Mother, can I not go?"
Concubine Yu held his hand and stroked his long black hair, she whispered: "If you don't want to go, then you can only die in this Palace."
Xia Xi trembled and Concubine Yu said: "It's said that it's sometimes better to live than to die, Xi'er, go. Go and see the outside world, maybe there'll be a chance." Although she said that, she knew that Xia Xi had a better chance of living staying in the Palace. It was bad, bad luck. He wasn't a full woman, if the Barbarian King saw his physique, he would be humiliated- if not killed. Concubine Yu felt bitter in her heart and whispered: "Princess, your mother brought you in this world but couldn't bear to see you die at such a young age on unwarranted charges. She raised you secretly like this. I had always suspected that I was too greedy while I was pregnant with you and caused you to have such a body. Xi'er, your life is too hard, if your sister was still alive, maybe she could've talked sweetly and pleased him. Maybe she could've saved you from today's disaster..."
Xia Xi listened to his mother's words. Ever since he was a child, he liked listening to his mother's voice the most. Although it wasn't the sweetest voice, it was the gentlest and most reassuring. He had great fear towards the future hidden in his heart, but as she said, he had no choice but to obey destiny.
Concubine Yu took out what she had prepared for him; a beautiful small gold hairpin with a green emerald embedded on it. There were also a few books and some porcelain bottles filled with medicine.
Concubine Yu said: "Once you go, I don't know if we could still have a chance to meet. This hairpin was given to me by my mother when I entered the Palace. I originally wanted to pass it on to your sister, but she went to a better place. I hid it and I'm now I'm giving it to you. I usually read these few books. I know you like to read books. The destination is far and the journey long, you can use it to pass the time. And these... this is to relieve headaches. Also, salves, this is a salve for trauma, this is a salve for colds. I have it here for simple illnesses. Take it. If there's a headache on the way, you should be alert and remember to apply it. And this jar..." Concubine Yu picked up one of the jars. The porcelain vase was red with plum blossoms painted on it, it was easily twice as big as the others. She said slowly: "This was specially prepared by the imperial physician by my request. You can wipe it there. You'll feel less pain during intercourse. You're smaller than others and barbarians are known to be fierce..." She seemed both sad and embarrassed and her voice gradually became quieter and quieter.
Xia Xi was a little puzzled, "What is mother saying?"
Concubine Yu had to tell him more frankly. After Xia Xi understood his face flushed with shame and he nodded obediently.
The eunuch outside was urging, Xia Xi had to bid farewell to his mother in tears.
The matter of the Princess and 'her' barbarian husband was very famous. On the day Xia Xi left the city, almost all the people in the capital came to watch the excitement. Xia Xi sat inside the carriage surrounded by a thick curtain, feeling uneasy. He bit his lip helplessly but the little maid beside him drowned herself in tears. Xia Xi didn't know her. The Palace he lived in was shabby. Usually, there were only two old eunuchs with him, there were no palace maids. Only this time did he suddenly have a little maidservant.
The Palace maid seemed to be only twelve or thirteen years old, with a bit of baby fat in her cheeks and beautiful brows. She was also put on makeup before leaving. When she cried like that, her rouge became smeared with tears and she looked like a female ghost. Xia Xi was dressed in a thick wedding dress before going along with a very heavy crown. His body was originally thin and weak, but now he couldn't even straighten his back under the weight of it, he wasn't in the mood to be sad. He heard the little palace maid crying so hard and couldn't help but offer a plate of candied fruit, he whispered, "Don't cry. Have some fruit, yes?"
The little Palace maid shook her head while crying, she sobbed: "This... this is what you eat, Princess, this peasant can't eat, this peasant... wu..."
Although she refused, she kept staring at the plate of candied fruit, silently swallowing. Xia Xi stretched out his hand, he picked up one and stuffed it directly into her mouth, he then whispered softly: "There's still a long way to go, are you going to cry like this the whole way?"
The little Palace maid ate the candied fruit and gradually stopped crying. Xia Xi asked her, "What's your name?"
The little Palace maid said: "Answering Your Royal Highness, this peasant's name is Cai Huan."
Xia Xi knew that Cai Huan didn't come voluntarily. No one would want to follow him voluntarily. After all, the land where the Barbarians lived was so far away. It was said that their land was made up of just sand and even more sand. It was difficult to even have enough water to take a bath. It was so different from the Xia kingdom. They weren't used to the living conditions there at all and most people were definitely not willing to go. Cai Huan must've had no power or influence in the Palace and no money to give gifts to the eunuchs in charge, so she was sent along with him.
Xia Xi felt quite guilty about this, knowing that if it wasn't for himself, such a small girl would still be able to stay in the Palace and not be forced to endure such suffering. Because of this, he treated her very well along the way, almost all of the sweets ended up inside her belly.
After leaving the capital, they went all the way to the northwest. He was escorted by a whole garrison provided by the capital. There were more than a total of thirty people in total, all of them riding horses and surrounding three carriages: one of them was the one Xia Xi and Cai Huan was riding, one was full of Xia Xi's dowry, and the other was a gift for the Barbarian King.
Xia Xi's dowry didn't contain much, the only reason it could be filled was thanks to Xia Hui. Xia Hui probably felt ashamed. Before Xia Xi set off, she came to him and asked him what he wanted. Xia Xi asked her to find some books, pen, ink, paper, and inkstones for him to use. He originally thought that Xia Hui would only give him a few books, but he didn't expect the Princess to be so capable. She directly presented him a few boxes of books, a box of pens, ink paper and inkstone each, a box of snacks that could last for more than a year, and a box full of beautiful clothes, shoes, and others.
Really generous.
Xia Xi had never gotten out of the palace before, when there were fewer onlookers, he would secretly open the curtain and look outside, observing the many things that he had never seen. The carriages passed through several big cities and sometimes traveled on lonely mountain roads for days on end. After a month, they finally reached the border between the two countries.
On the way, Xia Xi and Cai Huan gradually adapted to riding inside the carriage, their bodies no longer felt as sore. Xia Xi also secretly took off his heavy dress and wore only normal clothing, but when the time came to exchange his escorts for Barbarians, he wore that dress again.
There was no need for him to come out during the handover. According to the rules, he wasn't even allowed to take a peek. Although Xia Xi felt curious he was more timid, so he didn't even dare to secretly peek. He could only hear words that he couldn't understand. After what felt like half a day, the escort leader knelt beside the carriage and respectfully said: "Your Royal Highness, this peasant has sent you to your destination."
Xia Xi responded accordingly. Cai Huan couldn't help but start to cry, although she cried very quietly.
After the soldiers left, the carriage began to move forward again, Xia Xi knew that the people guarding him this time was no longer from his homeland, but the Barbarians. He felt scared, especially when he heard them talking loudly, the unknown language that he didn't understand made him panic. He felt afraid that beast-like people would suddenly rush inside the carriage the next moment and drag him out to eat his flesh and blood.
Xia Xi finally saw the appearance of the Barbarians when evening came.
The dress that the Barbarians wore were much looser, there was no fixed style of clothing, the only same style was a scimitar was worn on their waist. The scimitar swayed along with the movement of their owners, making Xia Xi's scalp numb. The only man who spoke their language looked about 30 years old, with wild hair and a beard covering almost half of his face, only his eyebrows looked neat. His Chinese was a bit jerky, but it was good enough to make people understand what he wanted to convey. He said: "Princess, Your Highness, 'e 'ill take a rest 'ere tonight and leave in 'morrow mornin'," He said again: "In ten days, you 'ill be able to reach Yudu."
Yudu was the imperial capital of the Barbarians, Xia Xi had read about it in books and heard that it was a very magnificent city built on the richest land in the northwest, because of its topography, it wouldn't be invaded even by wind or sand.
They were now staying in an inn with a style that resembled buildings from the kingdom of Xia but was full of barbarians. All of them looked tall, fierce, and sturdy, with eyes as sharp as knives. During the short timeframe of getting off he carriage and going upstairs, Cai Huan was already trembling in fright. After entering a room, she jumped into a bed and pulled the quilt over her head. After a while, because of poor ventilation, she came out.
"They are terrible!"
Xia Xi agreed with what the little maidservant said, but he didn't show it in his face. Instead, he comforted the little maidservant.
Their fear was only at peak on the first day. After a while, the two had gotten used to it. Besides, no one came to converse with them except when it was about meals or longing, so they were relieved.
The closer they got to Yudu, the more anxious Xia Xi was. He was afraid of meeting his husband, but was more afraid of his clothes being taken off and his legs being taken apart to reveal the abnormalities of his body. He knew that the other party would definitely become angry. Then...
His worrying couldn't prevent the development of the situation, and when reality came it was even worse. As they approached Yudu the convoy suddenly stopped, the curtain was lifted and the only Barbarian escort who could speak Chinese appeared in front of them. Smiling, he said: "Your Royal Highness, our King is 'ere to welcome you, please come out to meet 'im."
Xia Xi trembled, a fierce and wrinkled face flashed in his mind and his mouth tasted a bit bitter. But he straightened his clothes, walked out slowly, and resisted the urge to not look forward. The carriage was a bit tall and his dress made him too clumsy. When he was trying to get off the carriage, the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground reverberated, and a man jumped off the horse neatly. When he stood on even ground, he was actually much taller than his tall horse. While Xia Xi was startled, an arm presented itself in front of him, the man asked in standard Chinese: "Do you need my help? Your Royal Highness?"
Xia Xi looked at the man and suddenly saw a regal face, with deep features, charming brows, and a smooth chin. He didn't even have a beard like the other people. The fingers he offered looked very strong, and there were some thin calluses on the pads of his fingertips.
Xia Xi felt a little confused, was it true then, that the rumors were not true? The Barbarian King was not only not old but also young and handsome? Xia Xi's heart trembled and he slowly took the offered arm and was helped out of the carriage by the man. After the tall man helped stabilize him, he immediately withdrew his hand and then bowed in a direction, "Your Majesty, the Princess of the kingdom Xia has arrived."
He was speaking in the language of the Barbarians, which Xia Xi naturally couldn't understand, but he understood that he wasn't the King of the Northwest Barbarians. After all, if he was the Great King, he would definitely not salute to anyone.
Sure enough, the rumors were true.
Xia Xi suppressed his emotions, he bowed his head respectfully, waiting for the King's pardon. After a while, a pair of shoes appeared in front of him. The tips of the riding boots were embedded with two pebble-sized jade, which looked very luxurious, but the size of the shoes seemed a bit small?
Xia Xi was stunned and subconsciously raised his eyes slightly, without even changing the angle of his head, he could already see the person in front of him clearly.
A young man wearing a crown, with a dark complexion and tightly pressed lips, but still quite obviously- only about eleven or twelve years old.
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<b>Hi, here's chapter 2! We finally get to meet the main characters (we're already about 4700 words in peeps)!</b>