After Shayue's figure disappeared from Lin Cheng'an's sight, he sat back down, throwing another stick into the fire and watched it burned. He thought
'Honesty, she speaks of honesty. But she is from Fengyu, and Fengyu are not like any kinds one…breeds snakes in silk…'
He frowned at the fire, his face settling into the serious expression he had practiced all evening. But this time, it did not feel quite as comfortable as before, he was thirteen, he had much to learn, he wondered if the woman walking to her tent might be the one of his teachers, rather than one of his Empire's enemy or his Cousin's problems. She just shook his head sharply.
'No. she is a political bride chosen for my Cousin Brother, a stranger from an enemy empire, nothing more or less.'
He nodded to himself, firm, calm and certain, a Lin to his bones and blood. Then why, he wondered, did her final words feel less like advice and more like a warning from someone who had already walked the path he was only starting to begin to see?
Lin Cheng'an did not sleep well that night. The fire died to embers, and still he sat, watching the darkness beyond the camp, listening for what he didn't speak about.
The first rays of dawn filtered through the mountain pass, washing the camp in a pale golden light. Soldiers were already dismantling tents, feeding the horses, and preparing the procession for the final stretch towards Longlin Empire. One by one, everyone emerged from their tents. Lin Cheng'an came out of his tent, yawing with hands swaging in the air.
"…Young Master Lin?"
A soldier stopped in his tracks, another turned around to give his greeting just before meeting his face,
"…Did you not sleep well… at all, Young Master?"
Lin Cheng'an adjusted his sleeves with his usual composure… "I slept… why?"
The two soldiers exchanged glances towards each other, "…Why Young Master is lying…your face clearly tell… you didn't slept well."
Dark circles were beneath Lin Cheng'an eyes, making his usually bright expression appear noticeably weary. Another guard approached them, trying very hard to remain respectful.
"Young Master, were the safety of the camp and military affairs keeping you awake…?"
Before Cheng'an could answer, another soldier chuckle and asked, he lowered his voice dramatically, "Or perhaps… were you worrying about whether the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will get along well?"
Lin Cheng'an looked at him, clearly glaring at him… it was enough to make him silence, Cheng'an replied,
"…I was doing no such things."
"Oh?"
"Then why were you sitting beside the fire until nearly midnight?"
"…"
Someone coughed to remove the silence teasing, another soldier grinned saying, "Our Young Master has finally reached the age where he stays awake thinking… at least of something."
"What an accomplishment."
The camp erupted into a soft laughter, Lin Cheng'an pressed his lips together… "…I was just merely reflecting."
"Indeed. Reflecting so deeply that sleep abandoned you."
"Should we ask the imperial physician to prescribe some fewer thoughts?"
Even some few guards passing couldn't suppress their smiles. Lin Cheng'an let out a defeated sigh… "…You all have far too much of free time."
The soldiers were smiling and soft laughter filled across the gathering. At that moment—
Shayue stepped out from her tent, the camp fell quieted respectfully, they all greeted Shayue. Her gaze swept across the gathering before her gaze settled on Lin Cheng'an. She immediately noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"So… it seems someone did not take my advice seriously."
Lin Cheng'an instinctively touched beneath his eyes before quickly lowering his hands.
"…I simply found myself thinking of your advice…"
Shayue's smiled at the boy in front of her, she said, "Then next time… do not think quite too much, take it easy."
Admitting that he had already lost the battle against his own thoughts, Lin Cheng'an could only lower his head in quiet embarrassment,
"…Yes, Your Highness."
--
As the camp settled into its morning routine, an older commander approached Lin Cheng'an with a scroll in his hand,
"Young Master, the advance troops has returned from the capital. The Crown Prince's household has been informed of our expected arrival."
Lin Cheng'an's demeanor shifted immediately, the weariness in his eyes giving way to sharp focus.
"And?"
"The Court has arranged the receiving ceremony at the imperial gates. All the six ministries will be present. The Grand Chancellor will oversee the rituals."
Lin Cheng'an nodded, his young face carrying the gravity of someone who understood the weight of protocol.
"Has the Crown Prince returned?"
"…well not yet, Young Master, the court had issued that they don't think His Highness would return for his own wedding…"
Shayue, who had been listening quietly nearby, heard their conversation. She had not expect him to return so soon either so she didn't mind it, but at some part, she was feeling quite uneasiness. She walked back towards her tent.
Later, as the procession resumed its journey, Mei Yi rode beside the carriage window, her voice low while glancing back and forth towards Ying and Shayue.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has not…yet returned… even after the war had ended, for quite some days…"
Shayue looked out at the passing landscape…
"So?"
"He did not yet arrived… do you think he doesn't want to attend his own wedding… he won't be there to accompany you…"
"Or perhaps he wants me to proceed the wedding without him…" Shayue replied calmly.
"A Crown Prince who priorities his empire first before anything is a good leader Mei Yi, he just can't neglect the empire's safety."
"But, Your Highness…"
"Do not worry Mei Yi, he simply chooses his empire safety carefully. I do as well, so don't fear."
Mei Yi fell silent, she and Ying exchanged glances towards each other, considering.
By midday, the procession halted at a waystation for some refreshments. Lin Cheng'an approached the carriage, his manner more guarded than the previous night, as though the daylight had reminded him of his duty.
"Your Highness, we will reach the Longlin borders with an hour, from there, the imperial roads are well-maintained. We would be arrived at the capital before the auspicious hour arrives."
Shayue descended from her wedding carriage while holding Mei Yi hand, her touch light and deliberate.
"Cheng'an, tell me—does you cousin often attends such ceremonies personally?"
He hesitated first than replied calmly. "The Crown Prince attends where duty is required, Your Highness."
"And what does duty require of him today?"
"…He has ordered the court to receive you, at the imperial gate, with full honors, Your Highness."
Shayue smiled, but her eyes remained assessing, "With full honors for a political bride, how generous of him."
Lin Cheng'an jaw slightly tightened, "Your Highness is not merely a political bride. You are the future Crown Princess of Longlin
Empire, the ceremony reflects that position."
"Does it?" she looked towards the road ahead, where the Longlin border markers were already visible.
"Or does it reflect what your cousin wishes the court to believe?"
"Your Highness—"
She raised her one hand, the gesture gentle but final,
"I do not ask you to answer for him, Cheng'an. I ask only that you observe, carefully. A good soldier observes before he judges. Does he not?"
She said meeting his eyes with a faint smile.
"…Yes, Your Highness."
"Then observe well today, and tell me. When you are ready, what you see."
Lin Cheng'an stared at her for a long moment, something shifting in his young gaze, as she was walking towards the waystation, her crimson robes trailing behind her like a banner of quiet authority. Lin Cheng'an remained where he stood, his mind turning her words over and over like a puzzle he could not yet solve.
'Observe Before Judging.'
He had been taught that, by his master, by his tutors, by his commanders, by his Cousin Brother. Yet she spoke it as though she was his teacher and he was her student. He frowned, straightened his robes and followed. The border markers drew even more near and with them, the empire that would become her home drew closer to her. Whether she would shape it or it would shape her, he could not yet say it, but he would observe, carefully, as she had said.
The camp soon returned to its bustle, the dragon banners were raised once more, horses were mounted. The wedding carriage rolled forward as the procession resumed its journey towards north.
Mountain roads gradually gave way to the board stone highways lined with ancient pines and flowing rivers, villages appeared from time to time, their residents stopping their works to bow respectfully as the dragon banners passed by. The journey continued without any incident, by afternoon, the familiar landscape of Longlin began to emerge on the distant horizon. They would arrive… before nightfall and the wedding will begin in that few hours…
The wedding procession continued steadily along the board imperial road. Then the lead commander suddenly reined in his horse, his voice rang clearly across the procession.
"We have arrived at the borders of the Longlin Empire!"
Inside the wedding carriage, the words hung in air, Mei Yi's eyes widened, "…We've arrived already?"
Ying instinctively straightened her posture, her gaze shifting towards the embroidered curtains. Only Shayue had remained still and composed. A quiet smile touching her lips,
'Finally… I have arrived. The Empire that will become my only home, from now onwards, the empire I will protect for the rest of my life.'
Slowly, she lifted a corner of the silk curtain. Outside, towering stone walls stretched across the horizon like an unbreakable mountain range. Upon every watchtower, the dragon banners fluttered proudly in the wind. Unlike the graceful phoenix of Fengyu—the dragon of Longlin did not seek elegance, it radiated pure authority, power and unwavering strength that seemed capable of withstanding centuries. Even the soldiers stationed upon the walls stood as motionless as carved stone, their discipline evident without a single command being spoken. Shayue quietly watched everything, the banners, the walls, the soldiers, the people around the walls of the Longlin. A faintest breath escaped from her lips,
'…What an overwhelming presence… no wonder the neighboring empires speak of Longlin with both admiration and caution with strength and power. Now I understand…'
Her gaze lingered on the dragon standard dancing against the blue sky. Not merely an empire but a nation built upon strength, discipline and unwavering resolve, she slowly lowered the curtains once more. The outside world disappeared behind crimson silk. Silence returned in the carriage. With both hands she gently raised her phoenix tuanshan, holding it before her face so that only her calm, sharp, unwavering eyes remained visible. Those eyes reflected neither fear nor some uncertainty.
To Be Continued...