Refusing the Marriage Alliance, I Founded a Dynasty - chapter 12

On the day Father entered the city, pure water was sprinkled on the streets, yellow earth was laid on the roads, and the common folk greeted the royal army with baskets of food and jugs of wine.

I wore Black Armor and carried a Precious Sword at my waist, personally leading Father’s horse. Having achieved great merit today, I was full of pride, when suddenly a burst of mad laughter rang out, shrill and piercing. Looking ahead, I saw several scholars, their hair disheveled, nearly driven mad.

“Hahahaha, the world has changed, and hearts are no longer as they were!”

“Traitors and rebels have become the royal army, and the true line of Great Yin has become prisoners!”

“You villain and Thief, you act against the natural order, rebel against authority-let us see how Heaven will judge you!”

Father sat high on his horse, heroic and imposing, and said, “I do not fear.”

“Let me ask you, gentlemen, have you seen this world in darkness? Have you seen the people scattered and wandering? Have you seen human lives as cheap as dirt, driven by barbarians like cattle and sheep? The Last Emperor was submissive and servile to outsiders-was he a wise ruler? Internally, he imposed harsh taxes and indulged in Elixir and pleasures-was he a wise ruler? I have received the Mandate of Heaven, swept away the barbarians, abolished oppressive taxes, and will establish a flourishing age and a foundation for generations. On what grounds do you criticize me?”

The scholar, refuted, turned pale. Father snorted coldly, “Pests of the nation, withdraw at once!”

All the wise counselors and talents under his command bowed and cried out, “Heaven has bestowed a wise ruler!”

The following month, Father ascended the throne in Taiji Hall, declaring the new dynasty as Liang and changing the era name to Jingming.

That night, Father held a banquet for the ministers in Jianzhang Palace. The cups and goblets passed back and forth, and the atmosphere was joyous.

After several rounds of wine, Father suddenly called me, “A Yu, come to Father’s side.”

Puzzled, I went over. Elder Brother made room for me, and I obediently sat down, saying, “Father, your daughter is here.”

Father was likely drunk, pointing at me, “Meng Yu, my beloved daughter, the Qilin Child bestowed upon our family by Heaven.”

He said something with a hint of melancholy, “I regret that you are not a man, for I cannot make you my heir.”

My heart pounded, not daring to look at Elder Brother’s expression. The ministers fell silent, but someone started, and soon all the ministers knelt, crying out, “Your Highness!”

I gazed at the kneeling ministers below the dais, my mind in a daze.

I am a woman, a General, a meritorious subject, Father’s Qilin Child, the princess admired by all the ministers.

I am the girl scolded by my parents for having a heart of tiger and wolf.

I am the selfish, depraved scion, worse than a beast.

I am the orphan picked up, nearly cooked and eaten.

I am the little beggar who begged along the streets, sold myself to bury Father.

I am the female General who achieved earth-shattering feats.

I am the princess praised by His Majesty and the ministers.

The scene before me twisted into distorted colors, until a messenger burst into the hall and knelt in panic, snapping me back to reality.

“Your Majesty, Rouran has breached Yanshan Pass.”

The hall fell silent.

I heard my own voice, “Your Majesty, I request to lead the battle!”

Before departing, I went to Father’s hall to bid farewell.

It was not my first time saying goodbye to him, but it was my first time heading to such a battlefield.

For five years, I had fought countless battles, never once feeling panic, because Father was always behind me, watching.

But this time, there was no one left for me to rely on.

Father looked at me for a long time, leaving only a sigh, and said, “Go!”

On the day the army set out, I sat on my horse and couldn’t help but look back. Father wore the imperial crown robes, standing far away, his expression unclear to me.

I did not know that this moment would be the only warmth between father and daughter in my life.

Fate rolls forward like a wheel, pushing people onward, never allowing deviation. Decades later, when I recall Father, it is that night in the hall, the emperor high above, showing me the last bit of pity and remaining warmth.

When I was still the daughter of the Marquis of Boyuan, my family was whole, brothers healthy, sisters harmonious. Sitting in the hall, the pot bubbling with food and meat, snowflakes like goose feathers drifting in the courtyard, the bluestone slabs covered in white. The silent, pale Younger Brother held a bowl and ate, Elder Brother, elegant and refined, personally pinned a velvet flower in my hair, Ling’er recited Disciple Rules for Kun Di, and Mother embroidered a Forehead Band for Grandmother.

I sped up the march, rushing to the frontier to rescue my people who had fallen into enemy hands.

Traveling ten thousand miles to the battlefield, crossing mountains and passes as if flying.

Xu Xinzhi did not expect it would be me who arrived. The frontier was simple and crude; he poured me a cup of wine. The wine was rough, and I swallowed it mixed with sand.

He laughed, “You truly are the Marquis, willing to endure this.”

I replied, “You should call me Your Majesty now.”

Xu Xinzhi said, “The Last Emperor made you Junzhu and ordered you to a Marriage Alliance with Rouran. You refused and raised the banner of rebellion. Now Rouran wants to marry a princess, offering fifteen cities in exchange for you.”

Those fifteen cities were once recovered by my Father. Later, the Last Emperor stripped Father of his military power, and those fifteen cities were lost again.

I laughed, “They should forget about marrying a princess, but those fifteen cities-I want them.”

Xu Xinzhi toasted me, “Subject congratulates Your Highness on a victorious campaign.”

Life at the frontier was harsh.

Winter was approaching, and Rouran intensified their raids. I inspected the fortresses, listening to the cries of the border people in the distance, my heart bleeding.

The soldiers asked daily when we would reclaim those cities. I did not answer.

It was not yet time.

I had brought thirty thousand soldiers and enough provisions for three months, planning to wear down Rouran by waiting and exhausting them.

Rouran launched several surprise attacks, all of which I thwarted. Xu Xinzhi’s gaze shifted from suspicion and disdain to admiration and respect.

Until January of the following year, I launched a surprise offensive, defeated Rouran’s main force, and their commander retreated with the remnants. Within half a month, I recovered the fifteen cities that Rouran had seized.