Refusing the Marriage Alliance, I Founded a Dynasty - chapter 14

Three days later, our provisions were exhausted. My heart was ashen, devoid of hope. I ordered my men to ready their bows and horses, to don their armor, and at noon, to march out for the final battle.

Everyone knew that once we left, there would be no return.

I commanded those with families to write their farewells, fully prepared to fight to the death.

Yet at that very moment, the sound of hooves arose, shaking the earth beneath us.

A scout stumbled and crawled into the camp, his voice trembling: “General, the grain has arrived, so much grain, General, so much grain.”

Startled, I rushed outside. Before the camp stretched cart after cart of provisions, extending so far into the distance that the end could not be seen.

At the head was a round, sturdy man, tanned dark by the sun, dressed in silk, flashing a white-toothed smile at me: “Little Junior Sister, Senior Brother has come to save you.”

He was Mei Zhifeng, the eldest son of my Mentor, Lord Mei.

The Mei family was renowned for their scholarship and service, upholding the traditions of farming and study. Lord Mei was a great Confucian scholar of our time, living a life of simplicity and contentment. Yet his eldest son, Mei Zhifeng, belied his elegant name-he loved luxury and pleasure, delighted in commerce, and detested reading. Lord Mei had broken three willow switches in vain, unable to change his mind. Eventually, Mei Zhifeng left home without a word to pursue business. If not for my intervention, Lord Mei would have nearly disowned him.

Naturally, I had to intervene. Mei Zhifeng, troubled in those years, often confided in me. I advised him to leave home, even lent him travel expenses and capital. Many years have passed since, and as I campaigned far from home, I paid little heed to his news. Who would have thought, at the brink of death, it would be he who came to my rescue.

While Mei Zhifeng directed the distribution of provisions, he and I reminisced in the main tent about all that had transpired over the years.

Mei Zhifeng told me that while trading in the northwest, he saw troops escorting carts of grain. The weather was cold and threatened rain, yet the grain was left uncovered, and the convoy moved at a snail’s pace-clearly, something was amiss. Though not in court, he had a father with students all over the land. He sent someone to the capital to inquire and learned that all those I had dispatched to urge for provisions had been detained, their memorials withheld. Lord Mei had already submitted a memorial of censure, while Mei Zhifeng sold off all his assets to purchase grain and save me from disaster.

I was filled with awe and bowed to Mei Zhifeng, saying, “Senior Brother, your kindness, Yu will never forget.”

Mei Zhifeng grinned slyly, “No need for that. I only hope that you, the Princess of Qin, will look after us. Perhaps you can make things easier for me in business in the future.”

On the tenth day of my father’s reign, he posthumously honored my Mother as Empress Deming, conferred the title of Empress upon my stepmother Lady Xiao, made my Elder Brother the Crown Prince, and granted me the title of Princess of Qin, with a Fief of 3,000 Households. But by then, I was already on the road and did not return to the capital to receive the investiture.

My Senior Brother has the shrewdness of a merchant as well as his cunning.

I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Current Emperor, with countless merits to my name, now defending against foreign invaders-who would dare to withhold my provisions?

Whoever is behind this, either he cannot be found, or he dares not be named.

I dared not think further, only promising my Senior Brother that as long as I lived, I would protect him.

He was reassured and joked with me, “This time, I’ll return to the capital with you. If I run into my father, I hope Your Highness will save me.”

I laughed, “Of course. Now that you have spent your entire fortune for the country and the people, once I report to His Majesty, you will surely be made an Imperial Merchant-perhaps even granted a title of nobility.”

Senior Brother laughed heartily, then grew pensive. “But this pass will not be easy to cross!”

I fell silent as well, then rose to my feet. “Senior Brother, please stay. I am going to inspect the camp.”