Chen Yi and Gu Wei stand outside the southern gate of Gatewatch Peak Town.
A few Duan Family servants stand behind them.
Several town officials wait nearby as well.
Cold wind sweeps across the open ground, tugging at sleeves and stirring dust.
Gu Wei rubs his hands together against the chill.
"Housekeeper Chen," he asks cautiously, "when is the governor returning?"
Chen Yi keeps his gaze on the road beyond the gate.
"How could I know that?"
Gu Wei hesitates, then lowers his voice.
"But according to the royal decree, a week later, the marriage will take place."
Chen Yi's expression remains calm.
"We do not need to think about it. The Lord will decide."
Gu Wei opens his mouth to speak again,
Then stops.
In the distance, the sound of hooves grows louder.
He turns.
Riders appear one by one on the southern road.
They wear the armour of imperial guards.
Behind them, several carriages roll forward in orderly formation.
Gu Wei straightens immediately.
The convoy approaches slowly and stops before the gate.
One imperial guard rides forward.
"I am Xu Yi, from the imperial guard."
Gu Wei steps forward respectfully.
"I am the deputy governor, Gu Wei."
Xu Yi studies him briefly.
"Have you arranged accommodations for the princess?"
Gu Wei glances back instinctively at Chen Yi.
Chen Yi steps forward calmly.
"Yes. The residence for the princess and all of you has been prepared. Please follow me. I will lead you there."
Xu Yi nods once.
Chen Yi walks toward the gate, mounts an empty horse brought for him, and leads the convoy into the town.
Hours pass.
Within the prepared residence,
Chen Yi oversees servants arranging bedding, cleaning rooms, and preparing food.
He stands outside the kitchen courtyard, issuing instructions calmly.
"Make sure the dishes are fresh. Do not over-season. Use the best rice."
As he watches smoke rise from the kitchen, a woman approaches him.
She bows slightly.
"Are you Housekeeper Chen Yi?"
Chen Yi turns.
"Yes, I am."
"Elder Mu asked for you."
Chen Yi pauses.
Elder Mu?
He recalls hearing that the first princess is a core disciple of a spiritual refining sect.
The elder must be from that sect.
He nods politely.
"Miss, please lead the way."
The woman gestures and begins walking.
Chen Yi follows her through winding corridors until they reach the Purple Flower Courtyard.
Inside the central garden, five women sit beneath flowering trees.
Most are dressed elegantly.
Chen Yi lowers his head at once.
He does not know which one is the princess.
Better to show caution.
The woman announces softly, "Elder Mu, Housekeeper Chen is here."
A calm voice responds.
"Housekeeper Chen, I heard Marquis Duan is not in town."
Chen Yi keeps his head lowered.
"Yes. The Lord has gone north toward the Magoon Mountains."
Another voice follows.
"When will he return?"
"This servant does not know."
A third female voice carries a sharper tone.
"Housekeeper Chen, it seems Marquis Duan does not care about the royal marriage. Is he disrespecting the princess?"
Chen Yi's eyes widen slightly.
He lifts his head a fraction,
Then bows deeper immediately.
"No… no… no. Marquis Duan is absent because war is about to take place in the north."
"War?" Elder Mu's voice turns attentive.
Chen Yi answers carefully.
"The Lord is building a city northward. Many northern tribes have surrendered to him. Because of this, the Raven Tribe and others have attacked the city."
A brief silence follows.
Then Elder Mu asks evenly, "Can the Lord return by the wedding date?"
Chen Yi answers without hesitation.
"Surely. The Lord will return by the wedding date."
Another pause.
Then Elder Mu says calmly, "You may leave."
Chen Yi bows again and withdraws, walking carefully out of the courtyard.
After he leaves,
One of the women, a disciple of the Purple Lotus Sect named Mu Qiuran, turns toward Elder Mu.
"Elder Mu, if the Marquis does not return by the wedding date, will the marriage be cancelled?"
Elder Mu rises from her seat.
"The marriage will not be cancelled. If the Marquis does not come, then we will go to the Marquis."
She turns toward Song Xingli.
"Xingli, remember. The wedding will happen."
Song Xingli remains seated, her expression calm but distant.
Elder Mu walks out of the garden, following a side path through the courtyard until she disappears into her private chamber.
Among the remaining four women, three exchange subtle glances.
Song Xingli finally speaks.
"Qiuwei, go check when the food will be ready."
Qiuwei bows respectfully.
"Yes, Princess."
She leaves the courtyard.
The garden grows quieter.
Only three remain beneath the flowering branches.
And the wind continues to blow softly through the Purple Flower Courtyard.
Petals tremble on their stems.
The faint fragrance of purple blossoms drifts through the air.
Shi Yinli breaks the silence first.
"Xingli, what are you going to do? Are you still escaping?"
Her tone carries both worry and stubborn loyalty.
Mu Qiuran frowns slightly.
"Xingli, before you decide to escape, you must prepare yourself for the worst possibility, that Shi Yang has already taken Yi Miran as his Dao Partner."
Shi Yinli's voice rises at once.
"My cousin will not do that. He promised Xingli they would become Dao Partners."
Song Xingli lifts her hand quickly.
"Speak quietly. Elder Mu will hear."
Shi Yinli huffs, leaning back against the carved stone bench, glaring toward Mu Qiuran.
Song Xingli turns to Qiuran again.
"Qiuran, I have thought about the worst possibility. But even so… I still cannot marry Marquis Duan."
Silence settles over them.
The breeze stirs the hem of their robes.
Mu Qiuran sighs softly.
"It is good you do not wish to marry this kind of man. A month has not even passed since his wife disappeared, and he prepares to marry another."
Shi Yinli clenches her fists.
"I do not understand why your father would arrange such a marriage. Does he not think of your happiness?"
Song Xingli's expression remains calm, but there is a trace of bitterness in her eyes.
"For the royal family, power matters more than affection. By marrying me into the Duan Family, he calms the rising Duan influence for a few years. That gives him time to prepare."
"Prepare for what?" Shi Yinli asks.
Song Xingli answers quietly.
"To take action."
Both Shi Yinli and Mu Qiuran stiffen.
They understand at once.
The marriage is not a reconciliation.
It is delayed.
Strategy.
Political calculation.
The three fall into deeper discussion, voices lowered beneath the trees.
The following morning,
Elder Mu sits in the courtyard pavilion, tea steaming before her.
Mu Qiuran sits opposite her.
They are aunt and niece.
Elder Mu studies the tea leaves before speaking.
"Qiuran, you must keep a close watch on Xingli. She must not escape."
Mu Qiuran hesitates.
"Aunt… is Duan Merin truly so important that we must sacrifice Xingli's happiness?"
Elder Mu's gaze sharpens.
For a moment, she remains silent.
In her heart, she knows Xingli's determination.
If there is an opportunity,
Xingli may flee.
Shi Yinli will never restrain her.
Only Qiuran remains reliable.
Elder Mu finally speaks.
"The Great Elder made a prophecy one month ago. A disaster is approaching. Duan Merin will help us survive it."
Mu Qiuran's eyes widen.
"Duan Merin? No matter how talented he is, he is merely an Outer Qi warrior. There is no guarantee he can even break through to the Soul Awakening Realm. He is not a spiritual refiner."
Elder Mu sighs softly.
"I do not know. But we must trust the Great Elder."
Silence lingers between them.
Then,
A sharp cry pierces the air.
Both women look upward.
A purple bird circles above the courtyard.
It has two pairs of wings and a long trailing tail that glimmers faintly with spiritual light.
Mu Qiuran stands.
"A message from the sect."
Elder Mu raises her hand slowly.
Her palm faces the sky.
A phantom purple lotus blossoms upon it.
The bird descends gracefully and lands upon her palm.
Instantly,
A connection forms.
The bird's qi flows into Elder Mu.
She closes her eyes.
Information pours into her consciousness.
Her breathing remains steady,
But her expression tightens slightly.
The message continues.
Seconds pass.
Then longer.
Mu Qiuran watches in growing unease.
At last,
Elder Mu opens her eyes.
Calm.
But decisive.
"Pack your luggage," she says evenly. "We are leaving for the Marquis."
Mu Qiuran freezes.
"Aunt?"
Elder Mu stands already.
"There is no time to delay."
The purple bird hops onto her shoulder.
Without further explanation, she turns and walks swiftly out of the pavilion.
Mu Qiuran rises at once to follow.
In the distance,
The wind still moves through the Purple Flower Courtyard.
But its softness no longer carries peace.