Her life as a bride began amid the wailing of her closest maids, their cries tinged with pity for the young beauty destined to belong to an old man, her father's age peer, in exchange for three border towns. When she first heard this news, the war between the three regions had already reached its breaking point.

    "Your groom is Lian Wang[1]."

    Her eldest brother delivered this news himself. His expression remained stoic as befits a ruler of the Li Region, seated high upon the Dragon Throne, elevated nine steps above the ground, his presence majestic and formidable. His icy gaze fell upon her like that of a deity from above. Meanwhile, Fang Ning knelt at the very bottom, many paces away from her brother, her forehead touching the ground, trembling profoundly.

    "I… refuse… Your Majesty."

    "No."

    Fang Ning remained silent as if resigned, but Li Wang knew his sister well. Gentle and sweet, radiant as the dawn, yet she was a fighter in her own right. The gleam in her eye made everyone think that no man in the land was worthy to be her husband. Yet, what changed the life of the Princess of the Li Region was the ever-intensifying warfare among the regions since the Chu Region was consumed years ago. The relationships among the remaining three—Lian, Li, and Yan—were nothing but strained.

    "Lian Wang desires you, and I need the border towns to conquer the Yan Region. Prepare to depart immediately for the wedding ceremony."

    Initially, the Lian Region had agreed to ally with Yan Region by marrying Lian Wang's only daughter to Prince Yan Shen. However, Lian Wang's unreliable nature was soon exposed when he was caught sending a decoy bride to assassinate the prince. The old Lian Wang's solution was to openly align with the Li Region, offering the border towns as an engagement gift. Li Region, seeing the full advantage, eagerly accepted the proposition.

    Li Wang narrowed his eyes, observing the sheer veil covering his sister's face. Even from a distance, the delicate patterns of the peony and the tiny ruby beads stitched at the center of the flower stood out, a testament to her thoughtful craftsmanship. Li Wang expressed his approval:

    "Your embroidery skills are legendary across the land. Every piece you stitch is coveted. How far have you progressed with the Eternal Life Phoenix embroidery?"

    "Just a few stitches left before it's complete, Your Majesty."

    "Good. I will use your exquisite embroidery as the engagement gift in exchange."

    Fang Ning's shoulders trembled. The Eternal Life Phoenix embroidery she had devoted so much time and effort to was meant as a gift to celebrate the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday. Having lost her biological mother when she was barely a year old, the Empress Dowager, mother of Li Wang, had raised Fang Ning herself, making her love for the Empress Dowager profound.

    "This embroidery, I have poured nearly a year into perfecting this masterpiece for the Empress Dowager... Please, Your Majesty, allow me time to complete this auspicious new piece."

    "I do not permit it. You have three more days to finish the embroidery."

    Inside the dimly lit palace, even at noon, not only was Princess Fang Ning present, but also many officials and attendants, all standing still as statues, their breathing barely audible. Everyone regretted that Li Wang was willing to give up such a beautifully accomplished princess to the Lian Region. Left with no choice, Fang Ning bowed her head to plead for mercy.

    "I am not yet ready to leave the Empress Dowager."

    "My decision is final."

    With just a single, curt command, the princess's escape was blocked. In her memories, her eldest brother was a fearsome person; his cold gaze seemed like the source of all the chill spreading throughout the main palace. Fang Ning looked up to meet her brother's eyes as she realized he had come down to her.

    "The great sacrifice you are making now, I will remember it for a lifetime."

    "..."

    "Do you understand?"

    Li Wang's icy inquiry came as their eyes met. Fang Ning finally understood her brother's true intention. She, trembling, closed her eyes, letting tears roll down her soft, fair cheeks. Since fate had already decreed her path before her birth, she would accept it.

    "I… understand, and I willing... I willingly accept your command, Your Majesty."

[1] Wang refers to the first-rank prince, next to the crown prince. But in this case, it refers to the ruler of the region.