Chapter 5 — The Fox Spirit Grand Preceptor Comes to Repay His Debt

Diep Thien Mieu stepped out from the shadows. He had witnessed the entire scene that had just unfolded.

This time, the Eldest Princess has proven herself to be far more intelligent than before.

I slowly stood up, making a desperate effort to smooth out the creases in my garments, wishing to rid myself of this lingering sense of wretchedness and defeat.

Do not worry, Respected Grand Preceptor, I shall not disrupt the grand design you share with my Imperial Father.

Diep Thien Mieu merely knitted his brows together, extending toward me the very same handkerchief he had offered once before, much like that day by the moat. Yet, through all these twists and turns, it was still always the three of us entangled together. I did not push Diep Thien Mieu away; instead, I accepted the handkerchief. Suddenly, a realization struck me—it seemed as though, from the time of my earliest childhood until now, this man had consistently remained by my side. Whenever I found myself in the most desolate and wretched of plights, it was always him; whenever I was consumed by the deepest sorrow, he was still the one there. Unable to restrain the urge burning within me, I softly inquired:

Diep Thien Mieu, what is your true purpose for remaining within the imperial palace?

He cast a long, profound gaze upon me.

The hour is growing late; the Eldest Princess should retire and rest.

Upon reaching the nomadic borderlands, the moment our carriage rolled through the gates, the entire city was adorned with radiant lanterns and festive colored silks, with deep crimson silk blossoms fluttering everywhere. I was carried directly into a stately manor. In the dead of night, I sat alone within the bridal chamber, gazing at the unfamiliar and alien surroundings. An inexplicable wave of regret suddenly welled up inside my heart. If I had firmly refused this forced political marriage, would the person sent away in my stead have been someone else entirely? For instance... I had always imagined that the man I truly wished to wed was none other than Tan Bach Xuyen, yet unexpectedly, the face of Diep Thien Mieu flashed vividly across my mind. I stood there, utterly dumbfounded. Why him? It was an outcome I could never have anticipated in a million lifetimes. On my wedding night, the person who stepped forward to lift the heavy red veil from my head was none other than Diep Thien Mieu. At first, I foolishly thought I was trapped within a surreal dream, raising my hands to rub my eyes in disbelief. Yet, the unmistakable fluffy tail of a fox trailed behind the man, fully exposed to my sight. That was something no mortal impostor could ever hope to imitate.

Grand Preceptor, what are you doing here?

To whisk you away from your wedding.

Even when engaging in such brazenly reckless acts, Diep Thien Mieu still wore that infuriatingly carefree, smiling expression upon his face, rendering it utterly impossible for anyone to guess his true intentions. I stood in silence for a brief moment, turning the situation over in my mind. Then, with a swift and decisive motion, I reached up and tore off all the heavy, cumbersome hair ornaments that weighed me down. I was determined to break free from this place. Even if I were to submit to marrying the nomadic prince, those barbarians would undoubtedly fabricate some flimsy pretext in the near future to launch an invasion against the Great Thien Dynasty. Since matters had already escalated to this point, it would be far better to ignite the flames of this inevitable war with my own hands, forcing my Imperial Father to take up arms and meet them on the battlefield. Diep Thien Mieu forcefully grasped my hand, pulling me in a wild dash straight out of the bridal chamber and over the towering perimeter walls. However, awaiting our escape on the other side was Tan Bach Xuyen, gripping a gleaming, unsheathed long sword tightly in his hand. Radiating a chilling aura of murderous intent, he advanced slowly toward us.

Eldest Princess, do you truly intend to follow this fox demon away?

I stared at Diep Thien Mieu, my heart a chaotic storm of shock and suspicion. How on earth did Tan Bach Xuyen discover his true identity?

If I had known that you were secretly colluding with the nomadic tribes, I never would have allowed Su Su to be married off to this wasteland.

This was the very first time I had ever heard Diep Thien Mieu utter my personal name aloud. Yet, my mind was already in too much turmoil to dwell on such trivialities. Tan Bach Xuyen was actually in cahoots with the northern nomads? Perhaps the naked shock in my gaze was entirely too blatant, for Tan Bach Xuyen deliberately averted his eyes from mine.

My only desire was to marry the Eldest Princess. The Emperor gave me his solemn promise that if I safely escorted her across the border, I would finally be permitted to remain by her side.

Yet, what the nomadic tribe truly hungered for was the beating heart of the Grand Preceptor. It is rumored that the heart of a fox spirit possesses the miraculous power to raise the dead and restore flesh to bleached white bones.

The Tan Bach Xuyen standing before me now felt like a complete stranger. He was actively scheming and plotting against both myself and Diep Thien Mieu. How could the gentle, tender youth of yesteryear have morphed into this cold, calculating monster?

If you have finished your drivel, allow me to escort the Eldest Princess away from this wretched place. This environment is wholly unsuited for her.

With absolute composure and unhurried grace, Diep Thien Mieu intertwined his fingers with mine. The soothing warmth radiating from his palm inexplicably instilled a profound sense of peace within my anxious soul. It felt as though, in some distant memory from the very dim past, whenever terror gripped my heart, a large, steady hand just like this one would always reach out to steady me. Seeing that Diep Thien Mieu had no intention of surrendering me, Tan Bach Xuyen signaled his men, slowly closing the circle around us.

Others might remain blind to your true desires, but I see through them clearly. Diep Thien Mieu, the sole reason you lingered within the imperial court all this time was because of the Eldest Princess, wasn't it?

Indeed, because I am deeply enamored with her.

I froze, rooted to the spot in utter disbelief. Hold on a moment, what did this man just declare aloud? His blunt words served as an instant catalyst, completely infuriating Tan Bach Xuyen. With a furious roar, Tan Bach Xuyen led his contingent of armed guards in a desperate charge toward us. Diep Thien Mieu swiftly reached out, gently covering my eyes with his palm, and murmured softly beside my ear:

The sight may prove somewhat unsightly and stained with blood, so I must ask you to keep your eyes closed for a little while.

His voice seemed imbued with some potent, enchanting magic. I obediently shut my eyes, surrendering completely to the safety of his embrace. From all around us, the agonized shrieks of imperial guards echoed through the air. Though the thick, suffocating stench of fresh blood filled my nostrils, I felt an overwhelming sense of profound tranquility. The hand shielding my vision not only blocked out the terrifying carnage of the world before me, but it also effortlessly weathered every storm on my behalf. Diep Thien Mieu successfully cut a bloody path through the heavy encirclement, bringing us to safety, but the immense exertion left him utterly drained and gravely weakened. For the very first time, I witnessed him completely lose the ability to maintain his human form. The moment we crossed the threshold into a secure haven, Diep Thien Mieu transformed instantly into a small, fiery red fox, curling himself tightly into a protective ball within my arms. Clutching him closely to my chest, I fled in a state of disarray until we found refuge in a secluded rural village. There, I was forced to step into a kitchen and cook a meal with my own hands for the very first time in my life. As for Diep Thien Mieu, from that fateful day onward, he slumbered deeply and remained unconscious for over half a month. The kind soul who took us in and offered us shelter was an elderly woman. Having lost her eyesight entirely, every simple household task proved to be a trial of patience and hardship. Taking advantage of the brief window while she stepped out to tend to the weeds in her humble patch of land, I resolved to prepare a modest meal with my own hands.