FTLHFP Chapter 1: Joy

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May 5th, an auspicious day for marriage.

A lacquered wooden box draped in red cloth sat upright on a row of small boats, slowly drifting along the city’s river. The seemingly endless procession celebrating the joyous occasion was accompanied by a lively cacophony of music, filling the air with festivity.

A grand red bridal sedan.

Golden bells at each corner.

Unmarried men leaned out of their windows, their handsome faces tinged with a blush as they gazed at the red sedan below. Married couples, holding the hands of young children, gathered on small bridges to witness the spectacle.

The resounding blasts of suona horns and thunderous drumbeats created an electrifying atmosphere. Musicians laughed in sync with the rhythm, shouting in unison, while the sharp crack of firecrackers ignited a chorus of shrieks and laughter from the children.

Standing at the bow of a boat, an attendant grabbed a handful of copper coins from a basket and flung them into the crowd. Immediately, the people scrambled to grab the lucky coins, their joyous commotion intensifying.

"Today is the grand wedding of the Eldest Imperial Princess! And she’s marrying the Prime Minister’s only son! Witnessing a wedding of such noble blood—who knows if we’ll ever see one again in our lifetime?"

"Indeed! Just look at the wedding gifts—over a hundred boats full! Such magnificence!"

"Uh… but isn’t the Prime Minister’s only son… a fool?"

Silence fell over the crowd.

After a long pause—

Someone gave a dry laugh. "Why bring that up? Hurry and grab the lucky coins!"

"Yes, yes!" The others nodded, and the festive atmosphere resumed in full force.

In Front of the Glorious and Grand Eldest Imperial Princess’ Manor

Distinguished guests, nobles, and high-ranking officials stood at the entrance, smiling as they watched the bridal sedan approach. At the forefront, standing with her back to the crowd, was the Eldest Imperial Princess—Gong Jiuyu.

A royal daughter who had once been lost to the outside world.

Her intellect was said to be as terrifying as that of a demon, her courage and cunning surpassing all others.

Despite her young age, she exuded an aura that commanded the world’s respect, even forcing the reigning Emperor to yield to her presence. Among the common people, her prestige was equally formidable.

Yet, while her decisive and unyielding nature, coupled with her striking appearance, made her an object of admiration—beneath that flawless exterior lay a magnificent yet ferocious beast!

For years, she had waged wars across the land, her hands stained with untold amounts of blood.

In the Kingdom of Shuihuai, where citizens of all ages bore light-colored hair and eyes, she was a rare anomaly—possessing pure black hair and dark eyes.

Her gaze, like an unfathomable abyss, seemed to taint all it touched.

Rumors even suggested that she was not the Emperor’s true daughter, but rather a bastard born out of an affair during Concubine Lanhe’s exile!

A few officials huddled together, whispering among themselves.

"She’s so power-hungry that she’s willing to marry even a fool. And not just as a consort—she’s making him her principal husband! The Eldest Imperial Princess’ ambition is boundless… I fear the Emperor—"

"What can His Majesty do? Even if he wishes to send her away from the capital again, it’s already too late."

"The Prime Minister will surely support her as well."

"Exactly. And besides—"

Before he could finish, a sudden scream pierced the air.

"Wait—what is that?!"

"Ahhh! Assassins! Assassins!!"

As the bridal sedan drew closer, the cheers of the people and the jubilant beats of the wedding drums filled the air. Yet, in an instant, black-clad figures, their faces and hair concealed, emerged from the rooftops of the dark-tiled buildings flanking the street.

Their blades glinted with cold light as they charged toward the bridal sedan, toward the Eldest Imperial Princess, and toward the gathered officials!

The assassins, splitting into two groups, slaughtered musicians, attendants, and commoners as effortlessly as cutting through vegetables.

Blood sprayed into the air alongside terrified screams, staining the once-clear winding river red. The celebratory suona horns distorted into an eerie, ear-piercing cacophony, and in mere moments, the scene descended into utter chaos.

The high-ranking guests—wealthy, noble, and powerful—turned pale. Shouting in alarm, they pushed and shoved their way backward. But before the cold gleam of the assassins’ blades could reach them, the royal guards surged forward, their faces twisted with fury as they raised their spears, impaling the attackers straight into the ground.

"My son!"

Prime Minister Li He’s expression changed dramatically as he tried to rush forward, only to be blocked by someone.

"Your Highness."

Soldiers formed a solid wall, standing firm with their weapons raised, shielding their master and the guests behind them. The leader of the hidden guards, who had appeared silently at his master’s side, clenched the hilt of his sword, his expression terrifying as he locked eyes on the assassins.

To cause such mayhem on His Highness’ wedding day—those wretched, despicable bastards!

"Go protect the bridal sedan."

A voice finally broke the silence. Unlike a typical woman’s soft and delicate tone, her voice was low, with a slight slur at the end of her words, carrying an unmistakable, intriguing depth.

The hidden guard furrowed his brows in disapproval. At a time like this, his priority should be protecting her side. "But—"

"I don’t need you here."

The figure standing before them turned slightly.

Her raven-black hair, dark as a crow’s feathers, cascaded smoothly. Long, arched brows framed her striking features, and her phoenix-shaped eyes—sharp and narrow—held an unfathomable glint.

The ridicule in her gaze turned into something eerily gentle as it fell upon her hidden guard, sending chills down his spine. Her lips, adorned with a faint rouge, curved slightly.

She spoke again, "Go protect the sedan. That was the second time I’ve said it."

"…Yes!"

Lowering his head abruptly to avoid her gaze, the hidden guard held his breath, tightened his grip on his blade, and with a moment’s hesitation, dashed toward the bridal sedan.

One of the black-clad assassins noticed that the noble princess stood unguarded. Seizing the opportunity, he cut down several people in his path and charged forward.

His eyes burned with murderous intent, and in them, Gong Jiuyu’s face was reflected.

I can do it.

She thought. I can definitely kill her!

The distance between them shortened. Her breathing was deep and restrained in her throat. Time seemed to slow.

The assassin focused all his strength into one decisive strike, the corners of his lips curling into a victorious grin beneath his mask as he swung his blade down—

—Sching!

The sound of metal slicing through its sheath.

The exhilaration of taking a life still surged in his chest—but his vision suddenly tilted, soaring upwards into the sky.

Strangely, from this new vantage point, he saw the Eldest Imperial Princess’ jet-black hair flutter before settling back over her shoulders. She stood there, calm, with a bloodstained sword in hand.

Huh?

Had she been holding a weapon from the start?

Why was there blood on it?

And why… why could he see his own body?

The shattered remains of his broken blade mirrored his expression—stunned, uncomprehending.

Thud.

His severed head hit the ground.

Blood gushed violently from the gaping wound in his neck, spraying into the air before his lifeless body collapsed, filling the grooves in the tiled floor with crimson.

The woman, gripping her sword with one hand, lightly flicked the blood off its blade. The hem of her red wedding robes shifted with the movement. Her long black hair, ink-dark and cascading over her chest, framed a face that still bore the remnants of a smile.

Turning, she cast a glance at the guests, who had gone weak at the knees in terror. With her free hand, she wiped the warm, wet blood from her cheek, and her phoenix eyes curved with amusement.

"Apologies for the disturbance," she said lightly. "The wedding feast shall continue."

A few ministers’ faces twitched, their voices trembling. "Your Highness, th-there are… d-dead people… And—assassins!"

"We are… quite old already," another minister added hastily. "Perhaps the younger ones should stay. We—well, we shall take our leave, yes?"

"Y-Yes, yes! Your Highness, we shall excuse ourselves first!"

Gong Jiuyu accepted the sword sheath from a servant’s outstretched hands. Twisting her wrist, she slowly slid the long sword back into its scabbard. The sound of metal scraping against metal sent an unpleasant chill down the guests’ spines.

Her gaze swept across the trembling nobles. Cold, as if she were looking at nothing but lifeless objects. Yet her voice remained soft, gentle, almost coaxing.

"It’s just a few dead people. A minor inconvenience—the servants will clean up soon enough."

"No need for concern. Please, go inside and rest for a while. I shall join you shortly."

"…"

"Just a few dead people…?"

The officials and noble families exchanged horrified glances, then cast a fearful look at Gong Jiuyu—still dressed in her resplendent red wedding robes—before their gazes flicked to the headless corpse at her feet.

Shuddering, they forced their legs to move, hurrying into the estate.

Prime Minister Li He hesitated for a moment, meeting Gong Jiuyu’s gaze. Under her composed yet chilling smile, he swallowed his concerns and stepped inside as well.

Once the crowd had dispersed, the princess lowered her dark gaze, watching the blood pooling beneath her boots. Her long lashes cast faint shadows over her unreadable expression.

By the time she looked up at the bridal sedan again, her smile had disappeared.

Her once-radiant face now carried an aura of chilling cruelty.

Murderous intent surged in waves.

______

[Author’s Note:]

💬 Dear readers, I’ve revised some settings!

💬 If you’ve read the earlier versions, it’s best to go back and reread the previous chapters!

💬 This novel is entirely fictional and has no relation to real history. Any similarities are purely coincidental. This is NOT a pregnancy trope story. Thank you, thank you!

T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊