Because Keith Quinn's whereabouts were unknown, every time Zara Yun went onto the battlefield, she fought as if she had nothing left to lose.
This made Zara Yun's status among the soldiers rise again and again.
Every time Prince Shawn fought against Zara Yun, he would go easy on her, and the two sides remained locked in a stalemate for some time.
One day, Prince Shawn said to Zara Yun, "I know you have someone in your heart, but I truly like you. Do you know? For you, I even defied orders and didn't execute your people. But I can't stall for much longer. Because of my delay, they've decided to send others and more troops to wipe you out. As long as you agree to marry me, I can guarantee your survival!"
Zara Yun only gave Prince Shawn a cold look.
What a joke—two armies facing off, and he's talking about love at first sight?
Just then, news finally came about Keith Quinn.
Tormented by longing, Zara Yun couldn't hold back any longer. She rode out alone to find Keith Quinn. Little did she know, it was a trap within a trap—her entire force was swallowed up in an instant.
Prince Shawn found Zara Yun again: "As long as you agree to marry me, I'll spare the lives of those tens of thousands of soldiers. I promise you, in this life, you'll be my only wife—no concubines, no mistresses."
Zara Yun saw the blood-soaked heads delivered to her, and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Because of her mistake, tens of thousands of soldiers were captured—she was filled with guilt!
She had let down Keith Quinn’s trust and his last instructions!
Zara Yun struggled for three days and nights. After burying all the heads, she resolutely went to Prince Shawn and agreed to his terms.
On her wedding day, the bridal procession stretched for miles. Tens of thousands of soldiers knelt along the roadside to see Zara Yun off.
Dressed in a bright red wedding gown, Zara Yun left behind the soldiers’ pleas and rode away without hesitation.
Suddenly, Keith Quinn appeared—he had come to see her off.
At that moment, Zara Yun's heart was utterly broken.
On one side was the man she loved. On the other, tens of thousands of soldiers.
Zara Yun had no choice.
Keith Quinn, if there is a next life for us, I swear I will love you with all my heart, to repay you for this lifetime's devotion!
In this life, I have failed you.
In the next life, I will make it up to you.
Zara Yun fiercely whipped her horse and rode away, biting her lip hard. Tears streamed down her face as she left Keith Quinn and the soldiers behind.
"If you’re not here, what’s the point of living? Since you’re getting married, today I’ll use my heart’s blood to send you off! Zara Yun, remember this! You promised me! In our next life, you’ll marry me!" Keith Quinn left these words and stabbed a blade into his own chest. "I’ll wait for you! In the next life, I’ll wait for you!"
Hearing those words, Zara Yun felt her heart shatter.
Brother Keith, if you die, what joy is there left for me in life? What fear is there left of death?
Wait for me. In our next life, let’s find a peaceful world and never leave each other.
Zara Yun was carried into Prince Shawn’s manor and became the Princess Consort of the Great Qing Dynasty.
The moment she put on the Manchu dress, she was nothing but a shell.
Her heart had already left with Keith Quinn.
From the day of the wedding, she never smiled again.
A few years later, she fell ill and never recovered.
Prince Shawn searched the world for famous doctors, but none could cure Zara Yun.
Zara Yun grew weaker day by day. In her last two years, she was bedridden, too frail to even walk.
The once radiant, fearless general who rode proudly into battle was now a shadow of herself, withered and near death.
Prince Shawn was still tall and handsome, and countless women wanted to enter his manor.
But Prince Shawn accepted none of them, sending every one away.
For a time, all of Beijing was abuzz with tales of Prince Shawn’s deep love for his Princess Consort.
But Zara Yun, at the center of it all, only smiled faintly when she heard these rumors, never bothering to explain.
The next spring, when the flowers were in full bloom, Zara Yun could no longer rise from her bed.