Rebirth of the Princess Pearl

In Baoyue Tower, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. Ali Hezhuo looked at Hanxiang, who was sitting on the ground in despair, and felt distressed and angry. He frowned and said loudly: "Hanxiang, do you know how much effort our Hui people put in to form an alliance with the Qing emperor? It was not easy along the way. We went through so many hardships and dangers and sacrificed so much hard work of our people to get this hard-won peace! But you are making such a scene here now. What on earth do you want to do?"

Hanxiang raised her tear-stained face, her eyes revealing stubbornness and pain, and she choked up and said, "Father, I don't want this to happen either, but Meng Dan and I truly love each other. We grew up together, and our love has long been deeply rooted in our hearts. How can I just separate from him like this? Asking me to give up this relationship is like digging out a piece of flesh from my heart. Can you understand the pain?"

Ali Hezhuo was so angry that he paced back and forth in the room, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing. He said excitedly: "Can I understand? Of course I understand! But have you ever thought about it? If because of your incident, the Qing emperor has a grudge against our Hui people, or even takes actions that are not beneficial to our Hui people, how will the people of other tribes look at us? They have been eyeing us covetously, hoping that we will make some mistakes so that they can take the opportunity to cause trouble! If your willfulness leads to another war, once the war breaks out, it will be our Hui people who will suffer! Those innocent people will lose their homes, be displaced, and suffer from the war. Hanxiang, can you bear to watch our people suffer such hardships because of you? Do you think you can be at ease? Ah?"

Hanxiang cried and retorted, "Father, I know that what you said is very important. I also understand that as a princess, I shoulder the hope and responsibility of the Hui people. However, the feelings between Mengdan and I cannot be let go just like that! We once galloped on the grassland together and made vows under the starry sky together. Our love is so pure and sincere. Do I have to sacrifice my lifelong happiness for this so-called alliance? I will not accept this! I am also a person, and I have the right to pursue my own happiness!"

Ali Hezhuo stopped and pointed at Hanxiang, his fingers trembling slightly. He said with great sorrow: "Hanxiang, how can you be so ignorant! You are a princess, and the responsibilities you shoulder are far more important than your personal feelings! Your happiness is important, but compared with the stability of the entire Hui people and the peace between the two countries, what does it matter? If you really run away with Mengdan for your own selfish desires, the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty will certainly vent his anger on our Hui people. By then, we will be in an irretrievable situation! Our people will suffer a devastating disaster, and all the efforts we have made for the alliance will be in vain. Have you thought about this consequence? Humph!"

Hanxiang covered her face in despair, her body trembling constantly, and she cried, "Father, I know I shouldn't be so willful, but I really can't let go of Mengdan. When I think about being separated from him for the rest of my life, my heart hurts like it's being cut by a knife! Every time I look out the window in this palace, my mind is filled with Mengdan's figure. I miss him so much that I'm going crazy. Is there no other way? Is there no way to fulfill our relationship and maintain the relationship between the Hui people and the Qing Dynasty?"

Ali Hezhuo sighed helplessly, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes, but it was soon replaced by determination. He said: "Hanxiang, there is no other way! Just give up this idea, stay in this palace and fulfill your responsibilities for our Hui people. This is what you should do! Don't think about Mengdan anymore, just think of it as doing it for the people of our Hui people and for those tribesmen who have sacrificed for peace, okay? You must know that your every move is related to the fate of the entire Hui people!"

Hanxiang just kept shaking her head, tears falling from her fingers, and she murmured, "I can't do it, father, I really can't do it... I feel like a bird trapped in a cage, I have lost my freedom and the person I love most. What's the meaning of my life?"

Seeing Hanxiang being so stubborn, Ali Hezhuo became furious again. He shouted, "Hanxiang, stop being so childish! Do you think I want to see you suffer like this? I am doing this for your own good and for the good of the Hui people! If you continue to be so stubborn, don't blame me for being rude! I will never allow you to ruin the future of the entire Hui people because of your personal feelings!"

Hanxiang raised her head, her red and swollen eyes filled with despair and pleading. She cried and said, "Father, are you really so cruel? Can't you think of another way? I beg you, please let Mengdan and I go. We will be careful and will not bring any trouble to the Hui people. Please..."

Ali Hezhuo turned his back and did not look at Hanxiang's pitiful appearance. He said coldly: "Humph! Impossible! Don't have any more illusions. From now on, you stay in the palace honestly and serve the Emperor of Qing well. This is your fate, accept it!"

In another palace of the imperial palace, the emperor was also upset about this matter. He sat on the dragon throne, frowned and said to himself: "Alas, this matter of Hanxiang and Ali Hezhuo is really a headache! On the one hand, there is Hanxiang's deep love, and I can't bear to see her in such pain; on the other hand, there is the relationship between the two countries. If this is not handled properly, I am afraid it will really cause a big mess! What should I do?"

At this time, the eunuch who had been serving beside him said softly: "Your Majesty, why don't you have a good talk with Ali Hezhuo? See if you can come up with a solution that will satisfy both parties?"

The emperor glared at the eunuch and said, "Huh! Talk? How can that be easy? Ali Hezhuo is very tough and only wants Hanxiang to stay in the palace to maintain the so-called alliance and peace. But I can't just watch Hanxiang suffer for the rest of her life, can I? This is really difficult to do!"

The eunuch lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this matter is indeed difficult, but we can only think of a solution slowly.

In the palace, Xiaoyanzi and others were anxiously waiting for news from the palace.

Xiaoyanzi paced back and forth in the room, saying anxiously, "Oh, I don't know what the situation is like in the palace now! With the arrival of Ali Khoja, things will become even more troublesome for Concubine Xiang! Humph!"

Yongqi sat aside, frowning and said, "Yes, Xiaoyanzi, this matter is becoming more and more complicated. We were thinking about how to convince the emperor to let Concubine Xiang return to Huijiang, but now it seems that it is even more difficult!"

Ziwei said softly: "We can't just sit there and wait. We have to think of a way to see if we can help Concubine Xiang again."

Ertai also agreed, "Ziwei is right, but what can we do in this situation? Go directly to the palace to argue with the emperor? That will definitely not work, it will only make things worse!"

Zhihua said, "Don't worry, maybe things will turn around. Let's see what the situation is, and then discuss what to do next when we have definite news."

Nan'er blinked her big eyes and said, "Mother, Father, Concubine Xiang is so pitiful. How could her father treat her like this? I really want to help her."

Xiaoyanzi touched Nan'er's head and said, "Nan'er, we all want to help Concubine Xiang, but now the matter is too complicated. We have to be careful."