"Is that what you mean?" The Emperor's tone was somewhat impatient.

If Dongchen is willing to send troops to help, they will surely win this battle. However, if Dongchen sides with Beiming, Xifeng may not be able to survive.

Nangong Jin lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment.

The Emperor assumed that Dongchen was planning to join forces with Beiming to annex Xifeng. He closed his eyes in sorrow, and was about to say that he would rather risk his old life than let Xifeng perish in his hands when Nangong Jin's helpless voice came through.

"Dongchen said that sending troops is not impossible, but our princess needs to go there for a marriage alliance."

As for the person he was to marry, he had no idea that it would be Sang Jiang.

Firstly, Luo Ying is still young, and secondly, he had always seen how the two brothers, Long Jingchen and Long Jingyu, treated Sang Jiang when he was in Dongchen.

Sang Jiang had just returned to Xifeng. He was truly heartbroken that his sister, whom he had just found, would be sacrificed because of a political marriage. So when he heard the news, he immediately refused.

The Emperor was unaware of Long Jingchen and Long Jingyu's feelings for Sang Jiang. He looked at Nangong Jin and hesitated before speaking, "Luo Ying is still too young... I'm afraid..."

Nangong Jin glanced at him and shook her head slightly: "I'm afraid what they want isn't Luo Ying."

"Jiang'er?" The Emperor suddenly raised his head: "I don't want to!"

Nangong Jin: "I have already refused."

At the same time, outside Qixiang Hall, the palace maid of Consort Shu, who was delivering snacks to the Emperor, overheard the conversation. She paused for two seconds, then turned around and strode into Consort Shu's palace with the snacks in her hand.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!" Lili shouted as she walked into the room.

Consort Shu was doing her nails when she heard this and immediately pulled her hand back: "What's wrong! You're the one who's wrong! I'm perfectly fine! What kind of unlucky things are you saying? Slap yourself!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lili knelt down on the ground, holding a snack in one hand and slapping herself in the face with the other.

Consort Shu glanced at the pastries in her hand, and the little flame in her heart burned even brighter: "Can't you even do such a small thing right?"

Upon hearing this, Lili remembered that she had something to say. She put down her snacks and kowtowed to Consort Shu: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This servant really has something to say!"

Consort Shu glanced at her disdainfully and said, "Speak."

Lili is usually a composed person, so it's surprising that she's so anxious right now. I'm curious what could be so important.

Lili looked up at Consort Shu: "Your Majesty, when I was passing by His Majesty's study just now, I heard His Majesty say that he wants our princess to go and marry a foreign ruler."

"What!" Consort Shu was so flustered that the nail polish she was applying to Consort Shu slipped and smeared onto her hand.

She slapped the maid across the face: "Useless trash! Get out of here!"

The young palace maid quickly knelt down, kowtowed to her, and hurriedly retreated.

"Did you listen carefully?" Consort Shu frowned and looked at Lili.

Lili nodded: "This servant can guarantee that this is absolutely true, Your Majesty. This servant also heard the Crown Prince say that Dongchen is fond of Princess Mingyue, but the Emperor intends for our Princess Luoying to go instead."

"Why!" Consort Shu raised an eyebrow and shouted angrily, "Sang Jiang is a princess, a golden branch and jade leaf, but I, Ni Chang, am not? No! I can't let this happen! If anyone is to go for a political marriage, it should be Sang Jiang! Why should I, Luo Ying, go? Whether it's based on age or whether it's a legitimate or illegitimate child, it's not my turn, Luo Ying!"

She pursed her lips in anger, and after a long while, she looked at Lili and said, "Go and call Luoying here..."