“This…” Zuan and Pei Mianman exchanged a glance. Come to think of it, the plan seemed alright.

Regardless of blood relations, the children of the Sancai (three-color glazed pottery) family, raised by her, would undoubtedly be pro-Shang at heart. If this continued for several generations, the Zhou people might actually have submitted to the Shang Dynasty. There are many such successful cases in history.

This trial isn't real history, so it might actually be a way to turn the tide and allow them to pass the trial.

Sancai said with a grin, "Alright, alright, I'm not talking to you anymore, I have a lot of things to do." Then she skipped away.

Watching her departing figure, Pei Mianman sighed softly: "It's all because we didn't deliberately avoid her when we were young, so she overheard too many of our conversations and subconsciously regarded Zhou as Shang's greatest enemy. That's why she volunteered to go for the marriage alliance this time."

"I hope everything goes well." In the end, Zu'an did not stop her. In his opinion, even if they failed this trial and he and Pei Mianman died, it would not affect Sancai becoming the founding mother of the Zhou Dynasty. For her, it might not be a bad thing.

Not long after, the messenger came to report that the Zhou people had agreed to the marriage alliance, and the newly appointed Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, went to the banks of the Wei River to welcome the bride.

The merchants didn't refuse, after all, they had just tricked the previous Marquis of Xibo into coming to Yindu and killing him. If they insisted on sending Ji Chang to Yindu again, who would dare to come?

So they sent people to escort Princess Sancai to the Wei River. Zu An volunteered to go and escort her, and Pei Mianman disguised herself and hid among the attendants.

They arrived at the banks of the Wei River. In those days, there were certainly no bridges across the Wei River, but little did they know that Ji Chang had made preparations in advance.

Zu'an saw boats connected to each other on the Wei River, and he was filled with emotion. This must be the first pontoon bridge in history.

Upon meeting Ji Chang, one finds him to be refined, cultured, and handsome, exuding an air of extraordinary talent.

Zuan even had an impulse: if he killed this gravedigger of the Shang Dynasty at this moment, would it change history?

However, he eventually gave up the idea. Putting aside the fact that the Zhou people had layers of guards and whether they could kill him, even if they did, it would truly be a fight to the death with the Zhou.

If the Huaiyi people in the east launched a large-scale invasion and the Zhou people in the west also came to retaliate in anger, the Shang Dynasty would probably have perished even faster than in history.

Some unpleasant things happened during the wedding procession. It was clear that many Zhou people were dissatisfied with this marriage alliance. Some of the people who were sent to pick fruit returned with empty baskets and made sarcastic remarks, implying that the Shang princess was destined to be childless.

In addition, when the Zhou people prepared their meals, they deliberately did not bleed the sheep, making the mutton extremely fishy and unpalatable.

Zu'an was furious, and Ji Chang hurriedly came out to apologize. He even had a song composed to apologize to Sancai: "Guan Guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river. A fair maiden, a gentleman's good match..." Then he gave this marriage a name, "A Match Made in Heaven".

Hearing this, Sancai smiled broadly, and the look in his eyes softened. Even the people from the other Shang Kingdoms turned from anger to joy.

Zuan looked strange. He never expected that the most famous passage in the Book of Songs was written for his sister. He had to admit that Ji Chang was good-looking, and with this kind of flirting with girls using poetry, he really was a scumbag.

He was naturally not going to be fooled by the other party's poem, but he knew that if he challenged him now and acted impulsively, he would suffer the consequences later. So he had no choice but to suppress his anger and make peace with him.

During a break in the banquet, Sancai quietly approached Zu'an and said with a smile, "My dear brother, are you still sulking?"

Zuan sighed softly, "It feels like I've watched a beautiful cabbage grow up, only to have it snatched up by another man. How can I be happy about that?"

Sancai snorted: "You're describing your relationship with your sister. If Father knew, he would probably feel the same way."

Zuan: "..."

Pei Mianman, who was eavesdropping from the side: "..."

"Alright, I'm leaving now," Sancai said with a grin. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me, brother?"

Zuan said in a deep voice, "Sancai, after our recent contact, putting aside our hostile stances and being objective, Ji Chang is also a remarkable person. You don't need to keep thinking about helping the Shang Kingdom. Just live your life with him peacefully and don't let things here affect your happiness."

Sancai pouted: "Is that all you've told me?"

After saying that, he turned and left, clearly somewhat dissatisfied.

However, she eventually turned around and whispered, "I didn't fall for that Ji Chang at all. I just did it on purpose to show him. Don't worry, I will always be the princess of the Shang Dynasty. I know my mission."

After saying that, he ran off in a flash.

Zuan and Pei Mianman sighed inwardly. The little girl who used to play in the mud has really grown up. It's a pity that she's so sensible.

...

The next day, the wedding procession departed with the three-colored jewels, and no matter how reluctant Zu'an and Pei Mianman were, they could only return to Yindu.

Next, they will have to help their "father" fight against the invading Huaiyi tribes from the east.

Having experienced various wars and state affairs in their previous lives, Zu'an and Pei Mianman were quite adept at doing these things again.

However, the two soon realized that the Shang Dynasty indeed had many problems. Its national strength was not as good as before, its bureaucratic system was corrupt, and Zu'an was hampered in many ways when it came to logistics.

Pei Mianman also realized that the army's combat effectiveness was far inferior to that of the invincible army of the Wu Ding Dynasty.

The two could only do their best, feeling like they could only be paperhangers, trying their best to keep the country afloat.

During this period, Sancai would occasionally correspond with them, chatting about everyday things, some about married life, some about the customs and culture of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and some about their longing for their hometown.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!