He thought this would be his life forever.

She would not marry, would remain in the army forever, and would eventually die on the battlefield or grow old alone at home.

He had never been treated gently, so he never expected it, and he was never moved.

But when he finally got it, he felt a part of himself that was clamoring for more.

"Third Princess, you like to joke, but General Fang is an official of the court, so you shouldn't make fun of him like that." A beautiful and elegant woman walked out from behind the First Princess with a smile.

Her expression was not good. She glanced at Shen Wangshu's face with some apprehension, her expression uncertain, yet she said seemingly jokingly, "Who doesn't know that the Third Princess is most fond of men's gentle charm? It's just a joke to amuse everyone. General Fang is a man after all, how can you make fun of him like that?" She was also dressed in elegant attire; she was the Second Princess.

Her smile froze, and Shen Wangshu's face suddenly darkened.

This guy had even been planning to date her Ah Xuan before.

!

"I never joke about matters of marriage," Shen Wangshu said solemnly to the Empress. "Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"

She repeatedly requested a marriage decree, which caused the court officials to look at her with complicated emotions.

How did the Third Princess end up clashing with Fang Xuan? Could it be that this man, who is as ugly as a woman, has some extraordinary talent?

"This..." The Empress continued to hesitate.

She genuinely disliked Fang Xuan and didn't want Shen Wangshu to feel wronged in the future regarding the marriage.

"Actually, General Fang and I have long been engaged." Seeing the Empress hesitate and avoid her gaze, Shen Wangshu knew that the Empress was unhappy. However, she also knew that if she couldn't get a marriage decree today, Fang Xuan might become a laughingstock. The thought of Fang Xuan fighting alone in the harsh and desolate Northwest made her heart ache terribly.

Those rough calluses and the wounds that were inadvertently exposed on his wrists were proof that he had suffered a lot, so how could she not feel bad?

She wanted to give him a home.

A warm home that belongs only to the two of them.

"What does this mean?" Upon hearing about the lifelong vow, the Empress couldn't help but ask curiously.

Shen Wangshu smiled, then sighed with lingering fear, and said, "As you know, after the banquet yesterday, on my way back to my own palace, the imperial carriage overturned, and I almost fell to the ground. It was General Fang who saved my life in time. Don't you know that old saying? A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body. Therefore, from that day on, I made a promise with General Fang."

The moment she uttered such utter nonsense, she was met with a chorus of boos. Of course, in the imperial court, no one dared to boo her under the Empress's nose, but the disdainful looks she received spoke volumes.

She rescued me and now she wants to repay me with her body? How shameless!

If everyone does this, then everyone might as well just wander the streets, rescue whoever catches their eye, and end up with a beloved husband.

The Empress also twitched her lips as she looked at her daughter, who was smiling smugly in front of her.

He's incredibly stupid when it comes to politics, but he's quite clever when it comes to marriage.

"What do you think, General Fang?" The Empress couldn't persuade her daughter, who was now single-mindedly devoted to him. With a faint smile, she looked warmly at Fang Xuan, who was kneeling on one knee with his head bowed. Seeing that Shen Wangshu would glance at him from time to time, she wondered if her daughter had damaged her brain when the car crashed, and that even her aesthetic sense had changed. She smiled gently and said, "It seems like Prince Luan is only interested in one thing. Don't worry, if you don't like her, I won't force you."

She appeared impartial, showing no intention of disregarding Fang Xuan's feelings simply because Shen Wangshu was her daughter.

However, under the Empress's gaze, which hoped he would "know when to advance and retreat," Fang Xuan couldn't bring himself to refuse.

He knew that the Empress wanted him to refuse the Prince of Luan.

He also felt that such a beautiful and radiant woman deserved an equally virtuous ruler standing beside her.

But the words of refusal stuck in his throat, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

He truly loved his Shushu, no matter how she changed, he loved her terribly. He thought his love was just a mirage, but she truly stepped out of his imagination, smiling, and gave him the same feelings.

.

Fang Xuan's eyes suddenly stung with tears. He knew this was the only time in his life he would be so close to the one he loved, and if he refused, he felt as if he were defiling her love for him. He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, and under the Empress's gentle expression, he whispered, "This humble general... also... admires Prince Luan."

He felt that this was the most willful thing he had ever said in his life.

His tall body trembled as Shen Wangshu met Fang Xuan's gaze, which went straight to him, and felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Seriously... why are they so sentimental? A matriarchal world is a killer!

Fang Xuan's sudden voice caused the Empress's eyes to darken slightly.

She was somewhat displeased with Fang Xuan's feigned ignorance, but when she met the dazzling gaze of her Third Princess who suddenly turned to look at her, she sighed again.

"Mother Queen, our love is mutual!" Shen Wangshu looked at the Empress with the same wary gaze that the Seven Fairies had for the Queen Mother of the West.

Of course, she was also very proud, occasionally brushing off the unseen dust from her body, coughing softly, or adjusting the gold crown on her head, which was inlaid with filigree and rubies the size of sparrow eggs.

She was beaming with pride, looking extremely pleased with herself; if she had a tail, it would be wagging high in the sky.

It was precisely because of this smug look that the Empress favored the Third Princess the most. She looked at her with affection, and although she was somewhat displeased, she still did not want to refute her.

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