"Absolutely not!" the Empress objected. The Crown Prince could not have a woman of a different race as his wife, and her son was even less likely to do so!

Tears welled up in Tazara's eyes, and she suddenly stood up and shouted, "You said when you were in the Southern Territory that you already had someone in your heart! Who is it? Is it because of her that you rejected me?!"

"So what if it is?" The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, his tone even colder. "If I hadn't spent six years in the Southern Territory, I might have already been engaged. Couldn't I have someone I love?"

Consort Zhou was overjoyed upon hearing this, "Heng'er, you have someone you like? Why didn't you say so sooner?! Your mother arranged so many noble ladies for you to meet before, but you refused them all. I never thought you actually had someone you liked?"

She pleaded with the Emperor, "Your Majesty, it's rare that Heng'er has someone he admires. Please grant him a marriage!"

Emperor Shunqing chuckled, "Yes, your mother has been worrying herself sick over your marriage, dragging me along every day to help her choose a noble lady. Tell me, which family's daughter do you favor? As long as she is of good character and has a flawless reputation, I will make the decision for you!"

At this moment, the Crown Prince looked towards Su Youran.

Su Youran was focused on eating when she noticed someone looking at her. She looked up and found herself face to face with the Crown Prince.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, the next moment, the Crown Prince stood up with a smile on his face, "The person I admire is Su Youran, the Princess of Fengle County of the Duke of Pingguo's Mansion."

Su Youran paused, her cheeks puffed out, and the chopsticks she was holding fell to the ground, hitting the plate with a crisp "clink".

Did she mishear?

Or did the sun rise in the west?

Madam Su quickly gave an awkward laugh, "Oh dear, what are you saying? My You Ran has barely even met the Crown Prince a few times, how could you be talking about...having feelings for him?"

The Crown Prince's lips curled into a smile, making his thin, bright red lips appear even more alluring. "I do indeed admire her and wish to marry her. I beg Your Majesty's permission."

Just then, the Third Prince returned after cleaning up. He had just stepped into the main hall when he heard the Crown Prince say those words. He assumed that the "she" the Crown Prince was referring to was Princess Nanyue. He didn't know where he got the courage, but he stepped forward and knelt down next to Tazana. "Father, I also admire her and wish to marry her. Please grant me your permission."

The Empress was furious upon hearing this, her face contorted with rage. "Yan'er, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

The Third Prince, Chu Yan, said to the Empress, "Mother, I do indeed admire her. Now that I have left the palace to establish my own residence, it is time for me to be married! Please grant my wish!"

Everyone assumed that the Third Prince was referring to "Su Youran," and they couldn't help but look at him sideways.

Emperor Shunqing's face darkened slightly. In any case, his two sons were the two most noble unmarried young men in the Great Zhou Dynasty. If word got out that they had both taken a liking to the same woman, what would become of the Great Zhou royal family's reputation?

Madam Su hadn't expected the situation to escalate like this, so she quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine, please forgive me. My daughter, Your Highness You Ran, is only thirteen years old this year. She is still young and has two years until she comes of age. How could we bear to betroth her so early? Please, Your Highnesses, spare Your Highness."

Seeing that Madam Su had knelt out, Su Youran had no choice but to kneel down beside her mother as well, bowing her head and not daring to speak.

Chu Yan was taken aback. Why was the Crown Prince referring to Su Youran? Not the Princess of Nanyue?

He was about to defend himself, but how could the empress, who had seen through his intentions long ago, allow him to correct her?

The Empress immediately intervened, turning the tables and saying, "Yan'er, the Duchess is right. The county princess is still young, how can she be talking about marriage? You have only recently left the palace to establish your own household, your marriage will be arranged by your mother!"

As he spoke, his tone grew increasingly stern, and Chu Yan dared not utter another word.

Crown Prince Chu Heng said, "The county princess will be of marriageable age in two years. I don't mind arranging a marriage with her first, and then we can get married after she comes of age."

Madam Su felt cold sweat pouring down her forehead. She glanced at her daughter and kowtowed again. "My daughter is young and dares not delay His Highness the Crown Prince. If the royal heir is harmed, it will not only be my daughter's fault, but also the fault of the Duke's mansion."

Seeing that Emperor Shunqing looked unwell, Consort Zhou gently advised, "Since the child is still young, we can talk about it again in a couple of years."

Emperor Shunqing waved his hand, and the matter was considered closed.

Consort Zhou hurriedly instructed, "Lady of the Duke and Princess, please don't be frightened by my son. Please return to your seats quickly."

After saying that, she glared fiercely at the Crown Prince.

Chu Heng watched Su Youran's figure return to her seat, his gaze gentle.

Tazana glared at Su Youran, her lungs practically bursting with rage. She had thought she was the main character, but instead of being accepted by her shameless marriage proposal, Su Youran had become the object of desire for the two most distinguished unmarried men in the Great Zhou!

How can this be?

She's the main character!

She winked at a maid beside her.

The maid immediately brought the tray over.

Tazana gestured for her to present the tray to the Emperor. "Your Majesty," she said, "Tazana offers the Dinghai Glass Pearl, a treasure of Southern Yue, as a dowry, seeking only to marry His Highness the Crown Prince. This pearl is the size of a fist, perfectly round, transparent, and flawless—a priceless treasure!"

Su Youran almost couldn't help but laugh.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the glass bead that I casually took out from the bracelet's space had become the Dinghai Glass Bead, a treasure of Southern Yue, that she spoke of?

It seems that the nine-section whip isn't anything special or rare.

However, in this ancient era of purely handmade production, it was indeed rare to be able to make such a perfectly spherical, completely transparent glass bead without a single bubble, and the size of a fist. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is priceless today.

But if some time goes by, things might not be so sure.

So when she promised to give it to Tazana, she didn't feel any heartache at all.

Many officials and women peered out to look, exclaiming in amazement, "It is indeed a huge glass bead, and its quality is excellent. It is probably priceless."

"Tsk tsk, judging by its translucency, it seems to be a top-quality glass bead!"

"No wonder it's considered a treasure of Southern Yue! I wonder if it glows at night?"

"You blind fool! That glowing thing is a luminous pearl, not a glass bead!"

“Your Highness, in our Southern Yue Kingdom, there is a tradition that if the woman offers a large sum of money as a betrothal gift, the man can marry her without paying a single penny.” Tazana looked at Chu Heng with intense eyes.

"Let alone a single pearl, even ten cities in Southern Yue wouldn't catch my eye. Besides, if I truly wanted to marry someone, I would have to offer a grand betrothal gift. Am I the kind of person who can't afford a betrothal gift?" Chu Heng said coldly. "Wasn't I clear just now? If you truly want to repay my kindness, then don't marry me."

"Pfft—" The group of noble ladies burst out laughing.

A woman said, "Princess of Nanyue, the Crown Prince's meaning is very clear. If you insist on marrying him, then you are repaying kindness with enmity!"

Tazana's face turned pale and then flushed.

Prince Tazaxi of the Southern Yue Kingdom advised, "Fifth Sister, come back first."

He stood up and walked to the center of the hall, saying to Emperor Shunqing, “Your Majesty, my fifth sister had no ulterior motives. First, if our two countries could form a marriage alliance, it would benefit both the country and its people. Second, if things had gone well, our peace talks tomorrow would have been more amicable. Now that it has not come to pass, it is the will of Heaven. My fifth sister had no ill intentions, and I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

After saying that, he forcibly pulled Tazana back to her seat.

Tazana sat down, feeling resentful.

...