However, after the Tuotuo people entered Dayan, some unpleasant news gradually began to circulate.

The Tuotuo people wanted to marry the princess.

This time, it was the second and third princes of Tuotuo who came.

They wanted to arrange for the second prince to marry Princess Dayan.

The eldest prince is twenty years old this year and is not married yet.

When this news came, the harem was in an uproar.

The older princesses were quite frightened. The second princess was already fifteen this year, and with the New Year approaching, she would be sixteen. She would be able to get married anytime soon.

The third princess is still young, but Lady Luo is afraid of her.

The person I fear most is, of course, the late Emperor's Consort Xu, the one I mentioned before, Xu Lingyi. Her daughter is already sixteen. She'll be seventeen by the New Year.

Thus, Yan Nangui, amidst his busy schedule, met Xia Cairen.

By this time, it was already the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Upon seeing Yan Nangui, Consort Xia knelt down: "Your Majesty, I beg you... I beg you to persuade His Majesty not to marry the Second Princess to the Tuotuo people..."

"When did His Majesty say he would marry the Second Princess to them?" Yan Nangui frowned.

"Although it wasn't said, but... but... it's true that the Tuotuo people want to marry the princess. Now, the only ones of similar age are the late emperor's twelfth princess and... and my second princess. I... I'm not good. I've fallen out of favor these past years and have burdened the children. What if..." Xia Cairen's tears fell.

Even if she had ulterior motives, her daughter was her own flesh and blood. How could she bear to part with her?

"I'm the only one who heard that. If His Majesty heard it, you'd be moved to the Cold Palace immediately. You may not be anything special, but your daughter is His Majesty's own flesh and blood. Can he be so heartless?" Yan Nangui sneered.

"Your Majesty... Yes, it's my fault. I was just worried and confused. I was really scared," Xia Cairen cried.

"Get up. Don't beg me. His Majesty won't send your daughter for a political marriage. Dayan isn't a weak country. It hasn't been at war with Tuotuo for many years. A political marriage is impossible. To tell you the truth, if the eldest princess hadn't been so reckless, daring to dabble in witchcraft, she wouldn't have been married off so young. Your daughter should just wait obediently for His Majesty to choose a suitable person. Go back now," Yan Nangui said.

Xia Cairen was somewhat puzzled.

"What? You asked me to plead with His Majesty for you, and now that I've told you, you still don't believe me?" Yan Nangui had been busy these past few days and was in a bad mood, so she exploded.

"No, no, no, I believe you, thank you Your Highness." Consort Xia was startled and quickly stood up: "Then I thank Your Highness for your guidance, and I will not disturb you any longer."

As soon as she left, Yan Nangui called Shuanzi over: "Go and tell the Dowager that there is no need to worry about the marriage alliance, it is impossible for it to happen."

Shuanzi responded and went to the back to relay the message.

Jiangxiang asked doubtfully, "If His Majesty really intends to choose a woman from the imperial family, is he going to do so?"

"What a load of rubbish. If he really just wanted a moment of comfort or a good diplomatic image to send a princess to Tuotuo, then what would have happened to my father guarding Daiyang Pass for half his life?" Yan Nangui sneered, "Want to marry a princess? He's dreaming. Even if they sent their princess over, His Majesty wouldn't want her."

"Yes." Jiangxiang nodded with a smile.

"Go call someone, I'm so busy," Yan Nangui said irritably.

The Tuotuo people arrived on the 28th. This year there is no 30th; the 29th is New Year's Eve.

Therefore, this year's state banquet was scheduled for New Year's Eve, and all civil and military officials went to the palace to attend the banquet.

It was the first state banquet since the empress was established, and it was also to welcome the envoys from Tuotuo.

The Tuotuo people's attire is somewhat similar to that of the Gangong and Menghaijiang people; they are a composite of both.

They didn't tie their hair up, and they didn't look fierce, but they were generally tall and burly.

Living on the grasslands involves a lot of physical activity and a different diet. They eat meat and drink milk from a young age, so it's not surprising that they grow taller.

Since the guests were members of the royal family, they weren't particularly slovenly.

Their attire was different from that of the Dayan Dynasty, and compared to the people of the Dayan Dynasty, their clothes looked rather shabby.

When the state banquet began, the Tuotuo people had not yet taken their seats.

After His Majesty and the Empress Dowager took their seats, Tuotuo came to pay his respects.

However, they perform their own traditional greetings and do not kneel.

The attitude was polite.

The second and third princes, along with several ministers—though called ministers, they all resembled warriors and appeared capable of fighting—all possessed the skills to fight.

Their Dayan dialect wasn't very standard, but it was still understandable.

"You've come from afar, and it just so happens to coincide with the New Year. We people of Dayan value the New Year very much. It's fate," said Shu Chengfeng.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. We have come from afar. Tuotuo is bitterly cold and we have nothing of value. We have only brought some cattle and sheep, some hides, and a hundred fine horses." The second prince stood up. "We Tuotuo people have great admiration for Dayan, so our father sent us here to discuss future trade with Your Majesty."

Xu Xiang chuckled and said, "I wonder what specialties Tuotuo has? Our Dayan is so vast, I really don't know what you like in a short time."

Let's not even mention the boastfulness in those words.

The Tuotuo people are easy to talk to, so they just smiled and didn't take it seriously.

They were having a very pleasant conversation. Apparently, what they wanted was cotton, cloth, sugar, and grain.

They had cattle, sheep, horses, and gold.

“You’re new here, and today is New Year’s Eve, so let’s not talk about that. I’ve heard that you Tuotuo people are all good drinkers, so drink this cup to the brim first,” said Shu Chengfeng.

The second and third princes both raised their glasses, and their attitudes were quite polite.

The three adult princes naturally drank with them and also urged them to drink.

There were no women in the group of Tuotuo people.

However, they still had to say a few words to the Empress.

Even when returning south, the wild geese were not afraid of a few barbarians, and naturally responded fluently, acting as if they were high above others.

All the officials were very satisfied. Putting aside everything else, the Empress's demeanor alone was a great source of pride.

The ministers were extremely satisfied, and His Majesty was even more pleased.

After several rounds of drinks and everyone had finished their banter, the second prince finally proposed to the princess.

"I have often heard that the women of the Dayan Dynasty are dignified and beautiful, truly exceptional. Seeing Her Majesty the Empress today, I can attest to that. The princesses must be just like Her Majesty the Empress. I aspire to be like her. Today, I specifically request Your Majesty of Dayan to grant me a marriage. I am twenty years old this year and have not yet married. I am born to the Grand Consort, and my elder brother passed away many years ago. In the future, I will inherit the throne."

"Has the Second Prince had too much to drink?" Yan Nangui asked, looking over.

"How could that be? I may not be very talented, but I can hold my liquor quite well."

"That is, you didn't understand the family relationships in our Dayan Dynasty before you came. My maternal family name is Yan. My father is Yan Lingyun, the general stationed at Daiyang Pass. My elder brother is Yan Nanxu, the one sitting opposite you."

Yan Nangui stood up, and someone quickly lifted her overly long skirt.

"I am His Majesty's Empress, the legal mother of the princes and princesses. My father, however, personally killed your uncle. How can this marriage be arranged?"