Chapter 199 [VIP]

Oh.

Duoleng let out a cold laugh, then slammed his fist on the table in anger: "Does Daqi want to trick my Liang warriors into dying?"

"Are you still playing tricks on me, Da Liang!?"

"Of course not."

Duke Cheng'en waved his hand repeatedly: "Your Highness, perhaps... perhaps he went to change his clothes."

He gave an excuse that even he himself didn't believe, which earned him a series of cold laughs from Duo Leng.

Ji Nanke, who had been sitting silently in the corner, suddenly spoke up: "I'll go take a look."

She left the private room, looked around, and saw him going downstairs. She hurriedly chased after him and caught up with him in the lobby.

Ji Nanke pulled him along and led him towards the courtyard behind Tianxi Tower.

The small building wasn't finished yet, and there weren't many guests in the courtyard. Ji Nanke quietly accompanied him for a while, then cautiously asked, "Your Highness, are you unwilling?"

Xie Jing stood in the pavilion by the water, watching the koi carp wagging their tails in the pond. He sighed and said, "Ke'er, Liang is a barbarian kingdom, and it has a long-standing feud with Da Qi. They are not of our kind. Why would barbarians be so kind as to help Father? Duo Leng must have much bigger plans."

How can we still be considering whether Xiliang is barbarian at this point?

“Your Highness, it’s a bit premature for you to worry that Xiliang has ulterior motives. How many people are in the entire wedding procession? Duoleng is in Daqi. Even if he wanted to transfer troops from Xiliang, there’s the General of the Western Frontier blocking his way.”

She said slowly, "If we're talking about scheming, Princess Jiaye did tell me about it."

Xie Jing looked at her.

Ke'er is popular, she always has been, and everyone gets along well with her. Only Gu Zhizhuo dislikes her because of himself.

“Prince Duoleng is not the biological son of King Liang. By blood, he can only be considered King Liang’s brother. King Liang is very wary of him. Princess Jiaye also said that Duoleng’s help to you and the Emperor is also for his own benefit. Once you ascend the throne, he also wants to take advantage of the power of the Great Qi Dynasty to seize the throne from King Liang.”

"If both parties have ulterior motives, how can it be said that he intentionally used you or plotted something sinister?"

Xie Jing pondered for a moment and did not refute.

That makes some sense.

Ji Nanke's words eased some of his unease.

That's true.

This time, the Liang Kingdom sent a bride with only three thousand people, and it is absolutely impossible for them to take advantage of the chaos to overthrow the Great Qi Kingdom.

As for the future, once the Emperor has purged the treacherous officials, whether to fight or make peace will depend on whether the Liang Kingdom knows what's good for them.

Ultimately, if peace is possible, who would choose war?

War means death. Who would willingly throw their life away?!

His father had told him that the northern frontier had been plagued by constant warfare for years, resulting in countless deaths and exhausting the nation's resources. This was because the Gu family had seized power and wealth through war.

"Moreover, I have also heard that the General of the Western Frontier has been ordered to press the Liang Kingdom step by step and repeatedly wage war. Whether it is Princess Jiaye's marriage alliance or the cooperation between the Crown Prince and you, it is actually for the sake of good relations between the two countries."

Xie Jing nodded silently.

When I went there myself, I also discovered that the western border was heavily guarded by troops, and Liang people were not allowed to set foot there.

Xie Yingchen had been a hostage in Liang for many years and must have suffered countless humiliations. He harbored ill will towards Liang and was fond of war.

The Emperor said that what the Great Qi Dynasty needs is to recuperate and rebuild.

Only when the Great Qi Dynasty is handed over to us in the future will we have enough foundation to usher in a golden age.

I am doing this for the Great Revelation!

Xie Jing leaned against the railing of the boudoir, gripping it tightly with both hands.

He repeated to himself: Yes. Everything I have done is for the Great Revelation.

"Your Highness."

Ji Nanke tilted her head slightly, her seductive voice echoing in my ear: "Do you want the Crown Prince to always be in charge? You don't want to see Gu Zhizhuo..."

Do you regret it?

When Ji Nanke mentioned the name "Gu Zhizhuo," her tone was complicated. However, Xie Jing did not notice. He subconsciously followed her gaze and landed on the second floor of Tianxi Building. Through the open window, he could vaguely see that beautiful figure.

A flicker of resentment and jealousy crossed Ji Nanke's eyes. Having learned her lesson, she said without revealing a trace of it, "I used to think that Gu Zhizhuo insisted on breaking off the engagement with you because he misunderstood me. But is that really the case...?"

"Your Highness, she was actually doing it for the Crown Prince."

“She abandoned you and chose someone else who could help her ascend to the throne.”

Xie Jing recalled the day Xie Yingchen returned to the capital, when he personally witnessed Gu Zhizhuo escorting Xie Yingchen to the palace gate.

The two of them had a very pleasant conversation.

After that, Gu Zhizhuo ignored her and conspired with Xie Yingchen to break off their engagement, while she wholeheartedly supported Xie Yingchen.

Don't you want her to regret it?

As Ji Nanke said this, she felt a pang of sadness and nervously clenched her handkerchief.

She wanted to hear him say that he didn't care whether she regretted it or not, but what she heard was just one word—

"good."

So, Xie Jing had indeed been thinking about Gu Zhizhuo all along.

Because you can't get it?

Ji Nanke felt heavy-hearted and very sad.

She easily replaced Gu Zhizhuo, so why was she still inferior to Gu Zhizhuo in the end?

Ji Nanke recalled his sharp, wolf-like eyes, shivered, and took his arm, saying, "Let's go back."

Xie Jing: "..."

He reluctantly let Ji Nanke pull him back to the private room.

As soon as the door was opened, a cold snort came from Duo Leng.

"Your Highness," the Duke of Cheng'en quickly winked at him, exclaiming dramatically, "You've returned from changing your clothes!"

Xie Jing did not respond; he walked to the octagonal table.

He thought of his father, the emperor, who was blind and under house arrest in Hanzhang Palace.

I also thought of my mother, helpless, being forcibly taken away from the palace banquet that day...

Xie Jing closed his eyes.

The late emperor passed the throne to the father emperor, who was ordained by Heaven and was the rightful heir.

Xie Yingchen is the treacherous one. Xie Yingchen is the one in the wrong!

He picked up the dagger, slashed his wrist, and blood dripped down the blade into the wine, mingling with the crimson liquid.

With trembling hands, he picked up the large bowl, the wine spilling onto the back of his hand.

The wine and blood were mixed together.

Xie Jing drank it down in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned my mouth and throat, causing a fiery pain. A thin layer of sweat immediately broke out on my body, and the back of my neck was damp with sweat. It was extremely uncomfortable.

*Smack*

He slammed the half-empty bowl down, pushed it in front of Duo Leng, and wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth.

The strong liquor hit his head, and he staggered, leaning against the octagonal table.

"good!"

Duo Leng slapped the table and began to praise.

"As expected of my brother-in-law, who is so versatile."

He picked up the bowl and drank the remaining half in one gulp.

The Duke of Cheng'en finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "From now on, the Great Qi and the Great Liang are inextricably linked by blood!"

He personally helped Xie Jing sit down. Xie Jing couldn't hold his liquor; after just one bowl, he felt dizzy and was still swaying when he left.

Xie Jing originally lived in the palace. On the day of the palace banquet, after the emperor conferred upon him the title of Prince Rui, he also bestowed upon him a princely mansion. This mansion had once been the emperor's residence before he was a prince. It was repaired every year and had everything he needed. Xie Jing had already moved out of the palace two days in advance.

With the wedding approaching, the Prince's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and large red lanterns were hung in front of the gate.

Xie Jing's wedding was arranged in a hurry, and it was also a marriage alliance. There was no precedent in the Great Qi Dynasty for a princess from a foreign country to be married off. The Ministry of Rites could only search through the Book of Rites and historical materials from previous dynasties, and they were extremely busy.

Although Liang Kingdom did not adhere to the elaborate dowry tradition of Da Qi, it still provided a dowry of 10,000 cattle and sheep and 10,000 taels of gold. According to Da Qi's customs, the dowry list was personally delivered by Duo Leng the day before, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Rites and Liang Kingdom's vassal states.

However, since the emperor was "ill," the medicine could only be delivered to Xie Yingchen's desk.

"Grandson." Duo Leng circled the main hall where Xie Yingchen was staying in Wenyuan Pavilion, pulled up a round-backed chair and sat down in front of him. "We've known each other in Xiliang for six years."

Xie Yingchen laughed and said, "Seventy-three lashes. I and the eldest prince are indeed on good terms."

The Liang Kingdom revered martial prowess.

Xie Yingchen was sickly and weak, an abandoned son of the Great Qi and a hostage of the Great Liang, so of course everyone could bully him.

Duoleng met his gaze.

Xie Yingchen was a heartless bastard. When he had a hard time in Liang Kingdom, he plotted to incite him to fight his father and his elder brother, the king and his son, to kill each other, staining the entire capital with blood. Then he plotted to kill his elder brother...

I only lashed him a few times, and he actually counted them?!

After a moment, he suddenly laughed and said, "...There is a saying in Daqi: 'Don't dwell on the past.' From now on, you and I are family. If you ever come to Liang again, I, the prince, will certainly treat you well. I'm sure I can help you forget those seventy-three lashes as soon as possible."

Xie Yingchen's voice was unhurried: "Your Highness is very kind."

That's it. After this one test, Duoleng has completely given up hope.

Xie Yingchen is cunning and vengeful, and his mind is full of twists and turns. It's still reassuring to cooperate with a fool like him.

"This is the dowry of my Great Liang princess."

Duo Leng handed over the dowry list, which Xie Yingchen accepted on behalf of Daqi. He said some polite words such as "May there be no more war between the two countries" before handing it over to the Ministry of Rites to proceed with the wedding ceremony.

"Your Highness, I have one more matter to report."

"explain."

Minister of Rites Fan Heng reported to Duo Leng: "It concerns the wedding ceremony. I would like to request that the eldest princess escort Princess Jia Ye to her wedding."

This is a custom of the Great Qi Dynasty.

The bride is accompanied by her married sisters, who live together from the day before the wedding until the ceremony is completed.

If no one accompanies the bride, it is considered unlucky.

Generally, they are sisters from the same mother's family, or cousins, or at the very least, sisters from the husband's family.

Jia Ye did not bring her sisters to the capital, and Xie Jing only had one elder sister, the eldest princess, who was already married.

However, since the eldest princess is under house arrest, Xie Yingchen needs to make an exception and agree.

"Then let the eldest princess go."

Fan Heng bowed and agreed.

Everything was handled by the Ministry of Rites according to the established procedures. Xie Yingchen did not interfere. Fan Heng asked for proper reporting of everything, and he couldn't help but think about his own wedding.

Thinking back to her own grand wedding, she couldn't help but feel that Xie Jing's wedding was far too simple. If it were her...

We can't let Yaoyao suffer like this.

Xie Yingchen's eyes were gentle, as if they could drip water.

Multifaceted: ?

can't read.

Stepping out of Wenyuan Pavilion, Duoleng stood on the high stone steps, looking eastward at the palace he had only visited once. Its glazed tiles reflected a golden brilliance in the sunlight, exuding extravagance and inspiring longing.

"Your Highness, please."

Fan Heng then hurried to the Prince Rui's residence, where he explained the wedding ceremony to Xie Jing in detail once again, and personally walked the wedding route once more.

The third prince was the first prince to have a grand wedding since the emperor ascended the throne, and the Prince Rui's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and was extremely lively.

Xie Jing tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Before dawn, officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court had already arrived at the Prince Rui's residence and the meeting hall where the Liang people were staying.

Wedding invitations were sent throughout the capital, and the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion was no exception. However, only Gu Zhizhuo and his sister attended the banquet.

For the Dowager Madam, Gu Zhizhuo's coming-of-age ceremony is still the most important. She has been preparing for the ceremony for three whole months, and now that the day is approaching, everything needs to be checked again.

She had to stay in the manor to keep an eye on things, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease.

Before leaving, the old lady repeatedly instructed, "Neither of you are allowed to drink alcohol, no matter who tries to persuade you."

"Also, you are not allowed to argue with anyone."

"Especially you, Zhuo'er, you're not allowed to fight with anyone, do you hear me? If you get hurt anywhere, you won't be able to dress up properly when you come of age, and you won't be pretty."

Gu Zhizhuo: ?

She got into a fight at someone else's wedding? Hmm. Grandma is overthinking it.

"Madam," the head maid announced, "the osmanthus blossoms have been picked, please take a look..."

The old lady said that she would pick fresh osmanthus flowers to make flower curtains to replace incense.

So that when she comes of age, the smoke from the incense won't be too strong and will block her eyes.

"Hurry up."

Gu Zhizhuo tugged at Gu Yican, and the siblings quickly ran away.

The streets were bustling with activity, and many people were waiting to distribute lucky money.

Gu Yican accompanied her in the carriage, laughing and joking all the way. Gu Yican was fiddling with the tassels on his sister's beaded hairpin when the coachman outside suddenly reported, "Your Highness, ahead is the procession from Prince Rui's mansion going to welcome the bride."

"Excuse me."

"yes."

Gu Zhizhuo lifted the carriage curtain and saw Xie Jing riding a tall horse past the carriage, followed by the sound of gongs and drums.

It was as if the scene of Xie Jing marrying Ji Nanke in his previous life had overlapped with the scene of Xie Jing marrying Ji Nanke.

It was nowhere near as grand as in the previous life.

There was no longer the elaborate wedding procession of ten miles of red bridal makeup paved for Ji Nanke with the blood and flesh of the Gu family in her previous life.

They arrived at Prince Rui's mansion not long after, and the bridal sedan chair also entered the gate.

Gu Zhizhuo did not go to the front to watch the ceremony. The continuous sound of firecrackers and the announcements from the Ministry of Rites could be heard clearly even in the backyard. Before long, the wedding ceremony was over.

Several familiar noble ladies chuckled and pulled Gu Zhizhuo along, saying, "Let's go take a look. I've never seen the Princess of Xiliang before. Have you seen her, Miss Gu?"

Gu Zhizhuo followed quickly and lightly.

"Does the Princess of Xiliang play polo? We happen to be short one person."

"No, no, you're cheating. Girls from Xiliang are all born on horseback."

“Sister Gu,” Song Jiuniang said softly, taking her arm, “would you like to take me in as your medicine apprentice? My grandfather said your medicine is very effective. He now eats it three times a day and has gained a lot of weight. His lower abdomen doesn’t hurt at all anymore.”

“I will teach you how to make medicinal wine. Your grandfather can have a small cup when he craves alcohol.”

Song Jiuniang nuzzled against her affectionately: "Sister Gu, you're so kind. Jiuniang likes you the most!"

As they were talking, they arrived at the main courtyard.

The nuptial wine had been finished, and apart from the eldest princess, only a few princesses from the imperial clan were present in the bridal chamber.

The place became lively as soon as the noble ladies arrived.

After being imprisoned for nearly half a year, the once glamorous Princess Zhaoyang had lost her former beauty and charm. Her back was hunched and her face showed no joy.

The noble ladies didn't dare to speak to the eldest princess. After seeing Jia Ye's appearance, they smiled and praised her a few times before making an excuse to slip away.

The banquet started at noon and ended at the end of the day.

The food was quite delicious. Gu Zhizhuo was about to wait for Gu Yican when someone called him back as he passed through the hanging flower gate.

"Miss Gu."

Gu Zhizhuo's ears twitched, but he ignored it.

"Miss Gu!"

Her voice rose a notch, and Gu Zhizhuo continued walking forward on her own.

Suddenly, her brow twitched. Looking through the partition wall of the hanging flower gate, her gaze pierced through the dense woods. In the distance, Gu Zhizhuo saw Xie Jing escorting Princess Zhaoyang out. They arrived at a carriage, and then boarded it one after the other.

A note from the author: