"Your Highness, you're going back tomorrow? Then I'll go back with you!"

On the way back to Loulan City from Puchanghai, Sharde looked resentful.

She thought Liu Wei would stay in Loulan for a while longer, at least to hold the grand ceremony to marry her.

The prince of the Han Dynasty, under the anticipation and watchful eyes of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Loulan, will marry the princess of Loulan as his concubine. That will be the most glorious moment in the history of the Loulan Kingdom.

This ceremony will also be inscribed on a monument, making it unforgettable for all time.

However, she hadn't even spent a day with Liu Wei when she heard that he was leaving for Hetao the next day, which naturally displeased her.

"The war in Loulan City has resumed, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. They need you, Princess, to stay here to reassure them and keep order."

"In addition, the agricultural reclamation and construction in Loulan, the potash fertilizer project in Puchanghai, and so on, all require your assistance and cooperation in leading the people of Loulan."

“I don’t trust anyone else to handle these important matters.”

Liu Wei naturally noticed that Sharde was upset, so he solemnly said, "The ceremony of my marriage to you is not only for the people of Loulan to see, but also for the entire Western Regions to know."

"When General Xue drives the Xianbei people out of the Pamir Mountains and wins the hearts of the Western Regions, I will have their kings come to Loulan to witness the ceremony!"

"At most half a year, at least three months, I believe General Xue will not be gone for long."

"My little princess, are you willing to wait for that day?"

Upon hearing this, Shard was immediately much happier.

To marry a prince of the Han Dynasty in front of all the kings of the Western Regions would be an immense honor and source of pride.

"Then...then so be it, Your Highness. I will await the day Your Highness arrives!"

Sharde's eyes were filled with longing.

Upon returning to Loulan City, the group was warmly welcomed by the people lining the streets.

When the people of Loulan saw their princess riding alongside the prince of the Han Dynasty, they all stepped forward to offer their blessings.

Afterwards, Shard took his leave and left with White Stone and other guards to discuss matters with the old king.

"The prince is leaving tomorrow? He's going back to Luoyang?"

Wei Liao, who was recuperating on a couch, was chatting with Man Ji.

Upon hearing from Shard, who had come to visit him, that Liu Wei was leaving the next day, he struggled to get up and asked, "Did he mention your marriage?"

“He said that once General Xue has pacified the Western Regions, he will hold a grand ceremony and invite all the kings of the Western Regions to attend!” Shard replied.

"Oh, silly child, the Western Regions are thousands of miles away from the Central Plains. If he goes like this, who knows when he will return, or perhaps he will never return!"

Wei Liao shook his head and sighed, "Loulan has us old guys around. Go and beg the prince to take you with him."

“The prince… he wouldn’t lie to me. He said he would come to marry me, and he will!” Shard said, but her heart wavered.

"The King of Yunzhong is a prince. I heard that he has two concubines in the Hetao region, but no principal wife!"

Manji, who was familiar with Han Chinese culture and customs, chimed in, "Although our princess is a Western Region barbarian, she may not be able to become the principal wife when she marries the prince, but she should be able to be a concubine."

The lieutenant frowned: "Old brother, what do you mean?"

"Please excuse yourself, Princess!" Manji said.

After Shard walked outside, completely bewildered, Manji said, "The King of Clouds has suddenly returned to the capital; something big must have happened."

"When I was young, I met a wandering Taoist priest and learned some skills in reading people's faces and physiognomy."

"The King of Clouds possesses a faint, rich imperial aura; it's hard to predict whether he might even become the supreme ruler. However, my brother, you must make sure Shard seizes this opportunity!"

"Therefore, the sooner the princess and the King of Yunzhong are united, the more we can preserve Loulan's position in the Western Regions."

Wei Liao's eyes widened, then he sighed and said, "You heard it too, the prince said he'll come back to marry Sharde later, what can we do?"

Manji smiled mysteriously: "He hasn't left yet tonight, has he? If Sharde is favored by him tonight and leaves behind a child, then regardless of whether the prince returns in the future, our Loulan will have a royal heir!"

"Will His Highness...will he let Shard serve him in bed tonight?"

“He is young and vigorous, full of youthful energy. If Shard takes the initiative, things will fall into place naturally!” Manji said.

“Excellent! I’ll have my wife persuade Shard a bit, and while she’s at it, teach him some servant skills so he’ll win him over in one fell swoop!”

Wei Liao nodded. Tonight, his daughter's favor with Liu Wei was crucial to the future of Loulan, so he naturally attached great importance to it and had to have his wife guide their daughter.

“I also have a miraculous medicine given to me by a Kushan merchant, which is said to be able to make men…” Manji added.

......

Upon returning to his residence, Liu Wei immediately summoned Shen Lian, the commander of the Imperial Guard, the auxiliary military officer, and others to discuss their journey back to Hetao.

The king's palace in the city naturally became Liu Wei's temporary residence.

The construction corps of 20,000 men in Loulan was also established at the same time, and they would set up camp at the Peacock River the next day, under the direct command of Xue Rengui, the Protector-General of the Western Regions.

Of course, Xue Rengui was determined to carry out military operations to pursue the remnants of the Yuchi Xianbei army and teach a lesson to the series of small countries along the northern and southern routes of the Silk Road as soon as possible, using the strategy of driving away tigers.

As for Loulan City, only one thousand soldiers were to be retained to be responsible for daily security and the protection of important officials such as the king, princesses, and officials.

After a brief discussion, someone reported that Chen Ji had arrived.

Chen Ji was forcibly detained by Liu Wei for the five reasons of the assassination attempt. At the same time, Liu Wei also wanted to bring Chen Qun to serve Liu Wei, so that both father and son would serve Liu Wei.

Chen Ji was initially resistant, but his views gradually changed after Xue Rengui led him to a great victory over the Xianbei people at Juyan Lake.

During his convalescence in Juyan City, he gradually learned about Liu Wei's actions in the Hetao region and was greatly amazed.

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