Lian Jiucheng's good mood was now completely ruined, and he couldn't understand why Xi Jing had acted so quickly.

"I've heard that the Ninth Princess of Nanyang is a chosen one, and whoever possesses her will possess the world."

"snort……"

Lian Jiucheng curled the corners of his lips, naturally disbelieving such rumors: "There's such a thing?"

“Xijing…”

[During this period, I've been busy dealing with the families of Prince Ji and Prince Kuan, so I haven't had time to consider Western Chu, Northern Liang, and Loulan.]

"Any news from Beiliang and Loulan?"

After pondering for a moment, Lian Jiucheng asked.

"I remember that there is a prince in Beiliang who has reached the right age, and Loulan previously married a princess to Nanyang."

The messenger shook his head: "There's no news from Beiliang or Loulan."

"Oh, but..."

"However, I have heard that Baili Yingfeng has not taken any new concubines into the palace after all these years. Moreover, it seems that he has only been to Yiqin Palace, which is inhabited by people from Hongxiu Kingdom."

Lian Jiucheng recalled, those memories were somewhat distant: "The Kingdom of Red Sleeves..."

"The late Empress Baili Yingfeng was from Hongxiu Kingdom. It is said that the one currently residing in Yiqin Palace looks very similar to the late Empress."

Lian Jiucheng nodded. He didn't care whether Baili Yingfeng had found a substitute or not. As long as he didn't have any designs on his son Baili Mingwen marrying Yun Duoduo, that was fine.

"We can't worry about that now. If the Emperor of Nanyang really marries Duoduo to Xijing, then we'll be in big trouble."

"Moreover, there are now rumors that marrying Duoduo will bring you the world."

"If Xi Jing really marries Duo Duo, I'm afraid the morale of the Shu army will collapse."

Lian Jiucheng clenched his fists. Although he didn't believe these rumors, they would have a great impact on the morale of the soldiers.

"Send a message to the Emperor of Nanyang, saying that the Crown Prince of Shu is seeking to marry the Ninth Princess of Nanyang, offering her the title of future Empress!"

Lian Jiucheng instructed his men to send a message: if Yun Duoduo could marry into the family, it would be a boost to Nanyang's strength.

"Yes, Your Highness is wise. I will take care of it immediately."

The man left with his head down and immediately sent someone to deliver the message urgently.

...

Inside the Yiqin Hall of the Imperial Palace within the territory of Northern Liang.

Miao Nanyan was looking at the portraits of the young ladies from the Northern Liang family, carefully examining their family backgrounds and ages, and selecting the portraits of those with outstanding appearances and qualities.

Now, Baili Mingwen is nineteen years old, but he doesn't even have a maidservant in his room. His mother is very worried about him.

"Your Highness, if His Highness knew that Your Highness was choosing a wife for him here, he would definitely be anxious again!" Xiangling said from the side.

Every time he heard that Miao Nanyan was choosing maids and concubines for him, his face would turn bright red.

Because of this matter, I haven't been to Yiqin Palace for several days now.

“Yes!” Yun Jin nodded in agreement.

"However, it is truly rare to see someone of Your Highness's age, full of vigor and vitality, who is not in a hurry to have concubines or maids!"

Xiangling and Yunjin were maids who came to Beiliang with Miao Nanyan as part of her dowry. Naturally, their relationship was better than that of the other palace maids in Yiqin Palace, and they didn't hold back when saying hurtful things.

Upon hearing this, Miao Nanyan's heart sank.

[Could the inscription indicate a hidden ailment?]

As a female healer, she hadn't noticed anything unusual on a regular basis. When Mingwen came next time, she would have to take the opportunity to check his pulse. If there was a problem, she would have to treat him as soon as possible.

"Think back to more than ten years ago, when I first met Mingwen, he was only five years old. Now he's grown up so much, even taller than me!"

Miao Nanyan smiled and put down the portrait in her hand.

"Yes, Your Majesty, time really flies."

“We’ve been in this palace for over a decade now.” Yun Jin looked out the window, a sudden pang of melancholy creeping over her.

"Having seen so many portraits, I still think the Ninth Princess of Nanyang is the best."

Miao Nanyan pushed the portrait aside and rubbed her eyes.

"Your Majesty, the Ninth Princess of Nanyang is someone you met at a banquet more than ten years ago. So many years have passed, yet Your Majesty still remembers her!"

Yun Jin couldn't understand why her master was so obsessed with that little girl.

What makes the Ninth Princess of Nanyang so special?

"That little girl, who was so small back then, must have grown into a beautiful young lady by now."

Miao Nanyang tried to recall Yun Duoduo's appearance, but too much time had passed and she could no longer remember what Yun Duoduo looked like.

However, she knew that the child was special. Back then, she had deliberately led her back and let her bump into the Third Prince, thus curing the Third Prince's Gu poison.

Such a meticulous girl, if Mingwen were to marry her, the harem would surely be managed exceptionally well.

"If you think about it, Mingwen is only about five years older than her, so their ages are quite suitable."

Miao Nanyan thought that Yun Duoduo would soon be of marriageable age, and wondered if she had asked about marriage arrangements.

"Does Your Highness intend for His Highness to be married off to a foreign ruler?"

Xiangling looked at Miao Nanyan in surprise.

"That depends on His Majesty's decision."

Miao Nanyan bit her lip. Although she meant it, she was not Baili Mingwen's biological mother after all, and there were some things she couldn't control.

"Your Majesty, the King's favor towards you is nothing more than a matter of a few words," Yun Jin said jokingly, giving Xiang Ling a wink.

"That's right! These days, our King comes to Yiqin Palace every few days!" Xiangling said, covering her mouth and laughing.

Miao Nanyan didn't speak, but she felt very bitter inside.

She knew that Baili Yingfeng had always treated her as a substitute, and even when he slept next to her, he would occasionally call out her older sister Miao Nanchen's name at night.

Moreover, given how many times they had been intimate, why didn't she get pregnant?

Because the incense in Yiqin Palace contains musk.

She knew all of this.

And he didn't seem to mind that he knew.

This must be the king's intention.

[They won't let me get pregnant, only then will they think I'll be good to Mingwen.]

But actually, the inscription is my sister's child, how could I not care about him?

As the master and servants were chatting and laughing, footsteps came from outside Yiqin Palace.

"Your Majesty? Greetings, Your Majesty!"

When the palace maids and eunuchs in Yiqin Palace saw Baili Yingfeng suddenly appear, they quickly knelt down to pay their respects.

Yun Jin and Xiang Ling were quite surprised. The King usually came to Yiqin Palace in the evening, and it was not even noon yet. His arrival today was very sudden.

"You may all leave."

Baili Yingfeng's tone was icy, and Miao Nanyan felt that something was off.

"Your Majesty..."

"Get out, all of you!"

Baili Yingfeng roared, scaring the palace maids and eunuchs into scrambling out and closing the doors and windows.

What's wrong with Baili Yingfeng today?