marriage alliance

Since the Crown Prince moved into the Eastern Palace, Li Yunye had never entered the palace again. Out of sight, out of mind, he spent his leisure time drinking tea and reading books, living a comfortable life. But today, Wen Yunsheng dragged him out onto the street. "Sigh, you usually look like a scholar, thin and weak, how come you have so much energy?" Li Yunye walked behind Wen Yunsheng. After all, Wen Yunsheng's eyesight was poor, and if he got lost, although Wen Yunsheng could find his way back, Li Yunye felt that returning in his own way would be too conspicuous. Rather than that, it was better to keep a close eye on him. "I have a lot of energy? No need to praise me like that," Wen Yunsheng turned around, covering his mouth with his folding fan, and chuckled, "It's just that I don't have as many worries as Brother Yunye!" "With your restless and anxious mind, you'll never find a handsome young lady or gentleman, and you might even be childless!" Li Yunye was annoyed by Wen Yunsheng's irritating manner. He grabbed Wen Yunsheng's collar, wanting to get angry but feeling it was pointless, yet feeling stifled if he didn't. "Wen Yunsheng, get rid of that smug look of yours. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking just because you have your eyes closed. Also, call me Your Highness outside." Wen Yunsheng smiled and patted Li Yunye's hand, signaling him to let go. Seeing that Li Yunye didn't react, he shrugged and said, "Hey..." "Oh dear, why the rush? Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. Your Highness is magnanimous; you will surely have thirty million beauties in your harem and over a hundred sons in the future." Wen Yunsheng's words had barely finished when a commotion arose in the street. He was about to ask what was happening when Li Yunye pulled him back a dozen steps by the arm. Then, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard. "My lords, the post station is ready. Our Crown Prince has also said he wishes to welcome you with the highest honors. Tomorrow morning, I will come to escort you to the palace to share a banquet with His Highness." Wen Yunsheng tugged at Li Yunye's sleeve. With his sleeves tucked behind his folding fan, Wen Yunsheng whispered, "What's going on? Has a foreign delegation come to pay their respects?" Li Yunye calmly observed everything before him, oblivious to Wen Yunsheng's question. Thinking of how the Crown Prince had spent so much on this luxurious inn for the delegation, while his own mother might not even have enough clothes to wear, a surge of anger rose within Li Yunye. He turned to leave but found Wen Yunsheng still holding onto his clothes. Wen Yunsheng, sensing the unusual atmosphere beside him, said, "If I were you, I would stand here and watch the whole thing."

"Why?" Li Yunye was somewhat puzzled. This was the first time Wen Yunsheng had used an educational tone to lecture him since he had been in Xiling for so long. "Your Highness, don't you want to see why your brother was able to become the Crown Prince? Although the Emperor doesn't like the Crown Prince, it's true that the court officials support him. If Your Highness really wants to replace Li Yunrui as Crown Prince in the future, shouldn't you learn from his actions now?" This lecture left Li Yunye bewildered. "You...you weren't that concerned about the succession struggle, were you? Why are you suddenly so concerned..."

"Mainly, I don't want to see you so unambitious. If you end up just paying lip service to the succession struggle, that wouldn't be fun. Of course, if you think I'm doing this for your own good, I won't stop you." Wen Yunsheng then released Li Yunye's sleeve, turned, and bowed to him, saying, "Your Highness, the throne isn't something you can just casually mention. Some things, if you don't fight for them, will naturally never fall into your hands. Although I'm not interested in status or wealth, if you're truly determined to seize the throne, I certainly won't stand idly by." Wen Yunsheng opened his half-closed eyes and stared at Li Yunye for a while, then reverted to his usual nonchalant and irritating demeanor. "Your Highness, please enjoy your time. I'll head back now."

Although he said he was leaving, Wen Yunsheng didn't go far. He simply found a spot in the crowd where Li Yunye couldn't see him and stood there. "Sister, I'd like to ask you something." The woman standing next to Wen Yunsheng blushed slightly when she heard him call her "sister." "Ask, ask, ask whatever you want, I'll tell you everything." "Um..." Wen Yunsheng scratched his head, opened his eyes, and said, "My eyesight isn't very good, but I like to join in the fun. Could you please tell me what's going on up ahead?"

"Oh, what a pity. He's clearly a fine young man," the woman said, looking at Wen Yunsheng's light gray eyes with a hint of pity. "The post station ahead is for Pu Yuan's envoy."

"Pu Yuan's delegation?" Wen Yunsheng, having lived this long, was surprised to learn that Pu Yuan would actually send a delegation to Yan Yun in such a humble manner. "I've always heard that Pu Yuan and Yan Yun are at odds... How come now..." "Sigh, who knows!" The woman, carrying a vegetable basket, stood on tiptoe, trying to see clearly. "How could we common folk know so much about the affairs of the officials? But I heard that Pu Yuan brought quite a lot this time, with tribute alone filling more than a dozen carriages. It seems he's quite sincere this time!" Wen Yunsheng chuckled in agreement. "Is that so! Oh, I'm sorry, sister, I have to go back now. I just finished talking to my..." "The dog's lost. If I can't find it before we get home, I'll get scolded." Before turning around, Wen Yunsheng opened his eyes and looked at the blurry post station and the shoving crowd. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, then muttered seriously, "How interesting. Heaven always seems to favor me, always developing in the direction I like." Wen Yunsheng squinted and groped his way to a less crowded area, intending to wait for Li Yunye to come out. Pu Yuan's mission to Xiling this time probably had another purpose. Wen Yunsheng didn't know about other things, but the matter between Pu Yuan and Yan Yun had been discussed a lot by his family back then. How could such a hatred between family and country be so easily let go? Even if he was living in fear at the Mo residence, afraid that Yan Yun would cross Mu Xi to attack Pu Yuan, there was no need for such fawning. Could it be...? There was some conspiracy involved, like murder or framing someone? Wen Yunsheng couldn't help but laugh out loud at this thought. He really dared to think that way. It's a pity I forgot to ask who the envoy was, but it doesn't matter; things are often more interesting when you don't know. Wow, I didn't expect Xiling to be such an interesting place; I'm really looking forward to it more and more.

After Wen Yunsheng finished speaking, Li Yunye felt that it made a lot of sense, and he patiently watched until the end. Once the officials returned to the palace and the crowd dispersed, Li Yunye was about to go back when he turned around and saw Wen Yunsheng leaning against the wall behind him. "Didn't you say you left early? Why are you still here?" Wen Yunsheng didn't even need to open his eyes to confirm; he knew Li Yunye was back. He pointed to his eyes. "I couldn't go back! I was just waiting for you, but you've been here so long. My legs are numb." Li Yunye helplessly tugged at Wen Yunsheng's sleeve and complained, "Your legs are numb? My legs are sore! Didn't you tell me to take a good look around and learn something? Now it's my fault. Besides, you have bad eyesight, not blindness. I have to come back to the manor. I really don't know if I brought back an ancestor."

"Hahahaha!" Wen Yunsheng suddenly stopped, clutching his stomach and laughing loudly. Finally, perhaps from laughing too hard, he leaned against the wall, panting heavily. "I thought it was something serious! You actually believed that? I'm so sorry, I was just teasing you! I was just saying it casually, I didn't expect you to take it seriously. Your Highness is so naive! Tsk tsk tsk, what will you do if this becomes a succession struggle?" Li Yunye felt he could barely contain his anger. He released Wen Yunsheng's sleeve and turned to leave, but after a few steps, he realized that sending someone to find him would be even more troublesome, so he turned back. "Wen Yunsheng, I'll settle the score with you later, you're really going to drive me crazy!"

Walking behind Li Yunye, Wen Yunsheng casually asked, "I heard he's an envoy from Puyuan! That's quite rare!" Seeing that Li Yunye ignored him, Wen Yunsheng didn't care and continued, "Hmm... don't you think it's interesting? Did you see who was leading the way today?" But Li Yunye was already ignoring him, so Wen Yunsheng dropped the subject. "Sigh, how boring! Your Highness, no girl will like you like this. The royal family's descendants are truly worrisome!"

"Wen Yunsheng, if you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all..."

The next morning, Fu Ming'an and his entourage received a summons from the Crown Prince. Before entering the palace, Fu Ming'an instructed his attendants, "Once we're at the palace banquet, don't interrupt. Negotiations between two countries are of great importance. You are not envoys; if you say anything that slips up, it will be a huge loss. If we ruin the plan, we might face the execution of our entire families back in Puyuan." These attendants had served Fu Ming'an since childhood, so they naturally obeyed his every word. "Also, find some time to infiltrate the inner palace and try to contact Miss Rong Ji."

Li Yunrui had indeed put a lot of thought into this palace banquet, serving a full eighteen dishes at each table.

"Exquisite Jade Snow Dumplings, Ling Mushroom and Old Duck Soup with Ginger, Bamboo Shoots with Shredded Thousand-Layer Pigeon..." Looking at the dishes slowly being served, Fu Ming'an looked up at Li Yunrui, who was sitting in the seat of honor. Today, Li Yunrui was wearing a black long robe with embroidered cloud patterns, exuding nobility and majesty. "As expected of a great nation, even the palace banquets are so elaborate." Fu Ming'an cupped his hands in greeting. "During this mission to Yan and Yun, I never expected that the King would be resting outside, and the Crown Prince would be handling state affairs. We have taken the liberty of coming here. I wonder if we have disturbed you or caused you any trouble?" Although Fu Ming'an did not say it outright, he was subtly criticizing the King for neglecting state affairs and the Crown Prince for taking over the government too early and not yet being able to hold power. Li Yunrui frowned upon hearing this. Although displeased, he refrained from showing it out of consideration for the relationship between the two countries and could only say, "There's no trouble. Although my father is not here, there are some things I can handle. For example, I drafted the tribute items for return. Although Puyuan is small, this delegation has shown great sincerity, and I will naturally not neglect them."

"Your Highness means... if there are some things you can still decide for yourself," Fu Ming'an stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed deeply. "I believe you also know that I have come here today to discuss the relationship between our two countries. Since ancient times, when our two countries are on good terms, blood ties are paramount. I humbly request Your Highness to approve the marriage alliance between our two countries and marry Princess Yanyun to Puyuan!"