Chapter 21 Imperial Marriage 1 I have someone I love.
Crown Prince Xinping declares his intention to vie for the throne.
In order to win over the neutral Li family to his side, he betrothed Princess Xinyue to Li Du, the heir of the Li family.
Sang Ji, the leader of the Imperial Guards, disobeyed the imperial decree and ran away with Princess Xinyuehu, who was unwilling to marry Li Du. Their whereabouts remained unknown for a whole month.
The crown prince was furious and ordered a secret search. Finally, a month later, they found traces of Sang Ji and Princess Xinyuehu.
On that day, the Crown Prince arrived in Yangzhou, accompanied by Li Du, the heir of the Li family, which surprised the prefect of Yangzhou.
But the Crown Prince did not go to the prosperous city of Yangzhou, and he did not even meet with the prefect.
Instead, they marched deep into the wilderness, crossing three mountains and four long rivers, before finally finding a plaque hidden behind a giant rock.
The words "Caocun" are engraved on it.
The village chief of Caocun wore a pair of straw sandals, with his toes exposed and no uppers, made of cattail reeds.
His face was deeply wrinkled, and he knelt on the ground, shouting, "This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Beneath layers of ceremonial banners and prayer flags, a narrow, almond-shaped eye was visible, its depths unfathomable.
On the golden throne, Crown Prince Xinping spoke in a languid, distant voice: "Do you know where Liu Jiao's home is?"
*
Caocun, Liu Jiao's home.
Crown Prince Xinpingyan and Li Du, the heir of the Li family, arrived in front of a small, dilapidated house with a thatched roof.
The prince lifted his robes, dismounted from his ceremonial entourage, pinched his nose in disgust, and walked around the yellow dog wagging its tail at him.
It was noon, and because of the recent summer rain, Liu Jiao, who usually works in the chicken coop and would be collecting eggs at this time, had to go home from the chicken coop because her clothes were covered in mud and water from the rain.
The linen clothes had chicken feathers and mud on them.
It looked messy and impoverished.
Xin Pingyan looked at Liu Jiao, who was oblivious to him and focused on wiping the mud off her body.
But he only glanced at it before looking away impatiently.
There was no other reason than that the woman was too rustic and ugly:
Thick bangs and double ponytails made of homespun cloth strips.
It was filled with a rustic charm.
Is she Liu Jiao?
It's really ugly.
She was just an ugly and vulgar village girl.
Previously, when I sent my subordinates to investigate Sang Ji's experiences in Caocun, they heard rumors that Liu Jiao and Sang Ji were having an affair.
Shinpei was initially skeptical, wondering if it was some story about a beautiful village girl from the mountains.
Now I just think that the people spreading rumors in Caocun are truly blind.
Sang Ji wasn't blind; it was impossible for him to dislike his stunningly beautiful sister, Crescent Moon Fox, and instead prefer this crude and foolish village girl.
Even if you can't see her face clearly, you can tell she's ugly just by looking at her dowdy outfit.
Xinping Yan was also unwilling to look any further.
"Go and call Sang Ji here."
He glanced sideways and gave instructions to Li Du, the heir of the Li family, who was standing behind him.
"You should also try harder to get my sister married to you soon."
"You really have no charm. You forced my sister to run away from her arranged marriage rather than marry you." Xin Pingyan added a sarcastic remark to Li Du at the end, even though Li Du and Xin Yuehu had never met.
Li Du remained calm: "It was my fault. I will now go and summon Sang Ji to welcome Your Highness. Princess, I will also do my utmost."
...
But Li Du only sent his subordinates to summon Sang Ji.
He then went to find Liu Jiao, who had just been disliked by Crown Prince Xinpingyan.
Liu Jiao had already changed into new clothes and was washing her old clothes, which had just been stained with mud and sand, with a wooden basin and washboard.
A few water droplets splashed on her face, making her look lively and spirited.
Li Du resisted the urge to wipe the water droplets off her.
Li Du shouldn't have gone to see Liu Jiao.
He seeks revenge, and the matter involves a great deal.
I should cut ties with Liu Jiao for the rest of my life.
But fate, by a twist of fate, brought him back to Liu Jiao.
Sang Ji and Princess Crescent Fox ended up staying at Liu Jiao's house.
He thought, since I'm already here, I might as well settle things once and for all.
Be cold to her and don't let her get close.
So Li Du put on a sour and cold face.
"Ah...A-Du?!" Just as her thoughts were churning, a clear, girlish voice rang out.
Then, Li Du was embraced tightly.
The woman's familiar temperature and touch made his deliberately cold and hard expression freeze for a moment.
She has grown taller.
But he quickly reverted to his aloof demeanor.
Seeing that Li Du remained silent for a long time, Liu Jiao curiously peeked out:
"What are you doing, bro?"
"After being gone for a year, you've forgotten how to speak?"
"Quick, quick, call her 'sister'!"
Liu Jiao's voice was booming, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
She felt that her younger brother seemed a little slow-witted.
So I took a good look at him:
He still has a slender build, with bones that are faintly visible, and he always carries a crossbow on his back. He's still that handsome young man full of youthful energy who loves bows and arrows.
Li Du was a little boy she picked up when he was about six years old. At that time, he was thin and short, and obviously malnourished.
Liu Jiao felt sorry for him, and since the two of them got along well, she begged her parents to take him in.
He said his name was Jiang Du.
Over the years, we've become like family, and Liu Jiao has the best relationship with him.
But since the year before last, Li Du went to Huajing, supposedly to study at the Li family's private school in Huajing.
From then on, Jiang Du adopted the surname Li and became known as Li Du.
They don't come back even once a year, but they will send trinkets and money.
A crack appeared on Li Du's cold face as he smirked and corrected him:
"Why are you calling me 'sister'? I'm the older brother, you're the younger sister."
Liu Jiao: "What?! I'm the older sister!"
Li Du's expression cracked: "I'm your brother!"
It seemed that he was thinking about how he would have to distance himself from Liu Jiao.
He cleared his throat and maintained his cold demeanor: "Objectively speaking, I'm two years older than you."
Liu Jiao: "But when I found you, you were a head shorter than me."
Li Du: "But now I'm taller than you."
Liu Jiao: "That's because of the difference between a husband and a wife!"
Li Du: "Anyway, I'm just older than you!"
Li Du was furious.
Liu Jiao glared angrily.
The two of them would argue as soon as they met.
With Liu Jiao's interruption, Li Du's idea of making her feel that he was distant and that she would stop thinking about him from then on fell apart.
Li Du sighed, having been pulled into a long chat with Liu Jiao about everyday matters, and could no longer maintain his cold demeanor.
Never mind, we'll talk about it another day.
Before leaving, Li Du gave the following instructions:
"Don't tell anyone I've been here, not even your parents."
Liu Jiao nodded seriously.
*
The timing was the same as Sang Ji had predicted.
Li Du and Crown Prince Xinpingyan indeed arrived no later than today.
Coincidentally, today is also the day the Gu family patriarch goes to the temple.
As long as she gains the support of the Gu family head, the princess will not have to go against her own will to become the crown prince's tool and marry Li Du, the heir of the Li family.
So early this morning, Sang Ji told Crescent Fox to stay in the house and weld the prepared iron door onto it, along with a giant lock and a series of locks.
With multiple layers of defense, as long as Crescent Fox doesn't open the door from the inside and come out on its own, the Crown Prince and Li Du won't be able to get in.
It can prevent it for at least one day.
He only needs one morning to close the deal.
Just in case, he also sent shadow guards to keep watch nearby, so that they could report immediately if anything went wrong.
Afterwards, Sang Ji went out to the temple to meet with the head of the Gu family.
Morning mist, the meditation room is quiet.
Sang Ji first met the confidant of the Gu family head. The confidant had been cornered by Sang Ji at his door a few days ago and was already on Sang Ji's side.
The main reason for this visit to the temple is to meet the head of the Gu family.
The confidant chuckled, "The patriarch is quite satisfied with you and will be here soon. If you meet him this time, with your abilities, you can succeed."
Sang Ji simply thanked him for the compliment.
However, they still waited patiently and respectfully for the head of the Gu family to arrive.
His confidant's face was full of admiration.
Unexpectedly, just as the Gu family patriarch arrived at the temple and the temple became lively, the shadow guard suddenly burst in, urgently reporting:
"Your Highness and Li Du have entered and met the Princess!"
Sang Ji's previously indifferent demeanor, devoid of any hint of impatience, instantly changed.
He frowned deeply, and without the slightest hesitation said, "Let's go."
The confidant exclaimed in alarm, "We were so close! If you leave like this, the patriarch's impression of you will suffer, and he will definitely no longer support you!"
Sang Ji had long since disappeared without a trace.
His confidant sighed deeply.
When Gu Su, the head of the Gu family, entered the meditation room through the east door, he only saw Sang Ji's resolute back as he left through the west door.
Gu Su originally had a good impression of him because he had saved his daughter Liu Jiao several times. Given his own literary talent, Gu Su figured it wasn't unreasonable to break the rule of not taking sides and return the favor.
Who would have thought I'd be stood up like that?
Gu Su scoffed coldly and turned to leave.
My impression of Sang Ji plummeted to the extreme.
Let him lock himself up with the princess he's protecting with his life.
*
The Liu family.
The atmosphere was somber.
The scene was quite different from what Sang Ji had imagined: the Crown Prince and Li Du breaking down the door, blowing up the house, and kidnapping the Crescent Fox.
Crescent Fox sat comfortably in her chair, with pastries and tea laid out in front of her, and there was no sign of the door being broken open.
Beside him, Crown Prince Xinpingyan and Li Du calmly drank tea.
Seeing Sang Ji stunned, Crescent Fox felt a little guilty.
She got up and pulled Sang Ji outside to talk.
Sang Ji then learned the truth.
The prince used both threats and inducements, saying that if Crescent Fox didn't marry, her wealth and status would be in jeopardy, and she wouldn't be able to remain a princess.
On the contrary, marrying Li Du would not only allow her to continue enjoying his favor, but also to continue receiving his protection.
Li Du also solemnly declared that he would absolutely protect the princess and ensure that she continued to live like a princess.
Crescent Fox feared she was no longer a princess and that she would lose her favor.
He ignored Sang Ji's advice that the two should not be allowed to enter and opened the door for Li Du and the Crown Prince.
Sang Ji calmly revealed the truth:
“You and he are siblings from the same mother. Even if he is no longer the crown prince, you still have a chance to be a princess.”
"Your status is already high, and he wouldn't dare to touch you unless absolutely necessary. Why bother hoping for his favor and protection?"
"He's not even emperor yet, and he's already trying to use your marriage to gain power. What will happen when he becomes emperor?"
Crescent Fox couldn't understand.
She could only frantically express her concerns: "Sang Ji...I'm so scared..."
"You mean he won't punish me for running away from the wedding without permission, thinking I'm disobedient? And stop letting me be a princess?"
Sang Ji stared at her for a long time.
But in the end, all he said was, "Don't be afraid, trust me."
"Go back to your room quietly. Don't go to the hall and get involved with the Crown Prince. I'll handle this."
*
When Chen Chi heard from his father that the Crown Prince had come to Liu Jiao's house, he made excuses one moment that he didn't want to eat and had to do his homework, but the next moment he immediately ran to Cao Village to encourage Liu Jiao.
In the small hall of the Liu family's house.
When Chen Chi arrived, Crown Prince Xinping couldn't control his tongue and was mocking Liu Jiao.
It is said that Caocun is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Although it is a small place, it does not produce beautiful women, but it is full of ugly women.
Liu Jiao lowered her head and remained silent as she was scolded. Chen Chi frowned, grabbed Liu Jiao's shoulder unhappily, and pulled her behind him, saying only:
"This humble subject thanks Your Highness on behalf of Jiaojiao, saying that Jiaojiao is a very clever person."
Sang Ji had just returned to the house from outside when he saw Chen Chi protecting Liu Jiao.
His gaze swept across the room briefly, glancing lightly at Chen Chi's hand on Liu Jiao's shoulder without lingering, appearing indifferent.
Upon seeing Sang Ji return, Crown Prince Xinping suddenly launched an attack:
"Your eloping with the princess is a serious crime."
Sang Ji only said:
"It's not for eloping, but for wholeheartedly protecting our Lord."
"How about Your Highness asks the people of Cao Village whether your subject and the princess have ever overstepped their bounds?"
Xin Pingyan's authoritative voice grew even heavier: "Then you still have the suspicion of eloping."
Sang Ji: "I already have someone I love, so how could I have eloped with the princess?"
"Who?" Xin Pingyan's brow twitched.
“Right here.” Sang Ji suddenly walked towards Liu Jiao without warning, taking her away from Chen Chi. “It’s her.”
Liu Jiao was completely stunned when he grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.
he?
Do I like...her?
like……
Xin Pingyan was stunned at first, then pointed at Liu Jiao and burst into unrestrained laughter: "Her? You like someone who looks like that?"
"You'll say anything to save your life."
Chen Chi quickly stepped in to protect her, glancing at Liu Jiao with concern: "Jiaojiao isn't ugly."
Ignoring the laughing prince, Sang Ji went directly to Liu Jiao, standing before her shocked and confused eyes—
He flicked his hand and lifted her thick bangs.
Immediately, a beautiful, delicate face was revealed to everyone.
The prince's sarcastic smile was forced onto his face.
The surroundings were completely silent.
A note from the author:
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The next chapter will feature a marriage decree! [kiss][kiss]
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