"Now that the King of Northern Mongolia has chosen a princess for the marriage alliance, don't forget to take her with you when you leave."
The emperor's gaze swept across the Seventh Princess's despairing face, filled with deep disappointment.
As a royal princess, it's fine to be a little willful, but being stupid... that's really a sign of being spoiled.
The Seventh Princess could not believe it.
She collapsed to the ground, forgetting even to cry, and let the old woman drag her away.
The King of Northern Meng didn't care about the Seventh Princess's fate. His gaze passed through the menacing Jiang Jingtian and landed on the Fourth Princess behind him. Suddenly, an impulse to snatch her away surged in his heart.
Surprisingly, he did not nod after hearing the emperor's words.
The marriage alliance was merely a tactic negotiated by the Northern Mongol Kingdom; all they wanted was the emperor's princess—any princess would do, but…
For some reason, after meeting this fourth princess...
He suddenly had a feeling that it was her.
Even though it was his first time meeting her, he felt that this fourth princess should be his woman, so he opened his mouth to ask for her hand in marriage.
Who knew—
He looked up and met those staring eyes again. Those eyes were like deep black jade, seemingly filled with endless disdain and mockery, as if they were certain that he would break the contract.
The King of Northern Mongolia gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his angry gaze burning like flames.
If he speaks up now, wouldn't he be giving the other party what they want?
She's just a woman.
There's nothing that would make him break his promise.
Seeing that the King of Northern Mongolia did not refuse, the envoy immediately agreed loudly, "Then thank you very much, Your Majesty!"
The decision was final.
The marriage of the seventh princess to the Northern Mongols has been arranged.
The concubines in the palace were secretly delighted; this scourge had finally been sent away, and their princess was now safe.
Prince An, or rather, Prince An, knelt there blankly.
With a single glance from the Empress, Princess Consort An immediately understood and stepped forward to pull him up, bowing and taking her leave.
Princess Consort An was the daughter of a military general. She grabbed Prince An's arm with more force than usual and quickened her pace. To outsiders, Prince An looked like a chicken about to be slaughtered, being grabbed by the neck and angrily dragged away.
Prince An was indeed filled with anger, for he had committed countless foolish acts over the years.
If it weren't for her family and the Empress's constant efforts to clean up the mess, she probably would have been dead long ago. It's better that she's imprisoned now, to prevent her from continuing to embarrass herself in public.
She never coveted that position; being stuck with a fool like Prince An was fate, and she had to accept it.
To become a wealthy princess would be the best outcome, but a county princess... that would be fine too.
so……
Princess An decided that, for the sake of her own life, she had to keep a close watch on him. After all, she was still a princess, and if she let him continue to cause trouble, she would probably only face confinement, exile, and execution.
She realized that the Empress no longer had absolute power in the harem.
He's not even my biological son.
Regardless of which prince ascends the throne, she will always be the Empress Dowager.
really.
The departure of the Seventh Princess and Prince An did not elicit much of a reaction from the Empress; she maintained her dignified smile.
When she noticed the emperor's gaze, she immediately adopted a considerate and gentle demeanor. "It's late, Your Majesty. Shouldn't you rest early? Your Consort is pregnant, and must be even more tired today. Does Your Majesty intend to go and keep her company tonight?"
Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed in the Emperor's eyes: "Since the Empress cares so much about the Consort, then I shall go and keep her company tonight."
The first and fifteenth of each lunar month are the days for visiting the Empress's palace.
The Empress smiled dignifiedly, "Your Majesty, I am also worried about my younger sister, the Noble Consort. Why don't I accompany Your Majesty to Qixiang Palace to visit her?"
"Very good."
The emperor nodded in approval.
"Father, Jiaojiao is still in Qixiang Palace. Your son will go to fetch her."
Prince Li Yan slowly spoke.
The emperor nodded, his eyes filled with satisfaction. He had chosen a very good princess for his seventh son.
Luo Shier's eyes lit up, and she was about to speak up and go with them when the Fourth Princess grabbed her arm. "Come back with me, I'm scared."
Consort Mei added, "Yang'er trusts you the most. She was frightened today. Would you stay in the palace and keep her company?"
Luo Shier looked at the pale-faced Fourth Princess and nodded helplessly.
He said to General Weiyuan, "Father, I'll stay with my fourth sister for a few days. Please remember to tell Mother."
"Go."
General Weiyuan nodded.
Luo Twelve and the Fourth Princess were getting along well, and he had stayed in the palace to accompany her more than once or twice.
Moreover, the Fourth Princess was truly frightened today.
Who would have thought that the King of Northern Meng and the Seventh Princess would have a secret rendezvous in the Imperial Garden, and even dragged the Fourth Princess into it? What is the King of Northern Meng planning?
Jiang Jingtian stared fiercely at the King of Beimeng, like a lion whose territory had been invaded. It seemed that if the King of Beimeng dared to take another step forward, he would pounce on him and fight him to the death.
The King of Northern Mongolia showed no fear whatsoever, looking at Jiang Jingtian defiantly with a contemptuous smile on his lips.
At this tense moment, General Weiyuan stepped forward.
Fearing that the two would fight again, he said to the King of Northern Mongolia, "This general will have someone escort the King of Northern Mongolia out of the palace."
When the Northern Mongol King faced General Weiyuan, he had come to his senses. He realized that he had probably been used. As for the reason and purpose, he would have to ask the Seventh Princess.
but……
In comparison, the Fourth Princess was more to his liking; he preferred more mature women, while the Seventh Princess was still too young.
General Weiyuan issued an order to expel the guests.
The King of Beimeng turned and left, and the concubines, princes and princesses also bowed and took their leave. Jiang Jingtian watched the Fourth Princess leave, and he and General Weiyuan stood on the left and right behind the Yellow Emperor.
Prince Jing lagged behind, glancing towards the direction of the Empress and Qixiang Palace. A slight smile played on his lips. The scheme devised by the Second Prince and the Seventh Princess was nothing more than a minor skirmish; the real hunter had yet to appear.
The Empress accompanied the Emperor as they walked toward Qixiang Palace. Her steps were steady, her posture upright, and her spine straight, like an unshakeable mountain.
With a faint smile on his face and a calm yet firm gaze, he exuded an unassailable confidence and composure.
The night was hazy.
The lanterns on the trees reflect the stars in the sky.
Not far from the Imperial Garden was Qixiang Palace. Just as the Emperor and Empress were about to send someone to summon them, they suddenly saw the side gate next to the palace gate slowly open.
A figure timidly emerged.
"Huh..."
The nanny beside the Empress suddenly spoke up in confusion, "That person doesn't look like a palace eunuch."
These words were spoken.
The Empress's face instantly turned cold. "You audacious scoundrel, how dare you trespass into Qixiang Palace! Seize him!"
The Empress's lips curled up slightly, a hint of barely perceptible smugness flashing in her eyes. Her voice, though stern, carried a touch of feigned concern as she ordered the nanny, "Go quickly and check on the Imperial Concubine. Is she injured?"
The emperor looked at the man being pressed down, his face ashen.
What a lively night!
The man saw the emperor's angry face, his whole body trembling, and he collapsed to the ground, revealing a young and handsome face.
"It's you?!"
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