Chapter 54 The Princess's Marriage "It is customary for the Xie family to marry a princess, and the Xie family also..."
Ying Xi's expression grew increasingly somber. She frowned and murmured softly, her thoughts unreadable.
The vibrant spring scenery seemed to lose its luster abruptly because of the emperor's oppressive aura.
Hua Chao was unaware that Prince Yong had caused a ruckus at Weiyang Palace last night and had just been drugged and thrown into the Imperial Clan Court. She had come to join the fun today.
Do you guys really think the Imperial Clan Court is some kind of cushy place? Or do you really want to force yourselves into becoming emperors who are heartless enough to harm their own compatriots?
Ying Xi's expression grew increasingly grim.
Princess Jinxiang and her companions were secretly delighted.
Seeing that things were not going well, Yu Jing smiled and asked the princesses to leave: "Grandmothers, it's about time, you should all go back and rest."
"That barbarian king is quite impatient. He has scheduled an audience for tomorrow and may arrive soon. I've heard that he has six heads and is extremely fierce. We mustn't frighten the princes."
The princesses and noblewomen looked at each other, none of them wanting to see outsiders.
After the audience was over, and they even took the opportunity to mock Hua Chao, everyone bowed to Ying Xi and took their leave.
Ying Xi said, "Hua Chao, please stay."
"yes."
The departure of the flower-like girls made the foxtail grass look more and more like a foxtail grass.
Ying Jia maintained the posture of meeting the emperor, but faced with a long silence, she became increasingly less confident and lowered her head to straighten her wrinkled monk's robe.
In the blink of an eye, the nun's hat tilted to one side.
Hua Chao clearly saw that her brother, the Emperor, looked even more gloomy, making her afraid to reach out and straighten her hat. Her eyelids twitched again!
She tried to use the momentum from shaking her head to reset the hat, but she shook her head too hard.
The nun's hat was flung out, leaving a long, gray arc.
The arc landed precisely on the toe of the emperor's white boots adorned with gold, and Ying Xi's face was almost dripping with gloom.
Longwei truly lives up to his name.
Having experienced two lifetimes and honed her aura through countless crises, Ying Xi didn't interrogate her at all.
Hua Chao was so frightened that she shuddered several times: "—Your Majesty, I was wrong!!!"
She reached out and grabbed the nun's hat, quickly hiding it behind her back. She blinked her almond-shaped eyes, pretending nothing had happened.
Ying Xi lowered her eyes: "What did I do wrong?"
"No, I shouldn't have angered my Emperor brother!" Yingjia said, hurriedly adding, "I shouldn't have dressed like this either, making my Emperor brother worry, and I definitely shouldn't have..."
"how?"
"Cover the dragon's feet with a nun's hat! This nun's hat of mine has been blessed, its origin is impeccable, it would never suppress the dragon's fortune, I was wrong, I was wrong!"
Ying Jia repeatedly begged for forgiveness.
At this moment, they had no time to care about anything else. All the eunuchs and maids of Yichun Palace, big and small, had their eyes on her, watching her act silly in front of her emperor brother.
Ying Jia was clearly not like this before.
However, compared to the beautiful but dull Princess Huachao of the past, the current Yingjia is more lively and agile, acting coquettishly and pitifully, and smoothly tugging at the emperor's robe.
She acted on instinct, unaware that Ying Xi was really susceptible to it.
The emperor's anger had subsided considerably, but he didn't show it, and asked calmly, "Why did you become a monk?"
“My sister unfortunately offended the barbarian king in the city. The barbarian king wants to marry me, but I don’t want to marry him.”
It turns out that Princess Huachao's new work is being serialized. While gathering material at Yunyong Tower, she saw a table of strangely dressed men, which she found quite unusual.
So I sat down next to the men at that table, took out my pen and notebook to gather information, and overheard them discussing the women of the royal family.
Some say that although Princess Jinxiang was the right age, she had a low nose bridge and small eyes.
Some people say that Princess Yiyang is very beautiful, but unfortunately she is only a princess and her status is not comparable to that of the king.
Some people say that Princess Renkang was the most noble woman in the palace after Princess Huining, but unfortunately, she was a widow because of her seniority.
The discussion was lively, and Ying Jia realized that the group had ulterior motives. She remembered their table number, went downstairs to report to the patrolling guards, and said that someone dared to criticize a member of the royal family.
The barbarian king dared not reveal his identity and was given a good lesson. He then carefully inquired about who had brought him down.
The guards answered without hesitation: "The girl at the next table is none other than Princess Huachao!"
Thus, Ying Jia, who had always kept a low profile, was completely exposed.
Before she even returned to her residence, she was intercepted by the barbarian king, who looked at her and smirked.
Ying Jia got goosebumps all over, fearing that the big guy would retaliate by stomping hard on the barbarian king's foot before turning and running away.
Ying Jia had keen hearing and heard it clearly. As she ran, she heard the barbarian king say to his subordinates, "I am asking the Emperor of Qin for Princess Huachao."
Isn't this blatant retaliation?
Therefore, Huachao took the initiative and decided to temporarily renounce worldly life, dressing as a monk or nun in public, and even seeking refuge in the Zongzheng Temple.
Hua Chao whispered, "Your Majesty, I'm a little afraid of that barbarian king. He's dark-skinned and strong, and very unfriendly. I was hoping to win Your Majesty's favor, but I didn't expect to anger you."
If the Barbarian King were here right now, he would know how accurate and apt Hua Chao's description was.
The barbarian king's appearance is quite different from the mainstream aesthetic of the capital.
Ying Xi smiled slightly, touched by his sister's pitying words. While Hua Chao grumbled and complained, he recalled Hua Chao's past life and silently boarded the wedding carriage. It all felt like yesterday.
Huachao once did not rely on herself.
The court was once weak and incompetent, and could not allow her to make a choice.
Comparing the two, Ying Xi's lips curved upwards, and she reached out to help Hua Chao up. The princess, covered in dust, looked like a bewildered little rabbit in a field.
Ying Xi holds the fate of many women from the royal family in her hands.
He has enough power, and they can do better.
Ying Xi said arrogantly, "If you don't like him, he can't marry into the family. I will arrange a satisfactory marriage for you in the future. If you really want to become a nun, then I will save myself the trouble."
Hua Chao quickly stopped him: "Then please, Your Majesty, take a little more care of your younger sister!"
She still wants a suitable husband.
Hua Chao felt relieved, having successfully amused Ying Xi.
She tilted her head to examine Ying Xi, feeling that the protagonist's image in romantic novels was even more complete. She wanted to remember her brother even more vividly: his eyebrows and eyes were like light ink wash, his eyelashes were thick and long, and the corners of his eyes were slightly red and upturned...
What's most remarkable is that the emperor possesses both authority and good looks.
Ying Jia gazed at Ying Xi with a dazed look.
The emperor called on him: "Why did you suddenly freeze?"
I can't exactly say that I'm looking at you and thinking about how to write a storybook.
Ying Jia was startled and immediately blurted out a lie: "I was thinking that if I can't avoid it this time, I can only beg my cousin to reluctantly marry me."
"..."
Her cousin was Xie Qianli.
A gentle breeze blew through Yichun Palace, but the moment Ying Jia finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze, and all was silent.
Ying Jia quickly lowered her head, inexplicably realizing that she had made a mistake by speaking carelessly.
She suddenly remembered the plate of sour grapes at Yunyonglou, one of them casually fed to her, while the other insisted they were sweet.
It's not entirely impossible for fictional stories to become reality, but Ying Jia dared not fully empathize with real people. She took a deep, wary breath.
Ying Xi asked, "Do you want to marry Xie Qianli?"
"No, no!"
In that instant, denial became an instinctive reaction.
Ying Jia quickly shook her head, her heart pounding in her throat.
Ying Xi remained calm, even speaking with a hint of curiosity and emotion: "You like him but dare not say it, perhaps he is pretending to like you but also unwilling to say it, secretly thinking of you all the time, for fear of upsetting you."
Jade Mirror's eyes darted around rapidly.
Ying Jia stole glances at Ying Xi, but couldn't see anything amiss. She thought she was just overthinking things, but for some reason, she felt a chill run down her spine.
“Indeed, only Xie Qing is worthy of your status,” she heard her brother say clearly. “If you two are in love, I will bestow marriage upon you when you return to court.”
That imperial decree of marriage was not false.
The emperor's words are golden and precious.
But Yingjia could still detect a hint of loneliness in his words.
Ying Jia dared not agree: "Your Majesty, my cousin and I are not in love, so please do not bestow a marriage upon us. He is busy with military affairs, and we have hardly ever seen each other."
Ying Xi fell silent: "What a pity."
Ying Jia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The air in Yichun Palace was thick with tension, but the ice and snow slowly melted away.
Yu Jing suddenly smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Your Majesty is worried about the princess's marriage, but doesn't the princess also want to spend a few more years with her brother? Your Majesty should wait until the princess finds a suitable match and takes the initiative to ask you for permission. Why must you betroth the Duke of Ying to the princess?"
Ying Xi didn't say anything. She shook her head slightly.
Whether to insist on the arranged marriage remained undecided, and neither Hua Chao nor Yu Jing dared to ask further.
Hua Chao could only change the subject and chat for a while before accompanying her brother, the Emperor, on a stroll through the Shanglin Garden. They didn't leave until the sun was setting, and she took with her several cartloads of gifts bestowed upon her by the Emperor.
***
Not long after, the delegation that offered amnesty returned home.
The Longwu Army returned to its garrison, and the envoys entered the imperial city. The delegation reported on their duties in the afternoon and returned to their respective residences to rest in the morning.
The early summer sunlight was dazzling and blinding. Xie Qianli's full-body silver armor shone with a light that was almost pure white in the sunlight.
He didn't rush back to his residence. Instead, he rode his horse through the West Market, with a black falcon perched on his shoulder, forming an unapproachable circle around him. All the people who passed by looked at him with awe.
People assumed Xie Qianli must be on official business, and even if they recognized the Duke of England, they dared not greet him.
In fact, Xie Qianli came to the West Market for a very trivial matter.
On his way back, he secretly bought many local specialties and picked up a stone along the way.
The stone was a translucent red all over, but it was not any precious stone. The stone had been eroded by the flowing water in the riverbed and was eventually worn into a regular, round heart shape.
Xie Qianli wanted to drill holes in the stone, string it together, and decorate it slightly. It didn't require much skill, and many craftsmen could do it.
However, Xie Qianli walked into the most famous jade craftsman's workshop in the West Market.
Upon seeing the solemn armor, the old craftsman dared not underestimate it and immediately rose to greet the general, asking what pieces he was making and what materials he was using.
Xie Qianli, however, took out an ordinary stone and briefly expressed his request.
This caused the old craftsman to pause slightly.
The old man examined it carefully. Even though the stone was created by nature and its shape was indeed quite peculiar, it was still just a stone.
The craftsman couldn't help but remind him: "The general's request is not difficult to fulfill, but we must let the general know that the cost of our shop is five taels of silver, which is far more valuable than this stone."
The craftsman also recommended many kinds of jade.
The shop offers a wide variety of jade materials and has been operating in Chang'an for over a century, catering to the needs of middle and high-end customers. The jade materials include many rare and precious pieces.
One of the pieces was ice jade, with a delicate and warm texture, which looked like semi-flowing water under the sun.
Upon witnessing these rare treasures, Xie Qianli was struck by the image of Ying Xi clearly before his eyes, which touched his heart tenderly.
The king possesses all the wealth of the world, yet he has never seen any treasures.
Xie Qianli shook his head and said briefly, "Let's get started, I know."
The old jade craftsman was puzzled, but he had no choice but to do as he was told. He examined the stone briefly, drilled a hole and threaded the rope through it. Then, with his rough fingers, he picked up the small stone and carved the words "Loyal Heart" on the oblique side of the stone with a carving knife. After gilding it, he finally let Xie Qianli choose a string to string the stone.
Xie Qianli, as if possessed, chose bright yellow.
The capital is full of nobles and high-ranking officials; if someone dares to use him, he must be capable of doing so.
The old jade craftsman didn't ask any further questions. He matched the tassels with the same color, and handed the finished product back to Xie Qianli.
At this moment, the old man's cloudy eyes reflected the general in his gleaming silver armor, who actually bowed and solemnly accepted the Danxin Stone Pendant with both hands, his handsome brows and eyes filled with piety.
"Thank you, sir." He paid the bill.
The old jade craftsman, fascinated by the general's aloof and stern demeanor, adopted a childlike manner and smiled knowingly: "It's for my beloved."
Xie Qianli: "..."
At that moment, he was filled with panic, and all his emotions were stuck in his throat.
Xie Qianli steadied himself and almost escaped from the jade craftsman's shop.
The old jade craftsman's resolute "my beloved" and Lian Qing's words, "The general has a girl he likes," played in his mind, finally illuminating the mind of the dreamer who was confused about the relationship between the emperor and his subject.
Xie Qianli vaguely realized something.
But he wasn't sure, so he stopped himself from thinking about it any further.
He had a premonition that if a certain idea were discovered, it would be like a flood that had been released from its dam, and there would be no way to stop it.
Xie Qianli was still deceiving himself in his mind. The image of Xiao Xi from back then, now the emperor, was endlessly replicated in his mind. He was so excited that he trembled, and he was also driven crazy by taboo... The Danxin Stone in his hand was hard and hot. He was about to crush the stone!
Xie Qianli calmed down.
Drive away distracting thoughts and make peace with yourself.
He simply wanted to dedicate his heart to the emperor, to represent his loyalty, his respect for Ying Xi, and to offer it to the high moon, the only ruler of Qin.
The Duke of England, mounted on his horse and carrying an eagle, planned to bathe and change before entering the palace, tucking the stone pendant of loyalty into his bosom.
As Xie Qianli rode past Yunyong Tower, he looked up at the tower, tightened the reins, and slowed down, revealing a faint smile. The young general's eyes were as bright as stars.
The laughter and chatter of passing guests reached Xie Qianli's ears. They were talking about the recent major events in the city: "The Southwestern Barbarian King has come to pay homage to His Majesty, asking for Princess Huachao in marriage. He was rejected but did not give up and is now staying in Chang'an."
"His Majesty values Hua Chao highly; how could he bear to let her marry far away?"
"Alas, I heard that His Majesty has long since found a perfect marriage for the princess, intending to bestow Princess Huachao upon the Duke of Yingguo. My sister marrying her beloved general would not only keep Huachao but also win over Xie Qianli. Wasn't the marriage between the former Duke of Yingguo and the Grand Princess Huining just like that?"
"It's customary for the Xie family to have a son-in-law; the Xie family is about to produce another imperial son-in-law!"
Xie Qianli's eyes dimmed, and his smile froze on his lips.
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