Chapter 50
The next day, the curfew in Eyi was lifted. The first thing they did was to look for Liu Ju and the other two. When they met, they knelt down and bowed to each other with a serious and solemn look.
First of all, it was towards Liu Ju.
"Prince, I deeply apologize for almost accidentally injuring you and causing you such a fright due to my selfishness. That day... that day, although I admitted my guilt and my fault towards you, I never formally apologized to you. I have come here today to make amends."
Eyi bowed down.
Liu Ju waved his hand. "Whatever I said to my father was from my heart, and Li Ji heard it. I'm not hurt, nor am I frightened, and I don't blame you."
"I know. But the prince is not to blame because he is generous, not because I am without fault."
Eyi curled her hands slightly. She understood that the Crown Prince's actions were more than just "not blaming" her. If he simply "didn't blame" her, he wouldn't have to risk being reprimanded by Liu Che and plead for her, or even gather information for him.
She turned towards the captain and knelt down to pay her respects once more.
"Elder sister's words that day enlightened Eyi and benefited him greatly. Eyi will definitely reflect on this carefully and reflect on himself. Thank you for your guidance."
E Yi turned to Zhu Yi again and said, "Third sister, you clearly noticed something was wrong with me a long time ago, but you didn't expose it immediately. Instead, you chose to ask me for confirmation first, and then plead with our father. Thank you very much, third sister."
Finally, E Yi took a deep breath and said to the three of them, "Thank you, Crown Prince, eldest sister, and third sister."
The Chief of Guards and Zhu Yi exchanged a glance, then simultaneously glanced at Liu Ju. Liu Ju naturally understood and stepped forward to help her up. "Second sister, we're all brothers and sisters, it's only natural. No need to be so formal."
E Yi smiled but said nothing. There aren't so many shoulds in the world.
To the Crown Prince and the others, these matters might seem trivial, a piece of cake; but to her, they saved her from danger. Otherwise, given her father's actions and his usual attitude towards her, her life would be a disaster. How could she not be serious?
But some things don't need to be said out loud, she knows them herself, and it's enough as long as she is clear in her heart.
The guard asked, "Have you seen the gift I gave you?"
"I've seen them all."
The guard chief added, "Take your time to think about it. This is the path you want to take, so you should figure it out yourself. There's no need to rush."
Eyi nodded: "Yes."
Liu Ju was confused. What was that?
However, the guard chief E Yi spoke without giving him a chance to interrupt. After he finished speaking, E Yi bowed and said goodbye.
Liu Ju looked at the guard and asked, "What is that?"
"Not at the moment. I'll tell you when she decides to use it."
Liu Ju: ...Oh, you're playing dumb again. You're always treating him like a child, always using the same tricks. Haha, if you don't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it. Who do you think cares? Humph.
The head of the guards couldn't help laughing when he saw his childish look. He turned his eyes away and pretended not to see it. He looked at E Yi's departing back and sighed, "From what I can see now, although she has gone astray a little, she's not too bad. Even if she's not a completely good person, she's not ungrateful either.
"Judging from her actions this time, regardless of other things, at least she has some means and strategies. If she had been properly taught from a young age, she would have achieved something. But hopefully, it's not too late to start now."
Then he frowned and said, "It was Li Ji who misled her and almost ruined her."
There was a hint of venting anger in his tone. After a moment's thought, he added, "But what Li Ji taught her isn't all bad. At least the fact that she's grateful and repaying a favor is good. Brother, you've pretty much won her over now."
Liu Ju pursed his lips and looked at Wei Chang Zhuyi: "So the two sisters didn't move just now, deliberately waiting for me to come forward, so that the second sister would remember my friendship even more?"
"You are the kindest and most generous person, the one who has contributed the most, and the one who said the words that touched her the most." The guard said as a matter of course, "Brother, if it weren't for you, my third sister and I would at most not kick her when she's down, but we might not necessarily help her.
"So she truly deserves your kindness and gratitude. My third sister and I may feel unworthy of those gracious homages just now. But for you, even if she were to do a few more, you'd be worthy."
Liu Ju suddenly realized: "So my elder sister deliberately had someone keep an eye on Li Ji, and rushed over when she saw the opportunity to go to see my father. This way, she could rescue Li Ji on the spot and add another favor.
"And if I plead for mercy in front of Li Ji, every word I say will reach Li Ji's second sister, and it will be more profound than if they hear it afterwards."
Liu Ju understood that when good things are done, the people involved should know about it. He was not the kind of person who would quietly help others without leaving a name.
So I accepted it quickly and stopped worrying about it.
But after he left, Zhu Yi didn't leave. He quietly asked the guard, "Eldest sister's intentions aren't just what my younger brother said, are they? Do you want to see how Second sister will react when she finds out?"
The Chief of Guards said nothing and did not refute, which meant he agreed.
"In my opinion, does her performance today mean she's passed the initial test?"
It's a question, but the tone is declarative. The answer is clear: yes.
Zhu Yi sighed softly, "Eldest sister, I don't know what you are planning, but I can guess a little bit. It may not be feasible."
The Chief of Guards also understood this.
"But I have to give it a try. Zhuyi, my brother is not an ordinary prince. He is too capable and talented. This is an advantage, but also a hidden danger."
Zhu Yi frowned, "Eldest sister, are you worried that my brother's achievements will be too great in the future, and the people will be overwhelmed, and this will cause a rift between us and the emperor?"
"I know that Father treats me well now, and treats my younger brother even better. I shouldn't think of Father like this." The guard smiled bitterly, "But the Emperor's mind is the most difficult to guess.
"My younger brother is still young. No matter how many merits he has made, he has not yet officially entered the court and will not threaten the imperial power. Naturally, my father thinks that my younger brother is good in every way.
"But when my younger brother grows up, he'll be able to observe government affairs, assist in managing state affairs, and gradually gain access to power. With so many achievements to his name, the trust of his ministers, and the support of the people, will he really not be wary of him, tolerate him, and freely give up his power?"
The townspeople were speechless. It was hard to say.
The guard continued, "My brother is young, and there are many things he can't imagine, but we can't help but think for him. Although his uncle and cousin are his greatest support, the world is unpredictable, and we must be prepared for the worst. We also need to find him a way out."
"This escape route may not be used in a lifetime, but it cannot be lost. All land under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people are his subjects. Everything within the Han Dynasty is under the control of my father, and we cannot escape. I can only look beyond the Han Dynasty."
She smiled and held Zhu Yi's hand: "Don't worry, I know my limits. I know it may not work, but I have to try. If it doesn't work, I will naturally give up and find another way out. I can't give up without trying, Zhu Yi."
Zhu Yi opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing and nodded in agreement.
********
The residence of Xiucheng Jun.
As soon as Guangyun walked in from outside, Xiuchengjun grabbed him and asked, "How's it going? What did you find out?"
Guangyun looked very ugly and shook his head dejectedly.
Xiucheng Jun naturally understood the meaning, Guangzhong could not be saved.
She shook herself and gritted her teeth, "Where's Eyi?"
Guangyun smiled bitterly, but it was uglier than crying. "My daughter just asked someone to inquire. E Yi hasn't shown up in the past two days. Although there's no word on the specific reason, we can probably guess it's related to A-di's matter.
"Your Majesty didn't allow her to appear, so he must have been suspicious and displeased. But today she came out. Furthermore, two days ago, Li Ji was still dazed and worried. Today, she looks noticeably more cheerful, as if a heavy burden has been lifted."
What does this mean? The answer is obvious.
The emperor might not pursue Eyi anymore, and she had completely escaped from this matter.
And if she escapes, it means Guangzhong will die.
Xiu Chengjun opened his mouth slightly: "How could it be... How could it be..."
How could it not be?
There was a bitter taste in Guangyun's lips.
The mother held out hope, hoping to use the clues in Eyi's words to shirk responsibility and rescue Adi. But she knew those two words meant nothing. Even if Eyi was implicated, Adi would still be the murderer, his guilt inescapable, and the hope of "rescue" was slim.
But she couldn't bear to shatter her mother's fantasy. And after all, he was her own brother. Even knowing this, she couldn't help but hope. Hoping for a miracle.
But now it’s gone, the miracles are gone, the vitality is gone, everything is gone.
A-di is doomed to die.
Xiuchengjun sat dejectedly on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Guangyun turned his head away, tears streaming down his face, grief-stricken.
She had misjudged Eyi. She had misjudged him at first sight and every step she took was wrong.
If she had known this earlier, if she had known E Yi was of such a nature, so cruel and hard to control, she would never have let A Di get close to him. Even if she had broken A Di's legs, she would have made him stay away from E Yi.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to know in advance.
I thought it was a gentle and delicate flower, but it turned out to be more prickly than thorns. If I don't attack them, it's fine. But if I do, I will make them doomed.
Guangyun closed his eyes.
It was her fault. She shouldn't have thought of marrying the princess. She was the one who harmed her brother!
"Why? Why is my son imprisoned for her, his life in danger, while she is innocent and nothing happened to her! It is obviously her who should die, not my Zhong'er. Zhong'er was just used by her."
Xiuchengjun was hysterical and couldn't accept it at all.
Guangyun tried to comfort her: "Mother, after all, it was my brother who did it. Even if the princess wanted to take advantage of me, it was my brother who did it himself.
"Most importantly, the princess didn't say anything provocative or seductive; those few words were merely statements and information. Furthermore, she is a princess, the daughter of the emperor.
"How can we compare with the royal family?"
But Xiuchengjun was in a bad mood and couldn't listen to any of this.
She was lost in her own thoughts, slumped to the ground, and broke down crying, "My son... my son killed for her. She's not only a vicious snake, but also a disaster. If it weren't for her, how could Zhong'er have come to this point.
"She killed my Zhong'er. She's the culprit and the one who deserves death. Why should Zhong'er die instead of her? Heaven is so unfair, so unfair. Even if one of them has to live, she should die and my Zhong'er live.
"Not... not like this now. I don't accept it. I don't accept it."
As she spoke, she rushed out like a madman. Guangyun was startled and quickly hugged her and pulled her back: "Mother, what do you want to do?"
"I'll go see His Majesty and tell him. He promised. He promised the Queen Mother that he would treat me, you, and Zhong'er well. Why can he spare Eyi but not my Zhong'er? I'll beg him, anything I can ask, as long as he can spare Zhong'er's life."
Guangyun held her tightly, "Mother, have you lost your mind? Wake up. How can you say such things so casually? How can my brother and the princess be the same?
"And even if you bring up the Queen Mother, so what? My brother was the one who committed the crime first. If he had harmed someone unimportant, perhaps you could have used the Queen Mother's favor to rescue him. But he harmed Wang Chong'er.
"You have the Queen Mother's banner, but the Wang family doesn't have it too? As victims, the Wang family still has the right to demand justice. What about us? If you go like this, you will only annoy His Majesty."
Xiu Chengjun struggled desperately: "Zhong'er is about to die, why should I care about it? Ah Yun, he is your brother, your own brother. You should think of a solution. You are usually the most thoughtful. Can you think of a solution?"
"Mother, if there was any way, I would definitely take action. But there's no other way. There's no other way. There's no solution to the current situation."
The light of hope in Xiuchengjun's eyes gradually disappeared, and his face looked ashen.
In fact, how could she not know the situation? She just couldn't accept it.
"Mother, accept your fate. Even if my brother is gone, you still have me."
"No, I won't accept my fate. I can't accept my fate. Even if..." Xiu Chengjun gritted his teeth, "Even if I can't save your brother, I can't just watch the person who hurt her get away with it."
Seeing her expression was not right, Guangyun's heart was pounding: "Mother, what do you want to do? She is the princess, don't be stupid."
"Don't worry, I won't try to harm the princess."
Xiu Chengjun's eyes were cold. If possible, she would have preferred to have E Yi buried with Zhong Er. Zhong Er loved her so much anyway. If Zhong Er had no way to survive, letting E Yi accompany her in the underworld would be a way to fulfill Zhong Er's infatuation.
But she knew that this was a dead end, and she couldn't assassinate the princess. But that didn't mean she couldn't do anything.
********
Wang family.
Gai Hou's wife looked at Gai Hou Wang Xin in disbelief. "What did you say? You want to write a letter to cancel the engagement. What are you thinking? Chong'er is in such a state now. Aren't you just rubbing salt into his wounds? You really don't consider Chong'er at all!"
Wang Xin sighed softly, "Madam, I am the head of the family. I have to consider both the ears and the family."
Family? The lady curled her lips slightly and sneered.
How could she not understand what Wang Xin meant?
Why does the Wang family want to marry the princess?
After the Queen Mother passed away, the Wang and Tian families gradually declined and their relationship with the Emperor became increasingly alienated. They wanted to use Princess Shang to strengthen their ties with the royal family and to use the princess's identity to plan for the Wang family.
But Chong'er had been ruined after this ordeal. If the marriage went ahead, how many years could the Wang family stay in Eyi? A few years later, Chong'er passed away, and without this connection, whether Eyi chose to remain a widow or remarry, she would no longer have anything to do with the Wang family.
Furthermore, since the imposter was a hindrance to having children, E Yi and he wouldn't even have any children. Without the ability to keep the royal princess, and without an heir with both his own and the royal bloodline, this marriage would provide minimal benefit to the Wang family, a stark contrast to the effect the Wang family had hoped for.
On the contrary, the Wang family, using the excuse of Minger's health, said that Minger's current condition was not suitable for marrying the princess, and would not delay the princess, so they wrote a letter to apologize and begged the emperor to revoke the order. This would only show the loyalty of the subjects to the emperor.
There are only two possible outcomes to this. First, His Majesty will not agree and will only offer a conciliatory gesture. The marriage will proceed as usual, and the situation will be the same as if the petition had not been submitted, with the Wang family suffering no loss.
Secondly, Your Majesty has agreed to annul the marriage. As the victim in this case, and Wang Xin being so knowledgeable and understanding, Your Majesty must be considerate and provide appropriate compensation in other ways.
Either way, the Wang family wouldn't lose out. More importantly, the Queen Mother's last wish, the promise made by the Emperor, still existed. The Wang family could still discuss the future. Even if there wasn't a suitable candidate now, who knew there might be one in the future?
But what does that have to do with her deafness? All considerations are for the Wang family, not for her deafness.
Madam Gai Hou gnashed her teeth and said, "You are truly a good patriarch of the Wang family. If I'm guessing correctly, the Tian family must have had a hand in this. How many benefits have the Tian family given you!"
The Tian family currently has no suitable candidate, but if they choose again in the future, they will have a chance. How could the Tian family not be tempted?
Wang Xin naturally understood this, but he still decided to do it. It was just a matter of weighing the pros and cons.
After all, the marriage might not be with the Tian family, but with the Wang family. He is not dead, so he will not fight for it.
The lady lowered her eyes and burst into tears. "You've considered everything, but have you ever considered Chong'er? Chong'er has suffered such a great disaster and is already in a bad mood and can hardly accept it. You then take away the marriage that was originally his. What do you want him to do? Are you trying to force him to death?"
Wang Xin walked over and held her shoulders. "You're wrong. Chong'er is your son, and he's also my son. How could I not consider him? I have my reasons for doing this. Think carefully about this matter. Is it because of Princess Eyi?"
"Although Your Majesty hasn't revealed the truth, we are always paying close attention to the development of the case. How could we not notice something fishy?
"Have you ever thought about what the princess meant if she did this on purpose? It means she doesn't want to marry Chong'er. So, if we still insist on her marrying, will she treat Chong'er well?
"She's a princess. Even if she does something, as long as it's not too extreme, what can we do to her? Do you think it's a blessing to treat her like this?"
Lady Gaihou was speechless, but even more furious. "I never realized that this Eyi could be so arrogant. Does she think she's the empress's legitimate daughter?"
"A disfavored princess, born to a lowly mother, without even a proper position, why would she look down on us and turn a deaf ear to us?
"We haven't even started to dislike her yet, but she's actually starting to dislike us. Okay, I want to see what kind of talented man from Chang'an she can marry in her current situation, with her marriage annulled and without my Wang family and Chong'er!"
Wang Xin shook his head and sneered, "A talented man from Chang'an? Oh, how could I let her have the chance to pick another talented man from Chang'an? The marriage can be resolved, but this matter cannot be abandoned.
"I must avenge him for the vengeance he's been deceitful about and the sins he's suffered. She's a princess, I can't kill her, but I'm not made of clay either."
Wang Xin didn't say what the letter was about, but based on what happened in the court a while ago, his wife vaguely guessed something. The corners of her mouth curled up, and her mood finally calmed down a little.
Oh, she suddenly became curious. What kind of expression would E Yi have when he knew that he had tried so hard to ignore her, but this was the only outcome?
********
Within two days, Liu Ju heard the news that someone in the court proposed to select a powerful country in the Western Regions to replace the Dayuezhi, form an alliance through marriage, and jointly fight against the Huns.
"Marriage?" Liu Ju was a little confused. "Why are you suddenly talking about marriage? Since my father ascended the throne, there has never been a marriage of peace."
Huo Qubing shook his head. "It's not sudden. Someone mentioned this a few days ago when Your Majesty mentioned his intention to send Zhang Qian to the Western Regions again after recovering Hexi."
"When Your Majesty sent Zhang Qian on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions, his primary purpose was to seek out the Great Yuezhi and form an alliance with them to fight against the Xiongnu. It's true that the Xiongnu and the Great Yuezhi are sworn enemies, and so are they. The enemy of my enemy can become my ally.
"Unfortunately, times have changed. The Great Yuezhi were defeated by the Xiongnu long ago and migrated westward. They now live far away from the Xiongnu and have a relatively stable life. Their ambitions have faded and they are no longer willing to return to the battlefield and start a war again.
"But besides the Great Yuezhi, there are many other states in the Western Regions. Just because the Great Yuezhi can't do it doesn't mean the others can't. The Wusun is a fortress connecting the eastern and western grasslands. It's a strategic location facing the Western Regions, both for the Xiongnu and for the Han.
"The Wusun were particularly powerful, commanding tens of thousands of troops. Their Kunmi had also been annexing smaller towns in the surrounding area to expand their power. Therefore, those who advocated this believed that the Great Yuezhi could be replaced by the Wusun.
"And marriage is the most convenient form of alliance."
There was a hint of disdain and sarcasm in his tone. For the generals who favored war, it was difficult to agree to a marriage alliance. Liu Ju understood this, but one thing puzzled him: "I heard that the current Kunmi of Wusun, Lie Jiaomi, was raised by the Xiongnu."
"So what?" Huo Qubing sneered. "Lie Jiaomi has considerable ambition. He was able to restore his country in just thirty years, and allow the Wusun to gradually replace the Great Yuezhi in the Western Regions. In the early stages, this was probably due to the Xiongnu's help, but in the later stages, it was mostly due to his own abilities."
"How could a man like him be willing to submit to the Xiongnu for the rest of his life and be controlled by them? Over the years, he hasn't been completely submissive to them, often pretending to obey them but secretly disobeying them. He just hasn't openly intended to break up with them.
"When Marquis Bowang was in Wusun, Liejiaomi treated him like a distinguished guest, with great courtesy and politeness. During their conversations, Liejiaomi repeatedly inquired about the Han Dynasty's situation and national strength.
"When Marquis Bowang left, he personally presented him with a generous gift and asked him to convey his regards to Your Majesty."
Liu Ju understood: "He's testing the waters. Unable to defeat the Xiongnu with his own strength, he wants to seek the Han's help. He asked those questions of Marquis Bowang because he wanted to know whether the Han had the strength and willingness to cooperate with him."
Huo Qubing nodded. "That's right. But now that Hexi has not been recovered, it's unclear when Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions will take place. It's premature to say anything about this." Therefore, even if a proposal were made, it would only be made in small groups. Since Your Majesty hasn't expressed his opinion, we'll put it on hold for now.
"Now that it's been rediscovered, there are several more petitions. Most of the petitioners are close friends of Gai Hou and Wang Xin. Xiu Chengjun, in particular, has been giving gifts everywhere for Guang Zhong, like a madman. Who would believe that they didn't contribute to this?
"Although the selection of the marriage partner hasn't been mentioned yet, anyone with a discerning eye can see they're targeting Eyi. They feel their child was wronged and tricked, while Eyi was left unscathed. They feel unfairly treated, feel upset, and want revenge."
"Unfair?" Liu Ju frowned, "If others say it's unfair, it's fine, but do Guangzhong and Wang Chong have the right to say so?
"In their early years, they seized the people's land, bullied men and women, and acted recklessly, causing countless troubles. They always relied on their status as powerful and the Empress Dowager's face to settle the matter. If we really want justice, they would have died countless times.
"Why do they ignore justice when they hurt others, but when it's their turn to be hurt by others, they say it's unfair? Moreover, although the case has been investigated, the case has not yet been dealt with. How can they be sure that my second sister is unharmed?"
After saying this, Liu Ju seemed to suddenly think of something, and he paused with an inexplicable look on his face: "Something is wrong."
Huo Qubing scoffed, "What's wrong? In the early years, the Queen Mother was healthy, and Tian Fen was still the Prime Minister. The Tian and Wang families were at their peak, and Xiu Chengjun was also in great glory. They acted arrogantly."
"Later, after Tian Fen died and the Queen Mother passed away, they began to restrain themselves somewhat, but only slightly. It's easy to change a country, but hard to change one's nature. And so, once the interests of their descendants were involved, and the things they cared about most were touched upon, their fox tails were exposed.
"But this time the Tian family didn't get involved, which is surprising. Probably because the people involved were Guangzhong and Wang Chong'er, and no one from the Tian family wanted to get involved."
Liu Ju shook his head: "I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them."
Huo Qubing was puzzled: "Then what did you say?"
Liu Ju suddenly stood up and rushed out. Huo Qubing was puzzled: "Where are you going?"
"I have something to do, don't worry about it."
Huo Qubing: ...Do you think I want to take care of you?
Oh, children's minds are always jumping around, they just do whatever they want.
After leaving the house, Liu Ju stopped and called Feng He over: "Go to my second sister. If she wants to go look for our father, stop her. Tell her that I will take care of the marriage and that she must not move."
Feng He didn't understand why, but he still agreed respectfully and did as he was told.
********
Residence in Eyi.
Li Ji's joy didn't last long. She became distressed again, holding E Yi's hand and began to cry: "How could this happen? Everything is fine, everything is resolved, how could this happen... If I had known this would happen, I would have married Wang Chong'er."
She was at a loss, but E Yi acted calmly: "Mother, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the marriage."
Li Ji was stunned and almost thought that E Yi was scared silly, otherwise why would he say such nonsense.
E Yi said, "Mother, I am not you. I do not want to just live in health and stability. I want to soar and achieve my own achievements. But I am not valued by my father, and my status and power are not as high as those of my elder sisters. In Chang'an, I have many restrictions and it is difficult for me to achieve anything.
"On the contrary, the Western Regions may seem difficult, but they are my best way out. I will not go there just to be a marriage alliance. I will find a way to change the world of Wusun.
"Eldest sister is right. If I can achieve something, I will surely become the first person in the history of marriage alliances and leave my name in history."
When the last four words were spoken, Eyi's heart beat violently.
"Furthermore, if I volunteer and receive the emperor's praise, I will quickly gain his attention and respect. With my noble act, whether this trip succeeds or fails, it will benefit you. Mother will also be able to gain a higher position, and her future in the palace will be much easier."
Li Ji shook her head repeatedly: "I don't want any favors or status. I don't want any of that. I just want you to be well."
E Yi sighed softly, "Then what do you think, mother? If I don't marry into the alliance, what should I do? Should I marry Wang Chong'er as previously arranged? Things have become so out of control, and no one else knows about it. The Wang family will definitely be suspicious of me, otherwise they wouldn't have submitted the petition for marriage.
"Even though I'm a princess, they can't do anything to me, but they still have ways to disgust me. If I marry them, will my life be good? Especially since this isn't what I want."
"But...but now..." Li Ji stammered, "Now the Wang family has voluntarily requested to cancel the marriage."
"Mother, why do you think the Wang family asked to cancel the marriage? First, because Wang Xin wanted to make plans for the Wang family. Second, only if my marriage with Wang Chong'er was cancelled could they arrange for me to marry into the imperial family."
Li Ji murmured: "But...but..."
"But he did submit the petition, didn't he? But the emperor hasn't approved it yet, so let's put it aside. Even if he did, what would happen? Without Wang Chong'er, who would mother want me to marry?"
"Anyone can do it, as long as they don't go to marry."
Eyi was not surprised by this answer, but it was still not what she wanted.
She once had a presence like a bright moon and green pines in her heart. She had previously been obsessed with breaking off her engagement with Wang Chong'er, not because she thought she could marry him without him, but because doing so would at least give her a possible chance.
She understood that this possibility was very remote and the chances of it happening were extremely slim.
But she had thought that she had to give it a try and fight for herself. Otherwise, how could she be willing to give up?
Now she no longer thought so. Her elder sister's words had suddenly enlightened her and made her understand many things.
So what if I succeed? So what if I'm noticed by everyone thanks to his influence!
What next? Was she seeking only love? No. Never. She also wanted to achieve greater things. So what was her future after marrying him? Where should she go? Eyi was confused; she didn't know.
What's more, if such an outstanding elder sister can't move his heart, how can such a dark person like me be worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with him?
He was the bright star in the sky, the bright moon in the sky, and he shouldn't be stained by her dust. So let him be his star and moon. She also had her own path to walk.
"Mother, I want to fight for myself again. I don't want to be trapped in Chang'an. Please let me choose for myself once, okay?"
Eyi looked at her with hope in his eyes.
Li Ji was speechless. Thinking of her previous words of venting, all the words of dissuasion were stuck in her throat and she couldn't say a word.
E Yi hugged her and said, "Don't be afraid, mother. I will be fine. No matter where I am, I will be fine."
Li Ji burst into tears.
E Yi comforted her for a long time, and when he saw that she had finally calmed down, he stood up and walked out, ready to meet the emperor.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he went out, he met Fenghe and was stopped back.
********
When Liu Ju found Wei Chang, he was with Zhu Yi and had sent all the maids away. Liu Ju went straight to the point: "Eldest sister, was it you who planned the marriage? Did you want my second sister to go to the Western Regions to marry?"
The guard was stunned and sighed. He knew that his brother was smart, but he was still surprised that he could be so smart. Seeing that he couldn't hide it, he simply admitted it: "Yes."
"So you said those words to my second sister on purpose that day, and you mentioned the Xiongnu and the Western Regions on purpose. You just wanted to plant a seed in her heart and stir up her thoughts, right?"
The guard nodded. "True. But I have selfish motives, and those words are truly what I think in my heart. I am the emperor's beloved daughter, so I can't go."
"Throughout history, the bridegroom could be the daughter of a powerful noble, a daughter of a royal family, or even an unfavored illegitimate princess, but never the emperor's legitimate daughter.
"If the emperor's legitimate daughter is forced to marry, it would make the Han court appear incompetent and would be an insult to my father. So even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it. In this regard, it would be more appropriate for Eyi to be unfavored."
Liu Ju frowned: "What about the Tian and Wang families and the work of Lord Xiucheng?"
The guard shook his head. "That has nothing to do with me. According to my plan, Eyi is an ambitious person, and it's true that she doesn't want to marry Wang Chong'er. But even if she has romantic feelings for my cousin and wants to marry him, it's not just because she likes him.
"She wants to use her cousin's influence to pursue other goals. But she hasn't figured out how or where to pursue them. The road ahead is murky. But I've shown her a clearer path, and she's sure to be tempted."
"The word 'marriage alliance' has become her consideration. In a few days, I will find an opportunity to let her know about the marriage alliance with Wusun that was discussed in the court a while ago. She will most likely take action and take the initiative to ask my father for it.
"I didn't expect Wang Xin and Xiu Chengjun to think of this and even use it as a pretext to go to court and take revenge on the princess. I can only say that the Queen Mother spoiled them too much when she was alive."
The emperor never committed the same crime as the common people, and the same applies to princesses. Wang Chong'er and Guangzhong were both in a mess, so where did Wang Xin and Xiuchengjun get the courage to do this?
Liu Ju was too lazy to comment on this. Tian Wang's actions were not pushed by his elder sister. He breathed a sigh of relief and asked again: "Eldest sister, why?"
The captain sighed lightly without saying anything.
Zhuyi explained: "Because this matter is not harmful to the country, but beneficial. This is one of the reasons.
"Second sister didn't have only this one path to choose. My eldest sister didn't force her, but left the choice to her. If she chose it, it would mean she was willing and happy to do it. This is the second point.
"Third, the eldest sister wants more than just an ordinary marriage. She wants to take a gamble. She wants to bet that this thing can be accomplished, and that with our help, the second sister can achieve something in Wusun.
"Even if we can't completely control Wusun, we can still control part of it and possess a certain amount of power and authority. He can become your ally one day."
"I?"
Liu Ju keenly noticed the difference in the words used by the various towns, "your allies" rather than the allies of the Han Dynasty. The difference of one word led to a huge mistake.
Zhu Yi smiled. "Yes, your ally. Brother, you are the crown prince, but you are only the crown prince. You are still young, so you may not be of any use now, but that doesn't mean you won't be of any use in the future."
The prince is only a step away from the emperor, and he can ascend to heaven in one step or fall in one step.
Besides my younger brother, my father also has Liu Hong, and he will have other heirs in the future. Even if my younger brother is favored by my father now and his position is stable, who knows what will happen in the future?
The eldest sister's concerns are not unfounded.
It is best to be prepared for danger in times of peace and to plan ahead.
But Zhu Yi was not in a position to say these words openly, as it might sow discord between Liu Ju and his father. She could not sow discord in Liu Ju's heart before anything happened, so she could only say them briefly.
However, Liu Ju, who was "influenced" by all kinds of messy remarks in the barrage, understood it.
Thinking about his own ending as described in the barrage, and then thinking about the "Li Shimin Li Chengqian" and "Kangxi Yinreng" mentioned in the barrage, although Liu Ju didn't know who these people were, he could tell from the words in the barrage that they were all emperors and princes with deep father-son love in the early stage, and in the later stage... it's better not to talk about the later stage.
Liu Ju took a deep breath. "If she succeeds, as my ally, she will naturally side with me. She can stand behind me and give me more leverage in the future. If something unexpected happens in the future, Wusun with her may become my last resort."
If that situation really came to pass, he would have no choice but to seize the opportunity. If he succeeded, he would ascend to the throne. If he failed, he would naturally not be able to stay in the Han Dynasty, but if he could retreat to Wusun, it would also be a way to survive.
These words were too sensitive to be spoken directly, so Liu Ju, like Zhu Yi, stopped at the point.
The guards and the other officers exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock. They had never expected Liu Ju, at such a young age, to understand so much.
The answer is revealed in this look.
Liu Ju sighed, "No wonder my eldest sister asked me if I blamed my second sister. If I said I blamed her, you wouldn't do it, right?"
The guard chuckled, "Brother, nothing is more important than you. I won't choose someone who will make you feel bad. Even if she is my best choice right now."
"So after you learned of my intentions, you asked me to plead for her. You wanted to show her some favor first, so that she would remember my kindness to her." Liu Ju frowned, "But people's hearts can change. Even if she is grateful to me now, who knows if she won't turn against me in the future?"
Zhu Yi chuckled, "Brother, how could my eldest sister stake everything on gratitude? Do you think my second sister would need help from our court if she went to the Western Regions?"
Liu Ju understood immediately, "Of course she does. She needs the support and attitude of the Han Dynasty. Sometimes, even father and the court officials may hesitate about certain needs. At this time, someone is needed to mediate and strive for them. We are the best people to 'mediate and strive for'. Is this what Second Sister meant by "benefiting her and benefiting us"?"
After saying that, Liu Ju still shook his head: "It's still not safe."
Because of this mutual need, when the needs are not equal, they can be replaced.
Liu Ju frowned, and suddenly thought of something. Didn't his sister also mention "with our help"? Help...
Just as the thought flashed through his mind, Zhu Yi said, "Brother, my second sister won't go to the Western Regions alone. A normal marriage would be accompanied by a wedding procession, with guards and servants. Not to mention that she's on such an important mission, the accompanying entourage will be even larger."
As expected, Liu Ju woke up with a start: "The guards will mostly come from the army, and the servants will mostly be selected from the palace. The former's uncle and cousin are very prestigious and powerful. The latter, my mother is the master of the harem."
With this advantage, it is very easy to place people. If you are smart, it is not a problem to place most of them.
Zhu Yi looked at the guard captain and said, "Guards and servants are secondary. If Second Sister wants to accomplish anything, she needs the help of capable and knowledgeable confidants. Is your eldest sister prepared for this?"
The guard commander didn't deny it and said directly, "The maids in her palace are too weak. They can take care of daily life, but not so much. So I have selected two people and will find the right time to send them to her to serve as her dowry maids in Wusun."
All the townspeople understood and were not surprised at all.
Liu Ju suddenly realized: "With these arrangements, if all we want is to survive and escape, then that's not a problem. My second sister doesn't have to be completely devoted to me forever. Even if one day she no longer wants to form an alliance and wants to go her separate ways, as long as she doesn't have any intention of harming me, then it won't matter. We can both live in peace. But if she has any intention of harming me..."
Zhu Yi chuckled: "Brother, do you know what a dowry maid is?"
Eh?
Liu Ju was a little confused about this.
The chief of guards explained: "The maids who come with the princess as a bride or concubine are also allowed to serve the King of Wusun. If there is no rebellion in Eyi, they will help him ascend to the throne and make plans for him.
"If heresy arises in Eyi and acts against you, they will try to undermine Eyi and contain her. At this time, the hidden chess pieces planted in the accompanying servants and guards will appear, stabilize the situation, and await your orders.
"You can decide for yourself whether to take another approach or have the maidservant take over directly. These hidden chess pieces will not reveal their identities. Eyi will not know, and neither will the maidservant. They will not take sides, but only act as a balance, obeying your orders and awaiting your orders."
Liu Ju:!!!
With kindness as the guide, mutual assistance as the lure, and assisted by trusted maids, servants and guards...
My eldest sister was quite generous. She had taken every possible aspect into consideration and made every possible effort. But...
"Even if Second Sister volunteered, how can I be sure that Father would agree?"
"I'm not sure." The guard shook his head. "If it were the Xiongnu, Father would certainly not agree. But the Wusun are different. They have no blood feud with us, so we can achieve a win-win situation.
"Eyi is especially not stupid. If she volunteered, she wouldn't do it from a normal perspective. She would try to persuade the emperor by using the idea of 'ruling Wusun' as a pretext.
"Your Majesty may not need a simple princess for marriage, but he may be attracted to a princess who could become the regent queen or even the regent queen mother of Wusun.
"In this way, Wusun will be in the hands of the Han Dynasty, no different from any other vassal state. If this is truly accomplished, we can use Wusun as a base and aim for the Western Regions."
Liu Ju's eyes twitched slightly. If that were the case, his father might indeed be tempted. Especially since E Yi wasn't favored, he felt he didn't care about her. It would be best if E Yi succeeded, but if not, that didn't matter either.
In that case, why not give it a try?
Liu Ju raised his eyes and said, "Eldest sister, what if I don't agree?"
The captain paused.
"Eldest sister, you've considered so much. You must have considered how dangerous it would be to go to Wusun. Even if we go after conquering Hexi, at most we'll avoid being captured by the Xiongnu along the way. What happens after that?"
"If the Xiongnu knew about our marriage to the Wusun, would they stop us? Would they take any action, like sending a princess to the Wusun? Then who would be the older and who would be the younger? How would my second sister cope?"
"Not to mention that the customs and practices of the Western Regions are completely different from those of the Central Plains. My second sister is far away from her homeland, in a strange country, and it will take a lot of effort to adapt. Especially since she has a 'mission' to carry out.
"Even though Lie Jiaomi is no longer in his prime, he's still far from old. His ears and eyes are sharp, and he's not at the point of being confused. It's already difficult enough to act under his nose.
"Besides that, Second Sister also needs to be wary of the Xiongnu's threat. If the Xiongnu put pressure on Wusun, and Wusun is unwilling to confront them head-on, how will they respond? Will they compromise? If Wusun gives in, Second Sister's situation will become even more difficult.
"This road has an unknown future, and life and death are unpredictable."
The guard lowered his eyes. She knew. But risks and rewards go hand in hand. The greater the risk, the greater the reward for future success. Few things in this world are achieved overnight. Especially great achievements and undertakings, which are often fraught with turbulent times and thorns.
Since we have the ambition to soar like a golden dragon, how can we be afraid of the obstacles ahead?
Personally, she was willing to give it a try. But she also knew that not everyone would share her expectations. So she left the choice to Eyi herself. Without the resolve to face the challenge head-on and the courage to burn her boats, even if she went, she would be doomed. Better not to go.
"Eldest sister. I'm not speaking specifically for Second Sister, nor am I worried solely for her. If anyone else had gone today, whether a princess, a royal family member, a noblewoman, or even a commoner, I would not have agreed, much less would I have agreed.
"Sister, why did I go to so much trouble to make all these things, the compass, the harness, the telescope, etc.?
"To strengthen the Han Dynasty, let the Han Dynasty become the world's hegemon, without being disturbed by foreign races; let the people of the world live and work in peace and contentment, without having to worry about their livelihoods; let the people on the border live a normal life, without having to worry about their safety;
"It also allows our Han soldiers to live out their remaining years in peace, without having to die on the battlefield; and it allows all the women of the Han Dynasty to drink and chat happily, without having to endure the pain of marriage!"
Every word is powerful and thought-provoking.
If what Liu Ju said before was still within Wei Chang's consideration, then these few words really made her heart beat faster and shocked her on the spot.
The Han Dynasty, its people, common people, soldiers, women...
Every word and sentence lingers in my ears.
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