Five parties seek to marry the princess
Qianwu, along with Liangqu and Huideng, found Prince Qixuan of Huainan and Tao Yuran, and the group settled down together.
At the imperial city, after Li You left, Li Xingyi suddenly sensed a chilling killing intent behind her. She immediately pushed Qi Dou away with her right hand and leaned back to the left, just in time to dodge the incoming sword.
Li Xingyi immediately raised his right foot and kicked the man's wrist. The man, in pain, released his sword, which fell to the ground with a clanging sound.
Qingyi and Zhao Hongxing quickly stepped forward and held her down, saying, "Behave yourself, Consort Meng."
This Lady Meng is Tingyu, the daughter of the former Granny Jing, and was also given the title during the imperial concubine selection.
Qi Dou quickly stepped forward and took Li Xingyi's hand, asking, "Xingyi, are you alright?"
Li Xingyi gently patted his hand and said, "It's alright."
Qi Dou then released his grip with relief. Li Xingyi turned and walked to Meng Tingyu, saying, "Assassinating the Empress is a capital offense. Do you have anything else to say?"
Meng Tingyu sneered, "Tch, Li Xingyi! Do you think you've gotten away with this?! Deceiving the emperor! Raising an army without authorization! And being the martial arts alliance leader who commands all the sects, Han Xing! That's enough to make you pay with your life!"
Meng Tingyu originally intended to enter the palace to compete for the emperor's favor and cause trouble for Li Xingyi, but she did not expect that Li Xingyi was actually the leader of the martial arts alliance. She was no match for him in terms of martial arts or intelligence, so she decided to fight back, but she still lost.
Upon hearing this, Qi Dou raised his sword and swung it toward Meng Tingyu's head, saying, "My affairs are none of your business!"
The next second, Meng Tingyu's head hit the ground, clearly demonstrating Qi Dou's decisive and swift action.
He Lian said, "Alliance Leader, if there is nothing else, we will take our leave."
After hearing this, Li Xingyi said, "Thank you all for today. I will repay you if I have the opportunity in the future."
Zemin said, "No need. The leader's affairs are our affairs. There's no question of repaying or not repaying."
"..."
Li Xingyi didn't know what to say. After a moment, she raised her right hand and waved it to the left and right, indicating that they should leave.
Seeing this, He Lian and the others bowed to her and left. As Zui Yu left, he laughed and said, "Very well, I won't get involved in the Alliance Leader's private affairs. Anyway, the Alliance Leader will definitely be fine."
Li Xingyi has revealed her identity as the leader of the martial arts alliance. It is unknown whether her family and the imperial city will still tolerate her. Zuiyu and others are only responsible for helping her fight the war. As for the subsequent explanations, they are not responsible for them. But what is certain is that Li Xingyi will never put herself in danger.
The setting sun shone on everyone, and Li Xingyi, with her back to the sun, became even more the center of attention.
Qi Qing looked at Li Xingyi and smiled, "Your Majesty is overjoyed. My elder sister is truly flattered."
Qi Wenzhe bowed to her and said, "I did not know that Your Highness was the leader of the martial arts alliance. If I have been negligent, I hope the leader will forgive me."
Upon hearing this, Qi Dou bowed to Li Xingyi and said, "Disciple greets Sect Leader."
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Although Qi Dou was expressing his attitude and stance, and that he had known this secret from the beginning, the news was too surprising and left everyone at a loss. Moreover, the fact that the king of a country was bowing to his queen was astonishing.
Seeing this, Li Xingyi took his hand and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need for this. I belong to you anyway."
This means that Li Xingyi is still his empress, not his sect leader.
Qi Dou was stunned. He saw the sincerity in the eyes of the person in front of him, as if he had returned to the time when Li Xingyi performed the apprenticeship ceremony. At that time, she stood on a high place, and her eyes were sincere about learning martial arts. Now, her eyes were sincere about loving Qi Dou.
Seeing Qi Dou standing there in a daze, Li Xingyi grabbed his hand, turned around, and left, saying, "Let's go, it's time to deal with the next matters."
Qi Qing watched their retreating figures and said, "What does this mean? And what's going on here?!"
Qingyi explained, "Don't worry, Her Majesty is a good person and won't harm you."
Zhao Hongxing nodded and said, "Your Majesty in the past..."
After a long while, Zhao Hongxing explained the whole story clearly, and Qi Qing nodded and said, "I see, no wonder you insisted on marrying her."
Qi Wenzhe said, "That makes things easier. Since we're on the same side, there's nothing to worry about."
Qi Xuangui thought it made sense and nodded, saying, "That's right."
...
The relationship between the Qi father and son has always been somewhat strained, and it seems rather strange that Qi Xuangui is now responding to Qi Wenzhe so readily.
Qi Xuangui immediately realized what was happening and said, "Ahem, I think... I think..."
Qi Wenzhe knew that he actually cared about him, but he never said it. He didn't want things to stay like this forever, because it didn't feel like a family.
Qi Wenzhe looked at Qi Xuangui and took the lead in breaking the ice, saying, "Father, the journey from the border to the capital is long and arduous. You must be tired."
Qi Xuan Gui was visibly taken aback upon hearing this, as it was something he hadn't expected. However, he was very happy and smiled with relief, saying, "I am extremely pleased that Wen Zhe has returned safely."
Seeing this, Qi Qing put his arm around Qi Wenzhe and said with a smile, "General, could you stay a few more days? You must attend my wedding with Wenzhe."
Qi Xuan Gui was both surprised and delighted, and asked, "Has the princess decided when to get married?"
Qi Qing smiled and said, "Your Majesty's birthday is approaching, and I would like to get married on the day after the Emperor's birthday."
Qi Xuangui then looked at Qi Wenzhe and asked, "What are you thinking?"
Qi Wenzhe gently placed his hand on Qi Qing's hand and said, "I support the princess's decision."
Qi Qing laughed even more heartily upon hearing this, and Qi Xuan Gui said, "In that case, I will certainly explain this matter to Your Majesty and hope that you may stay a little longer."
Li Xingyi pulled Qi Dou to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the court was held, and had Qi Dou sit on the dragon throne. She said to Qi Dou, "A Dou, I will send disciples from my sect to bring them all back. As for the construction of the imperial city, it can only be left to you."
Qi Dou replied, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
A few days later, groups of people wearing fox masks and dressed in white stood in front of inns from all directions.
Ji Xi, Li Yanzhang, Zi Zheng, Liu Linye, and Qi Xuan all asked in unison, "Who comes here?"
The leaders from each direction said to them, "We have come to escort you back on the orders of our sect leader."
Ji Xi and the others asked in unison again, "Who is your sect leader?"
Even though Li Yanzhang had already guessed it, he still hoped to hear it with his own ears.
The leaders in front of Li Yanzhang and Ji Xi slowly removed their masks, revealing Qingyi and Zhao Hongxing to be their respective identities!
The two leaders, along with the leaders from other directions, declared in unison, "Our sect leader is none other than the current Empress, Li Xingyi!"
Everyone was shocked by these words.
At the foot of an unnamed mountain, in an unnamed village, a couple dressed in white walked out of a clinic. The doctor called out to them, "Young master, be careful not to let your wife have a miscarriage!"
The man held a two-year-old girl in his arms. The girl sat obediently in his lap, and he replied with his back to the doctor, "I understand."
The woman wearing a veiled hat beside him chuckled softly. As they passed a tea stall, several men were gossiping about it.
"Have you heard? The current Empress has revealed her identity as Han Xing, the leader of the martial arts alliance!"
"I've heard about it before; the news has spread far and wide. But I've also heard that His Majesty and Eunuch Zhao are members of the Frostbite Sect. His Majesty even bowed directly to the Empress!"
"What?! Such a thing actually happened?! I wonder what will happen to Her Majesty the Empress from now on?!"
"..."
The couple in white walked past the tea stall. After hearing this, the woman wearing a veil gently touched her barely noticeable lower abdomen and a smile appeared on her lips.
A few days later, everyone had returned home, and life seemed to have returned to normal. Only Shi Hui was missing, but Li Xingyi was not in a hurry to find her, as if he already knew where she was.
On June 21st, the day of the Emperor's birthday, Qi Dou sat high above, with Li Xingyi sitting beside him. All the surrounding states of Qi came to celebrate Qi Dou's birthday.
Amidst the singing and dancing, when it came to the gift-presenting segment, the envoy from the Eastern Kingdom, Chao Qidou, placed his right hand on his left chest and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty enjoy good health and longevity! Our country presents Your Majesty with three thousand bolts of cloth, one hundred taels of gold, and one thousand jewels..."
The Eastern Kingdom, the Western Kingdom, and the Qi Kingdom have always kept to themselves, so it's quite strange that they've come to offer birthday wishes today. Moreover, they've presented quite a few gifts; I wonder what they're up to.
Qi Dou said calmly, "The Eastern Kingdom has gone to great lengths; I will accept these."
The envoy from the Eastern Kingdom did not leave, but instead said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, our country has the intention of forming a marriage alliance, and we hope that Your Majesty can act as a matchmaker!"
Everyone knows that Qi Dou has just ascended the throne and has no children. Even if he did, they are not old enough for a marriage alliance. Therefore, the princess that the Eastern Kingdom wants to marry can only be his sister!
But how could Qi Dou possibly force them into this? Dong Guo's actions were clearly an attempt to force them into marriage!
The late emperor had eight sons: his eldest daughter, Princess Qing'an, Qi Qing; his second son, the current emperor, Qi Dou; his third daughter, Princess Huimin, Qi Min; his fourth daughter, Princess Yanyun, Qi Yan; his fifth daughter, Princess Huaiyan, Qi Yan; his sixth son, Prince Pingshou, Qi Hui; his seventh son, Prince Huainan, Qi Xuan; and his eighth daughter, Princess Ru'an, Qi Ru.
Qi Qing is already engaged, so it's clearly Qi Min's turn next.
Qi Min clenched her fists in her seat, lowered her head, and tried to hold back her tears.
If only my mother were here, she would definitely protect me.
At that moment, a voice rang out, "Wait!"
The envoy from the Western Kingdom stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, our country also happens to have the intention of forming a marriage alliance. We hope that Your Majesty can choose a suitable spouse for the princess!"
Qi Dou was threatened because there had just been a war, and he was no longer capable of confronting the two countries. So the two countries took advantage of this and came out to force him into marriage!
Ji Xi glanced at Qi Min, then made up his mind, stood up, stepped forward, and bowed to Qi Dou, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject wishes to marry Princess Huimin!"
Everyone was shocked by these words! Li Yanzhang was filled with question marks.
When did this happen?
Even Qi Min was surprised. She looked up at Ji Xi in a daze, tears streaming down her face.
Qi Dou was annoyed by this and said, "Why are you getting involved? You don't even like Huimin, so why bother?"
Ji Xi continued to bow and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I admire Princess Huimin. It is not out of pity or sympathy, but out of genuine affection."
"Your Majesty, I was slow to realize my feelings for you sooner, which has wronged you. But I hope you will give me a chance to make up for my mistake."
For Qi Min, as long as you are willing to turn back, I will wait for you in the same place. There is no question of giving you a chance or not, because the chance that Qi Min gives Ji Xi is permanent.
Qi Min watched as Ji Xi smiled slowly through her tears. Her smile was so bitter, as if she had finally waited for this moment after all the hardships.
At this moment, Liu Linye quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject wishes to ask for Princess Ru'an's hand in marriage."
Qi Dou was at his wits' end. He said, "Liu Linye, you don't need to be in such a hurry. Ru'an and you are already in love. You will surely be betrothed in the future."
Liu Linye glanced at the envoys from the East and West and said, "Your Majesty, I do not wish for the princess to be taken away by others."
Suddenly another voice rang out, "Wait! What am I supposed to do after you've finished looting?"
Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw Li You slowly walking forward.
Seeing this, Qi Dou said with a headache, "What are you doing here again? Are you going to back out?"
Li You's servants brought over a chair, and Li You sat down, looking at Qi Dou and smiling, "Now that I've ascended the throne, I should have an empress, right? I've heard that all the princesses of the Qi royal family are beautiful. I should have one, after all, I already gave up a stunning beauty."
When he spoke of the stunning beauty, he slowly looked at Li Xingyi. Qi Dou, already annoyed by them, couldn't help but exclaim upon hearing Li You's words, "Please marry me! Please marry me! Where do you think you have so many princesses to marry?! There are only five princesses in total! I can only marry four of them. How are you five going to marry them all?!"
At this moment, some idiot said, "Wouldn't it be perfect to cancel the princess's engagement?"
Everyone was speechless.
You're a genius! You really are a genius!
Enraged, Qi Dou grabbed something from the table and threw it at the man, yelling, "Get out of here! Do you think this is a game of balancing?!"
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