After closing the door, Chu Xia carried the kettle to the table, poured Murong Xi a cup of hot tea, and then, with a grin, asked, "Your Majesty, what were you all talking about just now?"
The two women grew up together. Although she was an empress and a saintess, they were as close as sisters in private.
Sensing the teasing tone in her words, Murong Xi glared at her irritably: "Don't overthink it! There's nothing between him and me!"
"So what did you say?"
I promised him…
Murong Xi sighed and said, "No more marriage alliances!"
"Why!"
Chu Xia, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up again.
"Our purpose in this marriage alliance is for the benefit of the people of Yueyao Kingdom, and he just gave me some advice..."
So she explained the cooperation method proposed by Jing Zhe. Although Chu Xia agreed with the method, she still asked doubtfully, "This method is good... but it doesn't conflict with the marriage alliance!"
She approached Murong Xi and suggested, "The Empress could propose to Emperor An that a marriage alliance be established simultaneously with this cooperation. Moreover, the marriage partner doesn't need to be from the imperial family or nobility; even if their official rank is lower, they can still be married off! I think he came up with this idea precisely for the purpose of the marriage alliance!"
In fact, Chu Xia had guessed some of Murong Xi's intentions towards Jing Zhe back in Liangzhou, and seeing Murong Xi's reaction in court today only strengthened her suspicions.
Even if Emperor An really agreed, Chu Xia didn't think Jing Zhe was suitable. His appearance, martial arts and talent were all very good, but his official position was too low. If he married a minor official of the fifth rank, how much criticism would Murong Xi suffer when he returned to Yueyao Kingdom?
However, with Jing Zhe's proposed cooperation, Chu Xia felt that even if his official position was lower, it wouldn't be a problem.
But Murong Xi still shook his head: "Chu Xia, you so desperately want me to marry him, is it for my sake or for your own?"
"..."
Chu Xia blushed instantly and waved her hands, saying, "What are you saying, Your Majesty? I... how... how could that be!"
He then retorted, "Does the Empress have no feelings for him? Don't lie to me!"
"..."
Murong Xi remained silent, his eyes lowered, and he didn't lie to Chu Xia: "But what if I have it, and what if I don't?"
Ultimately, Murong Xi was still a very traditional person at heart. Her body had been seen, touched, and even kissed by a man, and coupled with his rescue of her several times, she had long since developed feelings for Jing Zhe.
She hadn't dared to think about it or admit it before, but when she heard that he didn't want to marry her, the pain she felt made her realize her truest thoughts.
But... so what?
"So what if it exists?"
Chu Xia frowned and said, "If he has a son, let him marry him! Even Chu Xia can see that the Empress likes him. In all these years, when has the Empress ever spoken to a man alone? Since she likes him, then let them marry him!"
Murong Xi gave a wry smile and then shook his head.
"Early Summer, do you know what it means for him if he agrees to a marriage alliance with us?"
"The Empress is so beautiful, and he can marry one...and get one free! Besides, who in the Moon Yao Kingdom wouldn't treat him with utmost respect? This is something countless men in the Moon Yao Kingdom dream of! He should be happy!"
Chu Xia pouted and said.
"Others might be happy. But he certainly wouldn't want that..."
"Why?"
"You've seen General Jinghong, haven't you? Isn't she beautiful?"
Chu Xia nodded: "General Jinghong is the foremost female general of Anguo, heroic and valiant, and naturally beautiful as a fairy..."
After meeting Liu Jinghong, Chu Xia had already regarded her as her idol and role model.
"Lord Zhu, how is she now that she brought us here?"
"Zhu Sheren is the foremost female civil official in Anguo, the most talented woman in Jingzhou, and truly an extraordinary woman!"
Because of what happened in court today, Chu Xia didn't have much affection for Zhu Xinning, but that didn't stop her from giving an objective evaluation.
"Even you say they are so good, and that he wouldn't agree to a marriage alliance for their sake. If we force him, do you think he would agree?"
Why is that?
Chu Xia frowned: "Aren't those two his older sisters? Why would he not want a marriage alliance because of them? Does he really want to spend his whole life with his two older sisters?"
To everyone's surprise, Murong Xi nodded firmly: "That's exactly what he thinks."
Amidst Chu Xia's confusion, Murong Xi explained, "They are not siblings, but..."
So, Murong Xi explained her reasoning about the feelings between Jing Zhe, Liu Jinghong, and Zhu Xinning: "Do you think he would give up Liu Jinghong and Zhu Xinning for us?"
"..."
In Chu Xia's eyes, Murong Xi was second to none, comparable to either Liu Jinghong or Zhu Xinning, but she…
Therefore, they were completely defeated.
But she still pouted and said, "But this is just the Queen's guess. Who knows if they actually have that kind of relationship?"
"Besides his two older sisters, Liu Jinghong and Zhu Xinning, he has five other sisters. Who knows what their relationships are with the others... So let's just forget about it! I was too impulsive in court today. Now that I think about it, this suggestion was too selfish. I won't bring it up again..."
Murong Xi sighed; she was ultimately rational.
For the first time, I realized that the identity of an empress was a kind of shackle.
If I weren't the empress, would I dare to boldly tell him what's on my mind right now?
Even with the Empress's status as a guarantee, he remained unmoved. If he were no longer the Empress, would he still not even give her a second glance?
Murong Xi pondered quietly…
...
The next room.
When Zhu Xinning saw Jing Zhe walking into Wenxiangju from the window, she made a bet with Zhang Xiaoyu and Yu Xiangrong, betting whether Jing Zhe would come to their side first.
If she wins, no matter what happens in the future, Zhang Xiaoyu and Yu Xiangrong must unconditionally support her. To put it bluntly, she wants to firmly pull the two women into her camp and make them her "sisters"...
The two women listened without saying a word, since they now addressed Zhu Xinning as their second sister and had already accepted her.
In fact, Zhu Xinning secretly longed to lose, but Jing Zhe wouldn't give her that chance.
When they heard the door next door open and then close, the three women were stunned. Then Zhu Xinning said helplessly, "See, I won the bet, didn't I?"
Even though I won, why do I feel so bitter inside?
Zhang Xiaoyu, who had been kneeling by the door, hurriedly explained, "Second Sister, it was that Holy Maiden who let the young master in. He had no choice!"
Once everyone was out and she could no longer hear any noise from next door, after much deliberation, Zhang Xiaoyu, unwilling to give up, pushed open the door and went to eavesdrop at the neighbor's door...
Unfortunately, before she could hear anything, she heard footsteps coming from down the stairs. Fearing she would be discovered, Zhang Xiaoyu quickly ran back…
————
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