Sure enough, news spread the next day that Ashina Hong proposed at the court meeting that he wanted to marry a princess of the Great Qi Kingdom in order to consolidate the alliance between the two countries.
"Absurd!" Xiao Suiyun was unusually angry upon learning this. "His Majesty only has two princesses. The eldest princess is already married, and the youngest princess is only fourteen years old. How can she be married off to the Northern Barbarians?"
Qi Yue was also shocked: "The King of Northern Di already has a principal wife. Does he intend to make the Princess of Great Qi a concubine?"
"That's his real purpose," Xiao Suiyun said coldly, "to make an impossible demand and create an excuse to break the treaty later."
That night, Xiao Suiyun was urgently summoned to the palace. Qi Yue waited in the mansion until late at night before he finally returned, dragging his exhausted body.
"His Majesty rejected the marriage proposal, and Ashina Hong immediately expressed his dissatisfaction." Xiao Suiyun rubbed his temples. "The peace talks have reached a stalemate."
In the following days, tensions rose in the court. The pro-war faction became active again, submitting numerous petitions requesting preparations for war.
That day, Qi Yue entered the palace to pay her respects to the Empress as usual, and happened to meet the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess quietly told her, "I heard that the Northern Di delegation has been secretly contacting several vassal kings, and I wonder what they are plotting."
Qi Yue's heart sank. Upon returning home, she immediately informed Xiao Suiyun of the matter.
"Just as I thought." Xiao Suiyun was not surprised. "Ashina Hong's trip was a pretense of peace talks; his real purpose was to sow discord."
"So how should we deal with this?"
Xiao Suiyun pondered for a moment: "Since he wants to play with fire, let's give him some fuel."
Three days later, Xiao Suiyun hosted a banquet at his residence to reciprocate Ashina Hong's invitation. Several important officials from the court were also invited to the banquet, including the vassal kings who had been contacted by the Northern Di delegation.
Midway through the banquet, Xiao Suiyun raised his glass and said, "We are deeply gratified that the Crown Prince has come for the sake of peace between our two countries. However, we are unsure of the true extent of the Crown Prince's sincerity."
Ashina Hong laughed and said, "Why do you say such things, Marquis of Zhenbei? We, the Northern Di, are naturally sincere in seeking peace."
“In that case,” Xiao Suiyun put down his wine cup, “why did the eldest prince privately contact the princes and suggest that if they support the Northern Di, in the future… we could help them advance further?”
The room erupted in uproar. The expressions of the several vassal kings changed drastically.
Ashina Hong's expression darkened: "What does the Marquis of Zhenbei mean by this? Are you trying to frame me?"
Xiao Suiyun remained calm: "Whether it's a frame-up or not, the eldest prince knows perfectly well." He clapped his hands three times, and a Northern Di servant was brought forward. "This is your close attendant, isn't he? He's confessed to everything."
Ashina Hong's face turned deathly pale.
This matter quickly reached the emperor's ears. The emperor was furious and immediately ordered Ashina Hong to be placed under house arrest, and the rest of the Northern Di delegation were also placed under close surveillance.
This incident completely exposed the Northern Barbarians' conspiracy. The emperor trusted Xiao Suiyun even more and entrusted him with the entire responsibility of handling peace negotiations.
However, Qi Yue felt uneasy. That night, when she helped Xiao Suiyun change his clothes after he returned home late, she found a secret letter hidden in his sleeve.
"What is this?" she asked, puzzled.
Xiao Suiyun unfolded the letter, which contained only one line of Northern Di script: "Brother Yun, stop now, or don't blame me for not showing you any mercy."
“Ashina Hong’s warning,” Xiao Suiyun said calmly, “He still has a backup plan.”
Sure enough, the next day a rumor began to circulate in the capital: Marquis Xiao Suiyun of Zhenbei was actually a spy of the Northern Di, and his plot to frame Ashina Hong was to gain merit in the Northern Di and to plot treason.
The rumors intensified, with some even dredging up old grievances, claiming that Xiao Suiyun's mother was a noblewoman from the Northern Di tribe, impure of blood, and unworthy of being the Marquis of Daqi.
That day, Qi Yue traveled by carriage to the charity hall, and along the way, some people pointed and whispered about the carriage. Upon returning home, she found Xiao Suiyun standing alone in the courtyard, his figure desolate.
"Suiyun?" she called softly.
Xiao Suiyun turned around, his eyes filled with a weariness she had never seen before: "Yue'er, if I... really resign from my official post and take you away from this place of trouble, would you be willing?"
Qi Yue stepped forward and firmly grasped his hand: "Whatever decision you make, I will support you. But I don't want you to back down because of these rumors. You are a hero of Great Qi, that's an indisputable fact."
Xiao Suiyun embraced her and remained silent for a long time.
The next day, Xiao Suiyun went to court as usual, ignoring the rumors. However, in secret, he intensified his investigation.
Three days later, he presented the evidence he had gathered to the emperor.
“The mastermind behind the rumors has been found.” Xiao Suiyun presented the evidence: “It was Ashina Hong’s strategist who bribed several storytellers to spread rumors in teahouses and taverns.”
The emperor was furious after reading it and immediately issued an edict to clarify the rumors and imprison the rumor-mongers.
The storm had subsided, but Qi Yue discovered that Xiao Suiyun had not truly let go. That night, she saw him alone in his study, lost in thought, staring at a portrait.
The painting depicts a woman dressed in Northern Di attire, with gentle features, bearing a striking resemblance to Xiao Suiyun.
"This is...your mother?" Qi Yue asked softly.
Xiao Suiyun nodded: "Whenever someone makes a fuss about my lineage, I think of my mother. She was kind all her life, but suffered a lot because of her identity."
Qi Yue held his hand: "Bloodline cannot define a person. Your choices and your actions are what truly define you."
Xiao Suiyun gazed at her, the gloom in his eyes gradually dissipating: "With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. A month later, an urgent report came from the border: a coup had occurred in the Northern Di, Ashina Hong's father had been overthrown, and Ashina Hong was on the run. The newly enthroned king of the Northern Di was none other than Ashina Zhe, the second prince of the pro-peace faction.
"This is a turning point!" Xiao Suiyun's spirits lifted upon hearing the news. "Ashina Zhe has always advocated for peace and will surely restart peace talks."
Sure enough, soon after, the new king of the Northern Barbarians sent envoys to renew his request for peace talks. This time, the terms were extremely generous; the king not only agreed to become a vassal and pay tribute but also promised never to invade the border again.
In the imperial court, Xiao Suiyun strongly advocated for accepting peace talks. Through his mediation, the two countries finally reached a peace agreement.
On the day the agreement was signed, Xiao Suiyun hosted a celebratory banquet at his residence. During the banquet, he drank a few extra cups of wine and was slightly tipsy when he returned to his room.
Qi Yue wiped his face, listening to him murmur, "Mother, do you see? Your son has finally cleared your name... The Northern Di and the Great Qi can coexist peacefully..."
Seeing the tears streaming down his face, Qi Yue felt a pang of sorrow mixed with relief. This man had carried too much on his shoulders, and now he could finally put down a little of that burden.
The next morning, Xiao Suiyun woke up to find Qi Yue embroidering children's clothes by the window. Sunlight shone on her, soft and serene.
He gently walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist: "Yue'er, thank you for always being by my side."
Qi Yue turned around and smiled: "Husband and wife are one, there is no need for thanks."
Outside the window, spring was in full bloom, and life seemed peaceful. But they both knew that the political landscape was ever-changing, and the road ahead would not be smooth. But as long as they supported each other, they had nothing to fear.
And their children will be born into this world amidst such love and perseverance, continuing to write new stories.
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