Chapter 64, the Sixty-Fourth Marriage Alliance
The Wu Kingdom has suffered from frequent natural disasters in recent years, and has also seized half of its arable land. This year, the allocation of funds to the Ministry of Works is only three or four tenths of that in previous years.
It was a sign of premature aging, but with piles of gold and silver jewelry, banquets being held, and guests being invited, few people could tell.
Ji Yuanshu was a person who was always prepared for danger even in times of peace. When she learned about the national treasury's income and expenditure this year, she was surprised to find that so much money had been spent so quickly. Upon further inquiry, she found that all the accounts were normal, and she took the opportunity to complain about being poor.
Apart from Fan Qi's position, the other city defenses suffered defeats. Officials were frequently transferred, partly because they feared the general would gain popular support, and partly because the three major families were vying for power, and none wanted to lose their authority.
The emperor was extremely troubled by this matter, and Ji Yuanshu was at her wit's end. Seeing her predicament, Qin Sihai offered to lead troops to garrison the area, which would be considered as adding another ally to the emperor's ranks. But how could Ji Yuanshu be willing to accept this? Over the years, Qin Sihai's influence in the court had gradually grown, and he could not leave so easily unless a more suitable candidate was found.
In his growing anxiety, the emperor set his sights on Ji Yuanshu, only for the Empress Dowager to mention Ji Yuanshu's marriage the other day. Originally, the three powerful families did not want a princess to have such great power, but unexpectedly, this stirred the emperor's interest.
If the princess can't marry a man from Wu, wouldn't marrying a man from Sui solve the problem? It's a good thing both privately and publicly.
This idea was shared with Ji Yuanshu by a minister. Ji Yuanshu paused for a moment upon hearing it, then looked at her elder brother, the emperor, who had ascended to the throne. The emperor's gaze was deep, his brows furrowed in thought. However, Ji Yuanshu had been a seasoned court official for many years, and the emperor's silence was not a rejection, but rather a sign of deep consideration.
She thought the emperor still cared for her personally, which was why she was conflicted. After a moment of thought, Ji Yuanshu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if it is beneficial to the country, I, as a princess, am willing to go."
Amidst cries of "Princess, it's for your own good!", Ji Yuanshu knelt down and bowed deeply to the emperor, her gaze resolute yet tinged with a secret hope. She didn't want to marry into a small country that the people of Wu had once looked down upon, she didn't want to marry into such a barbaric land, and she didn't want to marry someone she had never even spoken of.
She served the emperor faithfully; surely there must be some affection between them?
Sure enough, the emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Let me think about it for a moment."
The emperor's moment of contemplation was enough for Ji Yuanshu to catch her breath. Her first thought was of Qin Sihai, and only Qin Sihai. Disregarding any rules about avoiding attention, she went straight into the Qin residence.
At this moment, Qin Sihai was still weighing the pros and cons in the cabinet when he heard from his servant that the princess was waiting inside the mansion. He immediately sensed something was wrong and hurriedly ran inside.
As soon as I entered the mansion, I saw Ji Yuanshu standing next to a wintersweet tree with a bell-shaped base. I don't know how long she had been standing there, but her nose and fingers were red from the cold.
Qin Sihai hurriedly led the person into the main hall, saying as he did so, "It was the servants' fault for not being hospitable enough. Your Highness, please warm up inside and don't catch a cold."
He went inside and took off his cloak. Turning around, he saw Ji Yuanshu still standing outside. Qin Sihai's heart sank even further. It seemed this wasn't an urgent matter for the court, but a private one.
The servant handed over a hand warmer, which Qin Sihai took, then went back out and placed in Ji Yuanshu's hand, saying, "Your Highness, as long as people are alive, everything can be resolved."
"You talk like one of those meditating monks, so calm and collected," Ji Yuanshu forced a smile in response to his words of comfort.
Qin Sihai led Ji Yuanshu into the hall. A maid brought over a cup of snow swallow milk. Ji Yuanshu warmed her hands and said, "A dozen years ago, I wouldn't have even dared to dream of something like this."
It was highly unusual for Ji Yuanshu, who was always very proper, to not refer to herself as "this palace".
Ji Yuanshu continued, "I got to where I am today by cultivating connections in the court. I thought that being able to freely enter and leave the Imperial Study meant that I was also a subject, and compared to those ministers who had contributed to the rise of the emperor, I had an extra layer of blood. But I forgot that I am a woman, and I will get married."
Qin Sihai remained silent this time, staring down at the teacup in his hand.
Ji Yuanshu chuckled silently, but her hand clenched tightly in her sleeve: "I'm going to be married off to a foreign ruler."
While Ji Yuanshu waited anxiously for an answer, Qin Sihai frowned slightly and looked up: "Given the current situation in Wu, surely they wouldn't send their princess for a political marriage?"
“Some people can’t stand me being here, and some people don’t trust Suiguo. I’ll go; it’s a win-win situation.” Seeing that Qin Sihai was subconsciously concerned about national affairs rather than himself, Ji Yuanshu understood. She decided to go all out and asked the question that concerned her most: “You really haven’t had any feelings for me, not even a little bit?”
Qin Sihai remained silent for a moment before saying, "Your Highness is very kind. I dare not covet it."
"Is it that I dare not, or that I don't want to?" Ji Yuanshu was being willful this time, and decided to be persistent.
The silence was like incense, suffocating the two people who were locked in a tight-knit space, rendering them speechless.
Qin Sihai suddenly lost his mind. The morning's work on the paperwork had made his eyes blurry for a moment. But that person wouldn't be sitting upright in a chair like that, that person wouldn't be dressed so luxuriously, and that person wouldn't be sitting so far away from him.
No matter how bad your eyesight is, you can't possibly mistake someone for someone else.
Those who mistakenly choose a substitute simply don't love the person enough. How could just anyone be the same as the one and only person found among thousands?
"I..." Qin Sihai lowered his eyes, concealing his expression, "I can no longer fall in love with anyone else."
These years of working side by side were like a transaction where money and goods were exchanged. Ji Yuanshu did indeed regard Qin Sihai as an ally more than a lover, but it was hard for her not to be tempted by someone who helped her and the emperor in every way.
The sadness was fleeting, but Ji Yuanshu quickly regained her senses. She gracefully wiped away the tiny tears from the corners of her eyes and transformed back into the shrewd and sophisticated princess. She laughed and said, "Alas, all the good men have already been taken. Do you know what good men there are in Sui Kingdom? Marriage is not something you can decide for yourself, but you have to choose your own man."
Apart from Zhu Huantang, he didn't know anyone else in Sui Kingdom, but his junior brother... Qin Sihai solemnly said as a friend, "Don't marry Zhu Huantang, he's a scoundrel."
"Is he really that bad? But he is definitely capable."
"Your Highness's marriage is not merely about finding an ally. I wish Your Highness a peaceful, joyful, healthy, and prosperous life for the rest of your days."
The spring breeze was quite chilly, and Ji Yuanshu stumbled as she walked, tripped over her dress.
The emperor already had his own ideas, so the imperial edict came down quickly. The young talents who had previously expressed their admiration for Ji Yuanshu had all disappeared, leaving only those who felt sorry for her and those who were gloating.
Who is Ji Yuanshu? Back then, she single-handedly protected the emperor with a sword. What were those people? Did they deserve to pity her? Even if it's a marriage alliance, she will still be the most honored person in Wu.
On the day of his departure, thunder rumbled and rain began to fall shortly afterward.
This was definitely not a good omen, especially when Ji Yuanshu saw that the marriage certificate bore the name Zhu Huantang; she understood completely then.
Her wishes were never important; she simply rose rapidly because what she wanted to do aligned with those in power. Now that they want to use her as cannon fodder, no matter how spectacularly she's blown up, she'll still just be a pile of ashes.
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