"Absolutely true!"
Little Li patted his chest and assured, "I saw with my own eyes His Highness Qin holding the princess's hand. The two of them stared at each other for a long while. The atmosphere was so sweet that it almost melted my heart!"
Yao Jinzhong stroked his nonexistent beard, his eyes narrowed into slits as he smiled. "Okay, okay! Come with me inside to report to His Majesty!"
The King of Chu was buried in memorials. He saw them come in without even looking up. "Why are you so flustered?"
Yao Jinzhong stepped forward and replied happily, "Your Majesty, great news! Little Li just returned from the Golden Throne Hall and saw His Majesty Qin and the princess...getting along very well. It seems the princess has feelings for His Majesty Qin, too!"
Emperor Chu paused, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Is that really the case?"
How dare these two be in the Golden Palace?
"I dare not lie to your majesty!" Little Li quickly knelt down and replied, "His Royal Highness Qin also said that no matter how long it takes the princess to consider, he will wait. The princess didn't refuse, but just said she would think it over carefully. This is a very good omen!"
The King of Chu put down his red brush, stroked his beard, and a fox-like smile appeared on his face.
This is exactly the result he wants.
Qingluan was not overwhelmed by Qin Yuan's generous gift and was able to remain sober, which shows that she has really grown up.
Qin Yuan's unconditional tolerance and patience also made the Emperor of Chu quite satisfied.
In this way, this marriage will be 80% to 90% certain.
But Xie Yunqi's side...
Why!
The King of Chu sighed inwardly, neither lightly nor heavily, and then ordered, "Come, send a message to Prime Minister Xie, bringing back the news from the capital."
Yao Jinzhong nodded in agreement. The King of Chu was still immersed in the joy of this wonderful event when a guard suddenly came from outside the door to announce: "Your Majesty! Princess Zhaoyang requests an audience!"
The smile on Emperor Chu's face froze and his heart skipped a beat.
If he comes here at this time, it must be to settle accounts with his father.
The King of Chu was just about to find an excuse: "Well, just say that my cough has come back and I'm resting now, so it's inconvenient..."
Before he could finish his words, he saw Chu Qingluan, dressed in a blue palace dress, appear at the door with an unexpected look on her face.
"Cough cough..." Emperor Chu almost choked on his own saliva.
"Um, Zhaoyang, why are you here?" The Emperor of Chu felt a little guilty when she looked at him and coughed dryly.
Chu Qingluan pursed her lips, her voice tinged with coldness: "Father, I came here to ask you, have you known Qin Yuan's identity for a long time?"
The King of Chu felt a tightness in his heart, knowing that he could no longer conceal the matter today, so he waved to Yao Jinzhong, signaling them to go back.
Soon, only the father and daughter were left in the palace. The King of Chu could only bite the bullet and say:
"Zhaoyang, please listen to my explanation..."
Then, the King of Chu roughly explained how Qin Yuan had been stranded at the border since he was a child and then adopted by Pei's father and mother.
Finally, he emphasized: "Father did not intend to hide this from you, but this matter is of great importance, so naturally the fewer people who know about it, the better, including Qin Yuan himself. I only told him later."
"That child is truly sincere to you. I really can't bear to see him miss out on this fate with you because of the difference in status."
Chu Qingluan listened quietly without saying a word, her expression very calm.
No matter how nicely my father speaks, it cannot cover up the deception that the two of them have committed against me.
"So, Father arranged for him to fake his own death at the Autumn Hunting Grounds. Even though he knew I would be heartbroken, he still chose to conceal the incident afterwards?"
Chu Qingluan took a deep breath and met the Emperor's eyes. "What about this time's provocation from the King of the Western Regions? Did Father have this planned long ago? Did he know Qin Yuan would come, so he had Concubine Jiang act in concert with the others?"
The Emperor of Chu shook his head. "I have indeed long been aware of Amur's ambitions, but I did not expect him to be so impatient to come to Great Chu to provoke us, having just quelled the civil unrest in the Western Regions. I have arranged for Xie Yunqi to go to the western border in order to intimidate and divide the Western Regions."
"As for when Qin Yuan will come, I'm actually not sure."
"Zhaoyang, I am the emperor, and there are many things I cannot control. I do these things out of selfish motives, but I also hope that you can have a good home.
Qin Yuan's return will not only relieve the troubles in the northern border, but also make Great Qin a bolster for Great Chu. This is something that countless soldiers fighting bloody battles could not achieve."
After hearing this, Chu Qingluan's eyes darkened.
"Your Majesty, that's easy to say. But have you ever thought about what would happen to Great Chu if I married into Great Qin? Are you prepared to hand it over to Chu Lang?"
Emperor Chu's expression paused slightly, and a faint light flashed across his drooping eyelids, but it was so fast that Chu Qingluan didn't notice it.
"I'm not senile. How can Chu Lang, with his character, shoulder such a heavy responsibility? I told you from the beginning that the kingdom of Great Chu will definitely be handed over to you in the future."
Chu Qingluan frowned, "But father, don't forget that Prime Minister Xie is still watching covetously. If you want me to marry you to Daqin, what if Xie Yunqi goes crazy?"
What else can I do?
Of course, she took both men into her own hands.
The King of Chu muttered in his heart.
He was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I know what you are worried about, but no matter how arrogant Xie Yunqi is, he is still a subject after all. I naturally have ways to check and balance him."
"Your Majesty, you underestimate him." Chu Qingluan said, "Prime Minister Xie's character cannot be suppressed by military force. If he really wants to rebel, half of the Great Chu will be shaken."
The King of Chu watched her calmly analyze the situation and instantly felt that his daughter had grown up and become sensible, and had developed more insight than any other minister.
"So what do you want to do?"
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