At the same time, after several days of travel, Wu Ya finally arrived at the capital of Da Chu.
Of course, Qi Che, who was in disguise, also traveled with them.
Qi Che had been away from Beijing for several months, and now when he came back, he felt that everything had changed.
Walking through the familiar and bustling streets, the scene of riding a horse and parading through the streets after passing the imperial examination seemed to reappear in front of my eyes. Red silk was hung high on both sides of the street, and officials were leading the way in front. It was a magnificent scene.
Now, when I come back again, I can only wear a mask and I don’t even dare to contact acquaintances.
How ironic!
"This restaurant up ahead looks good. Let's stay here tonight."
Wu Ya's voice suddenly came from the sedan chair, interrupting Qi Che's memories.
Qi Che looked up and saw that it was Zuixianlou, the most luxurious restaurant in the capital.
But he didn't want to be so high-profile as soon as he arrived in Beijing. The people who came and went here were all dignitaries, and he might easily run into acquaintances.
"Princess, we just arrived, so we shouldn't be too conspicuous. Why don't we just find an ordinary restaurant to stay in first?"
Wu Ya frowned and was about to refute, but then she heard Qi Che say.
"Besides, the busier the restaurant, the easier it is to get information. The dignitaries are cautious with their words, but the common people speak the truth when they are drunk."
Wu Ya thought for a moment and agreed to Qi Che's proposal.
Soon, the group found a busy restaurant nearby for dinner.
Although this inn is not as luxurious as Zuixianlou, it is more lively. The lobby is bustling with people from all walks of life, making it a good place to get news.
Wu Ya and Qi Che quickly chose a table and sat down, ordered two side dishes, and had just poured a cup of tea when the sound of discussion from the next table came over.
"Have you heard? The eldest grandson of the Qin emperor has proposed to our Princess Zhaoyang." said a merchant.
"Everyone knows this. But I heard that Princess Zhaoyang didn't agree at first." Another merchant continued.
"Hey, that's hard to say. Didn't something happen at Sifang Pavilion a few days ago? The people of Daqin and our Dachu started fighting, apparently because of the discussion about this marriage. In my opinion, after this incident, this marriage is probably in jeopardy."
Wu Ya paused slightly.
Princess Zhaoyang? Isn't that Xie Yunqi's sweetheart?
She had already inquired on the way here, and she knew that the royal family of Great Chu now had only one princess, named Chu Qingluan.
But doesn't she like Xie Yunqi? Why does she want to get engaged to someone from Daqin?
Qi Che was also confused.
After hearing that Chu Qingluan wanted to form an alliance, his face turned pale.
At this time, the merchants were still discussing.
"Not necessarily. Maybe this incident actually facilitated this marriage? After all, the relationship between the princess and Qin Changsun has always been a bit unclear."
"It's hard to say. After all, it's a marriage between two countries, and it involves too many things."
"Tsk tsk, let me say, Princess Zhaoyang is truly amazing. I heard that Prime Minister Xie was also deeply in love with her before, and now even the eldest grandson of the Emperor of Great Qin has fallen at her feet. Her methods are truly amazing!"
Qi Che's face instantly darkened, and his hands were bleeding from pinching under his sleeves.
Wu Ya could no longer hold back, she suddenly stood up and walked to that table to inquire.
"Brothers, I just heard you mention Princess Zhaoyang, but is there anything new going on recently?"
Seeing that it was a beautiful girl from the Western Regions, the merchants immediately became interested. "She's a foreigner, right? This is a long story... Now everyone in the capital is wondering whether Princess Zhaoyang will agree to the marriage with the Qin Dynasty..."
Then, the merchants told Wu Ya everything that had happened recently, and sighed at the end.
"Only our Princess Zhaoyang, with her boundless charm, could attract the handsome men of this world to her knees."
After hearing this, Wu Ya curled up the corners of her mouth into a sarcastic smile.
Aren’t people said to be conservative?
But she thought that Princess Zhaoyang was not a person who would keep to herself.
Wu Ya's beautiful eyes kept flashing as she thought about her next plan.
Qi Che was also thinking about this.
——
Back in the court, early in the morning, after the ministers reported on trivial matters such as food and wages, and river repairs, the hall was temporarily quiet for a moment.
At this time, the Minister of Rites stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, regarding the marriage with the Great Qin, I wonder if you and Her Royal Highness have reached a decision? This matter concerns the diplomatic relations between the two countries and cannot be delayed..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. All eyes were fixed on the throne, and even the sound of breathing seemed to become lighter.
Emperor Chu slowly stroked his beard, his eyes sweeping over the ministers in the hall, and he paused for a moment on Chu Hong's face intentionally.
Finally, he smiled and said, "As for this matter, I have indeed made a decision."
Chu Hong's heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition suddenly arose.
Then, the King of Chu was heard saying to Yao Jinzhong: "Announce the decree."
Yao Jinzhong bowed his head and accepted the order, unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict, and read aloud:
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Qin Yuan, the eldest grandson of the Great Qin Emperor, possesses a virtuous character and exceptional talent, and is in love with my beloved daughter, Princess Zhaoyang Chu Qingluan. To strengthen diplomatic relations between our two countries and forge a lasting bond between Qin and Jin, I hereby consent to their marriage. Upon selecting an auspicious date, their marriage will be consummated. Furthermore, Princess Zhaoyang Chu Qingluan is hereby appointed Crown Princess, inheriting the throne. This is my decree!"
…
As the last few words fell, the huge Golden Throne Hall fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone froze in place, forgetting even to move their eyes.
It was as if he was under a spell of immobilization.
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