"What?!" The emperor's face, like everyone else's, was a kaleidoscope of colors, quite a sight to behold.
In particular, a young woman in a pale yellow dress behind the emperor stared in astonishment, her pupils widening.
In front of everyone, Xie Shiyan repeated, "Since His Majesty says he can grant me the reward, why not grant me a marriage?"
The emperor pointed with trembling hands in the direction of Gu Jiangli.
Like the common people, he couldn't understand what had gotten into Xie Shiyan. He, who had always been indifferent to women, suddenly wanted to marry a woman.
"My dear minister, you are the only son of the main branch of the Xie family. Your marriage should not be done casually."
"It's not impossible to bestow a marriage upon you, my dear minister... but what is her name? Whose daughter is she? Surely I should know these things."
The Xie family held a position in Northern Qi and enjoyed a reputation among the people that was no less than that of the imperial family.
They were more concerned about Xie Shiyan's marriage than about the royal family taking in several more concubines.
However, everyone knows that Xie Shiyan is not interested in women, and he has rejected all the marriage arrangements his family has made for him over the years.
Despite his stunningly beautiful face, his bloodthirsty aura kept many women at a distance.
Because of these reasons, they became even more interested in Xie Shiyan's marriage.
There were always rumors that Xie Shiyan was attracted to men and would never marry. This rumor even reached the ears of the emperor and the Xie family.
The Xie family wanted to deny it, but they were helpless.
But today, Xie Shiyan actually took the initiative to say he wanted to get married, which was like a thunderclap among the people.
Like the emperor, they also wanted to know which family's woman Xie Shiyan had taken a fancy to.
Faced with the emperor's question, Xie Shiyan was about to speak when Gu Jiangli cut him off.
"Your Majesty, my daughter, Gu Jiangli, was sent to the military camp by someone."
These words caused an uproar among the crowd.
Questions arose among the people: "Sent to the army? Who would send a woman to the army?"
"I heard that they were looking for spies from Nanlin a while ago, and quite a few suspicious people were sent to the military camp!"
"Doesn't that mean she's a spy?"
"There's another possibility. Think about it, what else could a woman be doing in a military camp?"
The discussions grew louder and louder.
Gu Jiangli smiled calmly, showing no embarrassment whatsoever because of these words.
The emperor's face showed some anger upon hearing this.
Regardless of the explanation, this woman is not from an innocent family!
His face looked rather grim as he said:
"My dear minister, how could you marry a woman of such low status? If the elders of the Xie family found out, they would probably fall ill with anger!"
Xie Shiyan remained unmoved, pulling Gu Jiangli half-into his arms and saying smugly:
"I don't care what they think. I will marry no one but her in this life. If Your Majesty really wants to bestow a reward, then bestow this marriage. I don't care for anything else."
If an ordinary person dared to speak like that in front of the emperor, they would probably have been accused of being disrespectful to the emperor long ago.
But he is Xie Shiyan.
Even the emperor had to give him some face at the Xie Shiyan banquet.
"You...you've been bewitched by this woman?"
"No matter what Your Majesty thinks, if Your Majesty is unwilling to grant the marriage, I will still marry her. She will be my wife, Xie Shiyan."
"you......"
The people pointed and whispered about Gu Jiangli.
But some women also cast envious glances at her.
To receive Xie Shiyan's full protection in such a situation is something that any ordinary woman would long for.
Amidst these envious gazes, a cold, piercing stare fell upon Gu Jiangli like a knife.
Gu Jiangli noticed something and followed the gaze.
Behind the emperor, a woman clenched her teeth, her eyes filled with a hatred that seemed to want to tear him to pieces.
Could someone who hates a stranger like her so much at a time like this be Xie Shiyan's admirer?
Look into those eyes, she's deeply in love.
But Xie Shiyan didn't give that woman a single extra glance.
He was indeed a man who didn't care about women. Even though the young women behind the emperor were very beautiful and favored him, he didn't pay them any attention.
Just as she was thinking this, the young woman seemed to have reached her limit and stepped forward, angrily shouting:
"Brother Ayan! What right does she have?! I've waited for you all these years, just so you would come back from your campaign and marry me!"
"How could you bring a woman back?!"
"Am I, a princess of the dignified Northern Qi, really inferior to a wild girl of unknown origin?!"
Gu Jiangli widened her eyes slightly, watching the scene as if she were watching a play.
The fact that this princess could express her love for him in such a public place shows how deeply she loves Xie Shiyan.
However, her cursing and swearing added a touch of ferocity to her beautiful face.
Otherwise, she might have felt some pity for the princess.
Gu Jiangli secretly glanced at Xie Shiyan's expression.
All I could see was a hint of disgust in the corner of his eye.
"I have never been engaged to the princess. The princess's claim that she is waiting for me is utter nonsense."
With just one sentence, the princess was put in an awkward position.
"But... when we were young, I told you I wanted to be your wife, and you didn't refuse..."
“I refused, but the princess pretended not to hear me.”
"No, that's not it..." Seeing the princess's eyes filled with tears, about to burst into tears, she suddenly stopped crying and looked at Gu Jiangli resentfully.
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