"Ling'er, are you willing to marry into the Yan family?"
Everyone instinctively looked over, only to see the protagonist of the conversation playing with the youngest prince, her smile full of youthful energy, making everyone feel happy involuntarily. Then, remembering her past actions, they all looked away, thinking to themselves that they had seen a ghost.
They then glanced at the emperor, who seemed eager to marry off his daughter and was arbitrarily matchmaking him with other women, and then at General Yan, who looked astonished and clearly did not want to marry her. Not to mention the young general who had just achieved fame and success, not a single playboy in the capital wanted to marry this princess. Finally, there was Wei Zixiao, who was said to have almost become the princess's husband.
Some people had already compared the young talents in Zhaodu with Yan and Wei in an instant, and realized that the emperor was doing this to both show favor to the Yan family and slap the Wei family in the face.
All things considered, there are not many people in the entire Zhao state who can completely surpass the eldest son of the Wei family. General Yan is one of them. However, although General Yan is very capable, his background has always been a point of contention.
The voices inside the hall quickly disappeared, leaving only the trembling musicians dutifully playing their instruments.
"His Majesty……"
Mu Ruoling hadn't expected that her father's previous question about her feelings for Yanling was actually a prelude to a marriage decree. Remembering the trampled handkerchief, she knew he would not agree. Before he could protest the decree, she said, "Father, what are you saying? You haven't even asked who General Yan actually likes."
When the emperor saw that Yanling showed no joy, but instead appeared somewhat nervous and anxious, and that his daughter, who had previously openly admired and respected Yanling, now seemed indifferent, his heart sank.
But the words had already been spoken, and with the envoys from Dongqing Kingdom still present, he couldn't take them back. He simply looked at Yanling with a warning in his eyes.
"Yan Qing, which princess do you like?"
Mu Ruoling hurriedly added, "Still a princess?"
Looking in the direction Yanling was looking, besides the princesses and noblewomen, there were only concubines and palace maids left; it certainly wasn't the latter two.
As the daughter of Prince Duan, Mu Ruohan blushed instantly, but the others looked at Mu Ruoling as if she were an idiot.
Yan Ling composed himself and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I admire the Second Princess."
Mu Ruohan's face immediately turned pale again. She then glared angrily at the two legitimate princesses sitting together and made a move to get up, but was stopped by the Princess Consort of Duan beside her.
The second princess had been sitting there with an air of indifference, like a refined lady statue. Upon hearing this, she concealed the joy in her eyes, looked up, and seemed bewildered.
The emperor glanced at his dull-witted second daughter, then at his beautiful and lively eldest daughter, and couldn't understand Yanling's choice.
Mu Ruoling disliked the Empress and her second sister, but respected Yanling's choice. Given the previous incident with the handkerchief, she wasn't entirely surprised. However, at this moment, she couldn't help but feel unhappy.
She was also curious about how the two of them got together, and blurted out, "General Yan is away fighting battles all year round, how did he take a fancy to my sister?"
Those who still had their brains furrowed their brows in unison. Mu Ruoyin looked displeased, while the Dongqing Kingdom delegation, enjoying the spectacle, exchanged glances discreetly.
Yan Ling was a man who loved someone so much he wanted them to live, and hated someone so much he wanted them to die; this was exactly how he felt about Mu Ruoling right now. Hearing her seemingly straightforward words, which concealed a venomous intent, he sneered inwardly.
"I have long heard that the Second Princess is beautiful and intelligent, well-educated and virtuous. When I returned to the capital yesterday, I happened to catch a glimpse of her beauty and fell in love with her at first sight. I wonder if the Second Princess would be willing to marry me?"
The second princess glanced at Yanling, then looked to the empress for help. Caught in the emperor's gaze, she looked fearful and hesitated before saying, "General, you are a dragon among men, with extraordinary bearing. However, I have never met you before. This matter is too sudden. Please forgive me, General."
"It was I who was rude to the princess, and I should apologize." Yanling bowed again.
The emperor's expression shifted between light and dark, but he managed to avoid losing face in front of the foreigners. He glanced apologetically at his beloved daughter, and seeing her bright smile and clear expression, he calmed down slightly before clapping his hands and laughing, "Very well, it seems I cannot grant this marriage today. Yan Qing, whether you can marry my Princess Ruoyin depends on your abilities."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me this opportunity."
This farce has finally come to an end. 001 is really anxious and wants to know how Yanling responded to the emperor's questioning, which led to the misunderstanding and this whole mess.
He was 100% certain that Yan Ling did it on purpose, and if Mu Ruoling hadn't spoken up in time, he was afraid he would have really made the emperor and the eldest princess lose all face.
"Ugh, I can't eat melon seeds, I'm so sad."
Emperor Xiu: "..."
After the song and dance performance, and several rounds of drinks, the envoy from Dongqing Kingdom toasted the emperor, saying that their princess admired him and wished to perform a dance, clearly indicating their intention to arrange a marriage alliance. The emperor did not say it directly, and the envoy also left it at that.
Then comes the most important part: Mu Ruoling's redemption.
001 muttered under her breath, "Doesn't anyone wonder where she got her musical skills? Playing the zither isn't dancing; it produces sound, like war music, powerful and resonant. She lives in the palace, with so many eyes and ears. How could she possibly learn it secretly and become an overnight sensation?"
After Princess Dongqing performed a dance and the Second Princess played a war song, Yanling had a successor. A fool spoke up and, in a few words, asked the First Princess to play the zither.
Mu Ruoling raised her head and accepted the challenge.
001 asked Emperor Xiu, "Why didn't you let the Second Princess change the song? Then the female lead wouldn't know how to play it."
"Listen to me."
After listening for a while, 001's face immediately went blank.
001 wasn't sure if his assessment was correct. The piece was menacing, but it lacked the soaring fighting spirit and the tragic grandeur of the battlefield. It didn't sound like a warrior defending his country; it sounded more like a knife-wielding thug. He reasonably suspected that Mu Ruoling was playing it with the image of the Empress leading a rebellion in mind.
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