Chapter 532: The Thousand-Year-Old (53)
Her fame grew, even overshadowing the fact that she was once uneducated and incompetent, winning the hearts of the people. However, Wen Wan didn't care much about these things. Her relationship with Gu Li was getting better and better, and they were very affectionate. Even Xiao Cui, who had always disliked her, gradually accepted Gu Li. If a master can find someone she truly loves in this world, even if their statuses are worlds apart, it is not an insurmountable gap.
Besides, her mistress, due to unavoidable circumstances, could only dress as a man for the rest of her life. Despite being an extremely charming and beautiful girl, she could not wear pretty dresses or have her hair styled beautifully.
If you can't enjoy a normal marriage, it's better to leave than to find someone whose background you don't know.
Aside from not being able to have children, there really aren't any unacceptable drawbacks.
But she just couldn't have children. The thought of it still gave Xiao Cui a heart attack. Her mistress was the future emperor, how could she not have her own children? Although Wen Wan had said a hundred times that she didn't want to be emperor, Xiao Cui still felt that her mistress was the future emperor.
This is a concept instilled in her from childhood, and it cannot be changed overnight, or even in a lifetime.
Wen Wan originally thought that the days would just pass by like this, and she could enjoy at least another twenty years.
However, something unexpected happened: Qi Mingzhu was getting married.
As a princess of a nation, and the daughter of Consort Rong, it was time for her to get married, which was a good thing. However, it was not a marriage of mutual love or a match between equals; she was to be sent to a political marriage.
The bride was the monarch of a small country, who was over fifty years old.
Wen Wan didn't think this was a good thing.
As a modern person, she still couldn't accept the unequal marriage system under this system. How old was Mingzhu? That old man could be her grandfather. Moreover, the other party had more than a dozen concubines. What kind of good life could Mingzhu live in the future?
She was, after all, the daughter of Consort Rong. How could they send their own daughter to marry a foreign ruler?
Afterwards, Wen Wan sent someone to investigate, and they discovered that a lot had happened in the palace during the years she had been away from it.
The female protagonist gave birth to a son, but he was extremely weak. She consulted a fortune teller, who predicted that Mingzhu was bringing him bad luck.
Wen Yan: "???"
Hearing what Gu Li said, Wen Wan's eyes widened. "How is that possible? Just because of a fortune telling that may or may not be true, Consort Rong would treat her daughter like this?"
Gu Li: "It's not just for that reason. The emperor also intends to appoint a crown prince, or even a grandson of the emperor. Although the country of Bianta is small, it has a very special location and many large iron mines. If we can promote a marriage between the two countries, it would be a very good thing for the emperor. Consort Rong's choice to do this may also be to please the emperor."
Wen Yan: "???"
"So, to ensure safety, Consort Rong chose to sacrifice her own daughter?"
Gu Li nodded. "Possibly."
Wen Yan: "..."
Although she knew that not every mother in the world puts her child first, she still felt instinctively uncomfortable when it happened to her.
Wen Wan learned of this news because Qi Mingzhu sent her a letter.
The letter contained no trace of the once charming and proud little princess; instead, it was stagnant, even mature and desperate to the point that it terrified Wen Wan.
"She's pleading with me for help, but how can I save her?"
She was the second prince, and a second prince with a secret. She was far from the palace, far from the court, and far from the center of power. All of this was because the emperor had no expectations of her and would not let her inherit the throne.
Moreover, for the emperor, her doing these things outside was not a bad thing; at least she gained a good reputation.
But Wen Wan could escape, while a princess could not.
In this world where women are at a disadvantage, what she never expected was that the protagonist, Jiang Mingyue, a woman who had received modern higher education and had experienced the pain of male chauvinism, would scheme against a young girl like Qi Mingzhu.
A fortune teller was used to arrange a marriage between two young girls.
This is so vicious, so vicious that Wen Wan felt disgusted, even frightened. Why did Jiang Mingyue become like this? Will this world assimilate everyone? She's still relatively lucid now, but what about in the future? Will she also become like Jiang Mingyue? Will she sacrifice others for her own benefit?
Gu Li grasped Wen Wan's fingers, "Don't overthink it."
"Do you know what I'm thinking?"
Gu Li: "You are not them."
What Gu Li wanted to say was that you are not any of them, and you are different from everyone else. The royal family is cold-hearted, which is an ancient truth, but you are not a member of the royal family. You are a kind and gentle person to the extreme, not a cold-blooded royal family member who prioritizes interests.
As long as he's around, he'll never let her become that kind of person.
Wen Wan: "Then what do you think I should do?"
Gu Li: "Do whatever you want. I can protect you even in the most dangerous places."
Wen Yan: "..."
She nestled into Gu Li's arms, saying, "You're so kind. I really like you so much. Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I would have suffered so much."
She's not particularly smart, nor is she particularly stupid; she's a little clever, but most of the time she's quite slow.
Gu Li, on the other hand, is a smart person. He knows what to do no matter what, which gives you a great sense of security.
...
Wen Wan ultimately decided to find a way to help Qi Mingzhu.
It's unlikely that the emperor will change his mind, because as an emperor, he loves his children, but when the happiness of a daughter is weighed against the interests of the country, he will not hesitate to choose the interests of the country.
They also cannot abduct Qi Mingzhu midway, as this would disrupt the marriage alliance between the two countries. If war breaks out, it would be a greater loss than gain, which is not what Wen Wan wants to see.
She tried to target Consort Rong, but she wasn't familiar with Consort Rong, and Consort Rong was more concerned with her own power and status.
There is only one way left: for the other party to voluntarily give up the marriage alliance.
The optimal solution, but also the most difficult choice, is to still promote cooperation between the two countries without having to use a princess for a marriage alliance.
Wen Wan replied to Qi Mingzhu, telling her to wait patiently.
He then took Gu Li, Xiao Cui, and two guards directly to the Whip Tower Kingdom.
He also wrote a letter to the emperor.
The letter began with a string of effusive praise, saying how much the emperor loved his children and was a role model for all his children, a good father.
Then the topic of marriage came up. Wen Wan did not directly say that she wanted to end the marriage, but instead said that she was willing to help the two countries establish diplomatic relations.
She hoped the emperor would give her some time.
The emperor finally agreed.
Three months.
If he fails to do so within three months, the marriage will not be terminated, and he will be punished.
Wen Wan rode swiftly to the Kingdom of Bianta and, as an envoy, entered the royal palace directly to meet their emperor. Although he was not ugly, and in his youth one could tell he was a handsome man with a good figure, it did not prevent him from being an old man now. Through Gu Li's training, he successfully preserved the dignity of an envoy and then moved into the royal palace.
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