Chapter 123
Yan Chaoji raised his eyes and looked her over.
Long ago, he had seen this "eldest princess" of the Western Regions Kingdom once at a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Under the flickering lanterns, she appeared to be a beautiful woman, but her expression was one of fear.
After all, they were in a foreign country, and also the victorious nation in the Battle of Rongsu.
This "eldest princess" was very timid and hesitant throughout the entire banquet, only maintaining a stiff smile.
Yan Chaoji only glanced at it that day. He knew why the royal family had invited the princess of the Western Regions to the banquet. There were two purposes: first, to showcase the extravagance of the Min Dynasty, and second, to suppress this "eldest princess".
Ironically, after the Battle of Rongsu...
After delivering the letter of surrender, the envoy from the Western Regions Kingdom also presented a letter written in the handwriting of the emperor of the Western Regions Kingdom.
The letter was filled with words of admiration for the Min Dynasty, but the last sentence was: "I wish to establish a marriage alliance with the Min Dynasty as a person of high status."
"To uphold the century-long agreement between the Western Regions and the Min Dynasty."
The woman standing before them was none other than Princess Zhaoning, sent by the Western Regions Kingdom for a marriage alliance—Bai Yingning.
*
Yingning glanced at the plot briefly, only to find herself caught in Yan Chaoji's scrutinizing gaze.
The woman in front of him slightly raised her chin, making the creamy white of her neck appear even more like a rare piece of white jade.
Her eyes were open and honest, as if she didn't think her actions had crossed any lines.
"Then why did the princess stop me?" His voice was somewhat hoarse.
In this imperial city, everyone knows that since the princess of the Western Regions Kingdom came to the Min Dynasty, she has been frequently interacting with the fourth prince, Yan Qizhen. For a time, there were even rumors that His Highness the fourth prince would be forming a marriage alliance with the Western Regions Kingdom.
"Zhao Ning just wanted to remind the prince."
"During your journey to Lizhou, be mindful of your entourage," Yingning said slowly.
This sentence made Yan Chaoji look at her a few more times. He didn't know when he had come into contact with this princess from the Western Regions, and that the princess had even given him a special reminder.
Considering Yan Qizhen's relationship with her, how credible is this statement?
Yan Chaoji ignored him, and the killing intent in his eagle eyes gradually dissipated, as if he intended to leave directly.
"A long night can lead to many unforeseen events, so don't delay." Yan Chaoji heard a woman's voice suddenly behind him.
He felt a tightness in his back, but without replying, he turned and left.
*
After Yan Chaoji left, Ying Ning spoke up: "Little 7, show me the plotline."
0067 immediately began the storyline of this world.
Bai Yingning is a princess of the Western Regions Kingdom.
However, this princess was not the same mother as the current emperor of the Western Regions Kingdom. Instead, she was born to the deceased empress. After the Rongsu War, she was forcibly given the title of "Eldest Princess" and sent to the Min Dynasty.
Using the eldest princess for a marriage alliance may seem like a gesture of goodwill on the surface, but although Bai Yingning is called the "eldest princess," her position in her motherland is somewhat awkward. The Western Regions Kingdom's move was also a way to save face for the Western Regions emperor.
The discerning people of the Min Dynasty were not fools. After learning Bai Yingning's identity, they immediately advised the emperor to write a letter, inviting a prince from the Western Regions to travel to the Min Dynasty with Bai Yingning. They could take this opportunity to "appreciate" the beautiful landscape of the Min Dynasty and build a good relationship between the two countries.
The status of a prince is naturally incomparable to that of a princess.
The Min Dynasty's move was to acquire a hostage.
However, the emperor of the Western Regions Kingdom had only been on the throne for a year and had only one son. He was certainly unwilling to send him to the Min Dynasty as a hostage.
The emperor then set his sights on Bai Yingning's brother, Bai Chuning, who had not yet received a fiefdom or title.
By a narrow margin, he could be considered a "prince".
And so, a delegation from the Western Regions entered the Min Dynasty.
Soon after, it was rumored that the Western Region Princess and the Fourth Prince Yan Qizhen were frequently seen together, and that Bai Yingning intended to form a marriage alliance with the Fourth Prince and create a beautiful story together.
This matter caused quite a stir in the capital for a while, but what happened next surprised everyone.
This princess from the Western Regions actually asked to marry the regent at a state banquet?!
The regent of the Min Dynasty was Yan Chaoji. He was a ruthless and merciless man. He made his name in battle when he was young, fighting his way through the battlefield single-handedly.
After the Battle of Rongsu, this man's reputation grew even greater.
Everyone thought that the emperor would later be wary of Yan Chaoji because of his overwhelming achievements and would kill him.
However, the emperor continued to send imperial edicts of reward to the regent's palace, seemingly unconcerned that the regent would covet the throne of the Min Dynasty.
When Bai Yingning asked to marry the Regent, everyone at the state banquet burst into laughter.
But Yan Chaoji simply threw out a sentence:
"I think the eldest princess and the Marquis of Zhuihe seem to have a predestined relationship."
His words caused everyone to burst into laughter.
Marquis Zhuihe is a man over fifty years old. His noble status is based on his ancestral title, but he is known to everyone in the capital.
Marquis Zhuohe was fond of beautiful women and took more than a dozen concubines.
Comparing a princess of a nation to the Marquis of Zhuihe, who indulges in lust all day long, is a direct insult to Bai Yingning's reputation.
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