"My lord! My lord! Someone has delivered this."
A constable rushed in from outside. He paused for a moment when he saw Xiang Wan and the others, handed the things to Wu Renmei, and then stepped aside.
It was a gold-embossed poster, about the size of a palm.
Without hesitation, Wu Renmei opened the post in front of Xiang Wan.
Upon seeing what was written inside, she gave Xiang Wan a strange look before handing the invitation over.
"Princess Hua Wanqing of the Flower Kingdom has voluntarily agreed to marry Prince Jinyu of the Thousand Autumn Kingdom as his consort. The marriage ceremony will be held in half a month, and the Flower Kingdom's envoy is cordially invited to Yundu to witness the ceremony."
The signature is Qianqiu Jinyu and Hua Wanqing.
Well, while we're racking our brains over Hua Wanqing's disappearance, they just send out an invitation—it's for her to get married!
shame!
Utter disgrace!
Throughout history, no country has ever married off its princesses to foreign countries; they have only married off their sons to foreign countries.
Regardless of whether Hua Wanqing did it voluntarily or not, this is a slap in the face for Hua Guo!
Moreover, it was done without the consent of the imperial court and the royal family!
Xiang Wan glanced at the post and, judging from its tone, it seemed to have been sent to all the neighboring countries.
In other words, this matter has already spread throughout the countries.
No wonder Wu Renmei had that expression!
After pondering for a moment, Xiang Wan asked Hua Weiyi to send a message by carrier pigeon to inform Hua De and Lin Wushuang about the matter. Then, she urged Wu Renmei to go to the county government office with her.
!!
Wu Renmei was also quite impressed. Such a big matter, and Xiang Wan, the head of the secret guards, didn't handle it but instead kept an eye on her. Didn't she know what was important and what was urgent?
Xiang Wan said that she couldn't make decisions for the court, and the only thing she could deal with right now was why Hua Wanqing had disappeared.
Wu Renmei followed behind Xiang Wan with a displeased expression, but a glimmer of hope lingered in her heart.
She believed the place was very secluded, and that no one but her could open the secret room.
This stroke of luck vanished the moment Xiang Wan ordered her men to pry open the stone table.
The rare treasures and valuable gold and silver inside are all Wu Renmei's private collection over the years!
But how could a mere county magistrate like her amass so much wealth?
Wu Renmei stood in the middle of the secret room, her face extremely pale.
Xiang Wan glanced at the exit of the secret room, leaned closer, and whispered, "Lord Wu, there seem to be no wrongful convictions or miscarriages of justice in Wu Lai County, nor has anyone engaged in favoritism or corruption. I suspect these things were gifts from merchants of Qianqiu Kingdom..."
"My lord! I have never betrayed the Flower Kingdom, nor have I sold out anyone. They offered themselves to me willingly. Please, my lord, see the truth!"
Wu Renmei acted like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water, shirking all responsibility; she was quite a character.
Xiang Wan certainly knew whether she had betrayed the country.
Such a talented and shrewd person is being relegated to a small, remote county town; it's truly a waste of his abilities.
We must let her contribute to the growth of the Flower Kingdom!
Xiang Wan patted her shoulder, smiled softly, and wiped the makeup off her face.
There were torches in the secret room, so it wasn't difficult to see Xiang Wan's face clearly.
Wu Renmei was shocked. Her first reaction was not to kneel down and admit her mistake, but to retreat to a corner, take out a dagger hidden in the pile of treasure, and hide it behind her back.
Ha, you've got some nerve.
Xiang Wan said calmly, "If I really wanted to kill you, you would have turned into a pile of dust long ago. Would you still be standing here?"
Wu Renmei gripped the dagger tightly and loosely, then loosened and tightened again, finally dropping it to the ground with a "clang".
"Your Majesty, I will gladly die for you in any way that I may be of use!"
Wu Renmei realized that Xiang Wan had deliberately chosen this place to reveal her identity to her.
Firstly, they were certain she couldn't explain the origin of the treasure, thus holding her hostage for future use. Secondly, there were only the two of them here. The king had publicly declared himself missing, yet he deliberately revealed his identity to her. Whether he wanted to bind her to his side or show his trust in her, if she didn't serve him, she would likely perish here. Thirdly, it seemed the king wanted more than just her treasure; he also wanted her as a person!
Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for so many years, it's crucial to choose sides and assess the situation. Besides, this person is a top figure in the Flower Kingdom; working for her means either meteoric rise or utter ruin.
Life is a gamble. If there is an abyss behind her, why doesn't she choose to soar to the sky?
Xiang Wan's eyes flickered, and she reached out and patted Wu Renmei's shoulder.
This person is quite clever.
As the beauty pageant drew to a close, the imperial envoys had arrived in Wulai County.
The team leader was none other than Zuo Yimei.
After being swindled out of a large sum by Xiang Wan last time, the court officials had nowhere to vent their anger. Now that the main target was tied up and taken to Qianqiu Kingdom, if Zuo Yimei didn't go, who would?
Was Zuo Yimei also thinking of them?
No, she just wanted to drag everyone down with her!
Even if the beauty pageant brings some profit, it can't compare to the money they spend!
They just hold grudges!
Wu Renmei watched as Xiang Wan, after her disguise, bowed to Zuo Yimei with utmost respect, her eyes twitching.
Lord Zuo, do your family know you're so flustered?
Zuo Yimei didn't really want to go, but all the court officials unanimously recommended her, so what could she do?
This is no good job!
Regardless of whether they can bring back the Second Princess, the Flower Kingdom has lost all face, and she, as the envoy, is definitely not going to have a good ending.
The Empress Dowager did not give any instructions, but only told her to act according to the circumstances.
How should we proceed?
Should we offer gifts to congratulate them? Or should we forcefully persuade them to return?
She's just a high-ranking official!
What if the second princess is mentally challenged and insists on getting married?
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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