"Come, allow me to introduce you." Xiao Fen smiled and pointed to the people below the steps one by one, the first being the Crown Prince, "This is my first child, and also the Crown Prince of our country."
The Crown Prince nodded slightly in greeting, and Xiao Fen then pointed to Xia Chao, "This is our Prime Minister Xia Chao. For so many years, he has been my right-hand man. Beside him are his wife and daughter. The Prime Minister's daughter is the most beautiful girl in our Great Wei Kingdom."
"She is indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace," Dugu Ji said with a smile of approval, though there seemed to be something else mixed in with his smile.
Feng Guang was so stiff that he didn't dare to move.
"Hehe, Miss Xia is my son, the Ghost King's, fiancée." Xiao Fen then pointed to Xiao Ruo, "This is the Ghost King, and the one next to him is..."
"The Silver-Masked Strategist Bai Rong, and His Highness the Ghost King, the three of us met on the battlefield."
"Yes, look at me, I'm getting senile. Of course you've met before."
Dugu Ji picked up his wine cup, smelled the aroma, then put the cup down and laughed, "His Highness the Ghost King is brave and skilled in battle, and his Silver-Masked Strategist is incredibly insightful. I have long wanted to make friends with them outside the enemy lines, but I have never had the opportunity."
Xiao Ruo said expressionlessly, "Thank you for your high regard."
"Haha, please don't mind, King Guangliu. Xiao Ruo has always been this lukewarm person since she was a child." Xiao Fen echoed Dugu Ji's words. "The Silver-Masked Strategist is not only insightful in the art of war, but also accomplished in poetry and prose. I remember the poem the strategist recited at the beginning of the year: 'Several plum blossoms in the corner of the wall, blooming alone in the cold. I know from afar it is not snow, for there is a faint fragrance.' This is truly a timeless masterpiece."
"The strategist's poem has already spread far and wide, and I am naturally aware of such fine lines."
Bai Rong forced a smile and said apologetically, "Your Majesties are too kind."
This poem, "Plum Blossom," was not her original work. She felt uneasy, but that was not as surprising as meeting Dugu Ji at that moment.
"From afar I know it's not snow, for there is a faint fragrance..." Feng Guang murmured the last two lines unconsciously, her head lowered, her bangs covering her eyes, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Dugu Ji withdrew his gaze, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat lazy. "That's enough with the flattery. Now, let's get down to business."
"Oh? I wonder how the King of Guangliu intends to discuss this?" Xiao Fen's relaxed smile vanished, and he had to look at this formidable young man with a scrutinizing gaze.
Everyone in the hall focused their attention on the two people on the high seats.
"Emperor Xiao and I both know that the long-standing war has already caused considerable damage to both countries. Moreover, the Hexi tribe on the border is a third-party force that is eyeing us covetously. Since I was able to take the lead in proposing peace between the two countries, I naturally cannot let others mistakenly think that our Guangliu Kingdom is showing goodwill because it is afraid of the Dawei Kingdom."
Xiao Fen nodded, "Of course. Guangliu Kingdom and Dawei Kingdom are of equal strength, so how can there be a distinction between who is stronger and who is weaker?"
"Therefore, since I have become the first one, I must receive the corresponding reward."
"I wonder what the reward is?" Xiao Fen's smile seemed a little awkward. Did Dugu Ji want a reward? Land? Or rare treasures?
"I need someone."
“Father!” Xiao Ruo suddenly stood up. “Your subject also wishes to ask Father for someone.”
Xiao Fen glanced at the composed Dugu Ji, then looked at Xiao Ruo, "Whom does the Ghost King want?"
"Your subject wishes to marry the Prime Minister's second daughter as his concubine."
Bai Rong froze, and everyone else looked at the Prime Minister's family. It was no secret that the Prime Minister's family had a concubine's daughter who never left the house. However, everyone had some questions: How did His Highness the Ghost King take a liking to that concubine's daughter? Could it be that her beauty was no less than that of her legitimate sister?
Xia Chao looked surprised, but Wang Ci remained calm as expected.
It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, especially a prince. Xiao Fen said, "Sisters can serve the Ghost King together and look after each other. In that case, let the second young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion be a concubine."
"Father, I want the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's residence, not as a concubine, but as a wife." Not a concubine, but a wife—what does that mean? It's obviously the intention of her becoming the principal wife!
Xiao Ruo's words were like a bomb dropped into the crowd. Apart from Bai Rong being stunned, everyone was in an uproar. Even Xia Chao and Wang Ci, who had just been calm, looked grim.
Xiao Fen's expression also changed, then he chuckled to smooth things over, "Ghost King, please stop joking. Your fiancée is the daughter of the Prime Minister, your cousin, and your aunt's daughter. Please don't get it wrong."
"Your Majesty, I only have brotherly and sisterly feelings for my cousin, nothing more. I accepted the imperial decree to marry her because I had not yet met the person I wanted to spend my life with. Now I hope that Your Majesty will grant my wish."
Look at this mess! It turns out that His Highness the Ghost King agreed to the marriage back then because the girl hadn't met her true love. Now he dares to object in public. That concubine's daughter must hold a very special place in his heart. The young master's sympathetic gaze fell on that quiet girl.
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