At the end of the third year of Yuan Yi (the title of the current emperor), a war suddenly broke out in a neighboring country and swept across the northern border of Qu Lingyuan's country. At this time, there were only two months left before Shen Qingmo and Qu Lingyuan's wedding.
Normally, a man and a woman would not meet each other during the period of waiting for marriage, but Chen Qingmo and Qu Lingyuan were not averse to this and they often went out and had meals together.
"Ninth brother, on the northern border...are our troops very weak?" Qu Lingyuan heard today that the great general who defends the country was defeated at the border, and couldn't help asking.
Chen Qingmo shook his head in denial: "No, on the contrary, our military strength is much stronger than that of our neighboring countries. This king is also very surprised. The general who guards the country is not an incompetent person. He is one of the few loyal to the emperor. He was actually beaten back by a small country... It's very strange."
Is that strange? Qu Lingyuan didn't think too much about it. She was just curious. She always had no say in national affairs.
It’s just a pity that my husband has to worry about this and waste his energy and energy.
"Your Highness, there's news from the enemy." A man who looked like a guard came in from outside and knelt on one knee.
"Go ahead." Chen Qingmo didn't even turn his head, still half-hugging Qu Lingyuan in his arms.
The guard, pretending he was blind, hesitated for a moment before saying, "The enemy has agreed to withdraw, but the condition is... that Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess come over to marry."
"What!?" Shen Qingmo and Qu Lingyuan turned around in shock.
"Why did you specifically choose me?" Qu Lingyuan was absolutely sure that no one in the enemy country knew what she looked like. If she said that they started a war just for her beauty, it would be too far-fetched.
"Your Highness, the Emperor has gone to Changle Palace to ask the Empress Dowager's opinion," the guard continued.
Chen Qingmo and Qu Lingyuan looked at each other and saw the word "weird" in each other's eyes.
On the other side, the main hall of Changle Palace.
"No! I don't agree!" The Grand Empress Dowager was rarely so furious. "Emperor, tell me, are we really no match for that small country? Even though I don't care, I know we are stronger, right? The general who defends the country can't defeat them, that's because he's incompetent! Let someone else lead the troops! I don't agree to let Yueyun go as a marriage alliance!"
"Grandma Empress, this concerns the lives of many soldiers! How can you be so selfish at this time?" The emperor tried hard to lobby the Grand Empress Dowager.
"Selfish? I ask you, how can you expect me to be selfless at a time like this? Yueyun is already in poor health..." The Empress Dowager became more and more heartbroken as she spoke, her voice tinged with sobs. "Besides, it was you who personally issued the imperial decree for Qingmo and Yueyun's marriage. Are you, the Emperor, going to break your promise?"
"For the people of the north..."
Before the emperor could finish his words, Qu Lingyuan's voice was heard from outside.
"Mother!" Qu Lingyuan heard the quarrel in the house, stopped the palace maid who was reporting, and ran in hurriedly without asking anyone to inform.
When the emperor saw Qu Lingyuan come in, he turned around and began to persuade her: "Aunt, the enemy army said they will withdraw their troops only if you marry into the alliance. Please agree."
"I..." Qu Lingyuan was choked.
She only likes Shen Qingmo, and she has a mission to complete, so it is impossible for her to marry a man other than Shen Qingmo, but in this situation, she doesn't know how to speak.
"aunt..."
The emperor wanted to continue speaking, but Shen Qingmo, who was standing next to him with a gloomy face, flicked his sleeves and interrupted him: "Enough! This king will personally go to the battlefield to lead the troops, and will never allow this king's fiancée to be snatched away by others."
"Uncle, think twice. The Great General has been away for so long and hasn't won a single battle. Besides... as long as there's a war, there will definitely be soldiers sacrificed..."
"The Emperor doesn't trust me, does he?" Shen Qingmo practically chopped the Emperor into pieces with his eyes. "There's no need to discuss this. This is settled. If we allow the enemy to demand it, we'll become a laughing stock."
After saying this, without waiting for the emperor to continue expressing his opinion, Shen Qingmo pulled Qu Lingyuan out of Changle Palace.
Qu Lingyuan was a little dazed as she didn't expect to leave Changle Palace without saying a word.
On the way to send Qu Lingyuan back to Xiyun Palace, Shen Qingmo's handsome face was always covered with dark clouds, which made it clear that a storm was about to come, which made her a little worried.
Chen Qingmo didn't leave until after dinner. He sat with Qu Lingyuan and looked at each other in silence.
"Do you... really want to go to the battlefield yourself?" Qu Lingyuan looked at him with concern.
"When I come back from the north, I will marry..." Before he could finish his words, Qu Lingyuan covered his mouth.
Don’t set a flag! It’s easy to fail! Qu Lingyuan was very anxious, but she couldn’t say this.
"Don't say anymore, Yuan'er will wait for you..."
At this moment, Qu Lingyuan's heart was bleeding, but she could only feign shyness: "But you have to promise to come back safe and sound, without losing a single hair, you..."
Chen Qingmo looked at Qu Lingyuan's two peach-pink lips opening and closing, and suddenly felt itchy. If he went to the battlefield, it would take a long time for him to come back.
As I was thinking, I leaned over...
"Hmm..." Whatever she wanted to say was drowned out between her lips and teeth, and Qu Lingyuan's mind went blank.
This was her first kiss in all her past and present lives combined...
Feeling Shen Qingmo's gentle movements, Qu Lingyuan suddenly felt her nose sore, and tears flowed down her cheeks, making Shen Qingmo taste a hint of saltiness.
"What's wrong...?" It was the first time Shen Qingmo saw her cry, and his tone was panicked, "You... don't like it?"
Qu Lingyuan laughed out loud when she heard this: "I don't dislike it!"
Just after she finished laughing, she immediately became depressed. She rested her head on Shen Qingmo's chest and murmured softly: "I just can't bear to leave you..."
Chen Qingmo sighed, held up Qu Lingyuan's little face, wiped away the tears on her face with his hands, and said solemnly: "Yuan'er, don't worry, this king will definitely not let you go to marry."
Shaking her head violently, Qu Lingyuan grabbed his hand and said word by word, "Yuan'er, I just want you to come back safely."
That night, the two sat together quietly for a long time. Chen Qingmo returned to the palace very late, and after Qu Lingyuan went to bed, she also experienced insomnia, which was a rare occurrence.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
