Bei Mingxuan noticed the strange look that flashed across his long face, but he remained calm and kept his doubts in his heart.
"Shu Ke," the Emperor said, looking at the eldest prince's wife, "you and Hong'er, please be mentally prepared. Although I have not yet agreed, this is the second time that the Emperor of Shijin has asked for Lan'er's hand in marriage for his son."
"The second time?" The Queen Mother was surprised. "How come I have never heard the Emperor mention this before?"
"The first time, I directly rejected it on the grounds that Lan'er was young," the emperor said. "But this time, they directly said that Lan'er is now the same age as the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom, Princess Xuan, and is already of marriageable age. Moreover, my mother knows that we lost in the Battle of Junhai many years ago... If this marriage between the two countries can be successful, the Shijin Kingdom will return double."
Instantly, Bei Ming Yulan's heart sank to the bottom...
"A political marriage..." Bei Ming Yulan's eyes were filled with tears. "Grandpa Emperor, in your eyes, your granddaughter, a living person, is just a weapon for exchange? If you have the ability, take back what you lost. Why use a woman like me in exchange..."
"Pa!" A slap landed directly on Bei Ming Yulan's face. Although Qin Shuke felt sorry for her daughter, if she followed her at this time, she would be truly cutting off her retreat.
"It seems like I've really spoiled you. You're so ignorant of your own limitations.
As a child of the royal family, you enjoy honors that ordinary people don't have, and naturally you must endure hardships that ordinary people cannot endure. This is fate!"
The emperor was deeply relieved to hear Qin Shuke's words. "After all, your mother is right. This is your responsibility and your obligation. In another month, it will be the empress dowager's eightieth birthday. Dongfang Ge will come then. Maybe you will like it. People from the other three kingdoms will also come."
"Father," Bei Mingxuan asked, "Has the matter between Lan'er and Dongfang Ge been settled?"
"It's not settled," the Emperor said. "They are the ones asking for my hand in marriage, but I haven't agreed yet. I guess we'll have to wait until the Queen Mother's birthday, when Dong Feng Ge arrives, and then we'll finalize the matter."
"In this case, there is still room for redemption." The Queen Mother frowned, "However, Lan'er, you are not a child anymore. You must be more measured in what you say and do. If you can't control your mouth, even if you die, it will be an unclear death."
Bei Ming Yulan lowered her head and said nothing.
Qin Shuke, who was standing by, immediately said, "Grandmother is right. When my granddaughter-in-law returns, she must teach Lan'er well so that she won't be reckless and willful."
"Yes." The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction, "Go back. Today is the Crown Prince's wedding. If Lan'er is not in a good mood, don't go to the Crown Prince's Mansion.
On such a happy day, seeing this face would bring bad luck to anyone."
"...Yes." Qin Shu was not happy with the Queen Mother saying that about her daughter, but she had to be respectful and agree. If she didn't want Lan'er to marry into the Shijin Kingdom, she had to work hard to please the Queen Mother. As long as she was reluctant to let Lan'er go, there would be a glimmer of hope.
After Qin Shuke and Bei Ming Yulan left, the emperor also left.
"They've all left." The Queen Mother looked at Chang'an and said with a smile, "Let the Empress Dowager take another look at the little fox hiding in your sleeve."
Before Chang'an could say anything, the little fox showed its head and looked straight at the Queen Mother with its round eyes.
A servant ran into the Queen Mother's arms.
"This little one is really warm." The Queen Mother said, "Xuan'er, Chang'an is really attentive to you. You are so lucky to be able to marry Chang'an."
"Grandmother is right." Bei Mingxuan smiled, looking at Chang'an with eyes full of love, "Grandson thinks so too."
When Chang'an saw Bei Mingxuan's eyes, the smile in his eyes was tinged with a hint of shyness.
"You two, please stop flirting with me, an old woman," the Queen Mother said. "You two are making my teeth sore."
"Grandma Empress." Chang'an said coquettishly, "So you are also a person who is used to making fun of others."
"Hehehe." The Queen Mother was in a good mood when she saw Chang'an. "You are also a little smart guy. Tell the Empress Dowager what you were talking about with your father just now."
"Riddle?" Chang'an didn't react. "When?"
"That's right, your father just came over, and you didn't prepare a gift for the Empress Dowager. You and your father were flirting with each other, but don't be fooled by the Empress Dowager because she's old and can't see anything."
"Wow!" Chang'an's expression was exaggerated. "Grandma, you are so amazing! Chang'an admires you! I admire you!"
The Queen Mother and Bei Mingxuan were both amused by Chang'an's exaggerated expression.
Especially when Bei Mingxuan looked at Chang'an's smile, his heart was warm. He hoped that Chang'an would always be happy.
Just thinking about Gu Qingfeng's situation, a trace of pity and heartache flashed through his heart.
I couldn't bear to see Chang'an sad, and I felt even more distressed about the grief Chang'an felt when he faced that day.
"Grandma." Chang'an glanced around and said softly, "Actually, Chang'an is deliberately trying to please Father.
After talking about his father, Chang'an secretly gave his father a New Year's gift and specifically told his father that Chang'an had prepared one just for him. Prince Xuan didn't have one, and neither did you, the Empress Dowager, so his father was particularly happy.
In fact, Changan prepared a New Year's gift for the Empress Dowager, but he told Father that on purpose to please him and make him think of Changan and Prince Xuan."
"You little devil." The Queen Mother was very satisfied with Chang'an's actions.
Chang'an will capture people's hearts even more.
The Queen Mother's love for Chang'an comes from the bottom of her heart.
Changan understood the expectations for Bei Mingxuan even more, so no matter what Changan did, it was to stand out for Bei Mingxuan.
In this way, no matter how unreasonable your actions are, in the eyes and heart of the empress dowager, they are all good and correct.
"So, what gift have you prepared for the Empress Dowager?" The Queen Mother stroked the little fox in her arms. "Will it be better than this little fellow?"
"..." Chang'an was stunned. "Grandma, do you really like this Fire Fox?"
"Don't worry, no matter how much the Empress Dowager likes it, she won't take it away from anyone else." The Queen Mother said, "Besides, it was prepared especially for Xuan'er."
Chang'an smiled and looked at Bei Mingxuan.
Bei Mingxuan raised the corner of his lips, he understood and raised his left hand.
Chang'an gently tugged at Bei Mingxuan's left sleeve and said softly, "Come out quickly..."
I saw a snow-white little fox crawling out from Bei Mingxuan's sleeve, revealing a little head. Its cute appearance made people's hearts feel soft.
"This..." The Queen Mother looked at Xiang Chang'an and asked with lingering fear, "Chang'an girl, you said that this is for me, the Empress Dowager. You are not asking me to look at it and not giving it to me, are you?"
"We agreed to give it to the Empress Dowager, so I must give it to her." Chang'an's eyebrows curved. "Empress Dowager, do you like it?"
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