After tidying up, I went to the front hall and saw Fang Zhu and Min'er, who both had strong presences.
Fang Zhu looked gloomy, which suggested that things weren't going well for him with the Emperor.
Princess Min'er seemed very happy. When Fang Qing came in, she was looking at Fang Zhu with her chin in her hand, and her feet were kicking Fang Zhu's toes.
After Fang Qing entered, she greeted Princess Min'er, then looked at Fang Zhu and asked with her eyes why Princess Min'er had come.
"The Emperor asked me to cultivate a relationship with her."
It seems the Emperor is determined to make this marriage happen.
Fang Qing looked at Princess Min'er, but before she could say that she wanted to have a proper talk with Princess Min'er, Princess Min'er interrupted her.
“I know what you want to say to me. I’m never short of people trying to persuade me. Back in Tibet, my mother almost wore my ears out from nagging me. I know what kind of life I’ll have if I marry someone who doesn’t love me.”
Fang Qing opened her mouth and said, "Then why do you still insist on marrying him? This blockhead."
“I am a Tibetan princess. In our country, even the most favored princess has to go to a marriage alliance. I will either marry into those barbarian tribes in the west or into a harsh tribe in the north. Why shouldn’t I choose a better one?”
“So many of my sisters want to marry into Dali, but they don’t have the chance. Now that an opportunity is in front of me, why should I give it up? Besides, I can choose to marry someone I like. This is divine protection.”
When she said these words, the naivety in her eyes had disappeared.
Fang Qing then realized that the girl in front of her might never have been a love-obsessed person at all.
She was more clear-headed than anyone else.
So three years ago, before she even reached marriageable age, she had already found a way out for herself.
After that, Fang Qing felt too embarrassed to continue trying to persuade her.
She really had no right to advise him.
There was a moment of silence in the lobby; the atmosphere was different from before.
Fang Zhu pursed her lips and looked at Princess Min'er, seemingly lost in thought.
Princess Min'er ate the pastries on her plate, her eyes lowered so that her color was not visible.
Zhao Shi'an, on the other hand, acted as if he had nothing to do with the matter from beginning to end.
"Have the kitchen bring all the food here," Zhao Shi'an said to the steward.
Later, the kitchen staff brought over lunch one after another, and the aroma of the food filled the entire room, which livened up the atmosphere.
Princess Min'er has also regained her former liveliness.
"I've been in Beijing for several days now, and the food at your place seems even better than the food at the embassy."
The steward serving nearby said that these cooks were specially selected by the master for his wife.
Princess Min'er's eyes lit up.
"Wow, you dote on your wife so much! I'm so envious. I'll definitely come to your house for meals more often in the future."
The next sentence was said to Fang Qing.
"Of course, you're welcome."
The atmosphere was fairly lively during the meal, but later, an envoy from Tibet came looking for her, and Princess Min'er left.
The remaining three continued eating.
Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an exchanged a glance, then Fang Zhu, who had also remained silent, looked at each other.
"Brother Fangzhu, we really have no other choice now."
Fang Zhu took a swig of wine.
"Then marry him."
"Didn't you say you didn't want to?"
"What can we do?" he asked, looking helpless.
At this moment, Zhao Shi'an spoke up.
“Princess Min’er is here for a political marriage. If you don’t want to marry her, I can help you arrange for someone else to marry her.”
Zhao Shi'an only offered a suggestion, but it made Fang Zhu frown.
"What was she to you back then, that you could just give her away to anyone?"
Zhao Shi'an glanced at him sideways.
"Since you can't bear to part with her either, then don't act like you've suffered a great injustice. Just happily marry her, and everyone will be more comfortable."
Pretending to be pitiful here is like deliberately trying to make Qing'er pity you.
Zhao Shi'an had wanted to say this for a long time.
Fang Zhu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Zhao Shi'an.
"you……"
He didn't know what to say in rebuttal.
Zhao Shi'an's words seemed to have torn away the side of him that he had been hiding.
Perhaps he didn't even realize that he had a white moonlight in his heart, and always thought he could touch it.
He should wake up now.
There was a moment of silence in the dining room. Just as Fang Qing was about to say something to ease the atmosphere, she heard Fang Zhu sigh heavily.
"I suppose my matter has caused you a lot of trouble."
"Brother Fangzhu, what are you saying? We're family."
Fang Zhu twitched the corner of her mouth.
"No matter what, I've gotten the better deal in this marriage, so I shouldn't act like I've suffered a huge loss. It would be pretentious for a grown man to act like that."
"I've made up my mind. It's time for me to get married. After I get married, I will take on the responsibilities of a family."
Fang Qing didn't know what to say.
Zhao Shi'an took her hand and said to Fang Zhu, "If you need any help, just let us know."
His friendly gesture made Fang Zhu raise an eyebrow.
"Okay, then I definitely won't be polite then."
As she spoke, Fang Qing raised her glass and toasted Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an.
After lunch, Fang Zhu was about to leave, but Fang Qing tried to persuade him to stay.
"Brother Fangzhu, you should stay in the mansion. Your mansion is uninhabited for most of the year. You're getting married soon, so it should be properly renovated."
Fang Zhu readily agreed.
The next day, the imperial decree officially arrived at the mansion announcing the marriage between Fangzhu and Princess Min'er.
The wedding date was then set.
Their wedding was prepared by the palace and the Ministry of Rites, but Princess Min'er would still come every few days, begging Fang Qing to take her to choose wedding items.
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