Chapter 234 Choosing a Crown Prince
How could Lord Gao not hear the threat in Emperor Jing'an's words?
Emperor Jing'an looked like he wanted to control things but couldn't.
His attitude was clearly laid out, and he even hinted that if they insisted on marrying Princess Guangning to Chen Du, the King of Zhenbei would attack Northern Qi in order to save his life.
In order to eliminate future troubles, the King of Zhenbei will definitely crush Northern Qi.
At this point, how could Lord Gao not understand that Emperor Jing'an had abandoned Princess Yizhen.
He and the King of Zhenbei play the good guy and the bad guy respectively.
Mr. Gao looked disheartened and continued to probe: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten how you returned to your country that year..."
"Envoy Gao, you repeatedly bring up my situation as a hostage in Northern Qi. Are you reminding me that I shouldn't form an alliance with Northern Qi, but rather that I should avenge every humiliation I suffered back then?"
Emperor Jing'an's aura changed dramatically, emitting the pressure of a superior. He looked at Lord Gao with sharp eyes and said, "Yizhen died in Northern Qi. I think she would have preferred my cavalry to crush Northern Qi and bring her back to Great Zhou."
Mr. Gao's face changed drastically, and his thoughts were suddenly disrupted.
Emperor Jing'an sneered and waved his sleeves, saying, "Prince Zhenbei's move is exactly what I want. I shouldn't punish him, but instead reward him handsomely."
Lord Gao was terrified and finally came to his senses. In the heart of Emperor Jing'an, the country was more important than anything else.
The Northern Qi Emperor said that Emperor Jing'an was a man who valued friendship and loyalty. No matter who they chose as the marriage partner, even if Emperor Jing'an did not agree, he would agree to the marriage first for the sake of Princess Yizhen's reputation and dignity.
Mr. Gao opened his mouth, wanting to add another chip.
But seeing the furious Emperor Jing'an, he was afraid that it would backfire. Not only would he not get what he wanted, but he would also offend Emperor Jing'an.
"Your Majesty, please calm down." Lord Gao said, "Marriages between two countries are meant to establish close ties and generations of friendship. The Prince of Zhenbei is unwilling to enter into this marriage. If we force Princess Guangning to marry Prince Shen, we will create enmity and go against our original intention."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing'an snorted coldly.
"Princess Guangning admires the elegance of Prince Shen, but now she cannot fulfill her wish." Lord Gao looked regretful and continued, "I have a humble request. Princess Guangning can choose her own husband."
Having said this, he bowed and said, "I hope the emperor will grant my permission."
Emperor Jing'an stopped talking nonsense and said in a firm tone: "Choose one of my two sons."
Lord Gao knew that he had stepped on Emperor Jing'an's bottom line and did not dare to take advantage of him again. He thanked the emperor for his grace and left the Yangxin Palace.
Emperor Jing'an looked at Lord Gao's departing back with a heavy gaze, then slowly turned around and sat back on the dragon throne.
Eunuch Cao held a cup of cold brew tea and placed it next to Emperor Jing'an's hand: "Your Majesty, please cool down."
Emperor Jing'an held a cup of tea, opened the lid, and smelled the fresh and natural tea fragrance. He felt relaxed and happy, and all his anger disappeared.
"Cao Chunxiang, who do you think Northern Qi will choose?"
"Both princes are of noble status and distinguished appearance, so it's reasonable for Princess Guangning to choose either one." Cao Chunxiang fanned Emperor Jing'an while speculating about Northern Qi: "It's just that they didn't choose one of the two princes, but instead chose Prince Shen to fulfill Princess Guangning's admiration."
Emperor Jing'an took a sip of tea and did not interrupt Eunuch Cao.
Eunuch Cao said with a double meaning, "Master Gao said that the Northern Qi Emperor doted on Princess Guangning. A favored princess like this is bound to become arrogant and willful. If she isn't satisfied, she might become relentless."
Emperor Jing'an understood the meaning of Eunuch Cao's words. He was using Princess Guangning to allude to the Northern Qi envoys that they would not give up until they achieved their goal.
Eunuch Cao laughed and said, "Your Majesty, this is just my humble opinion."
Emperor Jing'an remained silent.
He had already reached the age of knowing his destiny, and there were rumors in the court that he wanted to establish a crown prince.
The marriage with Northern Qi is a good opportunity to test the princes.
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King Zhenbei was about to lead his troops out of the city before dawn.
General Qi returned to the capital with his troops. This time, the Prince of Zhenbei was going to march to the northern border, and under the emperor's instruction, he selected this batch of troops to go to the northern border.
After all, he only brought a few subordinates back to Beijing, and the other soldiers followed the deputy general back to Liangzhou.
Before going to bed, Shen Qingtan and the cook made Dingsheng cake and some dry food and put them in his bag.
Mom said Dad hated separation the most and didn’t like being seen off by anyone.
She knew very well that this was related to her getting lost, so she did not deliver it herself. Instead, she gave it to the doorman and had him hand it over when he left.
Even so, Shen Qingtan still got up early and stood on a path with Zhao Yi, watching the King of Zhenbei walking out of the darkness in military uniform, like a sharp weapon drawn from its sheath, carrying an unstoppable and cold aura.
He walked from the main courtyard to the door with vigorous and heroic steps. Every step was very firm and he never looked back.
Suddenly, when he reached the screen wall, he stopped.
The King of Zhenbei tilted his head slightly towards Shen Qingtan, and when he was about to turn his face around, he suddenly took a step and walked around the screen wall.
Shen Qingtan tightened his fingers, knowing that when he paused, he must have discovered them.
He was not wearing the deerskin boots she had given him, and he was carrying a bundle on his shoulders.
She recognized at a glance that this bundle was the one she used to carry her deerskin boots.
Did he feel reluctant to wear it on his journey and bring it to the North?
Thinking of this, Shen Qingtan felt mixed emotions and stared blankly at the screen wall.
This place is some distance away from the gatehouse, and the evening breeze carries the gatehouse's voice vaguely.
"Your Highness, this is the bundle that the princess prepared for you." The doorman handed a bundle to the King of Zhenbei.
King Zhenbei took the bundle and smelled the fragrance of Dingsheng cake mixed with the sweet aroma of red bean paste. His hand holding the bundle tightened, and the blue veins on the back of his hand protruded.
He turned his head to look in the direction of Shen Qingtan, and in front of him was a thick screen wall, blocking his view of his daughter.
But he could imagine her hiding in the dark and secretly sending it to him.
It must be the same as when I was a child.
King Zhenbei turned his head, opened the door, and strode out of the mansion.
With a bang, the heavy door closed.
Shen Qingtan listened to the dull sound of the door closing, and stood there for a moment. When he was about to call Zhao Yi back, he saw the Princess of Zhenbei walking out from the path that the Prince of Zhenbei passed by.
"You two are here too." Princess Zhenbei wiped the mist off Shen Qingtan's hair with a handkerchief in her hand, and said with a gentle smile, "I don't know how happy he is."
"When I was little, I would always see my father off whenever he went to war. Now that I'm home this time, I should see him off."
Shen Qingtan wanted to make King Zhenbei happy.
He said that he didn't like separation and didn't want his family to see him off to war.
But she thought, he was expecting her to give it to him, right?
Princess Zhenbei felt a surge of warmth in her heart. The girl was thoughtful and caring, more considerate than the boys in the family.
If such a warm-hearted daughter had always grown up by his side, I wonder how much he would have loved her.
"It's not daybreak yet. It's cold outside, and Yi'er is weak. You should go back and get some sleep." Princess Zhenbei held Shen Qingtan's hand. Her small hand was now as big as hers. "You grew up in the capital, so you have some understanding of the young ladies of various families, right? Mother will choose good wives for your brothers, and you can give them some advice."
"Okay." Shen Qingtan let go of Zhao Yi and took the arm of Princess Zhenbei. "Mom, Uncle Qin has helped me a lot. Can you invite him and his family to dinner at your house someday?"
After Princess Zhenbei came to Beijing, she learned about Shen Qingtan's life over the years and knew about Boss Qin.
He has the shrewdness and tact of a businessman, but his family treats Manman with sincerity.
"Okay." Princess Zhenbei thought of the daughter of Boss Qin, who had a good relationship with Shen Qingtan. "At dawn, mother will send someone to deliver a letter to the Qin Mansion, inviting the three of them to dinner."
Shen Qingtan's thoughts were seen through, and he called out softly: "Mom~"
Princess Zhenbei looked at her acting coquettishly unconsciously, and her heart softened.
Until they reached the gate of the courtyard, she was reluctant to let go and cherished her daughter's closeness.
This was too hard-earned for her.
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