Chapter 148 Is King Ming really that good at sweet talk?
Emperor Zhaode composed himself and quickly got back to the point: "Previously, due to the secret collusion between Pei Yi'an and your country's crown prince, the two countries frequently waged war, causing the people in the border cities to suffer from the ravages of war. If the two countries can take this opportunity to turn hostility into friendship, it will be a joyous occasion for both Yong and Nanzhao."
“Your Majesty is right.” The Prince of Huaibei nodded in agreement. “Yong has produced an invincible Prince Yan. Although he has never personally fought against me, I have no intention of making an enemy. My purpose in coming to Yong is twofold: first, to bring back my daughter, and second, to hope that our two countries can cease hostilities and establish a friendly alliance.”
Prince Yan, seated at the table, held a wine cup in his hand and remained silent.
"Great minds think alike," Emperor Zhaode said with a smile. "The Prince of Yan is skilled in battle but not fond of war, just like the Prince of Huaibei. Both of them are for the sake of the people of both countries."
Years of war are not friendly to any country.
No matter how powerful a nation is, it cannot deny the depletion of its treasury and the loss of its military strength during war; ultimately, it is the innocent people who suffer.
Only when all countries live in harmony can people's livelihoods be better developed.
The Prince of Huaibei agreed: "His Majesty the Emperor is right."
"Speaking of alliances," Emperor Zhaode said with a smile, looking at the Prince of Huaibei and his wife, "I have an idea that I hope Your Highness and Princess will consider seriously."
The Prince of Huaibei said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
“The young princess has been staying at the Prince Ming’s residence for a while and has a good impression of Yan Yang. The two have gotten along well these days, and I intend to bring them together.” Emperor Zhaode said with a helpless smile, “To be honest, Yan Yang is too rebellious and is very resistant to marriage. He always says that girls in the capital are too timid, and he has been dragging it out until now, at the age of twenty-five, and his life’s most important matter is still undecided.”
He paused for a moment, then said, "I am quite pleased that he and the young princess are getting along so well right now, and I am eager to make this marriage happen. I wonder what the Prince and Princess of Huaibei think?"
Yan Yang raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying the matter, but simply picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, and quietly awaited the reply from the Prince of Huaibei and his wife.
The Prince of Huaibei remained silent for a moment, then turned to discuss a few words with his wife in a low voice before saying, "Although we have no way to repay the life-saving grace, we should repay it with our bodies, but this matter still depends on Ziying's wishes. If Ziying agrees, we, as her parents, naturally hope that she will have a good home."
Previously, when Yan Cang went to the border to talk with the King of Huaibei, he mentioned Yan Yang. Yan Yang not only saved Zi Ying, but Zi Ying also became very dependent on Yan Yang after being rescued.
The Prince of Huaibei had already conceived of this idea at that time.
Alliances between two countries cannot be based on mere verbal agreements; marriage is the most common method. Originally, the Emperor of Nanzhao wanted to marry Princess Fengwu to a prince of Yong, which is why he specially sent the Prince of Huaibei to bring Princess Fengwu over this time.
But the Prince of Huaibei knew Princess Fengwu's true nature.
She was a womanizer in Nanzhao, and no man was willing to marry her. If she married the prince of Yong, even if she could fool him for a while, there would be a risk that her affair would be exposed later.
The marriage between the two countries is for the sake of peace, not for future enmity. Ziying marrying Yanyang is undoubtedly the best outcome.
Ziying was framed by Pei Yi'an and Xue Beixuan and taken to Yong Kingdom. Regardless of whether she was harmed or not, she would inevitably face some strange looks after returning to Nanzhao.
Ziying was indeed given to other men and suffered abuse. Many people don't care about the truth of the matter. They only know that Ziying was taken by men. Even if she is still virgin, they will still consider her an impure woman.
Even if she returns to Nanzhao and has his status and military power as a backing, and is able to marry a suitable husband, she cannot avoid the possibility that her husband will feel alienated.
King Ming of Yong was a man who did not concern himself with trivial matters.
He knew what Ziying had gone through.
Ziying did not hide anything from him or deceive him. He did not despise Ziying and respected and protected her.
If Ziying likes him, the King of Huaibei wouldn't mind arranging a marriage with the Kingdom of Yong.
Since his attitude was mostly in favor, Emperor Zhaode breathed a sigh of relief, and the two sides discussed the matter in the main hall.
A short while later, the sound of footsteps approached.
Xue Ziying followed the guards from the Zhenfu Division who were delivering the imperial decree to the hall, bowed to the emperor, and then turned to look at the Prince of Huaibei and his wife: "Father, Mother."
When the Prince of Huaibei and his wife saw their daughter, they couldn't help but stand up: "Ziying."
Xue Ziying rushed forward and threw herself into her mother's arms: "Mother!"
Princess Huaibei's eyes reddened, and she patted her back tenderly, saying, "You've suffered so much. It's all our fault. We didn't protect you well, Ziying, Ziying... my poor daughter..."
The Prince of Huaibei looked at Xue Ziying with concern. Although he did not step forward, he could not hide the pain in his eyes.
“Father.” Xue Ziying turned her head away from her mother’s arms. “I’m fine. I’ve been living in the Ming Prince’s Mansion these days and I’m doing very well. My injuries have all healed. The Princess Consort of Yan and the Sixth Princess of Yong Kingdom have been very kind to me.”
The Prince of Huaibei looked her up and down and saw that she had a good complexion and that her clothes were made of expensive new materials. He knew that the Prince of Ming was taking good care of her, and his worries were finally put to rest.
The King of Huaibei once again expressed his gratitude to Yan Yang.
The palace servants provided Xue Ziying with a seat, right next to the Princess Consort of Huaibei.
Princess Consort of Huaibei asked in a low voice, "Ziying, we were just talking about your marriage to Prince Ming... The Emperor of Yong wants Prince Ming to marry you as his princess consort, are you willing?"
Xue Ziying looked up at Yan Yang.
Yan Yang looked back at her, raising an eyebrow with a slightly lazy air.
Xue Ziying snorted coldly: "He never said he liked me."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was stunned.
Emperor Zhaode couldn't help but cough lightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
The Prince of Huaibei couldn't understand his daughter's thought process either, so he could only clear his throat and say, "Um, Ziying..."
The Princess Consort of Huaibei looked at her daughter with a mixture of tenderness and helplessness.
The ministers of Yong and the envoys of Nanzhao present at the banquet all looked at Yan Yang without prior arrangement.
"Yan Yang," Emperor Zhaode spoke, "you like the young princess, don't you?"
Yan Yang looked up and met Xue Ziying's gaze. He saw the playfulness and cunning in her eyes, and couldn't help but put down his wine cup and smile casually.
"Of course I like her." His voice was deep, and his gaze towards Xue Ziying was exceptionally gentle. "Ziying is kind, lovely, bold, determined, and opinionated. She is a woman who is just as capable as any man, quite different from the noble ladies of today."
Minister of Yong: "..."
The envoy from Nanzhao: "..."
Emperor Zhaode: "..." How come he didn't know that Yan Yang was so good at sweet talk?
The King of Huaibei and his wife: "..." Their daughter is indeed bold and kind-hearted; His Highness the King of Ming is not wrong.
An eerie silence lasted for quite a while.
Xue Ziying nodded slowly: "I like His Highness Prince Ming and am willing to marry him, but I have one condition."
As if he knew what she was thinking, Yan Yang made a promise before she could speak: "I guarantee that I will not take any concubines or maids. After the marriage, the Ming Prince's Mansion will only have legitimate sons and daughters, and there will never be any illegitimate sons or daughters."
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