Chapter 147 This King Has No Interest in You
The Prince of Huaibei's expression stiffened slightly, and he spoke with some displeasure: "Princess Fengwu."
The woman who spoke was wearing a long pink dress and a thin pink veil. Because it was so transparent, it could not hide her beautiful face, nor could it hide the arrogant gleam in her eyes.
"Princess?" Yan Yang raised an eyebrow. "Anyone who didn't know better would think she was an enemy."
The woman in the pink dress spoke innocently, "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just worried—"
“You don’t need to worry about anything.” A gentle voice rang out from the table. “After all, this is a matter between His Highness Prince Ming and Princess Xue. Even Prince Ming doesn’t care, yet you’re so eager to jump out and remind us. I wonder what your intentions are?”
The person who said this was Shen Jingbai.
A banquet is being held today, and both Yan Chen and Shen Jingbai are present.
Ever since Yan Chen went to the palace to talk with the emperor—although it is unknown what they talked about—Emperor Zhaode's attitude towards him has changed a lot.
Even though today is an occasion to entertain envoys, he doesn't mind Yan Chen and Shen Jingbai attending together. Anyway, once Yan Cang ascends the throne, the two of them will be going in and out together, so there's no way they can avoid suspicion. It's better to let the ministers get used to it early.
Princess Fengwu's expression changed slightly as she coldly stared at Shen Jingbai: "What do you mean?"
Before Shen Jingbai could speak, Yan Yang's lips curled into a smile, as warm as a spring breeze: "I know better than the princess what Princess Xue has encountered in Yong Kingdom. Is Princess Fengwu trying to remind me that the princess's innocence is in jeopardy?"
Princess Fengwu looked embarrassed: "I...I didn't mean that..."
"So you think everyone here is smarter than you?" Yan Yang smiled faintly. "I saved the little princess. She has been with me day and night these past few days and we have both enjoyed each other's company. There is no need for you to remind her."
Princess Fengwu froze, her face flushing red: "I didn't mean that, I just..."
“What you are is not important,” Yan Yang interrupted her. “We are discussing serious matters with the Prince of Huaibei, whether they are matters of national importance or personal matters. The Prince of Huaibei and his wife are the most qualified to speak. Everyone else should remain silent.”
Princess Fengwu bit her lip, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face.
She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, feeling a surge of resentment.
Xue Ziying is just a princess, and a princess whose innocence has been ruined. Why is he protecting her so much?
Could it be that the Ming King, who has been averse to women for many years, now enjoys withered and faded beauties?
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Princess Fengwu's eyes as she gazed at Yan Yang's handsome face. She spoke warmly, "I am Princess Nanzhao, and I am not yet engaged. If Your Highness Prince Ming does not mind, I am willing—"
"I refuse." Yan Yang interrupted him mercilessly. "I have no interest in you."
Princess Fengwu's face immediately turned ashen.
Shen Jingbai spoke slowly: "The Prince and Princess of Huaibei have come all this way to fetch their daughter. Why bring such an ignorant princess with you? She needs special care on the way, and to say something so stupid right away not only ruins your mood but also disgraces your royal family and makes you a laughingstock."
"How dare you!" Princess Fengwu was enraged by their sarcastic remarks and looked coldly at Shen Jingbai. "Who are you? Could it be that you also admire Xue Ziying, and that's why you're speaking up for her?"
“Your Highness!” The Prince of Huaibei’s face darkened as he looked at her with displeasure. “If you continue to spout nonsense, I will have no choice but to let you leave.”
Princess Fengwu's given name was Xue Beiyue, and she was the third princess of Nanzhao.
She came to Yong Kingdom with the Prince of Huaibei not because she was bored, nor because the Prince of Huaibei was looking for trouble, but because the emperor's decree could not be disobeyed.
The emperor wanted to use a princess to form a marriage alliance with the Yong Kingdom in order to mend relations between the two countries.
The Prince of Huaibei never expected her to be so stupid.
Shen Jingbai clicked his tongue: "Such a foolish princess, luckily she was born into royalty, otherwise she probably wouldn't have survived—"
“Jing Bai,” Yan Chen spoke up promptly.
Shen Jingbai fell silent.
Princess Fengwu looked embarrassed, but she persisted: "Is this how your Yong Kingdom treats its guests?"
"Guards," Yan Yang said with a frown, "please escort Princess Fengwu, who is causing trouble in the hall, out of here."
Two guards from the town government entered.
Princess Fengwu's expression changed: "How dare you? I am Princess Nanzhao, a woman of noble birth—"
The guards from the town government stepped forward and dragged Princess Fengwu away.
"Let me go!" Princess Fengwu finally couldn't help but struggle when she saw that they were serious. "Let me go! Let me go!"
The Prince of Huaibei and his wife remained silent, not uttering a single word.
Most of the envoys who accompanied them were advisors and strategists under the Prince of Huaibei. They had long harbored deep resentment towards the emperor and the crown prince, and the crown prince's treasonous act had worn down all their patience.
Princess Fengwu is the most foolish and impulsive princess in the royal family. Her mother, a concubine, does not hold a high rank, but she has a good relationship with the legitimate princess, Xue Beixuan, and has always been by the legitimate princess's side.
Her purpose in coming to Yong Kingdom was twofold: firstly, to monitor the King and Queen of Huaibei—though with her foolish mind, she probably wouldn't be able to uncover anything.
Secondly, the Empress specifically summoned her to find out if Xue Beixuan was doing well in Yong Kingdom—the Empress of Nanzhao and the court officials may not yet know that Pei Yi'an has been accused of treason.
News from Yong Kingdom didn't reach Nanzhao so quickly.
The Prince of Huaibei hated Xue Beixuan because his daughter had been plotted against and harmed. He wished she would suffer more in Yong Kingdom. Even if news about her was sent back, the Prince of Huaibei would intercept it halfway.
So even now, Empress Nanzhao still believes that her daughter is doing well in Yong.
"Pei Yi'an colluded with the Crown Prince of Nanzhao and has been punished for treason." Emperor Zhaode spoke slowly, breaking the silence in the hall. "The Prince of Yan went to the border to talk with the Prince of Huaibei. I wonder if your Crown Prince has also been punished?"
The Prince of Huaibei's expression darkened: "The Empress's family does not admit that the Crown Prince colluded with the enemy. They only say that the Crown Prince is the heir apparent and has no reason to colluded with the enemy. With the Empress and the Imperial Uncle's family strongly arguing, the Crown Prince's position is temporarily stable."
Emperor Zhaode frowned slightly.
Was Emperor Nanzhao's power usurped, or did he simply not want to change the crown prince, which is why he turned a blind eye to this crown prince?
The Prince of Huaibei seemed unwilling to discuss domestic affairs, and said indifferently, "The matter of Nanzhao is a long story, so let's not talk about it today."
Emperor Zhaode nodded.
He knew the principle of not airing one's dirty laundry in public.
Regardless of the internal strife within Nanzhao, the fact that the court was in turmoil should not be known to outsiders. After all, you can know a person's face but not their heart. If someone were to harbor malicious intentions and take advantage of the situation to invade, the Nanzhao state would be in grave danger.
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