Chapter 96 You ruined her innocence
Although she was the victim, a woman's chastity is still quite important, and men care a lot about that. Moreover, the second prince is a prince.
Princes and nobles would not marry a woman who has lost her virginity.
Father Emperor probably won't agree.
However, to put it another way, the Second Prince is so famous that most women wouldn't dare to marry him. He has never had anyone he likes. If Xue Ziying could win his heart, then... it should... maybe, there's nothing wrong with it?
"Second brother," Yan Jinyue hesitated before speaking, "didn't you send those women you rescued from the Wen family home?"
Should all the women stay at the Prince Ming's residence to recover from their injuries, or should only Xue Ziying be left behind?
Yan Yang didn't understand her meaning. He took a sip of tea and answered truthfully, "Some were sent back, and some were left in the palace."
"Then this..." Yan Jinyue pointed at Xue Ziying, her tone hesitant, "Do you want to stay in the manor as a concubine?"
"A concubine?" Yan Yang looked up in surprise, then lightly scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Yan Jinyue asked, "Then why wasn't she sent away?"
“She can’t be sent away for the time being.” Yan Yang glanced at Xue Ziying. “She is seriously injured and has been receiving treatment for the past few days. Moreover, she is the Princess of Nanzhao, and the journey is long. Sending her back will not be easy.”
He talked with Xue Ziying these past few days.
Although she still doesn't speak much, she is literate and writes beautifully. Through written communication, it has been determined that she is the daughter of the King of Huaibei of Nanzhao, a genuine princess.
The Southern Zhao Kingdom is now divided into two factions.
The Prince of Huaibei held military power and was a proponent of peace. He cared about the well-being of the people and did not want to fight against the Yong Dynasty because war would consume too much money, make people's lives unstable, and make it difficult for the national treasury to sustain itself in the long run.
Most importantly, the Yong Dynasty is powerful, and they always take advantage of the Yong Dynasty's war with the Northern Desert to launch attacks. This behavior is unacceptable. Once the Yong Dynasty has the time and resources to make a move, the Southern Zhao will be no match for the Yong Dynasty.
However, Crown Prince Xue Sheng, who was in charge of the state, was a proponent of war. He even colluded with generals of the Yong Dynasty in order to provoke wars time and time again, firstly to deplete the army of the Prince of Huaibei, and secondly to use the wars to seek personal gain, embezzling military funds and enriching himself.
Xue Ziying was kidnapped. The mastermind behind it all was to make the Prince of Huaibei take advantage of her vulnerability. The person who drugged her and kidnapped her was Princess Nanzhao, the Crown Prince's younger sister, Xue Beixuan.
Xue Beixuan, Tang Beixuan.
Pei Yi'an was so confident that he didn't even change her name, only her surname, and brought her back in a grand manner, thinking that he could deceive everyone. However, unexpectedly, Xue Ziying was rescued by Yan Yang.
If it can be confirmed that Tang Beixuan is Princess Nanzhao, then Pei Yi'an's crime of colluding with the enemy is irrefutable and beyond doubt.
After Yan Jinyue sat down, she looked at Xue Ziying and asked, "Are you Princess Nanzhao?"
Xue Ziying ignored her and remained standing in front of Yan Yang, clutching his robes tightly with both hands, as if afraid he would abandon her and run away.
Yan Jinyue rested her chin on her hand and said softly, "Second brother, is this woman clinging to you?"
Yan Yang said, "I only tolerated her behavior because of her miserable situation; otherwise, these hands would have been gone four days ago."
"You're quite the chivalrous one," Yan Jinyue scoffed. "But speaking of which, since she's so inseparable from you, have you two been spending all your time together these past few days? You haven't been sleeping in the same bed at night, have you?"
Yan Yang: "..."
Yan Jinyue had only been joking, but she hadn't expected his reaction, and her eyes widened immediately: "Really sleeping together?"
“She’s like a newly hatched bird right now,” Yan Yang explained calmly. “I went to Wen Heyun’s courtyard and was the first person to find her. She saw me in her dazed state and probably mistook me for her mother.”
“But you’re not her mother, you’re a man,” Yan Jinyue retorted. “Men and women shouldn’t touch each other. You’ve ruined her innocence.”
Yan Yang said, "Her innocence was ruined by Wen Heyun long ago..."
"No," Xue Ziying retorted softly.
Yan Yang and Yan Jinyue both turned to look at her.
"So you can talk," Yan Jinyue teased. "I thought you were a little mute."
Xue Ziying pursed her lips and lowered her head, remaining silent.
Yan Jinyue looked at Yan Yang: "Second brother, did you hear that? She said no, she was forced at Wen Heyun's place before, but with the Second brother, it was her own choice. Can the Second brother not marry her?"
Yan Yang snorted coldly: "I'm not interested in her."
He had the same courage as a little mouse, and he had no patience to coax it.
“Actually, I have an idea.” Yan Jinyue said to herself, completely ignoring Yan Yang’s rebuttal. “Since some people in Nanzhao don’t want to go to war, let’s just grant their wish and arrange a marriage between the two countries… Second brother, you see, you saved the life of the daughter of the Prince of Huaibei. The Prince of Huaibei must be very grateful to you. If you marry her, you two, a prince and a princess, will be a good match in terms of status.”
He paused for a moment, then said, "No noble lady in the Yong Dynasty capital dares to marry you, but look at Xue Ziying, she dares. She's now clinging to you. Whether from the perspective of personal marriage or national alliance, this is a wise decision."
If Yongchao forms an alliance with Nanzhao, the southern border will face less pressure, and the King of Huaibei of Nanzhao will be able to achieve his wish for peace.
In fact, war would not benefit either country. The only ones who would truly benefit are the two factions that collude with each other – the Crown Prince of Nanzhao and Pei Yi'an's faction in Yongchao.
“But I’m a little curious,” Yan Jinyue frowned. “The Crown Prince of Nanzhao is already the heir apparent. As long as their emperor dies, he will be the next emperor. Why would he go to such lengths to collude with Pei Yi’an and use the war to gain benefits? Is he out of his mind?”
Yan Yang took a sip of tea and nodded casually: "That's a good question. I'd like to know the answer too."
Yan Jinyue was silent for a moment, then her gaze fell on Xue Ziying's face again: "Miss Ziying, do you like my second brother?"
Xue Ziying didn't answer, and resumed her mute state.
Yan Jinyue: "..."
"Let me go!" A woman's shrill cry suddenly rang out from outside, filled with fear and anxiety. "Let me go! I... I am General Pei's man, what right do you have to arrest me?"
Upon hearing this voice, Xue Ziying turned her head to look outside.
Yan Yang's eyebrows twitched slightly, his gaze fixed on her eyes and brows: "You recognize her voice, do you know who this person is?"
Xue Ziying nodded.
"Should we hide?"
Xue Ziying didn't speak. After a while, she slowly shook her head and then silently snuggled into Yan Yang's arms.
Yan Yang: "..."
Yan Jinyue: "..."
Tang Beixuan was quickly led inside, and a guard kicked her, causing her to kneel on the ground.
Tang Beixuan screamed, instinctively protecting her stomach, and looked up in panic: "I...I don't know anything. General Pei didn't collude with the enemy. He's innocent. He's been framed..."
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