Chapter 443 Breach of Contract
The marriage alliance proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner.
Wen Zhiming bestowed a princess's mansion upon her, arranged a group of servants, and even began to slowly prepare the dowry items for the marriage alliance.
A few days later, General Liu Yan of the Blue Feather Kingdom led several hundred people into the capital to welcome Mo Sixuan back to the country.
The Jin Yue Kingdom hosted a grand feast, and after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they saw Mo Sixuan off to their carriage. Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge personally escorted him out of the palace gate.
Mo Sixuan lifted the carriage curtain, his smile both wicked and arrogant.
"I am deeply grateful for the warm hospitality I have received from the King and his ministers during my visit to the Golden Moon Kingdom. If you have the opportunity to visit my Blue Feather Kingdom next time, I will certainly treat you well as well."
Wen Zhiming smiled and said, "This is how it should be between allied nations."
Mo Sixuan peeked behind the two of them, his expression serious.
"It's getting late, why hasn't the princess who's going to be married off set off yet?"
"Set off?" Wen Zhiming looked surprised upon hearing this.
"The monarch of Blue Feather Kingdom is really joking. How can such an important matter as a marriage alliance be arranged in just a few days? The list of state gifts alone is three whole pages long. In the past few days, many departments in our country have been working hard to complete it, and we have only finished half a page."
Meng Lingge smiled gently from the side.
"The monarch of Blue Feather Kingdom doesn't think that our princess's marriage is just about sending a girl away, does he? Golden Moon Kingdom would never do something so shabby. The princess's servants and dowry are still being prepared. Once everything is ready, our country will send someone to personally escort her there. You can meet her at the border between our two countries then."
Mo Sixuan didn't believe that the couple would be so kind as to genuinely prepare a list of state gifts for the princess who was to be married off.
It's most likely a delaying tactic; there's another scheme involved.
"Why go through all that trouble? Let the princess go back with me. It will save you the trouble and save me the trouble of picking her up and dropping her off. The princess can use this trip to build a relationship with me."
Mo Sixuan had long decided that once he left the capital of Jin Yue Kingdom, he would torment Lu Shui to avenge the two times she had rejected and deceived him.
If we can't travel with him, wouldn't the journey be much less enjoyable?
His words were arrogant and rude, and the ministers who were seeing him off all looked rather unpleasant upon hearing them.
Meng Lingge smiled, but her tone turned serious.
“Princess Jiahe, a young lady, was willing to marry far away alone for the sake of her country, yet the Blue Feather Kingdom found even escorting her too troublesome. The Golden Moon Kingdom has all the proper etiquette. If the monarch of the Blue Feather Kingdom doesn’t even have this much respect and patience for the princess, how can we believe that you will treat our princess well in the future?”
“If the monarch of Lanyu Kingdom is not sincere in seeking marriage, in my opinion, this marriage alliance should be called off.”
The ministers behind him were also whispering amongst themselves.
"In our Golden Moon Kingdom, let alone a princess sent for a political marriage, even a girl from an ordinary family has to prepare for a long time before getting married and having a grand wedding. A princess's marriage is related to the peace between the two countries, so it cannot be done hastily."
"That's right. If they can't even handle the wedding ceremony properly, I'm afraid our princess will suffer endless grievances after marrying into the family. What's the difference between a princess being disrespected and being bullied?"
"In all my years as an official, I have never seen such a person who is so ignorant of etiquette. Before the marriage is even officially finalized, they are letting the princess go with them. I don't know if they are simply ignorant of the rules or if they are deliberately provoking us."
Seeing the crowd's dissatisfaction, Mo Sixuan dared not continue to cause trouble on Jin Yue Kingdom's territory, especially since he had actually benefited from this matter.
He hesitated for a moment, then smiled.
"It is my ignorance of the customs of the Golden Moon Kingdom that has caused you all to laugh at me. The princess's marriage is a major event for both countries, and I also wish to bring the princess back to my country as soon as possible. I wonder when the princess's dowry will be fully prepared, and I will certainly give her a grand welcome then."
Wen Zhiming said, "It will take seven days at the earliest, and half a month at the latest. Jin Yue Kingdom is a country of integrity, and it always keeps its word. Once the princess arrives at the border, her attendants will inform her in advance, and you can come to welcome her then."
The premise is that you are still alive.
Mo Sixuan smiled gloomily.
It seems the attack on Jin Yue will have to be postponed again. We need to capture Lu Shui first before making any further plans.
Seeing that he remained silent, Meng Lingge smiled and advised, "If the monarch of Lanyu Kingdom does not want to wait too long, he can stay in the palace for a few more days and set off a few days later, so that he will not have to wait too long."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty," Mo Sixuan said. "However, I have already troubled you for a long time, and there are many things in Lanyu Kingdom that I need to deal with. I cannot delay any longer. I should go back first, arrange the reception, and wait for Princess Jiahe."
Even if a king is living in luxury and comfort in the Golden Moon Kingdom, he would not dare to stay there for long.
He was always afraid that one day Wen Zhiming would see through his pretense of peace talks and know that he would launch a war as soon as he returned to the country, and thus kill him with a single blow.
Wen Zhiming was right. Jin Yue Kingdom has always been the most trustworthy, and the Green Water will be delivered in half a month at most. There is no need for him to rush. His most urgent task is to return to Lan Yu Kingdom as soon as possible.
True safety only comes when you are on your own country's territory.
Meng Lingge nodded.
"In that case, I will not insist on keeping you here. I wish the King of Lanyu a safe and auspicious journey."
"Thank you!" Mo Sixuan clasped his hands in thanks, gave Wen Zhiming and Meng Lingge a meaningful look, and then lowered the carriage curtain.
The carriage then set off, its speed increasing, and it left the capital city around noon.
Mo Sixuan lifted the carriage curtain and watched as the carriage safely left the city gate before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"That scoundrel Wen Zhiming has imprisoned me for over ten days and still wants to negotiate with me? He's dreaming!"
Besides Mo Sixuan, the only other person on the carriage was Liu Yan, the general who had come to greet him.
Liu Yan, one of Mo Sixuan's most trusted ministers, couldn't help but worry upon hearing this.
"My lord, I have heard that you have already signed a peace treaty with them, and the princess of the Golden Moon Kingdom will also be married to us. If we are the first to break the contract, I am afraid that we will be ridiculed by the other three countries, and other countries will no longer trust us in the future."
Their previous breaches of faith were all verbal agreements, and they could still offer excuses when they broke them.
Now, this is an agreement signed in black and white by their new emperor, and there is also a marriage alliance between the two countries. If they breach the agreement again under these circumstances, their Blue Feather Kingdom will truly have no credibility left among the five countries.
"What's there to be afraid of? Just shift the blame for the breach of contract to Jin Yueguo, won't that solve the problem?"
Mo Sixuan sneered coldly, seeing that Liu Yan still looked confused, he said with exasperation.
"Although you are a military general, you can't be completely brainless. When they send the princess for the marriage alliance, I will take control of her and spread the word that their princess has been switched or is not a virgin. Anyway, she is in my hands, and I can say whatever I want. In this way, the one who breaks the agreement first will be the Golden Moon Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yan looked embarrassed and tried his best to dissuade him.
"My lord, the Golden Moon Kingdom has developed rapidly in recent years, and its military and financial strength are no less than ours. If we really fall out and go to war, it will not benefit us. It is better to honor the treaty..."
"Nonsense! You're a military general, how can you boost the morale of others while diminishing your own?"
Mo Sixuan's face was full of anger, and his eyes were surging with hatred.
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