After an hour of struggling, the two lay panting on the bed.
"Ranran, I'm heading to Yaojun tomorrow." Jun Molin hugged Yun Qingran and buried his head in the crook of her neck.
"So fast?" Yun Qingran asked.
"The situation in Yao County is not optimistic, we must go there immediately." Jun Molin held Yun Qingran tightly. He didn't want to leave her, but he was the Northern Cold King of Beiyin, and he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He had to go.
"I'll get up and take you tomorrow morning." Yun Qingran understood Jun Molin's predicament and didn't bother him.
"No need, I'm leaving at 3 AM, it's too early. You can sleep in, get plenty of sleep before you get up." Jun Molin shook his head.
"Okay." Yun Qingran nodded in agreement, though she herself doubted whether she could get up at three or four in the morning.
"Sleep, I'll hold you while you sleep." Jun Molin kissed her forehead and pulled her into his arms.
I woke up early the next morning to bright sunlight streaming in through the window, filling the room with radiance.
Looking at the empty bed beside her, Yun Qingran felt a similar emptiness in her heart. Jun Molin was probably dozens of miles away from the capital by now!
"Yun Qingran, straighten up, you still have a lot to do." Yun Qingran clenched her fist, encouraging herself.
After calming myself down, I washed up and went out. Today's task was to accompany the two children on a spring outing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the courtyard, Eunuch Wei arrived.
"Princess Rongchang, His Majesty requests your presence in the palace," Eunuch Wei said respectfully.
"Okay, let's go." The plan to take the kids out is ruined.
Yun Qingran entered the palace with Eunuch Wei. On the way, she asked him curiously, "Eunuch Wei, may I ask what business the Emperor has with me in the palace?"
"It's probably about Yun Xiyue." Eunuch Wei wasn't sure either. He only knew that the Emperor had sent someone to Southern Chu because of Yun Xiyue's pregnancy, and the Emperor had returned with a letter. After reading the letter, the Emperor summoned him to see Princess Rongchang.
"Because of Yun Xiyue?" Yun Qingran frowned slightly. Had she already cleared things up with Yun Xiyue? How did they get connected again?
"This servant is not sure if it's because of Yun Xiyue. But Princess Rongchang, please rest assured, the Emperor is on your side and will never make things difficult for you," Eunuch Wei quickly said.
The Emperor's favorite prince is Prince Beihan. To outsiders, all the princes are the Emperor's sons. But in the Emperor's heart, those princes are first and foremost his subjects, then his sons.
His Highness the Northern Cold King was born to him and the woman he loved. He personally raised and cared for him from childhood. The two were first father and son, then ruler and subject.
The Emperor dotes on His Highness the Prince of Beihan, and by extension, he also loves Princess Rongchang, so he won't make things difficult for her.
"Hmm." Hearing Eunuch Wei say that, Yun Qingran felt much calmer.
Upon arriving at the palace, Yun Qingran was led into the Wolong Hall by Eunuch Wei. When she met the Emperor, she was about to bow when he stopped her.
"Didn't I say that you don't need to bow when no one is around?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yun Qingran curtsied for a moment, then stood up again.
The Emperor picked up a letter from the table and handed it to the eunuch beside him. The eunuch took the letter, bowed, and quickly walked down to hand it to Yun Qingran.
"As soon as the news broke that Yunxi Yue was pregnant with Nangong Ye's child, I immediately sent someone by fast horse to inform the Chu Emperor. The Chu Emperor has replied. Take a look," the Emperor said.
"Yes." Yun Qingran took the envelope, opened it, took out the letter inside, and quickly read it. After reading it, she looked up at the Emperor in surprise, "The Emperor of Chu is willing to let Yun Xiyue marry Nangong Ye, but I must personally escort her to the wedding!"
OMG, did the Emperor Chu get kicked in the head by a donkey or get his brain slammed in a door? Why did he have to drag me into this?! Yun Qingran cursed the Emperor Chu three hundred times in her heart.
"Yes." The Emperor stood up, put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked to Yun Qingran. "Ranran, the reason I summoned you here today is to ask if you want to go."
"I..." Of course I don't want to go. First, I don't want to have anything to do with Yun Xiyue anymore; second, I'm just a minor noblewoman, and there must be a reason why the Emperor of Chu specifically asked me to go. Who knows if there will be any danger?
However, judging from the meaning of the Chu Emperor's letter, if he does not personally escort the bride, the Chu Kingdom will not accept Yun Xiyue.
Yun Xiyue, the daughter of a Grand Scholar, had an affair with Nangong Ye, the chief envoy of the Southern Chu delegation, and they even had a child. If Southern Chu doesn't want Yun Xiyue, then Northern Yin will lose face big time.
"This humble woman will go," Yun Qingran replied.
Although it was a bit strange that the Emperor of Chu had personally chosen her to escort the bride, she was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Zhen'an of Beiyin and the Princess Rongchang, bestowed the title by the Emperor himself. She could go to escort the bride openly and legitimately. The Emperor probably wouldn't dare to do anything to her; otherwise, Beiyin could use her as an excuse to extort money from Nanchu, which would be a bad deal for Nanchu.
"Ranran, you don't need to worry too much. The Emperor of Chu specifically asked you to escort the bride. I guess Southern Chu wants to see you and assess your strength and abilities," the Emperor explained, seeing that Yun Qingran was a little worried.
"Why would Nan Chu want to see me and assess my strength and skill?" Yun Qingran asked curiously.
Could it be that I am now famous not only in the capital, but also in the upper capital?
If that's the case, going wouldn't be out of the question. Yun Qingran felt incredibly proud.
"Because you are the future Princess Consort of Beihan, and very likely the future Empress of Beiyin," the Emperor said with a smile, looking at Yun Qingran.
"Ah!" This concerns the crown prince; how could I possibly listen to such words?
"Alright, since Ranran, you've agreed to go, then I appoint you as the chief envoy of the wedding delegation." The Emperor returned to his throne and sat down.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will certainly deliver Yun Xiyue safely to Nan Chu," Yun Qingran replied, clasping her hands in a fist salute.
"Alright, go ahead. Depart in three days." The Emperor waved his hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Yun Qingran left the Wolong Palace.
"Your Majesty, will Princess Rongchang be in danger on this trip?" Eunuch Wei asked the Emperor.
If anything were to happen to Princess Rongchang, His Highness the Prince of Beihan would turn the world upside down.
Even putting aside His Highness the Prince of Beihan, it would be heartbreaking to see such a lovely person as Princess Rongchang suffer any mishap.
"There is definitely some danger, but I will place experts in the wedding delegation to ensure her safety." The Emperor sighed slightly. "I am actually reluctant to let a girl travel thousands of miles to Southern Chu to send her off as a bride. However, she will be the Princess Consort of Northern Han and the Empress of Northern Yin in the future, so it is good for her to experience more things now."
"Your Majesty's considerations are thorough," Eunuch Wei praised, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect.
"When Lin'er comes back, he'll probably tear down my Wolong Palace." The Emperor shook his head and chuckled. Lin'er was a lot like him; once he set his mind on a woman, he loved her to the core. He would definitely be very angry if he sent Yun Qingran to Nan Chu to escort the bride.
"His Highness the King of Northern Cold will understand your good intentions," Eunuch Wei quickly reassured him.
"I hope so." The Emperor smiled. It's normal for parents to have conflicts with their children; there's nothing to be surprised about.
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